The fundraiser may not be aimed at end users, but it does reveal a bit more about the Meta. In the video below you’ll see that the consumer version of the glasses should be much more compact and much less dorky than the current prototype. The Meta projects its display up to 16 ft. away from the user at 960×540 resolution. Developers will initially use Unity 3D on Windows to write software for the Meta. They’ll be able to make use of the Meta’s gesture, finger and surface tracking as well as its depth and color data.
You’ll need to pledge at least $695(USD) on Kickstarter to get a Meta 1 dev kit as a reward. I’m really intrigued by the possibilities of this device, partly because I’m into card and board games right now. It would be nice to have more interactive board game. And also to not have to clean up the tokens and other pieces after each game.
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Gorilla Glass is used in millions of handheld products, including smartphones and tablets. The glass offers a stronger, more durable build that makes it scratch-resistent and less likely to break. While it’s mostly meant for consumer electronic devices, we could be seeing Gorilla Glass make its way into the auto industry as soon as next
The company that became known for its humble robots for cleaning homes will soon be selling a fancy robot for offices. Coming in 2014, iRobot’s Ava 500 will let you work both remotely and on site. It has a 21.5″ HD screen, a webcam, a microphone and its predecessor’s ability to find its way around on its own. Depending on your office dynamics, the Ava 500 will either be a hilarious or a creepy sight.
According to iRobot, the Ava 500 can explore and map its assigned area on its own. The idea is for its user to direct it remotely using an iPad app. You just have to pick the robot’s destination and it will figure out how to get there on its own. So no, you won’t be able to “drive’ it and yes, it’s still pretty impressive.
Aside from the iPad app, iRobot says it will provide users with Cisco TelePresence EX60 monitors. The Ava 500 can also adjust its body’s height so that its monitor will be at the appropriate level at all times. When you’re done using the Ava 500, it will return to its charging station on its own. It’ll probably chat with the other ‘bots about that cute copier and how annoying that security cam dude is.
I wonder how many takes that meeting scene took. If I was there I wouldn’t be able to stop laughing when the robot rolls in the room. He looks constipated. And can you imagine a future where the only “employees” in the office are all Ava 500s? The Ava 500s will be so busy they’ll have to use other Ava 500s to do their job.
Admit it- You’ve always wanted to build a customized robot friend, but the limitations of modern science just keep giving us vacuum cleaners to step around. Thankfully, My Robot Nation found a worthwhile use for 3D printing to give you the robot of your dreams!
Apple introduced iOS 7 at WWDC, with a brand new interface, new features and improved functions. Between a new flat UI, an improved Safari, Photos and Camera, Apple hopes to keep developers interested in the platform.
After initially focusing on the TV and multimedia aspects of the Xbox One, Microsoft took the time at today’s E3 press conference to show off the gaming chops of their next-gen system.
Microsoft announced a number of impressive titles for the Xbox One, including several exclusive titles not previously revealed. Here’s a quick rundown of what we can expect in the first few months of the Xbox One’s life:
Ryse Son of Rome – Crytek – Exclusive – Available at launch. Features impressive cinematic graphics, epic battles and action swordplay, in a God of War style beat ‘em up.
Killer Instinct – Rare – Release Date TBD. An amazing looking update of the classic fighter. Will also release a Mad Catz arcade controller to go with.
Sunset Overdrive – Insomniac Games – Exclusive – Release Date TBD. An open-world shooter/brawler, something like Crackdown or inFamous. Features cartoon style reminiscent of Jet Set Radio.
Forza Motorsport 5 – Turn 10 – Exclusive – Launch title. Features incredibly detailed cars, physics, lighting, paint and textures. One of the coolest features is “Driveatars” which allow your personality to continue driving in an online persistent world, based on your driving style.
Quantum Break – Remedy – Exclusive – Release Date TBD. Takes place in a world where a science experiment goes wrong and time stutters and freezes. Graphics look amazing, but it’s too early to understand the gameplay dynamics.
D4 – from Japanese game designer SWERY65 – Release Date TBD. A stylized, cel-shaded murder mystery.
Project Spark – Exclusive – Release Date TBD. A UGC-based “meta game”. Create and share your own environments, gameplay and creatures. Interface uses voice commands and SmartGlass. Looks like Microsoft’s attempt at a Little Big Planet, but much more action-oriented.
Crimson Dragon – From the maker of Panzer Dragoon – Release Date TBD. Looks like another similar dragon-flying shooter, and that’s alright by me.
Dead Rising 3 – Capcom – Exclusive – Release Date TBD. Features massive, detailed urban environments, huge zombie hordes, massive open environments. The weapon-crafting system looks epic, allowing you to improvise weapons and combine them into new and deadly implements.
Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt – CD Projekt RED – Release Date TBD. The latest in the fantasy RPG series, adds free-roaming in an open world. Has over 100 hours of gameplay, optional voice commands for combat, and SmartGlass inventory management.
Battlefield 4 – EA – Release Date TBD. The next-gen FPS runs at 60 fps, amazingly immersive real time and scripted events. Insane graphics. Water, smoke, haze, fog, massive interactive environments make this one of the best looking games shown to date.
BELOW – Exclusive – Release Date TBD – An indie “Rogue-like” top-down RPG with a unique graphical style.
Halo – 343 Studios – Coming in 2014. A reboot of the classic FPS franchise, running at 60fps. Not much is known about this title yet, but the teaser trailer is definitely worth a watch.
Titanfall – Respawn Entertainment – 2014 Spring release. A visceral multiplayer FPS, including giant mechs called titans. Looks like a ton of fun, but graphically not dramatically better than current gen.
Microsoft focused on the hardcore gamer at their E3 press conference, shying away from any mentions of the TV and multimedia features of the next-gen console. Surprisingly, they didn’t really show games using Kinect for anything other than voice control either, downplaying any casual gaming aspects of the system as well.
In addition to all of the games, Microsoft announced a November 2013 release date and launch pricing of $499(USD)/&eur;499(EUR) and £429(UK) for the console.
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Ever wanted to make your stuff light up and blink? Well the guys at BlinkyTape have got you covered.
BlnkyTape is a tube which comes in one-meter-long strips, each embedded with 60 independently controllable RGB LEDs. Each strip has a built-in controller circuit, and can be programmed and powered via a micro-USB connector.
The flexible tape can by bent, so it can be used in a wide variety of applications. In addition, it’s encased in weatherproof silicone, so you can use it outdoors too. Just be sure to protect the USB connector at the end, since it’s not sealed. Too bad you can’t daisy-chain them though – could you imagine the holiday display you could make with this stuff? Guess you could always buy one of those 24-port USB hubs.
BlinkyTape is currently raising funds for production over on Kickstarter for just a couple more days (through June 12), where you can get in on the action for as little as $60(USD).
Remember that Tom Selleck sci-fi flick called Runaway? Despite being terribly cheesy, those insect-like robots in that movie always gave me the creeps. Never mind that it was none other than KISS’ Gene Simmons who was the mastermind behind the robobugs.
While this robotic insect isn’t deadly, you’ll have a really hard time catching and swatting it if it ever were to go rogue.
Created by Duncan W. Haldane, Kevin C. Peterson, Fernando L. Garcia Bermudez, and Ronald S. Fearing of the UC Berkeley Biomimetic Millisystems Lab, the VelociRoACH is claimed to be the fastest legged robot relative to its body size. It’s capable of running at a zippy 2.7 meters-per-second. Yikes. Just wait till about 10 seconds into the video below to see it scurrying along in real time.
The robot was built with a new dynamic tuning system which keeps it stable at high speeds, using an aerodynamic rotational damper which is designed to operate with less rotational energy while still maintaining crazy fast forward momentum. The robot is also equipped with a mechanism which lets it crawl over obstacles about twice its height with ease.
I’m not sure what the real-world applications from the VelociRoACH are, but I sure wouldn’t want these running around my house.
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