These Digital Characters Have a Full Musculoskeletal System

Posted on 17/07/2019 by Paul Strauss

In a quest to make virtual characters more realistic, engineers have been working on ways to make their skeletal structures and muscles more like those found in living beings. Recently, a technology was shown off which takes those simulated biological components to the next level.

Engineers Seunghwan Lee, Kyoungmin Lee, Moonseok Park, and Jehee Lee published the paper Scalable Muscle-actuated Human Simulation and Control, which includes a humanoid digital model with a full skeleton and 346 muscles The digital characters can even learn to kick, jump, run, and even lift weights. Two Minute Papers provides a brief explanation of the tech in the video below:

The simulation technology also has real promise for helping to learn about people with disabilities, how factors like bone deformity, muscle weakness, contracture, and even the use of a prosthesis affect their gait, and possibly to help doctors predict what sort of prosthetics or even surgeries might improve their movements.

Code for the project, dubbed MASS (Muscle-Actuated Skeletal System) has been released on GitHub.

[via Reddit]

The LastSwab Is a Reusable Replacement for Q-Tips

Posted on 28/04/2019 by Conner Flynn

While its been drilled into our heads lately that straws are bad for the environment, apparently, those Q-Tips you use take like a billion years to break down and they are hurting wildlife in the sea as well. LastSwabs are medical silicone grade tipped swabs that are designed for reuse to help prevent pollution.

This seems like a good idea, but I think it would feel pretty weird for most of us to use silicone at this point because we are so used to sticking cotton in and around our ears. But it’s probably a good idea to get used to it so we don’t kill the planet because we have to clean our ears. For $20 you’ll get you two reusable swabs and carrying cases. They come in ten different colors and they come in a nubby version for cleaning, and a smooth version for applying makeup.

Here’s a fun fact: Over 1.5 billion cotton swabs are manufactured every single day, and a lot of those find their way into the ocean. According to LastSwab, anyway. Never seen it myself. But their video has a fake seahorse all wrapped up in cotton swabs, so you know it’s the truth. Personally, I think it was just jousting.

[via This Is Why I’m Broke via Geekologie]

Fitness Trackers Detect Heartbeat from Toilet Paper Rolls

Posted on 05/12/2018 by Conner Flynn

I’ve never really trusted those fitness trackers. There’s just no way they can get accurate results. Actually, that’s just something I say to justify those extra doughnuts this morning. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some validity to my concerns. Recently, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 generated some controversy after one user found out that the latest fitness tracker from the Chinese gadget maker could detect what it thought was the heartbeat of a roll of toilet paper.

Hey, I’d be nervous too if someone was about to wipe poo on me. The first video of the quirk was posted on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. Soon after, others started exploring other objects that may be alive. Videos of the fitness tracker strapped all kinds of things started to show up online. Yes, bananas have a heart rate too.

The results were all the same; they all appeared to have heartbeats. Later, Chinese tech site Abacus made a video using other wearables, including Apple Watch Series 4, and an Android Wear device and they also picked up the “heart rate” of inanimate objects. Damn. Well, either everything is alive or these devices don’t work.

Actually, there is a logical explanation. It turns out fitness trackers and smartwatches use light to track the blood. The green light illuminates the capillaries in the wrist, while a sensor measures the frequency of the blood flow. Using an algorithm, the smartwatch is able to determine beats per minute. So it comes down to whether the light is absorbed or reflected, and that explains the mystery. Makes you wonder if it would detect a heart rate from a dead body though, doesn’t it?

[via Lost at E Minor via Mike Shouts]

Seetroën Glasses Relieve Motion Sickness, Look Ridiculous

Posted on 16/07/2018 by Conner Flynn

French car maker Citroën is currently working on special glasses designed to help reduce motion sickness for passengers. Apparently, they can eliminate motion sickness while riding in a vehicle. Then you can remove them until your next trip or keep them on because you just can’t get enough ridicule.

Here’s how they supposedly work: They use four liquid-filled rings that simulate an artificial horizon so that the motions of the blue-dyed liquids seen by the wearer’s eyes match what their inner ear is detecting. It’s a fairly simple idea. And you don’t even need to wear the Seetroën glasses for your entire entire trip. Apparently, it takes about 10 to 12 minutes for most users’ brains to cooperate.

Sure, they look silly, but motion sickness is a serious thing for many people. This could help them to function better when in cars and boats and such. It’s unfortunate that these spectacles make people look so silly. If only they had focused more on style.

Citroën say that this approach should cover about 95 percent of the population. The other 5 percent? Guess you need to bring a sick bag.

[via Gizmodo via Geekologie]

You Merely Adopted the Garden, I Was Born in It

Posted on 26/06/2018 by Shane McGlaun

Bane may have been born in darkness, but his pacifist brother, Fane, was born in the garden. If you want to roll around in his field of flowers, but have allergies, you can use the cool tech in this Allergen Filtration Mask. However, we expect you to talk in a deep and ridiculous accent whenever you wear this.

Yes, the mask looks really stupid, but it promises to let you breathe naturally through the nose and mouth while capturing, neutralizing, and decomposing 99.3% of the bacteria and particles larger than 0.4 microns. That means pollen, dust mites, mold spores, tobacco smoke, and pet dander won’t make it to your nose or mouth.

The mask is made of cloth that is waterproof and has an integrated exhalation valve and elastic ear bands to keep it on your face. It sells for $79.99 and is available on Hammacher Schlemmer. Perhaps once you put on the mask, somebody will care who you are.

Gunnar Optiks PPK Glasses Protect Your Eyes from Computer Screen Eyestrain

Posted on 12/02/2018 by Megan Zhang

If you have a desk job, type a lot, or play a lot of video games, you might have noticed that prolonged usage of screens can cause eye strain. Alleviate that with Gunnar Optiks PPK Advanced Computer Glasses. These glasses were designed specifically for gamers, although anyone who regularly sits in front of a screen for long sessions can benefit from them.

The lenses are equipped with i-AMP technology that helps to reduce the strain on your eyes. To help them fit any face shape, the glasses come with gently curved temples, and the silicone nose pads help them rest comfortably on your nose bridge.

Protect your eyes from the damage that long-term screen usage can cause. The Gunnar Optiks PPK Advanced Computer Glasses are yours for only $45.99 in the Technabob Shop.

Nike Wants to Reward You for Doing Your Workouts

Posted on 06/02/2018 by Conner Flynn

Sports wearables maker Nike wants to inspire you. Maybe bribe is a better word. It’s offering a new reward system for the Nike Plus app that it hopes will encourage you to work out more. You can unlock curated playlists on Apple Music, guided meditation exercises on Headspace, Class Pass credits or maybe even a custom t-shirt. Want to earn free stuff? Better start working out.

“The premise is simple: The more active you are, the more you get rewarded,” Nike says. “Whether you run more miles through the Nike Run Club app or do five new strength routines in the Nike Training Club app this month, every time you stride or rep, your physical achievements trigger rewards.”

There is also a Birth Month promo, where, during your birthday month, you can get discounts that last all month long, and also earn gifts like a free pair of tickets to a sports game when you buy certain items.

You can also get access to exclusive shoes, like a special-release Nike Zoom KDX, the Kyrie 4 iD, and Epic React Flyknit in White Fusion. Nike is making it enticing to workout, that’s for sure. These unlocks will start rolling out in its main app immediately. They are aiming for “a personalized experience for members that seamlessly combines digital and physical intersections with Nike.”

It seems they are off to a good start.

[via Engadget]

Helite Hip’Air: Airbags for the Elderly

Posted on 09/01/2018 by Conner Flynn

At first, I thought this was a joke. Then I checked the calendar and it wasn’t April yet. Turns out, this is very real and even though it seems a bit silly to be talking about airbags for the elderly, I suppose this is a really good idea. When the elderly fall, they break things way easier than we do. It’s especially bad when they live alone and can’t get help after a fall.

At CES 2018, Helite turned up with a set of waist-wearable airbags called the Hip’Air, which will help protect the wearer from a fall, especially the hip area, which older folks are prone to breaking. Helite has actually been selling similar wearable airbags for some time now, but they have been geared toward sports. Helite says that Hip’Air can detect a wearer falling within 200 milliseconds, and then deploy in an additional 80 milliseconds. This could be a lifesaver for older folks, and certainly could prevent broken bones, which often lead to further health degeneration.

The airbags have a built-in battery that will last a week. We can expect it in Europe this spring and in the US this fall. No pun intended.

[via Ubergizmo]

These Robots Exercise, Sweat, And Are Ready for a Montage

Posted on 29/12/2017 by Conner Flynn

Last year we showed you Kengoro, a Japanese robot that exercises and even sweats. Well, now the machine is back in the news and he brought a friend named Kenshiro. The pair like to get buff, compare muscle mass, high five each other, and say “bro” a lot, before filming Rocky-style montages of more workouts. You’re right, I made a lot of that up, but once the technology exists, that stuff will happen too. Mark my words.

These two humanoid robots come from a team of Japanese researchers from the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo. Kengoro and Kenshiro are designed to help with the design of future crash test dummies, prosthetic limbs, and also to help us better understand how humans move. That’s why these robots are able to perform human-like movements, exercise, play badminton, and sweat in order to cool down… not because scientists think that robots should workout and stretch before they chase us down and kill us. At least, that’s the story they are going with for now.

Also, now that I’ve watched the video, I can say for sure that there is nothing creepier than watching a robot do sit-ups, then flex it’s neck as if saying, “Come at me bro!”

[via Science Robotics via Gizmodo]

Start Your Year on the Right Note with The Mindful Notebook

Posted on 24/12/2017 by Technabob Shop

This holiday season, treat yourself to a gift that keeps on giving. The Mindful Notebook is the perfect tool to equip yourself with as you move into the new year. This elegant journal is designed to keep you focused and ensure you’re starting each day with the proper mindset to reach your goals and fulfill your objectives.

The notebook has three parts which help you go about your day and tasks with ease. A daily inspirational quote included on each page helps to make sure you’re properly grounded. Use the blank lined pages of the journal as an everyday go-to place for notes or thoughts. Finally, the Gratitude Patience section reminds you of what you can be grateful for.

It’s a great way to keep organized, focused, and good to yourself every day. Start your new year on the right note with The Mindful Notebook. It’s just $21.99 in the Technabob Shop.

GIZMODO.cz

Syndicated rss news

Tag Archives: Health + Fitness

These Digital Characters Have a Full Musculoskeletal System

The LastSwab Is a Reusable Replacement for Q-Tips

Fitness Trackers Detect Heartbeat from Toilet Paper Rolls

Seetroën Glasses Relieve Motion Sickness, Look Ridiculous

You Merely Adopted the Garden, I Was Born in It

Gunnar Optiks PPK Glasses Protect Your Eyes from Computer Screen Eyestrain

Nike Wants to Reward You for Doing Your Workouts

Helite Hip’Air: Airbags for the Elderly

These Robots Exercise, Sweat, And Are Ready for a Montage

Start Your Year on the Right Note with The Mindful Notebook

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