Internet and Technology

Article by Peter Renwick

A new programme called Sciencehorizons, sponsored by the UK government, plans to open up communication between the public, the scientists and the policy makers. Sciencehorizons encourages people to talk about their hopes and fears for technologies of the future, and will pass on their views directly back to the government. What this means is that you yourself can help shape the future of science policy today.

This exciting new scheme has just been launched, and the public is encouraged to download so called ‘discussion packs’ from the official website at Sciencehorizons The Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks said that he wants everyone, and not just the scientists to participate in this programme and share their views.

Debates generated by the ‘discussion packs’ will be recorded and passed on to the government in autumn. The results of these talks will then be used to shape future science and technology policy. The programme is funded by the Department for Trade and Industry and hopes to promote and facilitate better communications between the government and the people. “The exciting new Sciencehorizons project will help us learn what people think about the future of science and enable the scientific community to hear and respond to both their hopes and concerns for the future” said Martin Earwicker, the director of Science Museum who also heads the project.

The Internet has so far been a great catalyst in stimulating public debate about technology, science and world affairs and today, more and more blogs and virtual communities are springing up all over the world that allow all members of the public to participate in discussion and make their views heard. Sites like Scienceblog and Praetorium are giving ordinary people the chance to express their hopes and fears, and now, with the help of new initiates like Sciencehorizons, these views may play a part in ultimately shaping our own future.

Introduction

More seniors live alone than any other age group (Zhu, Sheng 2009). The aging and elderly often live without anyone like spouses and children in apartments, homes, and assisted living facilities. Elderly people could use more assistance with the duties and responsibilities that are required of living alone.  Helping elderly people to live a life that features more comfort and assistance would be of great advantage and profit.  Robots and sensors have proved to be the cutting-edge of assisted living technology. According to Zhu and Sheng, wearable sensor based activity has been gaining in popularity (2009). Force sense resistors and fabric stretch sensors can be easily integrated into clothing. (Zhu, Sheng 2009).

Machine algorithms have been used currently for human activity recognition. The combination of different machine algorithms is often the best way as it results in a more useful system (Zhu, Sheng 2009). These machine algorithms are used to detect the actions of a human like sitting down, standing up, and falling. In this manner, other robots or people can be informed if an elderly person falls or has an accident in their home.  

Senior citizens and the elderly currently suffer from social and physical isolation and chronic effects that include cognitive decline, mild dementia, low activity levels, and poor mood states. (Agnes, 2010) There are currently systems in process that will fight things like cognitive decline, mild dementia, low activity levels, and poor mood states. The lessening of social isolation is also being assisted with Facebook applications for home assistant technologies.

The SAIL System

SAIL stands for smart assisted living system (Zhu, Sheng 2009).  SAIL is an assisted living technology. The SAIL system consists of a body sensor network (BSN), a companion robot, a Smartphone, and a remote health provider (Zhu, Sheng 2009). The robot ascertains human intentions and situations from the motion data and vital signs of the older or elderly person. The robot must be able to recognize the person’s activities so that it can realize when or if the patient has a sudden fall to the floor (Zhu, Sheng 2009). SAIL is 2-step human daily activity recognition method combining the neural networks and the hidden Markov models (Zhu, Sheng 2009). The user of a SAIL system would use wearable sensors for human daily activity recognition. The sensors provide 3D acceleration, angular velocity, magnetic data, and temperature. A PDA, Wi-Fi, and a desktop are used together to realize when different activities take place(Zhu, Sheng 2009).Neural networks can spot the difference between moving activity from stationary activity(Zhu, Sheng 2009). Using computer algorithms, hand gestures can even be processed. (Zhu, Sheng 2009). When the elderly person falls down or has an accident, a companion robot can be communicated with to help the person. (Zhu, Sheng 2009). This may save the elderly person’s life. 

Robots

Prototypes are being designed to provide automated assistance to the elderly at home. This market will grow larger and larger as people live longer (Horowitz, 2010). The vision for one such robot, Kompai, is one in which family members would call the robot via Skype. The robot then utilizes ultrasonic sensors to detect the location of the person being called and navigate to that person. The person then answers the Skype videoconference call via Kompai’s tablet PC and Webcam. The robot might also be used with Facebook, MySpace, or some other social network. Interactive speech recognition would be available to assist elderly and dependent people (Horowitz, 2010). Kompai could also store a person’s daily schedule and shopping lists. Online calendars and weather could be accessed (Horowitz, 2010). Robosoft wants to partner with companies that make wireless physiological sensors. These sensors could be worn by a robot’s owner and the sensors could communicate blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, and other data through Bluetooth to the robot. The robot could then pass this information along to the person’s doctor (Horowitz, 2010).

CareBot is another robot designed by the same company. Instead of an assisted living facility, the CareBot allows seniors to stay in their homes. Isolation is reduced for the users of this system by initiating videoconferencing sessions with family members. The user can also access information regarding daily tasks and access Web tools on the robot’s touch-screen (Horowitz, 2010). The CareBot prototype runs five to 12 software-based GeckoSavant artificial intelligence(AI) engines that run on netbook-size PCs. GeckoSavant relies on sensor fusion. Sensor fusion is a combination of multiple sensor systems such as vision and hearing that allow the robot to maintain awareness of its surroundings (Horowitz, 2010). These types of robots may help citizens to stay in their homes.

Agnes

Agnes is a system that is currently in development.  Its areas of research include psychology of aging, activity detection, emotion recognition, social networking, and tangible and ambient interaction. Agnes uses the power of a dedicated social network to reduce feelings of loneliness and insecurity (Agnes, 2010).  The combination of home-based ICT and social networks is central to the very idea of Agnes. These things are used to connect the elderly person living at home with their families, friends, and caretakers (Agnes, 2010).  Agnes will utilize unobtrusive detection of user states and activities, a social networking technology platform, ambient devices, the needs of the older person, and the needs of the peole that care for them (Agnes, 2010). 

Conclusion

One of the many hurdles for these futuristic caretakers is acceptance. Usually, elderly people using PCs or mobile phones will take in robots in their homes in the same manner. University of Louisville’s Robinson takes a longer view and expects it will take another 20 or years or so, when baby boomers are in their 80s, for the robots to be widely accepted in seniors’ homes (Horowitz, 2010). Once the acceptance of assisted living technology spreads,  these ubiquitous assisted living robots and other technologies will be more common. Look for one in your neighborhood soon.

Works Cited:

Zhu, C., & Sheng, W. (2009). Human Daily Activity Recognition in Robot-assisted Living Using Multi-sensor Fusion. Retrieved November 27, 2010 from Computer Science Department, Oklahoma State University : http://www.cs.okstate.edu/​tacs09/​paper7.pdf.

Agnes User-sensitive Home-based Systems for Successful Ageing in a Networked Society. (2010). Retrieved November 27, 2010 from Agnes-aal: http://agnes-aal.eu/​site/​images/​agnes_brochure_feb072010.pdf.

Horowitz, B. T. (2010). Cyber Care: Will Robots Help the Elderly Live at Home Longer? Retrieved November 27, 2010 from Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/​article.cfm?id=robot-elder-care.

Interactive digital signage technology is on its way to going mainstream, being adapted into venues from a wide range of industries for streamlining processes, communicating with employees, guiding customers, and marketing.  One of these industries that is really conducive to digital solutions is the hospitality industry, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, and casinos.

If you have a large hotel, you might be considering this technology for your business, but aside from looking really cool, what can digital signage for hotels really provide?

Imagine the future for a moment–when digital signage has become a part of our everyday life.  This is what you could expect as a customer walking into a large hotel:

As soon as they walk into the door they are greeted by a large interactive display.  It’s impossible to ignore because it’s talking and telling them to, well, not ignore it, and aside from that it’s a pretty captivating display on its own.

It might have a lot of crazy graphics flashing scenes from your city behind a menu board or it might even have a virtual concierge standing their talking.  The customer select the options using digital touch-finger technology, depending on what their visit is about, and receives instructions.

In addition, the virtual concierge might show some pictures of the nicer rooms available, complete with the inside luxuries and a peek at the view from the balcony.  It would likely already know what rooms were available and only show these.  From there, the concierge would direct them to the counter if they were getting a room, and the customer would already know exactly what they needed to do.

While waiting in line, more digital signs might be there performing other tasks.  Perhaps there would be a large display with video highlighting attractions in the areas–scuba diving, hiking in the mountains, a zoo, or a casino.  The video would hype up customers and let them know about promotions and booking, which would obviously be available at the counter.

After checking in, the visitor would head to their room, but in a particularly large hotel, this can be a chore in itself.  In a new environment, it takes time to adjust.

Not to worry.  The visitor would find in every lobby or large hall that there was a digital wayfinding display in which they could simply touch with a finger where they wanted to go on a map and receive instant directions.  The map might even include the surrounding grounds, and if corridors or paths were off-limits because of construction, the map would have a simple feature allowing the operator to immediately cut that path off in the computer, causing the map to give the next quickest route instead.

Maybe after the guest had checked in and freshened up, they would be ready to go out for some dinner to explore the city.  And all around the hotel are digital signs displaying advertisements.  Some may be showing the hotel restaurant’s menu and have a sizzling display of the most popular dish, with audio providing the actual sizzling sound.

Hey, in the future, you never know.  Signs might even give off digital smells.  If you’ve been paying attention to all the recent breakthroughs in digital scent technology, you might realize it’s a lot more of a possibility than most think.

If you can see this image in your mind, you probably recognize the importance to not use these signs to completely separate you from the customer but instead to bridge the gap and expand on the relationship.  Give customers what they need where they need it, provide top-dollar service, and reap the profits.

Article by Kim Chambers

Electricity prices are set for another rise as oil prices have crept up above the $ 70 per barrel mark again. It’s probably time to evaluate your supplier and see whether you can maintain the lowest electricity prices for your household.

Predicting future price increases is extremely difficult to determine with any accuracy but one thing you can do to keep ahead of the game is to keep abreast with company news revolving around the major energy investments. This can give vital indications of impending electricity prices.

Take EDF Energy, for example. Last month, chief executive Pierre Gadonneix announced that he wished to raise electricity prices by a massive 20 per cent over the next three to four years, in order to cover the company’s investments in future technology. The company needs to invest in technology in order to secure more energy supplies. One month later and EDF have reported a 1.9 per cent increase in electricity prices for home owners and a 2.8 per cent tariff increase for business owners.

With the rising oil prices, it’s inevitable that all of the suppliers will push up their electricity prices by some margin but EDF’s declaration sets them apart from their competitors. The company is looking to secure future investments which will require capital. The company can, of course, generate capital from its investors (in this case the French state) but one of their best ways of being able to secure additional finances is through increasing prices.

EDF’s declaration should give a clear warning to customers that prices are set to rise, not just incrementally with the rising oil price, but dramatically to secure future energy. In which case, it’s probably time to switch utility providers. Using the internet to seek out the best deals online – armed with the knowledge that some companies are due for bigger price hikes than others – should help guide you to the safest bet for cheaper electricity prices.

Through keeping your ear to the ground on company announcements and recognising when key investments are going to require capital injections, you will be able to stay ahead of the competition. This will give you an edge, knowing the best time to switch your supplier to guarantee the best electricity prices .

So you are jonesing for that new surround system to make your home theatre or car the place for the best entertainment. Guess what…you are not alone. As I have found out, it seems to be a trend that is now spreading into many locations.

The integration of technology in the hotel industry is ever increasing. In a recent article in Hotel and Motel Management, Christine Blank writes, “technology is a focus of hotels when they decide to build or renovate convention spaces.” Blank continues, “Harrah`s New Orleans Hotel and Casino added electronic gadgets like electronic draperies, automated lighting and dimmer systems, and 60-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screens to their meeting space. An upgraded acoustical system was added to the ballroom of the Rosen Shingle Creek.”

Of course, surround sound is no longer just the option for the home. Manufacturer`s are now making surround sound available to your car stereo and DVD systems. The New York Times reported recently that, “multichannel surround sound systems in automobiles”, are becoming readily available. The report went onto to say that “in a multichannel sound system in a car, a Compact Disc (CD) player or a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player has to decode and separate six or more audio signals from a disc, which are steered individually to the speakers by the amplifiers. There are several multichannel formats, including Super Audio CD and DVD Audio on music discs, and Dolby Digital on movie discs.” With the newer technology it is becoming easier are more cost affective to add these luxuries to one`s vehicle.

So how does the technologically challenged wire their homes for the best experience? John Sciacca of Sound & Vision Magazine says, “to ensure that quality sound is distributed around a home you should use large speakers with more of them in big rooms and areas where the sound system is to be played louder.” Sciacca goes onto to add, “ceiling speakers must not be lined up with light cans or ceiling or in any rooms like the kitchen, where the listening position is constantly changing.” These little tips will add a more enjoyable listening experience. Lastly,Sciacca, mentions “that a remote control is necessary for the efficient functioning of a surround sound system.” And as all men (and some women) know, how in the world did we ever live without one.

Surround sound is the wave of the now, and in the future you will be hard pressed to find anyone`s home not wired for this once reserved for luxury enjoyment.

Article by Daniel Todman

The future of the medical and dental industry correlates to how technology advances in the modern world of healthcare. During the ancient times, seldom do we see dental clinics. Usually, the dentist’s house serves as the clinic itself. Today, dental clinics come in different locations, sizes, designs and styles. Often, the dentist’s taste of interior design affects the patient’s personal choice and feeling towards the dentist himself. A comfortable clinic results to a comfortable feeling towards the dentist. This is the reason why interior designing becomes a part to every dental building construction project.

Modern dental clinics are laid out according to modernization, as much as their innovations on medical and dental equipment. Aside from these, it had been a major concern already that interior design and decorative pieces abides to the hi-technological views of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to note that a dental office, clinic or any medical building should be planned with the present and the future technologies.

The dental clinic’s success is affected by the choice of materials put into it. Wall color, carpet color, ceiling height, lighting and other details of the like defines the quality of service one provides. These greatly affect the impact that the dentist may convey towards the patients. Relaxing and accommodating atmosphere of a dental clinic encourages clients to talk to others on availing the same services with you rather with other clinics.

By building the right dental office construction, free advertisement on one’s products and services becomes possible. A lot of construction firms provide clients with hassle-free office dental construction. Chicago and other cities in the country have a lot of these firms to offer.

However, it is best to take into extensive consideration also that the best results could only be realized with the best dental contractors. Chicago is only one of the best places to check out for dental construction companies that would surely build the future success of a dental or medical center.

Given this light, it is a challenge to choose the most reliable dental contractors. Chicago, like other health-focused places, offers an account to it available online for everyone to browse and check out.

Multi-functionality is without a doubt among the significant sectors of tech growth recently. Many of us have witnessed many devices handle a lot more functions as designers strive to compete in the money-making electronics market. TVs can now access the net; in fact, even cars can get connected to a remote server for GPS navigation assistance. Laptop computers now arrive with integrated mics and cameras. Handheld gambling devices now feature wi-fi online connectivity to download extra content and also compete with users worldwide. Products with various capabilities are most certainly the way the marketplace is advancing.

A primary illustration of this argument is the poor mobile phone. They used to be huge, requiring people to often carry it around with a strap over their shoulder. Eventually as technology developed and productions costs lowered, the size of phones was lowered and designers were able to add new functions.

At first these were features that are now commonly expected. Color displays, music players, cameras. In the past people were only be able to send a single text message at any given time and were limited to 160 characters. Nevertheless, people can now send out lengthier text messages as a string of more than a single message (though it is not counted as one message by the suppliers – in the event that you extend beyond 160 characters you will then be charged for two messages for example).

Now, cellular phones are great multi-featured devices. You can receive emails, catch sound and video, enjoy games on them, generate blog articles on them and much more. It is difficult to picture a process that a cellular phone can’t do! They now even have substantial memory capacity and others can have a memory card. A lot of users enjoy the usefulness and ease of having a single device in contrast to lots. And since cell phones are small and compact, they are usually the best size for the many functions they have begun to include.

It is without a doubt uncomplicated to understand just how technology convergence will continue to be the driver of technology innovations. Several products within and outside the home are today particularly smart and also have exceptionally developed technologies, usually empowering them to interact with other products in the home or on the web. You are now able to hear to new music with the refrigerator or tweet with the kettle. It is merely a matter of time before even more systems are incorporated into one.

This raises the challenge of where can technology go next? To start with, the escalating popularity of touch screens will probably play an important role in the development of technologies. Taking away the requirement for buttons, mice and keyboards will mean that a lot more devices will be capable of facilitating new technologies. Therefore, if a product features a smooth exterior then people will in time end up being able to interact with it. The futuristic product concepts found in many 1980s sci-fi movies are currently coming to being. Gratefully the clothing prophecies were not correct.

Even so, it is totally feasible that web based systems will also continue to converge. People have witnessed an increase in multi-featured programs and Internet sites. Customers no longer always must download independent computer programs for diverse jobs, several applications now smartly operate effectively together. Similarly, sites also provide a variety of applications. People can be part of websites that will absolutely sort out your Internet lifestyle for you: allowing you to import all your bookmarks online, saving them allowing you to gain access to them from everywhere. Manage your passwords online with one secure, safe password manager and then conveniently log into websites no matter where you are.

Technology corporations will no doubt converge numerous online and offline technologies so regardless of which gadget you make use of and where you are, you will be able to access all your data at any particular time. Social bookmarks, passwords, favorite songs, video clips, emails, work files and so forth. In addition to the net and websites.

Article by Tnglightedboards

skateboard shop : A skateboard, which was fully integrated with the latest technologies and one which could fly; a hover board like in Back to the Future. Then that is exactly what we plan to do and we are working on the beginning stages of the research report right now. The Skateboard with active RFID chips, it can dodge obstacles or incoming objects and also be fixed with the latest lidar, radar, stereo sonar and optical flow sensors.

Generally, the Skateboard with active RFID chips, it can dodge obstacles or incoming objects and also be fixed with the latest lidar, radar, stereo sonar and optical flow sensors. Then test them out and then make them even better. So, exactly what we plan to do and we are working on the beginning stages of the research report right now. Then try to make all the components fully integrated with the skatepark or a Video Game, the Virtual Reality C.A.V.E. or system or even a full on simulator.

Then the skateboards have been a fascination ever sense, of course all young boys of my age grew up with the first skateboards. In the first committee meeting for the report our team identified several potential emerging technologies that should be integrated into the hoverboard. The Hover Board/Skate Board/ Wave Rider could be used in any gravity displacement too. Earth, Mars, Moon. Then the Matching agility to human ability, the next step in the evolution of fun.

The Interactive Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality living room video game with skateboard, no worries when weather is bad. Then, with the eLearning initiatives make it fun to learn while riding a skateboard. The Holographic Image display project in front of the board so the rider can match it while flying thru the air to insure a perfect maneuver.

Try to Use the Mind Control to send commands to the hoverboard via the individual mind-mapping FMRI sequence generator. Then we can make the board invisible using MITs new light bending stuff. All run by the LED lights which are charging as each bump in the side walk jars tiny components, like a shake-able flash light.

So All this technology already exists NOW and it is only a matter of cost, weight and size.Actually, it’s almost here the way and so the journey begins; the skateboard of the future will fly and it will fly like nothing else.

For more details about Skate online, log on to http://www.tnglightedboards.com/

Annual session of the High-Tech Expo come to the party. While still immersed in the disaster areas misfortune of sorrow, but a better vision for the future at this time to become more intense and deep. High-Tech Expo will give us a chance to experience the future, if these two days you just have the time, may wish to international exhibition center to see??

Key words a saving and environmental protection

After enjoying today
Home Appliances
Industry, new products, new technologies and new concepts at the same time, “energy saving” is still the subject of constant scientific and technological innovation in order to “ecological civilization” one of the main line and the product is high-tech eye. The scene at the show, many companies have committed to the exploration of alternative energy and environmental technology, innovation, and strive to the best products and ideas in this exhibition focus on the win.

In the face of energy depletion, environmental degradation of the era, appliance vendors are continually “energy saving” technology, increase investment, so that “energy-saving green” technologies and products into the mainstream of development of the industry. In the exhibition site, Matsushita Electric,
Samsung
Electronics,
LG
A group of leading multinational electronics were developed showing the latest mainstream products. Worth noting that in the past relatively low-key
Washing machine
Manufacturing enterprises, in this battle on energy saving rather “conspicuous,” such as Panasonic’s DULL? DD30 pole direct drive motor and frequency conversion, “Optical Activity Bank” sterilization technology, Haier’s “wash the stop” technology, Samsung The “silver ions sterilization,” Technology Dengjun extravaganza, attracting many visitors stop.

This, there are industry experts said that this new convergence trends to fully display the characteristics of the industry is the exhibition currently lacking in the industry, especially in
White
Area, the High-Tech Expo in the influence of large brands, reflecting the dominant industry trend is unmatched by other shows. White goods “bigger” is not a simple superposition of components, but rather a complex technology upgrade, but the latest changes in consumer demand.

Key words 2 Art Luxury

The past two years, home appliances round of lobbying, stirred up “art style”, and intensified. In addition to the appearance of the increasingly complex patterns and decoration, choice of materials in manufacturing products, processing, molding, etc., the manufacturers are all out until then, full of tricks. Cobo in this meeting, this “luxury style” is sweeping the audience, especially those multinational brands in the promotion of sparing no effort in this regard.

Stunning debut in last year’s LG Crystal Art
Refrigerator
This ushered in the upgraded version, glittering Swarovski crystal Reinforced with eye-catching colorful “Tang Lines”, the white art grade raised to an entirely new level. Moreover, LG Electronics also “win the” introduction of art, including the latest for?? “Art washing machine” Tiffany , luxurious exterior contains the world’s most advanced smart water system, is the so-called “outside grade, there are quality . ” With the South Korean electronics giant Samsung is the first of more to the “double injection” technology for the new 650 series TV’s borders, make it crystal clear like amber-like. The past, only with a special display technology to achieve 3D stereo vision capabilities, this is also perfectly moved to Samsung’s large “flat”, though still wearing the corresponding three-dimensional glasses, but the effect really is “ready to come out.” Japanese firms to be outdone, for example, Panasonic’s will be moved out of another world record?? The world’s largest 150-inch home
Plasma TV
As well as the large 103-inch
LCD TV
. As representatives of the manufacturers of domestic appliances, Haier Group, in addition to “The package of home appliances u-home” on the full range of pressure, it also took out the “first luxury notebook,” Heart V5, rain-delayed eye-opener for those present.

It is not difficult to see, taste and fashion in today’s inclusive, home appliances, “magnificent transfiguration” will bring the industry to upgrade again.

Article by Alessandra Juntilla

There is one question that most people are asking about cable TV. But what is that question all about? They have asked questions like “What is the future of cable TV?”, and we really can’t predict that. You know why? It is because only those people or companies who have invented cable and other TV sets may know about the future of it. Probably, we might not know it for sure, but we only know that it’s going to improve and even getting better and better once and for all. Let’s talk about on how the real future of cable TV lives on.

Cable TV, though has come up a long way, its future is in Cable Card. With the development of technology, Cable TV operators introduced set top boxes and cable internet. With the Cable Card, one would be able to pull pictures from websites like Flickr to the television. Cable cards will be fitted behind set top boxes. This facility will work with the multi- room DVR capability.

Now, one will be able to record a show with a hard drive on a box in living room and then can view on up to three other boxes elsewhere in the same house. This new system is worked by Time Warner and Cox Cable Networks and soon will be introduced in USA.

The future of Cable TV is moving towards High Definition Television, Interaction Television and Time Shift Television. DTH service is gradually gaining a stronghold of consumers into the market. Indian Television Industry is expected to grow by 11.4 percent over the period of next four to five years in the future. Relatively, Cable TV distribution is expected to grow higher than the television advertising industry. The contribution will grow in television distribution industry from Pay TV subscribers and Pay TV homes.

Television Advertising Industry on the other hand, might see a fall down due to economic crisis in the world. However, India is still expected to grow due to the domestic demand and advertising on television in collaboration with China. Cable homes are expected to grow to 80 million homes from 71 million through semi – urban and rural areas. DTH service will also add to increase in the growth of the Cable TV in the near future. The day is not far when HDTV Future Technology is going to grow Cable TV as a source of promising industry in the future.