When it comes to robots we don’t expect them to see the way that
we do. But we do expect it to have some way to view the world around it. Maybe
we expect that to be in the form of cameras, or perhaps with an infrared map.
What we do not expect is for a robot to be completely blind to the world around
it, but much like its living counterparts a blind robot can in fact figure out
how to get around.
One of the coolest features of the new Xbox One is the extra vibration motors in the triggers. These add a new sensation to gameplay which can provide feedback directly to your fingertips. Now, there’s a mod available for the Xbox 360 controller which adds a similar feature.
The new XCM X1 Plus controller shell not only replaces the outside of your Xbox 360′s stock wireless controller with something much cooler looking, it adds in a pair of rumble motors in the triggers as well.
It’s not clear at this point how the motors are activated though, as current Xbox 360 games don’t pass along data for these triggers independently like they do on the Xbox One. From what I can tell from the video below, they’ve got them set up to vibrate automatically whenever you press the triggers, so I’m not sure how that would feel, or if it would just be annoying.
There’s no word yet on pricing or a release date for the XCM X1 Plus controller shell, but keep your eye out on their website for more info.
If you had your eye on Ubi Interactive’s multitouch software, you’ll be glad to now that it’s now on sale. For those unfamiliar with the product, sit back and relax. I’ll take you to a world where any surface can become a touchscreen. As long as you have a computer that runs Windows 8. And a projector. And a Kinect. For Windows.
The Ubi program allows you to interact with Windows 8 programs from a projected display, as if your wall or canvas were a giant touchscreen. It uses Kinect for Windows – which is different from the one that works with the Xbox 360 – to map your fingers or hand and register their input.
Ubi Interactive says that Ubi will work with any projector as long as it has a “high enough intensity for the image to be visible in your lighting conditions.” The computer running Ubi doesn’t have to have a touchscreen itself. It just has to run Windows 8 and the resolution of the display being projected should be at least 720p. Its biggest restriction is that it will only work with Windows apps that have been optimized for touchscreens.
You can order Ubi from Ubi Interactive’s website; it costs between $149 to $1499 (USD) depending on the version you want. The Kinect isn’t included with the software, but then again the total cost of a Ubi setup is less than what you’d shell out for an actual wall-sized touchscreen.
[via CNET]
Brian Munroe is a member of the Las Vegas hackerspace SYN Shop,
and a home owner in the dry Las Vegas Valley. And like everyone with a
home in the desert Southwest he knows the frustration of keeping his
landscaping watered properly while following guidelines from the local
water authority.His solution? The Hydrogadget.
Robots are, for the most part, the prevue of adults. We
design them, we build them and we get to play with them, but a growing number
of companies are bringing robots to the younger set and some of the companies
that started out with adults are looking to kids as a new market for their
products.
An LED Matrix Display is a very affordable and versatile tool for showing information. But Stephen Wylie and Stacy Devino made an even more affordable and useful version of it. They call it LEDgoes, a display that you can expand by snapping modules together like LEGO.
Each module measures 1.5″ x 2″ and has 35 LEDs that can display red, green or yello. You can connect boards in real-time and even stack up to two rows as one. They also each have two ATMega microcontrollers as well as 26 hackable GPIO pins.
Out of the box, you can type a message to display on your LEDgoes using a PC or mobile device, or you can sync it to a Twitter or RSS feed. But because they’re ready to be hacked, you can make your own apps and display whatever you want on them.
Pledge at least $29 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a LEDgoes kit with two small display panels as a reward.
We’ve teamed up with our friends over at Gear Diary, along with our brother site, The Awesomer to offer a great prize pack filled with great gadgets and gear that you’re sure to enjoy.
Entrants have a chance to win a set of goodies worth nearly $600, including products from Pyle Audio, Divoom, Ballistic, booq, and SuperTooth.
Here’s a list of the prizes one lucky winner will take home:
There are lots of ways to earn entries, and all you need to do to get in on the prize-winning action is to head over to the entry form at the bottom of the page over at Gear Diary now. (Contest ends 11:59pm CDT Sunday, 8/18/2013. Open to U.S. residents age 13 or over only.)
Air purifiers can help clear allergens to help us breathe and help get rid of funky smells in the air, but they aren’t exactly portable…until now.
If you recall, earlier this month the encrypted email service Lavabit abruptly shutdown, killing the service for over 400,000 users in one swoop. Following that, another encrypted email service run by Silent Circle was preemptively shutdown. Although Ladar Levison, the creator of Lavabit, is under a gag order that prevents him from talking about the […]
We live in a marvelous age. It’s so nice not to not have to get up off your butt to change the channel or turn the sound up. Who wants exercise? Besides, as a species, our fingers are probably stronger than they have ever been, hitting the keys on remotes and using our touchscreens. LG wants to undo all of this progress by introducing a TV that could have come from 30+ years ago.
LG’s 32LN630R (~$750 USD) is a brand new full HD flat screen equipped with a 32 inch IPS panel display. But it has actual knobs on it! How dare they? That front is trimmed with wood and it even has those old-timey legs. Funny thing is, this isn’t the first time LG has tried such shenanigans.
What if I don’t want to leave the couch? Don’t buy it people! I will never go back! You hear me LG? Never! What’s next? An eight-track player in a smartphone? A phonograph in a tablet?
[via Retro to Go and Engadget via New Launches]
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