Technabob » vision

Robot Learns to Recognize Its Own Reflection, Has Great Grasp of Pronouns Too

Lambert Varias — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:23 +0000

After using the robot as a gesture-controlled music player, the makers of Qbo have set higher goals for their highly programmable robot. By equipping a Qbo unit with object recognition capabilities, they were able to teach it to recognize its own reflection. I hope no one teaches it to recognize humans as its enemies.

That subtitle was added by Qbo’s makers, but don’t be disappointed. The robot really does say that, among other things.

Amazing. It’s so amazing how a robot that announces everything it thinks and does is somehow adorable, but if a person does the same thing it’s considered annoying. I demand equal treatment! While I decide whether I should call for robots to be treated as badly as humans or humans to be coddled like robots, the folks at Thecorpora Robotic Company are working on making Qbo recognize its own image autonomously. They also left this teaser on their blog: “What would happen if a Qbo sees another Qbo in front of him? The answer will be out there pretty soon!” I predict that scenario will lead to a conversation of epic philosophical and grammatical importance.

[via Engadget]

Owl 360 Rear View Bike Camera: Safety Improvement, or an Accident Waiting to Happen?

Range — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:27 +0000

If you bike a lot, you know that anything that distracts you from the road ahead will potentially cause an accident. I’ve had a few, and one of them actually just involved playing with my cycling computer. I ended up in the hospital. I’m concerned that the Owl 360 camera, which promises to let you check up what’s behind you on your bike, will end up causing more accidents that it saves. Then again, it’s cool to have the option of having eyes in the back of your head.

The Owl 360′s camera is mounted beneath your rear seat, so it’s not optimal for most cyclists who have their tool bag strapped on there. The rechargeable battery lasts for 5 hours, and the system is weather-proof. The camera is IR sensitive for night use, and you can pop off the screen and take it with you so nobody steals it.

There are definitely some downsides with a system like this, but ultimately, if seeing what’s going on behind you has been a problem, this is a product that could help. You can pre-order the Owl 360 for $180(USD) over at their website.

[via Gizmag]

Qbo Robot as Gesture Controlled Music Player

Shane McGlaun — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:59:26 +0000

Robots are awesome, and one of the more hackable of them out there is the Qbo, that can be programmed to do all sorts of things. The latest programming hack for the little bot turns the Qbo into a music player that supports gestures for controlling the tunes.

The robot has stereoscopic vision that senses the hands that are close to it and watches them for gesture commands. The bot understands enough gestures to do all the things you’d expect a media player to do. For instance, to pause or play the music you hold up a fist.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Controlling volume is done by making a “V” with your fingers and holding the “V” up for volume up and down for volume down. The tracks can be skipped back and forth by pointing with a finger left or right. It’s pretty cool actually, and you can see QBO in action on the video above.

[via TheCorpora]

NVIDIA Wired 3D Glasses: Cheaper, But Does Anybody Still Want 3D?

Range — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:55:33 +0000

NVIDIA just announced the launch of these new wired 3D Vision glasses, which are supposed to be more cost effective than their 3D Vision active shutter glasses. These 3D glasses connect to your PC via USB, getting power and data over the cable rather than infrared signals.

The retail price for these glasses is $99 and since they are wired, they don’t need a battery. The wire hangs down on the left size and the glasses come with a 10-foot USB cord, to ensure that it reaches your desktop. Active-shutter 3D glasses are still quite expensive, which is why NVIDIA released this wired version to keep costs down.

These glasses are lighter and cheaper than usual 3D glasses. Cheaper is a strong word, as you can find the NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses for around $94 on the web, so it’s fair to say that the wired version will have to be significantly cheaper to be worth the while. They will be available in late June. Honestly, I don’t think the 3D fad will continue for long. In fact, news outlets are already reporting that the 3D market is fizzling out.

[via Ubergizmo]

Nike Hindsight Cycling Glasses Concept Design Will Let Cyclists Know What Hit Them

Lambert Varias — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:51 +0000

Designed by Billy May for Nike, the Hindsight is a concept design for cycling glasses that extends a person’s vision by up to 25° on each side. The extra vision is achieved by attaching curved Fresnel lenses on each side of the glasses.

Of course it still depends on the person wearing it to actually take advantage of the extra peripheral vision; not even Geordi’s VISOR can save absent-minded folks from accidents.

The image below shows us how the scope of the extra vision that the Hindsight gives, allowing the biker to see the car that’s about to run him over. I’m pretty sure the car will hit the biker. Hindsight = not effective.

Unless of course those are Blue Laser Propellers of Death coming out of the Hindsight. If that’s the case, then Hindsight = effective.

[via GadgetGrid]

Bike Wheels Reveal Hidden Messages

Technabob — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:55:00 +0000

Here’s a cool gadget that lets you send messages using the wheels of your bicycle. By using an optical illusion called persistence of vision, your words are revealed as you pedal your bike.

The Lampex Lex module screws onto the spokes of your bicycle, and produces rapidly flashing sequences of LEDs to display your messages. The device connects to your computer’s USB port, and can be programmed in English, Japanese or Chinese characters using the included message creation software. It’s even waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about wet roads damaging it. You can see a video clip of the Lex in action here (and no, I have no idea what the deal is with the guy in the horse head at the end of the video).

The Lex module is available for pre-order from Japan’s Digital Cowboy for ¥3980 (appx. $35 USD).

Raving Rabbids to Get Motion Control on Xbox 360

Technabob — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:16:50 +0000

Rayman: Raving Rabbids has been one of the showcase titles for the Nintendo Wii’s motion sensing controller. Up until now, I had assumed that other platforms would be stuck with crummy joystick control for this game that screams out for something more.

IGN is now reporting that the Xbox 360 version of the game will actually support motion control, using the Xbox Live Vision Camera peripheral for more than half of the title’s 70 mini-games. In addition, the game will get improved graphics, and a few additional mini-games including “Bunnies Don’t Play Basketball” and “Bunnies Don’t Play Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

Rayman: Raving Rabbids for the Xbox 360 should hit store shelves on March 6th, 2007.

[via Digg]