The purpose of this blog is to keep you in touch with the latest artificial intelligence reports,researches and inventions with the latest technology and computer reviews of latest games and much more about I.T universe.
Programming computers to play games has been central to Artificial Intelligence research since its early days back in the fifties. By now, most of us have heard of IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer defeating world chess champion Garry Kasparov in the game of chess and becoming the first ever computer to defeat man in this very complex game. Less than 3 years ago, we wrote about Jonathan Schaeffer's unbeatable checkers program known as Chinook; it took the researchers in Schaeffer's group 18 years to explore enough of the search space to solve the game of checkers. The same group is now trying to develop expert poker playing programs and recently they organized the first ever man-machine poker challenge (man was the winner of this first encounter.)
However, few people know about the first ever chess playing program.
This program was designed by no other than the famous British mathematician and computer pioneer Alan Turing. Starting in 1948, Turing wrote the program in collaboration with D.G. Champernowne, a former undergraduate colleague of his. Four years later in 1952, when it was time to have a match against a human opponent, Turing had no access to a computer fast enough to execute his state-of-the-art program and so he did what every one of us would do in the same situation; he simulated the program using pen and paper requiring half an hour of computation for each move!
The game was won by the human participant Alick Glennie who was another of Turing's colleagues. Alick defeated the computer in 29 moves playing the black pieces.
If you are a chess enthusiast, you can check out the full game here. The image at the top of this post shows the board at its conclusion.
FuRo Robotics‘ Wireless Intelligent Networked Device (WIND) is a system that allows for the control of robotic devices through the use of a wearable harness. The harness detects and tracks the movement of the wearer, translating it into commands for a remotely controlled machine that mimics human action.
Thermaltake offers the BlacX 5G USB 3.0 hard drive docking station. The BlacX 5GB works with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA I/II/III hard drive or SSD up to 2TB and supports hot-swapping.
The Thermaltake BlacX 5G supports plug-and-play. It is backward compatible with USB 2.0/1.1.
A latest invention by MIT Media Lab is a new robot that is able to show various facial expressions such as 'slanting its eyebrows in anger', or 'raise them in surprise', and show a wide assortment of facial expressions while communicating with people.
This latest achievement in the field of Robotics is named NEXI as it is framed as the next generation robots which is aimed for a range of applications for personal robots and human-robot teamwork.
DESIGNING
The head and face of NEXI were designed by Xitome Design which is a innovative designing and development company that specializes in robotic design and development. The expressive robotics started with a neck mechanism sporting 4 degrees of freedom (DoF) at the base, plus pan-tilt-yaw of the head itself. The mechanism has been constructed to time the movements so they mimic human speed. The face of NEXI has been specially designed to use gaze, eyebrows, eyelids and an articulate mandible which helps in expressing a wide range of different emotions.
The chassis of NEXI is also advanced. It has been developed by the Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics UMASS (University of Massachusetts), Amherst. This chassis is based on the uBot5 mobile manipulator. The mobile base can balance dynamically on two wheels. The arms of NEXI can pick up a weight of up to 10 pounds and the plastic covering of the chassis can detect any kind of human touch.
CYNTHIA BREAZEAL: HEAD OF THE PROJECT
This project was headed by Media Lab's Cynthia Breazeal, a well known robotics expert famous for earlier expressive robots such as Kismet. She is an Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT. She named her new product as an MDS (mobile, dextrous, social) robot.
FEATURES OF NEXI
Except a wide range of facial expressions, Nexi has many other features. It has self-balancing wheels like the Segway transporter, to ultimately ride on. Currently it uses an additional set of supportive wheels to operate as a statically stable platform in its early stage of development. It has hands which can be used to manipulate objects, eyes (video cameras), ears (an array of microphones), and a 3-D infrared camera and laser rangefinder which support real-time tracking of objects, people and voices as well as indoor navigation.
WINDOWS is a name that has ruled the whole computer world since its first launch in November 1985. Since then it is like a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
With many advanced versions of Windows available today such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, it is the most used operating system in the world. In 2010, Microsoft is going to launch WINDOWS 2007, but now here is time to experience a yet another technology of operating systems.
Yes, MICROSOFT is working on a new generation of operating systems called Cloud-Based Operating System and rumors are there that MIDORI will be their first such operating system, which will replace Windows fully from computer map.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
MIDORI is an offshoot of Microsoft Research's Singularity operating system. In this the tools and libraries are completely managed code. MIDORI is designed to run directly on native hardware (x86, x64 and ARM), will be hosted on the Windows Hyper-V hypervisor, or even be hosted by a Windows process.
MIDORI can be also seen as MICROSOFT'S answer those competitors who are applying "Virtualization" as a mean to solving issues within contemporary computing.
The main idea behind MIDORI is to develop a lightweight portable OS which can be mated easily to lots of various applications.
IMPORTANCE OF MIDORI
For knowing the importance of MIDORI you have to think about, how an operating system is loaded on a computer. Actually operating system is loaded onto a hard disk physically located on that machine. In this way, the operating system is tied very tightly to that hardware. As Windows is dependent on hardware, it might face opposition from contemporary ways of working because people are extremely mobile in using different devices in order get diverse information.
Due to this trend installing different applications on a single computer may led to different compatibility issues whenever the machine require updating. The new operating system will solve these problems by the concept of Virtualizing. This will solve problems such as widespread security vulnerabilities, unexpected interactions among different applications, failures caused by errant extensions, plug-ins, and drivers and many more.
ERIC RUDDER, Senior Vice President, Technical Strategy
The importance of this project for MICROSOFT can be understood by the fact that company choose Eric Rudder , former head of Microsoft's server and tools business and a key member of Chairman Bill Gates' faction of the company, to handle it.
WHEN WILL IT BE LAUNCHED
Just Wait and See. Microsoft has not declared any such date about launching of MIDORI, but there are rumors that this project is in incubation phase.
For the first time, microscopic robots made from DNA molecules can walk, follow instructions and work together to assemble simple products on an atomic-scale assembly line, mimicking the machinery of living cells, two independent research teams announced Wednesday. These experimental devices, described in the journal Nature, are advances in DNA nanotechnology, in which bioengineers are using the molecules of the genetic code as nuts, bolts, girders and other building materials, on a scale measured in billionths of a meter. The effort, which combines synthetic chemistry, enzymology, structural nanotechnology and computer science, takes advantage of the unique physical properties of DNA molecules to assemble shapes according to predictable chemical rules.
The DNA work is a small part of a nearly $9 billion research-and-development effort world-wide, according to the private Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, which tracks environmental and health concerns arising from the new technology. So far, new nano-materials have been incorporated in hundreds of electronic, cosmetic, automotive and medical products made by 485 companies in 24 countries. But none involve these exotic man-made DNA objects. Both research groups tinkered with creations called DNA walkers—mobile DNA molecules, about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, that have three or more legs made of a string of genetic enzymes. Each leg moves forward based on its chemical attraction to sequences of biochemicals laid down, like stepping stones, in front of it. These robots are so small that the researchers program their actions by encoding commands in the world around them. They follow chemical cues programmed into the ground on which they walk.
CyberPower today announced a new series of 3D desktop gaming PCs based on the NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology to provide the most immersive 3D gaming experience imaginable across three high-resolution displays. This new technology literally gives you eyes behind your head by expanding your peripheral view of in-game action. With three monitors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX series GPUs pumping out realistic graphics you can: see enemies sooner and react quicker in first-person shooter games; get a complete view of the battlefield in real-time strategy games; or race your cars even faster because you will feel like you are in the driver’s seat at HD resolutions up to 5760x1080.
CyberPower customers can begin customizing a 3D-ready PC or a complete 3D Vision Surround system with 3D monitors and glasses. Gamer Xtreme and Gamer Ultra 3D Vision Surround PCs can be optionally equipped with powerful Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processors or AMD’s six core Phenom for smooth system performance. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 400 GPUs deliver the graphics horsepower to run your games in 3D stereo, across three displays, at HD resolutions up to 5760x1080. CyberPower’s 3D Vision Surround-based gaming PCs are cooled by its new Xtreme Hydro LiquidCooling solution featuring a 360mm radiator and can be easily factory overclocked. CyberPower 3D Vision Surround systems are also SATA-III and USB 3.0 ready to boost speeds and customized with a number of hard drives, SSD, Blu-Ray devices to enhance your 3D entertainment.
Hiding an object with a cloaking device has been the stuff of science fiction, but over the past few years scientists have successfully brought cloaking technology into reality. There have been limits, however. So far, cloaked objects have been quite small, and researchers have only been able to hide an object in 2 dimensions, meaning the objects would be immediately visible when the observer changes their point of view. But now a team has created a cloak that can obscure objects in three dimensions. While the device only works in a limited range of wavelengths, the team says that this step should help keep the cloaking field moving forward.
The cloaking technology developed so far does not actually make objects invisible. Instead, it plays tricks with light, misdirecting it so that the objects being "covered" cannot be seen, much like putting a piece of carpet over an object. But in this case, the carpet also disappears.
This field is called transformation optics, and uses a new class of materials called metamaterials that are able to guide and control light in new ways.
Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany used photonic crystals, putting them together like a pile of wood to make an invisibility cloak. They used the cloak to conceal a small bump on a gold mirror-like surface. The “cloak” is composed of special lenses that work by partially bending light waves to suppress light scattering from the bump. To the observer, the mirror appears flat, so you can't tell there is something on the mirror.
"It is composed of photonic polymer that is commercially available," said Tolga Ergin, who led the research team, speaking on the AAAS Science podcast. "The ratio between polymer and air is changed locally in space, and by choosing the right distribution of the local filing sector, you can achieve the needed cloaking. We were surprised the cloaking effect is that good."
The wavelengths of "invisibility" are in the infrared spectrum, and the cloaking effect is observed in wavelengths down to 1.3 to 1.4 microns, which is an area currently used for telecommunications.
So, what is the practicability of this device?
"Applications are a tough question," said Ergin. "Carpet cloaks and general cloaking device are just beautiful and exciting benchmarks to show what transformational optics can do. There have been proposals in the field of transformation optics for different devices such as beam concentrators, beam shifters, or super antennas which concentrate light from all directions and much, much more. So it is really hard to say what the future will bring in applications. The field is large and the possibilities are large."
"Cloaking structures have been very exciting to mankind for a very long time," Ergin continued. "I think our team succeeded in pushing the results of transformation optics one step further because we realized the cloaking structure in three dimensions."
Read the abstract.
Computer simulation of of a microscope image of the "bump" that is to be cloaked. The viewing angle changes with time.
Good news for all of you waiting for your HTC Incredible to ship.
We heard the rumors about HTC stopping production of certain models with AMOLED screens,
so Phil got on the horn and rung up HTC for some answers. HTC tells us that they will be
augmenting production with "Super LCD" displays from Sony, but models with AMOLED displays will still be made.
They say that they are almost indistinguishable from AMOLED displays, even when side by side.
(We'll just have to see, we guess.) The battery consumption is also supposed to be comparable.
In the end, this means that we should be seeing some stock on the shelves a bit sooner, and as far as HTC is concerned,
they are just as awesome as the original.
Whether or not this means a new model number for the Incredible,
Nexus One and Desire is anyone's guess, but we can all relax -- there's no conspiracy afoot.
As soon as we're able to get our paws on a model with the new display, you can be sure we'll put it through its paces.
MIT Media Lab graduate student Pranav Mistry demonstrates the Wear Ur World device, which would free data from the confines of paper or screen. (Credit: MIT) Step aside, Apple and Microsoft. If MIT's little Sixth Sense gadget sees the commercial light of day, we can toss our multitouch devices out the window. Who needs a Surface or an iPhone when the very idea of being able to access information by turning any flat surface into a touch-screen display sounds far more appealing? No surface available? Simply project a screen onto your hand, and voila. Shades of Minority Report?
he folks at MIT have christened their wearable prototype Wear Ur World (WUW), a device cobbled together using everyday gizmos like a mobile projector, Webcam, and mobile phone. Hopefully, when the final product does ship, it'll reveal a sleeker, less clunky rendition without the colored finger bands, and one that has a discreet mode for when you need to access information privately. As a demonstration of its capabilities, the wearer can draw a circle on his wrist, prompting the gadget to project a digital clock face, especially great for the myopic. In the near future, WUW could become an indispensible digital wrist companion to enhance your lifestyle. It could provide product and price comparison information when shopping, retrieve flight information to let the wearer know about delays, automatically pull up related information from the Web when requested, and even snap pictures when you frame a subject with your fingers. Too bad the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Web site hasn't yet uploaded a video of Dr Pattie Mae's recent TED presentation. Fortunately, here's one from Wired.com.
Bloggers have uncovered what are claimed to be internal Microsoft slides detailing some of the features planned for the company's next computer operating system—Windows 8.
The slides, which first popped over the weekend on the Italian blog Windowsette, are stamped "Microsoft Confidential" and "Under NDA".
Each slide contains a footnote that states, "Windows 8 Discussion, This Is Not A Plan of Record." They indicate Microsoft may be eyeing a Windows 8 release sometime in the 2012 timeframe.
Microsoft has not confirmed their authenticity.
If real, they would appear to show that Microsoft may be looking to mimic rival Apple's success in developing products that provides users with a more intuitive computing experience. For instance, one slide describes a scenario in which a gamer, armed with a tablet-style device, pauses to answer the doorbell.
"His game is interrupted by a knock on the door. He looks away, and the game pauses. Eric stands up and walks to the door," the document states. "Although the game is paused, the Lap PC adjusts for the change in light. Soon he's outside showing off his new Lapp to the neighbors."
The documents, if authentic, also indicate Microsoft is focusing on portability in Windows 8 from the ground up. They describe built-in support for motion-sensing accelerometers, ambient light sensors, GPS units, wireless networking, and cameras.
Microsoft also may be planning to mimic Apple in other ways, as another document supposedly reveals plans for a Windows "App Store."
With each new operating system release, Microsoft hopes to further erase memories of Windows Vista, which debuted in January 2007 and quickly thereafter was chided by many as the worst OS release in Microsoft's history.
Users complained about Vista's horsepower requirements, incompatibility with older apps, and intrusive security requirements.
The software maker appears well on the road to recovery with Windows 7, which launched last October to generally favorable reviews. Microsoft last week announced that it has sold more than 150 million Windows 7 licenses, making it the company's fastest selling OS ever.
Among the more interesting details in the deck are these:
An apps store. Apple's App Store has been a raging success, as has Android's Market. So Windows 8 appears as if it will also have an app store called, not surprisingly, "Windows Store." But there are no indications how Microsoft will manage the countless thousands of apps available for Windows, or many other details about the store at this point.
Improved energy efficiency. The slides spend a good deal of time describing the many ways in which Windows 8 will be more energy efficient, including an update to the core kernel manager, reduced power use while idle, better sleep and resume, and more.
Faster startup. Windows 8, according to the slides, will feature faster startup through a new feature that combines the Logoff and Hibernate states.
Push-button reset. This will allow you to re-install Windows with the push of a button. Most important is that Windows will retain all of your files, settings, applications, and so on, without wiping them out.
Face recognition. This new safety feature will let you log on using face recognition.
Support for slates. Slates are one of the form factors Windows 8 will support. WindowsPad anyone?
Better help and support. Every time a new version of Windows comes out, this seems to be on the punch list. We'll have to see if this time it actually happens.
Better identity management. The decks lay out a vision in which user accounts don't just live on one PC --- you can carry them from computer to computer, and to other devices. Identities can live and be backed up in the cloud. As a slide puts it, "Identity evolves from machine centric to user centric."
Again, it's not yet confirmed that the slide deck is real, and Windows 8 is likely two years away, so a lot may change. But don't be surprised if most or all of these features are in Windows 8.
