Interact and Learn from Webpages via Natural Conversation

An interesting project called "The Conversational Internet" from Extreme Blue at the IBM Hursley Lab in the UK, may be a start to amazing new internet technology developments, particularly in the area of interactivity and machine learning technology implementation directed at improving web user's experience and communication with impaired people.

This project requirement originated from The Royal London Society for Blind People, as it approached IBM, with concerns on how to aid better interactivity between the internet webpages and people with visual impairments, particularly the blind that need to access online information.

The way the new technology would operate is that software is capable to intelligently communicate information from webpages to a user by attempting a natural language conversation, thus dispensing features such as set commands.

New Security Palm Recognition for Smartphones Developed

In a context where smartphones current security features are based around password protection on the screen, SIM lock pin, cloud backups, remote location and data wipe security. It then follows that switching on security is not the best, as a result a new mobile technology implementation from the Japanese Softbank Mobile Corp in partnership with Universal Robot Co Ltd allows for palm recognition security on smartphones.

This idea is not new, however in the past many attempts have been unsuccessful as the technology and human palm characteristics combination features, were never quite small enough to be used in mobile phones.

This new implementation and solution is based on utilising software pattern recognition in combination with built-in smartphone cameras thus streamlining the amount of the required data analysis or pre-processing.

The way users will be able to use the security recognition logging in feature, is by simply showing their palm over the camera, in the case where a user is using the mobile phone in the dark or under low light conditions, then it is anticipated that the flash camera will automatically turn on in order to scan the palm. This new technology will be available soon towards the end of the year starting in Japan. Source 

Robotics Development, the New Technology Business Gold Mine?

Following on the technology used on the Curiosity mission to Mars, there is a present trend where robots are currently quite popular tools in terms of helping the advancement of science and mankind, particularly its features such as the robotic arm.

Furthermore, it seems that businesses such as PCH International are preparing to present a Kickstarter fund where Grishin Robotics  is in the frame. This trend follows on millions in funding directed at robotics development back in 2011.

In this context, as iRobot has made perception of robots quite appealing, thus Willow Garage facilitates new businesses and initiatives such as  Open Perception, Redwood Robotics and Robots for Humanity. Examples of this trend to invest in robotics include Henry Thorne of 4Moms, Primesense’s,  VirtuOz , Alderbaran-Robotics and OpenRov. Others include  Tech Socially Intelligent, Intuitive Automota and Peter Thiel Fellow.

It can be concluded that robotics can only grow in popularity and acceptability, as well as helping the development of businesses and their consumer applications.