Distro Issue 107: How Edward Thorp gambled his way into wearable-tech history

Distro Issue 107 How Edward Thorp gambled his way into wearabletech history

Edward Thorp was banned from casinos in Vegas for counting cards. He even published a book on his system for winning at the blackjack table using the mathematical theory of probability. While working at MIT, he built what many consider the first wearable device for — you guessed it — beating roulette. In a fresh issue of our weekly, Donald Melanson profiles Thorp’s gaming of the system and how he ended up the unlikely father of wearable computing. Eyes-On has a look at Sennheiser’s cans, Hands-on grabs up both of the new iPhones and IRL takes a gaming focus. Jump down to your digital library of choice to snag your copy and settle in for a gadget-centric history lesson.

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Source: iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store

Disney’s REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video)

Disneys Revel could turn the whole world into a touchscreen video

Disney Research think it can go one better on Tactile and Haptic touch displays by using electrical fields to add sensation to nearly anything you can touch. Using Reverse Electrovibration, REVEL works by strapping an electrostatic signal generator to your body, so when you come into contact with an object on the same electrical plane, that low-level field can be altered to create friction. It’s hoped that the technology could revolutionize touchscreens, add a whole new level of feeling to augmented reality and help blind people feel their way around. There’s a video after the break, but be warned, it’s light on the sort of cartoony hijinks you’d normally expect from the House of Mouse.

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Disney’s REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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