Posts Tagged ‘sensor’
We've seen plenty of far-fetched EMG-based input methods, like the concentration-demanding, head-based
NeuroSky controller, but Microsoft Research is asking for a patent that involves much simpler gestures -- and might actually make a bit of sense. As demonstrated in the video after the break, Microsoft's connecting EMG sensors to arm muscles and then detecting finger gestures based on the muscle movement picked up by those sensors. It does away for the need of a pesky camera (or Power Glove) to read complicated hand gestures, and can even sense modified versions of the gestures to be performed while your hands are full. Microsoft's developing a wireless EMG sensor module that could be placed all over the body, and while like all Microsoft Research projects this seems pretty far from market, there's a small, optimistic part of us that could see some of the benefits here for controlling mobile devices. And boy do we love controlling mobile devices.
Continue reading Microsoft Research patents controller-free computer input via EMG muscle sensors
Microsoft Research patents controller-free computer input via EMG muscle sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Folks have long been using piezoelectric devices to harvest energy in everything from
dance floors to
parking lots, but a group of European researchers have now shown off some novel uses for the technology at the recent International Electron Devices Meeting that could see even more of the self-sufficient devices put to use. Their big breakthrough is that they've managed to shrink a piezoelectric device down to "micromachine" size, which was apparently possible in part as a result of using
aluminum nitride instead of lead zirconate titanate as the piezoelectric material, thereby making the devices easier to manufacture. Their first such device is a wireless temperature sensor, which is not only extremely tiny, but is able to function autonomously by harvesting energy from vibrations and transmit temperature information to a base station at 15 second intervals. Of course, the researchers say that is just the beginning, and they see similar devices eventually being used in everything from tire-pressure monitoring systems to predictive maintenance of any moving or rotating machine parts.Researchers develop tiny, autonomous piezoelectric energy harvester originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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energy harvester, energy harvesting, EnergyHarvester, EnergyHarvesting, IEDM, IMEC, piezoelectric, piezoelectric energy harvester, PiezoelectricEnergyHarvester, self sufficiency, self sufficient, SelfSufficiency, SelfSufficient, sensor, temperature sensor, TemperatureSensor, TNO
We know discussing things involving "arteries" and "coronary plaque" generally don't do much for one's appetite, but being the holidays and all, we honestly can't think of a more fitting way to remind you not to pig out this evening. Up first is a
MEMS-based sensor designed by downright enlightened researchers at the University of Southern California, which is used to "distinguish between stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries." The idea here is to more easily determine whether a patient needs immediate surgery or simple lifestyle changes in order to remedy artery issues, though the process is still awaiting clinical approval before it can be used en masse. In related news, Pathway Medical has just received European clearance to sell its Jetstream G2 NXT coronary drill overseas (or "peripheral atherectomy catheter," as it were), which does exactly what you'd expect it to: clear clogged blood vessels in the treatment of PAD. If you're not already grossed out, feel free to tap the links below for more information on head past the break for a couple of video demonstrations. Mmm, honey ham!
Continue reading Arterial tandem: coronary drill gets cleared for use, MEMS sensor distinguishes between kinds of plaque
Arterial tandem: coronary drill gets cleared for use, MEMS sensor distinguishes between kinds of plaque originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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coronary, dental health, DentalHealth, Healthcare, heart, Jetstream G2 NXT, JetstreamG2Nxt, medical marijuana, MedicalMarijuana, MEMS, pathway, pathway medical, PathwayMedical, plaque, sensor, sensors, teeth whitening, TeethWhitening
They're short on details, but the folks at Cambridge Consultants might just be onto something with this new "Suma sensor system" of theirs. Basically it translates the deformation of its soft material into 3D data that can be used in a video game to "unleash the full capabilities of both the human hand and the user's imagination." Sounds a tad far fetched, but the exciting part is that this "Suma skin" control material can replace the traditional casing of a regular gaming controller for less than a buck in parts, meaning that with (relatively) little effort we could see tactile squeezing, gripping and other sorts of finger-friendly input worked into console gaming without having to
bid farewell to the form factors we know and love. Cambridge Consultants doesn't mention robotics, but we could also see this sort of material being quite the cost-effective, sensor-laden skin replacement. Just as long as nobody tries to get us to control Ezio with that little stress-ball pictured above.
Continue reading Cambridge Consultants Suma sensor is designed to add '3D' input to traditional control schemes
Cambridge Consultants Suma sensor is designed to add '3D' input to traditional control schemes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Man, talk about timely. We heard right around 11 months ago that MEMS gyroscopes would be hitting an array of handsets in 2009, and while it’s looking like that estimate will be just a touch off, you won’t catch up kvetching with “early 2010.” STMicroelectronics has just announced its new 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, which promises 360 degree “angular-rate detection for high-precision 3D gesture and motion recognition in mobile phones, game controllers, personal navigation systems and other portable devices.” The gyro is said to provide two separate outputs for each of the three axes at the same time: a 400dps full-scale value for slow motion, and a 1,600dps full-scale value to detect and measure speedy gestures and movements. We’re told that samples of the tech are available now with mass production scheduled for Q1 2010; and yeah PSP, it’s totally cool if you keep sweating. NGage is about to be back… with a vengeance!
[Via FarEastGizmos]
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
STMicroelectronics’ 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nokia's
no stranger to the
patent application process here in the United States, and while we've certainly seen some
strange ones emanating from its R&D labs, this one looks like something that should be implemented on the double. Explained as a "user interface for controlling an electronic device," the multitouch solution would essentially allow you to pinch, zoom and rotate objects as usual, but it would also employ an array of pressure sensors in order to give your motions a sense of severity. If executed properly, one could theoretically envision the use of a strong push to simulate a double tap (for example), or as a means to activate a secondary function that generally requires another button press or the use of a 'Function' key. Hit the read link for all the mumbo jumbo, but be sure to keep your expectations within check. Or not.
[Via
UnwiredView]
Filed under: Cellphones
Nokia patent app reveals dreams of pressure-sensitive multitouch interface originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Neither for the faint of heart nor the slight of credit,
Leaf's newest -- the Aptus-II 5
digital back -- boasts a 0.9 fps capture rate, 22 megapixel sensor, 2.5-inch touchscreen display, a 12-stop dynamic range and a 25-400 ISO range. Sounds great, right? What if we told you it would run you €5,995 (about $9,000) for the back itself, or you could bundle it with the Phase One 645AF body and an 80mm lens for €7,995 (about $12,000)? Right, you'll take two. Pre-order now from your favorite Leaf Imaging retailer and you should get your new device in November. PR after the break.
[Via
DP Review]
Continue reading Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Leaf announces new Aptus-II 22 megapixel camera back originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Another season, another Texas Instruments
coprocessor for us to
wonder about. For what feels like
ages now, TI has been pumping out silicon that promises to bring high-def recording capabilities to cellphones, but by and large, most everything has been stuck at VGA or below. Oh sure, we've seen our first batch of
12 megapixel cameraphones, but it's not like those things are replacing DSLRs en masse. Bitterness aside, the OMAP-DM525 coprocessor is supposedly capable of bringing 20 megapixel imaging to handsets along with 720p video recording, while the OMAP-DM515 hits the ceiling at 12 megapixels. Of course, the DM525 won't actually be ready for volume production until sometime next year, but here's hoping a sample or two slips out at CES.
[Via
LetsGoDigital]
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video
TI's OMAP-DM5x coprocessors promise 20MP cameraphones, 720p recording and freedom from heartache originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Need an excuse to get some cardio into your life? Can't live without ye old internet? Thanks to Matt Grey and Tom Scott, the answer to your
weight loss woes is pictured above. The aptly-titled Webcycle is essentially a sensor-laden
fitness bike that requires users to pedal faster in order to snag more throughput. An Ubuntu-based laptop is wired up to an
Arduino and an array of sensors that allow more bits and bytes to seep through based on how hard the rider is working. A simple
slow pedal is all it takes to load mobile pages and text-heavy sites, but if you're hoping to actually watch the video after the break, you'll certainly need to kick things up a notch. Pure brilliance, we say.
[Thanks, Yoda]
Continue reading Webcycle provides pedal-powered internet, reason to dodge browser-enlarging Flash sites
Filed under: Laptops, Internet
Webcycle provides pedal-powered internet, reason to dodge browser-enlarging Flash sites originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just as it's starting to seem like MEMS
motion sensor technology is gaining more
widespread use, we're now hearing rumblings of activity from the developers of its eventual successor: NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems). To contextualize this discussion (and to give laypeople a shot at understanding), MEMS sensors are the magic behind the
Wii MotionPlus as well as a stunning
tech demo recently conducted on a Toshiba
TG01. The nascent nano version promises
even greater sensitivity, and now scientists from TU Delft in the Netherlands claim they have successfully measured the influence of a single electron on an 800nm-long carbon nanowire. Just detecting such an event is a feat in itself, while the ability to measure its effects can be used in a huge range of ways: from transportation and medicine to ultra-sensitive gaming controllers. While accurate comparisons between the Dutch breakthrough and current generation sensors cannot yet be drawn, we can confidently say that this marks an important step toward making our dreams of playing a nanoscale piano a gargantuan reality.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Science
NEMS takes step forward, MEMS looking nervously over shoulder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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