A group of researchers from several universities led by MIT have shown that robots controlled mentally by suitably equipped humans who are multitasking can take over some of the workload when needed. The Brainput project had researchers use a technique called "functional near-infrared" imaging to measure the activity of brains in test subjects.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1f64136a/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C751220Bhtml/story01.htm

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For today only, the iMore Store has the Marware SportShell Convertible for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $22.95! That's a whopping 45% off! Get them before they're gone!

• Get the Marware SportShell Convertible for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/QmPdFwXKmpc/story01.htm

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With Square yet to reveal when or where it might offer its mobile payment service in Europe, and PayPal apparently still only talking with would-be partners, the door is wide open for more local players to jump in and pick up some market share. Sweden's iZettle, which often gets compared to Square, is now doing just that: today it is launching its iOS, dongle-based mobile payment service to the UK, four months after its pan-nordic live launch, and as it is preparing to launch an Android version of its product later this year. iZettle kicking off its service by giving away 3,000 card readers to small businesses and sole traders in the country as part of its invitation-only beta, which it is running in cooperation with MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. In its still brief life, it has seen some decent traction in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, where it now has 50,000 active merchants on its network.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/UjyRpYg_BEA/

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You can never have enough apps, right? With that in mind, Microsoft's rolling out a couple of new applications to Xbox 360s in the US and Canada. For starters, those of you living Stateside will now have access to Manga Entertainment and MUZU.TV (also available in the True North); the first of which allows you to watch free video content from its catalog, while the latter has around 40,000 music videos ready for your viewing pleasure. In addition to the aforementioned apps, the Australia-only FOXTEL application has been updated with support for Redmond's Kinect, allowing Oz folks to control it with hand gestures or by voice. We've already seen the new apps pop up on our Xbox, so you should be seeing them hit your console any time now.

Microsoft rolling out new apps to Xbox 360, including MUZU.TV and Manga in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/microsoft-xbox-360-manga-muzu-tv-foxtel-apps/

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Today in international tech news: Microsoft backs Russian startup "Pirate Pay," which claims it can track and thwart illicit downloads around the globe. Elsewhere, Renren, China's Facebook equivalent, releases a lackluster earnings report, while Baidu, China's Google equivalent, enters the smartphone market -- and taps into the void left by the country's block of Google Drive.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1f615e31/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C751160Bhtml/story01.htm

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With so much information readily available at our fingertips, a multitude of devices to access it from and an increasing outside demand for our divided attention, it's easy to short-circuit on the productivity front. But there's a bright spot on the horizon as emerging research out of MIT is poised to help offload the burden shouldered by our overtaxed grey matter with a much needed and intuitive assist from human-robot systems. The Brainput project -- as the collaborative effort is known -- combines near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with an input system designed to read changes in a user's brain state and translate those signals into an adaptive multi-tasking interface. Sounds like heady stuff, but if successfully implemented into high-stress environments like air traffic control, the low-cost, experimental tech could go a long way to boosting individual performance and reducing overall stress levels. For now, the team still has a ways to go before the system, presently capable of interpreting three distinct mental states, could make its way into end user applications. Curious for a more in-depth, jargony journey through the project's ins and outs? Then click on the source below for your daily dose of scientific head candy.

MIT's Brainput reads your mind to make multi-tasking easier originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/

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The editors of Gadget Lab recap the tech industry news stories that had the biggest impact in 2011. Apple and Google led the way, but that doesn't mean other companies didn't capture a few news cycles -- if only for nefarious reasons.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/tech-2011-biggest-news-stories-of-the-year/

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Celebrity headphone endorsements are very à la mode right now, and we've seen Ed Hardy's trademark tattoo stylings defacing gadgetry before, so, if you were the one lamenting the glaring omission that was Hardy-branded cans, then he obviously got your letter. The new "Stereo" range evidently refers to the two designs available thus far: Skull and Bones for the over-ears ($66), while your in-ears get some Tiger power ($29). The in-ears also feature a microphone, presumably so you can call for help from the fashion police. Both are available now.

Ed Hardy headphones hope to ink up your ears originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/01fzQ_hiDX0/

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Over the past few years, I have had no less than three custom monitors created for me. All of which involved a separate trip to the audiologist to have specially-made molds of my ears created for the monitors to be made from. These visits had to be scheduled and involved a commute to have pink [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/26/sculpted-eers-pcs-200-custom-molded-earphones-review/

SYNTAXBRILLIAN SYNOPSYS SYNNEX SYMANTEC SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED

If you're reading this now and have experienced the wonders of modern air travel then you have surely suffered through what I call the "Terrible 10,000 Feet." This is the period between the clunk of the cabin door closing and the bong of the cabin indicator, the chime signifying arrival of the magic altitude where "approved electronic devices" can then be used again. The first half of the worst part of the flight is then over -- the latter half to commence as soon as the plane dips again below that gadget ceiling.

This is the loudest part of the flight -- engines throttled up, flaps and gear hanging in the breeze and scared kids doing their best to drown all that out with screams and shouts. It's exactly when you most want to use your portable music player, and exactly when you aren't allowed. We've been told that this is for safety reasons, to prevent interference from the myriad devices carried by a cabin full of passengers, but that's never quite felt satisfactory to me. (Why is it okay to use those very same devices over 10,000 feet? Why can pilots use iPads but I can't?)

So many questions, but I'm not here to second-guess the people whose jobs it is to keep me safe as I schlep myself, my roller bag and my personal item across the country yet again. I'm here to propose a very simple solution: a certification program in which manufacturers submit devices for testing and the FAA charges a (possibly hefty) fee for their approval. It could not only improve the lives of frequent travellers like myself, but could also stand to provide millions in funding to the FAA, funds that could be put toward its unfortunately named NextGen air traffic control system. Win win? Read on and decide for yourself.

Continue reading Editorial: How FAA-certified gadgets could improve air travel and eliminate the Terrible 10,000 Feet

Editorial: How FAA-certified gadgets could improve air travel and eliminate the Terrible 10,000 Feet originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/SnUBXEdmCrg/

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