Monthly Archives: June 2017

Cloning to the rescue – New Scientist

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Having cloned sheep and who knows what else, wouldnt it be a good idea for scientists to begin cloning the worlds endangered species? Is there any reason not to?

Cloning technology has improved dramatically since 1996 when Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to originate from a somatic cell (any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells). We now have a better understanding of nuclear reprogramming, a process that gives a cell the capacity to generate all the different types of cells that make up the organism called totipotency. As a result, many species have been successfully cloned, including those of amphibians, fish, insects and mammals. But cloning is still inefficient, with a maximum of 5 per cent of cloned embryos developing into healthy offspring.

There have been several attempts at cloning endangered or even extinct species, such as the gaur and the Pyrenean ibex. These have been largely unsuccessful. Generally, hundreds of embryos have to be created, of which only a handful can be implanted. And of those, only a couple are born, but these often die soon after birth.

The problem in most cases is sexual isolation, which is part of the speciation process, in which one species eventually evolves into two separate ones. These become incapable of reproducing with each other because their reproductive cells are no longer compatible or the embryo of one species cannot be carried by a mother of the other. Both issues affect cloning.

One species where cloning has been successful is the African wildcat. Although wild, this species is still genetically close enough to the domestic tabby for interspecies embryo transfer to be slightly more efficient. More importantly, cloned animals were then able to mate and reproduce among themselves.

But the main problem with cloning remains: it eliminates genetic diversity. The whole point is to reproduce an exact copy of an individual, such as a champion racehorse. Most higher organisms, however, reproduce sexually, which leads to the offspring bearing a combination of characteristics from both parents. This genetic mix and match allows species to adapt to their environment and reduces negative traits or diseases within the population. A diverse genetic pool is essential for a species to survive in the wild.

So although cloning might help preserve some species in critical times, the best way to avoid their extinction is to protect their environment and stop senseless poaching of wild animals.

Alena Pance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK

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Cloning to the rescue - New Scientist

The Thorny Truth About Spine Evolution – Quanta Magazine

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Nevertheless, the team does not insist that their results prove insects were the primary reason that plants developed spines, prickles and thorns. To the contrary, Kariyat said, We think that spines evolved against mammalian herbivores. But they suspect that at some point in history, the horsenettles and other plants found an even more effective weapon toxic alkaloids in their tissues and mammals stopped eating them regularly. The caterpillars, which were largely unaffected by the alkaloids, became specialists at preying on the plants. Evolution may then have co-opted the plants spines for a new defensive purpose, a phenomenon known as exaptation. So over time, these spines have started to have an additional benefit, helping the plant win the arms race against the insects, he said.

The unexpected results were a bit hard for others in the field to swallow. When I first read this paper, my overwhelming response was: Oh, thats just [nonsense] there are so many problems! said Angela Moles, a research professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, who studies the ecological strategies of plants. Then the more I read it, the more I was, like, Actually, its right. Her sentiments were echoed by Mick Hanley, an associate professor at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom, who was lead author on a 2007 review paper about plants structural defenses. I looked at it atfirstand Ithought,hmm. Then I read it again, and I saw that it all sort of hangs together, he said.

Others are less convinced. Im not sure that we can conclude from their results that spinescenceis an adaptation against insect herbivory, said Tristan Charles-Dominique, a plant-evolution specialist at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in China. He and William Bond, emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, used phylogenetic methods to show in 2016 that the diversity of spiny plants in Africa coincided with an uptick in bovid mammals, such as wildebeests and gazelles. That finding supports the traditional view that spines defend against large mammals.

I think they did a good job at showing that the feeding rate of caterpillars is indeed slowed down as their movement is disrupted, said Charles-Dominique, but I think that there is quite a lot of information to be gathered before being able to test the potential coevolution between spiny plants and insects.

Kariyat does not disagree. One of the things we want to see is whether this effect is just on the caterpillars, he said. He explained that they also want to better quantify how insects are affected by impaired movement: How much does it affect their growth and development and pupation, and how does that affect them long term?

But Kariyat and Meschers findings arent the first to suggest a potential role for spinescence in deterring insects. Moles noted that the results are consistent with paleontological evidence that spines evolved before large herbivores. She pointed to a 1970 review paper by the late British paleobotanist William Gilbert Chaloner, in which he noted that a number of plants from more than 400 million years ago showed small apparently non-vascularized appendages on the stem, distributed more or less randomly and variously termed spines, emergences, teeth or enations.

So weve got a lot of species with these funny prickles that we dont know what they do, Moles explained, and its, I dont know, at least 10 or 20 million years before the first terrestrial vertebrate herbivores start appearing.

The results highlight a tricky issue in the study of evolution and adaptation: Because of exaptation, understanding the current function of a trait is very different from inferring the evolutionary pressures under which it initially evolved. Its impossible to track why a defense that works now might have evolved millions of years ago, Hanley said. Those spines could have evolved for a completely different reason that has nothing to do with herbivory.

Indeed, hypotheses about the original purpose of plant spines range far beyond the deterrence of herbivores of various sizes. Its been theorized that the spines might have boosted plants surface area to enhance photosynthesis, or that they helped to direct water to the plants roots. Or that they first helped plants to sprawl and climb. Other than being able to replay the evolutionary tape over millions of years, Hanley said, weve got no real way of knowing.

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The Thorny Truth About Spine Evolution - Quanta Magazine

‘Pro Evolution Soccer 2018’ continues to be a pleasure to play – Engadget

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For one thing, the gameplay feels smoother than ever before, something you'll notice the moment you start a match, pass the ball around and try to score some goals. The players are much easier to control and their general body movement isn't as stiff as in past editions of the game. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 is still powered by Konami's Fox Engine, which has been featured in franchises like Metal Gear Solid. This time around, though, the company says it wanted to focus on more than simply improving the gameplay. As such, the menus are now much easier to browse and look at, while the new "enhanced visual reality" makes the players closer resemble their real-life appearance.

In what's a marketing plot more than anything, Konami is bringing none other than Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt into PES 2018. What that means is you'll be able have him on your My Club team, playing alongside Messi, Neymar and the rest of the football stars in the game. Bolt, a Manchester United supporter, has always said he wants to be a pro soccer player, so at least now he'll have that chance in a virtual world. "We wanted to do things differently, a little bit crazy," says Adam Bhatti, the game's product and brand manager. That's the reason Argentina legend Diego Maradona will also be a part of Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.

I don't know if I'll be playing it over my football game of choice, FIFA, as I have done in the past. But, based on the few matches I played here at E3 2017, it's great to see Konami's franchise continuing to get better every year, even if it may not even on the same level as FIFA yet. You can make that call for yourself when Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 arrives September 14th in the US, and a couple days later in Europe. The game is going to be available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

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'Pro Evolution Soccer 2018' continues to be a pleasure to play - Engadget

The Zig-Zagging Evolution Of Search Engine Algorithms – Forbes

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Forbes
The Zig-Zagging Evolution Of Search Engine Algorithms
Forbes
Is the complexity of Google's search ranking algorithms increasing or decreasing over time? originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Nikhil ...

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The Zig-Zagging Evolution Of Search Engine Algorithms - Forbes

Iconic Guitars Releases New Evolution S Series – Guitar World Magazine

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Southern California based Iconic Guitars has released the Evolution S Series line of guitars.

Iconic Guitars launched The Evolution line as a follow up to their popular Vintage Series line of guitars. These new models take their visual cue from the classic S shape and expand the tonal capabilities and playability to otherworldly new heights. The distinctive looks, impeccably selected tone woods, remarkable finishes, and contemporary appointments all combine for an amazing guitar with rich, pure, articulate tone.

The Evolution Series S and S Limited offer a unique array of custom options including pickup configuration, neck profile and wood configuration, fret size and body tone woods. The Evolution S models are available in an extensive palette of pearl and candy colors.

The Evolution S Limited models feature Master Grade, book-matched maple or other exotic tone wood tops, each uniquely dyed and masterfully finished with matching pearl or candy back, sides and head stock.

The Evolution S is a spectacular guitar designed to perform well beyond the expectations of the discerning player and exceed the needs of professional, touring and recreational musicians alike.

Standard features on the Evolution S and Evolution S Limited models include: Select Alder body 5A Flame or Quilt Maple or other exotic tone wood tops (Limited models) Quartersawn Maple neck with Maple, Indian Rosewood or Ebony fretboards 10 14 Compound Radius Fretboard 1.687 nut width with hand cut Tusq Nut .047 X .104 Jescar Nickel Silver frets (Stainless optional) Lollar or Bare Knuckle pickups standard (HH, HSS, HSH) Hipshot Contour bridge Hipshot Open Back Locking Tuners Emerson Electronics with Schaller 5-way Megaswitch

Retail pricing for the Evolution S model starts at $2099 and $3099 for the T Limited and includes a G&G Deluxe Embroidered hard shell case or Reunion Blues Gig Bag.

Available at select dealers nationwide or for more information on the Evolution S Series guitars and more see iconicguitars.com

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Iconic Guitars Releases New Evolution S Series - Guitar World Magazine

The odds of evolution are zero – WND.com

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Zero times anything is zero. The odds of life just happening by chance are zero.

This universe just springing into being by chance is impossible. It takes a leap of blind faith to believe in evolution, unguided or guided. Of course, there are tiny changes within kinds. It seems to me, usually when the evolutionists make their case, they point to these tiny changes.

The analogies to the improbability of evolution by a random process are endless.

The odds against our universe, of the earth, of the creation, to have just come into being with no intelligent design behind the grand scheme are greater than all of these impossible scenarios.

Forget the works of Shakespeare. What are the odds of a monkey randomly typing away simply spelling the nine-letter word evolution by chance? That doesnt sound too hard, does it?

Dr. Scott M. Huse, B.S., M.S., M.R.E., Th.D., Ph.D., who holds graduate degrees in computer science, geology and theology, wrote a book about creation/evolution back in the early 1980s, The Collapse of Evolution. Huse has done extensive study on these questions of random probability. I had the privilege of interviewing him about it for Dr. D. James Kennedys television special, The Case for Creation (1988). It was a type of Scopes Trial in reverse filmed on location in Tennessee, in the very courtroom where the 1925 monkey trial took place.

Later, Huse created a computer program to determine the odds of a monkey typing the word evolution. He notes that the odds are one in 5.4 trillion, which statistically is the same thing as zero. Any casino that offered such horrible odds would lose customers quickly, because no one would ever win. Forgive my bluntness, but the suckers have to win something before they start losing big.

Heres what Scott told me in an email: The typical personal computer keyboard has 104 keys, most of which are not letters from the alphabet. However, if we ignore that fact and say the monkey can only hit keys that are letters of the alphabet, he has a one in 26 chance of hitting the correct letter each time.

Of course, he has to hit them in the correct sequence as well: E then V then O, etc. Twenty-six to the power of nine (the number of letters in the word evolution) equals 5,429,503,678,976.

So, the odds of him accidentally typing just the nine-letter word evolution are about one in about 5.4 trillion. From a purely mathematical standpoint, the bewildering complexity of even the most basic organic molecules [which are much more complicated than a nine-letter word] completely rules out the possibility of life originating by mere chance.

Take just one aspect of life amino acids and protein cells. Dr. Stephen Meyer earned his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science at Cambridge University. In his New York Times bestselling book, Darwins Doubt (2013), Meyer points out that the probability of attaining a correct sequence [of amino acids to build a protein molecule] by random search would roughly equal the probability of a blind spaceman finding a single marked atom by chance among all the atoms in the Milky Way galaxy on its face clearly not a likely outcome (Page 183).

And this is just one aspect of life, the most basic building block.

In the interview I did with Scott Huse long ago, he noted: The probability of life originating through mere random processes, as evolutionists contend, really honestly, is about zero. If you consider probability statistics, it exposes the naivet and the foolishness, really, of the evolutionary viewpoint.

Dr. Charles Thaxton was another guest on that classic television special from 1988. He is a scientist who notes that life is so complex, the chances of it arising by mere chance is virtually impossible. Thaxton, now with the Discovery Institute, has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, and a post-doctorate degree in molecular biology and a Harvard post-doctorate in the history and philosophy of science.

Thaxton notes: Id say in my years of study, the amazing thing is the utter complexity of living things. Most scientists would readily grant that however life happened, it did not happen by chance.

The whole creation points to the Creator. Huse sums up the whole point: Simply put, a watch has a watchmaker and we have a Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Media wishing to interview Jerry Newcombe, please contact media@wnd.com.

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The odds of evolution are zero - WND.com

The Health 202: Trump’s health care evolution can be traced in his tweets – Washington Post

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THE PROGNOSIS

President Trump has showered praise upon the GOP bill to overhaul Obamacare. He threw a big Rose Garden celebration once the House passed it. He promised it would transform the nations health-care system into one ofthe worlds finest.

And yesterday, behind closed doors, he told a group of Senate Republicans it is mean.

Trump apparently critiqued the health-care bill passed by House Republicans in front of more than a dozen senators he hosted for lunch at the White House. The president said the senators should make their own version more generous, according to congressional sources who leaked to the Associated Press. That's pretty different from whatTrump said when the cameras were turned on. He had some tart words for Democrats, instead:

Of course, the GOP senators didn't share those comments with the press, either. Conference Chair John Thune (R-S.D.), who attended the lunch, said Trump talked about making sure that we have a bill that protects people with preexisting conditions and how to design a tax credit for purchasing insurance that works for lower-income and elderly people in particular, my colleagues Kelsey Snell and Sean Sullivan report.

I think he realizes, you know, our bill is going to move, probably, from where the House was and he seems fine with that, Thune said. He talked about making sure that we have a bill that protects people with preexisting conditions.

It's hardly surprising that Trump would privately feel this way about the House's American Health Care Act, which is projected to leave 23 million more Americans without health coverage. After all, Trump was a longtime advocate of government-runhealth-care programsin many other developed countries. In his book "The America We Deserve," Trump praised Canada's single-payer system and wrote that the United Statesmust similarly have universal health care.

But Trump has publicly bragged about the AHCA in such sweeping terms and with such outward confidencethat his candid moment yesterday dramatically emphasizes the incongruity of his past personal views and the outlook of Republicans he's trying to work with to sweep much of Obamacare aside.

Unsurprisingly, the president's zigzag health-care evolution can be traced in his tweets. Let's take a tour of what he's said about the GOP health effort:

From right after the House bill passed:

Then, a strange nod to the Australian health-care system during the same time period:

And a helping hand for Senate Republicans embarking on the politically perilous process:

But suddenly, a shift (about three weeks after applauding the AHCA's House passage):

Now -- as senator struggle to pass their own version of health care -- Trump has characterized the version passed in the lower chamber as "mean."

The president may -- or may not -- be referring to the fact that many experts believe that allowing states to opt out of certain insurance requirements and allow insurers to charge more to cover sick people (see my colleague Glenn Kessler's fact check on the subject). Trump could also be talking about criticism that the House bill allows insurers to charge older people (who are likely to be sicker) up to five times more than younger ones (the healthier part of the population).

Or Trump could be referring to something else entirely.

Twitter was aflame over the comment:

From CNBC's Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood:

From the New York Times's Chief Washington Correspondent Carl Hulse:

BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING: A gunman opened fire this morning on Republican lawmakers practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Va., "possibly injuring several including at least one lawmaker, Steve Scalise, the majority whip, according to police and a congressman. Alexandria police would only confirm that a shooting had occurred and that one person was in custody," reports Peter Hermann, Paul Kane and Patricia Sullivan. For more real-time updates, check the Post website.

AHH, OOF and OUCH

AHH: One insurer is expanding into more Affordable Care Act marketplaces instead of withdrawing from them -- and could help fill some holes. Health insurer Centene announced plans Tuesday tostart offering coverage on exchanges in Missouri, Kansas and Nevada. It also will expand its presence in Florida, Ohio, Texas and Washington, among other states, the AP reports.

"This growth spurt could fill some big holes that have developed in the exchanges, the only place where people can buy individual coverage with help from an income-based tax credit," according to the AP. "Currently, 25 counties in Missouri, 20 in Ohio and another two in Washington have no insurers lined up to sell coverage on the exchange in 2018."

OOF: Mandatory new nutrition fact labels have been delayed indefinitely, the FDA announced yesterday. "The labels, championed by former first lady Michelle Obama, were supposed to add a special line for 'added sugars'and emphasize calorie content in large, bold text," the Post's Caitlin Dewey reports."They had been scheduled for rollout in July 2018, with a one-year extension for smaller manufacturers."

"The delay is the latest reversal ofthe Obama administrations nutrition reformsunder Trump," Caitlin writes. "On April 27, the FDA also delayed rules that would have required calorie counts on restaurant menus. A week later, the Department of Agriculture loosened the minimum requirements for the amount of whole grain in school lunches and delayed future sodium reductions....Consumer groups are already slamming the Nutrition Facts delay as an attack on public health. The largest groups in the food industry, meanwhile, is celebrating what it calls a win for 'common-sense'regulation."

OUCH: Attorney General Jeff Sessions is asking congressional leaders to undo federal medical-marijuana protections that have been in place since 2014, according toa May letter that became public Monday, my colleague Christopher Ingraham reports. The protections, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment,prohibit the Justice Departmentfrom using federal funds to prevent states from implementing their own lawsauthorizingthe use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.

In his letter, Sessions citeda "historic drug epidemic" to justify a crackdown on medical marijuana. But that's at odds with what researchers know about current drug use and abuse in the United States. The epidemic Sessions refers to involves deadly opiate drugs, not marijuana, Chris writes.

HEALTH ON THE HILL

--Several top Senate Republicans sought to temper expectations yesterday that theycanproduce a final health-care draft by the end of the week -- or even by the end of the month. Finance Committee Chairman OrrinG. Hatch (R-Utah)chuckled quietlywhen we asked if they'll be ready to vote on a bill before the July 4 recess.

"I think we're a ways away," Hatch said. Asked when legislation might be done, he laughed again. "When we get it done," he said.

--Other Republicans emerging from their health-care huddlesaid theres an openness to retain some of the ACAs taxes in order to pay for more generous benefits. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said thats the big question. It depends on what its going to take to get to 50 [votes], he said. So thats really the timing and thats the deciding factor. Conservatives would not be happy, as I wrote yesterday.

But Hatch said he would prefer to repeal all of the ACAs taxes. Id like to have no taxes, he said.

--But as senators downplayed their rate of progress, a top House Republican dialed up expectations. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) predicted to the Wall Street Journal's CFO Network meeting yesterday that afinal bill will pass the Senate and land on the presidents desk before August. Waldenadded that there's been "radio silence" from his Senate colleagues as they've been drafting their own bill.

--The effort has grown increasingly dependenton the fragile alliance between Senate GOP leaders and a man they have clashed bitterly with for years: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Kelsey and Sean report.

"Senate leaders are struggling to build conservative support for their emerging bill, with GOP aides and senators voicing growing skepticism that hard-right Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) can be convinced to back it," they write. "Conservative organizations, meanwhile, are complaining that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is offering proposals that would not sufficiently dismantle the law known as Obamacare."

"But Cruz, after building a national brand stoking tensions with McConnell and his top deputies, is, in his own words, trying to get to yes.' The former presidential hopeful has spoken positively about the negotiations, which he helped kick-start. His investment in the talks has generated cautious optimism among many Republicans that he wont walk away from a delicate effort from which McConnell, with a 52-seat majority and Vice President Pence as a potential tiebreaking vote, can afford only two defections," my colleagues report.

--Democrats had an unexpected opportunity yesterday to press even harder on their criticisms of Republicans for writing their health-care bill behind closed doorswhen television reporters covering the Capitol were told midday Tuesday to stop recording interviews in Senate hallways. What would have been adramatic and unexplained break with tradition that was soon reversed amid a wide rebuke from journalists, Democratic lawmakers and free-speech advocates, my colleague Elise Viebeck reports.

"The controversy started Tuesday around noon, when staffers from the Senate Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery, which operates workspace for networks in the Capitol, told reporters from major television networks, with no warning, to stop recording video in the hallways," Elise writes.

"Gallery staffers blamed the shift on the Senate Rules Committee, which has official jurisdiction over media access in the upper chamber, according to journalists who shared detailed accounts of the developments on Twitter....The directive touched off a day of confusion as the Rules Committee denied issuing new restrictions and gallery staffers refused to explain their part in the drama."

Rules Committee Chairman Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) eventually issued a statement saying there will be no policy shift onwhere reporters can go on the Senate side of the Capitol building. But that was after many Democrats tried to link it to how Republicans aren't being transparent on health care:

Hillary Clinton even chimed in yesterday:

PRICE CHECK

--Republicans who have been trashing the Congressional Budget Officelately for its unflattering score of their health-care bill might be more pleased with an estimate out from the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The actuary says the House-passed bill would strip health coverage from 10 million fewer people than projected by the CBO -- and estimates it willsavethe federal government $328 billion instead of $119 billion the CBO estimated.

The New York Times' Margot Sanger-Katz took note:

Why are the estimates so different? Politico's Paul Demko explains that CMS and CBO made some different assumptions:

"The disparity is a result of differing assumptions about whether cost-saving measures in the House bill will work," Paul writes. "The CMS actuary and CBO have disagreed in the past on the budgetary effects of legislation, including surrounding the enactment of Obamacare. The new actuary's analysis does not estimate the effects of taxes repealed."

--Vice President Pence pulled a Paul Ryan yesterday when he used a chart to reinforcehis arguments against the ACAin aspeechat the Department of Health and Human Services. Here's what Pencesaid (while gesturing to his chart):

"Back when Obamacare was first passed, just over seven years ago, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 23 million Americans would be covered by now. Thats the blue line on the far left. It quickly became apparent that this was far-fetched to put it mildly."

But Pence'schart didn'ttell the full story, according to a fact-check from theAP's Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar.

The facts: It's true that only 10.3 million people are enrolled this year in the subsidized health-insurance markets, not the 23 million the Congressional Budget Office had originally projected.

The details:The chart omitted this relevant information: Ofthe new enrollees, 12 million were supposed to get coverage through the law's Medicaid expansion. But 19 states have refused to expand Medicaid because of opposition from Republicans, a big contributor to why enrollment fell so short of the CBO's initial projection. "Together, the Medicaid expansion and subsidized private health insurance have reduced the number of uninsured by about 20 million people, bringing the uninsured rate to a historic low of about 9 percent, according to the government," Ricardo writes.

INDUSTRY RX

A cottage industry has sprung up to instruct people on how to tamper with drug formulations to get high.

Laurie McGinley

STATE SCAN

Many companies have said theyll leave the marketplaces, citing rising costs and Trump-fueled uncertainty.

Kim Soffen and Kevin Uhrmacher

Advocates say the report needs further study to determine whether there have been broader improvements for low-income residents or if they have left a gentrifying city.

Michael Alison Chandler

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Tuesday that he supports a proposal for California to adopt a single-payer health plan and believes it will eventually be enacted because consumers will become fed up with the current system that he said is unaffordable to many.

LA Times

DAYBOOK

Today

Coming Up

SUGAR RUSH

Watch President Trumps full remarks about health care in Milwaukee:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said during his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee that the "suggestion that I participated in any collusion ... is an appalling and detestable lie":

Here'sa fact check on President Trump's claim thathis nominees faced record-setting long delays:

And on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a First Lady Melania Trump got emotional about finally moving into the White House:

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The Health 202: Trump's health care evolution can be traced in his tweets - Washington Post

FIRST programs in Illinois – FIRST Illinois Robotics

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Welcome to the official web site for all theFIRSTprograms in Illinois

FIRST(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, this not-for-profit public organization designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while gaining self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

The founder, Dean Kamen, is an inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. His passion and determination to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology are the cornerstones of FIRST. Over 300,000 youth and more than 120,000 Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers from over 60 countries participated in the 2013-2014FIRST season.

FIRST'sProgression of Programs consists of four programs - Jr.LEGO (Jr.FLL), LEGO (FLL), FIRSTTech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). The programs vary by age and challenge so that learning never stops building upon itself. Starting at age 6 and continuing through middle and high-school levels up to age 18, young people can participate at any level.

Watch the WGN TV interview

here.

Quick link to info for PARENTS Quick link to info for SCHOOLS Quick link to info for SPONSORS

In April, the four programs culminate in an international robotics competition and celebration where teams win recognition, gain self confidence, develop people and life skills, make new friends, and perhaps discover an unforeseen career path. To view a summary of this amazing event, watch the 2014 FIRST Championship Wrap-up Video.

Learn more about FIRST, its robotics programs, and the FIRST community, by clicking on the programs above.

Below is an interactive map you can use to see where teams for each program are located in Illinois (mapped by city). Each team is represented by a balloon that is color coded per each program.

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FIRST programs in Illinois - FIRST Illinois Robotics

Meet the 4 projects competing at TC Sessions: Robotics’ pitch-off – TechCrunch

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TechCrunch is pleased today to announce the companies and judges participating in the pitch-off at TC Sessions: Robotics. This is going to be great.

New life is important. And while TC Sessions: Robotics features the best engineers and companies in the robotics field, were excited to host a small pitch-off that will pit four budding companies against each other in a bid to exhibit their project at TechCrunch Disrupt SF. To help pick the winner we assembled a fantastic team of judges.

Pitch-off events have long been a staple of TechCrunch events. In this particular contest, the individuals behind these projects will have four minutes to present their ideas to the judges and audience and conduct a live demo of the robot. The judges will then have four minutes to ask questions. The winner of the contest will be given an exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt SF this September (a $1995 value).

General admission tickets are selling out quickly and seating is limited in MITs Kresge Auditorium. The event takes place in Boston on July 17 and features a day of speakers, robotic demos and networking. We hope to see you there.

CP Robotics is based on patented software that makes robots able to automatically plan processes, such as grinding, milling, welding, plasma-cutting etc., based on a quick initial 3D scanning.

Hand4help Hand4help is developing low-cost, multi functional, 3D-printed robotic hand prosthesis for amputees.

Tangible Media Group The Tangible Media Group in the MIT Media Lab has developed a robotic haptic interface to give physical form to virtual objects.

Franklin Robotics Franklin Robotics has developed and will demonstrate Tertill, a robot that weeds personal gardens.

Jeremy Conrad is the co-founder and a partner at Lemnos Labs, a seed stage investment firm based out of San Francisco. Prior to Lemnos Mr. Conrad was an active duty United States Air Force officer working on the Airborne Laser Program. Mr. Conrad received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Helen Greiner cofounded iRobot in 1990 and served as president until 2004 and chairman until 2008. During her tenure, Helen Greiner guided iRobot into its position as a global leader with the release of the Roomba, the PackBot and SUGV military robots. In addition, Greiner headed up iRobots financing projects, raising $35M in venture capital for a $75M initial public offering. Greiner holds a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and a masters degree in computer science, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2008 she founded CyPhy Works where she served as the CEO until 2016 and is now the companys Chief Technology Officer.

Daniel Theobald founded Vecna Technologies in 1999 with the mission to empower humanity through transformative technologies. With the guiding philosophy that automation is the key to developing a more sustainable and equitable future, Daniel has worked with several renowned institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Veterans Administration (VA) to develop automation solutions across a number of industries.

Melonee Wise is the CEO of Fetch Robotics, which is delivering advanced robots for the logistics industry. The company introduced their robot system, including Fetch and Freight, in May of 2015. Prior to joining Fetch, Melonee was CEO and co-founder of Unbounded Robotics. Before then, Melonee was Manager of Robot Development at Willow Garage, where she led a team of engineers developing next-generation robot hardware, including the PR2 and TurtleBot from Willow Garage. Melonee also has extensive experience in the growth of ROS as a research and commercial platform. Melonee is currently a Mentor in the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator.

9:00 AM 9:05 AM Opening Remarks fromMatthew Panzarino

9:05 AM 9:25 AM Whats Next at MITs Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory withDaniela Rus (MIT CSAIL)

9:25 AM 9:50 AM Is Venture Ready for Robotics?withManish Kothari (SRI), Josh Wolfe (Lux Capital) and Helen Zelman (Lemnos)

10:10 AM 10:35 AM Collaborative Robots At WorkwithClara Vu (VEO), Jerome Dubois (6 River Systems) and Holly Yanco (UMass Lowell)

10:35 AM 10:55 AM Coffee Break

10:55 AM 11:20 AM Building A Robotics Startup from Angel to Exit with Helen Greiner (CyPhy Works),Andy Wheeler (GV) and Elaine Chen (Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship)

11:20 AM 11:30 AM Soft Robotics (Carl Vause) Demo

11:30 AM 11:55 AM Imagineering Disney Robotics with Martin Buehler (Disney Imagineering)

12:00 PM 1:00 PM Lunch and Workshops TBA

1:00 PM 1:20 PM Robots at Amazonwith Tye Brady (Amazon Robotics)

1:20 PM 1:55 PM When Robots Fly with Buddy Michini (Airware), Andreas Raptopoulos (Matternet) and Anil Nanduri (Intel)

1:55 PM 2:15 PM Packbot, Roomba and Beyondwith Colin Angle (iRobot)

2:15 PM 2:35 PM Building Better BionicsSamantha Payne (Open Bionics) and TBA

2:35 PM 2:45 PM Demo TBA

2:45 PM 3:05 PM The Future of Industrial Robotics with Sami Atiya (ABB)

3:05 PM 3:25 PM Coffee Break

3:25 3:35 PM Demo TBA

3:35 PM 4:15 PM Robotics Startup Pitch-off (Judges and contestants TBA)

4:15 PM 4:35 PM The Age Of The Household RobotwithGill Pratt (Toyota Research Institute)

4:35 PM 4:55 PM Building The Robot Brain withHeather Ames (Neurala) andBrian Gerky (OSRF) and TBA

4:55 PM 5:20 PM Robots, AI and HumanitywithDavid Barrett (Olin), David Edelman (MIT) and Dr. Brian Pierce (DARPA) and TBA

5:20 PM 5:25 PM Wrap Up

5:25 PM -7:00 PM Reception

Original post:

Meet the 4 projects competing at TC Sessions: Robotics' pitch-off - TechCrunch

Sony’s fantastical Toio cubes combine robotics with papercraft – Engadget

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These gadgets measure about 1.25-inches along their sides and about .75-inches tall. Their undersides house a pair of wheels while the nubbly bit on top are compatible with Lego blocks, enabling you to install costumes and structures to the Toios.

They're reminiscent of the Anki Cozmo, however unlike that desktop robot, these little guys don't rely on an internal AI. Instead, the Toios are equipped with bluetooth receivers that enable them to talk to each other as well as receive commands from a remote console. That console issues its commands based on whatever cartridge with the preprogrammed operations you plug into it. The system also comes with a number of patterned paper designs that you cut out and attach to the Toios which both add to the visual effect and help control the robots, as you can see in the video below.

The Toios also come with a special optically-patterned mat which allows their visual sensors to navigate the play area, not unlike the Ozobot, though you can also take control of the robots' movements directly with one of a pair of controllers that plug into the console.

The various games and functions (and papercraft requirements) vary from the most basic up to highly complex designs which means that even if your kid gets bored with it after 5 minutes, you can keep playing. The Toio set runs for 30,000 yen -- that's roughly $275 US. There's no word yet on whether Sony will release additional cartridges or will allow users to program their own.

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Sony's fantastical Toio cubes combine robotics with papercraft - Engadget

A Colonoscopy Robot and Other Weird Biomedical Tech From IEEE’s Biggest Robotics Conference – IEEE Spectrum

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A host of bizarre biomedical robots turned up at ICRA 2017,IEEEs flagship robotics conference, whichtook place earlier this month in Singapore. We saw swallowable robots that poke the stomach with needles and worm-like robots that explore the colon. Equal parts unnerving and fascinating, these bots aim to help peopleperhapsin ways we hope we never need. After sifting throughthis years presentations, werebringing you the five most terrifying and inventive videodemonstrations.

1. Swallowable biopsy robot of doom

This capsule robot innocuouslytumbles around inside your stomachuntil it reaches suspicious-looking tissue. Then, like an EpiPen on steroids, the soft-bodied bot whips out a needle and jabs that spot inside your stomach in ten fast pumping movements. But this swallowable needle doesnt inject anything. Instead, it suctions up samples of tissue that doctors can analyze for signs of cancer or other disease. Then it moves on to other suspicious spots inside the stomachjab, jab jab!

The biopsy technique, calledfine needle aspiration, is typically performed from outside the body. This capsule robot, designed by researchers at the physical intelligence department atMax PlanckInstitue for Intelligent Systems,in Stuttgart, Germany, movesthe technique inside the body. Thanks guys.

Previous swallowable biopsy robotdesigns only scrape at thesurface tissue, they argued at ICRA. Doctors need atool that willreally get in there, and this design will do it.They tested it out on fresh pork fat placed in a plastic human stomach model. The capsule is equipped with a magnet, allowing the researchers to guide the robotsorientation and jabbing motions while inside the stomach. Of course after the job is done,the robot, with tissue sample inside, has to be retrieved. Its inventors suggest pulling it back out of the throat by a tether. Thanks again, guys!

2.Smashable Fingers

Sure you can make an electronic prosthetic hand that is controlled by personsnervous system, but can you make one that can survivegetting smashed by a hammer? The Bretl Research Group, led by Timothy Bretl at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, decided this was a necessary feature of prosthetic fingers. So the group fabricated an insanely flexible model hand, hooked it up with sensors,and, using various finger torture devices, smashed, twisted andbent the fingers in every direction (with thevideo camera rolling). You might wince, but the deformed digits just bendright back into shape.

The key was to eliminate the weak spotscommon incommercial prosthetic hands. That would bethe pin jointsthehingesaround whichrigid prostheticfingers bend, but often break. So the Bretl group eliminated the fragile part, replacing it with flexible materials. For each finger, they3D-printed the bone with a flexible polyurethane material,routed it with pressure sensor wires, molded a silicone skin around it, and then inserted three layers of pre-stressed spring steel. The thumb is made similarly, but equipped with amotor.After being smashed with a hammer, the hand can pick up that hammeror a glass of wineor a pair of scissorsand use it like nothing happened.

3. The colonoscopy robot you never knew you wanted

This robotmoves like a worm, inching its way up the rectum and around theentirecolon. And yes, someday people may elect to put this device in their bodies. Its meant to serve as an alternative to traditional colonoscopy, an uncomfortable procedure in which a physician snakes a thin, flexiblecolonoscopethrough the large intestine to look for signs of colon cancer and other other diseases.A small, controllable robot equipped with a camera and tools to collect tissue samples could do the same job, with less discomfort. I suppose thats some consolation.

Several research groups have built prototypes of colonoscopy robots, each with their own ick factor. There arelegged capsule robotsand treaded capsule robots. This one, developed by the Rentschler Research Group at the University of Colorado, Boulder,falls in the worm robot category. It has three body sections that scrunch up and expand, propelling it along the intestine in a peristaltic motion. Each body section of the robot contains three shape memory alloy (SMA) springs, which compress andexpand, and are cooled by forced air flow. It can move15 centimeters in 6 minutes. Perhaps its less painful than a colonoscopy, but this worm robotmight be a tough sell until someone gives it a better name.

4. Laser-assisted robot arm tries not to be a bull in a china shop

Its a little awkward and slow, but this robot arm will grab and retrieve that hard-to-reach object you need. All you have to do is aim a laser beam at it. (And hope that you dont bump into anything else along the way.)The invention, developed by researchers at the Robotics Labat University of Massachusetts Lowelland the Helping Hands Lab at Northeastern University, aims to aid people who use mobility scooters. Home robotic arms are expensive and often challenging to operate, and this team of engineers wanted to make something simple enough that any scooter ridercould use it.

So they mounted onto a mobility scooter a robot arm, and equipped both the scooter and the arm with depth cameras similar to the Microsoft Kinect Sensor, which is used with Xbox. When the user aims a laser beam at the object she wants, the robot arm moves to that object, the camera scans it, and the teams grasp detection algorithm determines how to maneuver itself in order to pick it up. The contraption got it right about 90 percent of the time, the team reported at ICRA. Unfortunately the thing is hugeand the arm tends to collide with other stuff in the room. That could be resolved by adding more depth sensors, the team reported.

5. Wearable vision system takes the ouch out of canes

A blind person walks into a crowded room and has a dilemma: He needs to find an empty chair to sit in, but doesnt want to go aroundboppingankleswith his cane as he tests all the occupied chairs first. To help, researchers at MITs computer science and artificial intelligence laboratorycame up with a guiding system based on vibration feedback. The system includes a depth camera, an embedded computer, a vibration belt, and a brail system. The user wears the camera and computer around his neck and the vibration belt around his torso. Based on thevibration feedback, he can discern the location of obstacles in the area before testing them out with his cane. It can even tell him which chair is empty. To test the system, the engineers sent blind volunteers wandering through the halls of their buildings and into mock-up spaces. The volunteers were more hesitant and walked more slowly when they wore the feedback system, but they were able to navigate without using their canes.

IEEE Spectrums biomedical engineering blog, featuring the wearable sensors, big data analytics, and implanted devices that enable new ventures in personalized medicine.

Sign up for The Human OS newsletter and get biweekly news about how technology is making healthcare smarter.

These tiny, starfish-like microrobots are designed to perform biopsies inside the human colon 3Jun2015

A new study finds that prosthetic hands trigger the most eerie feelings compared to normal hands or robotic hands 13Nov2013

DARPAs HAPTIX program aims to develop a prosthetic hand thats just as capable as the original 28Apr2016

On 19 December, the president of Stony Brook University in New York announced that it had licensed technologies for virtual colonoscopy invented there--including a computerized technique that makes it possible to see colon walls without having to evacuate the bowels--to Siemens, one of the world's leading makers of medical devices. Virtual colonoscopy uses computerized tomography to create 3D images of the colon, eliminating the need for the fiber optic endoscope that is snaked through the gastrointestinal tract in a conventional colonoscopy. Stony Brook researchers recently patented a refined electronic colon cleansing technique that will allow clinical radiologists to delete 22Dec2008

The heart hugger, the drug doser, and flexible forceps show how malleable machines will work safely inside the body 31Mar

Molecular robot brings us one step closer to mimicking cellular behavior 7Mar

With new design advances, nanorobots are inching closer to medical use 1Mar

Clever use of magnetic fields can selectively actuate individual microbots 15Feb

An implantable sleeve mimics the motion of the heart and reverses heart failure in pigs 18Jan

Implanted in the body, a tiny micromachine dispenses a dose of medication with each tick 4Jan

Team Cleveland took home the gold medal at the world's first Cybathlon 14Oct2016

The cyborg Olympics showcased robotic exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces, and more 12Oct2016

A 16-year-old from Saudi Arabia develops an exoskeleton and control glove to revolutionize physical therapy for stroke patients 30Sep2016

The exoskeleton built for spinal cord injury patients is now cleared for stroke patients as well 30Sep2016

A hybrid delta biplane design results in efficiency, range, and pinpoint landings 20Sep2016

Patients regained some voluntary movements. Difficult to say which technology was the key factor 11Aug2016

This autonomous mobile robot helps to check in on patients more regularly 2Aug2016

But don't expect these robots to steer themselves through the body any time soon 26Jul2016

This could be the first robot ever to do the worm 25Jul2016

Teleoperated endolumenal bot can navigate inside the body, image and treat conditions without making incisions 7Jun2016

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A Colonoscopy Robot and Other Weird Biomedical Tech From IEEE's Biggest Robotics Conference - IEEE Spectrum

The Military Robotics Market is expected to reach US$245.1 Billion by 2026 – PR Newswire (press release)

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Global Military Robots market is dominated by North America, with the US being the largest defense spender in the sector.

North American countries are to allocate US$244.4 Billion on capital expenditure in 2016.

Over the period 2016-2026, capital expenditure is expected to slightly increase, at a CAGR of 0.06%, to reach US$245.1 Billion by 2026.

Europe trails North America as the second-largest market, offering a potentially attractive investment opportunity for western firms.

The Middle East is a promising market for military Robotics, propelled by the growing demand for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to counter security threats such as terrorism, illegal infiltration, drug trafficking, and border encroachments.

Countries in the Latin American and African regions are slowly realizing the advantages of robots as force multipliers and are initiating procurement programs, which are expected to be in full force over the future.

The global economic slowdown has reduced military expenditure worldwide; as a consequence, a significant number of countries are establishing joint projects in order to share R&D costs.

Partnerships between defense firms have also increased, as a significant number of countries are investing in the development of their domestic robotics industries by establishing strategic alliances and technology-transfer agreements with global manufacturers.

The cumulative expenditure of global combined military UAV and UGV market is US$120.4 Billion during the period 2016-2026. The demand for UAVs is expected to be driven by internal and external security threats, territorial disputes, and modernization initiatives undertaken by Armed Forces across the world.

The Military Robotics Market - Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments

Summary

Global Military Robots market is dominated by North America, with the US being the largest defense spender in the sector. North American countries are to allocate US$244.4 Billion on capital expenditure in 2016. Over the period 2016-2026, capital expenditure is expected to slightly increase, at a CAGR of 0.06%, to reach US$245.1 Billion by 2026. Europe trails North America as the second-largest market, offering a potentially attractive investment opportunity for western firms.

The Middle East is a promising market for military Robotics, propelled by the growing demand for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to counter security threats such as terrorism, illegal infiltration, drug trafficking, and border encroachments. Countries in the Latin American and African regions are slowly realizing the advantages of robots as force multipliers and are initiating procurement programs, which are expected to be in full force over the future.

The global economic slowdown has reduced military expenditure worldwide; as a consequence, a significant number of countries are establishing joint projects in order to share R&D costs. Partnerships between defense firms have also increased, as a significant number of countries are investing in the development of their domestic robotics industries by establishing strategic alliances and technology-transfer agreements with global manufacturers.

The cumulative expenditure of global combined military UAV and UGV market is US$120.4 Billion during the period 2016-2026. The demand for UAVs is expected to be driven by internal and external security threats, territorial disputes, and modernization initiatives undertaken by Armed Forces across the world.

Military robots have proved to be exceedingly useful during peacekeeping missions and the ongoing global war on terror, finding applications across ISR and combat roles. Furthermore, enhanced capabilities in areas such as endurance, data processing, and communications have broadened role of unmanned systems in both defense and intelligence roles. Security threats posed by cross-border insurgents, illegal immigrants, pirates, hostile nations and terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah (JI) have created a need for defense systems capable of carrying out surveillance and intelligence gathering missions.

The report "The Military Robotics Market - Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments" offers analysis of the global Military Robotics market and covers key technological and market trends in the industry, and analyzes drivers/factors influencing demand for Military Robotics.

In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following - - End-user Analysis: Insight into the key users of Military Robotics within the military as well as homeland departments. - Drivers: Detailed analysis of factors driving the global market for Military Robotics. - Trends: Insights on the prevalent trends in the sector. - Technology Trends and New Developments: Insights into current technological trends and new developments that will shape the market in the future. - Key Military Robotics In Use: Highlights of five popular Military Robotics that are being currently used be defense forces across the world. - Country Analysis: Analysis of the five spenders that are anticipated to invest heavily in the domain, and recent programs executed by these nations. - Supplier Analysis: Analysis of the five major companies that are catering to Military Robotics requirements in the domain.

Companies mentioned in this report: Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, iRobot Corporation, QinetiQ Group Plc, Roboteam Ltd.

Scope

- The global military robots market is dominated by North America, with the US being the largest defense spender in the sector. North American countries are to allocate US$244.4 billion on capital expenditure in 2016. Over the period 2016-2026, capital expenditure is expected to slightly increase, at a CAGR of 0.06%, to reach US$245.1 billion by 2026. Europe trails North America as the second-largest market, offering a potentially attractive investment opportunity for western firms.

About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: query@reportbuyer.com Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: http://www.reportbuyer.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-military-robotics-market-is-expected-to-reach-us2451-billion-by-2026-300474134.html

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The Military Robotics Market is expected to reach US$245.1 Billion by 2026 - PR Newswire (press release)

Sony Adds Toio Cubes to Its Arsenal of Strange Robotic Toys – IEEE Spectrum

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Photo: Toio Sony's Toio robot cube.

From Sony, the company that brought you the amazing Aibo and the slightly less amazing Rolly, comes a new consumer robotic toy: Toio, a toy platform consisting of little robotic cubes on wheels. Its much cuter and way more fun looking than it sounds, and could be just clever enough to keep kids interested for more than 5minutes (a common problem with a lot of robotic toys).

Heres the trailer that should give you an overview of what this thing is:

We dont have a lot of technical details on how the Toio cubes work, but they appear to have a pair of wheels at the bottom, some number of basic sensors, and bumps on top that are compatible with Legos. The robots are eachapproximately 32 mm 32 mm 19.2 mm (width depth height).

They communicate via Bluetooth to a video game-type console where you insert a cartridge, which tells the robots how to behave. There are alsomotion-sensing rings that act as controllers and let you make the robots drive and spin around.

But where things really get interesting is when you modify the cubes with basic crafting materials like paper and tape:

Toio kits come with specialmats, so were assuming that a lot of the neat tricks you see in these videos are made possible by optical pattern localization: This method allows robots to findtheir position byusing a downward facing camera andlooking at patterns underneath them. The robots then communicate with a centralized controllerto simulate interactive behavior with one another.

Robotic toy startupAnki may have been the first company to really make use of this technique, but its no longer unique to them. (Warehouse robotics company Kiva Systems, acquired by Amazon, also usedcameras to look at bar-coded stickers on the ground for localization.) The downside is that the functionality of the Toios are probably more limited when they are off of the mats, though it seems that you can use special cards to help them navigate:

That all looks like fun, for sure, but one thing to note is that this is not a regular, officialSony product. The companyis offering Toio through its crowdfunding platform, called First Flight,designed to incubateproduct ideas from Sony employees. The Toio team has engineers and designers from Sony headquarters as well asthe Sony Computer Science Laboratory, andcompany partners include Bandai, Lego, and Sony Music.The Toio website currently lists three different kits available for pre-order, each going for around30,000 yen, or about US$275.

Another thing to note is that, as with video game consoles, youll probably have to buy new cartridges from Sony if you want new behaviors for your Toios, and its unclear if they will be able to run code created using any of thevisual programming languages that are now popular among kids. If they turned out not to be programmable, the robots might not appeal to hobbyists and educators who value more open and hackable platforms.

Toio is certainly a clever little thing, and well see how things shake out in December, when the kits should start shipping.

[ Sony Toio ] via [ Fast Company ]

IEEE Spectrums award-winning robotics blog, featuring news, articles, and videos on robots, humanoids, drones, automation, artificial intelligence, and more. Contact us:e.guizzo@ieee.org

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Continued here:

Sony Adds Toio Cubes to Its Arsenal of Strange Robotic Toys - IEEE Spectrum

Disney and Hanson Robotics are bringing your favorite characters to life – TechRadar

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Speaking at technology conference TechXLR8 in London, Dr. David Hanson, founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics has announced that it has partnered with Disney to bring artificially intelligent robots of it's creations to life.

Hanson Robotics is famous for creating robots with human expressions and mannerisms. But the vision for Hanson Robotics goes far beyond the mimicry of human emotion. According to Hanson, it wants to create robots that "will have emotional intelligence matching - and one day surpassing - human emotional intelligence".

This may sound like a lofty goal, but Hanson believes this is achievable through the use of artificial intelligence; Hanson robots learn from interactions with humans, and then their behavior changes based on what they have learnt.

This means that when your child interacts with their little robot pal, it will actually be able to talk back, and learn about your child.

This isn't the first time that Hanson Robotics has made a commercial robot, having already created a Professor Einstein robot that can waddle around your house and teach your kids about science. According to the Professor Einstein Kickstarter page, the little educational robots are "now shipping to the US, UK, Canada and Hong Kong."

Which Disney character is going to be the first to get the AI treatment is still undisclosed. Although given Disney's current robot partnership with Sphero on the (absolutely brilliant) Lightning McQueen remote control car, and BB-8 toy, it is clear that Disney is capitalizing on successful movie characters.

Given the success of Frozen, we wouldn't be at all surprised if Elsa is the first smart Disney robot to be wandering around our homes.Hanson used a slide of Elsa to demonstrate how humans are drawn to characters with human features. Plus, with Frozen 2 on the way, a marketing tie-in makes a lot of sense.

If you can't wait to get your hands on one of these Disney devices, we've got some good news: The plan is for a launch in 2018.

If you've never seen Hanson Robotic's creations before, check out it's Sophia robot on Jimmy Fallon below:

The rest is here:

Disney and Hanson Robotics are bringing your favorite characters to life - TechRadar

GE Aviation will expand engine service business in robotics deal – Dayton Daily News

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GE Aviation has acquired a United Kingdom-based manufacturer that builds snake-arm robots for work in confined and hazardous areas.

Terms of the deal to acquire OC Robotics were not disclosed.

The robots are typically used in hazardous and hard-to-get to confined areas for inspections, repairs and cleaning in the aerospace, construction, nuclear, petrochemical and security industries, GE said in a statement.

GE will use the technology for work on jet engines, a company official said. The snake armed robots can stretch more than nine feet and bend more than 180 degrees, GE Aviation said.

OC Robotics will play an important role in how we service our customers engines, Jean Lydon-Rodgers, GE Aviation Services vice president and general manager, said in a statement Monday.

OC Robotics, which started two decades ago and is located in Bristol, England, has worked for more than a decade to develop the technology, officials said.

For 15 years, OC Robotics invested heavily to develop snake-arm robot technologies, and the aviation industry has always been a target area for this technology, Andy Graham, OC Robotics director, said in a statement.

GE Aviation operates the $51 million Electrical Power Integrated Services Center, opened in 2013, on the University of Dayton campus and produces aircraft parts at a facility in Vandalia. The company report revenues of $26 billion in 2016 and employs 44,000 employees, including 9,000 in southwest Ohio, said company spokeswoman Deborah Case.

OC Robotics was a privately held company and revenues were not immediately released.

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GE Aviation will expand engine service business in robotics deal - Dayton Daily News

Addressing rape culture – News24

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Femicide has never been trendier than it is right now in South Africa. Thats not to say women were never assaulted because theyre women, but more incidents have come to the fold and we want our insecurities to be taken seriously. This article aims to discuss violence against women and its contributors, as well as how our mind-set may contribute to rape culture.

What is it about the female figure that has so many people in a frenzy? I would call this behaviour the toxic sexualisation of the female figure. On the one hand you have women being raped and murdered and on the other women of all ages including teens uploading inappropriate pictures and videos. Why is that #Natasha or #Sesethu create so much hype to an extent that when our cries concerning sexual abuse fall on deaf ears?

Sexuality does not just define gender or ones physical encounter with another. Studies suggest that sexualisation takes place when a persons appeal is of more value than their behaviour. This is evident in receiving 100+ likes or views on social media and being a victim of anothers impulsive behaviour. The person is then considered to be a sexual object, rather than a person who can make their own decisions as a result sexuality is often inappropriately imposed. More people are speaking out on the issue, likewise government is also taking the opportunity to share responsibility.

We all know no matter the circumstances around an incident, no one should force themselves on another.

Now for the tricky part - how do we go about eliminating sexual violence when society itself is counterproductive? Counterproductive would entail being afraid to speak against violent sexual acts or condoning their behaviour because women these days wear next to nothing.

Addressing rape is not just having a legal system in place to deal with the perpetrator and the victim rising above it or attending defence classes. Rape culture is real and it is definitely causing an impact on society, it has become a part of our construct, that we cannot even see that we promote it at times. This goes beyond clich of asking for it because you dress a certain way or youre playing hard to get. It is also in the satisfaction we get from receiving over 100 likes or one comments on how that outfit compliments our figure etc. Although the compliments might be genuine, you can never be too sure or we would not have girls and women uploading inappropriate pictures and videos to remain relevant. These at times prompt the #NotAllMenAreTrash sentiments.

The crux of the issue is not just the normalised mentality regarding rape, but our social construct which has been a disservice to us all. It is entrenched in our being our birth right. Females from a very young age are taught to be dutiful, being domesticated, dressing a certain way and tolerate mans ego. When we dare to be different, be it our dress sense or sexual orientation, we are seen as prey something that needs to be put in line. The male upbringing is somewhat different, their physical superiority is engraved in their minds and their care-free and adventurous nature is often condoned. This disservice is evident in the little things like a girl being reprimanded and often blamed when she dirties her clothes, but a boy does not get so much backlash. This is not only entrenched in how boys and girls conduct themselves and are dealt with, this is also translated in the blurred lines that permeate in normalising sexualisation by the music we often jam to, graphics in magazines etc.

Rape should not just be addressed in an institutional manner, but culturally as well. We should be taught co-existence, cooperation, and respect as well as knowing that our consequences have actions. Not the kind of consequence that if your dress is too short - then its your doing, but if your happiness infringes on anothers, then harmony cannot exist. If we cant change our mentality and think progressively regarding gender then we are #AllTrash.

Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

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‘Echo Arena’ is competitive, virtual reality frisbee in zero gravity – Engadget

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Called Echo Arena, the multiplayer part of the space exploration title pits teams of five weightless robots against each other in a frantic game of zero-g frisbee. The goal is pretty simple: get control of the flying disc, avoid attacks from other players and toss the space frisbee into the opposing team's goal. Actually doing this is pretty hard. Not only is navigating four dimensions difficult in itself, but the momentum of tossing yourself off a wall in zero gravity means it's exceptionally hard to catch a pass. With time and practice, it can be done -- but between the mechanics of the game and the VR experience movement model, there's a very clear skill curve.

That's probably why Intel chose Echo Arena to be one of two games in its VR Challenger League. Starting in July, Intel and the Electronic Sports League will host a competitive VR gaming series in both online and localized events before a finale at the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship in Poland next year.

After half an hour of training and four quick rounds of Echo Arena, it's hard to say for sure if it'll be the Rocket League of VR -- but it's definitely a start. Playing the game absolutely feels sport-like. Carefully balanced offense and defense are necessary for winning a match, and when our team didn't work together, things fell apart quickly. But not all sports are fun to watch. Even after I played a few rounds of the game, I found being a spectator it difficult -- it just wasn't easy to tell what was going on from an outside perspective. And without spectators, VR eSports just isn't going to work out.

It's an issue, but not an insurmountable one. Live commentary and a solid spectator mode could go a long way toward making sense of Echo Arena as a spectator sport -- and Intel is serious about making VR eSports viable. In all, up to $200,000 in prizes will be awarded to top players of Echo Arena and Insomniac Games' The Unspoken. That's a big investment.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

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'Echo Arena' is competitive, virtual reality frisbee in zero gravity - Engadget

Kidsburgh: Virtual Reality In The Classroom – CBS Pittsburgh / KDKA

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June 14, 2017 5:08 PM By Kristine Sorensen

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) Virtual reality really hit the consumer market about a year ago, and for the first time, its at a price point that schools can afford.

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit has trained about one-hundred teachers in our region, many of whom are just starting to use it in the classroom, and theyre finding that students are embracing it as a new way to learn.

When the teachers put on the headset, which is the device that you put up to your eyes and wraps around the sides so you only see the screen, they realize it is much more than just an image on the phone. Its transportation to other places, other worlds and even other time periods.

What these teachers are seeing inside are images like the Grand Canyon, Stonehenge in England and construction of the Empire State Building.

Were not just limited to the world weve always known but we can literally transport to anywhere in the world with virtual reality, one teacher said.

At the instruction seminars, the teachers are learning how to implement virtual reality in their classrooms. For example, they are coming up with ways to use the virtual reality images of an iconic scene from Times Square in 1945 in history and writing classes; images of the Kilaneau volcano in science class; blockages in coronary arteries to teach medicine, and a virtual chemistry lab made by Schell games in Pittsburghs Station Square.

McKeesport High School chemistry teacher Mark Bacco is excited that students will be able to work with virtual chemicals that are too dangerous to use in a real lab.

Plus, he says, it saves a lot of time and money. To set up a lab and clean it up takes 15-20 minutes to set up and 15-20 to clean up and with virtual reality, its over instantly and kids still get same experience.

So the big question is how much does it cost? To make it affordable, some schools are asking kids to bring in their own devices. Then they use cardboard headsets that are only $5.

Propel High School art teacher DeVon Gandy says virtual reality can be an inspiration for many of his low income students.

They dont get to see anything outside where they live so they dont have the hope to become that, he says. He plans to use virtual reality to show his students other places and ideas. I hope to bring it to into the community, flood it with opportunity they wouldnt have because of financial issues.

The headset can also help students with ADD and ADHD because it focuses your attention. Its just the beginning of a new world beyond books.

Tyler Samstag, who directs innovative instruction for the AIU, says, People are excited about the ability for [virtual reality] to create empathy and access to places and content that otherwise they wouldnt have access to.

For the general public, if youve never experienced virtual reality, there are a few places you can do it right now in Pittsburgh.

The Carnegie Museum of Art has a virtual reality experience thats very futuristic. Its in the Hall of Architecture until September.

Kennywood has a ride thats using virtual reality the Sky Rocket Coaster.

And the Steelers are planning a virtual reality experience of the football games coming out sometime this year.

You can learn more about virtual reality in the classroom on Kidsburgh.org an online resource for kids and families.

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Kristine Sorensen joined KDKA-TV as a reporter/anchor in April 2003. VITALS Joined KDKA: April 2003 Hometown: Winter Park, Florida Alma Mater: College of William and Mary, Northwestern University Medill School of...

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Kidsburgh: Virtual Reality In The Classroom - CBS Pittsburgh / KDKA

Virtual Reality Wedding Video and interview | Time.com – TIME

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Weddings are increasingly high-tech affairs, with everything from homemade photo booths to LED lights to drones getting in on the nuptials. But one recent ceremony might go down in wedding history as a real sign of the times.

Elisa Evans, 46, and Martin Shervington, 44, got married in a futuristic dance hall underneath a glittery disco ball as red lava filled the skies overhead. At least, thats how their virtual reality wedding took place on May 25.

Modern and relatively affordable virtual reality technology made the novel approach possible for the Cardiff, Wales couple, who say they wanted something personal. Who wouldnt want to be a time traveling robot with the opportunity to revisit their own wedding? The choice seemed the only way to go, Martin, a writer, told TIME.

The pair decided to partner with VR company AltspaceVR to make the red lava-filled wedding of their dreams happen. They spent $2,531 a piece on the computer and headset.

When it was time for their first waltz as man and wife, this never-more-hip couple in headsets swung their arms and danced at the Cardiff cafe-bar Sunflower & I. But the 40 guests at the grooms apartment passing the VR headsets around just saw two digital avatars busting a move, one royal blue and the other hot pink.

Two particularly early adopters had the first "cyberspace" wedding when virtual reality was a much more rudimentary concept in 1994. But they couldn't move their hands around their virtual world quite like the Wales couple could, thanks to modern high-tech controllers.

Not everyone knew how the mind-bending plan would come together until the wedding day. Some people were expecting us to be dressed up like robots and didnt quite understand that we were the avatars, Martin said.

The guests had avatars, too. They watched as the groom played host with a heartfelt presentation peppered with jokes. As he got down to thank you's in between funny clips from The Office and Inception , the modern set-up gave guests a way to get in on the action remotely: emoji. Streams of hearts and clapping hands bubbled up from the guests avatars within the experience.

The pair fell in love with each others humor one year ago, and these two have been laughing a lot since. When you know its right, it is right, Elisa, a business owner, said. A community manager for the company, Lisa Kotecki, beamed in from San Francisco to officiate the legally binding affair.

Martin's vows: "I promise to keep on loving you, make you laugh at silly things and allow you to be free to be yourself, he said as his avatar swiveled to face hers.

Elisa's: "I promise to love you, to make you happy, and to laugh with you every day. I promise to try not to be funnier than you," she answered. "That's going to be difficult, he added.

The playful ceremony went off mostly without a hitch, though the kiss was tricky with the bulky equipment on their heads. Lucky for them, there was another chance. In real life, the kiss was fine, Martin said.

Skeptics questioning the whole practice will be be happy to know the cutting-edge wedding didn't totally replace the real thing. After guests sent the couple off in style by streaming neon purple firework-like animated "interactables" into the venue using "glow sticks," it was time for guests to leave the groom's apartment and join the couple at the cafe-bar across the street, Sunflower & I. The affair was structured to reflect the virtual reality experience, right down to the bride's walk down the aisle to "Hamburg Song by Keane and the Beatles classic All You Need Is Love."

This party, however, had food. Along with some face time, guests enjoyed a custom cake with toppers they recognized mini pink and blue robots. But the most interesting difference between the simulated event and the one they had for real may have been the emotional landscape.

We didnt get to see a sea of heart emojis from the guests in the real world, but there were a lot of smiles, Martin said.

The now popular 360-degree wedding video is one way to immortalize the memories, but this next-level couple can throw on a headset and relive their special day whenever they want. That's not even what invigorates them most.

"Marriage is in the heart," Martin said. We have the memory of getting married in parallel, virtual and real world in our minds."

Link:

Virtual Reality Wedding Video and interview | Time.com - TIME

Honeygrow proves virtual reality isn’t just for gaming; it’s for stir-fry, too – PhillyVoice.com

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Honeygrow proves virtual reality isn't just for gaming; it's for stir-fry, too - PhillyVoice.com