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Games on the Go: Let's Get Physical

Oscar the Cat Gets Bionic Paws, We Cower in Fear

'Java 4-Ever' Expertly Skewers Movie Trailers and Microsoft

Gliding Robot Stabs Walls to Autonomously Land and Take Off

by Caleb Johnson — Jun 27th 2010 at 5:02PM

A Swiss researcher has developed a mechanism for glider robots that allows them to land on any surface and then take flight again without human assistance. According to Popular Science, Mirko Kovac attached two needles to the front of the lightweight glider. The bot extends these needles as it's flying toward a surface, like a wood or concrete wall, and stabs them into it. It can safely hang there as long as necessary. When it's ready to take flight again, a tiny electric motor and gearbox remove the needles from the surface so it can safely glide away. Surprisingly, this whole rig weighs only 4.6 grams.

But it's this mechanism's impact on future flying bots that's really intriguing. By adjusting the size and weight of the landing needles, along with the power of the motor and gearbox, this same principle could be applied to much larger bots. So, rather than a flying bot the size of a dragonfly, researchers could develop an autonomous, flying bot that's the size of a vulture. Scary, huh? [From: Popular Science]

Tags: flight, flying, gliding, mirko kovac, MirkoKovac, research, robot, robots, top

U.S. Consumers Drop $55M on 3-D Tech in Three Months

by Caleb Johnson — Jun 27th 2010 at 3:01PM

We're still wavering on whether or not to invest in the 3-D TV revolution. But according to some recently released data from market research group NPD, many consumers aren't taking a wait-and-see approach. From an NPD press release, Engadget reports that U.S. consumers spent $55 million on 3-D TVs and Blu-ray players during the first three months the technology hit shelves. That may sound like a lot, but, in reality, it's only a drop in the bucket of what consumers spend on TVs across the board. NPD executive director of industry analysis Ross Rubin expects that 3-D technology will comprise only a small part of the total TV and Blu-ray player sales through the end of the year, too.

So what's keeping consumers from totally buying into the 3-D home craze? After all, you can play 3-D video games on the PlayStation3 now, and even watch MLB games in all their stereoscopic glory. NPD surveyed consumers, and discovered that people were mostly concerned with not having enough 3-D glasses for their friends and family. While just 10-percent of those surveyed were worried about looking funny, nearly 41-percent cited the previous concern, which is -- of course -- directly related to cost. It appears most U.S. consumers are waiting for prices to drop before spending wads of cash to equip their home entertainment systems with a technology that may be no more than a flash in the pan. Remember LaserDisc? [From: Engadget]

Tags: 3-d, 3D, 3dtv, Blu-Ray, business, shopping, study, top, trends, tv

Stephen Britt's 'Fast Forward' System Puts a Motor in Your Bike Pedal

by Lee Bains — Jun 27th 2010 at 1:00PM

A certain segment of the population is currently in love with two forms of transportation: bicycles and anything electric. That demographic, then, will be happy to meet their next enviro-crush: Stephen Britt and his Fast Forward electric bike pedals. According to Britt, the slightly lazy cyclist need do nothing more than replace his old Saucony-platforms with these suckers, and grin as he pumps those pistons in relative ease. (We don't understand how these things could really help you get moving without somehow engaging the bike chain, but whatever. That's why Britt gets paid the big bucks.) And the best part? Their weight is equivalent to "two tins of beans!" (In American, that'd be "two cans of Spam.") [From: Take One Small Step, via: Engadget]

Tags: bicycle, bike, bikes, biking, ElectricBicycle, electricvehicle, greentech, inventor, stephen britt, StephenBritt, top

Oscar the Cat Gets Bionic Paws, We Cower in Fear

by Matt Evans — Jun 27th 2010 at 11:00AM

Oscar the cat may have nine lives, but, until recently, he only had two feet. Earlier this year, during one of his ritualized field naps, Oscar had a run-in with a foot-swiping crop harvester, which left him bound to the litter box, unable to roll around with his favorite ball of yarn. After being taken to a local Jersey vet, Oscar was referred to Noel Fitzpatrick, a Surrey-based veterinary surgeon, who decided to outfit the crippled feline with a new set of bionic paws.

Converting Oscar into a bionic kitty was no simple task, and required the prototype of University College London's Professor Gordon Blunn (video after the break). Blunn's prosthetic pegs actually bond with surrounding skin and bone, once implanted, and effectively protrude outward from "stump sockets," making it easy to attach prosthetic limbs. Fitzpatrick told the BBC, "We have managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an 'exoprosthesis' that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal's limbs to give him effectively normal gait." This implant technology may soon find its way into humans. Thanks to the working prototype of a London scientist and surgeon, Oscar can now return home to America to continue napping and playing in fields. [From: BBC News]

Tags: Amputee, Bionic, Bionic Feet, BionicFeet, Cat, Gordon Blunn, GordonBlunn, Itaps, noel fitzpatrick, NoelFitzpatrick, Oscar, prosthetics, top, university college london, UniversityCollegeLondon

Google's Chrome OS Looking Better Daily

by Terrence O'Brien — Jun 27th 2010 at 9:01AM

Although it's only been a few months since November, it seems like forever ago that Google announced Chrome OS, its lightweight Linux plus browser operating system that is aimed at the growing netbook and tablet market. Over the past couple of months, we've caught a few tantalizing glimpses of its Web-app based future, including interface mock-ups and the announcement of an app store. We've even booted up a few early versions on a test PC. It's safe to say that development is moving along at a breakneck pace.

New images posted at the Google Code page for Chromium OS (the open-source basis for Chrome OS) reveal that many of the mock-ups have made the transition from idea to reality, and that the interface is moving away from just being the Chrome browser with a clock in the corner. Pop-up notifications that are very similar to Gmail's Google Talk windows have been added. There is also a side-tab option that moves the clock, network and message indicators and browser tabs to the right-hand side of the window -- leaving more vertical space for your apps.

Gallery: Chrome OS Takes Shape

Tags: chrome, ChromeOs, chromium os, ChromiumOs, google, GoogleChrome, operatingsystem, top

Drones to Patrol U.S.-Mexico Border in Homeland Security Plan

by Amar Toor Jun 26th 2010 at 5:02PM {1 comments}

How seriously does the Department of Homeland Security take illegal immigration? So seriously, apparently, that it's ready to turn the Texas border into Tora Bora. According to the AP, the government will begin deploying unmanned surveillance drones to the U.S.-Mexico border in a revamped attempt to stem the flow of illegal aliens entering the country. So far, Homeland Security has obtained ...

Sports Illustrated iPad Edition Lands, Runs You $4.99 an Issue

by Caleb Johnson Jun 26th 2010 at 3:01PM {0 comments}

Sports fans can now keep track of their favorite teams with a new iPad application. According to The New York Times, Time Inc. recently launched its official Sports Illustrated iPad app, which includes all the content found in the print magazine plus extra digital content. A new issue is available each Wednesday for $4.99 (the same price as the Wired app), and takes about four minutes to download. ...

Nesbot Rover Serves at Your Beck and Call for Coffee

by Warren Riddle Jun 26th 2010 at 1:00PM {1 comments}

BlueBotics develops impressive mobile robots that incorporate the company's unique Autonomous Navigation Technology (ANT). ANT serves as the backbone of BlueBotics' various innovative projects, including the driver-less Paquito industrial forklift, the Shrimp III planetary explorer and the ExoMars rover prototypes. Just like those ingenious machines, the BlueBotics creators need fuel, and -- ...

'Java 4-Ever' Expertly Skewers Movie Trailers and Microsoft

by Terrence O'Brien Jun 26th 2010 at 11:00AM {3 comments}

Chances are you've never heard of JavaZone. And nobody is going to blame you for being unfamiliar with "Scandinavia's biggest meeting place for software developers." But we guarantee you that after watching the video below you'll never forget it. As part of its marketing campaign, and anti-Microsoft agenda, the conference put together a trailer for a fictional film called 'Java 4-Ever.' The ...

BBC: Horse-Boy Google Street View Web Gimmick Is Important News

by Matthew Zuras Jun 26th 2010 at 9:00AM {1 comments}

Who is Horse-Boy? Internet mystery! You can debate your iamwhoiams all night, but Horse-Boy is a true conundrum. How do we know? Why, the BBC told us so. Britain's biggest news organization is baffled by Horse-Boy, a shadowy figure dressed in what could only be described as a perplexingly purple button-down shirt, who has a horse's head in his human head's place, and has made surprise ...

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