Hacker News

<figure> <img alt="Vector illustration of the Chat GPT logo." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9prk_G3Q_DfV8sxhpyaq_1zdPzI=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73660758/STK155_OPEN_AI_CVirginia_A.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Image: The Verge</figcaption> </figure> OpenAI is testing a <a href="https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9982051-using-the-chatgpt-windows-app">ChatGPT app for Windows</a> — but it’s only available to paid users for now. You can download an early version of the app from <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1514734&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.microsoft.com%2Fdetail%2F9nt1r1c2hh7j%3Fhl%3Den-us%26gl%3DUS&referrer=theverge.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2024%2F10%2F17%2F24273040%2Fchatgpt-windows-app-subscribers-openai" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the Microsoft Store</a>. Just <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/25/24186032/openai-chatgpt-mac-app-advanced-voice-mode-delayed">like the Mac version of the app</a>, ChatGPT on Windows lets you ask the AI-powered chatbot questions in a dedicated window that you can keep open alongside your apps. You can quickly access the app by using the Alt + Space shortcut. <div id="8L7k1p"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"> Today, ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, Team, and Edu users can start testing an early version of the Windows desktop app. Get faster access to ChatGPT on your PC with the Alt + Space shortcut.<a href="https://t.co/mv4ACwIhzA">https://t.co/mv4ACwIhzA</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ww6QvBfMnB">https://t.co/Ww6QvBfMnB</a> <a href="https://t.co/tkyodezZhv">pic.twitter.com/tkyodezZhv</a>— OpenAI (@OpenAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI/status/1846957067204166113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a> </blockquote> </div> It also lets you upload files and photos to... <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/17/24273040/chatgpt-windows-app-subscribers-openai">Continue reading…</a>

Oct 17, 2024

Activision says it’s fixed an anti-cheat hack in Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone

Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

YouTube is testing its cheaper Premium Lite subscription again, but it now has limited ads

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

JD Vance Takes a Hard Stance on Drugs. What Does His Adviser's Past Mean for His Campaign?

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Oct 17, 2024

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Engadget

Oct 17, 2024

X updates its privacy policy to allow third parties to train AI models with its data

X is updating its privacy policy with new language that allows it to provide users’ data to third-party “collaborators” in order to train AI models. The <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://privacy.x.com/en/blog/2024/updates-tos-privacy-policy" data-original-link="https://privacy.x.com/en/blog/2024/updates-tos-privacy-policy"><ins>new policy</ins></a>, which takes effect November 15, 2024, would seem to open the door to Reddit-like arrangements in which outside companies can pay to license data from X. The updated policy shared by X includes a new section titled “third-party collaborators.” <blockquote>Depending on your settings, or if you decide to share your data, we may share or disclose your information with third parties. If you do not opt out, in some instances the recipients of the information may use it for their own independent purposes in addition to those stated in X’s Privacy Policy, including, for example, to train their artificial intelligence models, whether generative or otherwise.</blockquote> While the policy mentions the ability to opt out, it’s not clear how users would actually do so. As TechCrunch <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/elon-musks-x-is-changing-its-privacy-policy-to-allow-third-parties-to-train-ai-on-your-posts/" data-original-link="https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/elon-musks-x-is-changing-its-privacy-policy-to-allow-third-parties-to-train-ai-on-your-posts/"><ins>notes</ins></a>, the policy points to users’ settings menu, but there’ doesn’t appear to be an control for opting out of data sharing. The policy doesn’t go into effect until next month, though, so there’s still a chance that could change. X didn’t respond to a request for comment. If X were to begin licensing its data to other companies, it could open up a significant new revenue stream for the social media company, which has seen <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/report-a-quarter-of-x-advertisers-plan-to-cut-spending-next-year-235447747.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/report-a-quarter-of-x-advertisers-plan-to-cut-spending-next-year-235447747.html"><ins>waning interest</ins></a> from major advertisers. In addition to the privacy policy, X is also updating its <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://x.com/en/tos" data-original-link="https://x.com/en/tos"><ins>terms of service</ins></a> with stricter penalties for entities that are caught “scraping” large numbers of tweets. In a section titled “liquidated damages” the company states anyone viewing or accessing more than a million posts a day will be subject to a penalty of $15,000. <blockquote>Protecting our users’ data and our system resources is important to us. You further agree that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, if you violate the Terms, or you induce or facilitate others to do so, in addition to all other legal remedies available to us, you will be jointly and severally liable to us for liquidated damages as follows for requesting, viewing, or accessing more than 1,000,000 posts (including reply posts, video posts, image posts, and any other posts) in any 24-hour period - $15,000 USD per 1,000,000 posts.</blockquote> X owner Elon Musk has previously railed against “scraping.” Last year, the company temporarily blocked people from viewing tweets while logged out, in a move Musk <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-claims-twitters-new-login-requirement-is-a-temporary-response-to-data-scrapers-160041528.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-claims-twitters-new-login-requirement-is-a-temporary-response-to-data-scrapers-160041528.html"><ins>attributed</ins></a> to fending off scrapers. He also moved X’s API behind <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:6;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/twitter-charging-developers-api-access-104917093.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/twitter-charging-developers-api-access-104917093.html"><ins>a paywall</ins></a>, which has drastically hindered researchers’ ability to study what’s happening on the platform. He’s also used allegations of “scraping” to justify <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:7;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/judge-dismisses-xs-lawsuit-against-anti-hate-group-173048754.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/judge-dismisses-xs-lawsuit-against-anti-hate-group-173048754.html"><ins>lawsuits</ins></a> against organizations that have attempted to study hate speech and other issues on the platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-updates-its-privacy-policy-to-allow-third-parties-to-train-ai-models-with-its-data-234207599.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

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Oct 17, 2024

YouTube is testing a new version of its Premium Lite subscription

YouTube is testing a revamp of its Premium Lite subscription tier. User <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.threads.net/@jonahmanzano/post/DBLncDhzYk5" data-original-link="https://www.threads.net/@jonahmanzano/post/DBLncDhzYk5"><ins>screenshots</ins></a> made the rounds on social media this week, and today a Google rep later confirmed to multiple other outlets that the plan is being tested in Australia, Germany and Thailand. This new version would have "limited ads," which the fine print describes as most videos being ad-free, "but you may see video ads on music content and Shorts, and non-interruptive ads when you search and browse." The original Premium Lite subscription began <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/youtube-premium-lite-113540988.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/youtube-premium-lite-113540988.html"><ins>testing</ins></a> in Europe in 2021, but it only lasted a few years, with the video platform <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/youtubes-ad-free-premium-lite-tier-is-going-away-121506789.html"><ins>eliminating</ins></a> the option in October 2023. The plan's only benefit was removing all ads; it didn't offer the offline or background viewing options of the regular Premium offering. We were able to confirm that the pricing model in Australia is $9 a month for Premium Lite, compared with $17 a month for full Premium access. That's in line with the costs from the original Lite, which were about half the rate of a regular plan. With the current costs of a YouTube subscription — <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/youtube-premium-quietly-goes-up-in-price-to-14-per-month-100531473.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/youtube-premium-quietly-goes-up-in-price-to-14-per-month-100531473.html"><ins>$14 a month</ins></a> for an individual or <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/you-tube-premium-family-plan-now-costs-23-a-month-222050334.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/you-tube-premium-family-plan-now-costs-23-a-month-222050334.html"><ins>$23 a month</ins></a> for the family option — having a mid-tier choice could certainly be appealing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-is-testing-a-new-version-of-its-premium-lite-subscription-220050877.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

A new trailer for the Dune: Prophecy series just dropped

Oct 17, 2024

Unity mounts a comeback with launch of Unity 6 game engine

<div id="5eed87c881e94c53a27575abbf01b94f"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SyqN3D6khI?si=lrQtQWrizfE8Eyv8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> Unity has <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017906915/en/Unity-6-Launches-Globally-Next-Gen-Game-Development-Platform-Delivers-Enhanced-Performance-and-Stability/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RqSGyeNvWF-qZ8hKEMz48Z5g0wAIXjK73252wRUvTxLWJT50v2g3Ei-19qH0fyPszGrim8IhAkVNXbaI1AGppOzkqEXpa07kut2m9xviGvGKzEpgVj8oZTJfPwAW_-x3g=="><ins>released</ins></a> the latest version of its engine for developing games and interactive experiences. Unity 6 has new workflows for creating online multiplayer games and more tools for projects intended for mobile platforms, including mobile web support for Android and iOS browsers. The engine promises improved performance, particularly in graphics rendering, and adds several features for creating more realistic environments via global lighting and other VFX. And it wouldn't be a tech announcement without some AI component; the company has also released the latest version of its Sentis neural network inference library for using AI models within the Unity engine. The company took a real hit to its public perception when it attempted to revise its <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/unity-will-start-charging-developers-each-time-their-game-is-installed-214851801.html"><ins>pricing structure</ins></a> last September. The proposed payment model would charge devs a fee whenever a player downloaded their creation. The move led to outcry among game developers, particularly the indie scene. After a <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/unity-ceo-john-riccitiello-stepping-down-effective-immediately-231422660.html"><ins>leadership shakeup</ins></a> and a <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/unity-is-cutting-a-quarter-of-its-workforce-074331467.html"><ins>massive workforce reduction</ins></a>, the company <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/bowing-to-pressure-unity-announces-the-terms-of-its-surrender-193422770.html"><ins>walked back</ins></a> most of the changes it had announced. This September, the controversial fee was <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unity-dumps-the-runtime-fee-that-caused-a-developer-revolt-181559332.html"><ins>dropped</ins></a> entirely. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unity-mounts-a-comeback-with-launch-of-unity-6-game-engine-205332034.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Amazon is rebooting its live-action adaptation of the God of War reboot

Amazon is reshuffling the deck with its God of War series. After <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-fallout-tv-series-is-a-very-awesome-tv-show-130039789.html">the success of Fallout</a>, it wants its next Prime Video gaming adaptation to live up to those lofty expectations — and it’s apparently willing to start fresh to do so. Deadline first <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://deadline.com/2024/10/god-of-war-sony-executive-producers-depart-new-writers-joining-1236118075/" data-original-link="https://deadline.com/2024/10/god-of-war-sony-executive-producers-depart-new-writers-joining-1236118075/">reported</a> on Thursday that the series showrunner and two executive producers have left the project as the streamer recalibrates “to move in a different creative direction.” Showrunner and executive producer Rafe Judkins (<a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wheel-of-time-first-trailer-184934716.html">Wheel of Time</a>) and executive producers Mark Fergus and Hawk Otsby (Children of Men and Iron Man) are no longer involved with the project. Amazon and Sony reportedly praised their screenplays, which suggests the shakeup is more about wanting a fresh take than quality concerns. According to <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/god-of-war-tv-series-showrunner-exec-producers-exit-amazon-1236181302/">Variety</a>, Amazon plans to hire a new showrunner and put together a new writers’ room to take another stab at a live-action Kratos. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/77f3ff60-8cc5-11ef-bdff-d047e2f6904d" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/77f3ff60-8cc5-11ef-bdff-d047e2f6904d" style="height:1350px;width:2400px;" alt="Kratos and Atreus in a still from God of War. Atreus sits in a boat while Kratos looks grimdark." data-uuid="78fb90dd-9ecc-3166-8079-39c2fc242cbc"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Sony / Santa Monica Studio</div></figure> The series is an adaptation of <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2018-04-12-god-of-war-review.html">the 2018 franchise reboot</a> that shifted the action from Greek to Norse mythology. Amazon’s description should sound familiar to anyone who played the game: “When his beloved wife dies, Kratos sets off on a dangerous journey with his estranged son to spread her ashes from the highest peak — his wife’s final wish.[The quest] will test the bonds between father and son, and force Kratos to battle new gods and monsters for the fate of the world.” Amazon Studios is co-producing the series alongside Sony Pictures Television. According to Deadline, Santa Monica Studio creative director Cory Barlog is staying on as an executive producer. Also reportedly remaining are PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, as well as Santa Monica Studio’s Yumi Yang and Vertigo’s Roy Lee.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-is-rebooting-its-live-action-adaptation-of-the-god-of-war-reboot-203305237.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

ESPN faces $146K fine for using emergency alert tones in NBA ads

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYXqI7nrV40">could go all the way</a> with a proposed fine against ESPN. The proposal calls for a penalty of $146,976 against ESPN for violating the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules when the network aired ads to promote the 2023-2024 NBA season. The FCC <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/espn-faces-proposed-fine-improper-use-emergency-alert-tones">said</a> the tones were used “in the absence of an actual emergency.” <div id="3e4071713132489983cc1ec41bb7f133"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Penalty! ESPN faces a proposed FCC fine for using an emergency alert tone in a promo ad. Using this tone is out of bounds - it's a public safety hazard to confuse or desensitize viewers to actual emergency alerts. As the refs for these important systems, we made the call.— The FCC (@FCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCC/status/1846977292335001775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> </div> The offending ads contained the unauthorized EAS tune and were aired six times from October 20 to 24, 2023. Several complaints were filed on October 20 about the TV spots. The cable network admitted in response to a letter of inquiry that it used the EAS attention signals in the ads. ESPN will have an opportunity to respond to the proposed fine. The Commission will examine all the evidence and legal arguments surrounding the alleged illegal tone use before making a final decision on the matter. This is the third time the network misused an emergency tone on air. The FCC issued a $1.12 million fine as part of <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="http://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-15-2A1_Rcd.pdf">a forfeiture order in 2015</a> when ESPN used EAS tones a total of 13 times across three of its cable networks. ESPN violated EAS tone usage rules a second time during an airing of one of its 30 for 30 documentaries Roll Tide/War Eagle, leading to <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-20k-fine-against-espn-apparent-eas-violation">a $20,000 fine in 2021</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/espn-faces-146k-fine-for-using-emergency-alert-tones-in-nba-ads-200054993.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Remedy's new game is FBC: Firebreak, a co-op shooter in the Control universe

<div id="8a25b30456e745efb376f02836e91271"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBO__RWUbKM?si=kDn2Ux0lnTd9zRTB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> After a long and winding road, Remedy Entertainment has unveiled its multiplayer follow-up to Control. FBC: Firebreak is for teams of three, and the trios will face down waves of enemies with an intriguing arsenal of weapons. For instance, the trailer shows a gatling gun of gloopy poison and a gun with a launching piston attached to the front for aerial attacks. Since FBC: Firebreak is set in the same world as Control (and <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-ii-is-great-but-it-doesnt-need-guns-130027149.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-ii-is-great-but-it-doesnt-need-guns-130027149.html">Alan Wake II</a>), there will be more for players to explore about this surreal place. The trailer showed off gunfights in the Federal Bureau of Control and the Oldest House, familiar settings to those who have played Control and <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-13-control-remedy-foundation-expansion-release-date.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-13-control-remedy-foundation-expansion-release-date.html">its DLC</a>. But with the different approach to gameplay, FBC: Firebreak isn't intended to be a direct sequel to the psychological hit game. "I guess you could say that it’s a spin-off, but in the most positive sense of the word," Game Director Mike Kayatta <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/17/fbc-firebreak-control-xbox-partner-preview/" data-original-link="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/17/fbc-firebreak-control-xbox-partner-preview/">said</a>. "It’s not designed to be some kind of lesser, bite-sized Control. FBC: Firebreak is its own, fully formed thing." A co-op project from the studio was first teased <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/control-spin-off-multiplayer-co-op-remedy-505-191228046.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/control-spin-off-multiplayer-co-op-remedy-505-191228046.html">all the way back</a> in 2021. Firebreak has clearly gone through some refinements from the <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://investors.remedygames.com/announcements/remedy-signs-a-co-publishing-and-development-agreement-with-505-games-for-a-multiplayer-spin-off-game-of-the-award-winning-control/" data-original-link="https://investors.remedygames.com/announcements/remedy-signs-a-co-publishing-and-development-agreement-with-505-games-for-a-multiplayer-spin-off-game-of-the-award-winning-control/">original concept</a> Remedy announced with 505 Games. At the time, it was also working on a free-to-play co-op shooter with the conglomerate Tencent, but the codenamed Project Vanguard was <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:6;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/remedy-scraps-plans-for-a-free-to-play-multiplayer-game-174701519.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/remedy-scraps-plans-for-a-free-to-play-multiplayer-game-174701519.html">scrapped</a> in 2023. The duo attempted to reenvision the game as a premium title, but that also <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:7;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/remedy-cancels-its-multiplayer-game-project-with-tencent-120037110.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/remedy-cancels-its-multiplayer-game-project-with-tencent-120037110.html">fell by the wayside</a>. FBC: Firebreak is currently scheduled for release in 2025 on the Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation 5. Remedy <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:8;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.remedygames.com/article/remedy-entertainment-unveils-fbc-firebreak" data-original-link="https://www.remedygames.com/article/remedy-entertainment-unveils-fbc-firebreak">announced</a> that the game will be on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch, as well as on the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members.  Update, October 17, 3:55 pm ET: Article has been updated with full launch platform and service information. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/remedys-new-game-is-fbc-firebreak-a-co-op-shooter-in-the-control-universe-180702570.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Subnautica 2 hits early access in 2025 with four-player co-op

<div id="421c2c15cb904391ac2f66e7e6d3d8e0"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WS0vTRl_2PQ?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div></div> The sequel to the hugely successful <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/subnautica-below-zero-full-release-may-170018659.html"><ins>Subnautica</ins></a> is creeping ever closer into the light, and we got our first proper look at it during <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-is-hosting-a-partner-showcase-on-october-17-at-1pm-et-174034491.html"><ins>Xbox's partner showcase event</ins></a> on Thursday. The Subnautica 2 reveal trailer opens by cutting between a zonked-out diver in the depths with a low-oxygen warning flashing on their helmet and a colorful Finding Nemo-esque coral biome. In the latter space, the diver tries to swim away from a large crab-like creature that emerges, but is sucked into the inky blackness. A fellow human in a submersible shows up and greets them, only for a monstrously huge being to appear. The presence of the second person is to highlight that Subnautica 2 will feature four-player co-op, something players of the open-water survival series have long requested. "Introducing the optional co-operative experience alongside a whole new planet felt like the best opportunity to make that switch, and we’re certain that it will test your ingenuity and ability to adapt as you explore the world together," Donya Abramo, a community manager at developer and publisher Unknown Worlds wrote on the <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/17/subnautica-2-xbox-partner-preview/"><ins>Xbox Wire</ins></a>. "But for those who prefer the eerily beautiful solitude of solo play, Subnautica 2 will still provide that familiar experience, and prove equally as challenging." Expect a lot more details about the game to be revealed in the coming months, including info on new and improved tools, vehicles and base building. Of course, there are a whole gaggle of creatures — big and small — in store too.  Subnautica 2 will hit early access next year. It'll initially be available on Steam, the Epic Games Store and, via Game Pass, Xbox game preview on PC and Xbox Series X/S.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/subnautica-2-hits-early-access-in-2025-with-four-player-co-op-194227017.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The FBI arrested an Alabama man for allegedly helping hack the SEC’s X account

A 25-year-old Alabama man has been arrested by the FBI for his alleged role in the takeover of the Securities and Exchange Commission's X account earlier this year. The hack resulted in a <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-secs-x-account-was-apparently-compromised-to-falsely-claim-bitcoin-etfs-were-approved-230034839.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/the-secs-x-account-was-apparently-compromised-to-falsely-claim-bitcoin-etfs-were-approved-230034839.html"><ins>rogue tweet</ins></a> that falsely claimed bitcoin ETFs had been approved by the regulator, which temporarily juiced bitcoin prices. Now, the FBI has identified Eric Council Jr. as one of the people allegedly behind the exploit. Council was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud, <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/fbi-arrests-alabama-man-january-2024-sec-x-hack-spiked-value-bitcoin" data-original-link="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/fbi-arrests-alabama-man-january-2024-sec-x-hack-spiked-value-bitcoin"><ins>according to</ins></a> the Justice Department. While the SEC had previously confirmed that its X account was compromised via a <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-sec-says-its-x-account-was-taken-over-with-a-sim-swap-attack-004542771.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/the-sec-says-its-x-account-was-taken-over-with-a-sim-swap-attack-004542771.html"><ins>SIM swap</ins></a> attack, the indictment offers new details about how it was allegedly carried out. According to <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/media/1373721/dl?inline" data-original-link="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/media/1373721/dl?inline"><ins>the indictment</ins></a>, Council worked with co-conspirators who he coordinated with over SMS and encrypted messaging apps. These unnamed individuals allegedly sent him the personal information of someone, identified only as “C.L,” who had access to the SEC X account. Council then printed a fake ID using the information and used it to buy a new SIM in their name, as well as a new iPhone, according to the DoJ. He then coordinated with the other individuals so they could access the SEC’s X account, change its settings and send the rogue tweet, the indictment says.  The tweet from @SECGov, which came one day ahead of the SEC’s <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/sec-approves-bitcoin-etfs-for-real-this-time-224125584.html"><ins>actual approval</ins></a> of 11 spot bitcoin ETFS, caused bitcoin prices to temporarily spike by more than $1,000. It also <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/senators-want-to-know-why-the-secs-x-account-wasnt-secured-with-mfa-203614701.html"><ins>raised questions</ins></a> about why the high profile account wasn’t secured with multi-factor authentication at the time of the attack. “Today’s arrest demonstrates our commitment to holding bad actors accountable for undermining the integrity of the financial markets,” SEC Inspector General Jeffrey said in a statement. The indictment further notes that Council allegedly performed some seemingly incriminating searches on his personal computer. Among his searchers were: "SECGOV hack," "telegram sim swap," "how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI," "What are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them," "what are some signs that the FBl is after you,” “Verizon store list," "federal identity theft statute," and "how long does it take to delete telegram account," the indictment says.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/the-fbi-arrested-an-alabama-man-for-allegedly-helping-hack-the-secs-x-account-193508179.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

FCC now requires georouting for wireless calls to 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline

The Federal Communications Commission has passed <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-406700A1.pdf" data-original-link="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-406700A1.pdf">rules</a> that will require all wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline to be georouted. Geographic routing ensures that attempts to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for intervention services will be sent to the location where the call is placed rather than to the location of the caller's area code and exchange. Once the rules take effect, national providers will have 30 days to implement georouting for these calls. Smaller, non-national providers have a timeline of 24 months to comply. The agency also issued a proposal that the same georouting policy be applied to texts sent to 988. The FCC has taken several steps to expand the reach of the 988 Lifeline over the past few years. After <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/fcc-designates-988-suicide-prevention-hotline-165133970.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/fcc-designates-988-suicide-prevention-hotline-165133970.html"><ins>voting</ins></a> to make the three-digit number the shortcut for reaching the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in 2020, the agency expanded the service to include <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/fcc-approves-texting-to-988-to-contact-the-national-suicide-prevention-lifeline-195820540.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/fcc-approves-texting-to-988-to-contact-the-national-suicide-prevention-lifeline-195820540.html"><ins>text support</ins></a> in 2021. T-Mobile was one of the <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/t-mobile-988-emergency-mental-health-services-nspl-154041420.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/t-mobile-988-emergency-mental-health-services-nspl-154041420.html"><ins>first</ins></a> telecoms to activate 988 for customers to access mental health services. If you are struggling and need someone to listen, please, call 988. The full number is 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK), or you can reach the Lifeline by <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/" data-original-link="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/"><ins>webchat</ins></a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/fcc-now-requires-georouting-for-wireless-calls-to-988-the-national-suicide-prevention-hotline-192030468.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together

On Thursday, the FCC <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-requires-all-mobile-phones-be-hearing-aid-compatible" data-original-link="https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-requires-all-mobile-phones-be-hearing-aid-compatible">approved</a> new regulations requiring all phone makers to make their handsets compatible with <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/eargo-7-the-tiny-hearing-aids-you-wont-need-to-take-out-to-shower-140000815.html">hearing aids</a>. With the number of Americans 65 and older expected to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.prb.org/resources/fact-sheet-aging-in-the-united-states/">balloon by nearly 50 percent</a> by 2050, the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don’t have to worry about which phones will work with their hearing aids. “Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features, and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace,” the FCC wrote in a press release. On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid makers that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in the assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids — and vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-go-on-sale-in-the-us-174612301.html">over-the-counter hearing aids</a>, which now include <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/airpods-pro-review-second-generation-130048218-130048292.html">AirPods Pro 2</a>. Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US to let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In addition, the FCC now mandates that cell phones’ point-of-sale labels clarify hearing aid compatibility and whether the handsets meet Bluetooth or telecoil coupling requirements. The FCC worked with a consortium of cell carriers, phone makers and researchers to draft and adopt the rules. “Establishing a 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement for all mobile handsets was made possible by the collaborative efforts of members of the Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force — an independent organization of wireless service providers, handset manufacturers, research institutions and advocates for those with hearing loss,” the Commission wrote. “Members of the Task Force worked together over a period of years to reach a consensus on how the Commission could achieve its objective of requiring 100% of all mobile handsets to be hearing aid compatible.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-fcc-will-soon-require-all-hearing-aids-and-phones-to-work-together-190003074.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Bloober Team’s next horror game is Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team unveiled what it’s been working on at today’s Xbox Partner Showcase event. The studio <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://x.com/BlooberTeam/status/1846960960432677214">showed off a cinematic trailer</a> for Cronos: The New Dawn, which is a brand-new IP. The developer describes the game as “a twisted time travel story set in an unforgiving post-apocalyptic future.” It’s a third-person survival horror title that looks to have plenty of action. This is a far cry from the type of psychological horror games the studio cut its teeth on, <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/layers-of-fear-collection-gets-a-terrifying-demo-on-steam-185735207.html">like the Layers of Fear series</a>. We spoke to Bloober Team last year and were told <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/bloober-team-is-done-making-psychological-horror-games-163039512.html">it was moving away from</a> psychological horror and, well, here’s the proof. <div id="b358bd9a5bc54f3f9855ac8eec713a4b"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ibQP4F8SyeA?si=vbbHYsDzYOuxC8oN" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> The trailer primarily consists of a lengthy scene in which a character who looks sort of like Isaac from Dead Space and a bit like a Big Daddy from Bioshock plays chess with a lady before wandering an apocalyptic hellscape. There is actual gameplay here, but only toward the end of the trailer. Bloober Team says players will need to successfully navigate that “deadly wasteland” and fight off “monstrous abominations.” It also says the game mixes the “eerie atmosphere of horror with the boundless potential of science fiction.” The trailer certainly confirms that sentiment. Despite being announced at an Xbox event, Cronos: The New Dawn isn’t exclusive to Microsoft consoles. It’ll be available on PC, PS5 and, of course, Xbox Series X|S systems sometime in 2025. The studio just released its <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/silent-hill-2-remake-hits-ps5-and-pc-on-october-8-230731258.html">remake of the iconic horror game Silent Hill 2</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bloober-teams-next-horror-game-is-cronos-the-new-dawn-184925036.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

AAAAAAH! Phasmophobia haunts consoles this month

Phasmophobia was one of the chief reasons a lot of gamers lost so much sleep during the pandemic. Now it’s finally headed to consoles after four years of frightening the hell out of us. Kinetic Games’ ghost hunting game is heading to PlayStation 5, PS VR2 and Xbox Series X/S on October 29. Players on consoles and <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/739630/Phasmophobia/">PCs through Steam</a> can explore haunted places together in online sessions and discover the highest octave their voices can hit. Kinetic announced the game’s console release <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/pandemic-era-hit-phasmophobia-is-coming-to-consoles-this-august-210215700.html">last year</a> but unforeseen delays forced the studio to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/10/phasmophobia-console-release-delayed-no-longer-planned-for-xbox-this-month">push back the date</a>. Since the game is launching on consoles just before Halloween, Kinetic Games is also holding a special in-game event. Teams will receive a special Halloween goal in which all teams playing on all platforms will work together to “permanently unlock the Blood Moon weather.” The achievement comes with a special badge and trophy and more reasons to scream your head off in future matches. <div id="e274101b5d254f6a84f54f3e4ac219e8"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BLCwws1HnYA?si=JEKb_VhcSCXSqpuU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> Phasmophobia is an addictive and horrifying four-player exploration game that came to life on PCs in 2020. As part of a team of ghost hunters, you’re dispatched to a haunted location to investigate and determine what type of horrifying soul is dispatching the living to the realm of the dead. Each team member uses various pieces of ghost hunting equipment and ethereal artifacts to determine the type of spirit doing the haunting and other required criteria about the entity, capture evidence of its presence and sometimes even make contact with the entity. These ghosts and otherworldly creatures don’t just make doors slam shut and yell “Boo!” before scurrying off into the shadows. There are 20 different types of entities like banshees, demons wraiths and revenants that can call out your name in the darkness, drive down your sanity and even kill your ghost hunter if you're not careful.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/aaaaaah-phsamophobia-haunts-consoles-this-month-182546124.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The Annapurna-published cycling adventure Ghost Bike is now Wheel World

Ghost Bike is dead; long live <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.wheelworldgame.com/" data-original-link="https://www.wheelworldgame.com/">Wheel World</a>. The scenic cycling adventure from the creators of Nidhogg was revealed in 2023 with a darker storyline. After design pivots to “make it more fun to play” (always a good idea!), the new naming convention matches its lighter tone. Initially slated for this year, the Annapurna-published game will now arrive in early 2025. Wheel World is developer Messhof’s first 3D game and its first with a big team. The studio made its bones with <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2014-10-13-nidhogg-gets-off-the-fence-and-onto-ps4-and-vita-this-week.html">Nidhogg</a>, a side-scrolling sword-fighting game with old-school Atari-style graphics. With Wheel World, the team shifts gears (sorry) to a gorgeous cel-shaded art style. Unlike Messhof’s previous titles, this one will have a narrative — with characters and dialog boxes! Messhof explained its rebranding in a press release. “[Ghost Bike] was a game about dying on a bike after being hit by a car and ending up in a cycling valhalla,” Messhof’s Mark Essen and Kristy Norindr wrote. “While it wasn’t directly based on real world ghost bikes (those white bikes memorializing cyclists killed by drivers), there was enough overlap to feel like the name was justified and the associations would be a positive one from both directions. But as things changed in the gameplay (to make it more fun to play), and thus the story (especially in tone) it fit less and less.” Wheel World, it is. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/dbbf5030-8ca7-11ef-bfbd-4902baf63f2d" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/dbbf5030-8ca7-11ef-bfbd-4902baf63f2d" style="height:2160px;width:3840px;" alt="Gameplay screen from the upcoming Wheel World. A person racing other cyclists." data-uuid="4f0e813b-9ab1-3d42-8c30-c56556a95ad9"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Messhof / Annapurna</div></figure> You play as Kat, a young cyclist determined to “save Wheel World from total collapse.” Its gameplay combines racing, bike upgrades, recovering stolen parts and ultimately performing “The Great Shift ritual” to save the world. The trailer also showcases a roaming mode for times when you want a <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-relaxing-video-games-140048572.html">relaxing gaming experience</a>. An original soundtrack from the electronic label Italians Do It Better helps you chill out while cruising the beautifully cel-shaded countryside. When it arrives in early 2025, <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.wheelworldgame.com/" data-original-link="https://www.wheelworldgame.com/">Wheel World </a>will be on <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/microsoft-removes-the-1-xbox-game-pass-trial-just-before-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-155049730.html">Game Pass</a> on day one. In addition to the Xbox Series X/S, it will also be available on PS5 and <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1497460/Wheel_World/">PC</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-annapurna-published-cycling-adventure-ghost-bike-is-now-wheel-world-173009766.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Amazon will stream an election night special with Brian Williams

Amazon Prime Video <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://x.com/PrimeVideo/status/1846944272810999928"><ins>will host a live election night special</ins></a> hosted by Brian Williams. The veteran newscaster will deliver “election results and analysis” starting at 5PM ET on November 5. Interestingly, this is a free special and doesn’t require a Prime membership. It’ll also be live streaming throughout the world, and not just America. Williams will be joined by a bevy of contributors to discuss election returns and the whole thing is being directed by industry veteran Glenn Weiss. He’s directed a whole bunch of live events, from the Oscars to the Emmys and beyond. Amazon doesn’t have a news division, so it’ll be pulling results and commentary from third-party sources across all political affiliations, <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/amazon-prime-video-brian-williams-election-night-special-will-stream-free-1236034106/"><ins>according to </ins><ins>The Hollywood Reporter</ins></a>. Williams said in a statement that he “will follow the storyline on election night wherever it leads us.” Albert Cheng, VP and head of Prime Video, says this is a “one-night-only” event, but it’s not without precedent. Prime Video made its first <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-video-nfl-black-friday-game-date-211050980.html"><ins>Black Friday NFL game</ins></a> available to stream live, even to people who don’t subscribe to the service. <div id="d1d88143d10247d09a4144f059e489a7"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pCl4Y5-mfL0?si=f1s-G-G7zGykCW7h" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> As for Williams, he hosted the NBC Nightly News broadcast for more than a decade. The newscaster stepped down <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/longtime-anchor-brian-williams-leaving-nbc-28-years-rcna5042"><ins>after exaggerations were found</ins></a> in some of his reporting, particularly with regard to stories from Iraq and related to Hurricane Katrina.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-will-stream-an-election-night-special-with-brian-williams-172040097.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The next Like A Dragon game recasts a series regular as an amnesiac pirate

<div id="00c8078f2e4543f6af1793d77821aa63"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fVgonB6ubk?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div> Update October 17, 1:17PM ET: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has dropped a new gameplay trailer that shows some naval combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It shows off some melee action too, with Majima summoning sharks and large monkeys to help him in battle. You'll be able to try this ridiculous action earlier than expected, as the release date has moved up a week from February 28 to February 21. Our original story follows below: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio simply cannot stop pumping out Like A Dragon (aka Yakuza) games. The studio and publisher Sega have revealed that the next entry will hit PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Steam on February 21, just 13 months after <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-will-make-you-see-ichibans-bare-butt-in-early-2024-175557876.html">Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth</a> debuted. The latest spinoff has a typically kooky twist that’s not exactly kept secret by its title: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. A <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCmDF0NqZQc">seven-minute announcement trailer</a> shown at the studio's <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhdoaEG21w">RGG Summit</a> features Goro Majima, a regular of the series, explaining what's been going on with him recently. About six months earlier, Majima washed up on an island near Hawaii with no memory of how he got there, only to be helped out by a child with a pet tiger cub. It didn't take long until Majima ran afoul of some pirates and swiftly became a pirate captain himself. <div id="7eace841bdb44cdda9eef0030193c664"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCmDF0NqZQc?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div> Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes place a year after the events of Infinite Wealth and Ichiban Kasuga's exploits in that game. You'll assemble your crew, upgrade your ship, engage enemy vessels and discover hidden islands. Majima will have two fighting styles that you can switch between on the fly. Opt for the Mad Dog option to vex enemies with "speed, agility and flair," and then switch to Sea Dog to dual wield short swords and "pirate tools," according to a press release. However you slice it, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii already looks way more fun than the 45 minutes I spent playing <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ubisofts-long-delayed-skull-and-bones-is-finally-set-to-arrive-on-february-16-031617196.html">Skull and Bones</a>. While February 21 isn't too far away in the grand scheme of things, there are plenty of other Like A Dragon-related things to help keep you occupied in the meantime. <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/prime-video-to-premiere-like-a-dragon-yakuza-an-am">Like A Dragon: Yakuza</a>, a live-action TV show based on the series, will <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazon-drops-the-first-teaser-for-its-upcoming-yakuza-adaptation-110442602.html">debut on Prime Video on October 24</a>. The franchise is also <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-yakuza-series-is-finally-coming-to-nintendo-switch-164657508.html">debuting on Nintendo Switch the same day</a> with a port of Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-next-like-a-dragon-game-recasts-a-series-regular-as-an-amnesiac-pirate-142935001.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Super Nintendo World Orlando opens next May

The Super Nintendo World theme park in Orlando is nearly ready for visitors. Universal Orlando Resort <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS3v1OC-mx8"><ins>just announced that the Mario-friendly attraction</ins></a> will open its doors on May 22, 2025. That gives you over six months to find the perfect Goomba costume to wear on opening day. This is the third Nintendo theme park throughout the world, as the Orlando location joins <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/first-super-nintendo-world-in-us-will-open-in-2023-195849242.html"><ins>pre-existing parks in Los Angeles</ins></a> and Japan. If the layout looks anything like the other two parks, you should expect a large interactive area to explore, special themed rides and, of course, all kinds of Nintendo-adjacent dining and shopping. The original Japanese park <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/super-nintendo-world-japans-donkey-kong-country-area-opens-this-spring-175610023.html"><ins>just got a nifty Donkey Kong Country area</ins></a>, but it remains to be seen if that’ll make the jump to the states. <div id="5f5c8aac3fed4bb7b2bf5a83e88a0152"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PS3v1OC-mx8?si=bgJX-WUEE1duLKVr" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> This is part of a larger expansion of Universal Resort Orlando, called Universal Epic Universe. This includes five areas to explore. There’s the aforementioned Super Nintendo World, but this expansion will also host the pre-existing Harry Potter attraction. The area will be home to a theme park based on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and another based on the Dark Universe franchise. That last one is pretty odd to me, being as how the Dark Universe franchise peaked with a few middling horror films in the 2010s. Most of the planned films in this shared cinematic universe were scrapped after 2017’s The Mummy crashed and burned.  Finally, there’s Celestial Park. This looks to be a <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/epic-universe/worlds/celestial-park"><ins>standard amusement park</ins></a> with a slight sci-fi bent. There are space-themed roller coasters and the like.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/super-nintendo-world-orlando-opens-next-may-164506895.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Apple Pay now works with third-party iOS and desktop browsers

<a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/how-to-set-up-apple-pay-on-your-iphone-plus-all-other-apple-devices-130011932.html"><ins>Apple Pay</ins></a> debuted almost 10 years ago to the day, and Apple is <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Apple;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=4130e2f0-a14f-4c5e-bdab-cd52ac7d8e79&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=360637d2-5780-452b-86f6-07dd2f2812a0&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Apple&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbmV3c3Jvb20vMjAyNC8xMC9hcHBsZS1jZWxlYnJhdGVzLTEwLXllYXJzLW9mLWFwcGxlLXBheS8iLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjM2MDYzN2QyLTU3ODAtNDUyYi04NmY2LTA3ZGQyZjI4MTJhMCIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXBwbGUuY29tL25ld3Nyb29tLzIwMjQvMTAvYXBwbGUtY2VsZWJyYXRlcy0xMC15ZWFycy1vZi1hcHBsZS1wYXkvIn0&signature=AQAAAWeX1-gQcXnXiHVwV_KsxdH1ni0lUMyuO-3-Kw6HIN-u&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fnewsroom%2F2024%2F10%2Fapple-celebrates-10-years-of-apple-pay%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-celebrates-10-years-of-apple-pay/"><ins>marking the occasion</ins></a> by rolling out some features it revealed at WWDC. If you have iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 installed on your iPhone or iPad, you'll now be able to use the payment service on third-party browsers on those devices, as well as desktop computers. In the latter case, you'll be asked to scan a QR code with your iPhone or iPad to complete the payment. However, Apple says the feature is only available in select markets. It'll be easier than ever to add supported cards to Apple Wallet on your iPhone. Thanks to the Tap to Provision feature, you can simply tap an eligible NFC-enabled card to the back of your phone, though you may have to enter the security code manually. Again, though, Tap to Provision isn't available everywhere. Apple is now starting to support third-party buy now, pay later (BNPL) services in Apple Pay. This starts with the option to check out with Klarna in the US and UK. The company will add more installment payment options in the future, including Citi, Synchrony and eligible Apple Pay issuers via Fiserv in the US. Klarna will also be available as an option in Canada at a later date. Apple <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-pay-later-is-dead-long-live-affirm-loans-202524989.html"><ins>discontinued</ins></a> its own <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-pay-later-is-available-to-everyone-in-the-us-174654047.html"><ins>Pay Later option</ins></a> earlier this year Meanwhile, US Apple Pay users can redeem rewards on eligible Discover credit cards at checkout. Support for rewards from other issuers and in more countries is on the way.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apple-pay-now-works-with-third-party-ios-and-desktop-browsers-163048055.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

2K Games wades into risky waters and announces a free-to-play hero shooter

2K and developer 31st Union just unveiled Project: Ethos, a free-to-play 3rd-person hero shooter. It’s entering a <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/concord-is-going-offline-two-weeks-after-its-ps5-and-pc-launch-163134728.html">crowded and fraught marketplace</a>, but the publisher says this is an “exciting evolution” of the genre. That evolution seems to take the form of some light roguelike mechanics. The playable characters evolve throughout each match, via semi-randomized upgrades unique to each hero. The publisher gives an example of evolving a sniper into a “close-range skirmisher” or a “support role into a powerful lone wolf.” <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/cadea040-8c98-11ef-bfff-6859bf885ba8" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/cadea040-8c98-11ef-bfff-6859bf885ba8" style="height:1404px;width:2488px;" alt="A shot of roguelike stuff." data-uuid="9289e075-d154-39e1-95aa-31d462ed164a"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">2K</div></figure> The “abilities, stakes and challenges” change from match to match and players can eventually unlock powerful Augments to further enhance runs. It remains to be seen if these mechanics can set it apart from the pack, but you can find that out for yourself. There’s a community playtest <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://ethos.2k.com/playtest/"><ins>going on right now</ins></a>. Players can test out the game’s signature Trials mode, which is an “ongoing, persistent fight” or check out the Gauntlet. This is your standard head-to-head tournament mode, with teams and brackets. This community playtest goes until October 20 in the US, Canada, Mexico and much of Europe. There is a fairly annoying hurdle to jump through to access the early build. You have to complete a Twitch Drop and stream 30 minutes of content from <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://ethos.2k.com/creators/"><ins>one of 2K’s partner creators</ins></a>. There’s no information yet regarding an actual release date for people who don’t want to sit through a 30-minute stream.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/2k-games-wades-into-risky-waters-and-announces-a-free-to-play-hero-shooter-160059725.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Netflix's The Electric State trailer shows off cartoony robots and oversized VR headsets

<div id="e2423879a555438abe7bd58b50acebbd"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9gUDaPTPxwo?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div></div> Netflix has released the first trailer for <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2017-12-15-the-electric-state-film-it-director-on-board.html"><ins>The Electric State</ins></a>, a post-apocalyptic road <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/"><ins>movie</ins></a> from Marvel (and Community) mainstays The Russo Brothers. The adaptation of Simon Stålenhag's 2018 graphic novel is set in a retro-futuristic version of the '90s after a robot uprising. It tells the story of Michelle, an orphaned teenager (Millie Bobby Brown) who ventures across the west of the US to look for her younger brother with a smuggler (a mustachioed Chris Pratt) and a pair of robots. The movie's look draws heavily from <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.simonstalenhag.se/es.html"><ins>Stålenhag's gorgeous artwork</ins></a>, right down to the oversized VR helmets. The robots, in particular the one accompanying Michelle, have a cartoon-inspired aesthetic that wouldn't look out of place in <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-fallout-tv-series-is-a-very-awesome-tv-show-130039789.html">Fallout</a>. A large teddy bear robot can be seen as part of a parade of machines, while our heroes appear to face off against a massive one that looks a little like Sonic the Hedgehog. Meanwhile, the whole "slowed down iteration of a popular song in a movie trailer" thing might have jumped the shark with the version of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova" that plays over the top of this. It fits the '90s setting, of course, but I couldn't help but laugh as soon as I recognized it. The movie has a hell of a cast. Alongside Brown and Pratt, it stars Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci. The Electric State hits Netflix on March 14.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/netflixs-the-electric-state-trailer-shows-off-cartoony-robots-and-oversized-vr-headsets-143628514.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Google wants to put the consequences of its Epic antitrust ruling on pause during appeal

Google has formally <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/documents/2024-10-16_Emergency_Motion_for_Stay_Pending_Appeal.pdf">filed a motion</a> [PDF] asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/epic-games-verdict-appeal/">put a pause</a> on the order that forces the company to open the Play store to competitors. If you'll recall, Google <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/jury-sides-with-epic-games-in-its-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-032341810.html">lost an antitrust lawsuit</a> filed by Epic Games after a federal jury found that the company held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices. Earlier this month, US District Judge James Donato <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-has-to-open-up-the-play-store-in-epic-games-antitrust-ruling-195239228.html">ordered Google</a> to allow third-party app stores access to the Google Play app catalog and to make those stores downloadable from its storefront. Now, Google is asking the court for a stay on that order while it's appealing the Epic antitrust lawsuit decision, saying that it will expose 100 million Android users in the US to "substantial new security risks." The company called the order "harmful and unwarranted" and said that if it's allowed to stand, it will threaten Google's ability to "provide a safe and trusted used experience." It argued that if it makes third-party app stores available for download from Google Play, people might think that the company is vouching for them, which could raise "real risks for [its] users." Those app stores could have "less rigorous protections," Google explained, that could expose users to harmful and malicious apps.  It also said that giving third-party stores access to the Play catalog could harm businesses that don't want their products available alongside inappropriate or malicious content. Giving third-party stores access to its entire library could give "bad-intentioned" stores a "veneer of legitimacy." Moreover, it argued that allowing developers to link out from their apps "creates significant risk of deceptive links," since bad actors could use the feature for phishing attacks to compromise users' devices and steal their data.  One of court's main proposed changes is to allow developers to remove Google Play billing as an option, allowing them to offer their apps to Android users without having to pay the company a commission. However, Google said that by allowing developers to remove its billing system, it could "force an option that may not have the safeguards and features that users expect."  In its filing, Google emphasized that the three weeks the court gave it to make these sweeping changes is too short for a "Herculean task." It creates an "unacceptable risk of safety" that could lead to major issues affecting the functionality of users' Android devices, it said. The company also questioned why the court sided with Epic in its antitrust lawsuit, whereas it <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/epic-loses-bid-to-make-apple-change-its-app-store-payment-rules-right-now-174924222.html">sided with Apple</a> in a similar case also filed by the video game company. "It is pause-inducing that Apple, which requires all apps go through its proprietary App Store, is not a monopolist, but Google — which built choice into the Android operating system so device makers can preinstall and users can download competing app stores — was condemned for monopolization." Epic Games provided Engadget with the following statement: "The jury’s verdict and the court’s injunction were clear: Google’s anticompetitive Play Store practices are illegal. Google is merely fear mongering and falsely using security as a pretext to delay the changes mandated by the court. This is Google’s last ditch effort to protect their control over Android and continue extracting exorbitant fees. The court’s injunction must go into effect swiftly so developers and consumers can benefit from competition in the mobile ecosystem." Update, October 17 2024, 10:17AM ET:This story has been updated to include a response from Epic Games to Google's motion.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-wants-to-put-the-consequences-of-its-epic-antitrust-ruling-on-pause-during-appeal-020354621.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

A $105,000 robot arm nobody needs cooked me a delicious lunch

London’s W1 is somewhere to go if you’ve got too much money to spend on something. Within minutes of each other, you can visit the city’s priciest private doctor, buy a Steinway and a pair of designer glasses that cost more than my mortgage. Wigmore Street is also where the ultra rich go to buy a kitchen that Thorstein Veblen would weep at the sight of. It’s also the new home of Moley Robotics, a company selling luxury kitchens and the robot arm that’ll kinda/sorta do all of the cooking for you, too. Moley is the brainchild of Dr. Mark Oleynik and is one part kitchen showroom and one part robot lab. It’s a spartan space with three demo kitchens, a wide dining table and some display units showing you the different types of artisan marble you can have for your countertop. The point of interest is the working X-AiR robot just behind the front window that acts as a lure for would-be consumers. It’s got its own cooktop, shelves, oils and utensils and, with the proper help, can even whip up a meal. <h2 id="jump-link-moley">Moley</h2> <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/a73f2f90-8a1f-11ef-bb6f-62a08da90b3b" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/a73f2f90-8a1f-11ef-bb6f-62a08da90b3b" style="height:1333px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of the Moley Robotics X-AiR kitchen robot while cooking. " data-uuid="37160bc7-18e6-3e14-98ae-f76845582d6f"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure> Oleynik explained he wanted to create something to help people eat better food with less reliance on preservatives. His dislike of reheated and processed food sent him looking for alternatives, which led him to finding a way to automate fresh cooking. If you’re coming back late from work, the obvious temptations are microwave meals or delivery food. He believes people would much rather healthy recipes where you just prep the raw ingredients and let the robot do the rest. The focus on health extends to the database of potential meals, many of which have been created by the SHA Wellness Clinic. Moley has its own in-house chef, James Taylor, who adapts each recipe so it can be made by a one-armed robot. The company says it hopes to add two or three new recipes each month, and that if you have a family dish you’d love to see automated, you can send it in. Oleynik said the movements are mapped onto the robot after watching a human chef prepare the same meal. And that, once it had learned what to do, the robot would be far less error-prone than its human counterpart. <div id="43fb41343dd74196abb2fb2f5804f4cc"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1GVwbYURuQ?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div> The initial <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2015-04-14-robot-arms-will-cook-your-meals-like-a-masterchef.html">demonstration of Moley’s vision (above) used a two-armed chef</a> that ran on overhead tracks that earned the company so many plaudits initially. Unfortunately, Oleynik admitted the cost for such a robot would have likely reached north of £250,000 (Around $330,000). Which is probably too rich even for the sort of people who frequent Wigmore Street for their kitchen appliances. To reduce the price, the company stripped down the project from a mobile, two-armed version to a single arm. The robot that Moley is actually selling is bought off-the-shelf from Universal Robots, an industrial robotics company. <h2 id="jump-link-the-robot">The robot</h2> <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/fa749ba0-8a1f-11ef-977e-e5ed49829176" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/fa749ba0-8a1f-11ef-977e-e5ed49829176" style="height:1333px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of the Moley Robotics X-AiR kitchen robot while cooking. " data-uuid="fdfcd25a-1ee0-3a09-afc5-876252bc972e"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure> The one-armed version that’s currently up for pre-order is known as the X-AiR, which is what sits in the front of Moley’s showroom. If you want one for yourself, you’ll need to buy a new countertop, two custom shelving units, a cooktop, control tablet and the robot itself. The prices are in the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” range but the price to get in the door is £80,000 (around $105,000). So far, Moley hasn’t installed a single robot, but expects the process to begin in the next three to six months. But there are people who have already laid down cash to get one of these in their homes, and the kitchen that goes around it. X-AiR has no built-in vision or sensing technology enabling it to perceive or engage with its environment. The system does come with a camera, embedded in one of the shelves, that I understand is more for technical support than to aid cooking. Instead, the robot arm moves around its space from memory, knowing where all of the ingredients, oils and tools should be. The saucepans are held in place over the jobs on the cooktop to keep the environment as controlled as possible. I was present to witness Moley’s now standard demonstration using an SHA Clinic recipe for <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://shawellness.com/shamagazine/en/asian-tofu-saute-recipe/">Asian Tofu Saute</a>. Staff members had pre-prepared the ingredients and placed them in the pots necessary for the robot to grab. In order to start the process, the user needs to tell the system which ingredients are in which sections. There’s even a little diagram of the shelf layout, so you can tap “Bean Sprouts” and tap that the pot with them is seated in position A1, for instance. Once you’ve done that, you can set the machine going and theoretically leave it be until it’s time to eat. <div id="f3b3938d590d478bb6092a6a33ca5b81"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6aER2wlcRQk?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div> The system is set up to call out every instruction from the recipe so it’s easy to follow along with it. In the video, you should be able to see why it’s an interesting thing to watch as the arm starts its ballet to start cooking your food. It almost theatrically turns on the cooktop before pouring a liberal quantity of oil into the pan to begin warming. After that, it begins adding the ingredients as and when commanded to, and stirring the mixture in between. The stirring is more of a back and forth pushing of the mix, which is obviously less thorough than a human would be. After each stir, the robot scrapes its spatula on the side of the pan before returning it to its hook. There are similar touches when the robot adds the next ingredient from its dedicated bin, double tapping the pot on the side to ensure everything falls out. I noticed, however, that there were a few ingredients still attached to the spatula and the pots when they were returned to the shelf. This is the big issue with a robot that lacks any sort of vision to perceive its local environment. During my demonstration, a few strips of leek clung to the spatula and fell off, onto the cooktop itself, while in motion. It was quickly wiped away, but I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if it’d landed a millimeter closer to the burner and pan and started burning. <h2 id="jump-link-what-it-cant-do">What it can’t do</h2> <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/1306bd10-8a20-11ef-8ead-a87836aed451" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/1306bd10-8a20-11ef-8ead-a87836aed451" style="height:1333px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of the Moley Robotics X-AiR kitchen robot while cooking. " data-uuid="6a007382-42e4-30f4-bbec-a6cf6559fe9a"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure> I’m much happier tending to a pan and actually cooking than I am peeling carrots and trying to dice onions. The obvious question, then, is why Moley sought to automate the ostensibly fun part of cooking rather than the bit people dislike? Oleynik said it might be possible in a far-flung future but there are just too many variables to make a carrot-peeling robot work. Not to mention, he added, the safety risks inherent in giving a robot a bladed instrument to wield. Moley’s first-generation robots are also limited by the volume of food they can cook in a single session. Depending on the meal, they can make between eight and ten portions, enough for a dinner party but nothing more extravagant. Not to mention the robots can’t make much of any adjustment if you don’t have exactly the right ingredients ready for use. You can remove any you don’t have, naturally, but there’s no ability to improvise beyond that, or to variate its program to take into account seasonal differences in ingredient quality. <h2 id="jump-link-the-food">The food</h2> <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/699311c0-8a1f-11ef-af7f-24ed536b8491" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/699311c0-8a1f-11ef-af7f-24ed536b8491" style="height:1333px;width:2000px;" alt="Image of the meal produced by the Moley X-AiR kitchen robot" data-uuid="3a418dd9-8ccb-3032-9790-ac6466190686"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget</div></figure> When I was told the robot was making me tofu, I had to work hard to keep myself standing upright. If they could have seen my soul, they’d have watched my shoulders droop so hard they fell through the floor, through the basement, and into the subway line below. Friends, I cannot stand tofu and grimace my way through it whenever my vegan chums insist we go to a meat-free restaurant. Even when they insist I’m eating “really good” tofu, it just tastes like stringy matter, devoid of any inherent flavor as I try to mash it in my mouth. So bear that in mind when I say that the tofu the robot cooked me was actually delicious. It had a nice texture and tasted pretty delicious, meshing beautifully with the vegetables. <h2 id="jump-link-the-future">The future</h2> Oleynik believes his robots will find a variety of niches to fill, first with money-rich, time-poor folks in London and beyond. The internet tells me that a private chef would set you back around £300 a day, so you’d burn through that £80,000 in less than a year. Naturally, it’s likely anyone who can drop £80,000 on a cooking robot can probably afford to buy their ingredients pre-prepared, so they could just dump them in the bins and set things going. After that, Oleynik believes the technology could be used to prepare fresh meals for business and first-class airline passengers. Or in small kitchens where one employee supervises a production line of robots all making fresh dishes. His vision stretches to any situation where there may be a desire for fresh-cooked food, but the economics of a trained chef won’t allow it. He cited the example of a hotel with 24/7 room service, where people are paid to wait around on the off-chance someone wants food. Or service stations in remote areas where there’s potential demand for meals but no need to hire a professional chef. Similarly, Oleynik cited care homes where there’s a similar conflict between a desire to produce good food but limited budgets. Of course, it’s not clear, given there would need to be a human preparing the raw ingredients and dishing up, how much labor is being saved. And anyone who is involved with food would likely need to be trained and paid accordingly, which may eliminate any potential savings. But Oleynik is certain that a business can expect to see a return on its investment within its first year of service. As for the price, Oleynik believes the technology will refine to the point that the cost will fall quite far. He gestured to one of the demo kitchens in the showroom, which had a Miele-branded oven and fridge, saying each model cost £5,000 (around $6,500) each. He hopes he’ll be able to sell a cooking robot for £10,000 to the sort of people who don’t blink when spending £5,000 on an oven and another £5,000 on a fridge. But, if nothing else, it’s entirely in keeping with everything else you can buy on Wigmore Street.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/a-105000-robot-arm-nobody-needs-cooked-me-a-delicious-lunch-140050065.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

LG's C3 OLED TVs are more than $600 off before Black Friday

Update 10/17/24 11:05am ET: Amazon has raised the price of the 55-inch model by $100, which brings the final price down to $1,297. While not quite as low as it was just a few hours ago, that's still about $500 off the original price and a good deal. <hr> I don't know about you but I will be spending most of the upcoming cold months sitting on my couch and watching television (with some books thrown in). The only thing I'm missing is a <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-gaming-tv-131509986.html">really good television set</a> and, while I'll be opting for a more <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-budget-home-entertainment-streaming-devices-cheap-tvs-for-students-123020749.html">budget-friendly pick</a>, I'm tempted by the sale on LG's C3 Series OLED TV. Right now, the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ac047a3d-8f5e-44c6-bea8-6c45c305a819&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL3Byb2R1Y3QvQjBCVlhGNzJIVi8_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWMwNDdhM2QtOGY1ZS00NGM2LWJlYTgtNmM0NWMzMDVhODE5Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL3Byb2R1Y3QvQjBCVlhGNzJIVi8iLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAe42bK950P7Dbf3O9gTYwDN0EwQvhLuqhIf9olEbTQAd&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB0BVXF72HV%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVXF72HV/?th=1">55-inch model</a> is down to $1,197 from $1,800 — a 34 percent discount. The all-time low price isn't the only version on sale, with the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ac047a3d-8f5e-44c6-bea8-6c45c305a819&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL3Byb2R1Y3QvQjBCVlhLOU42WC8_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWMwNDdhM2QtOGY1ZS00NGM2LWJlYTgtNmM0NWMzMDVhODE5Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL3Byb2R1Y3QvQjBCVlhLOU42WC8iLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAZr3KW5hgEoomKAVbjSmwl4tXDs8lsxJKMNOu0bLDbnP&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB0BVXK9N6X%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVXK9N6X/?th=1">42-inch option</a> dropping to $997 from $1,197. LG released the <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-65-inch-lg-c3-oled-tv-is-nearly-half-off-for-today-only-152153420.html">C3 series</a> last year as a mid-range OLED option. It offers an a9 AI Processor Gen6, HDR tone mapping, AI upscaling and object-based picture sharpening. The TVs also come with Brightness Booster, which — though not to the level of some of its competitors — makes it easier to watch even in a relatively sunny room.  <core-commerce id="55df9edc2b6244c0acf94044b6f46bb9" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVXF72HV/?th=1"></core-commerce> If you want the newest model then check out <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ac047a3d-8f5e-44c6-bea8-6c45c305a819&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0xHLTU1LUluY2gtUHJvY2Vzc29yLUFJLVBvd2VyZWQtT0xFRDU1QzRQVUEvZHAvQjBDVlJESzRQNi8_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWMwNDdhM2QtOGY1ZS00NGM2LWJlYTgtNmM0NWMzMDVhODE5Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0xHLTU1LUluY2gtUHJvY2Vzc29yLUFJLVBvd2VyZWQtT0xFRDU1QzRQVUEvZHAvQjBDVlJESzRQNi8iLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAQkm2mO6GmNBJedsV2xaet6TW0PtGyQowDJRU1SNcmgQ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLG-55-Inch-Processor-AI-Powered-OLED55C4PUA%2Fdp%2FB0CVRDK4P6%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/LG-55-Inch-Processor-AI-Powered-OLED55C4PUA/dp/B0CVRDK4P6/?th=1">LG's C4 OLED series</a>. The 2024 release is also on sale, with the 55-inch version down to $1,297 from $2,000 — the same 35 percent discount we recently saw on Prime Day. The <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-tv-deals-include-lg-c4-oled-smart-tvs-at-record-low-prices-184104211.html">C4 TVs</a> offer nearly 1,000 nits of brightness and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. This model will also wirelessly connect with LG soundbars, foregoing the need for messy cables.  Follow <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/lgs-c3-oled-tvs-are-more-than-600-off-before-black-friday-135916937.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Apple Music helps artists turn concert set lists into playlists

There's a certain level of fandom you hit when you research a band's tour set list before they come to your city. And some of us like to relive great concerts with some quick research on <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.setlist.fm/">setlist.fm</a>. The next logical step, once we're armed with this information, is to create a playlist on our preferred streaming service for quick access. Thanks to third-party options <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://setify.co/">like Setify</a>, the process is easy for Apple Music and Spotify users, but you still have to take the time to do it.  <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-music-debuts-a-monthly-version-of-its-annual-replay-feature-140042667.html">Apple Music</a> has now given artists <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://artists.apple.com/support/5466-promote-shows-set-lists">the ability to turn set lists into playlists</a> thanks to info from tour info site <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.bandsintown.com/">Bandsintown</a>. Once an artist has connected the two services, they can select the type of show in Apple Music for Artists (concert, tour or residency) and link it to upcoming dates on Bandsintown. From there, artists can set a publish date and use search to build out the playlist. These collections of songs can include original tunes the artist covers or collaborations with other acts. Apple Music allows unlimited set list playlists for past or future shows, but the service recommends that artists select a track listing that most accurately reflects the whole tour if they're making one for an entire run of dates.  Set lists playlists aren't entirely new on Apple Music. The service has been curating playlists for popular tours for a while now, like Zach Bryan's 2024 <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:iTunes;elmt:;cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=9b2a3988-c5c9-4640-8e2b-1de7b2717343&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5605795c-eb70-42df-a4eb-8dc0d2bf654f&featureId=text-link&merchantName=iTunes&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL211c2ljLmFwcGxlLmNvbS91cy9wbGF5bGlzdC96YWNoLWJyeWFucy1xdWl0dGluLXRpbWUtdG91ci1zZXQtbGlzdC9wbC42ODJjZTI5NjQwYjY0ODE1OTE2YmU1YTViOTkyMzUyNSIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNTYwNTc5NWMtZWI3MC00MmRmLWE0ZWItOGRjMGQyYmY2NTRmIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL211c2ljLmFwcGxlLmNvbS91cy9wbGF5bGlzdC96YWNoLWJyeWFucy1xdWl0dGluLXRpbWUtdG91ci1zZXQtbGlzdC9wbC42ODJjZTI5NjQwYjY0ODE1OTE2YmU1YTViOTkyMzUyNSJ9&signature=AQAAAQBOm6K4kEMXe0jKG26kqS8K7qeLIzi2LQl0SdMkk-A2&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.apple.com%2Fus%2Fplaylist%2Fzach-bryans-quittin-time-tour-set-list%2Fpl.682ce29640b64815916be5a5b9923525" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/zach-bryans-quittin-time-tour-set-list/pl.682ce29640b64815916be5a5b9923525">Quittin' Time Tour</a>. What's more, Apple Music is touting this new tool as a promotional feature for artists, so there are a number of ways to share the playlists once they're live. However, it will also be a great item for fans who either want more info on the songs they can expect to hear, can't make it to a stop on a tour or want to relive the experience of seeing the band in person.  Of course, if one of your favorites doesn't hop on this bandwagon, you still have options for set list playlists. With Setify, you can link either Apple Music or Spotify and pull in data from setlist.fm in order to make your collections. It's not perfect, but it works well most of the time, and you can always adjust things in the streaming service apps if you need to further curate a playlist. I recently missed one of my all-time favorites at Furnace Fest, but thanks to this combo, I can at least get a small piece of Blindside <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://setify.co/s/6ba97e22">playing through About a Burning Fire</a>. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/apple-music-helps-artists-turn-concert-set-lists-into-playlists-133916684.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The USB-C Apple Pencil drops to a new all-time low of $65

While iPads are cheaper and much handier to carry around than MacBooks, you often need an extra <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-ipad-accessories-130018595.html">iPad accessory</a> or two to make them as useful. While an attachable keyboard can be great for anyone with a writing job (hello!) an Apple pencil is critical for everything from studying to designing. Thankfully, it's cheaper than ever to get the budget option with the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=f9b1efbd-1ea1-4cd8-b9f2-de05f4f28fb8&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLU1VV0EzQU0tQS1QZW5jaWwtVVNCLUMvZHAvQjBDTDdKMTJZSz90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJmOWIxZWZiZC0xZWExLTRjZDgtYjlmMi1kZTA1ZjRmMjhmYjgiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vQXBwbGUtTVVXQTNBTS1BLVBlbmNpbC1VU0ItQy9kcC9CMENMN0oxMllLIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAaLYMbf0le0DJf_m75A1JP9-m32NxQO7sfxa1Z3suXzj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-MUWA3AM-A-Pencil-USB-C%2Fdp%2FB0CL7J12YK" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MUWA3AM-A-Pencil-USB-C/dp/B0CL7J12YK?">USB-C Apple Pencil</a> on sale for $65, down from $79. The 18 percent discount brings the accessory to $5 less than <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-apple-deals-include-the-usb-c-apple-pencil-at-a-record-low-price-144636083.html">its Prime Day price</a>.  Apple released its <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-new-79-apple-pencil-has-a-usb-c-charging-port-141732710.html">USB-C Pencil in late 2023</a> as a cheaper option than its counterparts, the <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-pencil-lineup-is-a-mess-so-heres-a-guide-to-which-one-you-should-buy-190040913.html">second generation Apple Pencil</a> and Apple Pencil Pro. This Pencil is compatible with all iPads with a USB-C port and offers the hover feature when using an <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ipad-air-2024-review-of-course-this-is-the-ipad-to-get-210019225.html">M2 iPad Air</a> or the iPad Pro. It also has some great perks like low latency, tilt sensitivity and pixel-perfect accuracy. However, it doesn't have pressure sensitivity like its fellow Apple Pencils.  <core-commerce id="d1af6bdb7e0f41c9ae74431323dd051a" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MUWA3AM-A-Pencil-USB-C/dp/B0CL7J12YK?"></core-commerce> Follow <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-usb-c-apple-pencil-drops-to-a-new-all-time-low-of-65-133046013.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

A new Chrome extension can reliably detect AI-generated voices

Just in time for the 2024 US elections, the call screening and fraud detection company Hiya has launched a free Chrome extension to spot deepfake voices. The aptly named <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="http://hiya.com/products/deepfake-voice-detector" data-original-link="http://hiya.com/products/deepfake-voice-detector">Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector</a> “listens” to voices played in video or audio streams and assigns an authenticity score, telling you whether it’s likely real or fake. Hiya tells Engadget that third-party testers have validated the extension as over 99 percent accurate. The company says that even covers AI-generated voices the detection model hasn’t trained on, and the company claims it can spot voices created by new synthesis models as soon as they’re launched. We played around with the extension ahead of launch, and it seems to work well. I pulled up a YouTube video about the blues pioneer Howlin’ Wolf that I suspected used AI narration, and it assigned it a 1/100 authenticity score, declaring it likely a deepfake. Suspicions confirmed. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/6c3c8f80-8be3-11ef-ac76-b5d12d1b5bbe" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/6c3c8f80-8be3-11ef-ac76-b5d12d1b5bbe" style="height:800px;width:1280px;" alt="Promo image for Hiya's deepfake voice detector extension for Chrome." data-uuid="e28aa9cf-df4c-35e0-81fb-7752ec4d015a"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Hiya</div></figure> Hiya threw a well-earned jab at social media companies for making such a tool necessary. “It’s clear social media sites have a huge responsibility to alert users when the content they are consuming has a high chance of being an AI deepfake,” Hiya President Kush Parikh wrote in a press release. “The onus is currently on the individual to be vigilant to the risks and use tools like our Deepfake Voice Detector to check if they are concerned content is being altered. That’s a big ask, so we’re pleased to be able to support them with a solution that helps put some of the power back in their hands.” The extension only needs to listen to a few seconds of a voice to spit out a result. It works on a credit system to prevent Hiya’s servers from getting slammed by excessive requests. You’ll get 20 credits daily, which may or may not cover the flood of <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/fcc-fines-political-consultant-6-million-for-deepfake-robocalls-190050186.html">manipulative AI content</a> you’ll come across on social media in the coming weeks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/a-new-chrome-extension-can-reliably-detect-ai-generated-voices-130059842.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Microsoft recruits accessibility app to make its AI more useful to blind and low-vision users

Be My Eyes, the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2015-01-15-be-my-eyes-is-a-free-app-to-help-the-blind-see-through-video-c.html">accessibility app for mobile devices</a> that puts blind and low-vision people on a live video call with a sighted guide, will help Microsoft train its AI. Be My Eyes will provide anonymized video data to improve scene understanding in Microsoft’s accessibility-focused AI models. The data sets Be My Eyes gives Microsoft will include “unique objects, lighting and framing that realistically represents the lived experience of the blind and low vision community.” The goal is to make Microsoft’s AI more inclusive for people with vision disabilities. The companies say all personal info has been scrubbed from the metadata. The provided data won’t be used for advertising or any purpose other than training Microsoft’s AI models. Although this is Be My Eyes’ first such data partnership, it’s worked with Microsoft before by <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/introducing-microsofts-ai-powered-disability-answer-desk-on-be-my-eyes" data-original-link="https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/introducing-microsofts-ai-powered-disability-answer-desk-on-be-my-eyes">incorporating</a> its Be My AI tool into Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk. As its name suggests, Be My AI is the company’s GPT-4-powered spin on an assistance product. In that case, it helps people with vision disabilities navigate Office, Windows and Xbox. Be My Eyes also <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/hilton-and-be-my-eyes-team-up-to-make-hotels-more-accessible-for-blind-and-low-vision-users-162522626.html">struck a deal with Hilton</a> earlier this month. In that case, dedicated hotel staff help blind and low-vision lodgers do things like adjust their thermostats, make coffee and raise or lower their blinds. A previous 2023 partnership between the two companies helped train the Be My AI model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-recruits-accessibility-app-to-make-its-ai-more-useful-to-blind-and-low-vision-users-130006439.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

DJI confirms that US customs is holding up its latest consumer drone

Many of DJI's drones including its latest consumer products are being held up at the US border, the manufacturer said in a <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://viewpoints.dji.com/blog/navigating-u.s.-customs-demonstrating-djis-commitment-to-ethical-production-labor-practices">blog post</a> today. It appears to be a customs matter and not related to proposed US legislation to ban DJI products (the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2864">Countering CCP Drones Act</a>) currently in US Congress. However, the holdup means that sales of DJI's latest <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-air-3s-review-lidar-and-improved-image-quality-make-for-a-nearly-faultless-drone-130002876.html">Air 3S drone</a> will be delayed, the company told <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/16/24272188/dji-blames-us-customs-block-import-some-drones">The Verge</a>.  "The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has cited the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), as the reason for the current holdups," the DJI ViewPoints team wrote. "This assertion made against DJI, however, is entirely unfounded and categorically false." Calling the situation a "misunderstanding," DJI said it's sending documentation proving it complies with the UFLPA. It added that it has no manufacturing facilities in and doesn't source materials from Xinjiang, the region that's a red flag for the US in terms of Uyghur forced labor violations. It also noted that it's not a listed entity under UFLPA and that its supply "undergoes rigorous due diligence by respected US retailers." US Customs and Border Protection has yet to comment on the matter. While the US House of Representatives did pass the a bill to block DJI's drones, the Senate removed that clause from the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. It was later re-introduced as an amendment, though, and could still make it into the final bill. If so, imports of new DJI drones could be blocked, but a ban wouldn't likely prohibit current owners from using them. DJI has a massive share of the worldwide drone market upwards of 70 percent as of 2021, according to <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1254982/global-market-share-of-drone-manufacturers/">Statista</a>. including as much as <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://dronecenter.bard.edu/files/2020/04/CSD-Public-Safety-Drones-3rd-edition.pdf">90 percent</a> by public safety officials.   This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-confirms-that-us-customs-is-holding-up-its-latest-consumer-drone-123007447.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Uber is reportedly exploring an Expedia takeover

Uber is reportedly exploring the idea of purchasing Expedia, one of the largest travel booking companies in the world, according to the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.ft.com/content/94a25bf7-e62b-462a-a4f0-e4feb6e244f7">Financial Times</a>. Expedia, which is valued at $20 billion and which reported its highest-ever annual revenue in 2023, will be the company's biggest acquisition, if the deal does indeed push through. The Times says it's very early days, however, and Uber hasn't even made a formal offer for the travel company yet. It's still in the process of studying the implications of acquiring Expedia and has, over the past months, worked with advisers to figure out whether the deal is feasible and how it would be structured.  The company's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, may have to sit out deal discussions, seeing as he used to be CEO of Expedia before he was <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2017-08-27-uber-picks-expedia-chief-as-ceo.html">hired by the ride-hailing service</a> in 2017. He's still in its Board of Directors, as well. It doesn't sound like Khosrowshahi was the one who suggested the potential purchase, though — in its report, the Times said the idea was "broached by a third party." Uber has had plans to become a wider travel booking platform for a while now. Khosrowshahi said he wanted Uber to be the "Amazon of transportation" from the time he joined the company. Since then, the ride-hailing service has added train, bus and flight bookings in some markets, and it has also made several large acquisitions. It purchased online food delivery service <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/uber-buys-postmates-all-stock-deal-070647041.html">Postmates for $2.65 billion</a> and alcohol delivery service <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/uber-shuts-down-alcohol-delivery-service-drizly-three-years-after-its-purchase-065818346.html">Drizly</a> for $1.1 billion before shutting it down three years later. The company also teamed up with <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/uber-starts-offering-fully-autonomous-waymo-rides-in-phoenix-153055331.html">Waymo</a> and <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/cruises-self-driving-cabs-are-coming-to-uber-next-year-214734509.html">Cruise</a> to offer autonomous rides in certain markets. As the Times notes, Uber became profitable for the first time in 2023 due to a renewed demand for rides and food delivery and could be a in a good position to acquire a company as big as Expedia. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uber-is-reportedly-exploring-an-expedia-takeover-120038754.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

How to to stream with a VPN on your Apple TV

The Apple TV is one of the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-streaming-devices-media-players-123021395.html">best streaming devices</a> you can get right now to add Netflix, Disney+, Max and other streaming apps to your boring old TV. It costs more than the competition, but it offers a more polished experience (the screensavers are worth the price of admission) as well as more privacy protections. But you may not know that, with a VPN, you can use your Apple TV to access even more content. By downloading one of several VPN apps directly to the Apple TV, you can spoof your IP address, tricking your system into thinking you’re in a different country. And because most streaming services license different shows in different territories, flipping the VPN to an international location lets you access a wider array of content. Here’s how to use a VPN on your Apple TV and why you might want to install one. <h2 id="jump-link-how-to-use-a-vpn-on-apple-tv">How to use a VPN on Apple TV</h2> As of the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/18/apple-releases-tvos-17/">September 2023 release</a> of the tvOS 17 software update, the Apple TV platform supports third-party VPN apps. Setting them up is easy; just follow these steps (these may vary slightly between VPNs): <ol> <li>In the Apple TV App Store, search for the VPN you want to download or search for the keyword “VPN” to see your options.</li> <li>Download and install your chosen VPN.</li> <li>Sign up or log in.</li> </ol> We have a comprehensive guide on <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/how-to-stream-video-to-your-tv-using-a-vpn-023736315.html">how to stream video to your TV using a VPN</a>, which covers Apple TV installation and provides alternative methods for connecting a VPN to your Apple TV. <h2 id="jump-link-why-you-should-use-a-vpn-on-apple-tv">Why you should use a VPN on Apple TV</h2> As previously mentioned, using a VPN on your Apple TV allows you to change your IP address to make it seem like you’re browsing from a different country. This happens as the VPN encrypts your connection and tunnels it through the VPN’s digital or physical servers located in other countries. So if you’re in the US and tunnel to a UK VPN server, you’ll be able to access the UK Netflix content library and watch shows on UK-only services like BBC iPlayer. VPNs can also be essential security tools, although their features apply best when you’re using them on a smartphone or PC where you do most of your internet browsing. If you purchase a VPN subscription with your Apple TV in mind, we recommend using it on your smartphone and laptop, too. A VPN can help keep you anonymous online and protect your data from malicious parties or advertising networks. If you care about digital privacy and anonymity, it’s good practice to use a VPN across all devices with internet connectivity. <h2 id="jump-link-choosing-the-right-vpn">Choosing the right VPN</h2> Apple TVs only work with a limited number of VPNs. Although that seems like a hindrance, Apple vets the VPNs it allows on its App Store, and you can feel reassured knowing they’re trustworthy options. Every one of the top picks on our <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-vpn-130004396.html">best VPNs</a> list is on the Apple TV app store. We encourage you to do your own research when choosing a service. Although each VPN has the same basic functionalities, their price and extra features vary. Before deciding which one is right for your needs and the devices you have, take some time to look at what each one offers and see what other users have to say. <h2 id="jump-link-vpn-options-for-other-streaming-platforms">VPN options for other streaming platforms</h2> Don't have an Apple TV? Good news: Robust VPN options (or alternatives) exist for the other major streaming platforms, too. <ul> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-stream-using-a-vpn-on-your-google-tv-or-chromecast-140619331.html">How to stream using a VPN on your Google TV or Chromecast</a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-stream-via-a-vpn-on-roku-130009403.html">How to use a VPN on your Roku</a></li> <li>How to use a VPN to stream with Fire TV (coming soon)</li> </ul>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-to-stream-with-a-vpn-on-your-apple-tv-113345975.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The Morning After: Amazon finally made a Kindle with a color display

In a barrage of Kindle hardware, Amazon might have something for anyone looking to upgrade from a basic Kindle. The biggest reveal might be the Kindle Colorsoft, its first reader with a color display. Amazon tried to ensure the reader has a good color and black-and-white experience, with high contrast, high resolution and high clarity whether you're looking at a color image or a black-and-white page. Amazon uses nitride LEDs, which work with the company’s algorithm to enhance color and brightness without washing out images. Judging by the press images (and the demos we went to), these seem primed for graphic novels and comics. If you’re looking for something to digitally house your comics and manga, the Kindle Colorsoft will cost you $280 and start shipping on October 30. — Mat Smith Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox.<a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/about/newsletter/"> Subscribe right here!</a> The biggest tech stories you missed <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/new-pixel-updates-include-ai-powered-theft-protection-160042706.html"><ins>New Pixel updates include AI-powered theft protection</ins></a> <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/microsoft-removes-the-1-xbox-game-pass-trial-just-before-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-155049730.html"><ins>Microsoft removes the $1 Xbox Game Pass trial just before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6</ins></a> <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-jrpg-inspired-clair-obscur-expedition-33-has-a-stacked-voice-cast-165228134.html"><ins>The JRPG-inspired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has a stacked voice cast</ins></a> <h2 id="jump-link-kindle-scribe-2024-hands-on"><a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html">Kindle Scribe (2024) hands-on</a></h2> <h3 id="jump-link-you-can-finally-scribble-on-your-books">You can finally scribble on your books.</h3> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html"><figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c52a2f0-8c6e-11ef-b7bf-bed3cee4b8c9" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c52a2f0-8c6e-11ef-b7bf-bed3cee4b8c9" style="height:305px;width:640px;" alt="TMA" data-uuid="71d2e6d1-9fa2-3e97-ba89-264ae288b9da"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Amazon</div></figure></a> With the original Scribe, Amazon got a lot of the basics right. It nailed latency and smoothness of the writing experience, but writing notes on your ebooks was a bit janky. Now, when you write on a page, the Scribe will generate a box for your notes. This box is embedded in the text, with the book’s words rearranging and flowing to accommodate it. However, it’s still not a simple ‘draw on the page’ solution. The Kindle Scribe will be available in December, starting at $400. <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html">Continue reading.</a> <h2 id="jump-link-analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready"><a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready-and-its-a-big-deal-150033468.html">Analogue’s 4K remake of the N64 is almost ready</a></h2> <h3 id="jump-link-the-analogue-3d-costs-250-and-will-ship-early-next-year">The Analogue 3D costs $250 and will ship early next year.</h3> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready-and-its-a-big-deal-150033468.html"><figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c527be0-8c6e-11ef-9ca7-ccecd0777d2a" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c527be0-8c6e-11ef-9ca7-ccecd0777d2a" style="height:360px;width:640px;" alt="TMA" data-uuid="c820c906-18e2-3d6a-aba7-320ae84f7de3"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Analogue</div></figure></a> Analogue says it’s nailed its most complicated project yet: rebuilding the Nintendo 64 from scratch. Once again, the Analogue 3D has an FPGA (field programmable gate array) chip, coded to emulate the original console on a hardware level. We’re promised support for every official N64 cartridge ever released, across all regions, but with some major upgrades. The Analogue 3D supports 4K output, variable refresh rate displays and PAL and NTSC carts. The company is also making Original Display Modes to emulate your CRT TV of yore. <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready-and-its-a-big-deal-150033468.html">Continue reading.</a> <h2 id="jump-link-look-at-pradas-nasa-spacesuit"><a data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/prada-reveals-its-spacesuit-for-nasas-artemis-iii-mission-123014149.html">Look at Prada’s NASA spacesuit</a></h2> <h3 id="jump-link-its-been-designed-for-nasas-artemis-iii-mission">It’s been designed for NASA’s Artemis III mission.</h3> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/prada-reveals-its-spacesuit-for-nasas-artemis-iii-mission-123014149.html"><figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c52a2f1-8c6e-11ef-bdf7-50c9942eca47" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/4c52a2f1-8c6e-11ef-bdf7-50c9942eca47" style="height:360px;width:640px;" alt="TMA" data-uuid="b343b412-a72c-3d5e-bc10-8b321911e0b4"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">NASA</div></figure></a> Prada and Axiom Space teamed up to design a new spacesuit, and NASA is now ready to reveal the look. This is the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, white with red and gray accents for a bit of color and excitement. The suit is almost finished, having undergone testing and simulations at Axiom Space, SpaceX and NASA facilities. It should enter a final review in 2025. <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/prada-reveals-its-spacesuit-for-nasas-artemis-iii-mission-123014149.html">Continue reading.</a>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-amazon-finally-made-a-kindle-with-a-color-display-111533015.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

Instagram is adding new features to prevent teen sextortion scams

Meta is continuing its flurry of teen safety features for Instagram as the company faces mounting questions about its handling of younger users’ privacy and safety in its apps. The latest batch of updates are meant to tighten its protections against sextortion. With the changes, Meta says it will make it harder for “potentially scammy” accounts to target teens on Instagram. The company will start to send follow requests from such accounts to users’ spam folders or block them entirely. The app will also start testing an alert that notifies teens when they receive a message from such an account, warning them that the message appears to be coming from a different country. Additionally, when the company detects that a potential scammer is already following a teen, it will prevent them from being able to view teens’ follower lists and accounts that have tagged them in photos. The company isn’t saying exactly how it’s determining which accounts are deemed “potentially scammy,” but a spokesperson said they’re using signals such as the age of the account and whether it has mutual followers with the teen it’s attempting to interact with. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/e0a77050-8c1b-11ef-bbbf-ff2958c1a623" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/e0a77050-8c1b-11ef-bbbf-ff2958c1a623" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="Meta is expanding its nudity protection ferature." data-uuid="9b7d38a2-87e5-3890-b177-168bd1be284d"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Meta</div></figure> Meta is also making changes to prevent the spread of intimate images. Instagram will no longer allow users to screenshot or screen record images shared over DMs via the app’s ephemeral messaging feature and will no longer allow these images to be opened from the web version of Instagram. The app will also expanding the nudity protection feature it <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/instagram-will-test-nudity-protection-in-messages-to-fight-sextortion-131516318.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/instagram-will-test-nudity-protection-in-messages-to-fight-sextortion-131516318.html">began testing</a> earlier this year to all teens on the app. The tool automatically blurs images when nudity is detected in an image shared over DMs, and provides warnings and resources when such an image is detected. The changes are meant to address the realities of how sextortion scams, in which scammers coerce teens into sending intimate images that are then used to threaten and blackmail them, are often carried out over Instagram. A <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.thorn.org/research/library/financial-sextortion/" data-original-link="https://www.thorn.org/research/library/financial-sextortion/">report</a> from Thorn and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) earlier this year found that Instagram, along with Snapchat, were the “most common” platforms used by scammers “as initial contact points.” These scams are carried out by individuals and groups that sometimes organize on Meta’s <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/meta-takes-down-63000-instagram-accounts-linked-to-extortion-scams-175118067.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/meta-takes-down-63000-instagram-accounts-linked-to-extortion-scams-175118067.html">own platforms</a>. Alongside the updates, Meta said that it removed 800 groups on Facebook and 820 accounts, linked to a group known as the Yahoo Boys, that “were attempting to organize, recruit and train new sextortion scammers.” Meta’s updates come as it faces increasing pressure to strengthen safety features for its youngest users. The company is currently facing <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/forty-one-states-sue-meta-for-harming-the-mental-health-of-its-youngest-users-162521184.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/forty-one-states-sue-meta-for-harming-the-mental-health-of-its-youngest-users-162521184.html">a lawsuit</a> from more than 30 states over the issue. (Earlier this week, a federal judge <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/meta-must-face-us-state-lawsuits-over-teen-social-media-addiction-2024-10-15/" data-original-link="https://www.reuters.com/legal/meta-must-face-us-state-lawsuits-over-teen-social-media-addiction-2024-10-15/">rejected</a> Meta’s attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed.) New Mexico is also <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:6;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/meta-faces-another-lawsuit-over-child-safety-164732291.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/meta-faces-another-lawsuit-over-child-safety-164732291.html">suing</a> the company and <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:7;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/facebook-and-instagrams-algorithms-facilitated-child-sexual-harassment-state-lawsuit-claims-095314139.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/facebook-and-instagrams-algorithms-facilitated-child-sexual-harassment-state-lawsuit-claims-095314139.html">has alleged</a> that Meta didn’t do enough to stop adults from sexually harassing teens on its apps, particularly Instagram.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-is-adding-new-features-to-prevent-teen-sextortion-scams-111047916.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2024

The best MacBook accessories for 2024

Whether you're a long-time Apple fan or a recent convert, investing in the right MacBook accessories can seriously enhance your daily workflow and overall experience. Sure, a MacBook is a powerful machine on its own, but adding a few key extras can really level-up your setup. From increasing comfort with a lap desk to expanding its limited ports with a USB hub, there are plenty of reasons to consider some well-chosen accessories. Need more storage space? External drives can ensure you never run out of room for your projects. Want to protect your investment? A hard shell case is a must-have MacBook Pro accessory to shield your device from the inevitable bumps and scrapes that come with daily use. If you use your MacBook for work, whether it’s on the go or at home, it’s really easy to change up your workspace with a few thoughtful add-ons. Plus, Apple’s seamless ecosystem means great compatibility between your MacBook and other devices, like your iPhone, so you can find accessories that work across both. Whether you’re looking for protection, convenience or something to increase productivity, we’ve rounded up the best MacBook accessories to make your setup even better. <h2 id="jump-link-best-macbook-accessories">Best MacBook accessories</h2> <core-commerce id="7ab286f91d0d419794c12926517b3b73" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="795942f54ead4cab92351c859489bb2a" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="fd6456aff1aa4ab9bcfaa1184a73dfe2" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/LapGear-MyDesk-Lap-Desk-laptops/dp/B07N9KZQKR/"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="055f14ebd30c4b1784b4ea0e30d329ac" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Docking-Station-Ethernet-Enclosure/dp/B0CFWX61HL/"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="2a096228bd464b0b95846136e960d54d" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerExpand-Adapter-Delivery-Ethernet/dp/B087QZVQJX/?th=1"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="c10de6d1cca84510968df9ca89956766" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Charging-Station-Multiple-Devices/dp/B09RMMMM5W?th=1"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="86b815356abc472cb9c73469d2f172af" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PVQC5C6/?th=1"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="47ff6a3b774149cbadedfd05e1aa70c7" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/mophie-powerstation-pro-compatbile-integrated/dp/B0BWSDWZ96"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="57297380c5e64466ad0e9a7651263eff" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Roost-Laptop-Stand-Adjustable-Portable/dp/B01C9KG8IG"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="483175c8ec124d88aebfce990d6b51f2" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="d2181547e95848998f37572943390b9c" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Ergonomic-Keyboard-Wrist/dp/B07ZWK2TQT/"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="689aacc7cb3a40d9b29bfece1ab18fe6" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="94bde5b1fcd64c2cb511529e9e5d3b87" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-macbook-accessories-150014737.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Apple will launch a Business Caller ID service next year

Apple <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-expands-tools-to-help-businesses-connect-with-customers/" data-original-link="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-expands-tools-to-help-businesses-connect-with-customers/"><ins>introduced</ins></a> some new tools to its Apple Business Connect program that could be useful for the everyday consumer. The most notable update is the introduction of Business Caller ID. When this feature rolls out next year, companies of any size can register to have their name, logo and department appear when they contact customers. In practice, that can help people distinguish between a phone call from a legitimate business and spam. Apple Business Connect allows companies to have more control over how they appear within different apps across the Apple ecosystem. In 2023, Apple <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-business-connect-maps-messages-171509900.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/apple-business-connect-maps-messages-171509900.html"><ins>offered</ins></a> businesses customization for their listings in Maps, Messages, Siri and Wallet. Today's updates make Business Connect branding tools available to any company, including those without a brick-and-mortar location. In addition to the eventual rollout of Business Caller ID, the program is also adding brand info within the Mail and Phone apps. Participating companies can also add their logo to the <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-tap-to-pay-iphone-business-163522302.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/apple-tap-to-pay-iphone-business-163522302.html"><ins>Tap to Pay</ins></a> feature for contactless payments. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-launch-a-business-caller-id-service-next-year-223913262.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Two Sudanese brothers accused of launching a dangerous series of DDoS attacks

Newly unsealed grand jury documents revealed that two Sudanese nationals allegedly attempted to launch thousands of distributed denial of services (DDoS) attacks on systems across the world. The documents allege that these hacks aimed to cause serious financial and technical harm to government entities and companies and even physical harm in some cases. <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/two-sudanese-nationals-indicted-alleged-role-anonymous-sudan-cyberattacks-hospitals">The US Department of Justice</a> (DoJ) unsealed charges against Ahmed Salah Yousif Omer and Alaa Salah Yusuuf Omer that resulted in federal grand jury indictments. The two are allegedly connected to more than 35,000 DDoS attacks against hundreds of organizations, websites and networks as part of a “hacktivism” scheme as part of the cybercrime group Anonymous Sudan and a for-profit cyberattack service. Even though Anonymous Sudan claimed to be an activist group, the pair also held some companies and entity’s systems for ransom for rates as high as $1,700 per month. Both face indictments for their role in the coordinated cyberattacks including one count each of conspiracy to damage protected computers. Ahmed also faces three additional counts of damaging protected computers and could receive a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison, according to court records filed last June in the US Central District Court of California. The brothers’ activities date back to early 2023. The two used a distributed cloud attack tool (DCAT) referred to as “Skynet Botnet” in order to “conduct destructive DDoS attacks and publicly claim credit for them,” according to a DoJ statement. Ahmed posted a message on Anonymous Sudan’s Telegram channel, “The United States must be prepared, it will be a very big attack, like what we did in Israel, we will do in the United States ‘soon.’” One of the indictments listed 145 “overt acts” on organizations and entities in the US, the European Union, Israel, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Skynet Botnet attacks attempted to disrupt services and networks in airports, software networks and companies including Cloudflare, X, Paypal and Microsoft that <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-confirms-june-outlook-and-onedrive-outages-were-caused-by-ddos-attacks-173431319.html">caused outages for Outlook and OneDrive</a> in June of last year. The attacks also targeted state and federal government agencies and websites including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pentagon and the DoJ and even hospitals including one major attack on Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles causing a slowdown of health care services as patients were diverted to other hospitals. The hospital attack led to the hacking charges against Ahmed that carry potential life sentences. “3 hours+ and still holding,” Ahmed posted on Telegram in February, “they're trying desperately to fix it but to no avail Bomb our hospitals in Gaza, we shut down yours too, eye for eye...” FBI special agents gathered evidence of the pair’s illegal activities including logs showing that they sold access to Skynet Botnet to more than 100 customers to carry out attacks against various victims who worked with investigators including Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Digital Ocean, Google, PayPal and others. Several Amazon Web Services (AWS) clients were among Anonymous Sudan’s victims as part of the hacking-for-hire scheme, according to court records and <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/amazon-US-department-of-justice-cybersecurity">an AWS statement</a>. AWS security teams worked with FBI cybercrime investigators to track the attacks back to “an array of cloud-based servers," many of which were based in the US. The discovery helped the FBI determine that the Skynet Botnet attacks were coming from a DCAT instead of a botnet that forwarded the DDoS to its victims through cloud-based servers and open proxy resolvers. Perhaps the group’s most brazen and dangerous attack took place in April of 2023 that targeted Israel’s rocket alert system called Red Alert. The mobile app provides real time updates for missile attacks and security threats. The DDoS attacks attempted to infiltrate some of Red Alert’s Internet domains. Ahmed claimed responsibility for the Red Alert attacks on Telegram along with similar DDoS strikes on Israeli utilities and the Jerusalem Post news website. “This group’s attacks were callous and brazen — the defendants went so far as to attack hospitals providing emergency and urgent care to patients,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said in a released statement. “My office is committed to safeguarding our nation’s infrastructure and the people who use it, and we will hold cyber criminals accountable for the grave harm they cause.” Update, October 16, 7:25PM ET: This article was modified after publish to make clear that AWS clients, rather than AWS, were the target of Anonymous Sudan.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/two-sudanese-brothers-accused-of-launching-a-dangerous-series-of-ddos-attacks-215638291.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

The Kindle Oasis will be discontinued as Amazon says goodbye to page-turn buttons

Amazon is sunsetting the Kindle Oasis. This decision means there will be no models of the ereader remaining with physical buttons for turning pages. "Once current inventory of Kindle Oasis sells out online and in stores, we will not restock the device," Amazon rep Devon Corvasce told <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/16/24272009/amazon-discontinues-kindle-oasis-physical-buttons" data-original-link="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/16/24272009/amazon-discontinues-kindle-oasis-physical-buttons"><ins>The Verge</ins></a>. "Today, all of our devices are touch-forward which is what our customers are comfortable with." The Oasis model <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/2016-05-02-amazon-kindle-oasis-review.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/2016-05-02-amazon-kindle-oasis-review.html"><ins>debuted</ins></a> in 2016. Its lightweight, asymmetrical design for one-handed use was a standout, but the high price tag may have kept most people from really considering the product. If you are not most comfortable with a touch interface for your reading, there are still options for flipping pages via buttons on the market. The Kobo Libra Color is <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-ereader-130013808.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/best-ereader-130013808.html"><ins>one of our favorites</ins></a>. Even with the Oasis becoming nothing but a mirage, the Kindle family isn't getting any smaller. Amazon announced several upgrades to the device line this week, including its first ever color ereader in the <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazons-kindle-colorsoft-is-its-first-color-ereader-130032884.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazons-kindle-colorsoft-is-its-first-color-ereader-130032884.html"><ins>Kindle Colorsoft</ins></a>. We also got hands-on time with the latest <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html"><ins>Kindle Scribe</ins></a> and the <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:6;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazons-new-kindle-paperwhite-reader-has-a-larger-screen-and-faster-page-turns-130050515.html" data-original-link="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazons-new-kindle-paperwhite-reader-has-a-larger-screen-and-faster-page-turns-130050515.html"><ins>Kindle Paperwhite</ins></a> has also received a refresh.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/the-kindle-oasis-will-be-discontinued-as-amazon-says-goodbye-to-page-turn-buttons-213538052.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

SpaceX is suing the California Coastal Commission for not letting it launch more rockets

Last week, the California Coastal Commission rejected a plan for SpaceX to launch up to 50 rockets this year at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. The company responded yesterday with a lawsuit, alleging that the state agency's denial was overreaching its authority and discriminating against its CEO. The Commission's goal is to protect California's coasts and beaches, as well as the animals living in them. The agency has control over private companies' requests to use the state coastline, but it can't deny activities by federal departments. The denied launch request was actually made by the US Space Force on behalf of SpaceX, asking that the company be allowed to launch 50 of its Falcon 9 rockets, up from 36. While the commissioners did raise <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-16/spacex-political-bias-coastal-commission-lawsuit" data-original-link="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-16/spacex-political-bias-coastal-commission-lawsuit"><ins>concerns</ins></a> about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's political screed and the spotty safety records at his companies during their review of the launch request, the assessment focused on the relationship between SpaceX and Space Force. The Space Force case is that "because it is a customer of — and reliant on — SpaceX’s launches and satellite network, SpaceX launches are a federal agency activity," the Commission <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2024/10/Th9a/Th9a-10-2024-report.pdf" data-original-link="https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2024/10/Th9a/Th9a-10-2024-report.pdf"><ins>review</ins></a> stated. "However, this does not align with how federal agency activities are defined in the Coastal Zone Management Act’s regulations or the manner in the Commission has historically implemented those regulations." The California Coastal Commission claimed that at least 80 percent of the SpaceX rockets contain payloads for Musk's Starlink company rather than payloads for government clients. The SpaceX suit filed with the Central District of California court is seeking an order to designate the launches as federal activity, which would cut the Commission's oversight out of its future launch plans.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-is-suing-the-california-coastal-commission-for-not-letting-it-launch-more-rockets-204610537.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Sony's ULT Wear wireless headphones are down to a record-low price

Sony makes some of the best headphones around at the higher end but it has a broad range of options available at other price points as well. Our pick for the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-headphones-wireless-bluetooth-120543205.html"><ins>best wireless headphones</ins></a> is the company's WH-1000XM5, which will typically run you $400. If you can't swing that, the mid-range ULT Wear headphones are a decent option, especially since they're on sale. They've <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=3407dc9f-35cd-469b-9cc9-fd5b59674e1f&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NvbnktQ2FuY2VsaW5nLVdpcmVsZXNzLUhlYWRwaG9uZXMtQ29tZm9ydGFibGUvZHAvQjBDV1ZYVEs2Wi8_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiMzQwN2RjOWYtMzVjZC00NjliLTljYzktZmQ1YjU5Njc0ZTFmIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NvbnktQ2FuY2VsaW5nLVdpcmVsZXNzLUhlYWRwaG9uZXMtQ29tZm9ydGFibGUvZHAvQjBDV1ZYVEs2Wi8iLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAATZu5mEzhxApw4fckaG0p0siFflo9TDp78lwVAa7URlB&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSony-Canceling-Wireless-Headphones-Comfortable%2Fdp%2FB0CWVXTK6Z%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Canceling-Wireless-Headphones-Comfortable/dp/B0CWVXTK6Z/?th=1"><ins>dropped to $148</ins></a>, which is $52 off the regular price of $200. That marks an all-time low price for this model. These are the first headphones to use ULT Power Sound, a new iteration of Sony's Extra Bass lineup. So it's safe to say you can expect plenty of oomph on the low end with the ULT Wear. <core-commerce id="23ac034cda6449dfaf1c92c8928851df" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Canceling-Wireless-Headphones-Comfortable/dp/B0CWVXTK6Z/?th=1"></core-commerce> In fact, we believe that Sony has done a better job of implementing its bass boost tech here than in previous models. We gave the ULT Wear headphones <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/sony-ult-wear-headphones-review-brain-shaking-bass-160000739.html"><ins>a score of 78 in our review</ins></a>, highlighting the comfortable design, generally strong audio quality and improvements to active noise cancellation. However, the ULT boost feature can prove to be a bit much. We felt that the ULT 2 setting, which delivers deeper bass and more powerful all-round audio, didn't sound all that good and was somewhat overbearing on the low end. The sound can get muddy in some other instances, such as when playing metal and synth-heavy electronica. As you might expect, the ULT Wear doesn't have all of the same features as Sony's higher-end headphones. But it does have a number of nifty functions. Putting an open hand over the right ear cup activates Quick Attention mode, which lowers the volume. Sony's Adaptive Sound Control tool can automatically adjust settings based on your activity or location. Other features include 360 Reality Audio with head tracking and 30 hours of battery life. Follow <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonys-ult-wear-wireless-headphones-are-down-to-a-record-low-price-200721256.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Google Flights now has a ‘Cheapest’ tab

Oct 16, 2024

Hades II's first major update adds a new region, main weapon and native Mac support

Hades II <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/SupergiantGames/status/1846601374555164744">just got its first major update</a>, which is all the reason I need to jump back into the inspired roguelite. Supergiant Games is calling the Olympic Update “practically mountain-sized”, likely because there’s a new region set in the mountains of Olympus. With a new region, comes new story elements. The studio says “hours of new dialogue” has been added to the game. The area will also feature two new allies, but Supergiant remains mum on their identities. In other words, you’ll have to traverse Olympus to find out. I’d bet some Obol Points that they are Greek Gods of one type or another, given the region. <div id="ede2812c82d44e5783124e156446f8b4"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WH3jT53hIYM?si=JdT2fShKCwpS_Aq9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> The update also includes a new main weapon, two animal companions and “dozens of new cosmetic items” to liven up Crossroads. There’s even a world map now, which will be displayed when moving from one region to another. That’s a small flourish, but a pretty fun one. There are also dozens of quality-of-life improvements that’ll pop up throughout the game. These include faster weapon attacks, new special moves, a more responsive dash and a refined aiming system. Finally, the game now runs on Macs, so long as the computer boasts an Apple M1 chip or later. <div id="b52df196b910409e8e1f57886660ce3a"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PQtih_yy6IA?si=TSmBJjjDgr7hdaor" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> Despite the boatload of new features, <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/hades-ii-is-now-available-in-early-access-on-pc-170527415.html">the game’s still in early access</a>. Supergiant says this <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/16063205/">won’t be the last major content drop</a> while still remaining in early access, as another big update hits early next year. So we have that to look forward to. The first game was in early access for nearly two years as it slowly transformed into the game we know and love today. Hades II has only been around five months. For the uninitiated, Hades II is a roguelite hack-and-slash action game with fluid controls, a diverse array of upgrades and a story that expertly weaves itself into every unsuccessful run. There’s <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://hades.fandom.com/wiki/Toula">also a cute cat</a> you can pal around with. It’s quite obviously a sequel to the mega-hit Hades, which was the first video game to <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/hades-wins-2021-hugo-award-173943441.html">ever win a Hugo Award</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/hades-iis-first-major-update-adds-a-new-region-main-weapon-and-native-mac-support-183541832.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

New Pixel updates include AI-powered theft protection

Google is rolling out a slew of updates for <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/pixel-watch-3-review-google-finally-got-it-right-especially-with-the-battery-life-170005758.html?_fsig=hufjaLBxvG_Abm.yOe.Wmw--%7EA">Pixel watches</a>, smartphones and tablets. In many cases, their predecessors are also getting the new features, such as Night Sight for Instagram — available on all Pixel 6 or newer devices, including A-series phones. The tool allows you to take photos directly on Instagram without worrying about them coming out dark. This could be ideal if you're someone who likes taking photos at concerts or parties without worrying about a bright flash going off. Other updates available for <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-6-and-pixel-6-pro-review-specs-camera-samples-battery-test-160014200-160014050.html">Pixel 6</a> or newer devices include astrophotography through Night Sight and theft protection.  Now globally available, theft protection one of the most expansive updates and actually applies to all Android 10 or newer devices (<a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/android-15-is-starting-to-roll-out-on-pixel-devices-160039591.html">Android 15 is out today</a>) — not just Pixel. Then, later this year, Google will release Identity Check, a feature that requires biometric authentication to access actions like changing your PIN and disabling theft protection. The new feature includes tools like the AI-powered Theft Detection Lock, which uses on-device machine learning to detect possible attempts to steal your device and will automatically lock it if so. Additional features include Remote Lock, which lets you seal your device with just a verified phone number, and Offline Device Lock. You can <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zYNNLxy9L0">watch a full overview of theft protection</a> on Android's YouTube page. Google released its <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9-and-9-pro-hands-on-a-smart-evolution-and-a-smaller-pro-model-170015733.html">latest lineup in August</a>: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro and some of its newest features are exclusive to it. Such is the case for a Gemini extension for screenshots, a tool that lets you "<a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-google-pixel-9-the-pixel-9-pro-fold-and-everything-else-announced-at-the-made-by-google-pixel-launch-event-170033517.html">Hey Google</a>" your way to the exact image you're looking for. For example, you can say, "Hey Google, use Screenshots to show to find the red shirt I saved." Plus, you can now use a waterproof case to capture improved images and videos under the sea.  Update October 16, 1:51PM ET: Google initially indicated that Pixel A-series devices would not have access to the Night Sight for Instagram feature. However, it later confirmed — via <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:7;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://x.com/MishaalRahman/status/1846569694272061567" data-original-link="https://x.com/MishaalRahman/status/1846569694272061567">Android reporter Mishaal Rahman</a> — that "Night Sight for Instagram is available on the Pixel 6 and later, including A-series."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-pixel-updates-include-ai-powered-theft-protection-160042706.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Riot Games is hyping up Arcane’s second and final season across its various titles

Arcane season 2 is coming to Netflix on November 9, and Riot Games is drumming up the hype by releasing various content in its current and upcoming video game titles. All of this content will come out within the coming months. Riot will release Ambessa Medarda, the Noxian general first seen in the show’s first season, as an upcoming Champion in League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics (TFT), League of Legends: Wild Rift, Valorant, and Legends of Runeterra. In standard League of Legends news, the Bridge of Progress will become available in the ARAM game mode as part of an Arcane-themed update. Other additions include a Jinx skin of a new “Exalted” tier that will allow players to experience her Arcane story. It’s not the only skin as there will be an Arcane Brawler Vi skin and more. TFT will introduce several Arcane characters as Champions, including Powder, with abilities based on what they have in the show. There will also be some cosmetics, including Arenas and Tacticians like Chibi Caitlyn. As for players who look forward to the PvE game mode Tocker’s Trials, they can rejoice as it’s making a return. Singed and Warwick, two Champions available in Wild Rift, will receive gameplay updates. Previously announced Champion Heimerdinger will be made playable in Wild Rift after being playable in League of Legends and Legends of Runeterra. Warwick will also be playable in Legends of Runeterra. There won’t be much content beyond an Arcane-themed cosmetic bundle for Valorant. While Riot’s fighting game 2XKO isn’t out yet, it will feature an Arcane-inspired Jinx skin. Said skin is coming on November 11. 2XKO will be released next year. Of course, Riot isn’t confining the hype to its games. There will be merch coming out soon as November 9 approaches. Some of the products include apparel from Uniqlo and Blackmilk, collectibles from Funko and Tokidoki and Fenty Beauty makeup. If these aren’t enough to satisfy you, Riot promises plenty more is arriving. Arcane season 2 is set to debut on Netflix on November 9, with Act One coming first. Act Two comes out on November 16, while Act Three will arrive on November 23. Keep your popcorn close at hand when the days come. <div id="5b30333418a143bab871a14739fd2b38"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sl-xmZTH6GE?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" data-embed-domain="www.youtube.com"></iframe></div></div> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/riot-games-is-hyping-up-arcanes-second-and-final-season-across-its-various-titles-170501998.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

The JRPG-inspired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has a stacked voice cast

Sandfall Games <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://x.com/expedition33/status/1846538477816418807?s=46"><ins>just announced the voice cast</ins></a> for its forthcoming turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it’s absolutely stacked. The actors include Andy Serkis and Charlie Cox, as a start. For the uninitiated, Serkis played a weird little guy named Gollum in some unknown movies about a magical ring. He also gave the iconic “one way out” monologue in Andor. Cox is best known for playing a masked vigilante called Daredevil. The rest of the cast includes seasoned voice actors. There’s Ben Starr, who played a doctor in the TV show Jamestown but is perhaps best known for playing Clive in <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-xvi-review-ps5-140058789.html"><ins>Final Fantasy XVI</ins></a>. Shala Nyx has plied her trade in plenty of recent games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Diabolo IV. Other cast members include Jennifer English, who played Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, and Kirsty Rider. <div id="9e744062b6724e4198bb73c38a9d93fb"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4EjBIQu5JdM?si=HxbUlLJeAmr86fMw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> For the uninitiated, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a JRPG-inspired fantasy epic with turn-based battles and a unique take on Belle Époque-era France. We got to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/clair-obscur-expedition-33-is-a-turn-based-rpg-with-beautiful-artistic-flair-130050721.html"><ins>see it in action earlier this year</ins></a> and came away (mostly) impressed. We called the graphics and environments “gorgeous” but the story “clear as mud.” However, it’s tough to nail down the narrative of a fantasy RPG just by watching a demo for a few hours. In any event, we don’t have that long to wait before the game launches. The developers say it’ll come out in Spring 2025. It’ll be available for PC via Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It’s also a day one Game Pass title. If you simply can’t wait until then for a new game in the genre, we <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/metaphor-refantazio-feels-like-a-jrpg-free-from-restraint-and-sanity-185129361.html"><ins>heartily recommend checking out</ins></a> Metaphor: ReFantazio.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-jrpg-inspired-clair-obscur-expedition-33-has-a-stacked-voice-cast-165228134.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Panos Panay on launching his first products since moving to Amazon

Panos Panay has a Diet Coke problem. It’s a topic that quickly came up when I walked into the small interview room, after he offered me a choice of beverages and I said my partner has a similar addiction. After a quick conversation on the advantages of drinking plain water over diet colas, I knew his wife, like me, advocates for less soda, but I still knew nothing of how much the man actually consumed a day. It was Panay’s first launch event with members of the media since he <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ex-microsoft-exec-panos-panay-is-confirmed-as-the-new-head-of-amazons-devices-team-154233605.html">left Microsoft last year to lead Amazon’s devices and services team</a>. And the instant I walked into the event space at The Shed in New York, I thought “this feels like a Panos event.” The room was drenched in sunlight, with various neutral and pastel pink couches and armchairs laid out in a vague semicircle facing an unassuming elevated platform. Around the stage were neatly planted assorted greenery with lavender and what looked like baby’s breath lending a general softness to the scene. There was a leather stool on the stage that looked just big enough to perch on but not comfortable enough to actually rest, and next to it was a smaller wooden end table where a solo water bottle sat. Panay did not once sit during his 38-minute presentation. Clad in a black collared shirt, black jacket, black jeans and black shoes with a brown trim, Panay brought his typical sentimental delivery to the Kindle launch event. As usual, he didn’t shy away from mentioning his family, showing a carefully taken picture of his daughter Bella reading a Kindle on a couch. He called out members of the media by name, saying hello to Lance Ulanoff in the front row and asking David Pierce if he could hear. At one point, he walked over to the middle row to hand <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazons-new-kindle-paperwhite-reader-has-a-larger-screen-and-faster-page-turns-130050515.html">a new Kindle</a> off to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.instagram.com/nbtjacklyn/?hl=en">tech Youtuber Jacklyn Dallas</a>, asking her to tap repeatedly on the screen to scroll through pages and see for herself how much faster he believed it was. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/66d20e50-8bd2-11ef-b6fc-7514e02566ea" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/66d20e50-8bd2-11ef-b6fc-7514e02566ea" style="height:1366px;width:2048px;" alt="Panos Panay onstage at Amazon's Kindle launch event 2024, with a big screen to his right showing the new Kindle Colorsoft and its price." data-uuid="6086d148-e9bb-3490-83da-436865d8dd10"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Amazon</div></figure> I say all this to impress on you that the Panos experience is one that’s inviting, engaging and can even lull you into feeling so charmed that you might overlook the fact that he repeatedly calls <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-scribe-hands-on-you-can-scribble-on-your-books-130043335.html">the Kindle Scribe</a> a 2-in-1. It was certainly enough to give me more patience than I normally would have for a tech leader that had spent almost a third of his presentation talking about the Kindle’s history and where it fits into people’s lives. Instead of thinking “get on with it, I want to hear about the new devices without all this preamble,” I simply laughed at the jokes, made eye contact and related to the personal anecdotes. And though I knew we were past the 38 minutes he had promised the speech would last, I didn’t mind that he was still talking. I was able to question him about 2-in-1s when we sat down to talk, though. The term brings to my mind the image of Surface tablets and iPads, not to mention the Surface Duo and Surface Neo that Panay launched at a remarkably similar Microsoft event years ago. Kindles? Not so much. But according to Panay, the Kindle Scribe “does two things, and it does it remarkably well. Turns out, it only does two things.” People want to read on their Kindles, but they also want to write in books. “Both experiences have to stand on their own in a great way,” he added. “You can buy this device for writing, or you can buy this device for reading and then you can bridge it.” But if a device tries to be too much, it might get too complicated. When I asked what was next for the Kindle Scribe and what challenges it faces, Panay said “You’ve got to be careful not to make it a Swiss army knife. That’s probably the biggest challenge — what it’s not gonna be.” Panay explained that “at Amazon, the focus on the customers is off the charts,” saying the team talks to users, reads reviews and studies how people use their products to better understand needs. “Fundamentally, for this team, [it’s to] know what the customer needs, be passionate, make sure you deliver it.” “Let’s not try and reinvent things that people don’t need reinvented.” The approach Panay has brought over to Amazon is one that considers his history at Microsoft (and his entire life). He never explicitly mentions this, but I cannot help wondering if he’s learned anything from that company announcing the Surface Neo dual-screen laptop and not actually releasing it. Panay also said that in getting to understand customers’ needs, Amazon also has to try to predict what they might want. “You also have to understand where the technology is headed and you have to have roadmaps,” he said. “You have to have invention and creation that sets you up for where it’s headed, so when people land, they have the next thing they need and hopefully it was your product that got them there.” <blockquote class="pull-quote">“Let’s not try and reinvent things that people don’t need reinvented.”Panos Panay</blockquote> That desire to predict trends makes me nervous, especially at a time when every major company is rushing to stuff generative AI features into their products. How should companies like Amazon resist the urge to jump on bandwagons and avoid making products that ultimately are the result of useless hype? To Panay, the answer is patience. “Patience is everything,” he said. “What is the right thing for the product at the right time? How is it useful? How is it elegant?” He acknowledged that “we’re at a time where AI for sure is transformational. This is not a fad.” There are things AI can bring to the Kindle Scribe and other products that could elevate them. But “making it useful for everyone is important to me, and making it simple.” There are just two AI-based notebook features for the Kindle Scribe, and they basically read your scribbles and convert them to something more legible and digestible. They’re not groundbreaking concepts — I’ve seen at least 5 different companies launch summarization tools in the last year. But Panay made it clear through personal anecdotes on stage that these are important to him and his staff. He doesn’t want to let people see his handwritten notes, but he will let them see the version tidied up by AI. Whether the rest of the world’s Kindle users will find these helpful, I’m less certain. For now, Panay wants to perfect the Kindle Scribe experience. “You can never make anything perfect, I’m never satisfied. But it’s so close right now… to feeling like paper, to feeling like an eraser, to feeling like you’re writing, to no distractions in your way.” He called it his favorite child during the presentation (but later saying that he felt guilty doing that). There are plenty of other children in the Amazon hardware family that Panay oversees. He’s not only in charge of the four Kindles launched today, including the new color ereader called the Colorsoft, but the company’s smart home, robotaxi, satellite, consumer robots and Alexa products, as well as Fire TVs and tablets, too. “It's an eclectic group of products at some level, but it's actually quite a connected one at the same time.” There’s also stuff that Panay couldn’t yet talk about on the record, but he said there’s “so much magic yet to be shared with the world.” In a more realistic manner of speaking, it’s about seeing these things “connected in a way that can make a difference for people’s lives every day in their homes and outside of the home.” <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/ff115af0-8b40-11ef-bedf-b5a5fccdfd59" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/ff115af0-8b40-11ef-bedf-b5a5fccdfd59" style="height:1440px;width:2560px;" alt="The Amazon Kindle Scribe held in mid-air, with a skylight and buildings in the background." data-uuid="ecdce6f2-2a8d-3f54-a115-5531b11e9dd8"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Cherlynn Low for Engadget</div></figure> There are other ways the Kindle Scribe could evolve that wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination, either. The most obvious is getting a color display, and Panay agreed “it’s not a stretch at all, probably” before going on to say he can’t discuss future roadmaps. But I can certainly speculate. While it’s interesting to see Amazon come up with a whole new name for the Colorsoft, indicating that it’ll perhaps be a separate product line, it would make sense for the Colorsoft to be a one-off and for the color panels to get integrated into other existing Kindles in future. Another potential technological change to Kindles is making them foldable. To that end, Panay simply said “It’s an interesting concept.” When I pointed out that he’s no stranger to folding devices, he acknowledged “I’m definitely not,” before adding that “we have a ton of concepts in the lab.” Crucially, though, he reiterates he doesn't “want to create tech for the sake of creating tech.” If the idea is right, Panay is open to considering it. “But right now, keeping it simple is where we’re at.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/panos-panay-on-launching-his-first-products-since-moving-to-amazon-163024504.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

The first of Astro Bot’s free speedrunning levels arrives on Thursday

Astro Bot, one of <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-ps5-review-one-of-the-best-games-sony-has-ever-made-120014494.html">Sony’s greatest triumphs</a>, is getting new content for those who live life (or at least play PS5) in the fast lane. Developer Team Asobi <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/16/astro-bot-new-speedrun-level-and-special-bots-out-tomorrow/" data-original-link="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/10/16/astro-bot-new-speedrun-level-and-special-bots-out-tomorrow/">said</a> on Wednesday that the first of five free speedrunning levels <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-is-getting-a-free-update-that-adds-speedrunning-levels-224234066.html">teased at Sony’s September State of Play</a> will arrive on Thursday, October 17. The first speedrun level is Building Speed, where you’ll get an assist from your robot bulldog friend Barkster. Team Asobi promises you’ll “blast your way through a sky-high city.” Dodging cranes, smashing through crates and zipping through a flying car wash are part of the festivities. It sounds like more of the cute, 3D-platforming fun that <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-ps5-review-one-of-the-best-games-sony-has-ever-made-120014494.html">Engadget’s Jessica Conditt described</a> as the equivalent of “Super Mario Bros. for a new generation of video game fanatics.” <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/b02578d0-8bd7-11ef-9fa5-ad6125e6288e" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/b02578d0-8bd7-11ef-9fa5-ad6125e6288e" style="height:720px;width:1280px;" alt="Still from an Astro Bot speedrun level. The robot sits in a floating car next to a car wash sign." data-uuid="5b93c8eb-5f4f-3ffa-abe1-114da00b4c2d"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Team Asobi / Sony</div></figure> After tomorrow’s first level, a new speedrunning stage will arrive on each of the following four Thursdays. That includes Let it Slide on October 24, Spring-loaded Run on October 31, Helium Heights on November 7 and Rising Heat on November 14. The speedrun levels are all free. You should see them starting at 9AM ET on their launch dates. Each level will add two new bots to rescue. Team Asobi has already teased nods to Eve from <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/futuristic-action-rpg-stellar-blade-arrives-on-april-26-224619987.html">Stellar Blade</a> and the <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-helldivers-2-163829512.html">Helldivers</a>, but you can expect more fun surprises beyond those. Team Asobi sounds like it has more content on tap. In its announcement blog post, the developers invited you to stay tuned because “there may be even more surprises coming soon” for Sony’s latest PlayStation-exclusive success story. <div id="088d9d3f039d4e06b89c978db41cb2c8"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DCl5zKHy7ak" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-first-of-astro-bots-free-speedrunning-levels-arrives-on-thursday-162006557.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

FTC ratifies 'click-to-cancel' rule, making it easier for consumers to end subscriptions

The Federal Trade Commission has made it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions. In a decision that went down along party lines, the agency voted to <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-click-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-consumers-end-recurring">ratify a “click-to-cancel”</a> rule that will require providers to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one. <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ftc-wants-to-make-it-easier-for-you-to-cancel-subscriptions-142649542.html">First proposed last year</a>, the rulemaking prohibits companies from misrepresenting their recurring services and memberships, as well as failing to clearly disclose any material terms related to those offerings. “Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” said Chair Lina Khan. “The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.” After considering more than 16,000 comments on the matter, the FTC decided not to write the final rulemaking as originally proposed. Most notably, the agency scrapped a proposal that would have required companies to provide consumers with annual reminders for subscription renewals. It also won’t mandate a rule that would have forced sellers to obtain the consent of those seeking to cancel a subscription before telling them about potential modifications to their plan or reasons why they should continue paying for a service. <div id="1c5274bb2a8c41dea31094d56f24d3b9"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">No American should have to worry about being tricked into buying subscriptions and memberships – or staying in either against their will. Today, my Administration is taking action to ensure folks don't have to jump through hoops to cancel them. <a href="https://t.co/3TJFi362vh">https://t.co/3TJFi362vh</a>— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1846580611806609886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2024</a></blockquote> </div> A separate statement issued by Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter (<a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/slaughter-statement-negative-option-rule.pdf">PDF link</a>) provides insight into the decision. Essentially, the agency felt the FTC Act doesn’t give it the authority to require a renewal notice. I’ll note here that the dissenting opinion (<a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/holyoak-dissenting-statement-re-negative-option-rule.pdf">PDF link</a>), written by Republican Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, contends that the entire rulemaking is overly broad, and accuses the Democratic majority of attempting to push through the change before next month's election. “Americans understand the importance and value of such a requirement; many have discovered that they or their parents had been paying for years or even decades for a service wholly unused, such as a dial-up internet service from the 1990s,” Slaughter writes in her statement. “… Of course, we are always mindful that our authority under the FTC Act to issue rules under section 18 has limits; sometimes, as here, those limits prevent us from codifying in a rule practices that we might, as a matter of policy, prefer to require explicitly.” Slaughter points out that state and federal lawmakers do have the authority to mandate renewal notices, and notes some states, such as <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title59.1/chapter17.8/section59.1-207.46/">Virginia</a>, have even recently gone down that path. “The comment record compiled in this rulemaking proceeding strongly supports the wisdom of federal and state legislators’ carefully considering adopting such a law,” Slaughter writes. Provided there’s no legal challenge to the FTC’s decision, today’s rulemaking will go into effect 180 days after it is published in the Federal Register. When the agency moved to <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ftc-bans-employers-from-using-noncompete-clauses-123045777.html">ban noncompete clauses</a> earlier this year, a federal judge in Texas <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/general/texas-judge-blocks-the-ftc-from-enforcing-its-ban-on-noncompete-agreements-133059676.html">issued a nationwide injunction</a>. That decision is still stuck in legal limbo. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ftc-ratifies-click-to-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-for-consumers-to-end-subscriptions-160752238.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Microsoft removes the $1 Xbox Game Pass trial just before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Oct 16, 2024

Airbnb now lets hosts hire other hosts to manage properties

Hosting a property on Airbnb is no longer a simple process. Customers can be finicky, ideal pricing can change on a dime, markets can become flooded and earnings can be difficult to track. The platform’s trying to simplify matters by <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-2024-winter-release/"><ins>introducing the Co-Host Network</ins></a>, which allows hosts to hire other hosts to manage properties. Here’s how it works. Property owners can peruse the network for other hosts and scoop them up into a loving embrace of hospitality. The hired hosts can help with just about anything, including setting up listings, selecting prices and availability, cleaning, maintenance and guest management. It’s a disruption of the blazing-hot “building superintendent” industry. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/bfb09af0-8bd2-11ef-9fe3-3f7d945e3b38" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/bfb09af0-8bd2-11ef-9fe3-3f7d945e3b38" style="height:1390px;width:2390px;" alt="The app in action." data-uuid="0ff4924a-2876-3dec-ae36-f29a2b66b473"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Airbnb</div></figure> These hosts for hire must be highly rated and local, with Airbnb saying it has only included hosts with a rating of at least 4.8 and a minimum of ten hosted stays. The would-be co-hosts/employees can set their own service rates on a profile page. The company says it has onboarded over 10,000 people so far, in countries like Australia, Brazil, France, Mexico and the US. “One of the requests that we had from hosts is that they would really love to be able to find professional, high-quality co-hosts with a great track record in their area whom they can trust. And they can really be completely hands-off,” Judson Coplan, VP of Product Marketing at Airbnb, <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/airbnb-launches-a-network-that-lets-host-hire-other-hosts/"><ins>said to </ins><ins>TechCrunch</ins></a>. While this feature should be a boon for actual people who just need a little bit of help, the phrase “completely hands-off” gives me pause. It seems like it could easily be used by gigantic real estate monoliths that own hundreds and hundreds of properties across the platform. This isn’t a bad thing, per se, as these mega-hosts <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/airbnb-run-by-mega-host"><ins>are generally considered to be a reliable option</ins></a> for guests. However, this certainly doesn’t help the public perception that Airbnb and its ilk participate in the <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/25/whos-buying-the-houses-investors-amassing-thousands-of-airbnb-rentals/"><ins>hollowing out of neighborhoods</ins></a>, turning them into ghost towns. There is, after all, <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/14/harris-vance-housing-crisis-00183484"><ins>a housing crisis across the country</ins></a>. In any event, this could be a decent way for some people to make a few extra bucks. Airbnb introduced other stuff besides the Co-Host Network, including a feature for hosts to check out similar listings in an area. As for guests, there’s a new welcome tour in the app for first time users, updated search filters, local payment options and more. The platform has been busy lately. Earlier this year, Airbnb started a program to <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/airbnb-hosts-can-get-discounts-on-ev-chargers-122954626.html"><ins>provide discounts on EV chargers</ins></a> for hosts. It also now allows the app to <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/airbnb-will-soon-let-you-open-smart-locks-in-its-app-192753343.html"><ins>display smart lock codes</ins></a> to guests.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/airbnb-now-lets-hosts-hire-other-hosts-to-manage-properties-153748730.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2024

Analogue’s 4K remake of the N64 is almost ready, and it’s a big deal

A year after it was first teased, Analogue says it’s nailed its most complicated project yet: rebuilding the Nintendo 64 from scratch. The <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.analogue.co/3d">Analogue 3D</a> will ship in Q1 2025 — it was originally slated for 2024 — and pre-orders start on October 21 at $250. Like all of the company’s machines, the Analogue 3D has an FPGA (field programmable gate array) chip coded to emulate the original console on a hardware level. Analogue promises support for every official N64 cartridge ever released, across all regions, with no slowdown or inaccuracies. If it achieves that goal, the Analogue 3D will be the first system in the world to perfectly emulate the N64, though other FPGA and software emulators get pretty close. The company has been selling recreations of retro consoles for over a decade, starting with high-end, bespoke takes on the Neo-Geo and NES. Over time it’s gradually shifted over to more mass-market (though still high-end) productions, with versions of SNES, Genesis and Game Boy all coming in at around the $200 mark. All of the company’s systems support original physical media, rather than ROMs. Analogue’s original unique selling point was its use of FPGA chips. Rather than using software emulation to play ROMs, Analogue programs FPGA “cores” to emulate original console hardware, and its consoles support original game media and controllers. Compared with software emulation (especially in the early ’10s when Analogue got started), FPGA-based consoles are more accurate, and don’t suffer from as much input lag. FPGA emulation has come a long way over the past decade. Where Analogue was once the only route into the world of FPGAs for most people, there’s now a rich community of developers and hardware manufacturers involved. The open-source MiSTer project, for example, has accurately emulated almost every video game thing produced up to the mid ’90s. And plenty of smaller manufacturers are now selling FPGA hardware for very reasonable prices. The FPGBC is one good example: It’s <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://funnyplaying.com/products/fpgbc-kit">a simple DIY kit</a> that lets you build a modern-day Game Boy Color for a much lower price than an Analogue Pocket. <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/f0239180-8a59-11ef-adbe-c3511c5670d4" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/f0239180-8a59-11ef-adbe-c3511c5670d4" style="height:533px;width:700px;" alt="A DE10-Nano board produced by Terasic." data-uuid="a2ddd9a2-9778-3e8c-8af5-aabd8de5b549" data-display-size="small"> <figcaption> A DE10-Nano board produced by Terasic. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Terasic </div> </figure> Amid all these developments, Analogue occupies a strange spot in the retro gaming community, which has evolved into an open-source, people-powered movement to preserve and play old games. It produces undeniably great hardware that doesn’t require expertise to use, but its prices are high, and its limited-run color variants of consoles like the Pocket have both created FOMO in the community and been a consistent target for scalpers. Analogue is, in many ways, the Apple of the retro gaming hardware space. With that said, it’s hard to deny that the Pocket has brought more players into the retro gaming world and attracted talent to FPGA development. And if Analogue comes through on its promise here, the Analogue 3D will be another huge moment for video game preservation, and could be the spark for another half-decade of fantastic achievements from the FPGA community at large. <h2 id="jump-link-breaking-the-fifth-gen-barrier">Breaking the fifth-gen barrier</h2> While the FPGA emulation of the first few video game generations is largely a solved problem, there’s a huge leap in complexity between the fourth generation (SNES, Genesis, etc.) and the next. Strides have been made to rebuild the PlayStation, Saturn and N64 in FPGA, but there is no core for any fifth-gen console that has fully solved the puzzle. The current state of the MiSTer N64 core is pretty impressive, with almost every US game counted as playable, but very few games are considered to run flawlessly. So how did Analogue solve this? The studio does have a talented team, but it importantly has a leg-up when it comes to hardware. The Analogue 3D has the strongest version of the Intel Cyclone 10GX FPGA chip, with 220,000 logic elements. For context, the MiSTer project’s open-source DE-10 board has a Cyclone V FPGA with 110,000 logic elements, while the Analogue Pocket’s main FPGA offers 49,000 elements. There’s a lot more to an FPGA than its logic elements, but the numbers are illustrative: The 3D’s FPGA is undoubtedly the most powerful Analogue has ever used, which clearly gave it more flexibility in designing its core. While we can’t verify Analogue’s claim of 100 percent compatibility by looking at a spec sheet, the company does have a good track record of programming fantastic FPGA cores, so it’s likely it’ll get incredibly close. <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2021-06/cdf6af60-d3a6-11eb-bb5f-b64be9f49070" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2021-06/cdf6af60-d3a6-11eb-bb5f-b64be9f49070" style="height:1067px;width:1600px;" alt="Nintendo 64 with Zelda, Mario Kart 64, Perfect Dark and GoldenEye 007" data-uuid="7b8f101c-a996-3297-b2cf-b4b5e56cd4a2"> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Kris Naudus for Engadget </div> </figure> Of course, if you just wanted to play N64 games accurately, you could plug an N64 into any TV with a composite or S-Video connector, or use one of many boxes that converts those formats into HDMI signals that modern TVs require. The problem with running an N64 on a modern TV is that its games run at a wide range of resolutions, typically from 320 x 240 up to (very rarely) 640 x 480, the max output. There are countless oddball resolutions between, and some games run below 320 x 240. This is a nightmare for modern displays. Some will scale to a full screen very nicely — both of the common resolutions I listed multiply neatly to 4K, albeit with pillarboxing. The situation gets more confusing with PAL cartridges, which can run at fun horizontal resolutions like 288 and 576. There’s also the issue that the vast majority of these games were designed with the CRT displays of old in mind, taking advantage of the quirks of scanlines to, say, make a checkerboard pattern look translucent. This makes playing N64 games on a modern TV a bit of a hassle. There are fantastic retro upscalers like <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.retrotink.com/">the RetroTINK series</a>, but when plugging in a game for the first time, you wind up deciding between integer and “good enough” scaling, dealing with weird frame rates and tweaking blending options to get the picture just right. Many people enjoy this fine-tuning and customization aspect, and all power to you! But it's undoubtedly a barrier to entry, and much of the hard work done on upscaling has been focused on 2D gaming, rather than 3D. Analogue says its scaling solution will solve many of these issues. The Analogue 3D supports 4K output, variable refresh rate displays, and PAL and NTSC carts. On top of those basics, it’s building out “Original Display Modes” to emulate the CRT TVs and PVMs of old. Calling ODMs filters feels a little reductive, as they’re a complicated and customizable mix of display tricks, but essentially you pick one and it changes the way the picture looks, so…. ODMs were used effectively on the Analogue Pocket to emulate various Game Boy displays. Perhaps the most impressive example is a Trinitron ODM that came to the Pocket in 2023 that, when used with the Analogue Dock, does a pretty incredible job of turning a modern TV into a high-end Sony tube TV. We don’t have a ton of information on which ODMs are coming to the 3D, but I will share the very ’90s ad for the feature below: <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/d18de560-8a57-11ef-93b7-afbdbac0b7af" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/d18de560-8a57-11ef-93b7-afbdbac0b7af" style="height:3323px;width:3000px;" alt="Analogue 3D ODMs" data-uuid="32c51429-86b5-36f7-baf0-68af02b16e54"> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Analogue </div> </figure> The final piece of the image-quality puzzle is frame rate. The N64’s library is full of some spectacularly slow games. My memory may be scarred from growing up in a PAL region, which meant, while the US and Japan’s NTSC consoles were outputting a blistering 20 fps, I was chugging away at 16.66 fps. But even in the idealized NTSC world, lots of games outright missed their frame rate targets comically often. As an example, the majority of Goldeneye’s single-player campaign plays out between 15-25 fps, while a four-player match would typically see half that number. And let’s not speak of Perfect Dark. These glacial frame rates are far less noticeable on a CRT than they are on modern displays with crisp rows of pixels updating from top to bottom. While the ODMs go some way to replicating the feel of an old TV, they can’t change the underlying technical differences. The Analogue 3D does support variable refresh rate output, but that won't do much when a game is running at 12 fps, and instead is intended to help the system run like the original N64 did at launch.  In its initial press push last year, <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/analogue/analogues-next-retro-game-console-is-a-4k-nintendo-64">Analogue told Paste magazine</a> that you’ll have the option to overclock the 3D’s virtual chips to run faster — "overclocking, running smoother, eliminating native frame dips" — but the company hasn't mentioned that in its final press release. Instead, Analogue CEO Christopher Taber told Engadget that its solution "isn't overclocking, it's much better and more sophisticated." It revolves around Nintendo's original Rambus RAM set up, which is often the bottleneck for N64 performance. Solving this bottleneck "means that games can run without slowdown and all the classic issues the original N64 had," he explained.  By default, though, the Analogue 3D is set up to run exactly like original hardware, albeit with the RAM Expansion Pak attached. "Preserving the original hardware is the number one goal," Taber explained. "Even when bandwidth is increased, it’s not about boosting performance beyond the system’s original capabilities — it’s about giving players a clearer window into how the games were designed to run."  <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/99e7b150-8a5b-11ef-bf4f-b775bca13fcb" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/99e7b150-8a5b-11ef-bf4f-b775bca13fcb" style="height:1448px;width:2560px;" alt="Analogue 3D" data-uuid="d019ba1c-1a35-3621-a71e-e727006f9ccf" data-display-size="xlarge"> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Analogue </div> </figure> <h2 id="jump-link-the-hardware">The hardware</h2> Analogue has a rich history of making very pretty hardware, and the Analogue 3D is clearly no exception. As with the Super Nt, Mega Sg, and Duo, the 3D calls back to the basic form of the console it’s based on, while smoothing out and modernizing it somewhat. It’s an elegant way to pull on nostalgia while also being legally distinct enough to avoid a lawsuit. (Analogue’s FPGA cores and software also don’t infringe on any Nintendo IP.) The Analogue 3D has a similar shape to the N64, but the front pillars have been erased, the four controller ports match the housing and the power/reset buttons are slanted inwards to point toward the cartridge slot. Despite the tweaks, it still undoubtedly evokes a Nintendo 64. Around the back, you’ll find a USB-C port for power, two USB ports for accessories like non-standard controllers, an HDMI port and a full-sized SD card slot. <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/83fd0930-8a5b-11ef-bfd7-8e2f6437ab7f" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/83fd0930-8a5b-11ef-bfd7-8e2f6437ab7f" style="height:1440px;width:2560px;" alt="Analogue 3D" data-uuid="8564ee97-3940-30c0-a6b5-126ef412e7eb"> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Analogue </div> </figure> A new operating system from Analogue, 3DOS, will debut with the system. It looks like a blend of the AnalogueOS that debuted on the Pocket and the Nintendo Switch OS, with the homescreen centered on a large carousel of square cards. The screenshots Analogue provided show options for playing a cartridge, browsing your library or viewing save states and screenshots. Some N64 games have the ability to save data to the cartridge, while others rely on a Controller Pak, but the ability to quickly save progress as a memory, as introduced with the Pocket, will be useful nonetheless. 3DOS can also connect to the internet over the console’s built-in WiFi chip for OS updates, which is a first for Analogue. While you can browse your library in 3DOS, you won’t actually be able to load any game that isn’t physically inserted into the cartridge slot: The Analogue 3D only plays original media. It’s also worth noting that the Analogue 3D also doesn’t have an “openFPGA” setup like the Analogue Pocket did, which opened the door to playing with a wild array of cores that emulate various consoles, computers and arcades. It doesn’t usually take long for someone to jailbreak Analogue consoles to play ROMs (or other cores) via the system’s SD card slot, but this is not officially supported or sanctioned by Analogue. The console comes with a power supply (with a US plug), USB cable, an HDMI cable and a 16GB SD card. As per usual, no controller will be packed in — it’s up to you if you want to use original hardware or something more modern. I managed to make at least one reader extremely mad (I’m sorry, Brucealeg) <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-analogue-3d-is-a-nintendo-64-for-modern-times-150020872.html">last time I wrote about the Analogue 3D</a> and called the N64 controller a mistake. Personally, though, it feels really rough using one in 2024. <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/bd2fbec0-8a59-11ef-9be7-7a3d0f30db86" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-10/bd2fbec0-8a59-11ef-9be7-7a3d0f30db86" style="height:1440px;width:2560px;" alt="Analogue 8BitDo" data-uuid="38be9ccd-9b7b-33df-9067-1bbbe3053225"> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Analogue/8BitDo </div> </figure> If you enjoy the three-paddled original controller, the 3D has four ports for you, and the system will also support the myriad Paks that plug into those controllers. For everyone else, there's Bluetooth Classic and LE support along with two USB ports for wired controllers. Accessory maker 8BitDo has created what seems to be a variant of its Ultimate controller specifically for the Analogue 3D. (Analogue's CEO, Taber, is also 8BitDo’s CMO, and the companies have collaborated on controllers for many consoles at this point.)  The 8BitDo controller looks like a fairly happy middle ground between old and new, with an octagonal gate around the thumbstick, and nicely raised and sized C-buttons. It has a Rumble Pak built in, which works on both the Analogue 3D and Nintendo Switch. It’s available in black or white hues that match the console, and sells separately for $39.99. Pre-orders for the Analogue 3D open on October 21 at 11AM ET, with an estimated ship date of Q1 2025. It’s unclear how many will be available, but if past launches are any indication, you should be ready to click buy as close to 11AM as possible if you want a hope of being in the first wave of shipments. <core-commerce id="c91dd88b720e40d79c0e6b94f9761533" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.analogue.co/3d"></core-commerce>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready-and-its-a-big-deal-150033468.html?src=rss

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Are dog people more resilient than cat people? Apparently so

Oct 10, 2024

Tiniest 'ruler' ever measures distances as small as an atom's width

Oct 10, 2024

There could be 30,000 species of earthworms wriggling around the world

Oct 10, 2024

Earth may be about to pass through the ion tail of a comet

Oct 9, 2024

Extreme hurricane season is here and it is fuelled by climate change

Oct 7, 2024

Certain quantum systems may be able to defy entropy's effects forever

Oct 10, 2024

Living microbes found deep inside 2-billion-year-old rock

Oct 10, 2024

Do the 2024 Nobel prizes show that AI is the future of science?

Oct 9, 2024

Next-generation technology is a critical mid-step in dementia care

Oct 9, 2024

The relentless push for productivity misconstrues how our brains work

Oct 9, 2024

A sharp interrogation of why we retreat from other people's illnesses

Oct 9, 2024

How hurricanes like Milton spawn tornadoes

Oct 9, 2024

Weight-loss drugs lower impulse to eat – and perhaps to exercise too

Oct 9, 2024

Nobel prizes are still failing to celebrate the diversity of science

Oct 9, 2024

Your brain has individual neurons that respond to the smell of bananas

Oct 9, 2024

Once we pass 1.5°C of global warming, there is no going back

Oct 9, 2024

This test could reveal whether gravity is subject to quantum weirdness

Oct 9, 2024

Nobel prize in chemistry awarded for mastering structures of proteins

Oct 9, 2024

Your toothbrush is teeming with hundreds of types of viruses

Oct 8, 2024

See the stunning winners from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Oct 8, 2024

Hot sauce taste test reveals how expectations shape pleasure and pain

Oct 8, 2024

AIs can work together in much larger groups than humans ever could

Oct 8, 2024

Growing number of Earth's ‘vital signs’ endangered by climate change

Oct 8, 2024

Microscopic gears powered by light could be used to make tiny machines

Oct 8, 2024

Nobel prize for physics goes to pair who invented key AI techniques

Oct 7, 2024

The physicist who argues that there are no objective laws of physics

Sep 25, 2024

The brain has its own microbiome. Here's what it means for your health

Oct 7, 2024

Slowing growth in life expectancy means few people will live to 100

Oct 7, 2024

Two injured comb jellies can merge to form one individual

Oct 7, 2024

The US is ramping up bird flu surveillance – but will it be enough?

Oct 7, 2024

Hackers can turn your smartphone into an eavesdropping device

Oct 7, 2024

Nobel prize for medicine goes to the pair who discovered microRNA

Oct 2, 2024

I am in a rut. Is there a way to regain my zest for life?

Oct 1, 2024

Why we avoid effort even though it can improve our well-being

Oct 2, 2024

Bill Gates's Netflix series offers some dubious ideas about the future

Oct 2, 2024

How to rebuild democracy to truly harness the power of the people

Oct 4, 2024

MDMA was hyped as a promising treatment for PTSD – what went wrong?

Oct 4, 2024

Will semiconductor production be derailed by Hurricane Helene?

Oct 4, 2024

Why the problem of P versus NP is worth $1 million

Oct 4, 2024

Space may be filled with more antimatter than we can explain

Oct 4, 2024

Astronauts could one day end up eating asteroids

Oct 4, 2024

Parts of Antarctica are turning green at an 'astounding' rate

Oct 4, 2024

El Niño pattern can bring wet weather to UK one year later

Oct 2, 2024

Ancient DNA tells story of toddler who lived in Italy 17,000 years ago

Oct 4, 2024

Hera mission set to revisit asteroid after NASA's redirection test

Oct 2, 2024

A dramatic return from space in Kazakhstan

Oct 3, 2024

China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink is also threatening astronomy

Oct 3, 2024

Stem cell transplant gives hope for treating age-related sight loss

Oct 3, 2024

Signals from exotic new stars could hide in gravitational wave data

Sep 17, 2024

Snoring isn't just a nuisance, it's dangerous. Why can't we treat it?

Sep 11, 2024

A fresh understanding of OCD is opening routes to new treatments

Oct 3, 2024

Ants can be used to make yogurt – and now we know how it works

Oct 2, 2024

Why we need to fight back against sexy Asian lady robots

Oct 3, 2024

Rapamycin could make an epilepsy drug much safer during pregnancy

Oct 2, 2024

Do chickens blush? And if they do, what makes them blush the most?

Oct 2, 2024

It's parents who are anxious about smartphones, not their children

Phys

Oct 18, 2024

Scientists create new overwintering sites for monarch butterflies on a warming planet

Oct 17, 2024

Better ocean connectivity boosts reef fish populations, finds study

Oct 17, 2024

Computational method works backwards from observations to track down river polluters

Oct 17, 2024

Resolving biology's dark matter: DNA barcoding reveals hidden insect diversity

Oct 17, 2024

When hurricanes hit, online chatter can drown out safety messaging

Oct 17, 2024

New study sheds light on lily toxicity in cats—outpatient treatment may be viable option

Oct 17, 2024

Study: Smaller, more specific academic journals hold more sway over conservation policy

Oct 17, 2024

Study of wild type mosquitoes in Burkina Faso discovers new signs of insecticide resistance

Oct 17, 2024

A near-Earth microquasar emerges as a source of powerful radiation

Oct 17, 2024

A method to switch between optical pulling and pushing forces by altering the shape of Fermi arcs in Weyl systems

Oct 17, 2024

MAX phases boost electrocatalytic biomass upgrading

Oct 17, 2024

Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer helps researchers determine shape of black hole corona

Oct 17, 2024

Environmental DNA and epidemics in wood frogs: Collaboration examines eDNA's precision in population size estimation

Oct 17, 2024

How images of knives intended to stop youth knife crime may actually be making things worse

Oct 17, 2024

More efficient phenotypic screening method can simultaneously test multiple drugs

Oct 17, 2024

Nationalism forces Chinese multinationals to reclaim home-country identity

Oct 17, 2024

Stem carbohydrate richness in two cycad species

Oct 17, 2024

A new generation of telescopes will probe the 'unknown unknowns' that could transform our knowledge of the universe

Oct 17, 2024

Pioneering robot system enables 24/7 monitoring of honeybee behavior

Oct 17, 2024

DNA-binding C2H2 zinc finger proteins also regulate RNA processing, researchers discover

Oct 17, 2024

Harnessing diamond imperfections opens a new frontier in quantum sensor development

Oct 17, 2024

Catching prey with grappling hooks and cannons: The unusual weapons arsenal of a predatory marine bacterium

Oct 17, 2024

Philosopher finds glitch in worldwide patent laws

Oct 17, 2024

Old data yield new secrets as NASA's DAVINCI preps for Venus trip

Oct 17, 2024

Incorporating effects of sea spray into models to improve hurricane intensity forecasting

Oct 17, 2024

Visible light energy yields two-for-one deal when added to carbon dioxide recycling process

Oct 17, 2024

A look into cloudy liquids: New method makes the expansion of turbid drops in water visible

Oct 17, 2024

Biofilms study reveals how multiple bacteria species manage to coexist

Oct 17, 2024

New benchmark helps solve the hardest quantum problems

Oct 17, 2024

Discovery of key protein for biosynthesis of plant defense steroids could enhance pest control strategies

Quanta

Oct 16, 2024

‘Quantum Memory’ Proves Exponentially Powerful

Oct 14, 2024

Big Advance on Simple-Sounding Math Problem Was a Century in the Making

Oct 11, 2024

Even a Single Bacterial Cell Can Sense the Seasons Changing

Oct 10, 2024

How Can Math Help Beat Cancer?

Oct 9, 2024

The ‘Beautiful Confusion’ of the First Billion Years Comes Into View

PC Gamer

Oct 18, 2024

Today's Wordle answer for Friday, October 18

Oct 18, 2024

How to unlock (and use) every archetype in Metaphor: ReFantazio

Oct 17, 2024

Activision says it fixed a 'workaround' in Call of Duty anti-cheat that banned 'a small number of innocent players,' but a cheat maker claims they could ban anyone by typing two words into chat

Oct 17, 2024

YouTuber LGR felt 'numbness at how powerless I was' as his one-of-a-kind retro PC collection took a direct hit from hurricane Helene, but seeing most of the trove survive now has him eager to share it with others

Oct 17, 2024

Fullbright drops a surprise horror game on Steam, and it's all about giant spiders hiding in disgusting toilets

Oct 17, 2024

Hacker accused of manipulating Bitcoin prices with a fake SEC tweet was arrested after allegedly searching 'what are some signs the FBI is after you'

Oct 17, 2024

Stalker's hardcore reputation didn't prepare me for how surprisingly basic Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is

Oct 17, 2024

Nidhogg studio 're-reveals' its new project: A stylish action-exploration game where you race bicycles and save the world

Oct 17, 2024

Former Sony exec says focusing on high-budget blockbusters is 'a death sentence' for the games industry

Oct 17, 2024

Scandal erupts at World Conker Championships as triumphant 'King Conker' caught with painted steel replica: 'The whole thing is nuts'

Oct 17, 2024

Remedy's multiplayer Control spinoff looks even weirder than I expected: A co-op FPS where you shoot goo and garden gnomes at murderous monsters from another dimension

Oct 17, 2024

Arma 4 finally has a release target, and I'm sorry to say you're going to be playing Grand Theft Auto 6 for two years before it comes out

Oct 17, 2024

After the success of Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team is making an original mature-rated sci-fi horror, Cronos: The New Dawn

Oct 17, 2024

It Takes Two has somehow sold an astonishing 20 million copies, Hazelight teases new game with EA

Oct 17, 2024

Heavys H1H headphones review

Oct 17, 2024

New World: Aeternum isn't even the Amazon MMO's most dramatic update, let alone a new game, but it does make it better—slightly

Oct 17, 2024

I didn't realise how much I needed a comparative thermal paste database until now—here's +1 rep to Igor's Lab for this world first

Oct 17, 2024

2K reveals free-to-play hero shooter Project Ethos, an extraction game with a minor 'roguelike' twist

Oct 17, 2024

There's always one Steam Next Fest demo that inexplicably takes over my life, and this time it's this bizarre roguelike that mashes up Balatro with pachinko

Oct 17, 2024

Not just a fashion statement: Prada enters the space race, co-designing suit for Artemis III moon mission

Oct 17, 2024

Nvidia might be in the blame game with TSMC over Blackwell chip failures, but that doesn't mean it will go back to Samsung

Oct 17, 2024

After DMing a bunch of D&D 5e, swapping over to Pathfinder 2e has felt like hanging out with a cool TTRPG uncle that lets you smoke weed

Oct 17, 2024

Steam has taken down 'over 260 materials containing illegal content' from its Russian store, brags the country's media censorship agency

Oct 17, 2024

How to unlock Jack Skellington in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Oct 17, 2024

Havn HS 420 VGPU PC case review

Oct 17, 2024

How to make Birthday Cake in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Oct 17, 2024

When's the next Valorant Night Market?

Oct 17, 2024

Let Me Solo Her escapes 180-day Elden Ring ban after the FromSoft cops sent him down for installing Fortnite dances

Oct 17, 2024

Riot announces new League of Legends exalted skins tier days after more layoffs, but you can't get it the usual way—instead, you'll have to roll the dice

Oct 17, 2024

Researchers seem to have cracked 6G wireless, achieving speeds over 9,000x faster than the 5G average at 938 Gbps—would download Black Myth Wukong in 1.1 seconds

Oct 17, 2024

Fair play, Exodus—having ex-Bioware devs and Matthew McConaughey on board is neat, but your freaky flesh spaceships have my attention

Oct 17, 2024

Bungie is claiming that a bug with one of Destiny 2's exotic weapons is actually a feature, and I'm going to go into excruciating detail about why I think that's wrong

Oct 17, 2024

Skyrim lead says Bethesda was knocked back by furious response to Oblivion Horse Armour DLC, but it sold 'millions' anyway: 'You're all making fun of it and yet you buy it'

Oct 17, 2024

Today's Wordle answer for Thursday, October 17

Oct 17, 2024

The US FTC just dealt a deathblow to bad gyms and skeevy subscription services with a new 'click to cancel' rule

Oct 16, 2024

All 14 followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio and how to complete their bonds

Oct 16, 2024

Sony's failed shooter Concord has been updated dozens of times on Steam in October, and I'm starting to feel a comeback

Oct 16, 2024

Diablo 4 player lands a 235 trillion damage hit with its new class and the pile of overpowered bugs keeping it at the top of the meta

Oct 16, 2024

Mechwarrior 5: Clans review

Oct 16, 2024

Asmongold steps back from OTK and says 'I need to fix my f***ing life' after racist rant about Palestinians: 'I have been slowly devolving into the most mean-spirited, rude, nasty, callous, psychopathic version of myself'

Oct 16, 2024

Modders achieved an unprecedented time-to-ogre by putting Shrek in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero before its official release date

Oct 16, 2024

10 years on, the most infamous gaming Kickstarter of them all is still trying to reach the finish line: 'I want to explicitly state that this project is not dead'

Oct 16, 2024

They just put a jetpack in Hades 2

Oct 16, 2024

The developer of Rogue Legacy has officially released its source code 'in the pursuit of sharing knowledge'

Oct 16, 2024

This $300 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners statue is a snapshot of the most horrific moment in the anime

Oct 16, 2024

IO Interactive's James Bond game will feature a young 007 'that the gamers can call their own'

Oct 16, 2024

Riot Games lays off more employees but says the League of Legends team will be 'even larger' in the future

Oct 16, 2024

Overwatch 2 disturbs fans with a tweet telling them to look at Kiriko's 'grippers,' proving yet again that corporate accounts ruin inside jokes

Oct 16, 2024

There may be a use for the Copilot key after all, but not quite yet—Microsoft is toying with the idea of allowing us to change what it opens

IEEE Spectrum

Oct 17, 2024

Peek into the Future of A&D with Ansys

Oct 17, 2024

A Patent Engineer’s Advice for First-time Inventors

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-woman-sitting-at-a-table-with-books-and-a-laptop.png?id=53780550&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> <a href="https://www.huschblackwell.com/professionals/lesley-ann-knee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lesley-Ann Knee</a> credits her father for introducing her to the world of patents. He’s an engineer who specializes in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and holds several patents on technologies he developed while working for <a href="https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hewlett-Packard</a> and<a href="http://microsoft.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Microsoft</a>. “I would hear stories of his experiences through the patent prosecution processes,” Knee says, which taught her about different kinds of patents, the importance of documentation, and using detailed language. She remembers one litigation battle over a patent that went on for years, which her father’s company lost because someone forgot to delete information in a patent claim. <h3>Lesley-Ann Knee</h3> Employer: Husch Blackwell Occupation: Patent Engineer Education: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Colorado State University, in Fort Collins Knee, an electrical engineer, now works as a patent engineer in the patent prosecution department at the law office of <a href="https://www.huschblackwell.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Husch Blackwell</a>, headquartered in Chicago. Under the supervision of patent attorneys, Knee helps with writing, filing, and managing patent applications with the <a href="https://www.usa.gov/agencies/u-s-patent-and-trademark-office" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</a> (USPTO). She is currently studying for the patent bar exam, which would qualify her to be a licensed patent agent, registered with the USPTO to help prepare and prosecute patent applications. Assuming she passes, she then intends to go to law school to become a patent attorney. <h2>How to Become a Patent Engineer </h2> Knee initially didn’t know what she wanted to study in college. Eventually she decided that an engineering degree offered diverse career opportunities, so she enrolled at <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colorado State University</a>, in her hometown of Fort Collins. She followed in her father’s footsteps, specializing in ASIC design, but also studied power systems and semiconductor physics and minored in mathematics. In 2022 she worked as an intern in the engine research division of <a href="http://www.hondaresearch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Honda Research and Development</a>, in Raymond, Ohio, where she developed a data analysis tool to help with testing heat distribution in vehicles. After graduating from Colorado State in 2022, she decided to get a job related to patents. From January to May, she worked part-time as a patent technical intern at the law firm of <a href="https://www.dorsey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dorsey & Whitney</a>, in Denver. “After learning about patents from the other side, I fell in love with the industry,” she says. Knee joined Husch Blackwell in June 2023. She found that patent law has its quirky sides. One day her supervisor walked into one of the partner’s offices and saw the attorney “ripping apart a stuffed animal, guts everywhere,” she says. “[My] boss asked if the partner was okay. She explained that she had been pulled into a litigation case that depended entirely on the type of stitching used inside the stuffed animals.” <h2>What Can Be Patented? </h2> Here is Knee’s primer on U.S. patents and her advice for first-time inventors filing patents with the USPTO. This information isn’t intended to provide legal advice, she notes, and every country has its own patent system, with different rules and regulations. For specifics or guidance about legal matters, she recommends contacting a patent practitioner. Knee’s first piece of advice? Don’t be afraid of filing a patent application. Two out of three patents get approved by the USPTO, she says. “If you disclose your invention publicly and do not file an application within one year, you could be barred from receiving a patent on that exact invention.”To receive a patent, an invention must have utility—that is, it has to be useful for some purpose—and novelty, meaning that it’s not an obvious variation of what already exists, she says. It could be a machine, a manufacturing process, or a composition of matter (that is, a novel combination of natural elements that are mixed mechanically or chemically). Some things that can’t be patented, she says, are atomic weapons, devices for illegal pursuits, methods of administering business, mathematical discoveries, and scientific principles—with the exception of devices and methods that make use of those principles. The USPTO has recognized a growing interest in artificial intelligence over the past few years, and in 2024 it released <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-AI-SMEUpdateExamples47-49.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">examples of AI patentability</a> to give inventors guidance on the patentability of AI.“From my understanding, AI itself is not patentable,” Knee says. But using AI to invent something doesn’t necessarily make the invention unpatentable, she says. <h2>An Overview of the Patent Process </h2> The USPTO uses the “first to file” system for patent applications. “Whoever files an application first will have the best chance to patent an invention. Otherwise, you’re out of luck,” she says. The patent filing process can vary widely in terms of cost and complexity, she says. Costs include filing fees and attorney fees. Smaller companies and individual inventors may qualify for discounts on USPTO fees. Costs may be higher for patent filings that require extensive modifications and lengthy communication with the patent office. Complexity depends on how much research USPTO examiners must do to determine the difference between existing inventions and the one in the filing. For inventors interested in pursuing a patent for the first time, “I would highly recommend seeking out a patent practitioner—a patent attorney or patent agent—who offers free consultations to determine patentability, a possible action plan, cost, and a timeline for filing,” Knee says. Also, some universities have intellectual property legal offices that can advise professors and students on the patent process. For someone who wants to file a patent themselves, here are some general steps: <ol> <li>File a provisional application when you have a proof of concept or prototype. This type of application doesn’t go through the USPTO but instead holds a place in line for your patent. Provisional applications expire after one year. </li> <li>To follow up, file a nonprovisional application within one year of the first filing. This application is examined by the patent office and receives the filing date of the provisional application.</li> <li>Promptly answer and respond to any USPTO rejections (called office actions), which explain the reasons your invention can’t be patented. Knee says it’s quite common to get a rejection. You can typically respond within three months at no cost or pay a fee for an extension of up to six months. If you don’t respond, the application will be considered abandoned.</li> <li>If you receive a notice of allowance (NOA), celebrate! Your application is eligible to become a patent. Upon payment of some fees, you’ll receive an issue notification document showing the date when the patent will be officially granted, giving you the right to exclude others from using or selling your invention in the United States.</li> <li>If you receive a notice called a final office action, you have two options. You can abandon the application, or you can file a request for continued examination, which requires you to pay for another round of prosecution and explain further why your invention deserves a patent.</li> </ol><h2>The Value of Intellectual Property </h2> Be careful disclosing information about your invention or selling it before filing a patent application, Knee says.“If you disclose your invention publicly and do not file an application within one year, you could be barred from receiving a patent on that exact invention,” she says. “Because of the ‘first to file’ system, if someone steals your idea by filing first, this can be hard and very expensive to reverse.” She also advises people to be careful about disclosing their inventions through social-media platforms or other communication methods. In today’s intellectual property market, patents are currency. Knee has seen companies use patents as collateral for a loan, even when the patent application hasn’t been approved yet. And other inventors use patents to launch their dream startup. “I have seen people use patents for help securing investors,” Knee says. But it’s not a one-and-done situation, she says. “The key is having one patent and filing additional applications that piggyback off of it. This process can be pricey but has a huge impact on stopping competitors from manufacturing similar products in a new field and protecting inventors in litigation battles.”

Oct 17, 2024

Crop Parasites Can Be Deterred By "Electric Fences"

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/two-circular-oospores-of-phytophthora-palmivora-in-a-green-microbiological-culture.jpg?id=53806949&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> Imagine you’re a baby cocoa plant, just unfurling your first tentative roots into the fertile, welcoming soil. Somewhere nearby, a predator stirs. It has no ears to hear you, no eyes to see you. But it knows where you are, thanks in part to the weak electric field emitted by your roots. It is microscopic, but it’s not alone. By the thousands, the creatures converge, slithering through the waterlogged soil, propelled by their flagella. If they reach you, they will use fungal-like hyphae to penetrate and devour you from the inside. They’re getting closer. You’re a plant. You have no legs. There’s no escape.But just before they fall upon you, they hesitate. They seem confused. Then, en masse, they swarm off in a different direction, lured by a more attractive electric field. You are safe. And they will soon be dead.If Eleonora Moratto and Giovanni Sena get their way, this is the future of crop pathogen control.Many variables are involved in the global food crisis, but among the worst are the pests that devastate food crops, ruining <a href="https://assets.ippc.int/static/media/files/publication/en/2019/10/IPPC_StrategicFramework_2020-2030_2019-10-21_C8Wrzma.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">up to 40 percent of their yield</a> before they can be harvested. One of these—the little protist in the example above, an oomycete formally known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytophthora_palmivora" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phytophthora palmivora</a>—has a US $1 billion appetite for economic staples like <a href="https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/65131" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cocoa, palm, and rubber</a>.There is currently no chemical defense that can vanquish these creatures without poisoning the rest of the (often beneficial) organisms living in the soil. So Moratto, Sena, and their colleagues at Sena’s group at Imperial College London settled on a non-traditional approach: They exploited P. palmivora’s electric sense, which can be spoofed.All plant roots that have been measured to date <a href="https://www.esalq.usp.br/lepse/imgs/conteudo_thumb/Ion-transport-in-roots-measurement-off-luxes-using-ion-selective-microelectrodes-to-characterize-transporter-function.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">generate external ion flux</a>, which translates into a very weak electric field. <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10.1094/MPMI.2002.15.8.790" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Decades of evidence suggests</a> that this signal is an important target for predators’ navigation systems. However, it remains a matter of some debate how much their predators rely on plants’ electrical signatures to locate them, as opposed to chemical or mechanical information. Last year, Moratto and Sena’s group found that P. palmivora spores are <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1478-3975/ace751" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">attracted to the positive electrode of a cell generating current densities of 1 ampere per square meter</a>. “The spores followed the electric field,” says Sena, suggesting that a similar mechanism helps them find natural bioelectric fields emitted by roots in the soil.That got the researchers wondering: Might such an artificial electric field override the protists’ other sensory inputs, and scramble their compasses as they tried to use plant roots’ much weaker electrical output?To test the idea, the researchers developed two ways to protect plant roots using a constant vertical electric field. They cultivated two common snacks for P. palmivora—a flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard, and a legume often used as a livestock feed plant—in tubes in a hydroponic solution. <img alt="Illustration showing two stations, each with electric fields placed in a different location near a row of zoospores." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="41aa7eccd227f86c0faf59fd99c5c85a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="74978" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/illustration-showing-two-stations-each-with-electric-fields-placed-in-a-different-location-near-a-row-of-zoospores.jpg?id=53806975&width=980"/> Two electric field configurations were tested: A “global” vertical field (left) and a field generated by two small, nearby electrodes. The global field proved to be slightly more effective.<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68730-y" target="_blank">Eleonora Moratto</a>In the first assay, the researchers sandwiched the plant roots between rows of electrodes above and below, which completely engulfed them in a “global” vertical field. For the second set, the field was generated using two small electrodes a short distance away from the plant, creating current densities on the order of 10 A/m2. Then they unleashed the protists.With respect to the control group, both methods <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68730-y" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">successfully diverted a significant portion of the predators away from the plant roots</a>. They swarmed the positive electrode, where—since zoospores can’t survive for longer than about 2 to 3 hours without a host—they presumably starved to death. Or worse. Neil Gow, whose research presented some of the first evidence for zoospore electrosensing, has other theories about their fate. “Applied electrical fields generate toxic products and steep pH gradients near and around the electrodes due to the electrolysis of water,” he says. “The tropism towards the electrode might be followed by killing or immobilization due to the induced pH gradients.”Not only did the technique prevent infestation, but some evidence indicates that it may also mitigate existing infections. The researchers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68730-y" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">published their results</a> in August in Scientific Reports. The global electric field was marginally more successful than the local. However, it would be harder to translate from lab conditions into a (literal) field trial in soil. The local electric field setup would be easy to replicate: “All you have to do is stick the little plug into the soil next to the crop you want to protect,” says Sena.Moratto and Sena say this is a proof-of-concept that demonstrates a basis for a new, pesticide-free way to protect food crops. (Sena likens the technique to the decoys used by fighter jets to draw away incoming missiles by mimicking the signals of the original target.) They are now looking for funding to expand the project. The first step is testing the local setup in soil; the next is to test the approach on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytophthora_infestans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phytophthora infestans</a>, a meaner, scarier cousin of P. palmivora.P. infestans attacks a more varied diet of crops—you may be familiar with its work during the Irish potato famine. The close genetic similarities imply another promising candidate for electrical pest control. This investigation, however, may require more funding. P. infestans research can only be undertaken under more stringent laboratory security protocols.The work at Imperial ties into the broader—and somewhat charged—debate around electrostatic ecology; that is, the extent to which creatures <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37392744/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">including ticks</a> <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-hidden-world-of-electrostatic-ecology-20240930/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">make use of heretofore poorly understood electrical mechanisms to orient themselves</a> and in other ways enhance their survival. “Most people still aren’t aware that naturally occurring electricity can play an ecological role,” says Sam England, a behavioural ecologist with Berlin’s Natural History Museum. “So I suspect that once these electrical phenomena become more well known and understood, they will inspire a greater number of practical applications like this one.”

Oct 16, 2024

Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Team Up on Robots

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-picture-of-boston-dynamics-new-electric-atlas-humanoid-robot-with-a-sticker-on-its-chest-reading-toyota-research-institute.jpg?id=53824289&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> Today, <a href="https://bostondynamics.com/" target="_blank">Boston Dynamics</a> and the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/toyota-research-future-of-robots" target="_blank">Toyota Research Institute (TRI)</a> announced a new partnership “to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoid robots utilizing TRI’s Large Behavior Models and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/atlas-humanoid-robot" target="_blank">Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot</a>.” Committing to working towards a general purpose robot may make this partnership sound like a every other commercial humanoid company right now, but that’s not at all that’s going on here: BD and TRI are talking about fundamental robotics research, focusing on hard problems, and (most importantly) sharing the results.The broader context here is that Boston Dynamics has an exceptionally capable humanoid platform capable of advanced and occasionally painful-looking whole-body motion behaviors along with some relatively basic and brute force-y manipulation. Meanwhile, TRI has been working for quite a while on developing <a href="https://medium.com/toyotaresearch/tris-robots-learn-new-skills-in-an-afternoon-here-s-how-2c30b1a8c573" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI-based learning techniques</a> to tackle a variety of complicated manipulation challenges. TRI is working toward what they’re calling <a href="https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-research-institute-unveils-breakthrough-in-teaching-robots-new-behaviors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">large behavior models (LBMs)</a>, which you can think of as analogous to large language models (LLMs), except for robots doing useful stuff in the physical world. The appeal of this partnership is pretty clear: Boston Dynamics gets new useful capabilities for Atlas, while TRI gets Atlas to explore new useful capabilities on.Here’s a bit more from <a href="https://pressroom.toyota.com/boston-dynamics-and-toyota-research-institute-announce-partnership-to-advance-robotics-research/" target="_blank">the press release</a>:<blockquote>The project is designed to leverage the strengths and expertise of each partner equally. The physical capabilities of the new electric Atlas robot, coupled with the ability to programmatically command and teleoperate a broad range of whole-body bimanual manipulation behaviors, will allow research teams to deploy the robot across a range of tasks and collect data on its performance. This data will, in turn, be used to support the training of advanced LBMs, utilizing rigorous hardware and simulation evaluation to demonstrate that large, pre-trained models can enable the rapid acquisition of new robust, dexterous, whole-body skills. The joint team will also conduct research to answer fundamental training questions for humanoid robots, the ability of research models to leverage whole-body sensing, and understanding human-robot interaction and safety/assurance cases to support these new capabilities.</blockquote>For more details, we spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kuindersma-06a38152/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scott Kuindersma</a> (Senior Director of Robotics Research at Boston Dynamics) and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-tedrake-88648a4a/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Russ Tedrake</a> (VP of Robotics Research at TRI).How did this partnership happen?Russ Tedrake: We have a ton of respect for the Boston Dynamics team and what they’ve done, not only in terms of the hardware, but also the controller on Atlas. They’ve been growing their machine learning effort as we’ve been working more and more on the machine learning side. On TRI’s side, we’re seeing the limits of what you can do in tabletop manipulation, and we want to explore beyond that.Scott Kuindersma: The combination skills and tools that TRI brings the table with the existing platform capabilities we have at Boston Dynamics, in addition to the machine learning teams we’ve been building up for the last couple years, put us in a really great position to hit the ground running together and do some pretty amazing stuff with Atlas.What will your approach be to communicating your work, especially in the context of all the craziness around humanoids right now?Tedrake: There’s a ton of pressure right now to do something new and incredible every six months or so. In some ways, it’s healthy for the field to have that much energy and enthusiasm and ambition. But I also think that there are people in the field that are coming around to appreciate the slightly longer and deeper view of understanding what works and what doesn’t, so we do have to balance that.The other thing that I’d say is that there’s so much hype out there. I am incredibly excited about the promise of all this new capability; I just want to make sure that as we’re pushing the science forward, we’re being also honest and transparent about how well it’s working.Kuindersma: It’s not lost on either of our organizations that this is maybe one of the most exciting points in the history of robotics, but there’s still a tremendous amount of work to do.What are some of the challenges that your partnership will be uniquely capable of solving?Kuindersma: One of the things that we’re both really excited about is the scope of behaviors that are possible with humanoids—a humanoid robot is much more than a pair of grippers on a mobile base. I think the opportunity to explore the full behavioral capability space of humanoids is probably something that we’re uniquely positioned to do right now because of the historical work that we’ve done at Boston Dynamics. Atlas is a very physically capable robot—the most capable humanoid we’ve ever built. And the platform software that we have allows for things like data collection for whole body manipulation to be about as easy as it is anywhere in the world. Tedrake: In my mind, we really have opened up a brand new science—there’s a new set of basic questions that need answering. Robotics has come into this era of big science where it takes a big team and a big budget and strong collaborators to basically build the massive data sets and train the models to be in a position to ask these fundamental questions.Fundamental questions like what?Tedrake: Nobody has the beginnings of an idea of what the right training mixture is for humanoids. Like, we want to do pre-training with language, that’s way better, but how early do we introduce vision? How early do we introduce actions? Nobody knows. What’s the right curriculum of tasks? Do we want some easy tasks where we get greater than zero performance right out of the box? Probably. Do we also want some really complicated tasks? Probably. We want to be just in the home? Just in the factory? What’s the right mixture? Do we want backflips? I don’t know. We have to figure it out.There are more questions too, like whether we have enough data on the Internet to train robots, and how we could mix and transfer capabilities from Internet data sets into robotics. Is robot data fundamentally different than other data? Should we expect the same scaling laws? Should we expect the same long-term capabilities?The other big one that you’ll hear the experts talk about is evaluation, which is a major bottleneck. If you look at some of these papers that show incredible results, the statistical strength of their results section is very weak and consequently we’re making a lot of claims about things that we don’t really have a lot of basis for. It will take a lot of engineering work to carefully build up empirical strength in our results. I think evaluation doesn’t get enough attention.What has changed in robotics research in the last year or so that you think has enabled the kind of progress that you’re hoping to achieve?Kuindersma: From my perspective, there are two high-level things that have changed how I’ve thought about work in this space. One is the convergence of the field around repeatable processes for training manipulation skills through demonstrations. The pioneering work of diffusion policy (<a href="https://medium.com/toyotaresearch/tris-robots-learn-new-skills-in-an-afternoon-here-s-how-2c30b1a8c573" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which TRI was a big part of</a>) is a really powerful thing—it takes the process of generating manipulation skills that previously were basically unfathomable, and turned it into something where you just collect a bunch of data, you train it on an architecture that’s more or less stable at this point, and you get a result.The second thing is everything that’s happened in robotics-adjacent areas of AI showing that data scale and diversity are really the keys to generalizable behavior. We expect that to also be true for robotics. And so taking these two things together, it makes the path really clear, but I still think there are a ton of open research challenges and questions that we need to answer.Do you think that simulation is an effective way of scaling data for robotics?Tedrake: I think generally people underestimate simulation. The work we’ve been doing has made me very optimistic about the capabilities of simulation as long as you use it wisely. Focusing on a specific robot doing a specific task is asking the wrong question; you need to get the distribution of tasks and performance in simulation to be predictive of the distribution of tasks and performance in the real world. There are some things that are still hard to simulate well, but even when it comes to frictional contact and stuff like that, I think we’re getting pretty good at this point. Is there a commercial future for this partnership that you’re able to talk about?Kuindersma: For Boston Dynamics, clearly we think there’s long-term commercial value in this work, and that’s one of the main reasons why we want to invest in it. But the purpose of this collaboration is really about fundamental research—making sure that we do the work, advance the science, and do it in a rigorous enough way so that we actually understand and trust the results and we can communicate that out to the world. So yes, we see tremendous value in this commercially. Yes, we are commercializing Atlas, but this project is really about fundamental research.What happens next?Tedrake: There are questions at the intersection of things that BD has done and things that TRI has done that we need to do together to start, and that’ll get things going. And then we have big ambitions—getting a generalist capability that we’re calling LBM (large behavior models) running on Atlas is the goal. In the first year we’re trying to focus on these fundamental questions, push boundaries, and write and publish papers.I want people to be excited about watching for our results, and I want people to trust our results when they see them. For me, that’s the most important message for the robotics community: Through this partnership we’re trying to take a longer view that balances our extreme optimism with being critical in our approach.

Oct 16, 2024

How IEEE Ensures Quality In Engineering Education

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-older-man-professor-talking-in-front-of-a-large-classroom-with-students-sitting.jpg?id=53817327&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> For IEEE, the accreditation of engineering programs is important. Accreditation is vital to the future of the profession, ensuring that the graduates are prepared to practice and establishing a link to a sustainable future with a talented pool of engineering and technology professionals.IEEE’s involvement in the accreditation process ensures that students who graduate from approved programs have demonstrated the skills and abilities established by the criteria.Technical professional associations such as IEEE are involved because it gives them a voice in the educational process for programs in their fields of interest. Accredited programs demonstrate to both prospective students and employers that the educational institutions meet a quality standard. For graduating students, it verifies that they’ve attended a quality program, and it supports their entry into the profession. <h2>How does program accreditation work? </h2>Accreditation is not a grade, score, or ranking. Programs are evaluated against a set of approved criteria to ensure that certain educational objectives are met.IEEE plays a significant role in establishing the criteria and evaluating programs. The goal is to ensure the accredited educational programs have attained a level of performance in areas that meet or exceed minimum standards developed by experts in the field.“My experiences have been very rewarding, and I hope to continue to have a positive impact on the quality of engineering education.” —Sarah RajalaAn accrediting body establishes the criteria. <a href="https://www.abet.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABET</a>, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, is the body deciding the criteria in the United States. It is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that evaluates programs in the applied sciences, engineering, computing, and technology. IEEE is a founding member of the organization.IEEE provides ABET with expert volunteers who serve as program evaluators, or PEVs. They visit institutions to review their programs using the approved criteria to discern whether the schools meet the standard. IEEE does not directly grant accreditation to an institution; ABET does. There are currently 35 technical professional associations that are member societies, including <a href="http://www.asme.org" target="_blank">ASME</a>, <a href="http://www.asce.org" target="_blank">ASCE</a>, and <a href="http://www.asee.org" target="_blank">ASEE</a>. Representatives from IEEE and other societies helped develop the criteria used to conduct the evaluations.Recognizing the importance of program accreditation, many countries have established bodies and other processes to develop educational criteria. ABET also serves as the accrediting body for a growing number of programs outside the United States.<h2>Become an evaluator </h2>IEEE currently has more than 300 members serving as program evaluators but more are always needed. Becoming an evaluator provides a professional development opportunity, furthers IEEE’s mission, and supports the profession.“My experiences have been very rewarding, and I hope to continue to have a positive impact on the quality of engineering education,” says IEEE Member <a href="https://www.engineering.iastate.edu/people/profile/rajala/" target="_blank">Sarah Rajala</a>, who is the 2024–2025 ABET president. A professor emeritus at <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Iowa State University</a>, in Ames, Rajala has served as a program evaluator and assignment coordinator for IEEE’s <a href="https://www.ieee.org/education/accreditation/accred-committees/ceaa.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Committee on Engineering Accreditation Activities</a>. IEEE accepts evaluator applications from its members in engineering and engineering technology. Each area has specific requirements, and applicants must choose one as their field of expertise. To learn more, go to the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/education/accreditation/pev-opportunities.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Program Evaluator Opportunities page</a> on IEEE’s website.<a href="https://accreditation.org/accreditation-processes/accrediting-bodies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Other bodies</a> involved in engineering accreditation also need evaluators.

Oct 16, 2024

Dean Kamen Says Inventing Is Easy, but Innovating Is Hard

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-smiling-man-in-a-dark-jacket-clapping-in-front-of-a-large-group-of-people.png?id=53811137&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=114%2C0%2C114%2C0"/> Over the past 20 years, technological advances have enabled inventors to go from strength to strength. And yet, according to the legendary inventor <a href="https://www.invent.org/inductees/dean-kamen" target="_blank">Dean Kamen</a>, innovation has stalled. <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/Dean-Kamen" target="_blank">Kamen</a> made a name for himself with inventions including the first portable insulin pump for diabetics, an <a href="https://mobiusmobility.com/" target="_blank">advanced wheelchair</a> that can climb steps, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway" target="_blank">Segway</a> mobility device. Here, he talks about his plan for enabling innovators. How has inventing changed since you started in the 1990s? Dean Kamen: Kids all over the world can now be inventing in the world of synthetic biology the way we played with Tinkertoys and Erector Sets and Lego. I used to put pins and smelly formaldehyde in frogs in high school. Today in high school, kids will do experiments that would have won you the Nobel Prize in Medicine 40 years ago. But none of those kids are likely in any short time to be on the market with a pharmaceutical that will have global impact. Today, while invention is getting easier and easier, I think there are some aspects of innovation that have gotten much more difficult. Can you explain the difference? Kamen: Most people think those two words mean the same thing. Invention is coming up with an idea or a thing or a process that has never been done that way before. [Thanks to] more access to technology and 3D printers and simulation programs and virtual ways to make things, the threshold to be able to create something new and different has dramatically lowered. Historically, inventions were only the starting point to get to innovation. And I’ll define an innovation as something that reached a scale where it impacted a piece of the world, or transformed it: the wheel, steam, electricity, Internet. Getting an invention to the scale it needs to be to become an innovation has gotten easier—if it’s software. But if it’s sophisticated technology that requires mechanical or physical structure in a very competitive world? It’s getting harder and harder to do due to competition, due to global regulatory environments. [For example,] in proteomics [the study of proteins] and genomics and biomedical engineering, the invention part is, believe it or not, getting a little easier because we know so much, because there are development platforms now to do it. But getting a biotech product cleared by the Food and Drug Administration is getting more expensive and time consuming, and the risks involved are making the investment community much more likely to invest in the next version of Angry Birds than curing cancer. A lot of ink has been spilled about how AI is changing inventing. Why hasn’t that helped? Kamen: AI is an incredibly valuable tool. As long as the value you’re looking for is to be able to collect massive amounts of data and being able to process that data effectively. That’s very different than what a lot of people believe, which is that AI is inventing and creating from whole cloth new and different ideas. How are you using AI to help with innovation? Kamen: Every medical school has incredibly brilliant professors and grad students with petri dishes. “Look, I can make nephrons. We can grow people a new kidney. They won’t need dialysis.” But they only have petri dishes full of the stuff. And the scale they need is hundreds and hundreds of liters. I started a not-for-profit called ARMI—the <a href="https://www.armiusa.org/" target="_blank">Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute</a>—to help make it practical to manufacture human cells, tissues, and organs. We are using artificial intelligence to speed up our development processes and eliminate going down frustratingly long and expensive [dead-end] paths. We figure out how to bring tissue manufacturing to scale. We build the bioreactors, sensor technologies, robotics, and controls. We’re going to put them together and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/dean-kamen-announces-organbuilding-institute" target="_blank">create an industry</a> that can manufacture hundreds of thousands of replacement kidneys, livers, pancreases, lungs, blood, bone, you name it. So ARMI’s purpose is to help would-be innovators? Kamen: We are not going to make a product. We’re not even going to make a whole company. We’re going to create baseline core technologies that will enable all sorts of products and companies to emerge to create an entire new industry. It will be an innovation in health care that will lower costs because cures are much cheaper than chronic treatments. We have to break down the barriers so that these fantastic inventions can become global innovations.

Oct 15, 2024

Startups Squeeze Room-Size Optical Atomic Clocks Into a Briefcase

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-the-inside-of-an-atomic-clock.png?id=53811347&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=222%2C0%2C222%2C0"/> Walking into <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/physics/jun-ye" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jun Ye</a>’s <a href="https://jila.colorado.edu/yelabs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lab</a> at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Colorado Boulder</a> is a bit like walking into an electronic jungle. There are wires strung across the ceiling that hang down to the floor. Right in the middle of the room are four hefty steel tables with metal panels above them extending all the way to the ceiling. Slide one of the panels to the side and you’ll see a dense mesh of vacuum chambers, mirrors, magnetic coils, and laser light bouncing around in precisely orchestrated patterns. This is one of the world’s most precise and accurate clocks,<a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.10664" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a>and it’s <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.10664" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">so accurate</a> that you’d have to wait 40 billion years—or three times the age of the universe—for it to be off by one second. What’s interesting about Ye’s atomic clock, part of a <a href="https://jila.colorado.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">joint </a>venture between the University of Colorado Boulder and the <a href="https://www.nist.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Institute of Standards and Technology</a> (NIST), is that it is optical not microwave, like most <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_clock" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">atomic clocks</a>. The ticking heart of the clock is the strontium atom, and it beats at a frequency of 429 terahertz, or 429 trillion ticks per second. It’s the same frequency as light in the lower part of the red region of the visible spectrum, and that relatively high frequency is a pillar of the clock’s incredible precision. <a href="https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/csac-sa65" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Commonly available atomic clocks</a> beat at frequencies in the gigahertz range, or about 10 billion ticks per second. Going from the microwave to the optical makes it possible for Ye’s clock to be tens of thousands of times as precise. <img alt="A photo of a small glass object with two green lines in it. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="880b8a04a7eb140dfc84a5b82daa5799" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="593fb" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-small-glass-object-with-two-green-lines-in-it.png?id=53811402&width=980"/> The startup Vector Atomic uses a vapor of iodine molecules trapped in a small glass cell as the ticking heart of its optical atomic clock. Will Lunden One of Ye’s former graduate students, Martin Boyd, cofounded a company called <a href="https://vectoratomic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vector Atomic</a>, which has taken the idea behind Ye’s optical-clock technology and used it to make a clock small enough to fit in a box the size of a large briefcase. The precision of Vector Atomic’s clock is far from that of Ye’s—it might lose a second in <a href="https://opg.optica.org/abstract.cfm?uri=CLEO_SI-2024-JW3L.8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">32 million years</a>, says Jamil Abo-Shaeer, CEO of Vector Atomic. But it, too, operates at an optical frequency, and it matches or beats commercial alternatives. In the past year, three separate companies have developed their own versions of compact optical atomic clocks—besides Vector Atomic, there’s also Infleqtion, in Boulder, Colo., and <a href="https://quantxlabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">QuantX Labs</a>, based in Adelaide, Australia. Freed from the laboratory, these new clocks promise greater resilience and a backup to GPS for military applications, as well as for data centers, financial institutions, and power grids. And they may enable a future of more-precise GPS, with centimeter-positioning resolution, exact enough to keep self-driving cars in their lanes, allow drones to drop deliveries onto balconies, and more. And even more than all that, this is a story of invention at the frontiers of electronics and optics. Getting the technology from an unwieldy, lab-size behemoth to a reliable, portable product took a major shift in mind-set: The tech staff of these companies, mostly Ph.D. atomic physicists, had to go from focusing on precision at all costs to obsessing over compactness, robustness, and minimizing power consumption. They took an idea that pushed the boundaries of science and turned it into an invention that stretched the possibilities of technology. <h2>How does an atomic clock work? </h2> Like any scientist, Ye is motivated by understanding the deepest mysteries of the universe. He hopes his lab’s ultraprecise clocks will one day help glean the secrets of <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/an-atomic-clock-promises-link-between-quantum-world-and-gravity-20211025/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">quantum gravity</a>, or help understand the nature of <a href="https://news.fnal.gov/2023/07/how-new-atomic-clocks-could-help-in-search-for-dark-matter-and-beyond/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dark matter</a>. He also revels in the engineering complexity of his device. “I love this job because everything you’re teaching in physics turns out to matter when you’re trying to measure things at such a high-precision level,” he says. For example, if someone walks into the lab, the minuscule thermal radiation emanating from their body will polarize the atoms in the lab ever so slightly, changing their ticking frequency. To maintain the clock’s precision, you need to bring that effect under control. <img alt="An illustration of the process for how an optical atomic clock works." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c9188f714abb4f58e3f4c1e7bdfcfc1a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="82e1b" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-illustration-of-the-process-for-how-an-optical-atomic-clock-works.png?id=53811520&width=980"/> Inside the briefcase-size optical atomic clock. A laser (1) shines into a glass cell containing atomic vapor (2). The atoms absorb light at only a very precise frequency. A detector (3) measures the amount of absorption and uses that to stabilize the laser at the correct frequency. A frequency comb (4) gears down from the optical oscillation in the terahertz to the microwave range. The clock outputs an ultraprecise megahertz signal (5). Chris Philpot In an atomic clock, the atoms act like an extremely picky <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldilocks_and_the_Three_Bears" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Goldilocks</a>, identifying when a frequency of electromagnetic radiation they are exposed to is too hot, too cold, or just right. The clock starts with a source of electromagnetic radiation, be it a microwave oscillator (like the current commercial atomic clocks) or a laser (like Ye’s clock). No matter how precisely the sources are engineered, they will always have some variation, some bandwidth, and some jitter, making their frequency irregular and unreliable. Unlike these radiation sources, all atoms of a certain isotope of a species—rubidium, cesium, strontium, or any other—are exactly identical to one another. And any atom has a host of discrete energy levels that it can occupy. Each pair of energy levels has its own energy gap, corresponding to a frequency. If an atom is illuminated by radiation of the exact frequency of one such gap, the atom will absorb the radiation, and the electrons will hop to the higher energy level. Shortly after, the atom will re-emit radiation as those electrons hop back down to the lower energy levels. During clock operation, a maximally stable (but inevitably still somewhat broadband-jittery) source illuminates the atoms. The electrons get excited and hop energy levels only when the source’s frequency is just right. A detector observes how much of the radiation the atoms absorb (or how much they later re-emitted, depending on the architecture) and reports whether the incoming frequency is too high or too low. Then, active feedback stabilizes the source’s frequency to the atoms’ frequency of choice. This precise frequency feeds into a counter that can count the crests and troughs of the electromagnetic radiation—the ticks of the atomic clock. That stabilized count is an ultra-accurate frequency base—a clock, in other words. There are a plethora of effects that can affect the precision of the clock. If the atoms are moving, the frequency of radiation from the atoms’ reference point is altered by the Doppler effect, causing different atoms to select for different frequencies according to their velocity. External electric or magnetic fields, or even heat radiating from a human, can tweak the atoms’ preferred frequency. A vibration can knock a source laser’s frequency so far off that the atoms will stop responding altogether, breaking the feedback loop. Ye chose one of the pickiest atoms of them all, one that would offer very high precision—strontium. To minimize the noisemaking effects of heat, Ye’s team uses more lasers to cool the atoms down to just shy of absolute zero. To better detect the atoms’ signal, they corral the atoms in a periodic lattice—a trap shaped like an egg carton and made by yet another laser. This configuration creates several separate groups of atoms that can all be compared against one another to get a more precise measurement. All in all, Ye’s lab uses seven lasers of different colors for cooling, trapping, preparing the clock state, and detection, all defined by the atoms’ particular needs. The lasers enable the clock’s astounding precision, but they are also expensive, and they take up a lot of space. Aside from the light source itself, each laser requires a bevy of optical control elements to coax it to the right frequency and alignment—and they are easily misaligned or knocked slightly away from their target color. “The laser is a weak link,” Ye says. “When you design a microwave oscillator, you put a waveguide around it, and they work forever. Lasers are still very much more gentle or fragile.” The lasers can be knocked out of alignment by someone lightly knocking on one of Ye’s massive tables. Waveguides, meanwhile, being enclosed and bolted down, are much less sensitive. The lab is run by a team of graduate students and postdocs, bent on ensuring that the laser’s instabilities do not deter them from making the world’s most precise measurements. They have the luxury of pursuing the ultimate precision without concern for worldly practicalities. <h2>The mind-set shift to a commercial product</h2> While Ye and his team pursue perfection in timing, Vector Atomic, the first company to put an optical atomic clock on the market, is after an equally elusive objective: commercial impact. “Our competition is not Jun Ye,” says Vector Atomic’s Abo-Shaeer. “Our competition is the clocks that are out there—it’s the commercial clocks. We’re trying to bring these more modern timekeeping techniques to bear.” To be commercially viable, these clocks cannot be thrown off by the bodily heat of a nearby human, nor can they malfunction when someone knocks against the device. So Vector Atomic had to rethink the whole construction of its device from the ground up, and the most fragile part of the system became the company’s focus. “Instead of designing the system around the atom, we designed the system around the lasers,” Abo-Shaeer says. First, they drastically reduced the number of lasers used in the design. That means no laser cooling—the clock has to work with atoms or molecules in their gaseous state, confined in a glass cell. And there is no periodic lattice to group the atoms into separate clumps and get multiple readings. Both of these choices come with hits to precision, but they were necessary to make robust, compact devices. Then, to choose their lasers, Abo-Shaeer and his coworkers asked themselves which ones were the most robust, cheap, and well-engineered. The answer was clear—infrared lasers used in mature telecommunications and machining industries. Then they asked themselves which atom, or molecule, had a transition that could be stimulated by such a laser. The answer here was an iodine molecule, whose electrons have a transition at 532 nanometers—conveniently, exactly half the wavelength of a common industrial laser. Halving the wavelength could be achieved by means of a common <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_frequency_multiplier" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">optical device</a>. “We have all these Ph.D. atomic physicists, and it takes as much or more creativity to get all this into a box as it did when we were graduate students with the ultimate goal of writing Nature and Science papers,” Abo-Shaeer says. Vector Atomic couldn’t get away with just one laser in its system. Having a box that outputs a very precise laser, oscillating at hundreds of terahertz, sounds cool but is completely useless. No electronics are capable of counting those ticks. To convert the optical signal into a friendly microwave one, while keeping the original signal’s precision, the team needed to incorporate a<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/micro-comb" target="_self"> frequency comb</a>. Frequency combs are lasers that emit light in regularly spaced bursts in time. Their comblike nature becomes apparent if you look at the frequencies—or colors—of the light they emit, regularly spaced like the teeth of a comb. The subject of the <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2005/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2005 Nobel Prize in Physics</a>, these devices bridge the optical and microwave domains, allowing laser light to “<a href="https://www.nist.gov/topics/physics/optical-frequency-combs#:~:text=Frequency%20combs%20measure%20an%20unknown,colors%2C%20which%20travel%20in%20waves." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gear down” to lower frequency</a> range while preserving precision. In the past decade, frequency combs underwent their own <a href="https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-22-6-6996&id=281995" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">transformation</a>, from lab-based devices to briefcase-size <a href="https://vescent.com/us/ffc-100-frequency-comb.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">commercially</a> <a href="https://www.toptica.com/products/frequency-combs/dfc-core" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">available</a> <a href="https://www.menlosystems.com/products/optical-frequency-combs/smartcomb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">products</a> (and even <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/frequency-comb-2667465105#:~:text=A%20new%20ultra%2Denergy%2Defficient,at%20a%20regular%20frequency%20interval." target="_self">quarter-size</a> prototypes). This development, as much as anything else, unleashed a wave of innovation that enabled the three optical atomic clocks and this nascent market today. <h2>High time for optical time</h2> Inventions often happen in a flurry, as if there were something in the air making conditions ripe for the new innovation. Alongside Vector Atomic’s Evergreen-30 clock, Infleqtion and QuantX Labs have both developed clocks of their own in short order. Infleqtion has made seven sales to date of their clock,<a href="https://www.infleqtion.com/tiqker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Tiqker</a> (yes, quantum-tech companies are morally obligated to put a q in every name). <a href="https://quantxlabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">QuantX Labs</a>, meanwhile, has sold the first two of their <a href="https://quantxlabs.com/capabilities/product-development/quantum-clocks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tempo</a> clocks, with delivery to customers scheduled before the end of this year, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-luiten-174b8157/?originalSubdomain=au" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Andre Luiten</a>, cofounder and managing director of QuantX Labs. (A fourth company, <a href="https://vescent.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vescent</a>, based in Golden, Colo., is also <a href="https://vescent.com/us/blog/post/vescent-brings-optical-clocks-to-the-market-with-dfm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">selling</a> <a href="https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-25-3-2259&id=357750" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">an optical atomic clock</a>, although it is not integrated into a single box.) <img alt="A photo of an atomic clock and prototype atomic clock. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5b294dae304abe68fddc2acb6b5bffe1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2241e" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-an-atomic-clock-and-prototype-atomic-clock.jpg?id=53805625&width=980"/> Vector Atomic, QuantX Labs, and Infleqtion all have plans to send prototypes of their clocks into space. QuantX Labs has designed a 20-liter engineering model of their space clock [left]. QuantX Labs Independently, all three companies have made surprisingly similar design choices. They all realized that lasers were the limiting factor, and so chose to use a glass cell filled with atomic vapor rather than a vacuum chamber and laser cooling and trapping. They all opted to double the frequency of a telecom laser. Unlike Vector Atomic, Infleqtion and QuantX Labs chose the rubidium atom. The energy gap in rubidium, around 780 nm, can be addressed by a frequency-doubled infrared laser at 1,560 nm. QuantX Labs stands out for using two such lasers, very close to each other in frequency, to probe through a clever two-tone scheme that requires less power. They all managed to fit their clock systems into a 30-liter box, roughly the size of a briefcase. All three companies took great pains to ensure that their clocks will operate robustly in realistic environments. At the lower level of precision compared with lab-based optical clocks, the radiation coming from a nearby person is no longer an issue. However, by doing away with laser cooling, these companies have heightened the possibility that temperature and motion could affect the atoms’ internal ticking frequency. “You’ve got to be smart about the way you make the atomic cell so that it’s not coupled to the environment,” says Luiten. <h2>Optical clocks set sail and take flight</h2> In <a href="https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3118397/rimpac-2022-building-relationships-and-warfighting-readiness/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mid-2022</a>, to test the robustness of their design, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07225-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vector Atomic</a> and<a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.03716" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> QuantX Labs</a>’ partners in its venture, the University of Adelaide and Australia’s <a href="https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Defence Science and Technology Group</a>, took their clocks out to sea. They brought their clocks to Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, to participate in the Alternative Position, Navigation and Timing Challenge at <a href="https://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rim of the Pacific</a>, a defense collaboration among the Five Eyes nations—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. “They were playing touch rugby with the New Zealand sailors. So that was an awesome experience for atomic physicists,” Abo-Shaeer says. After 20 days aboard a naval ship, Vector Atomic’s optical clocks <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07225-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">maintained a performance</a> that was very close to that of their measurements under lab conditions. “When it happened, I thought everyone should be standing up and shouting from the rooftops,” says Jonathan Hoffman, a program manager at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which cofunded Vector Atomic’s work. “People have been working on these optical clocks for decades. And this was the first time an optical clock ran on its own without human interference, out in the real world.” <img alt="A photo of a box on the side of a ship on the water. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="280606fd627e104bddc7a799331329f6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b044a" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-box-on-the-side-of-a-ship-on-the-water.png?id=53811412&width=980"/> <img alt='A photo of 3 stacked boxes. They are labeled "Viper", "Epic", and "Pickles."' class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b31a26588979232302656baaa818f21a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="841e5" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-3-stacked-boxes-they-are-labeled-viper-epic-and-pickles.png?id=53811411&width=980"/> Vector Atomic and QuantX affiliate University of Adelaide installed their optical atomic clocks on a ship [top] to test their robustness in a harsh environment. The performance of Vector Atomic’s clocks [bottom] remained basically unchanged despite the ship’s rocking, temperature swings, and water sprays. The University of Adelaide’s clock degraded somewhat, but the team used the trial to improve their design. Will Lunden The University of Adelaide’s <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.03716v2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">clock</a> did suffer some degradation at sea, but a critical outcome of the trial was an understanding of why that happened. This has allowed the team to amend its design to avoid the leading causes of noise, says Luiten. In May 2024, Infleqtion sent its Tiqker clock <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240513725547/en/Un-Jammable-Quantum-Tech-Takes-Flight-to-Boost-UK%E2%80%99s-Resilience-Against-Hostile-Actors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">into flight</a>, along with its <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/accelerometer-quantum-bose-einstein" target="_self">atom-based navigation system</a>. A short-haul flight from MoD Boscombe Down, a military aircraft testing site in the United Kingdom, carried the quantum tech along with the U.K.’s science minister, Andrew Griffith. The company is still analyzing data from the flight, but at a minimum the clock has outperformed all onboard references, according to Judith Olson, head of the atomic clock project at Infleqtion. All three companies are working on yet more compact versions of their clocks. All are confident they will be able to get their briefcase-size boxes down from a volume of about 30 liters to 5 L, about the size of an old-school two-slice toaster, say Olson, Luiten, and Abo-Shaeer. “Mostly those boxes are still empty space,” Luiten says. <img alt="An image of a wave of water hitting a metal container." class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="7b4203df3221aa2aa31acc851f627523" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="e0312" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-image-of-a-wave-of-water-hitting-a-metal-container.gif?id=53805614&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> During the sea trials, Vector Atomic’s and the University of Adelaide’s clocks were exposed to the elements. Jon Roslund Infleqtion also has designs for an even smaller, 100-mL version, which leverages integrated photonics to make such tight packaging possible. “At that point, you basically have a clock that can fit in your pocket,” says Olson. “It might make a very warm pocket after a while, because the power draw will still be high. But even with the large power draw, that’s something we perceive as being potentially extremely disruptive.” All three companies also plan to send their designs into space, aboard satellites, in the next several years. Under their Kairos mission, QuantX will launch a component of their Tempo clock into space in 2025, with a full launch scheduled for 2026. <h2>Precision timing today</h2> So why would someone need the astounding precision of an optical atomic clock? The most likely immediate use cases will be in situations where GPS is unavailable. When most people think of GPS, they picture that blue dot on a map on their smartphone. But behind that dot is a sophisticated network of remarkable timing devices. It starts with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Coordinated Universal Time</a> (UTC), the standard established by averaging together about 400 atomic clocks of various kinds all over the world. “UTC is known to be some factor of 1 million more stable than any astronomical sense of time provided by Earth’s rotation,” says Jeffrey Sherman, a supervisory physicist at NIST who works on maintaining and improving UTC clocks. UTC is transmitted to satellites in the GPS network twice a day. Each satellite carries an onboard clock of its own, a microwave atomic clock usually based on rubidium. These clocks are precise to about a nanosecond during that half-day they are left to their own devices, Sherman says. From there, satellites provide the time for all kinds of facilities here on Earth, including data centers, financial institutions, power grids, and cell towers. Precise timing is what allows the satellites to locate that blue dot on a phone map, too. A phone must connect to three or more GPS satellites and receive precise time from all three. However, the times will be different due to the different distances traveled from the satellites. Using this difference, and knowing the positions of the satellites, the phone triangulates its own position. So the precision of timing aboard the satellites directly relates to how precisely the location of any phone can be determined—currently<a href="https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/#:~:text=The%20government%20distributes%20UTC%20as,%2C%2095%25%20of%20the%20time." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> about 2 meters in the nonmilitary version of the service.</a> <h2>The precisely timed future</h2> Optical atomic clocks can usefully inject themselves into multiple stages of this worldwide timing scheme. First, if they prove reliable enough over the long term, they can be used in defining the UTC standard alongside—and eventually instead of—other clocks. Currently, the majority of the clocks that make up the standard are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_maser" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hydrogen masers</a>. Hydrogen masers have a precision similar to that of the new portable optical clocks, but they are far from portable: They are roughly the size of a kitchen refrigerator and require a room-size thermally and vibrationally controlled environment. “I think everyone can agree the maser is probably at the end of its technological evolution,” Shermann says. “They’ve stopped really getting a lot better, while on day one, the first crop of optical clocks are comparable. There’s a hope that by encouraging development, they can take over, and they can become much better in the near future.” <img alt="An illustration of the infrastructure of different interactions to create UTC." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3a235dab21c8dfcbafcf686e675af385" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="de18b" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-illustration-of-the-infrastructure-of-different-interactions-to-create-utc.png?id=53811620&width=980"/> The global timing infrastructure. A collection of precise clocks, including hydrogen masers and atomic clocks, is used to create Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). A network of satellites carries atomic clocks of their own, synced to UTC on a regular basis. The satellites then send precise timing to data centers, financial institutions, the power grid, cell towers, and more. Four or more satellites are used to determine your phone’s GPS position. An optical atomic clock can be included in UTC, sent aboard satellites, or used as backup in data centers, financial institutions, or cell towers. Chris Philpot Second, optical clocks can come in handy in situations where GPS isn’t available. Although many people experience GPS as extremely reliable, jammed or spoofed GPS is very common in times of war or conflict. (To see a daily map of where GPS is unavailable due to interference, check out gpsjam.org.) This is a big issue for the U.S. Department of Defense. Not having access to GPS-based time compromises military communications. “For the DOD, it’s very important that we can put this on many, many different platforms,” DARPA’s Hoffman says. “We want to put it on ships, we want to put it on aircraft, we want to put it on satellites and vehicles.” It can also be an issue in <a href="https://www.spirent.com/blogs/meeting-stringent-timing-and-synchronization-standards-for-financial-trading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">financial markets</a>, <a href="https://syncworks.com/data-center-timing-and-synchronization/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data centers</a>, and <a href="https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/what-5g-timing-and-synchronization" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5G communications</a>. All of these use cases require precise timing to about 1 microsecond to function properly and meet regulatory requirements. That means the source of timing for these applications must be at least an order of magnitude better, or roughly a 100-nanosecond resolution. GPS provided this with room to spare, but if these industries rely solely on GPS, jamming or spoofing puts them at great risk. A local microwave atomic clock can provide a backup, but these clocks lose several nanoseconds a day even in controlled-temperature environments. Optical atomic clocks can provide these industries with security, so that even if they lose access to GPS for extended periods of time, their operations will continue unimpeded. “By having this headroom in performance, it means that we can trust how well our clocks are ticking hours and days or even months later,” says Infleqtion’s Olson. “The lower-performing clocks don’t have that.” Finally, portable optical atomic clocks open up the possibility of a future where the entire timing fabric goes from nanosecond to picosecond resolution. That means sending these clocks into space to form their own version of a more-precise GPS. Among other things, this would enable location precision that’s several millimeters instead of 2 meters. “We call it GPS 2.0,” says Vector Atomic’s Abo-Shaeer. He argues that millimeter-scale location resolution would allow autonomous vehicles to stay in their lanes, or make it possible for delivery drones to land on a New York City balcony. Perhaps most exciting of all, this invention promises to open the possibility for many inventions in a variety of fields. Having the option of superior timing will open new applications that have not yet been envisioned. “A lot of applications are built around the current limitations of GPS. In other words, it’s sort of a catch-22,” says David Howe, emeritus and former leader of the time and frequency metrology group of NIST. “You get into this mode where you don’t ever cross over to something better because the applications are designed for what’s available. So, it’ll take a larger vision to say, ‘Let’s see what we can do with optical clocks.’”

Oct 15, 2024

This Eyewear Offers a Buckshot Method to Monitor Health

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-woman-wearing-glasses-surrounded-by-pop-up-windows-showcasing-the-eyewear-s-various-technological-features.jpg?id=53807094&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=320%2C0%2C321%2C0"/> <a href="https://www.emteqlabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Emteq Labs</a> wants eyewear to be the next frontier of wearable health technology. The Brighton, England-based company introduced today its emotion-sensing eyewear, Sense. The glasses contain nine optical sensors distributed across the rims that detect subtle changes in facial expression <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10599896" target="_blank">with more than 93 percent accuracy</a> when paired with Emteq’s current software. “If your face moves, we can capture it,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steenstrand" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Steen Strand</a>, whose appointment as Emteq’s new CEO was also announced today. With that detailed data, “you can really start to decode all kinds of things.” The continuous data could help people uncover patterns in their behavior and mood, similar to an activity or sleep tracker. Emteq is now aiming to take its tech out of laboratory settings with real-world applications. The company is currently producing a small number of Sense glasses, and they’ll be available to commercial partners in December. The announcement comes just weeks after <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/09/introducing-orion-our-first-true-augmented-reality-glasses/" target="_blank">Meta</a> and <a href="https://newsroom.snap.com/sps-2024-spectacles-snapos?lang=en-US" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Snap</a> each unveiled augmented reality glasses that remain in development. These glasses are “far from ready,” says Strand, who led the augmented reality eyewear division while working at Snap from 2018 to 2022. “In the meantime, we can serve up lightweight eyewear that we believe can deliver some really cool health benefits.” <h2>Fly Vision Vectors</h2>While current augmented reality (AR) headsets have large battery packs to power the devices, glasses require a lightweight design. “Every little bit of power, every bit of weight, becomes critically important,” says Strand. The current version of Sense weighs 62 grams, slightly heavier than the <a href="https://www.meta.com/smart-glasses/" target="_blank">Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses</a>, which weigh in at about 50 grams. Because of the weight constraints, Emteq couldn’t use the power-hungry cameras typically used in headsets. With cameras, motion is detected by looking at how pixels change between consecutive images. The method is effective, but captures a lot of redundant information and uses more power. The eyewear’s engineers instead opted for optical sensors that efficiently capture vectors when points on the face move due to the underlying muscles. These sensors were inspired by the efficiency of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/fruit-flies" target="_blank">fly vision</a>. “Flies are incredibly efficient at measuring motion,” says Emteq founder and CSO <a href="https://charlesnduka.co.uk/" target="_blank">Charles Nduka</a>. “That’s why you can’t swat the bloody things. They have a very high sample rate internally.”Sense glasses can capture data as often as 6,000 times per second. The vector-based approach also adds a third dimension to a typical camera’s 2D view of pixels in a single plane. These sensors look for activation of facial muscles, and the area around the eyes is an ideal spot. While it’s easy to suppress or force a smile, the upper half of our face tends to have more involuntary responses, explains Nduka, who also works as a plastic surgeon in the United Kingdom. However, the glasses can also collect information about the mouth by monitoring the cheek muscles that control jaw movements, conveniently located near the lower rim of a pair of glasses. The data collected is then transmitted from the glasses to pass through Emteq’s algorithms in order to translate the vector data into usable information. In addition to interpreting facial expressions, Sense can be used to track food intake, an application discovered by accident when one of Emteq’s developers was wearing the glasses while eating breakfast. By monitoring jaw movement, the glasses detect when a user chews and how quickly they eat. Meanwhile, a downward-facing camera takes a photo to log the food, and uses a large language model to determine what’s in the photo, effectively making food logging a passive activity. Currently, Emteq is using an instance of OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model to accomplish this, but the company has plans to create their own algorithm in the future. Other applications, including monitoring physical activity and posture, are also in development. <h2>One Platform, Many Uses</h2>Nduka believes Emteq’s glasses represent a “fundamental technology,” similar to how the accelerometer is used for a host of applications in smartphones, including managing screen orientation, tracking activity, and even <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/bridge" target="_self">revealing infrastructure damage</a>. Similarly, Emteq has chosen to develop the technology as a general facial data platform for a range of uses. “If we went deep on just one, it means that all the other opportunities that can be helped—especially some of those rarer use cases—they’d all be delayed,” says Nduka. For example, Nduka is passionate about developing a tool to help those with facial paralysis. But a specialized device for those patients would have high unit costs and be unaffordable for the target user. Allowing more companies to use Emteq’s intellectual property and algorithms will bring down cost. In this buckshot approach, the general target for Sense’s potential use cases is health applications. “If you look at the history of wearables, health has been the primary driver,” says Strand. The same may be true for eyewear, and he says there’s potential for diet and emotional data to be “the next pillar of health” after sleep and physical activity. How the data is delivered is still to be determined. In some applications, it could be used to provide real-time feedback—for instance, vibrating to remind the user to slow down eating. Or, it could be used by health professionals only to collect a week’s worth of at-home data for patients with mental health conditions, which Nduka notes largely lack <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/mood-tracker" target="_self">objective measures</a>. (As a medical device for treatment of diagnosed conditions, Sense would have to go through a more intensive regulatory process.) While some users are hungry for more data, others may require a “much more gentle, qualitative approach,” says Strand. Emteq plans to work with expert providers to appropriately package information for users. Interpreting the data must be done with care, says <a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/vmotti" target="_blank">Vivian Genaro Motti</a>, an associate professor at George Mason University who leads the Human-Centric Design Lab. What expressions mean may vary based on cultural and demographic factors, and “we need to take into account that people sometimes respond to emotions in different ways,” Motti says. With little regulation of wearable devices, she says it’s also important to ensure privacy and protect user data. But Motti raises these concerns because there is a promising potential for the device. “If this is widespread, it’s important that we think carefully about the implications.” Privacy is also a concern to <a href="https://eng.ua.edu/eng-directory/dr-edward-sazonov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edward Savonov</a>, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Alabama, who developed a similar device for dietary tracking in his lab. Having a camera mounted on Emteq’s glasses could pose issues, both for the privacy of those around a user and a user’s own personal information. Many people eat in front of their computer or cell phone, so sensitive data may be in view. For technology like Sense to be adopted, Sazonov says questions about usability and privacy concerns must first be answered. “Eyewear-based technology has potential for a great future—if we get it right.”

Oct 15, 2024

How to Prevent Another Europa Clipper Transistor Panic

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-ring-of-corrugated-metal-with-several-circles-of-metal-within-it-thick-and-thin-wires-attach-to-the-inner-circles.jpg?id=53788598&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1"/> Yesterday, NASA successfully launched the Europa Clipper, the largest spacecraft the agency has ever built for a planetary mission. Clipper is now successfully on its multi-year journey to Europa, bristling with equipment to study the Jovian moon’s potential to support life—but just a few months ago, the mission was almost doomed. In July, researchers at NASA found out that a group of Europa Clipper’s transistors would fail under Jupiter’s <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/no-antenna-could-survive-europas-brutal-radioactive-environment-until-now" target="_self">extreme radiation levels</a>. They spent months testing devices, updating their flight trajectories, and ultimately adding a warning “canary box” to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/diy-handheld-radiation-detector" target="_self">monitor the effects of radiation</a> as the mission progresses. The canary box “is a very logical engineering solution to a problem,” says <a href="https://engineering.uark.edu/directory/index/uid/mantooth/name/Alan+Mantooth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alan Mantooth</a>, an IEEE Fellow and a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas. But ideally, it wouldn’t have been needed at all. If NASA had caught the issues with these transistors earlier or designed their circuits with built-in monitoring, this last minute scramble wouldn’t have occurred. “It’s a clever patch,” says Mantooth, “but it’s a patch.”Scientists have been “<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/radiationhardening-101" target="_self">radiation hardening</a>” electronics—designing them to function in a radioactive environment—since the 1960s. But as missions to space become more ambitious, radiation hardening techniques have had to evolve. “It’s kind of like cybersecurity,” says Mantooth. “You’re always trying to get better. There’s always a more harsh environment.”With the rapid acceleration of companies like SpaceX, the space industry is at “a massive inflection point,” says <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/38667753200" target="_blank">Eric Faraci</a>, an engineer at <a href="https://www.infineon.com/" target="_blank">Infineon</a> who works on aerospace and defense projects. “Everything we used to take for granted about how you do something, what’s accepted, best practices—everything’s been questioned.” In future space exploration, we’ll see more systems made with alternative semiconductors like silicon carbide, specialized CMOS transistors, integrated photonics, and new kinds of radiation-resistant memory. Here’s your guide to the next generation of radiation hardened technology.<h3>Silicon Carbide’s Ultra Wide Band Gap</h3> Most power devices in spacecraft today use silicon as the semiconductor, but the next generation will use <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-radio-we-could-send-to-hell" target="_self">silicon carbide</a>, says <a href="https://www.ece.ucf.edu/person/enxia-zhang/" target="_blank">Enxia Zhang</a>, a researcher at the University of Central Florida who has been developing radiation hard microelectronics for over 20 years. Silicon carbide is more resistant to radiation because of its wider band gap, which is the extra energy electrons need to transition from being bound to an atom’s nucleus to participating in conduction. Silicon has a band gap of 1.1 electron volts, while silicon carbide’s ranges from 3.3 to 3.4 eV. This means that more energy is required to disturb an electron of silicon carbide, so it’s less likely that a dose of stray radiation will manage to do it.Silicon carbide chips are being manufactured right now, and NASA holds a weekly meeting to test them for space missions, says Zhang. NASA’s silicon carbide devices are expected to be used on missions to the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/space-tech-research-grants/silicon-carbide-power-components-for-nasa-lunar-surface-applications/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moon</a> and <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/technology-highlights/integrated-circuits-to-enable-exploration-of-the-harshest-environments-in-solar-system/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Venus</a> in the future.“People are flying silicon carbide” devices right now, says Infineon’s Faraci. They are getting around a lack of standards by using them at parameters well below what they are designed for on Earth, a technique called derating. Another semiconductor with a suitably wide band gap is <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/gallium-nitride-the-ideal-semiconductor-for-powerhungry-electronics" target="_self">gallium nitride</a> (3.2 eV). Most commonly found in <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/this-new-vertically-designed-gan-transistor-may-revolutionize-screen-technology" target="_self">LEDs</a>, it is also used in laptop chargers and other lower power consumer electronics. While it’s a “very exciting” material for space applications, it’s still a new material, which means it has to go through a lot of testing to be trusted, says Faraci. Gallium nitride is best suited for cold temperatures, like on Mars or the dark side of the Moon, says Mantooth. But “if we’re doing something on Mercury or we’re doing something close to the Sun—any high temperature stuff … silicon carbide’s your winner.”<h3>Silicon on Insulator Designs and FinFETs for Designing Radiation-Hardened CMOS</h3> <img alt="A technical diagram comparing traditional planar CMOS, ultrathin body silicon-on-insulator, and FinFET designs." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="51906164183495d914e5ad39bd820137" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="e2a6e" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-technical-diagram-comparing-traditional-planar-cmos-ultrathin-body-silicon-on-insulator-and-finfet-designs.png?id=53806124&width=980"/>New materials aren’t the only frontier in radiation hardening; researchers are also exploring new ways of designing silicon transistors. Two CMOS production methods are already have a radiation hardened form: <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/transistor-wars" target="_self">silicon on insulator</a> (SOI), and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/new-wafers-for-3d-transistors" target="_self">fin field effect transistors</a> (FinFETs). Both methods are designed to prevent a kind of radiation damage called single event effects, where a high energy particle hits an electronic device, jolting its electrons into places they shouldn’t be and flipping bits.In ordinary bulk CMOS, current flows from the source to the drain through the channel, with a gate acting as a switch, blocking or allowing the current’s flow. These sit in the top layer of silicon. Radiation can excite charges deeper down in the silicon bypassing the gate’s control and allowing current to flow when it shouldn’t. Radiation hardening methods work by impeding the movement of these excited electrons.SOI designs add a layer of an insulator like silicon oxide below the source and the drain, so that charges cannot flow as easily below the channel. FinFET designs raise the drain, source, and the channel between them into one or more 3D “fins”. Excited charges now have to flow down, around, and back up in order to bypass the gate. FinFETs are also naturally resistant to another form of radiation damage: the total ionizing dose, which occurs when a slow buildup of charged particles changes the properties of the insulating layer between the channel and gate of a device.The techniques to produce SOI devices and FinFETs have existed for decades. In the 2000s, they weren’t used as much in radiation hardening, because circuit designers could still use ordinary, bulk CMOS devices, mitigating radiation risks in their circuit design and layout, according to <a href="https://search.asu.edu/profile/749233" target="_blank">Hugh Barnaby</a>, a professor of electrical engineering at Arizona State University. But lately, as CMOS devices have gotten smaller and therefore more vulnerable to radiation, there’s been <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/us-invests-in-radiationhardenedchip-fabs" target="_self">renewed interest</a> in producing these naturally radiation hard varieties of CMOS devices, even if they are more specialized and expensive.Barnaby is working with a team on improving radiation hardness in FinFETs. They found that adding more fins increased the device’s ability to control current, but reduced its radiation hardness. Now they are working to rearrange where the fins are to maximize the effectiveness of radiation resistant circuits. “We haven’t done this quite yet,” says Barnaby, “but I’m sure it will work.”<h3></h3> <div class="rblad-ieee_in_content"></div><h3>Photonic Systems for High Bandwidth, Faster Data Transfer</h3> Photonic systems use light instead of electrons to transfer information over long distances with little energy. For example, the Internet uses optical fibers to quickly transfer large amounts of data. Within the last decade, researchers have developed <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/photonic-chip" target="_self">silicon photonics integrated circuits</a> which are currently used for high <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/high-speed-silicon-photonics" target="_self">bandwidth information transmission</a> in data centers, but would also enable us to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/photonic-integrated-circuit" target="_self">move high volumes of data around in spacecraft</a>, according to <a href="https://ece.gatech.edu/directory/john-d-cressler" target="_blank">John Cressler</a>, a professor of electronics at Georgia Tech.“If you think of some of the systems that are up in space, either maybe they’re remote sensing or communication,” says Cressler, “they have a lot of data that they’re gathering or moving and that’s much easier to do in photonics.”The best part? Photonics integrated circuits are naturally radiation hard, because their data transfer is done using photons instead of electrons. A high energy dose of radiation won’t disrupt a photon as it would an electron, because photons are not electrically charged.Cressler anticipates that integrated photonics will be used in spacecraft in the next two years. “NASA and the [U.S. Department of Defense] and even commercial space [companies] are very interested in photonics,” he says.<h3>Nonvolatile Memory in Space</h3> Another promising area of research for radiation hardness in space is new kinds of nonvolatile memory. Computers usually use static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). These are volatile memories, which means once the power is off, they cannot store their state. But nonvolatile memories are able to remember their state. They don’t require continuous power, and therefore reduce power consumption needs.There are two front-runners in nonvolatile memory for use in space: Magnetoresistive-RAM (MRAM), and Resistive-RAM (ReRAM). MRAM uses magnetic states to store data, and ReRAM uses a quality called <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/memristor" target="_self">memristance</a>. Both technologies are radiation hard simply by how they are designed; radiation won’t affect the magnetic fields of MRAM or the resistances of ReRAM.“Resistive RAM is one of the technologies that has the potential to get to neuromorphic, low energy computing,” says <a href="https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/bio/?pid=michael-alles" target="_blank">Michael Alles</a>, the director of the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics at Vanderbilt University, referring to a form of computing inspired by how brains work. Satellites usually are not equipped with the ability to process much of their own data, and have to send it back to Earth. But with the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/memristor-devices-ai" target="_self">lower power consumption</a> of memristor-based circuits, satellites could do computations onboard, saving communications bandwidth and time.Though still in the research phases, Zhang predicts we will see nonvolatile memory in space in the next 10 to 15 years. Last year, the U.S. Space Force contracted Western Digital $35 million dollars to develop nonvolatile radiation hardened memory.<h3>A Note of Caution and Hope</h3> Alles cautions, however, that the true test for these new technologies will not be how they do on their own, but rather how they can be integrated to work as a system. You always have to ask: “What’s the weak link?” A powerful and radiation hard memory device could be for naught, if it depends on a silicon transistor that fails under radiation.As space exploration and satellite launches continue to ramp up, radiation hardening will only become more vital to our designs. “What’s exciting is that as we advance our capabilities, we’re able to go places we haven’t been able to go before and stay there longer,” says Mantooth. “We can’t fly electronics into the Sun right now. But one day, maybe we will.”

Oct 15, 2024

9 Crucial Technologies for the Europa Clipper Mission

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/the-gold-colored-sensor-head-of-europa-clipper-s-surface-dust-analyzer-is-shown-in-a-clean-room-at-the-laboratory-for-atmospheri.jpg?id=53812066&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> Europa is slightly smaller than Earth’s own moon and is one of the most fascinating and mysterious objects in the solar system. One of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, Europa’s crust is a largely crater-free shell of ice, somewhere between tens and more than a hundred kilometers thick. Crisscrossed with streaks and fractures, and formed by unique processes, the ice hides beneath it a suspected ocean of uncertain depths and untold mysteries.Europa is also shrouded in Jupiter’s unforgiving radiation belts. Thus, delving into the moon’s secrets—the very existence of which were hinted at by brief visits by both Voyager probes, as well as <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6370496" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galileo</a> and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/designing-an-armored-spacecraft-for-jupiter-exploration" target="_self">Juno</a>—requires a fair amount of ingenuity and resilience. NASA’s US $5 billion <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/" target="_blank">Europa Clipper mission</a> is now en route, poised to tackle these challenges and address one of astrobiology’s most profound questions: Does Europa have the potential to harbor life?The spacecraft launched on 14 October, after <a href="https://www.space.com/nasa-spacex-europa-clipper-launch-date-october-14" target="_blank">a short delay due to Hurricane Milton</a>, some concerns over spacecraft transistors found to be failing at lower radiation doses than expected, and a multi-decade battle for political and budgetary backing. The spacecraft will reach Europa, some 700 million kilometers away, in 2030. Clipper will not orbit <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/europa" target="_self">Europa</a>, but make 49 flybys of the moon—more if the hardware holds out and the mission is extended—swinging in once every three weeks for approaches as close as 25 kilometers above the surface, and then heading back out beyond the intense, electronics-killing belts of radiation to prolong the mission.Clipper is packed with a suite of nine instruments—imagers, spectrometers, magnetometers and radar—geared towards the key question of Europa’s habitability. Together, these instruments will build a multidimensional view of this icy jewel and, crucially, how it works. While not being able to detect life below the ice, the payloads will work in concert to determine whether or not life could develop there and elsewhere in the solar system.<h2>SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA)</h2>Europa’s lack of atmosphere means micrometeorites smack right into the moon’s surface. These small collisions send dust out into space. SUDA, a spectrometer, will scoop up this ejecta and, as these particles pass through metal mesh grids, determine the dust’s speed and trajectory, as well as its mass and composition.By doing this, SUDA will tell researchers the composition of the ice and the salts present on Europa’s surface as well as clues to what lies below. Together with magnetic field measurements, this will help determine the depth of the ocean and the minerals present on its floor.Beyond this, SUDA’s sensitivity will give far greater insight into what may be happening on Europa and whether it’s habitable.“SUDA shines when it comes to identifying tiny traces of organics embedded in ice,” says <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/physics/sascha-kempf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sascha Kempf</a>, SUDA’s principal investigator and a planetary scientist at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Colorado-Boulder</a>. It is able to measure organic molecules at the parts per million level. SUDA’s sensitivity allows it to establish ratios of, for example, amino acids, and help determine if this would indicate a non-biological process or potentially an organism producing healthy amino acids.<h2>MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX)</h2>Like SUDA, MASPEX is a spectrometer, but geared to analyzing the thin exosphere of gasses surrounding Europa and its chemical environment, seeking out elements necessary for life as we know it with unprecedented resolution. MASPEX would also be able to analyze material vented into space by suspected Europa water plumes, uncover signs of active geological processes or even detect potential biosignatures.<h2>Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM)</h2>ECM features a 8.5-meter-long boom which will detect and analyze any induced magnetic fields created by the interaction between Jupiter’s magnetic field and Europa’s subsurface ocean—if it is salty and producing electric currents. ECM aims to provide insights into the depth, salinity, and extent of the ocean beneath the ice, as well as if the ocean is interacting with the icy crust: A process likely necessary to create an environment conducive to life.<h2>Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS)</h2>PIMS is designed to measure the density and behavior of charged particles in Europa’s ionosphere and the surrounding plasma environment. Combined with magnetometer data from ECM, readings from PIMS will help determine how Europa’s subsurface ocean interacts with Jupiter’s magnetic field. By doing this, PIMS aims to ascertain the depth and conductivity of Europa’s ocean, as well as the thickness of the ice shell.<h2>Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON)</h2>REASON’s antennas will ping the surface with signals and catch the echoes with huge booms half the size of a basketball court, which will be deployed after liftoff. The reflected signals will allow the team to build a picture of Europa’s subsurface, determining the depth of the ice and where the theorized ocean begins—as well as any lakes in between—and help study Europa’s topography and composition.“Planetary science has been an X-Y science,” says <a href="https://www.montana.edu/earthsciences/faculty-staff/donald_blankenship.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Don Blankenship</a>, a research professor at the <a href="https://ig.utexas.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Texas Institute for Geophysics</a> and principal investigator for REASON, referring to a two-dimensional coordinate system. “We’re bringing the vertical. We’re bringing the subsurface to planetary science.”The payload will also help uncover evidence for the processes of any exchange between the ice and ocean below and the likelihood for chemistry that could support life.“You’ve got reductants down below, hopefully, present in the ocean, and then oxidants at the surface. The organizing principle has to be the exchange. How does the surface get into the ocean? And how does the ocean get into the icy shell? And that’s why the radar is so important,” says Blankenship.<h2>Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE)</h2>MISE will analyze infrared light reflected from Europa, measuring how different materials absorb and reflect sunlight at specific wavelengths and thus mapping water ice, salts, organics and minerals across the surface. Materials found near cracks and fractures will provide insight into how material may be exchanged between the surface and churning subsurface ocean.<h2>Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS)</h2>Europa-UVS will collect ultraviolet light to study Europa’s surface and exosphere, and search for molecules of hydrogen, oxygen, hydroxide, and carbon dioxide. It will also hunt for evidence of plumes expelling material out into space.<h2>Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS)</h2>E-THEMIS will capture infrared wavelengths in fine spatial detail to map Europa’s surface temperatures, giving insight into night and day dynamics, identifying potential subsurface heat sources and indicators of geological activity and even eruptions of plumes or shifts in the icy crust.<h2>Europa Imaging System (EIS)</h2>EIS consists of one wide-angle and one narrow-angle camera, each with an eight-megapixel sensor spanning near-infrared, optical, and a small portion of ultraviolet frequencies. It will map Europa’s surface by capturing stereoscopic images at 100 meters per pixel, bringing new views and uncovering new terrain and features such as ridges, cracks, and potential active regions in unprecedented resolution.“With Europa’s unique geology, we really want to understand the nature of the ice shell and the geologic processes acting within that ice shell,” says <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/people/elizabeth-zibi-turtle/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elizabeth “Zibi” Turtle</a>, a planetary scientist at <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory</a> and EIS’ principal investigator.REASON and EIS will combine to provide a data set to gain a three-dimensional understanding of the ice shell, with surface topography and subsurface imaging.EIS will also look for plumes of water escaping the surface. Imaging the boundary between day and night on Europa could reveal plumes ejected from the nightside but with the ejecta catching sunlight high above the surface—similar to how plumes from rocket launches shortly after sunset produce “<a href="https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-9-launch-sky-jellyfish-video-photos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jellyfish</a>” phenomena seen by viewers on Earth. “We have a plume search campaign throughout the tour at Jupiter,” says Turtle.Along with producing a global and subsurface view of Europa, there are areas of particular interest. These include young, so-called <a href="https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/118/chaotic-terrain-on-europa-in-very-high-resolution/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chaos terrain</a> regions of Europa, which may be signals of a churning interior, and dark irregular features known as <a href="https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/97/macula-on-europa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">macula</a>.“I think it is going to be just hugely informative and give us a spectacular, multidimensional, excellent picture of Europa and how it works,” says Turtle.The focus is on habitability, in part because searching for life is not a task even easily defined. Given that the icy moon’s ocean is somewhat insulated from the outside, there is the possibility it could have fostered a possible second genesis within the solar system.At the same time, If researchers are lucky, SUDA or MASPEX could detect life-like signatures. These could tease out amino and fatty acid patterns characteristic for organic matter. “I’m not saying that we hope to observe bacteria, but if there were one in such a particle, we could know it,” says Kempf, SUDA’s principal investigator. Such a detection would be nothing less than historic and set the stage for a followup lander mission.Europa Clipper is scheduled to reach the Jupiter system in April 2030, via flybys of Mars and Earth. Then it will begin a whole new chapter in the search for life elsewhere in the solar system, illuminating the intrigues of Europa, but also providing a platform for understanding other icy moons such as Enceladus, Ganymede, and Triton.

Oct 14, 2024

Mary Ellen Randall Is 2025 IEEE President-Elect

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-woman-wearing-glasses-with-a-blue-scarf-and-black-jacket.jpg?id=53811568&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=296%2C0%2C296%2C0"/> IEEE Fellow <a href="https://candidates.ieee.org/candidates/nominees/mary-ellen-randall/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mary Ellen Randall</a> has been elected as the 2025 IEEE president-elect. She will begin serving as president on 1 January 2026. Randall, who was nominated by the IEEE Board of Directors, received 16,389 votes in the election. Fellow <a href="https://candidates.ieee.org/candidates/nominees/s-k-ramesh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S.K. Ramesh</a> received 10,647 votes and Fellow <a href="https://candidates.ieee.org/candidates/nominees/john-p-verboncoeur/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John P. Verboncoeur</a> received 9,412. <h3>Randall’s Pledge to Members</h3> <ol><li>Institute innovative products and services to ensure our mutually successful future. </li><li>Engage stakeholders (members, partners, and communities) to unite on a comprehensive vision.</li><li>Expand technology advancement and adoption throughout the world.</li><li>Execute with excellence, ethics, and financial responsibility.</li><li>Lead by example with enthusiasm and integrity.</li></ol> At press time, the results were unofficial until the IEEE Board of Directors accepts the IEEE Teller’s Committee report in November. Randall founded <a href="http://www.ascotwireless.com/WebFiles/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ascot Technologies</a> in 2000 in Cary, N.C. Ascot develops enterprise applications using mobile data delivery technologies. She serves as the award-winning company’s CEO. Before launching Ascot, she worked for <a href="https://www.ibm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IBM</a>, where she held several technical and managerial positions in hardware and software development, digital video chips, and test design automation. She routinely managed international projects. Randall has served as IEEE treasurer, director of <a href="https://r3.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Region 3</a>, chair of <a href="https://wie.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Women in Engineering</a>, and vice president of <a href="https://mga.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Member and Geographic Activities</a>. In 2016 she founded the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-move-van-disaster-relief" target="_self">IEEE MOVE</a> (Mobile Outreach using Volunteer Engagement) program to assist with disaster relief efforts and for science, technology, engineering, and math educational purposes. The <a href="https://hkn.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu</a> honor society member has received several honors including the 2020 <a href="https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/award/ieee-haraden-pratt-award/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Haraden Pratt Award</a>, which recognizes outstanding volunteer service to IEEE. She was named a top businesswoman in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park area, and she made the 2003 Business Leader Impact 100 list. To find out who was chosen as IEEE-USA president-elect, IEEE Technical Activities vice president-elect, and more, <a href="https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/election/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">read the full annual election results</a>.

Oct 14, 2024

The Trouble With Telegram

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-blue-circle-with-a-white-paper-airplane-in-the-middle-is-shown-on-a-cracked-black-screen.jpg?id=53811358&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=357%2C0%2C357%2C0"/> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pavel Durov</a>, the founder of the chat app Telegram, was<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/29/france-formally-charges-telegram-founder-pavel-durov-over-organized-crime-on-app/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> arrested</a> in late August in France on charges that the company hasn’t done enough to prevent malicious and illegal activity on the app. One might be tempted to think that Telegram’s high level of data protection would <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/encrypted-messaging-app" target="_blank">prevent</a> it from effectively addressing malicious activity on the platform: If Telegram can’t read their users’ messages, they can’t spot lawbreakers. Founded in 2013, Telegram has<a href="https://telegram.org/faq#q-how-secure-is-telegram" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> positioned</a> itself as a privacy-focused, secure messaging platform that prioritizes user freedom and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/data-privacy" target="_blank">data protection</a>. Durov has<a href="https://x.com/durov/status/984759555052769280" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> emphasized</a> his strong commitment to privacy and free speech. In <a href="https://x.com/durov/status/1831984752359813503" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a tweet</a> about the arrest, Durov wrote “Our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes.” However, a closer look at the platform’s technology shows that privacy on Telegram is, at best, fragile. First, while the Telegram’s client-side code was made open source, the <a href="https://telegram.org/faq#q-can-i-get-telegram-39s-server-side-code" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">server-side code was never opened to the public</a>. This violates a widely embraced idea in cryptography known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerckhoffs%27s_principle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kerckhoffs’s principle</a>, which states that everything in a cryptosystem should be public knowledge, except for the secret keys themselves. Because the server code is closed source, there is no guarantee that Telegram does not just retain information forever. While client code, which runs on users’ devices, is responsible for implementing private chats through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-to-end_encryption" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">end-to-end encryption</a>, the server code, which runs on Telegram’s proprietary data centers, could do a lot of things that privacy-focused software is not supposed to do—for example, it can collect <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/emergency-alert-study-reveals-metadatas-better-side" target="_blank">metadata</a>, which includes statistics on user activities and geolocations, monitor and even eavesdrop on non-encrypted conversations, and report the information to third parties such as intelligence services or commercial corporations that could misuse it. Because the server code is closed source, there is no guarantee that Telegram does not just retain this information forever. If Telegram does, they could report that information when officially requested by someone, or even worse, provide an opportunity for hackers to leak it, even after you think you’ve deleted it. Second, even Telegram’s approach to encryption on the client side is not optimal for privacy-focused software: Telegram’s communication <a href="https://telegram.org/faq?setln=ru#secret-chats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">is not encrypted end-to-end by default</a>. Most online communication these days is encrypted, which means that the text you send from your browser to some website is not going through the Internet as clear text, as cryptographers call it, but encrypted—typically by the encryption standard called<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_Layer_Security" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Transport Layer Security</a> (TLS). While there are benefits to TLS—it encrypts network messages to prevent listeners to the Internet traffic from eavesdropping on the data being transmitted—there is also a downside. The data is encrypted only when it is transmitted over Internet routers, but it is decrypted by intermediate servers—for example, by the Telegram servers. This means that Telegram can read and retain all your conversations. Telegram inexplicably <a href="https://telegram.org/faq#q-how-is-telegram-different-from-whatsapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claims</a> to be “way more secure” than WhatsApp, without offering any proof or reasonable justification. Unlike TLS, end-to-end encryption ensures that the data is encrypted and decrypted using unique encryption keys that are known only to the sender and the recipient. For example, your chat message is encrypted inside your device, a mobile phone or laptop, and sent in its encrypted form through all the servers, including Telegram’s servers, and decrypted only at the other end—inside the recipient’s device. End-to-end encryption by default would guarantee that Telegram cannot read your messages under any circumstances. In the case of end-to-end encryption, even the fact that the server source code remains proprietary should not affect the security of the encryption because the servers don’t know the encryption keys. Yet because Telegram’s end-to-end encryption is not enabled by default, many users may overlook this fact, leaving their communications vulnerable to interception or eavesdropping by Telegram personnel, intelligence services, or hackers. In contrast, another popular messaging service, WhatsApp, not only has end-to-end encryption enabled by default but also extends it to group chats—something Telegram lacks entirely. Despite this crucial difference, Telegram inexplicably <a href="https://telegram.org/faq#q-how-is-telegram-different-from-whatsapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claims</a> to be “way more secure” than WhatsApp, without offering any proof or reasonable justification. It is also important to note that even end-to-end encryption does not prevent Telegram from collecting metadata, meaning that even though the text of your messages cannot be read, one can still see when you sent the message and who the recipient is. Since the server code is not open source, we don’t know how Telegram manages metadata. Even with end-to-end encryption protecting the content of messages, metadata such as the time, geolocation, and identities of users can still be collected and analyzed, revealing patterns and relationships. This means that metadata can compromise privacy by exposing who is communicating, when, and where—even if the messages themselves remain encrypted and unreadable to outsiders. Third, for both end-to-end encrypted and standard chats, Telegram uses a proprietary protocol, called MTProto. Because MTProto is proprietary, the full implementation is not publicly available for scrutiny. Proprietary protocols may contain undisclosed vulnerabilities. MTProto has not undergone comprehensive independent security audits comparable to those performed on open-source protocols like the Signal Protocol (which WhatsApp also <a href="https://faq.whatsapp.com/820124435853543" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">uses</a>). So, even for so-called secret chats, there is no guarantee that the implementation is secure. These technical shortcomings have real-life consequences. Freedom of speech and privacy are fundamental human rights, but we should be careful about how we use the tools that promise to preserve them. Telegram was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocking_of_Telegram_in_Russia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">blocked</a> in Russia in April 2018 after the company refused to comply with a court order to provide Russian authorities with access to encryption keys, which would have allowed them to decrypt user messages. Despite the ban, Telegram remained accessible to many users in Russia through the use of VPNs and other circumvention tools. In June 2020, Russian authorities suddenly lifted the ban on Telegram. Russia stated that the decision was made in light of Telegram’s willingness to assist in the fight against terrorism by blocking certain channels associated with terrorist activities, although Telegram continued to maintain its stance on user privacy. But in 2023, Russian opposition activists <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-kremlin-has-entered-the-chat/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reported</a> that their messages, although sent through secret chats, had been monitored and read by special forces, which led to their arrests. Telegram suggested that Russian authorities could have gotten access to the chats through a phone-hacking tool like <a href="https://cellebrite.com/en/home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cellebrite</a>, but the holes in Telegram’s security make it impossible to know for sure. The struggle between privacy and governmental control is ongoing, and the balance between safeguarding human rights and national security remains a contentious issue. Freedom of speech and privacy are fundamental human rights, but we should be careful about how we use the tools that promise to preserve them. Signal and WhatsApp, unlike Telegram, both have end-to-end encryption enabled by default. In addition, Signal open-sources both the client- and server-side code. This allows security researchers to review the code and confirm that the software is secure and does not conduct surveillance on its users. A full open-source approach would also ensure that private chats are designed in such a way that they cannot be compromised. Telegram does not offer significantly better privacy or security than average communication services, like Facebook Messenger. When it comes to the niche of truly privacy-centric products—where Telegram is trying hard to position itself—it’s doubtful that Telegram can compete with Signal or even WhatsApp. While even those two aren’t perfect in terms of privacy, they both have a leg up on that self-professed privacy stronghold Telegram.

Oct 11, 2024

Tips for Improving Workplace Communication Skills

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/view-of-womans-back-standing-in-front-of-a-table-with-people-sitting-around-it-in-a-meeting-setting.jpg?id=53802047&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> This article is part of our exclusive career advice series in partnership with the <a href="https://www.ieee-tems.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society</a>.Poor communication causes problems, delays, and failures in teams and organizations. As engineers who want to communicate what we are working on and why it matters, we need to work on getting better at it.That might seem obvious, but how we communicate often depends on whom we communicate with. The method of communication, as well as the content, differ if you’re talking with an executive, a peer, or someone you lead.As a <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/careers/" target="_blank">career</a> expert, I can help you better communicate at different levels of your organization, whether by email, in person, on the phone, or virtually.This is not a “one size fits all” model. Individuals at all levels have varying preferences for style, cadence, length, and mode. It’s a good practice to be sensitive to such differences.<h2>Communicating “up” to leaders</h2>Let’s start with <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/leadership-skills-ieee-courses" target="_blank">communicating with leaders</a> and more senior managers within an organization.First, consider the purpose of communicating with them, such as:<ul><li>Making them aware of your work for strategic decisions.</li><li>The impact of your project on teams.</li><li>Reporting progress on a strategic initiative.</li></ul>Such leaders don’t want all the details. They often don’t have the time, or they might not understand the specifics, especially if the topic is deeply technical.Context and impact, however, are important to them. How does what you’re sharing fit into the company as a whole? Will it affect other developments? What does it mean for your team and others moving forward?Give the leaders what they need. Be brief and cogent.For example, I had a coaching client who was working on a large initiative to shift technology platforms used for the storing and distribution of their digital products. It was a big deal for the company, as everything else they delivered went back to the platform. When speaking to upper management, they mostly had to focus on the timeline, budget, and reliability/performance expectations as they went through the project so that the leadership team could make decisions based on that information.Your role is to help the client make informed decisions. You can be proactive in communicating with senior leaders when appropriate, and you should ensure you respond to questions and requests as soon and clearly as possible.What and how you communicate will shape the leaders’ perception of you, with potential implications on your performance reviews and future opportunities.<h2>Communicating across levels</h2>At this level, you frequently communicate with peers, stakeholders, clients, or other collaborators.Beware of the curse of knowledge. If you believe you know more than they do, it can be difficult to look at things from their perspective and help them understand because you already have things mapped out in your head. Communicating with peers isn’t just about sharing information. You can, and should, seek information and respond to requests and perspectives that others have shared. The process of give and take is important in a collegial environment.Consider what you need to communicate:<ul><li>What does the client need to know to make good decisions?</li><li>What input do you need to effectively collaborate?</li><li>Is there a background or context the client needs to understand?</li><li>Do you have the right people involved?</li></ul>Going back to the example of my client above, when he was working with his peers he mostly focused on communicating and solving around interactions/dependencies. It allows the group members to make sure they all could deliver together and remove critical roadblocks to the progress of other teams. Working collaboratively allows you to get the best out of everyone, rather than making unilateral decisions and moving forward on your own. Engaging team members in a constructive and supportive way will help you be a better colleague and partner, with tangible and intangible benefits.<h2>Communicating with those you lead</h2>Communicating “down” does not mean talking down to anyone. It’s just a way of communicating with those you lead, formally or informally. They don’t want to be left in the dark. They need to have context and understanding of not just what they are doing but also why.When communicating with your staff:<ul><li>Help them see the big picture and understand how their actions contribute to larger goals and initiatives.</li><li>Share context and the reasoning behind decisions. Transparency is important to avoid false stories and incorrect assumptions. That said, there will be occasions when you won’t be able to give the staff the full picture.</li><li>Get their input frequently; don’t just give orders. Your staff members are crucial parts of the organization, and they will have useful input and ideas. Listen to them and help them feel heard and valued.</li></ul>When my client was interfacing with his team, he helped his colleagues see why they were engaged in the technology transition project, what each person needed to do, and when the job needed to be completed. It helped everyone feel connected to the purpose of their work, and it created a team commitment around deliverables.Effective communication at this level is one of the most important ways to boost morale, cultivate respect, and influence organizational culture.<h2>Take intentional action</h2>Look at each of your conversations at work and think about what communication level and style is needed for each situation. Perhaps it’s giving a presentation to leaders or taking on a project that will have you collaborating with new team members. As you move through the experience, spend some time reflecting on what is working. Are you growing your relationships with others? What could be improved?Do something outside your comfort zone to help you practice your communication skills.Whatever it is, make sure it stretches your skills.

Oct 11, 2024

Video Friday: Reachy 2

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/in-the-foreground-a-robotic-gripper-takes-a-red-apple-from-a-human-hand-while-an-out-of-focus-humanoid-robot-is-visible-in-the-b.png?id=53801011&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=240%2C0%2C240%2C0"/> Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Robotics%20event%20suggestion%20for%20Video%20Friday">send us your events</a> for inclusion. <h5><a href="https://iros2024-abudhabi.org/">IROS 2024</a>: 14–18 October 2024, ABU DHABI, UAE</h5><h5><a href="https://icsr2024.dk/">ICSR 2024</a>: 23–26 October 2024, ODENSE, DENMARK</h5><h5><a href="https://cybathlon.ethz.ch/en/events/edition/cybathlon-2024">Cybathlon 2024</a>: 25–27 October 2024, ZURICH</h5><h5><a href="https://2024.ieee-humanoids.org/">Humanoids 2024</a>: 22–24 November 2024, NANCY, FRANCE</h5>Enjoy today’s videos!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><div style="page-break-after: always"> </div>At <a data-linked-post="2669217747" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/icra40-conference" target="_blank">ICRA 2024</a>, we sat down with Pollen Robotics to talk about Reachy 2 O_o<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sll7tZIf9fg?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.pollen-robotics.com/reachy/">Pollen Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="4_9kyvjxyz0">A robot pangolin designed to plant trees is the winner of the 2023 Natural Robotics Contest, which rewards robot designs inspired by nature. As the winning entry, the pangolin—dubbed “Plantolin”—has been brought to life by engineers at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. Out of 184 entries, the winning design came from Dorothy, a high school student from California.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_9kYvjXyZ0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe><blockquote>Dr. Rob Siddall, a roboticist at the University of Surrey who built Plantolin, said, “In the wild, large animals will cut paths through the overgrowth and move seeds. This doesn’t happen nearly as much in urban areas like the South East of England—so there’s definitely room for a robot to help fill that gap. Dorothy’s brilliant design reminds us how we can solve some of our biggest challenges by looking to nature for inspiration.”</blockquote>[ <a href="https://grabcad.com/library/plantolin-1">Plantolin</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="v5ae0mnk9ym">Our novel targeted throwing end-effector is designed to seamlessly integrate with drones and mobile manipulators. It utilizes elastic energy for efficient picking, placing, and throwing of objects, offering a versatile solution for industrial and warehouse applications. By combining a physics-based model with residual learning, it achieves increased accuracy in targeted throwing, even with previously unseen objects.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5aE0MNK9YM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://throwingmanipulation.github.io/">Throwing Manipulation</a>, multimedia extension for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters ]Thanks, Nagamanikandan!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="sxm73rywera">Control of off-road vehicles is challenging due to the complex dynamic interactions with the terrain. Accurate modeling of these interactions is important to optimize driving performance, but the relevant physical phenomena are too complex to model from first principles. Therefore, we present an offline meta-learning algorithm to construct a rapidly-tunable model of residual dynamics and disturbances. We evaluate our method outdoors on different slopes with varying slippage and actuator degradation disturbances, and compare against an adaptive controller that does not use the VFM terrain features.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxM73ryweRA?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.12304">Paper</a> ]Thanks, Sorina!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="c-go7dcocv8">Corvus Robotics, a provider of autonomous inventory management systems, announced an updated version of its <a data-linked-post="2654390043" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/drone-warehouse-corvus-robotics" target="_blank">Corvus One</a> system that brings, for the first time, the ability to fly its drone-powered system in a lights-out distribution center without any added infrastructure like reflectors, stickers, or beacons.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-gO7dCocV8?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe><blockquote>With obstacle detection at its core, the light-weight drone safely flies at walking speed without disrupting workflow or blocking aisles and can preventatively ascend to avoid collisions with people, forklifts, or robots, if necessary. Its advanced barcode scanning can read any barcode symbology in any orientation placed anywhere on the front of cartons or pallets.</blockquote>[ <a href="https://blog.corvus-robotics.com/autonomous-warehouse-inventory-drones">Corvus Robotics</a> ]Thanks, Jackie!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>The first public walking demo of a new humanoid from Under Control Robotics.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AcxyqVz739I?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.undercontrol.ai/">Under Control Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="gn4infr8q-s">The ability to accurately and rapidly identify key physiological signatures of injury – such as hemorrhage and airway injuries – proved key to success in the DARPA Triage Challenge Event 1. DART took the top spot in the Systems competition, while Coordinated Robotics topped the leaderboard in the Virtual competition and pulled off the win in the Data competition. All qualified teams are eligible for prizes in the Final Event. These self-funded teams won between $60,000 - $120,000 each for their first-place finishes.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gN4infR8Q-s?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2024-10-05">DARPA</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="nfmrb1scs1q">The body structure of an anatomically correct tendon-driven musculoskeletal humanoid is complex. We focused on reciprocal innervation in the human nervous system, and then implemented antagonist inhibition control (AIC) based on the reflex. To verify its effectiveness, we applied AIC to the upper limb of the tendon-driven musculoskeletal humanoid, Kengoro, and succeeded in dangling for 14 minutes and doing pull-ups.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFMRb1SCs1Q?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>That is also how I do pull-ups.[ <a href="https://www.jsk.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research/spined_robots/index.html">Jouhou System Kougaku Laboratory, University of Tokyo</a> ]Thanks, Kento!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="ajptpuqjgry">On June 5, 2024 Digit completed it’s first day of work for GXO Logistics, Inc. as part of regular operations. This is the result of a multi-year agreement between GXO and Agility Robotics to begin deploying Digit in GXO’s logistics operations. This agreement, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is both the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AJpTpUqjgrY?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://agilityrobotics.com/">Agility Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="3bqrtakv0wm">Although there is a growing demand for cooking behaviours as one of the expected tasks for robots, a series of cooking behaviours based on new recipe descriptions by robots in the real world has not yet been realised. In this study, we propose a robot system that integrates real-world executable robot cooking behaviour planning using the Large Language Model (LLM) and classical planning of PDDL descriptions, and food ingredient state recognition learning from a small number of data using the Vision-Language model (VLM).</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3bQRTAKV0wM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://kanazawanaoaki.github.io/cook-from-recipe-pddl/">JSK Robotics Laboratory, University of Tokyo</a> GitHub ]Thanks, Naoaki!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="sdfkcra7gco">This paper introduces a novel approach to interactive robots by leveraging the form-factor of cards to create thin robots equipped with vibrational capabilities for locomotion and haptic feedback. The system is composed of flat-shaped robots with on-device sensing and wireless control, which offer lightweight portability and scalability. Applications include augmented card playing, educational tools, and assistive technology, which showcase CARDinality’s versatility in tangible interaction.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sdfKcra7Gco?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.axlab.cs.uchicago.edu/">AxLab</a> Actuated Experience Lab, University of Chicago ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="vehzxzi7tzy">Azi reacts in full AI to <a data-linked-post="2669314861" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-quadruped-ladder-climbing" target="_blank">the scripted skit </a>it did with Ameca.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEhzXzI7tzY?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe><blockquote>Azi uses 32 actuators, with 27 to control its silicone face, and 5 for the neck. It uses GPT-4o with a customisable personality.</blockquote>[ <a href="https://engineeredarts.co.uk/">Engineered Arts</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="4_zvaztss4c">We are testing a system that includes robots, structural building blocks, and smart algorithms to build large-scale structures for future deep space exploration. In this video, autonomous robots worked as a team to transport material in a mock rail system and simulate a build of a tower at our Roverscape.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_zVAzTSs4c?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/general/robot-team-builds-high-performance-digital-structure-for-nasa/">NASA Ames Research Center</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="nnt_y1tu--c">In the summer of 2024 HEBI’s intern Aditya Nair worked to add new use-case demos, and improve quality and consistency of the existing demos for our robotic arms! In this video you can see teach and report, augmented reality, gravity compensation, and impedance control gimbal for our robotic arms.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNT_y1tU--c?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.hebirobotics.com/">HEBI Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="pzqrjoczhhi">This video showcases cutting-edge innovations and robotic demonstrations from the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at EPFL. As we are closing the semester, this event brings together the exciting progress and breakthroughs made by our researchers and students over the past months. In this video, you’ll experience a collection of exciting demonstrations, featuring the latest in reconfigurable, soft, and modular robotics, aimed at tackling real-world challenges.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pzqrjoczHhI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/rrl/">EPFL Reconfigurable Robotics Lab</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="qdbs1mxot9g">Humanoid robot companies are promising that humanoids will fast become our friends, colleagues, employees, and the backbone of our workforce. But how close are we to this reality? What are the key costs associated with operating a humanoid? Can companies deploy them profitably? Will humanoids take our jobs, and if so, what should we be doing to prepare?</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdbS1MXot9g?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.human-robot-interaction.org/2024/10/07/humanoidization-costs-demand-and-the-future-of-work/">Human Robot Interaction Podcast</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="vvxccq-umvq">According to Web of Science, there have been 1,147,069 publications from 2003 to 2023 that fell under their category of “Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence.” During the same time period, 217,507 publications fell under their “Robotics” category, about 1/5th of the volume. On top of that, Canada’s published Science, Technology, and Innovation Priorities has AI at the top of the “Technology Advanced Canada” list, but robotics is not even listed. AI has also engaged the public’s imagination more so than robotics with “AI” dominating Google Search trends compared to “robotics.” This has us questioning: “Is AI Skyrocketing while Robotics Inches Forward?”</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvxccQ-uMvQ?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://ingenuitylabs.queensu.ca/rais2024#robotics-debate">Ingenuity Labs</a> RAIS2024 Robotics Debate ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>

Oct 10, 2024

College Electric Motorcycle Team Keeps Setting Records

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/sabina-williams-and-laura-friedmann-standing-behind-an-electric-motorcycle-with-salt-flats-and-a-mountain-range-in-the-backgrou.jpg?id=53799282&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> In 2016, IEEE Spectrum <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/race-day-at-pikes-peak-with-the-buckeye-current-emotorcycle" target="_blank">spotlighted</a> <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank">Ohio State University</a>’s <a href="https://org.osu.edu/buckeyecurrent/" target="_blank">Buckeye Current</a> team, a group of engineering students who dared to test their electric motorcycle’s mettle against professionals in the grueling <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/for-racing-glory-students-built-a-mountainbusting-electric-motorcycle" target="_blank">Pikes Peak International Hill Climb</a>. The 20-kilometer “Race to the Clouds” challenged the students with 156 hairpin turns on a trek to the 4,300-meter summit.<del></del>By 2022, only two members of the team were holdovers from the Pike’s Peak days. The team roster wasn’t the only change. That year, the Buckeye Current team shifted its focus from conquering mountains to shattering land speed records. In a collaboration with the team’s sponsor, Monaco-based <a href="https://www.venturi.com/en/" target="_blank">Venturi Group</a>, students started building and testing an entirely new electric motorcycle, the RW-5 Voxan.In August, the Buckeye Current team and the RW-5 Voxan, piloted by Venturi’s head of engineering, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-marie-blondel-8347006b/?originalSubdomain=mc" target="_blank">Louis-Marie Blondel</a>, set four new world speed records at the <a href="https://www.utah.com/destinations/natural-areas/bonneville-salt-flats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bonneville Salt Flats</a> in Utah during the <a href="https://bonnevillemst.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials</a>. The trials were overseen by the <a href="https://www.fim-moto.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fédération Internationale de Motorcyclisme</a> (FIM).<h2>Rebuilding a Record-Setting Team</h2><a href="https://car.osu.edu/people/cooke.76" target="_blank">David Cooke</a>, the senior associate director at OSU’s <a href="https://car.osu.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Automotive Research</a>, is the team’s faculty advisor. He says the successful Pikes Peak team was scattered by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The timing was terrible,” he says. “The team had just wrapped up a whole sequence of races and was just looking to decide what it would do next. Then the pandemic hit, and the team shrank down to almost nothing.”“On our last day at Bonneville, I told the team, ‘You started a few weeks ago as a great student club, but you’re leaving as a racing team.’” —David Cookie, OSU’s Center for Automotive ResearchCooke recalls that the remnant was two students who were working on related side projects, including an electric dirt bike. They and Laura Friedmann, graduate student who recently earned her master’s degree in mechanical engineering, formed the nucleus of the revived Buckeye Current team. In just two years, they were able to recruit new team members, design and build the RW-5 Voxan, and pick up a host of technical and project management skills and experience that they would never have gained inside the classroom.Cooke credits the quick bounce-back to OSU’s rich institutional knowledge. “We have seven of these competition teams, with a total of about 300 students, that operate out of our facility,” says Cooke. “All told, we’ve been participating in competitions such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_SAE" target="_blank">Formula SAE</a> and <a href="https://www.bajasae.net/" target="_blank">Baja SAE</a> for 35 years, so there’s a lot of institutional knowledge there. Even when the team has younger students coming in, there’s always some senior people around who know how to teach important skills such as machining, design, and how to organize themselves for quick turnarounds on the track.”<h2>Record-Setting Performance</h2>The FIM assesses a motorcycle’s speed using a straight path measuring 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) long. At the 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) mark, after the motorcycle has reached its top speed, it breaks a laser beam that starts a timer. A second laser, either 1 mile or 1 kilometer farther on the route (depending on the particular record being attempted), the motorcycle interrupts a second laser beam that stops the timer. The rest of the route provides room for the driver to coast down to a speed at which it’s safe to apply the brakes.The FIM uses an average speed across two runs attempted within a two-hour window in its record considerations. Buckeye Current team president Sabina Williams, a fourth-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, says that by the time the Motorcycle Speed Trials began, the team was able to accomplish the turnaround within one hour.The Buckeye Current team entered the 148-kilogram RW-5 Voxan in the speed trials’ electric motorcycle category for machines weighing between 100 and 150 kilograms. (There’s also a category for machines between 150 and 300 kg, and an “unlimited” category for anything beyond 300 kg.) Williams says the team added specially machined metal pieces to bring the RW-5 Voxan’s weight right up to the 150 kg limit. The added weight, the team figured, would be balanced out by improving the motorcycle’s traction on the salt flats’ slippery surface: Cooke says that the salt surface at Bonneville has about half the coefficient of friction of asphalt. “So instead of driving on grippy asphalt on a beautiful Sunday,” he says, “you’re driving on a surface whose traction approximates asphalt after anything from a light rain to snow and ice.”To put the Buckeye Current team’s motorcycle in perspective, consider the iconic <a href="https://www.vespa.com/us_EN/" target="_blank">Vespa</a> scooter. The peppiest of those lightweight scooters put out <a href="https://www.lexhaminsurance.co.uk/blog/vespa-gts-300-super-sport-2023-review/#:~:text=Vespa%20GTS%20300%20HPE%20Engine&text=It's%20seriously%20easy%20and%20rewarding,at%20least%20with%20me%20on)." target="_blank">18 kilowatts</a>, or just shy of 25 horsepower, compared with the 130 kW (174 hp) the RW-5 Voxan’s <a href="https://electrifind.com/Products/axm2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beyond AXM2</a> axial flux motor delivers. The electric bike’s power output is comparable to that of Ducati’s <a href="https://www.motoworkschicago.com/ducati-home/2023-ducati-panigale-v2" target="_blank">Panigale V2</a>, a gasoline-powered, street-legal sport bike that weighs in at 200 kg.The Buckeye team’s successful pairing of middleweight power in a lightweight package allowed the RW-5 Voxan to set new all-time speed records in four categories:<ul><li>Fastest average speed without a fairing (an aerodynamic cover designed to reduce turbulence): 271.323 km/h (168.59 mph) over one mile.</li><li>Fastest average speed without a fairing: 271.515 km/h (168.71 mph) over one kilometer.</li><li>Fastest average speed with a fairing: 289.74 km/h (180.035 mph) over one mile.</li><li>Fastest average speed with a fairing: 289.79 km/h (180.065 mph) over one kilometer.</li></ul>These records are still pending validation by FIM.<h2>New Challenges for Buckeye Current</h2>Though there was no mountain to climb this time around, the Ohio State team still faced challenges. While prepping in Utah, Williams says that racing the bike at or near peak power caused its motor to burn out. The team replaced it with a spare motor they happened to have on hand. After working late into the night calibrating the new motor, they were able to complete the final two of the four days of timed sprints, during which the bike was pushed to its limits. “That was a significant challenge I was proud to see the team overcome,” says Williams.A common theme among electric motorcycle teams there, Williams says, was struggling with battery temperatures. The Buckeye Current team had difficulty keeping its machine’s 567-volt lithium-ion battery pack cool in the heat of the salt flats. Williams notes that another team had problems keeping its battery warm enough to race in the mornings when temperatures were low. And all of the teams faced a constant fight to keep the salt from corroding their bikes’ metal parts.The world record achievements not only highlight the continued success of the Buckeye Current team but also underscore the potential of electric motorcycles to set new benchmarks in speed and performance. “What we had on this team were a lot of really bright aspiring engineers,” says Cooke. “But we didn’t have a single person who had experience with race cars or on a racing team. On our last day at Bonneville, I told the team, ‘You started a few weeks ago as a great student club, but you’re leaving as a racing team.’” Williams says the newly minted race team now has its sights set on a new goal: Eclipsing the 200 mile-per-hour (322-kilometer-per-hour) mark within the next year.

Oct 9, 2024

IEEE Dominates U.S. Tech Patent Citations

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/various-ieee-publications-spread-out-on-a-table.jpg?id=53780358&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> A new study that examined filings with the <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</a> by the 50 top-patenting companies cited IEEE nearly three times more than any other technical-literature publisher including ACM, Elsevier, and Springer. The organizations with the highest number of patents granted—including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.apple.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibm-history" target="_self">IBM</a>, <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Microsoft</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/wifi-7-qualcomm" target="_self">Qualcomm</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/transparent-tv" target="_self">Samsung</a>, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tsmc-energy-choices" target="_self">TSMC</a>—referenced <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/home.jsp" target="_blank">IEEE journals, standards, and conference proceedings</a> in their patents more than 682,000 times during the past 20 years, according to the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/pubs/patent-citations/2024-ieee-patent-white-paper.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Analysis of Patent Referencing to IEEE Papers, Conferences, and Standards 2004–2023”</a> report. Prepared by intellectual property evaluation company <a href="https://1790analytics.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1790 Analytics</a>, the report was released in June.When broken down by technical discipline, IEEE is the most-referenced publisher in the following categories: <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/artificial-intelligence/" target="_self">artificial intelligence</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/blockchain-computation-simulation" target="_self">blockchain technology</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/computing/" target="_self">computer hardware</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/green-software" target="_self">software</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/aws-graviton4" target="_self">cybersecurity</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/smart-agriculture" target="_self">the IoT</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/energy/" target="_self">power systems</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/semiconductors/" target="_self">semiconductors</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/climate-tech/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/telecommunications/" target="_self">telecommunications</a>.“Not only do IEEE publications frequently provide the science base for new inventions, inventions that build upon IEEE publications are more likely to be valuable in the future than inventions that do not build upon IEEE.”Patenting AI and machine learning technologies has increased tenfold in the past 10 years, but IEEE has been able to keep pace, according to the study. More than 30 percent of AI-related patents reference IEEE publications.The report notes that in emerging markets such as blockchain, cybersecurity, and virtual and augmented reality, IEEE receives the most references.In the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/robotics/" target="_self">robotics</a> and intelligent manufacturing category, more than 35 percent of patent references are to IEEE literature. <img alt="A bar chart showing IEEE is cited nearly three times more than several publishers, including their closest competitor (Elsevier)." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e1eae8d9dfefd40dfa3918fe831985b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="43302" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-bar-chart-showing-ieee-is-cited-nearly-three-times-more-than-several-publishers-including-their-closest-competitor-elsevier.jpg?id=53780359&width=980"/> This chart shows that IEEE is cited nearly three times more than any other technical-literature publisher.1790 Analytics LLCAt 30 percent, the organization also leads in citations for patents on broadcasting technologies. IEEE registered more than twice the broadcasting citations of the nearest competitor.For autonomous vehicles, IEEE is cited 10 times more than the next publisher.Other areas where IEEE leads in citations include measuring, testing, and control as well as transmission. The study also found that patents referencing IEEE papers are cited more often. “This was shown to be true for each of the 20 technology categories we examined,” the report concludes. “This suggests that not only do IEEE publications frequently provide the science base for new inventions but that inventions that build upon IEEE publications are more likely to be valuable in the future than inventions that do not build upon IEEE.”To download the full report or for more information, visit this <a href="https://www.ieee.org/publications/subscriptions/patent-citation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>.

Oct 9, 2024

Taiwan's AI Goals Will Need More Tech Talent

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-street-level-photograph-of-a-tall-glass-building-with-the-word-foxconn-on-top-of-it.jpg?id=53788447&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=322%2C0%2C322%2C0"/> Already positioned at the center of the global semiconductor industry, Taiwan now wants to make itself a hub for innovation in advanced artificial intelligence. The island nation’s new leadership, in place since May 2024, has taken a number of steps to help the country take better advantage of the AI that its chips enable.The fruits of the effort are starting to show. Electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn is building the country’s <a href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/foxconn-taiwan-blackwell/" target="_blank">biggest AI supercomputer ever</a>, using Nvidia’s latest chips. But Taiwan’s AI effort hinges on it finding enough skilled workers to do the job. The island nation is confronting some pressing challenges—a declining birth rate of approximately <a href="https://www.ey.gov.tw/state/99B2E89521FC31E1/835a4dc2-2c2d-4ee0-9a36-a0629a5de9f0#:~:text=%E7%B2%97%E5%87%BA%E7%94%9F%E7%8E%87%E7%94%B1111%E5%B9%B4,0.865%EF%BC%8C%E7%82%BA%E6%AD%B7%E5%B9%B4%E4%BE%86%E6%9C%80%E4%BD%8E%E3%80%82" target="_blank">5.81 births per 1,000 people</a><a href="https://www.president.gov.tw/News/28518" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">, an aging population</a>, and rising <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/taiwan-semiconductor" target="_blank">geopolitical tensions</a> in the Indo-Pacific. So leveraging AI for economic growth and sustainability has become increasingly vital, according to vice president <a href="https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/649" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bi-khim Hsiao</a>.“AI can help us develop new solutions more quickly and efficiently, becoming another key engine for economic growth,” Hsiao said at an <a href="https://shorturl.at/jN5dI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI and sustainability</a> forum in July.President <a href="https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/644" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lai Ching-te</a>’s government is rolling out new measures designed to build robust infrastructure, promote AI adoption across various sectors, invest in data centers, establish supercomputers, and advance Taiwan’s <a href="https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/9277F759E41CCD91/f825253d-5c7b-4283-8998-8e4c30261a8c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">control over its own AI systems</a>. It’s part of <a href="https://english.ey.gov.tw/Page/61BF20C3E89B856/02c3ee36-f365-49fe-861c-8c5facac1e64" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a strategic plan</a> Lai’s Cabinet approved to strengthen its “Five Trusted Industry Sectors”: semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), defense, security, and next-generation communications. In the AI sector, Taiwan aims to leverage its hardware industry to drive growth in high-value AI applications‑targeting <a href="https://www.ey.gov.tw/File/E8EB2D6E73066DA0?A=C" target="_blank">an output of over NT$1 trillion (US$31 billion) by 2026</a>, from the <a href="https://youtu.be/Mqgmr6HjEd4?t=593" target="_blank">current approximately NT$800 billion</a> dollars, and train 200,000 AI and related professionals over the next four years.To support these ambitions, the country will enhance the National Development Fund’s investments in AI-related companies and collaborate with the Ministry of Digital Affairs on a NT$10 billion initiative focused on the AI industry.Furthermore, Taiwan is bolstering its technological infrastructure by improving computing power and developing energy-efficient data centers. Foxconn’s future supercomputer is an example. The system, which should be capable of 90 billion operations per second (90 exaflops), will be powered by 6,902 of Nvidia’s new GB200 (Grace-Blackwell) CPUs and GPUs. Meanwhile, the government is also actively pursuing international partnerships while <a href="https://www.nstc.gov.tw/folksonomy/detail/ce89b180-3a10-4ad2-a3d4-c8c381f081ce?l=en" target="_blank">inviting U.S. AI startups</a> to set up operations in Taiwan.<h2>Workforce Issues</h2>Taiwan’s small, 23.4 million population, its aging demographic, and its low birth rate make achieving its AI goals difficult. In a Cabinet meeting last month, Premier <a href="https://english.ey.gov.tw/Page/61BF20C3E89B856/c813cce9-7c08-455e-a128-81102c688bf8" target="_blank">Cho Jung-tai</a> underscored the necessity cultivating domestic expertise while attracting international professionals.Although not exclusive to AI workers, Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC) outlined <a href="https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/448DE008087A1971/1a3bbf86-7287-4f82-9749-fa911dfb0d05" target="_blank">a plan</a> to educate and train 450,000 skilled professionals by 2028. The initiative also seeks to attract 120,000 foreign experts and 80,000 foreign technicians to fill a gap 200,000-person gap projected for Taiwan’s workforce by that date.“This will ensure a sufficient supply of talent needed for the next phase of national development and build Taiwan’s competitive advantage,” Cabinet spokesperson <a href="https://youtu.be/1bdOKPSfTVc?t=338" target="_blank">Michelle Lee</a> told reporters.One of the key contributors to <a href="https://www.ey.gov.tw/File/3CC938FA04E9957A?A=C" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taiwan’s training effort</a> is <a href="https://en.aiacademy.tw/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Taiwan AI Academy (AIA)</a>, founded by <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/mind-reading-to-predict-the-success-of-online-games" target="_self">the Taiwanese AI luminary, the late Sheng-Wei Chen</a>. Since 2018, the Taiwan AIA has been offering a range of training courses aimed at upskilling and reskilling the domestic workforce; it’s backed by a joint fund from six domestic enterprises involved in AI development.But the domestic workforce likely won’t be enough, and Taiwan is competing with many other nations for AI talent. “To bring in international talents, Taiwan really needs to highlight its incentives, since there’s a huge global demand for top-tier AI professionals,” says <a href="https://x.com/MingshunTsai" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ming-Shun Tsai</a>, Provost of Taiwan AIA.“In semiconductor manufacturing, machine learning and deep learning are increasingly being used to speed up product development and improve yield rates. This trend is growing fast.” —anonymous semiconductor managerThe government shares this view. Last month, NDC Deputy Minister <a href="https://youtu.be/1bdOKPSfTVc?t=2319" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kao Shien-quey</a> announced plans to enhance the <a href="https://goldcard.nat.gov.tw/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taiwan Gold Card program</a><a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a> by <a href="https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202409190018" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">introducing what it’s calling ‘Global Elite’ cards</a>. The employment gold card currently serves as an open work permit, allowing foreign professionals with monthly salary exceeding NT$160,000 (about US $4,956, or $59,472 per year) to work in Taiwan for up to three years. The Global Elite card is targeted toward top-tier professionals who will work for local companies that offer annual salaries surpassing NT$6 million (around US $188,306). Recipients will be eligible for permanent residency after just one year of employment and will gain access to social benefits, including long-term care and disability services for their families. Additionally, their spouses will qualify for work permits.Naturally, NDC views international students at Taiwanese universities as a vital source of future talent. Earlier this year, <a href="https://depart.moe.edu.tw/ed2300/News_Content.aspx?n=3E8E4F90CE38C77B&sms=0458C794DB622AAE&s=E04A7AF7A80AD2A2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a new program</a> was launched to attract students from nearby ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with a focus on <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI, semiconductors</a>, and other fields. Participants will receive a full tuition and fee waiver for up to two years, along with a monthly stipend of at least NT$10,000 paid by local companies. In return, graduates must work in Taiwan for at least two years after finishing their studies.<h2>AI Industry Heads South</h2>The AI industry is starting to cluster in southern Taiwan. The Foxconn AI supercomputer is to be constructed in Kaohsiung, and in August, Nvidia-rival <a href="https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202408210022" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)</a> announced plans to establish R&D hubs there and in Tainan, both of which host science parks.“With major players like <a href="https://www.trendforce.com/news/2024/07/01/news-tsmc-achieved-a-new-step-in-the-construction-of-its-third-2nm-fab/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TSMC</a> and global tech giant <a href="https://www.moea.gov.tw/MNS/english/news/News.aspx?kind=6&menu_id=176&news_id=115551" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nvidia</a> setting up operations in Kaohsiung, it’s essential for the government to invest enough resources in universities in southern Taiwan. This will help us nurture the talents that’s urgently needed in the island’s key industries,” says <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yue-Min-Wan-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yue-Min Wan</a>, a professor of electronics engineering at I-Shou University in southern Kaohsiung City.TSMC itself, which has advanced fabs in the Tainan area, is in need of more AI talent. “In semiconductor manufacturing, machine learning and deep learning are increasingly being used to speed up product development and improve yield rates. This trend is growing fast,” says a senior manager in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry who did not want to be named.The manager notes that companies are increasingly investing in AI training programs and service subscriptions to upskill their workforce. This has led to a rising demand for experts capable of integrating AI with environmental and sustainability initiatives, in an effort to drive both risk management and innovation, he says.

Oct 8, 2024

This AI-Powered Invention Machine Automates Eureka Moments

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-illustration-of-columns-of-letters-and-numbers-with-lenses-over-them.jpg?id=53776929&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C695%2C0%2C696"/> Just outside Lausanne, Switzerland, in a meeting room wallpapered with patent drawings, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioannis-ierides" target="_blank">Ioannis Ierides</a> faced a classic sales challenge: demonstrating his product’s advantages within the short span of his customer’s attention. Ierides is a business-development manager at <a href="https://www.iprova.com/" target="_blank">Iprova</a>, a company that sells ideas for invention with an element of artificial intelligence (AI). When Ierides gets someone to sign on the bottom line, Iprova begins sending their company proposals for patentable inventions in their area of interest. Any resulting patents will name humans as the inventors, but those humans will have benefited from Iprova’s AI tool. The software’s primary purpose is to scan the literature in both the company’s field and in far-off fields and then suggest new inventions made of old, previously disconnected ones. Iprova has found a niche tracking fast-changing industries and suggesting new inventions to large corporations such as Procter & Gamble, Deutsche Telekom, and Panasonic. The company has even patented its own <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US9799040B2/en?inventor=Julian+Nolan&assignee=Iprova+Sarl&before=priority:20130101&after=priority:20090101" target="_blank">AI-assisted</a> <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US20160162486A1/en?inventor=Julian+Nolan&assignee=Iprova+Sarl" target="_blank">invention method</a>. In this instance, Ierides was trying to demonstrate to me, an inquisitive journalist, that Iprova’s services can accelerate the age-old engineers’ quest for new inventions. “You want something that can transcribe interviews? Something that can tell who’s speaking?” he asked. While such transcription tools already exist, there is plenty of room for improvement, and better transcription seemed a fine example for our purposes. Ierides typed some relevant search terms into Iprova’s software, which displayed a pie chart with concentric circles, whose every slice represented a different research area. “This is the scoping step,” he said. As he put in more text, the circle broke apart into the more relevant constituent slices. The software used its semantic-search capabilities to detect similarities to his prompt in its enormous text corpus, which included patents, peer-reviewed articles, and other technology-related texts from the Internet. (Since our meeting, Iprova has replaced the pie chart workflow with a new one.) Ierides called the next step “sensing and connecting.” The software presented short text summaries of the material it considered relevant, and Ierides highlighted with his cursor the ones he found interesting. Then he clicked a button marked “generate connection,” and the software displayed a proposal for our machine transcriber in a paragraph so dry, but also so clear that not even a machine editor would have changed a word. Iprova’s system suggested I combine a new type of high-quality microphone with two new software programs that can identify speakers by their personal speech patterns. “As you can see this is a fairly ‘obvious’ invention, since we did not use the tool to its full capability,” Ierides wrote in a later email. In the real world, Iprova inventors would iterate the search, scan related patents, and check in with their clients. To get to a less obvious invention than ours, Iprova inventors might challenge the software to find connections between more distant fields. <h2>Trying to Automate Invention</h2> The inventors at Iprova might also, in the time-honored tradition, stare out the window, doodle on some paper with a pen, or build something unrelated to the task at hand before arriving at an exciting new idea. That new concept would almost surely be the product of an unplanned collision of unconnected ideas and points of view. It would likely be serendipitous. “If you tell someone you can do this in a more reliable, substantial way, they don’t believe it,” says Iprova’s cofounder and CEO <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliannolan/" target="_blank">Julian Nolan</a>. Nolan spends a lot of time persuading potential clients that the company’s software offers the right mix of AI literature-scanning and human insights, which will help these clients to invent new technologies faster than the competition. “Invention is a winner-takes-all activity,” he says. “If you’re second, you’re too late.” “Invention is a winner-takes-all activity. If you’re second, you’re too late.” –Julian Nolan The company finds ideas on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. Take, for example, the time that Panasonic asked Iprova for help finding new uses for autonomous vehicles. The software suggested giving the cars jobs when their human passengers weren’t using them, such as delivering parcels—essentially making them self-driving gig workers. It even suggested that human passengers might be willing to take the scenic route, or at least routes involving picking up or dropping off parcels, for the right discount on their ride. Panasonic bought that idea and <a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/b8/58/d4/acef27c4db9f98/US11941555.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">filed a patent application in 2021</a>. “They’re at the confluence of competitive intelligence and patent law,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-bonabeau-9a1a476/" target="_blank">Eric Bonabeau</a>, chief technology officer of <a href="https://biomedit.com/" target="_blank">Biomedit</a>, in Berkeley, Calif., who has not worked with Iprova. Using AI to discover patentable ideas is not the new part—that’s been going on for years. In 2021, the inventor <a href="https://www.imagination-engines.com/founder.html" target="_blank">Stephen L. Thaler</a> and attorney <a href="https://ryanabbott.com/publications/" target="_blank">Ryan Abbott</a> even got the South African patent office to recognize Thaler’s <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/first-time-ai-named-inventor" target="_self">AI system as the co-inventor</a> of a food container (patent offices in other countries have rejected his applications). “The new thing we have is an incredible generation machine,” Bonabeau says, referring to the large language models produced by generative AI that have emerged in the last few years. Those language models allow Iprova to summarize an enormous body of training texts—patent databases and other technological publications including peer-reviewed articles, industry technical standards, and non-peer-reviewed text. Iprova’s invention engineers have named this constantly updating trove of the world’s newest technical ideas “the Index.” Iprova’s search tools wend their way through the Index, hunting for the most helpful signals of novelty, while different tools rate existing inventions within the client’s domain. Searches that turn up strong novelty signals but weak existing inventions reveal places where inventors might add something both new and useful. One such Iprova invention straddles a pair of seemingly disparate research areas: lithium batteries and message encryption. <a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/company-facts" target="_blank">Ericsson</a>, the mobile-phone company based in Stockholm, asked Iprova for a way of generating unique encryption keys known only to the users of two mobile devices. <img alt="An illustration of a robot holding red balls. " class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="0976f9341ca66029545149441c2164c2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="d83e9" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-illustration-of-a-robot-holding-red-balls.jpg?id=53776950&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> Christian Gralingen A typical cryptologist might not know much about how lithium batteries form tiny projections called dendrites during their cycles of charging and discharging. But Iprova’s software surfaced the fact that lithium dendrites represented an example of natural randomness, which is at the root of reliable encryption. The lithium batteries inside modern mobile phones each degrade in their own random ways and each battery has its own ever-changing magnetic signature as a result. A mobile device, held near another, can measure that fleeting magnetic signature and use it to generate an encryption key that nobody could replicate, given the batteries’ subsequent random degradation. The invention resulted in multiple <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US10187204B2/en" target="_blank">patents</a>. Not every patent leads to an invention that someone will build. Companies sometimes rely on patents to help protect their intellectual property; the existence of those patents may deter competitors from offering something closely related. In other cases, a company may lay claim to ideas it later determines aren’t commercially mature or which don’t align with its mission. The company may use the ideas later or license them to another firm. The uncharitable might call this practice patent trolling, but it’s probably an inevitable result of the patent system: Companies will always generate more ideas than they can pursue. Using Iprova’s software to generate scattershot inventions in the hopes of collecting license fees on the patents wouldn’t work as a business model, says Harry Cronin, the company’s head of standards. For one thing, Iprova’s own staff aren’t specialized enough to generate many market-ready ideas on their own: “We need the steer from the clients,” he says. Even if they could be AI-powered patent trolls, Cronin says, “Nobody at Iprova wants to do that.” <h2>Invention in an Age of Information Overload</h2> No one engineer, no matter how well-read, can be an expert across all potentially useful domains. At a June industry meeting that Iprova organized, Cronin gave a talk about how difficult it is becoming these days for engineers to keep up with all the telecom standards. A pacemaker that can connect to a 5G network must comply with both health standards and telecom standards. A drone must also meet aviation requirements. As the Internet’s wireless tentacles reach into more and more devices, telecom engineers cannot keep up with all the rules. Iprova found the problem of proliferating telecom standards so attractive that it built a module for its software to track the industry’s so-called <a href="https://www.3gpp.org/" target="_blank">3GPP standards</a> and help inventors make new 3GPP-compatible inventions. The tool can push through the “wall of jargon” in the original standards texts, Cronin said, and identify useful similarities. Bonabeau’s company, Biomedit, does something similar to invent new peptides using <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/alphafold-proves-that-ai-can-crack-fundamental-scientific-problems" target="_self">AlphaFold</a>, the biology-focused generative-AI tool from DeepMind. Bonabeau says the generative component has revolutionized their company’s workflow, enabling Biomedit to identify successful peptides while synthesizing thousands fewer candidates. Generative AI is “baked into our process,” he says. Iprova’s approach differs because it focuses on physical inventions, rather than biological ones. A biological invention is like a hypothesis—it requires a wet lab and time to confirm it works—while a physical invention is more like a mathematical proof. The inventor, the client, and in the final test, a patent examiner, should all be able to see the novelty and the value in the text description. This insight may be the machine’s weak point. Nolan often uses the analogy of cooking, saying that while a machine can suggest ingredients that a cook might not know about, a human can intuit—or find out fast—how best to combine them. Bonabeau suggested the same analogy after examining Iprova’s case studies. “The human is in the loop exactly where I would put him or her,” Bonabeau says. “We know the machine isn’t able to assess whether something is interesting or not.” Others agree. “AI really can’t invent,” said research fellow <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sagel-0936555/" target="_blank">Paul Sagel</a>, of Procter & Gamble, during a panel at Iprova’s June meeting. “It has to have some element of human assistance…otherwise it hallucinates.” Or maybe those are just things we’ll tell ourselves as we get more comfortable with the idea of AI invention. Thaler, Abbott, and others are trying to lay the legal groundwork for granting patents to AI systems. And we’ll learn what AI is capable of as different inventors use it in opposing ways. Nolan, for example, told attendees at the June meeting about the power of delivering a predictable number of inventions to clients each week, of harnessing serendipity. Regularly scheduled eureka moments are useful to clients, he said. Bonabeau, on the other hand, embraces the chaos he sees in AI invention. “I personally love [generative AI] hallucinations. For me, they’re one of the big sources of innovation, kind of a mushroom trip. I’m looking for weird connections.” Much of what people call AI are advanced forms of pattern recognition. That includes recognizing patterns in other people’s inventions. Public inventions have a creative footprint, Nolan says. “If you have enough examples of the paintings of a painter, then you can mimic their style. Perhaps the same is true of inventors.” And what are companies but groups of people, with their own identifiable collective patterns? A clever-enough AI, guided by a clever human, might even recognize the patterns in a given company’s patent filings. Mixed with the right generative AI, that combination might open the door to anticipating a competitor’s moves. But what if the competitor is itself using AI to generate inventions? Then, perhaps, an invention-producing AI will predict another invention-producing AI’s next invention.

Oct 8, 2024

ESA Launches Probe to Revisit Asteroid Crime Scene

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-person-uses-gloves-to-hold-a-blocky-metallic-instrument-with-a-large-trapezoidal-opening.jpg?id=53770562&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1"/> The European Space Agency’s <a href="https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera" target="_blank">Hera</a> spacecraft is en route to assess how NASA’s 2022 <a href="https://dart.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank">DART mission</a> impacted the asteroid Dimorphos. DART smashed into the asteroid at a little over 6 kilometers per second, sending out a cloud of debris and slowing it slightly. Hera’s detailed post-collision survey aims to tell us just how efficient the kinetic impact was. This will inform the design of planetary defense missions, should we need to defend Earth from an asteroid threat. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Hera lifted off from Cape Canaveral on 7 October and is now on a journey, via a flyby of Mars in 2025, to asteroid Didymos and its minute moon Dimorphos. Arrival at the binary asteroid system is scheduled for December 2026.DART impacted the 151-meter-diameter Dimophos back in 2022, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05878-z" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reducing its velocity</a> by 2.7 millimeters per second and thus, over time, changing its orbit around the Sun. There are, however, still many things to learn about the DART impact and its target before its kinetic impactor technique could be used in earnest against an incoming asteroid. “We need to measure the mass of Dimorphos to know how efficient the impact technique actually is, to offer any future use,” says <a href="https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/personal-profiles/michael-kueppers" target="_blank">Michael Kueppers</a>, a project scientist with ESA, said during a press briefing on 2 October.“It’s the first time that CubeSats will operate autonomously around another body.” —Michael Kueppers, ESAThe Hera mission cost is €363 million (US $398 million). The spacecraft was built within a tight four-year timeline, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and involved 18 European countries. It carries a suite of 12 payloads and will investigate any crater formation or deformation of the asteroid caused by DART and provide insights into how energy from the impact was distributed and better understand the impact process. It will also assess the asteroid’s internal structure and the local environment and debris field. This debris could, incidentally, later result in meteor showers at Mars and <a href="https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Debris_from_DART_impact_could_reach_Earth" target="_blank">even reach Earth</a>.Hera is then “going back to the crime site and getting all of the scientific and technical information about these asteroids to validate our physical models,” <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37831228300" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ian Carnelli</a>, Hera Project Manager at ESA, said during the briefing.<h2>How Hera Will Study an Asteroid</h2>Getting up close and assessing the asteroids will not be straightforward, however. As Dimorphos’s gravity is negligible, at approximately 200,000 times weaker than Earth’s, the spacecraft will not orbit the asteroid in the usual sense. Hera will operate around the binary system’s combined center of gravity, or barycenter, leveraging techniques from the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/rosetta-lander-readies-for-firstever-comet-touchdown" target="_self">Rosetta mission</a>, which visited Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko a decade ago. This will see it use a series of hyperbolic arcs 20 to 30 kilometers out, to get a global picture, determine mass, and understand thermal and dynamic properties. Then, matters will get more complex.Hera will deploy two CubeSats, Milani and Juventas, to complement the study after about four weeks at the Didymos system. “For the first time, we will investigate such a body with three spacecraft in parallel,” says Kueppers. “And it’s the first time that CubeSats will operate autonomously around another body.”Milani carries a hyperspectral imager and a dust and volatiles detector. Juventas carries a radar which will map the asteroid’s internal structure. Both use cold gas propulsion. The trio will embark on ever-closer flybys of Dimorphos, eventually returning images of selected areas with a resolution of 10 centimeters.After achieving their main science objectives, Milani and Juventas will attempt landings on Dimorphos. The pair are not engineered for landing, but will approach with relative velocities of centimeters per second and, hopefully, continue operations once on the surface. Likewise, Hera could land on the larger Didymos asteroid at the end of its six-month primary mission. The details of this are still being worked out, says Kueppers.The orbital challenges will also present opportunities. While designed to be fully operated by ground teams, Hera will have a high degree of onboard autonomy, using a range of data to determine the environment and react in a way similar to a self-driving car. One navigation mode is autonomous feature tracking, which will see Hera image boulders and craters to judge the spacecraft’s attitude and trajectory relative to the asteroid. This will be tested out fully once Hera’s primary objectives are complete.Hera will pave the way for future endeavors in more ways than just its science return. The mission came in under budget, Carnelli noted, and the savings have, fittingly, been redirected for more asteroid adventures. The funds have allowed the start of the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Introducing_Ramses_ESA_s_mission_to_asteroid_Apophis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ramses</a> mission, a stripped-down version of Hera, that will fly out to meet infamous asteroid <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/deflecting-asteroids#:~:text=We%20got%20a,to%20the%20moon." target="_self">Apophis</a> when it makes an approach to within 32,000 km of Earth in 2029. Together, Hera, DART, and future missions will help us develop the tools to protect Earth from threats in our cosmic neighborhood.

Oct 7, 2024

The O.G. of Tech Startups Says AI Changes Everything

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-smiling-man-in-a-chair-outside-wearing-a-blue-shirt-and-glasses.png?id=53750871&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=262%2C0%2C263%2C0"/> <a href="https://steveblank.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Steve Blank</a> came of age as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley in the 1970s, when it was truly about the silicon, and by the 1990s he had founded or worked at four high-tech <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/startups" target="_blank">startups</a>. He eventually drew on this experience to create a <a href="https://steveblank.com/about/#:~:text=Imperial%20College.%20The%20%E2%80%9C-,Customer%20Development,-%E2%80%9D%20model%20that%20I" target="_blank">model of developing customers</a> inspired by the scientific method; it calls for working up various hypotheses, then testing and iterating on them. This model became the foundation upon which the <a href="https://hbr.org/2013/05/why-the-lean-start-up-changes-everything" target="_blank">lean startup</a> movement was built, with its “minimum viable product,” “pivot,” and other concepts that have entered the mainstream lexicon. Now Blank, who teaches entrepreneurship at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank">Stanford University</a>, is thinking about how artificial intelligence tools are poised to transform his lean startup method—by supercharging the process of testing hypotheses, developing novel products, and creating businesses with a speed that humans could never match. How will AI and machine learning affect entrepreneurship, innovation, and R&D? Steve Blank: I’ve been stunned, actually, that [Lean Startup] turned out not to be a fad, but truly foundational principles on how to build stuff. There’s been hundreds of iterations on it—but it comes back to hypothesis testing, minimum viable products, et cetera. It’s not hard to imagine this being automated by AI: In the morning, I could create 100 digital archetypes of customers and populate a website with 1,000 images of a product they might like. By the afternoon it could run A/B testing with thousands of virtual tests. The foundational ideas are the same—but when a machine runs it, versus a human being? You ain’t seen nothing yet. How do you envision the collaboration between human inventors and AI evolving? Blank: The scientific method is a 500-year-old approach that until now has been conducted by human beings. The next breakthrough might be when we give those problem sets to machinery, and they start having insights about invention that human beings would never have seen. We’re starting to see some of that, in everything from electronic design automation to computational fluid dynamics—ways to approach problems that just hadn’t been invented yet. I always come back to AlphaFold [an AI system from Google DeepMind that <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/alphafold-proves-that-ai-can-crack-fundamental-scientific-problems" target="_self">computationally predicts protein structures</a>]. In 75 years we figured out 10,000 protein structures; AlphaFold has figured out 200 million. If it were human, it would have won a Nobel Prize. What advice would you give to inventors looking to integrate AI into their creative processes? Blank: My advice for anyone in any part of their career is: Every six months, spend three days looking at the state of the art for the tools in and around your space. The delta rate of change is still increasing, and it’s likely that one [advance] will intersect with your domain. Now, this might be positive or negative, but you should not be surprised. Every six months, it’s not going to look like the last six months. How should entrepreneurs and inventors think about reinventing their roles in the age of AI? Blank: If I were still an entrepreneur, I’d be building enterprise software—the equivalent of an SAP or Salesforce that does lean [startup] principles end to end. At first it would be human-aided machine learning, and after a while, you probably wouldn’t even need a human other than someone to spit out a result to. We’re seeing [AI] automatically generating websites and code. Just imagine using it to string the lean methodology together. I love to show people this photo from the 1920s: a roomful of men reading calculating machines to compute actuarial tables at an insurance company. You know what that room looks like now? Nothing. It doesn’t exist. Yet we didn’t suffer mass unemployment. People’s jobs just changed. That’s why I tend to be optimistic. Programmers will become prompt engineers; protein designers will start working on more complicated things. We’ve replaced a lot of these high-value jobs in the past, and the world did not end.

Oct 6, 2024

SwitchBot S10 Review: “This Is the Future of Home Robots”

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-round-white-robot-vacuum-docks-to-a-rectangular-white-dock-on-a-bathroom-floor.jpg?id=53650303&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=134%2C0%2C134%2C0"/> I’ve been reviewing robot vacuums for more than<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/review-neato-robotics-xv11" target="_self"> a decade</a>, and robot mops for <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/review-irobot-scooba-230" target="_self">just as long</a>. It’s been astonishing how the technology has evolved, from the original iRobot Roomba bouncing off of walls and furniture to robots that use lidar and vision to map your entire house and intelligently keep it clean.As part of this evolution, cleaning robots have become more and more hands-off, and most of them are now able to empty themselves into occasionally enormous docks with integrated vacuums and debris bags. This means that your robot can vacuum your house, empty itself, recharge, and repeat this process until the dock’s dirt bag fills up. But this all breaks down when it comes to robots that both vacuum and mop. Mopping, which is a capability that you definitely want if you have hard floors, requires a significant amount of clean water and generates an equally significant amount of dirty water. One approach is to make docks that are <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/irobot-roomba-combo-10-max" target="_self">even more enormous</a>—large enough to host tanks for clean and dirty water that you have to change out on a weekly basis.<a href="https://us.switch-bot.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SwitchBot</a>, a company that got its start with <a href="https://us.switch-bot.com/products/switchbot-bot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a stick-on robotic switch</a> that can make dumb things with switches into smart things, has been doing some clever things in the robotic vacuum space as well, and we’ve been taking a look at the <a href="https://us.switch-bot.com/products/switchbot-floor-cleaning-robot-s10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SwitchBot S10</a>, which hooks up to your home plumbing to autonomously manage all of its water needs. And I have to say, it works so well that it feels inevitable: this is the future of home robots.<hr/><h3>A Massive Mopping Vacuum</h3> <img alt="A large white rectangular dock sits plugged in against a wall with a round white robot vacuum docked to it." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="13815f12ae864f9c149a26f837a36ade" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="ac226" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-large-white-rectangular-dock-sits-plugged-in-against-a-wall-with-a-round-white-robot-vacuum-docked-to-it.jpg?id=53639013&width=980"/> The giant dock can collect debris from the robot for months, and also includes a hot air dryer for the roller mop.Evan Ackerman/IEEE SpectrumThe SwitchBot S10 is a hybrid robotic vacuum and mop that uses a Neato-style lidar system for localization and mapping. It’s also got a camera on the front to help it with obstacle avoidance. The mopping function uses a cloth-covered spinning roller that adds clean water and sucks out dirty water on every rotation. The roller lifts automatically when the robot senses that it’s about to move onto carpet. The S10 comes with a charging dock with an integrated vacuum and dust collection system, and there’s also a heated mop cleaner underneath, which is a nice touch.I’m not going to spend a lot of time analyzing the S10’s cleaning performance. From what I can tell, it does a totally decent job vacuuming, and the mopping is particularly good thanks to the roller mop that exerts downward pressure on the floor while spinning. Just about any floor cleaning robot is going to do a respectable job with the actual floor cleaning—it’s all the other stuff, like software and interface and ease of use, that have become more important differentiators.<h3>Home Plumbing Integration</h3> <img alt="A rectangular white docking station sits on the file floor of a bathroom. Tubes connect it to a toilet fitting and a sink drain, while ports on the front are positioned to interface with a robot." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="84c1942b54bc79233c69a330e1005a23" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="45eeb" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-rectangular-white-docking-station-sits-on-the-file-floor-of-a-bathroom-tubes-connect-it-to-a-toilet-fitting-and-a-sink-drain.jpg?id=53650308&width=980"/> The water dock, seen here hooked up to my toilet and sink, exchanges dirty water out of the robot and includes an option to add cleaning fluid.Evan Ackerman/IEEE SpectrumThe S10’s primary differentiator is that it integrates with your home plumbing. It does this through a secondary dock—there’s the big charging dock, which you can put anywhere, and then the much smaller water dock, which is small enough to slide underneath an average toe-kick in a kitchen.The dock includes a pumping system that accesses clean water through a pressurized water line, and then squirts dirty water out into a drain. The best place to find this combination of fixtures is near a sink with a p-trap, and if this is already beyond the limits of your plumbing knowledge, well, that’s the real challenge with the S10. The S10 is very much not plug-and-play; to install the water dock, you should be comfortable with basic tool use and, more importantly, have some faith in the integrity of your existing plumbing.My house was built in the early 1960s, which means that a lot of my plumbing consists of old copper with varying degrees of corrosion and mineral infestation, along with slightly younger but somewhat brittle PVC. Installing the clean water line for the dock involves temporarily shutting off the cold water line feeding a sink or a toilet—that is, turning off a valve that may not have been turned for a decade or more. This is risky, and the potential consequences of any uncontrolled water leak are severe, so know where your main water shutoff is before futzing with the dock installation. <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2sm52kVqRTI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sm52kVqRTI" target="_blank"> </a> To SwitchBot’s credit, the actual <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sm52kVqRTI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">water dock installation process</a> was very easy, thanks to a suite of connectors and adapters that come included. I installed my dock in between a toilet and a pedestal sink, with access to the toilet’s water valve for clean water and the sink’s p-trap for dirty water. The water dock is battery powered, and cleverly charges from the robot itself, so it doesn’t need a power outlet. Even so, this one spot was pretty much the only place in my entire house where the water dock could easily go: my other bathrooms have cabinet sinks, which would have meant drilling holes for the water lines, and neither of them had floor space where the dock could live without being kicked all the time. It’s not like the water dock is all that big, but it really needs to be out of the way, and it can be hard to find a compatible space. <h3>Mediocre Mapping</h3>With the dock set up, the next step is mapping. The mapping process with the S10 was a bit finicky. I spent a bunch of time prepping my house—that is, moving as much furniture as possible off of the floor to give the robot the best chance at making a solid map. I know this isn’t something that most people probably do for their robots, but knowing robots like I do, I figure that getting a really good map is worth the hassle in the long run. The first mapping run completed in about 20 minutes, but the robot got “stuck” on the way back to its dock thanks to a combination of a bit of black carpet and black coffee table legs. I rescued it, but it promptly forgot its map, and I had to start again. The second time, the robot failed to map my kitchen, dining room, laundry room, and one bathroom by not going through a wide open doorway off of the living room. This was confusing, because I could see the unexplored area on the map, and I’m not sure why the robot decided to call it a day rather than investigating that pretty obvious frontier region.SwitchBot is not terrible at mapping, but it’s definitely sub-par relative to the experiences that I’ve had with older generations of other robots. The S10 also intermittently freaked out on the black patterned carpet that I have: moving very cautiously, spinning in circles, and occasionally stopping completely while complaining about malfunctioning cliff sensors, presumably because my carpet was absorbing all of the infrared from its cliff sensors while it was trying to map. <img alt="A round white robot vacuum sits motionless on the black part of a patterned carpet." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8329786352969bfad29cb92b9acc56b5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="7f74b" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-round-white-robot-vacuum-sits-motionless-on-the-black-part-of-a-patterned-carpet.jpg?id=53638961&width=980"/> Black carpet, terror of robots everywhere.Evan Ackerman/IEEE SpectrumPart of my frustration here is that I feel like I should be able to tell the robot “it’s a black carpet in that spot, you’re fine,” rather than taking such drastic measures as taping over all of the cliff sensors with tin foil, which I’ve had to do on occasion. And let me tell you how overjoyed I was to discover that the S10’s map editor has that exact option. You can also segment rooms by hand, and even position furniture to give the robot a clue on what kind of obstacles to expect. What’s missing is some way of asking the robot to explore a particular area over again, which would have made the initial process a lot easier.Would a smarter robot be able to figure out all of this stuff on its own? Sure. But robots are dumb, and being able to manually add carpets and furniture and whatnot is an incredibly useful feature, I just wish I could do that during the mapping run somehow instead of having to spend a couple of hours getting that first map to work. Oh well.<h3>How the SwitchBot S10 Cleans</h3>When you ask the S10 to vacuum and mop, it leaves its charging dock and goes to the water dock. Once it docks there, it will extract any dirty water, clean its roller mop, extract the dirty water, wash its filter, and then finally refill itself with clean water before heading off to start mopping. It may do this several times over the course of a cleaning run, depending on how much water you ask it to use, but it’s quite good at managing all of this by itself. If you would like your floor to be extra clean, you can have the robot make two passes over the same area, which it does in a crosshatch pattern. And the app helpfully clues you in to everything that the robot is doing, including real-time position. <img alt="A simplified overhead map of a house showing the path of a robot vacuum across the floor." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e75338f150b9a3f0e88f55de48db070e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="67891" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-simplified-overhead-map-of-a-house-showing-the-path-of-a-robot-vacuum-across-the-floor.png?id=53638947&width=980"/> The app does and excellent job of showing where the robot has cleaned. You can also add furniture and floor types to help the robot clean better.Evan Ackerman/IEEE SpectrumI’m pleasantly surprised by my experience with the S10 and the water dock. It was relatively easy to install and works exactly as it should. This is getting very close to the dream for robot vacuums, right? I will never have to worry about clean water tanks or dirty water tanks. The robot can mop every day if I want it to, and I don’t ever have to think about it, short of emptying the charging dock’s dustbin every few months and occasionally doing some <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ueD8hJcEg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">basic robot maintenance</a>. <h3>SwitchBot’s Future</h3>Being able to access water on-demand for mopping is pretty great, but the S10’s water dock is about more than that. SwitchBot already has plans for a humidifier and dehumidifier, which can be filled and emptied with the S10 acting as a water shuttle. And the dehumidifier can even pull water out of the air and then the S10 can use that water to mop, which is pretty cool. I can think of two other applications for a water shuttle that are immediately obvious: pets, and plants. <img alt="Two illustrations showing the SwitchBot vacuum removing water from a dehumidifier and adding water to a humidifier." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="902c20d28115aa50b98317cdc1c92576" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="fda43" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/two-illustrations-showing-the-switchbot-vacuum-removing-water-from-a-dehumidifier-and-adding-water-to-a-humidifier.png?id=53629650&width=980"/> SwitchBot is already planning for more ways of using the S10’s water transporting capability.SwitchBotWhat about a water bowl for your pets that you can put anywhere in your house, and it’s always full of fresh water, thanks to a robot that not only tops the water off, but changes it completely? Or a little plant-sized dock that lives on the floor with a tube up to the pot of your leafy friend for some botanical thirst quenching? Heck, I have an entire fleet of robotic gardens that would love to be tended by a mobile water delivery system.SwitchBot is not the only company to offer plumbing integration for home robots. <a href="https://us.narwal.com/pages/automatically-water-exchange-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Narwal</a> and <a href="https://us.roborock.com/products/roborock-s8-maxv-ultra-with-refill-drainage-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roborock</a> also have options for plumbing add-on kits to their existing docks, although they seem to be designed more for European or Asian homes where home plumbing tends to be designed a bit differently. And besides the added complication of systems like these, you’ll pay a premium for them: the <a href="https://us.switch-bot.com/products/switchbot-floor-cleaning-robot-s10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SwitchBot S10 can cost as much as $1200</a>, although it’s frequently on sale for less. As with all new features for floor care robots, though, you can expect the price to drop precipitously over the next several years as new features become standard, and I hope plumbing integration gets there soon, because I’m sold.

Oct 4, 2024

Video Friday: Quadruped Ladder Climbing

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-animated-gif-showing-a-red-quadrupedal-robot-climbing-quickly-up-a-wooden-ladder-onto-a-pile-of-pallets.gif?id=53720454&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=100%2C0%2C100%2C0"/> Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Robotics%20event%20suggestion%20for%20Video%20Friday">send us your events</a> for inclusion. <h5><a href="https://iros2024-abudhabi.org/">IROS 2024</a>: 14–18 October 2024, ABU DHABI, UAE</h5><h5><a href="https://icsr2024.dk/">ICSR 2024</a>: 23–26 October 2024, ODENSE, DENMARK</h5><h5><a href="https://cybathlon.ethz.ch/en/events/edition/cybathlon-2024">Cybathlon 2024</a>: 25–27 October 2024, ZURICH</h5><h5><a href="https://2024.ieee-humanoids.org/">Humanoids 2024</a>: 22–24 November 2024, NANCY, FRANCE</h5>Enjoy today’s videos!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><div style="page-break-after: always"> </div>Not even ladders can keep you safe from quadruped robots anymore.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_N2mmcxINmo?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://rsl.ethz.ch/">ETH Zürich Robot Systems Lab</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="on3y_ikmgza">Introducing Azi (right), the new desktop robot from Engineered Arts Ltd. Azi and Ameca are having a little chat, demonstrating their wide range of expressive capabilities. Engineered Arts desktop robots feature 32 actuators, 27 for facial control alone, and 5 for the neck. They include AI conversational ability including GPT-4o support which makes them great robotic companions.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oN3Y_iKmgZA?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://engineeredarts.co.uk/">Engineered Arts</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="xxj4ek3y4zq">Quadruped robots that individual researchers can build by themselves are crucial for expanding the scope of research due to their high scalability and customizability. In this study, we develop a metal quadruped robot MEVIUS, that can be constructed and assembled using only materials ordered through e-commerce. We have considered the minimum set of components required for a quadruped robot, employing metal machining, sheet metal welding, and off-the-shelf components only.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXJ4EK3Y4zQ?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://haraduka.github.io/mevius-hardware/">MEVIUS</a> from JSK Robotics Laboratory ]Thanks Kento!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="mv3i3bv8uyq">Avian perching maneuvers are one of the most frequent and agile flight scenarios, where highly optimized flight trajectories, produced by rapid wing and tail morphing that generate high angular rates and accelerations, reduce kinetic energy at impact. Here, we use optimal control methods on an avian-inspired drone with morphing wing and tail to test a recent hypothesis derived from perching maneuver experiments of Harris’ hawks that birds minimize the distance flown at high angles of attack to dissipate kinetic energy before impact.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mv3I3Bv8UyQ?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lis/">EPFL Laboratory of Intelligent Systems</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="_5gzv4q3vxe">The earliest signs of bearing failures are inaudible to you, but not to Spot . Introducing acoustic vibration sensing—Automate ultrasonic inspections of rotating equipment to keep your factory humming.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_5gzV4Q3VXE?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>The only thing I want to know is whether <a data-linked-post="2667621492" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/boston-dynamics-research-spot" target="_blank">Spot</a> is programmed to actually do that cute little tilt when using its acoustic sensors.[ <a href="https://bostondynamics.com/blog/making-every-step-count-with-spot/">Boston Dynamics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="mhmmysgdaom">Hear from Jonathan Hurst, our co-founder and Chief Robot Officer, why legs are ideally suited for Digit’s work.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mHmmySGdaoM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://agilityrobotics.com/">Agility Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>I don’t think “IP67” really does this justice.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eIuM-PWV8r0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.anybotics.com/">ANYbotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="v3msosgbjh8">This paper presents a teleportation system with floating robotic arms that traverse parallel cables to perform long-distance manipulation. The system benefits from the cable-based infrastructure, which is easy to set up and cost-effective with expandable workspace range.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v3msOsGbjH8?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/create/">EPFL</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>It seems to be just renderings for now, but here’s the next version of <a data-linked-post="2662278262" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-fourier-intelligence" target="_blank">Fourier’s humanoid</a>.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B-ebMigAHzQ?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.fftai.com/products-gr2">Fourier</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Happy Oktoberfest from Dino Robotics!<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tssKdYJkFHQ?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.dino-robotics.com/?lang=en">Dino Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="kzeu8lxmzug">This paper introduces a learning-based low-level controller for quadcopters, which adaptively controls quadcopters with significant variations in mass, size, and actuator capabilities. Our approach leverages a combination of imitation learning and reinforcement learning, creating a fast-adapting and general control framework for quadcopters that eliminates the need for precise model estimation or manual tuning.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZEU8lxMZug?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://github.com/muellerlab/xadapt_ctrl">HiPeR Lab</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="g79-1cazcny">Parkour poses a significant challenge for legged robots, requiring navigation through complex environments with agility and precision based on limited sensory inputs. In this work, we introduce a novel method for training end-to-end visual policies, from depth pixels to robot control commands, to achieve agile and safe quadruped locomotion.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G79-1CAZcNY?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://gepetto.github.io/SoloParkour/">SoloParkour</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>

Oct 4, 2024

How We Built Rufus, Amazon’s AI-Powered Shopping Assistant

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-animated-gif-showing-amazon-s-ai-shopping-assistant-rufus-answering-questions-about-board-games-for-kids.gif?id=53717675&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=125%2C0%2C125%2C0"/> “What do I need for cold weather golf?” “What are the differences between trail shoes and running shoes?”“What are the best dinosaur toys for a five year old?”These are some of the open-ended questions customers might ask a helpful sales associate in a brick-and-mortar store. But how can customers get answers to similar questions while shopping online?Amazon’s answer is <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-rufus" target="_blank">Rufus</a>, a shopping assistant powered by generative AI. Rufus helps Amazon customers make more informed shopping decisions by answering a wide range of questions within the Amazon app. Users can get product details, compare options, and receive product recommendations.I lead the team of scientists and engineers that built the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/large-language-models" target="_blank">large language model</a> (LLM) that powers Rufus. To build a helpful conversational shopping assistant, we used innovative techniques across multiple aspects of generative AI. We built a custom LLM specialized for shopping; employed retrieval-augmented generation with a variety of novel evidence sources; leveraged reinforcement learning to improve responses; made advances in high-performance computing to improve inference efficiency and reduce latency; and implemented a new streaming architecture to get shoppers their answers faster.<h2>How Rufus Gets Answers</h2>Most LLMs are first trained on a broad dataset that informs the model’s overall knowledge and capabilities, and then are customized for a particular domain. That wouldn’t work for Rufus, since our aim was to train it on shopping data from the very beginning—the entire Amazon catalog, for starters, as well as customer reviews and information from community Q&A posts. So our scientists built a custom LLM that was trained on these data sources along with public information on the web.But to be prepared to answer the vast span of questions that could possibly be asked, Rufus must be empowered to go beyond its initial training data and bring in fresh information. For example, to answer the question, “Is this pan dishwasher-safe?” the LLM first parses the question, then it figures out which retrieval sources will help it generate the answer.<a target="_blank"></a>Our LLM uses <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/retrieval-augmented-generation/" target="_blank">retrieval-augmented generation</a> (RAG) to pull in information from sources known to be reliable, such as the product catalog, customer reviews, and community Q&A posts; it can also call relevant Amazon Stores APIs. Our RAG system is enormously complex, both because of the variety of data sources used and the differing relevance of each one, depending on the question.Every LLM, and every use of generative AI, is a work in progress. For Rufus to get better over time, it needs to learn which responses are helpful and which can be improved. Customers are the best source of that information. Amazon encourages customers to give Rufus feedback, letting the model know if they liked or disliked the answer, and those responses are used in a reinforcement learning process. Over time, Rufus learns from customer feedback and improves its responses.<h2>Special Chips and Handling Techniques for Rufus</h2>Rufus needs to be able to engage with millions of customers simultaneously without any noticeable delay. This is particularly challenging since generative AI applications are very compute-intensive, especially at Amazon’s scale.To minimize delay in generating responses while also maximizing the number of responses that our system could handle, we turned to Amazon’s specialized AI chips, <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/trainium/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trainium</a> and <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/inferentia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Inferentia</a>, which are integrated with core <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/?nc2=h_lg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon Web Services</a> (AWS). We collaborated with AWS on optimizations that improve model inference efficiency, which were then made available to all AWS customers.But standard methods of processing user requests in batches will cause latency and throughput problems because it’s difficult to predict how many tokens (in this case, units of text) an LLM will generate as it composes each response. Our scientists worked with AWS to enable Rufus to use <a href="https://www.anyscale.com/blog/continuous-batching-llm-inference" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">continuous batching</a>, a novel LLM technique that enables the model to start serving new requests as soon as the first request in the batch finishes, rather than waiting for all requests in a batch to finish. This technique improves the computational efficiency of AI chips and allows shoppers to get their answers quickly.We want Rufus to provide the most relevant and helpful answer to any given question. Sometimes that means a long-form text answer, but sometimes it’s short-form text, or a clickable link to navigate the store. And we had to make sure the presented information follows a logical flow. If we don’t group and format things correctly, we could end up with a confusing response that’s not very helpful to the customer.That’s why Rufus uses an advanced streaming architecture for delivering responses. Customers don’t need to wait for a long answer to be fully generated—instead, they get the first part of the answer while the rest is being generated. Rufus populates the streaming response with the right data (a process called <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6991135/what-does-it-mean-to-hydrate-an-object" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hydration</a>) by making queries to internal systems. In addition to generating the content for the response, it also generates formatting instructions that specify how various answer elements should be displayed.Even though Amazon has been using AI for more than 25 years to improve the customer experience, generative AI represents something new and transformative. We’re proud of Rufus, and the new capabilities it provides to our customers.

Oct 3, 2024

Robert Dennard, DRAM Pioneer, Dies at 91

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-man-smiling-for-the-camera-with-a-tie-blue-shirt-and-black-blazer-on-with-a-whiteboard-in-the-background.jpg?id=53721356&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C101%2C0%2C23"/> Robert Dennard Inventor of Dynamic RAM Fellow, 91; died 23 AprilIn 1967 <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/thanks-for-the-memories" target="_self">Dennard</a> invented what is known as DRAM—a type of random-access semiconductor memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell consisting of a tiny capacitor and transistor. Before his invention, RAM required bulky, power-hungry components that were expensive to produce. His breakthrough paved the way for inexpensive, high-density, and commercially available memory.The computing pioneer received the 2009 <a href="https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/award/ieee-medal-of-honor/" target="_blank">IEEE Medal of Honor</a> for his innovation.Dennard began his career as a staff engineer at <a href="https://www.ibm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IBM</a>’s New York City research lab. He worked on new devices and circuits for logic and memory applications and developed advanced data communication techniques. He was transferred in 1961 to IBM’s newly opened <a href="https://research.ibm.com/labs/watson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watson Research Center</a>, in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., where he worked on field-effect transistors and integrated circuits, using a six-transistor memory cell for each bit of data, the standard at the time. In 1968 Dennard successfully reduced a RAM cell to a small capacitor and a single field-effect transistor—the device that became known as DRAM. He was granted a <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US3387286A/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. patent</a> for his invention in 1968. By the early 1970s, DRAM was standard in virtually all computers. A decade later, the device powered the first PCs—including the IBM 5150—allowing them to perform more complex operations.After DRAM’s success, Dennard turned his attention to transistors. In 1972 he developed principles for scaling metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices, the main building block in low-power and high-performance very-large-scale integration (VLSI) chips. IEEE Fellow <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/special-reports/50-years-of-moores-law/" target="_self">Gordon Moore</a> had predicted that the number of transistors on a chip would double every two years, but Dennard proposed that as transistors got smaller, their power consumption would remain nearly constant. He published his theory, now known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennard_scaling" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dennard scaling</a>, with a set of supporting principles in the 1974 paper “<a href="http://stanford.edu/class/cs114/readings/dennard.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Design of Ion-Implanted MOSFETs With Very Small Physical Dimensions</a>.”Dennard was named an <a href="https://www.ibm.com/ibm/ideasfromibm/us/ibm_fellows/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IBM Fellow</a> in 1979. For the next several decades at the company, he worked on metal-oxide-semiconductor technology, refining RAM and developing low-voltage, high-performance circuits. During his career, he was honored with dozens of awards including the 2019 <a href="https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/award/ieee-robert-n-noyce-medal/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal</a> and the 2001 <a href="https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/award/ieee-edison-medal/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Edison Medal</a>. In 1997 Dennard was inducted into the <a href="https://www.invent.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Inventors Hall of Fame</a>.He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 1954 and 1956 from <a href="https://www.smu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Southern Methodist University</a>, in Dallas. Two years later he earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now part of <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carnegie Mellon</a>).Richard P. SchulzPower systems engineerLife Fellow, 87; died 29 May<a href="https://www.donohuefuneralhome.com/obituaries/richard-schulz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Schulz</a> began his career in 1959 as a power systems engineer at <a href="https://www.ge.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">General Electric</a> in Schenectady, N.Y. He worked there until 1987, when he joined <a href="https://www.aep.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Electric Power</a> in Columbus, Ohio. He retired in 2000 and became a consultant.He specialized in power systems analysis. Schulz, a member of the <a href="https://ieee-pes.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Power & Energy Society</a>, authored or coauthored <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37285469200" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">32 papers</a> on power grid testing reliability that were featured in IEEE publications.He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and mechanical engineering in 1959 from <a href="https://www2.lehigh.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lehigh University</a>, in Bethlehem, Pa., and a master’s degree in 1966 from <a href="https://www.union.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Union College</a>, in Schenectady. C. Gordon BellDeveloper of early PCsFellow, 89; died 17 May<a href="https://ethw.org/C._Gordon_Bell" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bell</a> helped develop early PCs at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Digital Equipment Corp.</a>, a pioneering computer company in Maynard, Mass. He received the 1992 <a href="https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/award/ieee-john-von-neumann-medal/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE John Von Neumann Medal</a> for “innovative contributions to computer architecture and design.”He joined DEC in 1960 and spent his first few years there designing the firm’s minicomputers and time-sharing computers. Time-sharing was a technique that made computing faster and less expensive by allowing multiple users to operate a system concurrently without interfering with each other.Bell left DEC in 1966 to join the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now part of <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carnegie Mellon</a>) as a professor of computer science and electrical engineering. He returned to DEC in 1972 as vice president of R&D and led the development of the company’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAX" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VAX minicomputers</a>. Introduced in 1977, the VAX line featured a 32-bit instruction set architecture and virtual memory. Its user-friendly operating system, known as VMS, enabled file sharing, networking, and other new features. In 1979 Bell and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Olsen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ken Olsen</a>, the company’s CEO, founded the <a href="https://tcm.computerhistory.org/decmuseum.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Digital Computer Museum</a> in Marlborough, Mass. Its collection of artifacts is now part of the <a href="https://computerhistory.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Computer History Museum</a> in Mountain View, Calif.Bell left DEC in 1983 to found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encore_Computer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Encore Computer Co.</a>, a manufacturer in Marlborough. While there, he helped develop one of the first multiple microprocessor computers. Three years later he was appointed the first assistant director of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s <a href="https://new.nsf.gov/cise" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering</a> and served in that role until 1987.After his one-year term with the NSF, Bell moved to California to join <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardent_Inc." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ardent Computer Corp.</a> in Sunnyvale as vice president of engineering. He led the development of the first graphics supercomputer there.In 1995 he became a researcher at <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Microsoft</a>, in Mountain View, where his work focused on telepresence technologies and multimedia. He retired in 2015. Bell authored six books on computing and entrepreneurship. He was a Fellow of the <a href="https://www.acm.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Association for Computing Machinery</a> and a member of the U.S. <a href="http://www.nae.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Academy of Engineering</a>.He received several awards including the 1991 <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-programs-and-awards/national-medal-technology-and-innovation-nmti" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Medal of Technology and Innovation</a> for “his continuing intellectual and industrial achievements in the field of computer design; and for his leading role in establishing cost-effective, powerful computers which serve as a significant tool for engineering, science, and industry.”He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT</a> in 1956 and 1957.Laveen Nanik KanalFounder and president of LNKLife Fellow, 92; died 3 May<a href="https://lnk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kanal</a> was a computer science professor for 26 years at the <a href="https://umd.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Maryland</a>, in College Park.He also founded <a href="https://lnk.com/lnk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LNK</a> in Germantown, Md., and served as its president for 30 years. The R&D technology company specialized in pattern recognition, image processing, and artificial intelligence.Kanal emigrated from India to the United States in 1948 to attend the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Washington</a> in Seattle, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 1951 and 1953.After graduating, Kanal worked for two years as an electronics engineer at <a href="http://www.ge.com/taxonomy/term/1802" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Canada General Electric</a> in Toronto. He left in 1955 to join <a href="https://www.gd.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">General Dynamics</a> in Rochester, N.Y., as manager of its machine intelligence laboratory. After two years, Kanal decided to pursue a Ph.D. at the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Pennsylvania</a>, in Philadelphia. He earned his doctorate in electrical engineering in 1960, then joined <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philco" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philco-Ford Corp.</a>, an electronics company in Willow Grove, Pa., as an engineering manager. He left in 1968 to found LNK. In 1970 he changed career paths and became a professor at the University of Maryland, where he played a key role in establishing and expanding the school’s computer science department. He was director of the university’s Machine Intelligence and Pattern Analysis Laboratory (now the <a href="https://ml.umd.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Center for Machine Learning</a>) from 1974 to 1989. He was named professor emeritus in 1996. Kanal was a Fellow of the <a href="https://aaai.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence</a>, the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>, and the <a href="https://iapr.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">International Association for Pattern Recognition</a>. In 1992 he received the IAPR’s <a href="https://iapr.org/awards/icpr-awards/king-sun-fu-prize/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King-Sun Fu Prize</a> for contributions to the field of pattern recognition.H. Joel TrussellFormer Proceedings of the IEEE editor in chiefFellow, 79; died 9 AprilTrussell was a dedicated IEEE volunteer who served as <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proceedings of the IEEE</a> editor in chief from 2013 to 2018. He also was a former member of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-institute/" target="_self">The Institute</a>’s editorial advisory board.A prominent researcher in the field of signal and image processing, Trussell spent the first 11 years of his career at <a href="https://www.lanl.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a>, in Santa Fe, N.M.He decided to pursue a career in academia and left Los Alamos to teach at <a href="https://www.hw.ac.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Heriot-Watt University</a>, in Edinburgh. In 1980 he became an electrical and computer and engineering professor at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">North Carolina State University</a>, in Raleigh, where he taught for 40 years, retiring in 2020. Trussell’s research interests included estimation theory, color imaging, and signal and image restoration and reconstruction. One of his most significant contributions was introducing new mathematical tools to model and incorporate a priori data—which relies on deductive reasoning to make predictions—to address signal recovery challenges. He also created a robust mathematical framework for the study of color imaging. His research led to partnerships with <a href="https://www.hivelocitymedia.com/companies/ColorSavvy12_3_09.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Color Savvy Systems</a>, a startup that focused on image color measurement and control, as well as <a href="https://www.kodak.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eastman Kodak</a> and <a href="https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hewlett-Packard</a>. During his time at Proceedings of the IEEE, he edited more than 200 papers. He shared the 1986 <a href="https://signalprocessingsociety.org/community-involvement/awards-submit-award-nomination" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing Society Senior Paper Award</a> with <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37703686000" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">M. Reha Civanlar</a> for “<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1164297" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Feasible Solution in Signal Restoration</a>,” and the 1993 <a href="https://signalprocessingsociety.org/community-involvement/image-video-and-multidimensional-signal-processing/awards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Signal Processing Society Paper Award</a> with <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37273806400" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patrick L. Combettes</a> for “<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/134400" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Use of Noise Properties in Set Theoretic Estimation</a>.”Trussell received a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics in 1967 from <a href="https://gatech.edu/node/1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Georgia Tech</a>. He went on to earn a master’s degree in the same subject the next year from <a href="https://www.fsu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Florida State University</a>, in Tallahassee. In 1976 he received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from the <a href="https://www.unm.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of New Mexico</a>, in Albuquerque.James Theodore HardinVice president and chief engineerMember, 89; died 18 January<a href="https://www.kygers.com/obituaries/James-Theodore-Hardin?obId=30461661" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hardin</a> was former vice president and chief engineer at <a href="https://www.iactx.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Innovative Applications Corp</a>. (IAC), in El Paso, Texas. It specialized in processing and recycling laser toner cartridges. In the early 1950s Hardin was an engineer at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Corporation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockheed Corp</a>., an aerospace manufacturer, in Calabasas, Calif., where he contributed to the design of <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/air-force-one/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Air Force One</a>, the airplane used by U.S. presidents. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served on the <a href="https://www.usscoralsea.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USS Coral Sea</a> as a nuclear weapons officer. When his active duty ended in 1963, he remained in the <a href="https://www.navyreserve.navy.mil/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Navy Reserve</a> until he retired in the 1980s as a captain. In his civilian role, he worked as an engineer and manager at <a href="https://www.prestolite.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prestolite Electric</a>, a global manufacturer and supplier of alternators, starters, and electrical equipment, with headquarters in Novi, Mich. He left in the late 1980s to serve as director of engineering at Septor Electronics Corp., which developed manufacturing equipment in El Paso. In 1992 he left Septor to join IAC. Hardin received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering in 1956 and 1963 from <a href="https://www.bradley.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bradley University</a>, in Peoria, Ill.

Oct 2, 2024

NASA Made the Hubble Telescope to Be Remade

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-the-hubble-telescope.png?id=53714913&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=176%2C0%2C176%2C0"/> When NASA decided <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/history/SP-4219/Chapter16.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in the 1970s</a> that the Hubble Space Telescope should be serviceable in space, the engineering challenges must have seemed nearly insurmountable. How could a machine that complex and delicate be repaired by astronauts wearing 130-kilogram suits with thick gloves? In the end, spacewalkers not only fixed the telescope, they regularly remade it. That was possible because engineers designed Hubble to be <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Handprints_on_Hubble/P8q2DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=toroidal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">toroidal</a>, its major systems laid out in wedge-shaped equipment bays that astronauts could open from the outside. A series of maintenance workstations on the telescope’s outer surface ensured astronauts could have ready access to crucial telescope parts. On five space-shuttle <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/overview/hubble-timeline/hubble-servicing-missions-timeline-full-text/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">servicing missions</a> between 1993 and 2009, 16 <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Handprints_on_Hubble/P8q2DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=threefold" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spacewalkers</a> replaced every major component except the telescope’s mirrors and outer skin. They increased its electric supply by 20 percent. And they tripled its ability to concentrate and sense light, job one of any telescope. The now legendary orbital observatory was built to last 15 years in space. But with updates, it has operated for more than 30—a history of invention and re-invention to make any engineering team proud. “Twice the lifetime,” says astronaut Kathryn Sullivan, who flew on Hubble’s 1990 launch mission. “Just try finding something else that has improved with age in space. I dare you.” <div class="rm-embed embed-media"><div class="flourish-embed" data-src="story/2632241?607871"> <script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"> </script> </div></div>

Oct 2, 2024

Partial Automation Doesn't Make Vehicles Safer

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-red-ford-mustang-mach-e-on-display-at-an-auto-show.jpg?id=53713362&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=194%2C0%2C195%2C0"/> Early on the morning of 3 September, a multi-car accident occurred on Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania, raising alarms about the dangers of relying too heavily on <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/self-driving-cars-2662494269" target="_self">advanced driver assistance systems</a> (ADAS). Two men were killed when a <a href="https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrp-3BhDgARIsAEWJ6SxpT-7JPBPPAJBN2ROl3IKETtTc9r4-W5UAQBisKfG9gM0Em1pmmgIaAof6EALw_wcB&searchid=20560560205%7C148779828850%7Ckwd-840199218215&fcid=pse_20560560205_google&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwrp-3BhDgARIsAEWJ6SxpT-7JPBPPAJBN2ROl3IKETtTc9r4-W5UAQBisKfG9gM0Em1pmmgIaAof6EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2519!3!674130895387!b!!g!!ford%20mustang%20mach%20e!20560560205!148779828850&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1" target="_blank">Ford Mustang Mach-E</a> electric vehicle, traveling at 114 kilometers per hour (71 mph), crashed into a car that had pulled over to the highway’s left shoulder. According to <a href="https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/psp.html" target="_blank">Pennsylvania State Police</a>, the driver of the Mustang mistakenly believed that the car’s <a href="https://www.ford.com/technology/bluecruise/" target="_blank">BlueCruise</a> hands-free driving feature and <a href="https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32813983/adaptive-cruise-control/" target="_blank">adaptive cruise control</a> could take full responsibility for driving.The crash is part of a worrying trend involving drivers who overestimate the capabilities of partial automation systems. Ford’s BlueCruise system, while advanced, provides only <a href="https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/levels-of-autonomous-driving-explained#:~:text=Level%202%20driving%20automation%20applies,%2Dthe%2Dair%20software%20update." target="_blank">level 2 vehicle autonomy</a>. This means it can assist with steering, lane-keeping, and speed control on prequalified highways, but the driver must remain alert and ready to take over at any moment.State police and federal investigators discovered that the driver of the Mustang involved in the deadly I-95 incident was both intoxicated and texting at the time of the crash, factors that likely contributed to their failure to regain control of the vehicle when necessary. The driver has been charged with vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and several other offenses.<h2>Are Self-Driving Cars Safer?</h2>This incident is the latest in a series of crashes involving Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with level 2 partial automation. Similar accidents were reported earlier this year in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/11/ford-mustang-mach-e-automated-blue-cruise-system-fatal-texas-crash" target="_blank">Texas</a> and <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/ford-blue-cruise-driving-system-deadly-crashes-philly/3844463/" target="_blank">Philadelphia</a>, all occurring at night on highways and resulting in fatalities. In response, the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> (NHTSA) launched an investigation into the crashes and the role ADAS systems may have played in them.Unfortunately, there isn’t good data on the proportion of fatal crashes involving vehicles equipped with these partial automation systems. —David Kidd, Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyThis is not a niche issue. Consulting and analysis firms including Munich-based <a href="https://www.rolandberger.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roland Berger</a> predict that by 2025, <a href="https://www.rolandberger.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than one-third</a> of new cars rolling off the world’s assembly lines will be equipped with at least level 2 autonomy. According to a Roland Berger survey of auto manufacturers, <a href="https://www.rolandberger.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">only 14 percent</a> of vehicles produced next year will have no ADAS features at all. “Unfortunately, there isn’t good data on the proportion of fatal crashes involving vehicles equipped with these partial automation systems,” says David Kidd, a researcher at the Arlington, Va.–based <a href="https://www.iihs.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</a> (IIHS). The nonprofit agency conducts vehicle safety testing and research, including evaluating vehicle crashworthiness.IIHS evaluates whether ADAS provides a safety benefit by combining information about what vehicles come equipped with with data maintained by the <a href="https://www.iihs.org/about" target="_blank">Highway Loss Data Institute</a> and police crash reports. But that record keeping, says Kidd, doesn’t yield hard data on the proportion of vehicles with systems such as BlueCruise or <a href="https://www.tesla.com/support/autopilot" target="_blank">Tesla’s Autopilot</a> that are involved in fatal crashes. Still, he notes, looking at information about the incidence of crashes involving vehicles that have level 2 driver assistance systems and the rate at which crashes happen with those not so equipped, “there is no significant difference.” Asked about the fact that these three Mach-E crashes happened at night, Kidd points out that it’s not just a coincidence. Nighttime presents a very difficult set of conditions for these systems. “All the vehicles [with partial automation] we tested do an excellent job [of picking up the visual cues they need to avoid collisions] during the day, but after dark, they struggle.”<h2>Automated Systems Make Riskier Drivers</h2>IIHS released a report in July underscoring the danger of misusing ADAS systems. The study found that partial automation features like Ford’s BlueCruise are best understood as convenience features rather than safety technologies. According to IIHS President David Harkey, “Everything we’re seeing tells us that partial automation is a convenience feature like power windows or heated seats rather than a safety technology.“Other technologies,” says Kidd, “like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, which are designed to warn of an imminent crash, are effective at preventing crashes. We look at the partial automation technologies and these collision warning technologies differently because they have very different safety implications.”The July IIHS study also highlighted a phenomenon known as risk compensation, where drivers using automated systems tend to engage in riskier behaviors, such as texting or driving under the influence, believing that the technology will save them from accidents. A similar issue arose with the widespread introduction of anti-lock braking systems in the 1980s, when drivers falsely assumed they could brake later or safely come to a stop from higher speeds, often with disastrous results.<h2>What’s Next for ADAS?</h2>While automakers like Ford say that ADAS is not designed to take the driver out of the loop, incidents like the Pennsylvania and Texas crashes underscore the need for better education and possibly stricter regulations around the use of these technologies. Until full vehicle autonomy is realized, drivers must remain vigilant, even when using advanced assistance features. As partial automation systems become more common, experts warn that robust safeguards are needed to prevent their misuse. The IIHS study concluded that “Designing partial driving automation with robust safeguards to deter misuse will be crucial to minimizing the possibility that the systems will inadvertently increase crash risk.”“There are things auto manufacturers can do to help keep drivers involved with the driving task and make them use the technologies responsibly,” says Kidd. “IIHS has a new ratings program, called Safeguards, that evaluates manufacturers’ implementation of driver monitoring technologies.” To receive a good rating, Kidd says, “Vehicles with partial automation will need to ensure that drivers are looking at the road, that their hands are in a place where they’re ready to take control if the automation technology makes a mistake, and that they’re wearing their seatbelt.” Kidd admits that no technology can determine whether someone’s mind is focused on the road and the driving task. But by monitoring a person’s gaze, head posture, and hand position, sensors can make sure the person’s actions are consistent with someone who is actively engaged in driving. “The whole sense of this program is to make sure that the [level 2 driving automation] technology isn’t portrayed as being more capable than it is. It does support the driver on an ongoing basis, but it certainly does not replace the driver.”The <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" target="_blank">European Commission</a> released a <a href="https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/2023-figures-show-stalling-progress-reducing-road-fatalities-too-many-countries-2024-03-08_en#:~:text=6%20min%20read-,2023%20figures%20show%20stalling%20progress%20in%20reducing%20road%20fatalities%20in,small%201%25%20decrease%20on%202022." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">report</a> in March pointing out that progress toward reducing road fatalities is stalling in too many countries. This sticking point in the number of roadway deaths is an example of a phenomenon known as risk homeostasis, where risk compensation serves to counterbalance the intended effects of a safety advance, rendering the net effect unchanged. Asked what will counteract risk compensation so there will be a significant reduction in the annual worldwide roadway death toll, the IIHS’s Kidd said “We are still in the early stages of understanding whether automating all of the driving task—like what Waymo and Cruise are doing with their <a data-linked-post="2668536834" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/autonomous-vehicles-great-at-straights" target="_blank">level 4 driving systems</a>—is the answer. It looks like they will be safer than human drivers but it’s still too early to tell.”

Oct 1, 2024

Defending Taiwan With Chips and Drones

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-photo-of-a-drone-in-flight-over-a-body-of-water.png?id=53685386&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=117%2C0%2C117%2C0"/> The majority of the world’s advanced logic chips are made in Taiwan, and most of those are made by one company: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). While it seems risky for companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Google to depend so much on one supplier, for Taiwan’s leaders, that’s a feature, not a bug. In fact, this concentration of chip production is the tentpole of the island’s strategy to defend itself from China, which under the Chinese Communist Party’s One China Principle, considers Taiwan a renegade province that will be united with the mainland one way or another.Taiwan’s Silicon Shield strategy rests on two assumptions. The first is that the United States won’t let China take the island and its chip production facilities (which reportedly have <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-21/asml-tsmc-can-disable-chip-machines-if-china-invades-taiwan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">kill switches on the most advanced extreme ultraviolet machines</a> that could render them useless in the event of an attack). The second is that China won’t risk destroying perhaps the most vital part of its own semiconductor supply chain as a consequence of a hostile takeover. The U.S. military seems steadfast in its resolve to keep Taiwan out of Chinese hands. In fact, one general has declared that the United States is prepared to unleash thousands of aerial and maritime drones in the event China invades.“U.S. naval attack drones positioned on the likely routes could disrupt or possibly even halt a Chinese invasion, much as Ukrainian sea drones have denied Russia access to the western Black Sea.”--Bryan Clark“I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities,” <a href="https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Flag-Officer-Biographies/Search/Article/2236378/admiral-samuel-paparo/" target="_blank">Adm. Samuel Paparo</a>, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/10/taiwan-china-hellscape-military-plan/" target="_blank">told Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin</a> in June.There is now, two and half years into the Russia-Ukraine war, plenty of evidence that the kinds of drones Paparo referenced can play key roles in logistics, surveillance, and offensive operations. And U.S. war planners are learning a lot from that conflict that applies to Taiwan’s situation. As <a href="https://www.hudson.org/experts/1303-bryan-clark" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bryan Clark</a>, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, points out <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/sea-drone" target="_blank">in this issue</a>, “U.S. naval attack drones positioned on the likely routes could disrupt or possibly even halt a Chinese invasion, much as Ukrainian sea drones have denied Russia access to the western Black Sea.”There is no way to know when or even if a conflict over Taiwan will commence. So for now, Taiwan is doubling down on its Silicon Shield by launching more renewable generation projects so that its chipmakers can meet customer demands to minimize the carbon footprint of chip production.The island already has 2.4 gigawatts of offshore-wind capacity with another 3 GW planned or under construction, reports IEEE Spectrum contributing editor Peter Fairley, who visited Taiwan earlier this year. In “Powering Taiwan’s Silicon Shield” [p. 22], he notes that the additional capacity will help TSMC meet its goal of having 60 percent of its energy come from renewables by 2030. Fairley also reports on clever power-saving innovations deployed in TSMC’s fabs to reduce the company’s annual electricity consumption by about 175 gigawatt-hours.Between bringing more renewable energy online and making their fabs more efficient, the chipmakers of Taiwan hope to keep their customers happy while the island’s leaders hope to deter its neighbor across the strait—if not with its Silicon Shield, then with the silicon brains of the drone hordes that could fly and float into the breach in the island’s defense.

Feb 9, 2022

Andrew Ng: Unbiggen AI

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/andrew-ng-listens-during-the-power-of-data-sooner-than-you-think-global-technology-conference-in-brooklyn-new-york-on-wednes.jpg?id=29206806&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ng" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Andrew Ng</a> has serious street cred in artificial intelligence. He pioneered the use of graphics processing units (GPUs) to train deep learning models in the late 2000s with his students at <a href="https://stanfordmlgroup.github.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stanford University</a>, cofounded <a href="https://research.google/teams/brain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google Brain</a> in 2011, and then served for three years as chief scientist for <a href="https://ir.baidu.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baidu</a>, where he helped build the Chinese tech giant’s AI group. So when he says he has identified the next big shift in artificial intelligence, people listen. And that’s what he told IEEE Spectrum in an exclusive Q&A.<hr/> Ng’s current efforts are focused on his company <a href="https://landing.ai/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landing AI</a>, which built a platform called LandingLens to help manufacturers improve visual inspection with computer vision. <a name="top"></a>He has also become something of an evangelist for what he calls the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06-AZXmwHjo" target="_blank">data-centric AI movement</a>, which he says can yield “small data” solutions to big issues in AI, including model efficiency, accuracy, and bias. Andrew Ng on... <ul> <li><a href="#big">What’s next for really big models</a></li> <li><a href="#career">The career advice he didn’t listen to</a></li> <li><a href="#defining">Defining the data-centric AI movement</a></li> <li><a href="#synthetic">Synthetic data</a></li> <li><a href="#work">Why Landing AI asks its customers to do the work</a></li> </ul> <a name="big"></a>The great advances in deep learning over the past decade or so have been powered by ever-bigger models crunching ever-bigger amounts of data. Some people argue that that’s an <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/deep-learning-computational-cost" target="_self">unsustainable trajectory</a>. Do you agree that it can’t go on that way? Andrew Ng: This is a big question. We’ve seen foundation models in NLP [natural language processing]. I’m excited about NLP models getting even bigger, and also about the potential of building foundation models in computer vision. I think there’s lots of signal to still be exploited in video: We have not been able to build foundation models yet for video because of compute bandwidth and the cost of processing video, as opposed to tokenized text. So I think that this engine of scaling up deep learning algorithms, which has been running for something like 15 years now, still has steam in it. Having said that, it only applies to certain problems, and there’s a set of other problems that need small data solutions. When you say you want a foundation model for computer vision, what do you mean by that? Ng: This is a term coined by <a href="https://cs.stanford.edu/~pliang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Percy Liang</a> and <a href="https://crfm.stanford.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">some of my friends at Stanford</a> to refer to very large models, trained on very large data sets, that can be tuned for specific applications. For example, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-ais-powerful-text-generating-tool-is-ready-for-business" target="_self">GPT-3</a> is an example of a foundation model [for NLP]. Foundation models offer a lot of promise as a new paradigm in developing machine learning applications, but also challenges in terms of making sure that they’re reasonably fair and free from bias, especially if many of us will be building on top of them. What needs to happen for someone to build a foundation model for video? Ng: I think there is a scalability problem. The compute power needed to process the large volume of images for video is significant, and I think that’s why foundation models have arisen first in NLP. Many researchers are working on this, and I think we’re seeing early signs of such models being developed in computer vision. But I’m confident that if a semiconductor maker gave us 10 times more processor power, we could easily find 10 times more video to build such models for vision. Having said that, a lot of what’s happened over the past decade is that deep learning has happened in consumer-facing companies that have large user bases, sometimes billions of users, and therefore very large data sets. While that paradigm of machine learning has driven a lot of economic value in consumer software, I find that that recipe of scale doesn’t work for other industries. <a href="#top">Back to top</a><a name="career"></a> It’s funny to hear you say that, because your early work was at a consumer-facing company with millions of users. Ng: Over a decade ago, when I proposed starting the <a href="https://research.google/teams/brain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google Brain</a> project to use Google’s compute infrastructure to build very large neural networks, it was a controversial step. One very senior person pulled me aside and warned me that starting Google Brain would be bad for my career. I think he felt that the action couldn’t just be in scaling up, and that I should instead focus on architecture innovation. “In many industries where giant data sets simply don’t exist, I think the focus has to shift from big data to good data. Having 50 thoughtfully engineered examples can be sufficient to explain to the neural network what you want it to learn.” —Andrew Ng, CEO & Founder, Landing AI I remember when my students and I published the first <a href="https://nips.cc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NeurIPS</a> workshop paper advocating using <a href="https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-zone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CUDA</a>, a platform for processing on GPUs, for deep learning—a different senior person in AI sat me down and said, “CUDA is really complicated to program. As a programming paradigm, this seems like too much work.” I did manage to convince him; the other person I did not convince. I expect they’re both convinced now. Ng: I think so, yes. Over the past year as I’ve been speaking to people about the data-centric AI movement, I’ve been getting flashbacks to when I was speaking to people about deep learning and scalability 10 or 15 years ago. In the past year, I’ve been getting the same mix of “there’s nothing new here” and “this seems like the wrong direction.” <a href="#top">Back to top</a><a name="defining"></a> How do you define data-centric AI, and why do you consider it a movement? Ng: Data-centric AI is the discipline of systematically engineering the data needed to successfully build an AI system. For an AI system, you have to implement some algorithm, say a neural network, in code and then train it on your data set. The dominant paradigm over the last decade was to download the data set while you focus on improving the code. Thanks to that paradigm, over the last decade deep learning networks have improved significantly, to the point where for a lot of applications the code—the neural network architecture—is basically a solved problem. So for many practical applications, it’s now more productive to hold the neural network architecture fixed, and instead find ways to improve the data. When I started speaking about this, there were many practitioners who, completely appropriately, raised their hands and said, “Yes, we’ve been doing this for 20 years.” This is the time to take the things that some individuals have been doing intuitively and make it a systematic engineering discipline. The data-centric AI movement is much bigger than one company or group of researchers. My collaborators and I organized a <a href="https://neurips.cc/virtual/2021/workshop/21860" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data-centric AI workshop at NeurIPS</a>, and I was really delighted at the number of authors and presenters that showed up. You often talk about companies or institutions that have only a small amount of data to work with. How can data-centric AI help them? Ng: You hear a lot about vision systems built with millions of images—I once built a face recognition system using 350 million images. Architectures built for hundreds of millions of images don’t work with only 50 images. But it turns out, if you have 50 really good examples, you can build something valuable, like a defect-inspection system. In many industries where giant data sets simply don’t exist, I think the focus has to shift from big data to good data. Having 50 thoughtfully engineered examples can be sufficient to explain to the neural network what you want it to learn. When you talk about training a model with just 50 images, does that really mean you’re taking an existing model that was trained on a very large data set and fine-tuning it? Or do you mean a brand new model that’s designed to learn only from that small data set? Ng: Let me describe what Landing AI does. When doing visual inspection for manufacturers, we often use our own flavor of <a href="https://developers.arcgis.com/python/guide/how-retinanet-works/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RetinaNet</a>. It is a pretrained model. Having said that, the pretraining is a small piece of the puzzle. What’s a bigger piece of the puzzle is providing tools that enable the manufacturer to pick the right set of images [to use for fine-tuning] and label them in a consistent way. There’s a very practical problem we’ve seen spanning vision, NLP, and speech, where even human annotators don’t agree on the appropriate label. For big data applications, the common response has been: If the data is noisy, let’s just get a lot of data and the algorithm will average over it. But if you can develop tools that flag where the data’s inconsistent and give you a very targeted way to improve the consistency of the data, that turns out to be a more efficient way to get a high-performing system. “Collecting more data often helps, but if you try to collect more data for everything, that can be a very expensive activity.” —Andrew Ng For example, if you have 10,000 images where 30 images are of one class, and those 30 images are labeled inconsistently, one of the things we do is build tools to draw your attention to the subset of data that’s inconsistent. So you can very quickly relabel those images to be more consistent, and this leads to improvement in performance. Could this focus on high-quality data help with bias in data sets? If you’re able to curate the data more before training? Ng: Very much so. Many researchers have pointed out that biased data is one factor among many leading to biased systems. There have been many thoughtful efforts to engineer the data. At the NeurIPS workshop, <a href="https://www.cs.princeton.edu/~olgarus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olga Russakovsky</a> gave a really nice talk on this. At the main NeurIPS conference, I also really enjoyed <a href="https://neurips.cc/virtual/2021/invited-talk/22281" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mary Gray’s presentation,</a> which touched on how data-centric AI is one piece of the solution, but not the entire solution. New tools like <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/datasheets-for-datasets/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Datasheets for Datasets</a> also seem like an important piece of the puzzle. One of the powerful tools that data-centric AI gives us is the ability to engineer a subset of the data. Imagine training a machine-learning system and finding that its performance is okay for most of the data set, but its performance is biased for just a subset of the data. If you try to change the whole neural network architecture to improve the performance on just that subset, it’s quite difficult. But if you can engineer a subset of the data you can address the problem in a much more targeted way. When you talk about engineering the data, what do you mean exactly? Ng: In AI, data cleaning is important, but the way the data has been cleaned has often been in very manual ways. In computer vision, someone may visualize images through a <a href="https://jupyter.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jupyter notebook</a> and maybe spot the problem, and maybe fix it. But I’m excited about tools that allow you to have a very large data set, tools that draw your attention quickly and efficiently to the subset of data where, say, the labels are noisy. Or to quickly bring your attention to the one class among 100 classes where it would benefit you to collect more data. Collecting more data often helps, but if you try to collect more data for everything, that can be a very expensive activity. For example, I once figured out that a speech-recognition system was performing poorly when there was car noise in the background. Knowing that allowed me to collect more data with car noise in the background, rather than trying to collect more data for everything, which would have been expensive and slow. <a href="#top">Back to top</a><a name="synthetic"></a> What about using synthetic data, is that often a good solution? Ng: I think synthetic data is an important tool in the tool chest of data-centric AI. At the NeurIPS workshop, <a href="https://tensorlab.cms.caltech.edu/users/anima/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anima Anandkumar</a> gave a great talk that touched on synthetic data. I think there are important uses of synthetic data that go beyond just being a preprocessing step for increasing the data set for a learning algorithm. I’d love to see more tools to let developers use synthetic data generation as part of the closed loop of iterative machine learning development. Do you mean that synthetic data would allow you to try the model on more data sets? Ng: Not really. Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re trying to detect defects in a smartphone casing. There are many different types of defects on smartphones. It could be a scratch, a dent, pit marks, discoloration of the material, other types of blemishes. If you train the model and then find through error analysis that it’s doing well overall but it’s performing poorly on pit marks, then synthetic data generation allows you to address the problem in a more targeted way. You could generate more data just for the pit-mark category. “In the consumer software Internet, we could train a handful of machine-learning models to serve a billion users. In manufacturing, you might have 10,000 manufacturers building 10,000 custom AI models.” —Andrew Ng Synthetic data generation is a very powerful tool, but there are many simpler tools that I will often try first. Such as data augmentation, improving labeling consistency, or just asking a factory to collect more data. <a href="#top">Back to top</a><a name="work"></a> To make these issues more concrete, can you walk me through an example? When a company approaches <a href="https://landing.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landing AI</a> and says it has a problem with visual inspection, how do you onboard them and work toward deployment? Ng: When a customer approaches us we usually have a conversation about their inspection problem and look at a few images to verify that the problem is feasible with computer vision. Assuming it is, we ask them to upload the data to the <a href="https://landing.ai/platform/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LandingLens</a> platform. We often advise them on the methodology of data-centric AI and help them label the data. One of the foci of Landing AI is to empower manufacturing companies to do the machine learning work themselves. A lot of our work is making sure the software is fast and easy to use. Through the iterative process of machine learning development, we advise customers on things like how to train models on the platform, when and how to improve the labeling of data so the performance of the model improves. Our training and software supports them all the way through deploying the trained model to an edge device in the factory. How do you deal with changing needs? If products change or lighting conditions change in the factory, can the model keep up? Ng: It varies by manufacturer. There is data drift in many contexts. But there are some manufacturers that have been running the same manufacturing line for 20 years now with few changes, so they don’t expect changes in the next five years. Those stable environments make things easier. For other manufacturers, we provide tools to flag when there’s a significant data-drift issue. I find it really important to empower manufacturing customers to correct data, retrain, and update the model. Because if something changes and it’s 3 a.m. in the United States, I want them to be able to adapt their learning algorithm right away to maintain operations. In the consumer software Internet, we could train a handful of machine-learning models to serve a billion users. In manufacturing, you might have 10,000 manufacturers building 10,000 custom AI models. The challenge is, how do you do that without Landing AI having to hire 10,000 machine learning specialists? So you’re saying that to make it scale, you have to empower customers to do a lot of the training and other work. Ng: Yes, exactly! This is an industry-wide problem in AI, not just in manufacturing. Look at health care. Every hospital has its own slightly different format for electronic health records. How can every hospital train its own custom AI model? Expecting every hospital’s IT personnel to invent new neural-network architectures is unrealistic. The only way out of this dilemma is to build tools that empower the customers to build their own models by giving them tools to engineer the data and express their domain knowledge. That’s what Landing AI is executing in computer vision, and the field of AI needs other teams to execute this in other domains. Is there anything else you think it’s important for people to understand about the work you’re doing or the data-centric AI movement? Ng: In the last decade, the biggest shift in AI was a shift to deep learning. I think it’s quite possible that in this decade the biggest shift will be to data-centric AI. With the maturity of today’s neural network architectures, I think for a lot of the practical applications the bottleneck will be whether we can efficiently get the data we need to develop systems that work well. The data-centric AI movement has tremendous energy and momentum across the whole community. I hope more researchers and developers will jump in and work on it. <a href="#top">Back to top</a> This article appears in the April 2022 print issue as “Andrew Ng, AI Minimalist.”

Feb 8, 2022

How AI Will Change Chip Design

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/layered-rendering-of-colorful-semiconductor-wafers-with-a-bright-white-light-sitting-on-one.jpg?id=29285079&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=166%2C0%2C167%2C0"/> The end of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/on-beyond-moores-law-4-new-laws-of-computing" target="_self">Moore’s Law</a> is looming. Engineers and designers can do only so much to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibm-introduces-the-worlds-first-2nm-node-chip" target="_self">miniaturize transistors</a> and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/cerebras-giant-ai-chip-now-has-a-trillions-more-transistors" target="_self">pack as many of them as possible into chips</a>. So they’re turning to other approaches to chip design, incorporating technologies like AI into the process.Samsung, for instance, is <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/processing-in-dram-accelerates-ai" target="_self">adding AI to its memory chips</a> to enable processing in memory, thereby saving energy and speeding up machine learning. Speaking of speed, Google’s TPU V4 AI chip has <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/heres-how-googles-tpu-v4-ai-chip-stacked-up-in-training-tests" target="_self">doubled its processing power</a> compared with that of its previous version.But AI holds still more promise and potential for the semiconductor industry. To better understand how AI is set to revolutionize chip design, we spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-gorr-phd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Heather Gorr</a>, senior product manager for <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MathWorks</a>’ MATLAB platform.How is AI currently being used to design the next generation of chips?Heather Gorr: AI is such an important technology because it’s involved in most parts of the cycle, including the design and manufacturing process. There’s a lot of important applications here, even in the general process engineering where we want to optimize things. I think defect detection is a big one at all phases of the process, especially in manufacturing. But even thinking ahead in the design process, [AI now plays a significant role] when you’re designing the light and the sensors and all the different components. There’s a lot of anomaly detection and fault mitigation that you really want to consider. <img alt="Portrait of a woman with blonde-red hair smiling at the camera" class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="1f18a02ccaf51f5c766af2ebc4af18e1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2dc00" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/portrait-of-a-woman-with-blonde-red-hair-smiling-at-the-camera.jpg?id=29288554&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> Heather GorrMathWorksThen, thinking about the logistical modeling that you see in any industry, there is always planned downtime that you want to mitigate; but you also end up having unplanned downtime. So, looking back at that historical data of when you’ve had those moments where maybe it took a bit longer than expected to manufacture something, you can take a look at all of that data and use AI to try to identify the proximate cause or to see something that might jump out even in the processing and design phases. We think of AI oftentimes as a predictive tool, or as a robot doing something, but a lot of times you get a lot of insight from the data through AI.What are the benefits of using AI for chip design?Gorr: Historically, we’ve seen a lot of physics-based modeling, which is a very intensive process. We want to do a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_order_reduction" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduced order model</a>, where instead of solving such a computationally expensive and extensive model, we can do something a little cheaper. You could create a surrogate model, so to speak, of that physics-based model, use the data, and then do your <a href="https://institutefordiseasemodeling.github.io/idmtools/parameter-sweeps.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">parameter sweeps</a>, your optimizations, your <a href="https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/monte-carlo-simulation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Monte Carlo simulations</a> using the surrogate model. That takes a lot less time computationally than solving the physics-based equations directly. So, we’re seeing that benefit in many ways, including the efficiency and economy that are the results of iterating quickly on the experiments and the simulations that will really help in the design.So it’s like having a digital twin in a sense?Gorr: Exactly. That’s pretty much what people are doing, where you have the physical system model and the experimental data. Then, in conjunction, you have this other model that you could tweak and tune and try different parameters and experiments that let sweep through all of those different situations and come up with a better design in the end.So, it’s going to be more efficient and, as you said, cheaper?Gorr: Yeah, definitely. Especially in the experimentation and design phases, where you’re trying different things. That’s obviously going to yield dramatic cost savings if you’re actually manufacturing and producing [the chips]. You want to simulate, test, experiment as much as possible without making something using the actual process engineering.We’ve talked about the benefits. How about the drawbacks?Gorr: The [AI-based experimental models] tend to not be as accurate as physics-based models. Of course, that’s why you do many simulations and parameter sweeps. But that’s also the benefit of having that digital twin, where you can keep that in mind—it’s not going to be as accurate as that precise model that we’ve developed over the years.Both chip design and manufacturing are system intensive; you have to consider every little part. And that can be really challenging. It’s a case where you might have models to predict something and different parts of it, but you still need to bring it all together.One of the other things to think about too is that you need the data to build the models. You have to incorporate data from all sorts of different sensors and different sorts of teams, and so that heightens the challenge.How can engineers use AI to better prepare and extract insights from hardware or sensor data?Gorr: We always think about using AI to predict something or do some robot task, but you can use AI to come up with patterns and pick out things you might not have noticed before on your own. People will use AI when they have high-frequency data coming from many different sensors, and a lot of times it’s useful to explore the frequency domain and things like data synchronization or resampling. Those can be really challenging if you’re not sure where to start.One of the things I would say is, use the tools that are available. There’s a vast community of people working on these things, and you can find lots of examples [of applications and techniques] on <a href="https://github.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GitHub</a> or <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MATLAB Central</a>, where people have shared nice examples, even little apps they’ve created. I think many of us are buried in data and just not sure what to do with it, so definitely take advantage of what’s already out there in the community. You can explore and see what makes sense to you, and bring in that balance of domain knowledge and the insight you get from the tools and AI.What should engineers and designers consider when using AI for chip design?Gorr: Think through what problems you’re trying to solve or what insights you might hope to find, and try to be clear about that. Consider all of the different components, and document and test each of those different parts. Consider all of the people involved, and explain and hand off in a way that is sensible for the whole team.How do you think AI will affect chip designers’ jobs?Gorr: It’s going to free up a lot of human capital for more advanced tasks. We can use AI to reduce waste, to optimize the materials, to optimize the design, but then you still have that human involved whenever it comes to decision-making. I think it’s a great example of people and technology working hand in hand. It’s also an industry where all people involved—even on the manufacturing floor—need to have some level of understanding of what’s happening, so this is a great industry for advancing AI because of how we test things and how we think about them before we put them on the chip.How do you envision the future of AI and chip design?Gorr: It’s very much dependent on that human element—involving people in the process and having that interpretable model. We can do many things with the mathematical minutiae of modeling, but it comes down to how people are using it, how everybody in the process is understanding and applying it. Communication and involvement of people of all skill levels in the process are going to be really important. We’re going to see less of those superprecise predictions and more transparency of information, sharing, and that digital twin—not only using AI but also using our human knowledge and all of the work that many people have done over the years.

Feb 7, 2022

Atomically Thin Materials Significantly Shrink Qubits

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-golden-square-package-holds-a-small-processor-sitting-on-top-is-a-metal-square-with-mit-etched-into-it.jpg?id=29281587&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=166%2C0%2C167%2C0"/> Quantum computing is a devilishly complex technology, with many technical hurdles impacting its development. Of these challenges two critical issues stand out: miniaturization and qubit quality.IBM has adopted the superconducting qubit road map of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibms-envisons-the-road-to-quantum-computing-like-an-apollo-mission" target="_self">reaching a 1,121-qubit processor by 2023</a>, leading to the expectation that 1,000 qubits with today’s qubit form factor is feasible. However, current approaches will require very large chips (50 millimeters on a side, or larger) at the scale of small wafers, or the use of chiplets on multichip modules. While this approach will work, the aim is to attain a better path toward scalability.Now researchers at <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01187-w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT have been able to both reduce the size of the qubits</a> and done so in a way that reduces the interference that occurs between neighboring qubits. The MIT researchers have increased the number of superconducting qubits that can be added onto a device by a factor of 100.“We are addressing both qubit miniaturization and quality,” said <a href="https://equs.mit.edu/william-d-oliver/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">William Oliver</a>, the director for the <a href="https://cqe.mit.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Quantum Engineering</a> at MIT. “Unlike conventional transistor scaling, where only the number really matters, for qubits, large numbers are not sufficient, they must also be high-performance. Sacrificing performance for qubit number is not a useful trade in quantum computing. They must go hand in hand.”The key to this big increase in qubit density and reduction of interference comes down to the use of two-dimensional materials, in particular the 2D insulator hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The MIT researchers demonstrated that a few atomic monolayers of hBN can be stacked to form the insulator in the capacitors of a superconducting qubit.Just like other capacitors, the capacitors in these superconducting circuits take the form of a sandwich in which an insulator material is sandwiched between two metal plates. The big difference for these capacitors is that the superconducting circuits can operate only at extremely low temperatures—less than 0.02 degrees above absolute zero (-273.15 °C). <img alt="Golden dilution refrigerator hanging vertically" class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="694399af8a1c345e51a695ff73909eda" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="6c615" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/golden-dilution-refrigerator-hanging-vertically.jpg?id=29281593&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> Superconducting qubits are measured at temperatures as low as 20 millikelvin in a dilution refrigerator.Nathan Fiske/MITIn that environment, insulating materials that are available for the job, such as PE-CVD silicon oxide or silicon nitride, have quite a few defects that are too lossy for quantum computing applications. To get around these material shortcomings, most superconducting circuits use what are called coplanar capacitors. In these capacitors, the plates are positioned laterally to one another, rather than on top of one another.As a result, the intrinsic silicon substrate below the plates and to a smaller degree the vacuum above the plates serve as the capacitor dielectric. Intrinsic silicon is chemically pure and therefore has few defects, and the large size dilutes the electric field at the plate interfaces, all of which leads to a low-loss capacitor. The lateral size of each plate in this open-face design ends up being quite large (typically 100 by 100 micrometers) in order to achieve the required capacitance.In an effort to move away from the large lateral configuration, the MIT researchers embarked on a search for an insulator that has very few defects and is compatible with superconducting capacitor plates.“We chose to study hBN because it is the most widely used insulator in 2D material research due to its cleanliness and chemical inertness,” said colead author <a href="https://equs.mit.edu/joel-wang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joel Wang</a>, a research scientist in the Engineering Quantum Systems group of the MIT Research Laboratory for Electronics. On either side of the hBN, the MIT researchers used the 2D superconducting material, niobium diselenide. One of the trickiest aspects of fabricating the capacitors was working with the niobium diselenide, which oxidizes in seconds when exposed to air, according to Wang. This necessitates that the assembly of the capacitor occur in a glove box filled with argon gas.While this would seemingly complicate the scaling up of the production of these capacitors, Wang doesn’t regard this as a limiting factor.“What determines the quality factor of the capacitor are the two interfaces between the two materials,” said Wang. “Once the sandwich is made, the two interfaces are “sealed” and we don’t see any noticeable degradation over time when exposed to the atmosphere.”This lack of degradation is because around 90 percent of the electric field is contained within the sandwich structure, so the oxidation of the outer surface of the niobium diselenide does not play a significant role anymore. This ultimately makes the capacitor footprint much smaller, and it accounts for the reduction in cross talk between the neighboring qubits.“The main challenge for scaling up the fabrication will be the wafer-scale growth of hBN and 2D superconductors like [niobium diselenide], and how one can do wafer-scale stacking of these films,” added Wang.Wang believes that this research has shown 2D hBN to be a good insulator candidate for superconducting qubits. He says that the groundwork the MIT team has done will serve as a road map for using other hybrid 2D materials to build superconducting circuits.

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Hackaday

Oct 18, 2024

Building A ZX Spectrum Using Only New Parts

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png 1920w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="728460" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/building-a-zx-spectrum-using-only-new-parts/i-built-a-zx-spectrum-using-all-new-parts-22-10-screenshot/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="I built a ZX Spectrum Using All New Parts 22-10 screenshot" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I-built-a-ZX-Spectrum-Using-All-New-Parts-22-10-screenshot.png?w=800" tabindex="0" role="button" /></div>Ah, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. A popular computer in Britain and beyond, but now rather thin on the ground. If you can’t find one, fear not, for now—you can apparently <a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/building-a-zx-spectrum-using-only-new-parts/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 18, 2024

Redbox Is Dead, But The Machines Are Kind Of Hanging On

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png 1920w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="728457" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/redbox-is-dead-but-the-machines-are-kind-of-hanging-on/redbox-is-dead-but-the-kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Redbox is DEAD… but the Kiosk still works_!_ 2-14 screenshot" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Redbox-is-DEAD…-but-the-Kiosk-still-works__-2-14-screenshot.png?w=800" tabindex="0" role="button" /></div>Redbox was a service for renting DVDs from automated kiosks. The business was going well until it wasn’t anymore, and then the company went bankrupt in July this year. And <a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/redbox-is-dead-but-the-machines-are-kind-of-hanging-on/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 17, 2024

Laser Painting Explained

Oct 17, 2024

Tiny LoRa GPS Node Relies on ESP32

<div><img width="800" height="449" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg 1800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?resize=250,140 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?resize=800,449 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?resize=1536,863 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="728446" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/tiny-lora-gps-node-relies-on-esp32/attachment/7654351729083431013/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg" data-orig-size="1800,1011" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="7654351729083431013" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7654351729083431013-e1729156149916.jpg?w=800" tabindex="0" role="button" /></div>Sometimes you need to create a satellite navigation tracking device that communicates via a low-power mesh network. [Powerfeatherdev] was in just that situation, and they whipped up a particularly compact <a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/tiny-lora-gps-node-relies-on-esp32/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 17, 2024

Access the Information Superhighway With a Mac Plus

Oct 17, 2024

Ubiquitous Successful Bus: Version 2

Oct 17, 2024

The FNIRSI HRM-10 Internal Resistance Meter

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png 1600w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="728233" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/the-fnirsi-hrm-10-internal-resistance-meter/screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png" data-orig-size="1600,900" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Screenshot 2024-10-16 130422-featured" data-image-description="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ0N97Ck-zI " data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-16-130422-featured.png?w=800" tabindex="0" role="button" /></div>Occasionally, we find fun new electronic instruments in the wild and can’t resist sharing them with our readers. The item in question is the FNIRSI HRM-10 Internal resistance meter, which <a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/10/17/the-fnirsi-hrm-10-internal-resistance-meter/" class="read-more">…read more</a>