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Microchip Implant Gets You Into Baja Beach Nightclub
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,
Want to get into your fave nightclub without the wait? The Baha Beach Club in Barcelona has implemented a microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, that can be injected under your skin. A 10-digit personal number then connects directly to your bank account. PR Manager Steve Van Soest says that the chip costs 125 EU (~$158) with 100 EU (~$126) credited to your account. With your VIP status, not only do you not have to wait in line, you don’t have to pay an entrance fee.
So far the chip is available only at The Baha Beach Club, but the European retail market is also looking into biometric payments. Although the UK Institute For Grocery Distribution’s survey claims that one in 10 teenagers and 1 in 20 adults would be willing to go along with this concept, just thinking about injecting that into our arms gives us chills.
Read More 
| AP Online Video Network
Gallery: Microchip Implant Gets You Into Baja Beach Nightclub
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This is almost too spooky. A while back we told you about the Winebot that can help you choose your wine and recommend cheese. Then we found the Robo Waiter who can also entertain (sort of.) Now we have uncovered a bot that cooks. With a refrigerator door design, the AIC (Artificial Intelligent Cooking) holds recipe ingredients until you select the dish you want from its instrument panel. Four minutes later, you get a meal.
At a cost of over $2.5 million, Inventor Liu Xinyu explained that it took him, other scientists, and several chefs over four years to create the prototype. As of now, the AIC can only make about 130 dishes, but Liu and his company Pansum foresee thousands of Chinese, Thai, and Western entrees. He is currently looking for partners to help him manufacture his bot, produce ready-made ingredients for it called “Precise Meals,” and market it by 2007. So we’re thinking we’ve got us a bot restaurant. Who’s with us?
Read More | People's Daily
Gallery: AIC Bot Cooks
Warning, Will Robinson! White Box Robotics’ 9-Series 914 PC-BOT allows you to create your own robot with off-the-shelf computer parts. The bot can follow programmed directions or manual navigation, and lets you see through its eyes with a supplied web cam to your home or office from any browser. It even responds to verbal commands.
The 914 features a fully functional Windows XP PC, and its inventor Thomas Burick claims that his bot can be used for gaming, entertainment, home security, or eldercare. PC-BOT was displayed at this past weekend’s digitallife in New York and a Special Edition is now available at price of $CAD 5,599.99 (US$4995.) This bot doesn’t come cheaply, but if you can install and configure PC components and software, you can have your very own Robby The Robot.
Read More | White Box Robotics via digitallife
Gallery: Design-A-Bot Possible With 914 PC-BOT
This engaging little Robo Waiter is in Hong Kong taking orders with no backtalk. He shows customers to their tables and waits until they speak into his microphone. The message is then relayed to the kitchen where we presume it is still cooked by a real person. Peter Chow, Director of CyberRobotics Technology, claims that restaurant sales have increased by 20 to 30% since he has been “hired.” Although the bot does not deliver food, it is certainly a big improvement over that tacky Jack In The Box clownhead speakerphone.
Read More | CBBC News
Gallery: Robo Waiter Takes Orders
Yesterday we told you about Chroino, the clever little bot designed by Tomotaka Takahashi. Today, his creator told GearLive that although Chroino is still at the prototype stage, his cousin Manoi can fulfill all your robotic dreams.
In addition to being the founder and hanging out at Robo Garage, Tomotaka is working with Japan’s Kyosho Company and has produced Manoi PF-01, whom he refers to as having a unique, comical personality. Manoi will be put through his paces at this year’s Japan Model Hobby Show which will run October 21 and 22 and can be adopted for 1100 EUR, ~$1400.
Read More | Kyosho Company via Tomotaka Takahashi
Gallery: Manoi Comes Out To Play
Chroino, created by Robo Garage’s Tomotaka Takahashi at Kyoto University, made his debut at this past weekend’s NextFest. This amiable little robot, made of carbon and plastic, has a monocoque frame and uses a new technology named SHIN-Walk, so that he can trek around more naturally than the other robots. At a height of 35 cm and a weight of 1.05 kg, Chroino utilizes lithium polymer batteries, has a high athletic ability, and can be radio or PC controlled. Although still a prototype with no price tag, we already want to adopt the little fellow.
Read More | Chroino via Nextfest
Gallery: Chroino Walks Effortlessly
Ballroom Dance Robot Comes Out at NextFest
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,
Never go dateless to a prom again. Nomura’s Partner Ballroom Dance Robot (PBDR) first made its appearance at Japan’s EXPO 2005. This past weekend, the PBDR showed up at Wired Magazine’s NextFest in New York City. These $300,000 battery-powered prototypes can anticipate and match their partners’ dance steps by use of force and torque sensors.
Developed at the The Kosuge-Wang Laboratory located at Tohoku University, Nomura also hopes that someday their ladies will assist the infirm and elderly by walking with them. I wonder if one of them could take my dog for a leisurely stroll around the park and anticipate the use of a pooper scooper.
Read More | Nomura via NextFest
Gallery: Ballroom Dance Robot Comes Out at NextFest
Bleeding Edge Byte 030: A Look At Batteries
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Misc. Tech, Science, Videocasts,
|Download| - iPod-formatted H.264
|Download| - MPEG-4
Gallery: Bleeding Edge Byte 030: A Look At Batteries
Hitachi Bot Sports Sensory Laser
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
It just keeps getting scarier. Hitachi’s EMIEW (Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate) is now equipped with a sensory laser for navigation. The new bot will make its debut at the 2006 WAC (World Automotive Congress) in Japan which begins October 23.
The EMIEW keeps its balance using internal gyroscopes. It can locate its owner by voice recognition and can perform basic household chores, such as retrieving items from other rooms. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t aim that laser on the cat.
Read More | JapanCorp via engadget
Gallery: Hitachi Bot Sports Sensory Laser
Bang and Olufsen Medicom’s Helping Hand Aids Patients
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,
In a 2005 survey, nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients who were prescribed regular medication reported that they had forgotten to take their meds. You don’t have to be one of them. The intelligent Helping Hand reminds its owners when to take meds and keeps track of how well they have been doing. Pop a blister pack into it and it will send a signal to your computer or cell phone to remind you by use of a red, yellow, or green visual signal. It can also rat on you to your physician by uploading the information to him/her.
Specifically designed for the treatment of depression, hypertension, osteoporosis, and immuno-depressants, Helping Hand is not currently available directly to patients, but is instead distributed through Bang and Olufsen’s Medicom. Contact your them or your physician for price and availability.
Read More | Helping Hand Product Page
Gallery: Bang and Olufsen Medicom’s Helping Hand Aids Patients
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