Samsung Techwin, maker of security and surveillance devices, has unveiled the SmartCam HD PRO, a WiFi IP surveillance camera offering 1080p Full HD video recording and a 128-degree ultra-wide-angle lens. With the SmartCam HD, users will be able to remotely monitor various premises with a mobile device via an Android and iOS app. The SmartCam […]
Virgin Mobile’s YouTube page can—if you let it—use your webcam to tell when you blink and change the ads each time you do so. It’s creepy, but kinda cool.
     |
The Federal Trade Commission has made its first ever action against a maker of connected everyday devices, TRENDnet, for what it says is lax security despite promises stating otherwise. TRENDnet makes a variety of wireless webcams, connected home security cameras, and other such devices that connect to the Internet, devices that the FTC states left […]
If Andy Warhol were to be alive today, he would have turned 85, but alas, he left the world all the way back in 1987, but not before ensuring that his legacy among the great pop artists would have been immortalized. Apparently, in order to celebrate what would have been Warhol’s 85th birthday, a museum which was set apart and dedicated to Andy Warhol has broadcasted a live webcam feed from his grave in Pittsburgh, US. This particular project was called “Figment” as the late artist did mention before that he would have liked the word inscribed on his gravestone, or so the Pittsburgh-based Warhol Museum shared.
Warhol’s gravestone lies in a graveyard in suburban Pittsburgh, and comes with Warhol’s original surname, Warhola, in addition to the dates of his birth and death and a cross. According to museum director Eric Shiner, one of Warhol’s quotes mentioned, “I always thought I’d like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph and no name. Well, actually, I’d like it to say ‘Figment’.”, hence the project name. This is an interesting way of using technology to honor the departed, even more so a famous one, don’t you think so?
Webcam Broadcast From Warhol Grave Marks Artist’s Birthday original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
Intel’s Computex 2013 keynote wasn’t all Atom and Core; the company also had a new gadget to show off, the Creative Senz3D camera. Intended to add depth vision to an Intel-powered computer, the add-on camera is set to go on sale next quarter, and brings Kinect-style motion-gesture control to the desktop. However, Intel also has ambitions to integrate it into future systems.
Down the line, Intel VP of marketing Tom Kilroy revealed, the company plans to build 3D depth camera technology directly into future Intel-based devices. Presumably, just where most laptops have a webcam today, that will evolve into a depth-sensor. That’s not likely to happen until the second half of 2014, however, Kilroy conceded.
Before then, add-on devices like Creative’s webcam will be able to bring the same gesture control to existing hardware. The depth-perception is added to other sense-recognition, including touch, voice, and face, and is capable of differentiating between the subject and their environment.
In fact, the software can even remove the backdrop behind the user completely, which could be handy for video calls. Right now it’s reasonably bulky for a webcam, though that’s likely to change as the technology is refined.
Of course, Intel and Creative aren’t the only companies working on this sort of technology. Microsoft has already confirmed that it is readying a new Kinect for Windows for instance, based on the updated sensor-bar included with the Xbox One, for release sometime in 2014.
IMAGE: Steve Paine
Intel reveals Creative Senz3D depth camera: Embedded version in 2014 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Researchers with the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies are working on a virtual therapist that appears lifelike and is aimed to help those who need some type of counseling but aren’t yet ready or able to see a live worker. In addition, the digital shrink, because of the way it is designed, can be used to monitor the minute details of a person’s body language over time, helping a live counselor monitor progress.
The virtual therapist is designed to look as much like a real human as possible, with realistic body movements and facial expressions similar to those you’d observe from a live in-person counselor. The therapist “observes” its client by means of a webcam and a gaming sensor that is mounted above the display, with the person’s various movements, facial expressions, and other such shifts being recorded in relation to the corresponding question.
The information that is gathered from the “clients” are fed into a computer where the virtual therapist’s software lies. Such data is used to aid the software in guiding the virtual shrink in how it should approach clients and what questions it should ask, and how it should interpret the body language of clients that respond to the questions.
For example, a certain tone of voice and facial movement, such as an aversion of eyes or a brief smile, all indicate different mental aspects of the client, and can help the virtual therapist pin-point whether the person is suffering from depression, anxiety, or other such disorders. One big purpose of the virtual therapist is in PTSD cases, helping soldiers address the issue and proceed towards live counseling.
The center responsible for the work spends a lot of time collecting data from hundreds of military personnel, helping provide the data needed for the software to eventually identify the signs of PTSD. Other experiments being carried out by the researchers include the creation of a 3D human face hologram, and virtual full-size human projections that interact with real humans.
SOURCE: BBC News
Researchers create virtual therapist with webcam and game sensor is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Starting this month, Domino’s is kicking off a new pilot program in Salt Lake City which lets customers watch how kitchen staff go about fulfilling their orders. This is different from the pizza tracking option that Domino’s already has in place in various regions, including the U.K. A branch in Salt Lake City has five webcams in the kitchen which offers live streams to customers who wish to keep an eye on the pizza making process.
Domino’s has set up a separate website for this, which can be accessed at www.dominoslive.com. If the idea of watching your pizza being made excites you for some reason, bear in mind that orders have to be placed between 11am and 11pm Mountain Time. Orders can be placed online and then the customer can sit back, relax and watch kitchen staff go to town on the dough, add sauce as well as various toppings before sliding it in the oven. Once the pizza exits Salt Lake City branch, the next time you’ll be seeing it will be at your door. It is not known whether Domino’s intends on expanding this pilot program in other parts of the U.S. as well.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: HTC Profits Dip 98% In Q1 2013, Google Now Doesn’t Drain iOS Battery, Google Claims, 
| |
ATMs and I don’t have the best of relationships. I once had my card eaten by the machine and I had to wait the whole night before their technician came to help me out. I’ve also been cheated out of a couple of bills and touched a wad of chewed-up gum someone stuck at the bottom of the money slot. Not that the last one is the machine’s fault, but, well, it happened because I was using it, anyway.
I’m sure a lot of people could use more timely assistance when they run into trouble with an ATM. The good news is the banks have heard our pleas – at least, one has, anyway – and they plan on rolling out live video chat to their ATMs soon.
The Bank of America has announced that a new ATM feature called “Teller Assist.” This will allow users to contact and direct their queries to a live remote teller via video chat. Katy Knox, who is the head of Bank of America’s retail banking division, explained: “This technology gives customers easy, convenient access to ATM banking services with the added option of having a personal interaction and the support of a teller available at the push of a button.”
The new service will initially be launched in Boston, Massachusetts. The good news is that Bank of America plans to roll out the service to the most of its 16,300 ATMs throughout the year.
If you’re one of those people who feel as if you’re undeserving of love and/or enjoy torturing yourself for fun, here’s something new to add to your self-mutilation bag o’ tricks: watch a 24/7/365 Cockroach Cam. It’s like watching a bunch of cam girls go about their daily lives only the opposite of that because those cam girls would actually be disgusting cockroaches that hiss and scream and make your stomach churn. It’s the worst thing on the Internet right now. I also can’t stop watching. More »
Nobody likes arriving at an empty coffee pot. Especially computer scientists at Cambridge University—which is why, back in 1991, a team of them invented the world’s first webcam to keep an eye on coffee levels from their desks. More »
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
