TECH
TAP t r e n d s ac ro s s the planet
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TAP
Welcome to the latest edition of Tech Tap - taking a look at the latest and greatest tech stories from across the world. First up, if you’re aiming to live healthier in the new year then take a look at how ‘Sense-U’ (a new tracking app) can help your whole family! Alternatively if it’s a sports technique you’re looking to improve, see how your swing stacks up to Rafael Nadal’s with ‘Notch’. Next up we take a look at how people are experimenting with momentary interaction - you’ve got it, Snapchat for professionals!
We discover how the UK’s Guardian newspaper experiments with a new publication, printed in a Café via a Robot - very cool. Then the latest in sustainability with the Plugaway tech solution, helping us be ‘more connected’ at home, and last but not least, read all about how Bitcoin ATM’s could soon be on their way to your city! All this and more inside this latest edition of Tech TAP.
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Fitness tracker can pinpoint movement of specific body parts.
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Confide: The new Snapchat for professionals.
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Device converts running mileage into harvestable energy.
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App-controlled paper airplane guided by bluetooth.
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Scientists harness soundwaves to levitate objects in mid-air.
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CafĂŠ prints its own robot-edited newspaper each week.
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New bike wheel stores power to provide a boost for tough inclines.
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Plug adapters make any appliance smartphone-controlled.
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3D-printing medical supplies on-demand in Haiti.
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Fitness tracker monitors real-time health of the whole family.
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Real-time program lets people morph into any virtual 3D character.
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Bitcoin ATMs could be on their way.
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Get in touch
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F itness Track er C an P inpoint Movement O f Specific B ody Parts
The wearable network of sensors can be used alone or integrated with clothes, making it more suitable for active sports like parkour, dancing, or any other adrenalinepumping activities. Information sharing among users is easy - data is recorded and transmitted to the Notch app via Bluetooth Low Energy. In addition to movement documentation, the app will replay the movements as 3D visualisations and let users download the data in XYZ format. Each Notch sensor measures 1.3×1.2×0.31 inches, and weights less than 0.35 oz. On a full charge, each module can be survive for 3+ days with normal usage. Using inertial measurement units to track movements, Notch can collect data either continuously or on-demand with record/pause/ stop functions.
M / view Although ‘Big Data’ has turned into something of a buzzword, we are starting to see more practical and useful applications of data-led technology. And smartphones continue to be the ‘connected’ device for this data, giving consumers access to personal data and information anytime, anywhere.
Notch is a wearable sensor that can record movements at different parts of the body to compile a more comprehensive set of data. The co-founders wanted to create a movement tracking interface that blends into a person’s lifestyle. This technology gives people a chance to analyse their own postures and dynamics, allowing them to improve their own techniques and discover movement profiles from people across the world. Wouldn’t you want to know how your kick compares to David Beckham’s?
With a sizable $100,000 request, the project is still seeking more backers on Kickstarter. There are different pledge levels available to choose from $49 will get you one Notch sensor come next June. If you are curious about the device, here is a video to further explain how Notch can make your life more interesting. V isit t he website
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Th is messag e will self destruct. . . Confide : T h e new Snapc hat for P rofessionals Confide is a mobile messaging app that lets corporate users send untraceable messages about delicate matters. Messages are covered by coloured boxes that disappear when users slide their fingers over text, then quickly reappearing as a user’s finger moves along to other lines. Some are calling it “Snapchat for business,” meaning it’s a way to send messages to your contacts without having to worry about the information getting leaked out. But unlike Snapchat, Confide won’t let the people you send messages to take a screenshot V i e w the vid eo
M / view While comparisons to Snapchat may worry professionals, this is part of wider trend in social behaviour, where people are experimenting more with fleeting, momentary interactions, rather than relying solely on permanent, ‘recorded’ social networks.
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D evice C onverts Running M ileag e Into Harvestable E nerg y The amount of kinetic energy you generate during a 45 minute cardio workout can extend the battery life of your smartphone or other electronic devices by more than six hours. The NUvention Energy class at Northwestern University developed a running companion that hugs to your hip and captures free energy as you do your laps around the track. myPower is a revolutionary rechargeable battery that could change the way we acquire energy.
According to the founders, a year’s worth of collected energy can offset the carbon footprint and the device you charge with. This bitsize power cell will capture energy as long as you stay moving. Not only is this an advancement in clean technology, but also a huge leap in the field of medicine, giving people a new incentive to increase their level of exercise. It is going to be interesting to see future improvements to this piece of technology.
The myPower device is shaped like a dry board eraser with an unadjustable clip on the back. It uses the same USB cable to connect to devices.
M / view At a time when mass tech consumerism is being criticised for evergrowing piles of ‘e-waste’, solutions that deliver sustainable solutions to everyday activities are becoming more attractive not only to consumers, but also from a branding perspective. A sustainable future is the only viable future and tech products that help consumers to contribute to this can help brand’s sustainability credentials.
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A pp -C ontrolled Paper A irplane g uided b y Bluetooth S mart tech nolog y
Currently raising funds on Kickstarter, PowerUp 3.0 is a little gadget that lets users control any paper airplane with their smartphones. Developed by pilot, industrial designer and TailorToys CEO Shai Gaitan, the PowerUp 3.0 attaches to a paper airplane and syncs it with the accompanying app. At the back of the device is a tiny propeller and rudder that helps the user control the airplane. It runs on a rechargeable battery that allows up to ten minutes of flight. The module is also made of crash-proof carbon fibre frame.
M / view While technology is vital for shaping a better future, we must not forget that it’s also designed to bring a bit of fun into life: we absolutely love this ‘smartplane’! And even more pertinently, it is yet another success story for Kickstarter, crowdsourcing being a tech trend that continues to go from strength to strength!
To use the PowerUp 3.0, one needs to attach it first to a paper airplane with the patented clips underneath the module. The user syncs the module with the app, and then pushes the throttle to full and launches the paper plane to the sky. The user needs to tilt their smartphones to steer the plane and push the throttle to control the speed. The Kickstarter project was just launched recently but the campaign has already exceeded its target goal. Backers can get their own PowerUp 3.0 for only $30. V i e w the video
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S cientists Harness S oundwaves To Levitate O bjects I n M id-A ir Ultrasonic levitation has always been on the radar for many scientists, but the development of the technique has been stalled due to the impracticality of moving objects along a singular axis. Researchers at the University of Tokyo, Yoichi Ochiai, Takayuki Hoshi and Jun Rekimoto, have pushed passed the uncertainties, demonstrating to the world that ultrasonic beams can move items in 3D space. They designed a machine that manipulates the waves’ properties to levitate and lift any object caught inside the focal point, which is determined by the four phased arrays and set at an arbitrary position.
objects at this point, it has opened the doors for future developments and improvements in ultrasonic suspension. We can hope to see bigger projects in the years to come – and maybe even a hovercraft if we’re lucky. See how the particles are trapped in nodes of the horizontal and vertical waves below. V i e w the vid eo
While the technology is only capable of lifting minuscule M / view No doubt of interest to governments, mad scientists and comic book villains, technology like this can seem very ‘futuristic’. However, brands have an opportunity to harness non-consumer technology such as this and create unique events and experiences that give audiences a ‘wow’ moment.
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C afé prints its own robot- edited newspaper each wee k
M / view In a digital age of instant access to breaking news, print news is seen by many as ‘old news’. However, this venture from the Guardian shows that a clever application of technology can be utilised to deliver ‘digital’ information in a physical format that many people prefer.
The UK’s Guardian newspaper is experimenting with a new weekly publication called The Long Good Read that uses robots to curate the best recent longform pieces and print copies in under an hour. In an age of digital news publishing, print can never keep up with the instant coverage provided by online journalists and the rapid dissemination of information on sites such as Twitter. Similar, past projects include Sweden’s Meganews which offers the world’s first print-on-demand newsstand, and now the UK’s Guardian newspaper is experimenting with a new weekly publication called The Long Good Read that uses robots to curate the best recent longform pieces and print copies in under an hour. The Long Good Read is available only at the newspaper’s own branded Guardian Coffee venue in East London, and is made possible thanks to print-on-demand technology provided by the Newspaper Club. While the regular Guardian office is staffed by hard-working human
journalists, The Long Good Read uses an algorithm to filter out blog posts, interactive content and short pieces to find article of a length that would suit those wanting a substantial read while they enjoy their coffee. The process selects the top 30 articles from the past week’s Guardian, which is then whittled down again by a human editor. Once selected, a semi-automated version of ARTHR - the Newspaper Club’s own print layout software then presents the pieces into a 24-page newspaper, ready to print and deliver to the café by Monday morning. The Long Good Read is an example of how print media can both compete with and take advantage of the new technologies that digital offers, while also helping to promote longform journalism over less substantial forms of news delivery. With rapidly increasing print turnarounds, could we soon see physical newspapers customized to the individual reader?
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new danish B i k e w heel stores pedal power to provide energ y boosts for tou g h inclines The Copenhagen Wheel fits onto any bike and captures energy from the rider’s cycling, offering a power boost when they need it for harder inclines later on. Researchers at MIT have created the Copenhagen Wheel, which fits onto any bike and captures energy from the rider’s cycling, offering a power boost when they need it for harder inclines later on. The wheel features a red hub, which contains the technology that converts the energy expelled when riders pedal and stores it in a removable lithium battery. The hub also includes sensors that detect when the bike is traveling uphill and automatically offers some help in the form of
powered assist. However, the wheel can also be connected to users’ smartphones using the companion app, where they can manually choose to receive an extra boost from the wheel. The app offers more features such as locking and unlocking the device, ride tracking and using preset activation for particular rides. The Copenhagen wheel is easy to install and weighs 5.9 kg, adding only a small amount of weight to the bike.
on the device early will be set back USD 799 for a preorder. Are there other ways to make cycling easier and more enjoyable for those who are still more comfortable in their car? V i e w the vid e o
The Copenhagen Wheel makes long and difficult rides easier for commuters without having to be charged like a typical electric bike, meaning it’s as good for the environment as a regular pushbike. However, those who want to get their hands
M / view In 2014, ‘The Internet of Things’ is becoming evermore prevalent, connecting physical devices with smartphones and electronic devices to make life easier, smarter and more efficient. The Copenhagen Wheel really is the ‘best of both worlds’ and demonstrates the shift from tech for tech’s sake, to a practical application of technology to enhance everyday experiences.
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A ffordable plu g adapters mak e an y appliance smartph one- controlled Beijing-based Plugaway enables consumers to simply plug an adapter into each power socket to turn whatever’s connected into a smart device. Many new devices are now coming with smartphone connectivity as standard, but what about households who can’t afford to replace their existing appliances? Beijing-based Plugaway enables consumers to simply plug an adapter into each power socket to turn whatever’s connected into a smart device.
M / view The Plugaway demonstrates our continuing march towards ‘the connected home’, using smart devices and data to help us manage energy, resources and devices. In addition to this, clever tech solutions that help us to ‘upcycle’ existing products rather than add to the growing piles of e-waste (a very topical issue) can help brands enable more sustainable consumerism.
Currently seeking funding through Kickstarter, the system is a highly affordable way to make any electronic element of the home connected to owners’ smartphones, regardless of when it was made. Each AUD 30 adapter is simply plugged into a socket and the desired device is plugged into the adapter. The Plugaway modules automatically sync with home wifi networks and can automatically be controlled or monitored through the
companion app. Consumers can see how much energy they’re using, turn devices on or off on demand, schedule or time them to come on at particular points of the day, dim lights and receive notifications about whatever data they please. The app is open source, meaning businesses and homeowners can customize it to their own uses and aesthetic preferences. It works with If This Then That - the platform that lets users create ‘recipes’ by combining different social and webbased services with simple rules. The video below explains more about the project: V i e w the vid eo
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3D- printin g medical supplies o n -de man d in H aiti The massive earthquake which Haiti experienced three years ago hit the country incredibly hard, and that’s to say nothing of the poverty that already pervaded the country’s society.Vital community resources are often low, or missing altogether, especially when it comes to healthcare. Now a new project called iLab Haiti is hoping to use 3D printing to solve some of the country’s immediate needs.
Communitere in Port-auPrince and its first products are simple, single-use objects such as umbilical cord clamps. In an interview with NPR, the project’s Ashley Dara said that these items often run out in times where hospitals are overworked and surgical gloves are used instead, meaning nurses deliver babies without the necessary protection. With iLab’s 3D printers, these objects can be created quickly and on-demand.
The project has brought the first two MakerBots to the country and is now hoping to teach locals how to model 3D objects and repair and maintain the machines. Working with US-based community design group KIDMob, iLab is currently operating out of Haiti
iLab Haiti is looking to strike up partnerships with startups such as Filabot which recycles everyday plastics into usable 3D printer filament - as well as looking to set up in other countries that could benefit from their training and resources.
M / view We continue to think of ‘technology’ as being advanced, futuristic and digital; yet its application is often needed for the most simplest of things. 3D printing overcomes huge logistical issues and through the manufacture of the simplest things, can genuinely help to save lives.
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F itness trac k er monitors real- time h ealth o f th e wh o l e family i n on e app
Sense-U uses a fitness tracker to allow parents to see the activity of their kids and elderly relatives, as well as themselves. The small wearable clip is a discreet device that collects data and sends it wirelessly to users’ smartphones in much the same way as something like the Fitbit does. Rather than delivering the data just to the person it’s tracking however, the Sense-U has a family dashboard that offers real-time information about each members’ daily activity and incidents.
The device can let parents know the typical wake and sleep patterns of each user and how many calories they’re burning each day. Sense-U also detects posture for kids and adults to ensure they’re not spending too much time slumped over at a desk. If an elderly family member takes a fall, an adult is also notified and is able to check if they need help. V i e w the vid e o
M / view While this technology has clear benefits, privacy issues will certainly arise. People are submitting, and utilising, more of their personal data than ever before, as the rising trend in connected devices and fitness apps demonstrates. However, monitoring other people’s data is a contentious issue at present!
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R eal -T ime P rog ram L ets P eople M orp h Into An y Virtual 3 D C h aracter
M / view As we live more and more of our lives out online, expressing yourself in new and exciting ways becomes more appealing. Online avatars and 3D characters may sound like an exercise in pure fun, but could really help to convey emotion, gestures and intonation in digital and social environments.
FaceRig is a computer program that lets you become a virtual character simply by sitting in front of your web-cam. The software alters the users’ movements in real-time and even has a voice processing tool enabling you to transform and takeover the character completely. It works with any type of web-cam and can be streamed to Skype, Twitch or any service that uses a web-cam.
could record at the press of a button karaoke performances, funny (or emotional) clips as their chosen characters, to joke around with friends and post on Facebook or YouTube?’ ‘What if we could web chat on Skype, Google Hangouts, etc., or create video clips at the press of a button with us starring as fantastic characters, with their complete expression and emotion palettes? Something like instant digital cosplay?’
The technology involved includes real-time image based tracking technology created and provided by Swedish company Visage Technologies, and combines it with a cross-platform real-time animation and visualization framework.
One of the key attractions to this new concept is that this form of instant digital cosplay is affordable, instantly introducing it to the mainstream market. It can also be recorded as a movie allowing actors and non-actors alike to star in their own animated movie, which will inevitably be one of the program’s key selling points.
The idea was born from a discussion between five web developers surrounding the concept of many “what ifs”: ‘what if folks without any knowledge about 3D rendering and animation
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B itcoin AT Ms could b e o n th e ir way. Josh Harvey, co-founder of Lamassu, showed off the first bitcoin dispenser at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show and has found quite a bit of interest for the $5,000 machines. The machine, designed and manufactured in Portugal, looks like a typical deli ATM - but functions more like a vending machine.You put in US dollars and receive Bitcoins back on your phone. Users first download a Bitcoin wallet mobile app - such as BlockChain or Mycelium - and set a password. A black-and-white QR code appears. They press the phone against the ATM’s glass window so it can scan the code, then feed in cash. Presto, the machine sends Bitcoins to the phone. Brooklyn native Willard Ling, 30, is set to introduce the first Bitcoin ATM to New York City.
After scouting locations, he has chosen the East Village bubble tea shop Just Sweet, on 3rd Avenue and 12th Street. He is now in talks with the owners on a rent deal. State regulators with the Department of Financial Services are expected to hold hearings later this month to discuss Bitcoin and how it should be regulated. Until rules are drawn up, Ling’s Bitcoin ATM will sit in his apartment. He thinks New York should get on with it if it wants to still be considered a centre of finance. Ling got into Bitcoin around twoand-a half years ago, when the price was around $10. It closed last week at $834.50. “I knew it would go up tenfold, just not as quickly as it did,” Ling said.
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Sources: PSFK, Springwise, NYPost, Mintel