Hasta La Gadget!

Kinect has branched out from its gaming roots to PC interaction, and we’re chatting with Bob Heddle, director, Kinect for Windows at Microsoft to see how the hardware is changing natural user-interfaces. We’re also set to get a sneak peak at what’s coming up in the next release of the Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit. The chat gets started at 7PM ET, sharp.

Filed under: Desktops, Misc, Gaming, Laptops, Software, Microsoft

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Since last we saw the Ekso Bionics robotic suit, which helps folks with lower-extremity paralysis or weakness to stand up and walk, the $110,000 exoskeleton has been on the market for about a year. About 30 have sold so far, and the company’s director of marketing and communications, Allison Sojka, reckons that medical centers have already helped rehabilitate somewhere between 500 and 1,000 patients. By allowing them to stand up and walk, the bionic suit not only helps users overcome issues like bone density loss and neuropathic pain related to their condition, but also to gain reams of confidence — an oft-overlooked factor in the recovery process.

The production model is a polished-looking assemblage of aluminum and judiciously placed titanium and carbon fiber, along with sensors, motors, joints, off-the-shelf DSPs and custom circuitry and software. Two lithium-ion batteries power the device (four are included), each of which will go for three to six hours after charging for an hour or so, allowing continuous use of the suit by facilities. Three walk modes are available, namely FirstStep, which is actuated by a therapist with a button push; a user-controlled mode called ActiveStep; and ProStep, which senses user body cues for movement control. The suit also provides audio feedback to help users achieve ideal positioning and transmits stats and data for further review and reporting. Sojka said that the company will release new variable-assist software option in June that’ll let patients contribute from zero to 100 percent of the walking power, with the exoskeleton providing the rest — though there’s no pricing yet for that update. To hear her describe how the suit works and see it in action with patient Sarah Anderson, check the video and gallery after the break.

Filed under: Misc, Wearables

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Tamar Yehoshua has led Google’s efforts to optimize Search across platforms, devices and languages and earlier this afternoon she took to the Expand stage to discuss how the discovery process has changed. Following her talk, Brian Heater caught up with Tamar to chat about the evolution of search and the company’s focus on voice. Check out our video after break for the interview in its entirety.

Follow all of Engadget’s Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

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We had a chance to grill the head of Samsung’s North American design studio, Dennis Miloseski, during our panel discussion about the growing sophistication of mobile devices here at Expand. As it turns out, he had even more to talk about, so we wired him up and threw him in the hot seat backstage. He gave us a look into the story behind the Galaxy S 4, the changing face of TouchWiz UI and building Samsung’s design studio stateside. For the full interview, check out the video after the break.

Follow all of Engadget’s Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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The Android-powered OUYA game console is set to ship to its many, many Kickstarter backers later this month, and we’ve got the company’s CEO Julie Uhrman live on-stage from our Expand event this weekend talking about just that. Will we finally find out that the console and its Kickstarter campaign were all just a sneaky ploy by Cobra Commander to destroy the world’s children? Doubtful, but you never know! The only way to find out is to tune in — our livestream’s right here — but we’ll also be liveblogging Uhrman’s conversation with Engadget EIC Tim Stevens, which you’ve found. The talk kicks off at 4:45PM ET / 1:45PM PT.

Filed under: Gaming, HD

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