My Science School

Central standard timing has partnered with E Ink to create the CST-01, supposedly the world's thinnest watch. At 0.8 mm the watch boasts the thinnest profile of any watch on the planet and weighs just 12 gms. The whole package consists of several flexible components that are laminated into a 0.5 mm unit, which is then photo-chemically etched into a piece of flexible stainless steel.

Since it uses e-ink to display the time, it barely uses any power at all. The micro energycell (MEC) that powers the watch can be recharged 10,000 times and lasts over 15 years. And on only a 10-minute charge, the CST-01 will run for up to a month. The MEC contains no toxic chemicals or heavy metals providing safety while being eco-friendly.

The CST-01 comes with a charging base (that you also use to set/program the watch). The base connects with a micro-USB cable that plugs into any standard USB port.

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Six European research institutes have been collaborating on a project called RoboEarth, "worldwide web for robots", that will allow robots to access a shared online database of each other's software. The first phase of the project, Rapyuta: The RoboEarth Cloud Engine, is up and running. Rapyuta's main purpose is to allow robots data-processing functions to be performed in the cloud. This means that the robots themselves won't require as much on-board computational hardware, and will thus be lighter, less expensive and more robust.

Each robot using the service has its own secure cloud-based computing environment.   Using a wireless connection, the robot uploads data to that environment, where it's processed at a rate that's reportedly much faster than would be possible using robot-based hardware. The results are then downloaded back to the robot, which acts upon them.

Additionally, environments of different robots can be linked together, allowing them to work as a team. Each environment could also be linked to the RoboEarth knowledge repository, allowing robots to draw upon the system's "collected wisdom" when necessary.

Picture Credit : Google 

Want to find the perfect song to match what you're feeling? Neurowear's Mico headphones use a brainwave sensor to detect your mood and play a song to match. Mico looks like typical over-the-ear headphones but with an EEG (electroencephalograph) sensor protruding from the front that allows the headphones to analyze the wearer's brain patterns and determine his/her mood.

When connected to a smart device running an accompanying app, the headphones will play a song chosen from Neurowear's database that matches the wearer's detected state of mind. The sides of the ear pieces illuminate when music plays and even show symbols - such as Zzz - if the user is sleepy, stressed or focused.

Playing songs to match someone's state of mind is definitely an interesting idea – kind of like Pandora, but with your subconscious choosing the playlist. It's hard to say how accurate the song matching software is though, and it's still a tad gimmicky (although less so than the aforementioned cat ears and tail). It might be interesting to see an inverse of the concept however, with the headphones playing an energetic song when detecting a person is drowsy, for example.

Neurowear has yet to reveal any details about when the Mico headphones might be released or at what price, but you can watch the video below to see them demonstrated with Japanese model/photographer Julie Watai.

Picture Credit : Google 

Twist ties, rubber bands, you've tried it all, but there's a better way to deal with the mess of wires that come with your tech toys. Recoil Winder is a spring loaded cable management system; just bend the cord in half, put the loop around an inner plastic hook, then pull lightly, triggering the spring which in turn pulls in the wire.

To get the cord out pull the head of the cable sticking out of the Recoil Winder until fully extended, and remove the cable from the hook. Available in three different sizes for various-sized cables, also included is a stand to keep your Winders organized.

Investors can opt for a broad variety of packages from US$8 for one small Winder, up to $2500 for 125 sets of Winders, a set being a rack with one Winder of each size. A single set will set you back $30, while two can be had for $55.

Even during writing, the pledges continued to rise, standing (as I write these very words) at $50,251 from just over a thousand backers, with a mean investment of $47. It would appear that a significant number of investors see the product as the answer to their cable management nightmares, and want to take advantage of introductory prices to stock up on a good number of Winders.

Credit : New Atlas

Picture Credit : Google 

Tired of adjusting your sound profiles manually? Here to ensure that your phone intelligently changes its profile is Smart Volume Control. Set specific times for certain sounds profiles to be activated on your phone or have your phone's current location monitored and change the profile according to location. It can even recognize via your calendar when you are busy and go on silent accordingly.

It's great for when you set your phone to silent but forget to turn it back on; just set a trigger for the loud profile to kick in when you're done with your lecture, meeting or a nap! It can also control the status of your Bluetooth and WiFi.

Its Speed Volume Mode dynamically adjusts volume according to the speed of the vehicle in which you're moving while its headphones mode ensures that sounds are muted when they are unplugged and restored once again when plugged in. Available on Google Play.

To turn this feature on, go to Settings > Sounds & vibration > Smart volume.

In Smart volume settings , you can individually turn it on/off for incoming calls, internet calling apps, music and video playback. For the media playback, you can also turn on/off notification when this feature is in operation.

Picture Credit : Google 

Ever wondered what an interpretation of your sleep might look like? The Sleep Art Project, a combination of sensing technology and robotics, can show you. ABB Robotics' smallest robot, the IRB 120, plays the role of painter, transcribing the overnight movements of sleeping guests participating in the project. Using software-processed data transmitted by 80 sensors embedded in the mattress, an individual's sleep pattern is converted into art when the IRB 120 selects colours from several paint pots and executes its work on canvas. The mattress sensors collect data related to temperature, movement and sound, feeding real-time information into a digital algorithm. This data is transmitted via Wi-Fi to the robot that converts the data into a visual interpretation of the energy and motion of sleep using an algorithm. The Sleep Art project is an example of how advanced robotics is transcending its traditional application in automated manufacturing and emerging into more visible roles in consumer marketing and entertainment. ABB's smallest ever multipurpose industrial robot weighs just 25kg and can handle a payload of 3kg (4kg for vertical wrist) with a reach of 580mm. It is a cost-effective and reliable choice for generating high production outputs in return for low investment. A white finish Clean Room ISO 5 (Class 100) version, certified by IPA, is also available.

Picture Credit : Google 

Jumpshare combines file sharing, screenshot capture, and video recording - all in one platform. With in-browser previewing of 150+ file types and sharing files without signing up for an account, Jumpshare might be the file sharing app you've been waiting for. Go to the site and drag-and-drop your file to the browser. You'll be taken to the 'file set view, where you'll see your file's upload progress. Add more files to that same set to share them all at once using the email link, share link or social network links. Each file can be up to 100MB each and each set can have up to 2GB of files. Best of all, you can share the set link while uploading files, and people with the link would be able to see the new files as you add them. Where Jumpshare really shines is with file previews, letting the recipient view most file types right in the browser, from Word docs to code files to Photoshop PSDs, so that they do not need additional software on their computer to view what you sent them.

You can record a part of your screen or fullscreen. Just open Jumpshare, select an area you want to capture and click the Record button to record a GIF. The GIFs are automatically uploaded to your online library and a shareable link is copied to your clipboard, ready to be shared. The best thing is that the website is well organized, so that you can keep an order and control of the files. In addition, the desktop application has a successful synchronization.

Picture Credit : Google 

The Techject Dragonfly is a dragonfly-inspired flying unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV), the tiny, 6-inch robot, like its biological inspiration, is able to hover in place like a helicopter as well as dart around the air with ease. Big enough to fit in the palm of an adult's hand, it weighs less than an AA battery It's powered by a 250 mAh lithium polymer battery that provides hover times of 8-10 minutes and a hybrid (hover/flight) time of 25 to 30 minutes.

There are various versions of the Dragonfly, from one that simply flies around controlled from your computer, iPhone or Android  smartphone to a more complex and expensive one equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, two cameras and more powerful motors. The Dragonfly can be used for tasks such as aerial photography, home/workplace security, swarm robotics, advanced gaming and...spying.

The Dragonfly have the ability to be equipped with up to twenty environmental sensors (including GPS and cameras), dependent on electronics package. At minimum, the unit was to be equipped with a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope as is required for controlled flight through inertial guidance. At most, the unit was envisioned to equip approximately 20 sensors, including 3-axis accelerometers, 3-axis gyroscopes, 3-axis magnetometers, an ambient light sensor, an ambient humidity sensor, and a differential/absolute pressure sensor.

Credit : Wikipedia 

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AFTERSHOKZ Bluez are the world's first pair of Bluetooth headphones that use bone-conduction technology to transmit audio waves to the inner ear through the skull, bypassing the eardrum completely. Place them on your cheekbones in front of your ears, and your ear canals stay open, letting you remain aware of ambient sounds while enjoying your tunes.

The ergonomic, one-piece wraparound headband wraps over the ears and features an adjustable (and removable) inner tension band to accommodate a range of head sizes. A make/ take call button on the right transducer and a pause/advance button on the left transducer give users total control over their music and phone calls right from the unit. Its rechargeable 250 mAh lithium ion battery is integrated into the headband and has a playback time of upto 6 hours. Plus they're sweat-proof and water-resistant. The Bluez also have a QR code on the inside of the band that takes you to a quick start guide when scanned.  The company offers two types, one wired, and one bluetooth. There are two generations of the bluetooth model. The first generation has been reviewed already, but the second generation is new and in limited supply for the moment.  The Bluez can even talk. Notifications about the connection status (whether the headset is in pairing mode or has connected) are spoken, as is a message to "charge me" when you have only minutes of battery left. After the Bluez have not played any audio for a while, pressing a volume button will speak the battery level.

Credit : AppleVis

Picture Credit : Google 

There are many types of keyboards, ranging from your regular rubber dome keyboards to mechanical ones. Then there are also on-screen keyboards, laptop-styled keyboards and etc. But what if you wanted a glass keyboard? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well it seems that such a keyboard does exist and was demonstrated at CES 2013. WITH its artistic body, the Luminae glass keyboard from TransluSense integrates a light pipe, infrared LEDs and visible LEDs for illumination in different shades of red, blue, white, and purple. The sleek keyboard comes equipped with three cameras that track your hand movement on its surface. The cameras look upward from below and see when your fingers break the light pattern. This translates motion into input using Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) technology.

Its custom keyboard skins allow you customize its functionality. With the custom key creation tool, you choose where keys, sliders and track pad space are located. So you can develop your own style and design the coolest surface ever. If you get tired of it, just peel it off and apply a new one.

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Sleep is crucial to health and Casper's The Glow Light, will  assist in easing you into a good night's sleep. Turn on the Glow to fill your room with warm LED light which then dims to darkness between a  15 minute to a 1.5 hour period - mimicking the setting of the sun and helping you get sleepier as it gradually dims lower and lower. In the morning, the process repeats in reverse, mimicking the rising of the sun for up to 30 minutes before the set wake-up time, thus waking you up alarm free. The Glow can be customized with its iOS and Android app and controlled by gesture - flipping it to turn it on/off, twisting it to adjust brightness and wiggling it to get a low light. The Glow has an ambient light sensor; if you wake up in the middle of the night, gently shake it awake and it emits only the dimmest glow to avoid jolting you wide awake. Multiple lights can be synced via Bluetooth for a more tranquil ambiance. The Glow's charging base powers the lamp directly and also charges its non-removable battery.

The Glow doesn’t have any existing smart home device integrations or voice control or anything like that. It can pair multiple units together and sync lighting options between them, but that’s about as sophisticated as it gets. It’s primarily a device that you’re supposed to use before you go to bed and when you get up.

Credit : The Verge 

Picture Credit : Google 

Spectre is an iOS camera app that uses artificial intelligence (Al) to create long exposures. Spectre can help you take photos of crowded, touristy places that nobody has seen before. Simply set a medium or long duration and take a shot to erase the crowd from a location. Capture the most special places.It can make a night-time city shot feel artistic by creating streaks of light from passing cars or apply a motion effect to running water. It also lets you capture busy places, or even clearing a street of cars. Using an Al-powered stabilization mechanism, Spectre keeps the exposure steady even without a tripod. It takes hundreds of photos over 3 to 9 seconds and merges the result to not only get a final still image, but also a video of the entire exposure. That means you can pick a different frame as your photo, apply live-photo effects, and even use the long exposure as a live-wallpaper. Exposures are saved as Live Photos; pick any frame in the sequence as the main image or use the final result as a Live Wallpaper on your device. Spectre works on iPhone 6 and newer and requires iOS 11 and above. Spectre is jammed full of impressive technologies to get the best possible image.

Picture Credit : Google 

Gmail comes with an incredibly useful feature that gives you a unified inbox for managing multiple email accounts, called Multiple Inboxes. Right clicking on an email in the web version of Gmail pulls up a menu that helps you organize your mails faster than if you were to use the buttons at the top of the inbox. You can even select several emails and any action you take using the right-click menu will apply to all of them - a useful time-saver when you're trying to manage the clutter in your inbox. It’s a useful little time-saver when you’re trying to manage the madness that is your inbox, a task best reserved for periods of heavy drinking and/or boredom.

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We've all been there: our smartphone slips out of our hands and crashes to the floor. A good case and screen protector might protect you from the worst of the damage, but can only do so much. That's where the ADcase comes into play. The case senses when it is in free-fall, quickly releasing eight legs from its corners which hit the ground preventing your smartphone's expensive and fragile parts from coming into contact with the ground. The spring-loaded 30 mm metal legs can be inserted back into the case, ready to go the next time you drop your phone. The case also includes an extra battery which can be charged by cable 00 or wirelessly. The ADcase is limited to recent iPhone models like the 6/6 Plus. The creator of this device has also won the top award from the German Society for Mechatronics for his phone case, even though the design is still a prototype. The thought struck Philip Frenzel, a 25-year-old engineering student at Aalen University in Germany when he broke his smartphone by hurling his jacket on the banister. Frenzel then started working on equipment that would save the phones from damage after an accidental drop

After four years of fiddling with the equipment, he came up with the phone case that houses sensors that can detect when the phone is falling. The case appears to work perfectly on flat surfaces, but there is no indication that results would be as solid if the phone is dropped on a jagged or uneven edge.

Credit : India Today

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Lego used over 1 million Lego Technic pieces to create a drivable, life-size replica of the Bugatti Chiron, one of the world's fastest cars. The Lego Technic Bugatti Chiron, which took more than 13,000 hours to complete, weighs 1,500 kg, is powered by an engine made up of 2,304 Lego Power Function motors, and has a top speed of 25 km/h. The model rides on real Bugatti Chiron wheels. The car's powered by two batteries, an 80-volt for the motor and a 12-volt for the steering and electronics inside the car, so there's no revving the engine or shifting gears here — but, hey, the lights work.

According to Lego, the 3,300-pound car can actually take you from point A to B; a former racing driver took it for a test drive and pushed it to 12.4 mph. Not racing-fast, but still, not bad, seeing as how it's Lego-based. To put it in perspective, a legit Chiron can reach 60 mph in only 2.5 seconds and has a max speed of 260 mph.

Credit : mashable

Picture Credit : Google