Being unable to walk quickly can be frustrating and problematic, but it is a common issue, especially as people age. Noting the pervasiveness of slower-than-desired walking, engineers at Stanford University have tested how well a prototype exoskeleton system they have developed -- which attaches around the shin and into a running shoe -- increased the self-selected walking … [Read more...] about Ankle exoskeleton enables faster walking
How Trump’s zombie Facebook page became a weird internet memorial
At first glance, Donald Trump’s Facebook page seems like it’s been dead for months.The former president’s last post is dated 3:14 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021, the afternoon of the Capitol riots, as he called for “everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful.” Not long after he published that, Facebook — and many other social networks — banned him indefinitely for inciting the riots, … [Read more...] about How Trump’s zombie Facebook page became a weird internet memorial
Artificial intelligence model predicts which key of the immune system opens the locks of coronavirus
With an artificial intelligence (AI) method developed by researchers at Aalto University and University of Helsinki, researchers can now link immune cells to their targets and, for example, uncouple which white blood cells recognize SARS-CoV-2. The developed tool has broad applications in understanding the function of the immune system in infections, autoimmune disorders, and … [Read more...] about Artificial intelligence model predicts which key of the immune system opens the locks of coronavirus
Pepper the robot talks to itself to improve its interactions with people
Ever wondered why your virtual home assistant doesn't understand your questions? Or why your navigation app took you on the side street instead of the highway? In a study published April 21st in the journal iScience, Italian researchers designed a robot that "thinks out loud" so that users can hear its thought process and better understand the robot's motivations and … [Read more...] about Pepper the robot talks to itself to improve its interactions with people
A growing problem of ‘deepfake geography’: How AI falsifies satellite images
A fire in Central Park seems to appear as a smoke plume and a line of flames in a satellite image. Colorful lights on Diwali night in India, seen from space, seem to show widespread fireworks activity. Both images exemplify what a new University of Washington-led study calls "location spoofing." The photos -- created by different people, for different purposes -- are fake but … [Read more...] about A growing problem of ‘deepfake geography’: How AI falsifies satellite images
Mechanical engineers develop new high-performance artificial muscle technology
In the field of robotics, researchers are continually looking for the fastest, strongest, most efficient and lowest-cost ways to actuate, or enable, robots to make the movements needed to carry out their intended functions. The quest for new and better actuation technologies and 'soft' robotics is often based on principles of biomimetics, in which machine components are … [Read more...] about Mechanical engineers develop new high-performance artificial muscle technology
There’s a new PlayStation 5 coming out. Is it worth it?
I’ve spent the past week jumping between the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 — the two consoles that will officially herald the start of the next video game generation. After an almost eight-year run, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One eras are coming to an end, and the timing, for various reasons, could not be better. Many, after all, will no debt relish an escape after … [Read more...] about There’s a new PlayStation 5 coming out. Is it worth it?
No dirt? No farm? No problem. The potential for soil-less agriculture is huge
Imagine kale that doesn’t taste like a punishment for something you did in a previous life. Envision leafy greens that aren’t limp from their journey to your plate. Anticipate the intense flavor of just-picked herbs that kick up your latest culinary creation a notch or three. Then consider the possibility that such advancements will play a role in altering the face of … [Read more...] about No dirt? No farm? No problem. The potential for soil-less agriculture is huge
The tech behind ‘Fortnite’ and ‘The Mandalorian’ is now driving … Shakespeare?
Eight actors are deep into rehearsal in a studio in Portsmouth, England, a little more than a week before the first public performance of “Dream,” the Royal Shakespeare Company’s online work inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” As the actors work, director Robin McNicholas rattles off some of the cultural touchstones that inspired the production. Among them: popular video … [Read more...] about The tech behind ‘Fortnite’ and ‘The Mandalorian’ is now driving … Shakespeare?
AI algorithms can influence people’s voting and dating decisions in experiments: Researchers highlight need for public education on impact of algorithms
In a new series of experiments, artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithms were able to influence people's preferences for fictitious political candidates or potential romantic partners, depending on whether recommendations were explicit or covert. Ujué Agudo and Helena Matute of Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE … [Read more...] about AI algorithms can influence people’s voting and dating decisions in experiments: Researchers highlight need for public education on impact of algorithms