Hasta La Gadget!

An image has surfaced showing off what appears to be a prototype controller for the upcoming PlayStation 4 (aka “PlayStation Orbis) console. The photo shows a controller that looks largely like a Dual-Shock, but with the addition of a smooth area in the middle that could be a touchscreen of some sort.

The controller is connected to a large metal box which could possibly be a PS4 dev kit, but that’s unconfirmed. The new controller also has an illuminated LED strip on the back edge, which I presume can change colors like the current PlayStation Move controllers can.

I’m hoping the smooth area on the controllers is actually an LCD or OLED screen of some sort, because it would be cool to be able to display things like inventory or remaining ammo on a controller without taking up all of the space of the bulky Wii U remote. It also looks like theres a perforated area below the touchpad which could be a speaker and/or a microphone.

The best news about this is that it looks like Sony is sticking with a tried-and-true controller format, which makes hardcore gamers like myself happy. As much as I enjoy the occasional gesture-controlled game on my Kinect, Wii or Move, they’re not the main games I enjoy. We won’t have to wait very long to find out if this is the actual PS4 controller design, as Sony has their big PlayStation press conference scheduled for this coming Wednesday, Feb. 20th at 6pm Eastern.

[via Kotaku and GameTrailers]

Back on January 15, Google announced that it would be holding two Google Glass events for developers who had pre-ordered the device at its I/O conference. The events were held in New York City and San Francisco on January 28/29 and February 1/2. The participants were sworn to secrecy, and so no details have emerged from the events. Google has decided to show off the goods, however, by releasing a variety of pictures, which you can check out after the jump.

The pictures were released on the Google Developers’ Google+ account, along with a bit of information about the Glass Foundry events. Those who attended spent the first day of the event receiving an introduction to Glass and getting a device to use. Following this, the attendees were then presented with the Mirror API, after which point they went on to working on their developments.

Says Google, the developers were split into teams, which then went on to create more than 80 uses for Glass. On the second day, the developers had an opportunity to demonstrate their creations to a panel of special judges. Those who participated received a glass piece titled “pioneer,” signifying their involvement in the pioneering of the technology.

Of the teams that demonstrated their creations, eight were awarded the grand prize, with Google funding the cost of their Glass Explorer Edition. Says Google, it hopes to host more Glass Foundry events in the future, although it hasn’t committed to anything. Check out the gallery below to get a peek at the pioneers hard at work.

[via Google Developers]

Google releases pictures from Glass Foundry events, shows off pioneers in action is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

From sensors to warning lights and indicators, there are new features introduced every year to make driving easier and safer.

The FDA approved a new technology this week that promises to give limited vision to people who are blind. The technology the FDA has approved is called the artificial retina. It allows people with certain types of blindness to be able to detect crosswalks, people, cars, and some can detect large letters or numbers.

FDA approval for the system marks a new point in the field of vision research promising to help restore sight to some people who are blind. The artificial retina is a sheet of electrodes that is implanted into the person’s eye. The patient is also fitted with glasses that feature an integrated camera and a portable video processor.

The entire system is known as Argus II and allows visual signals to bypass the damage portion of the retina in be transferred directly to the brain. The artificial retina doesn’t allow the blind to see in the conventional sense that most of us are used to. It does give those fitted with the system the ability to identify outlines and boundaries of objects. It is said to be particularly effective when there is high contrast between light and dark areas.

The Argus II is made by a company called Second Site Medical Products and is specifically designed to treat people with severe retinitis pigmentosa. People with this condition have deteriorated photoreceptor cells in the eye that are meant to take in light. About 100,000 Americans are believed to suffer from this medical condition and somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 are expected to qualify for the Argus II system. To qualify people have to be over 25 and had previously useful vision. The system will cost about $150,000 not counting surgery and training and it remains unclear if insurance companies will cover the system.

[via NYT]

FDA approves artificial retina for the blind is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

A new game engine called Game Closure allows anyone to get started making games for the web, desktop, mobile platforms and more using HTML5.