Day: 09/15/2016

Meet PepperPay, The Robot Photographer Replacing Cashiers

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A new robot, PepperPay, just debuted at the TechCrunch Disrupt SF Hackathon. Waiting in long lines at the store or fighting with the self checkout may soon be a thing of the past.

Robots and most technologies are built to make our lives easier, removing the small inconveniences like long lines or looking for a specific book. It’s all about instant gratification, right? Despite the convenience, the development of this type of technology has spurred the fear that robots are out to take jobs from regular humans.

To that end, this announcement from TechCrunch Disrupt SF Hackathon isn’t necessarily great news for blue-collar workers. A new robot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning just debuted at the competition.

The new PepperPay robot, built on the Pepper companion robot, can identify items based on just a picture or a snapshot of them. This allows customers to breeze through checkout, without the fuss often associated with barcode scanners in self-checkout counters.

After waiting 30 minutes in line to buy toothpaste at Walgreens, the developers Dave Idell, Adam Chew, and Nisha Garigarn were inspired to create PepperPay. They used IBM Watson’s image recognition technology, and handled the transactions through PayPal.

While the current robot is integrated with the Pepper bot, the system could be adapted to a simple iPad. That removes the need to buy an actual robot or specialized hardware. When asked what’s next for PepperPay, the developers has this to say:

“We don’t know too much about the retail game, but we imagine a future where something like this changes how we shop. We invite any and all to take a look at our code on github and see where they can take it!”

World First: Surgeons Restored A Man’s Sight By Operating a Robot Inside His Eye

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Doctors from Oxford have performed an eye operation using remote controlled robots. The use of the Preceyes surgical robot inside the eye opens the door for more precision operations using robots.

ROBOT SURGEON

The field of miniature robotics is revolutionizing the way we do surgeries. What was once done by huge machines or the trembling hands of a surgeon can now be done by the precise movements of robots.

That is exactly what happened to the field of eye surgery with this new development. Doctors from Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital have performed the first ever eye surgery using tiny robots that operated inside the eye.

While robot-assisted surgery is nothing new, these are often confined to large organs. This is because they lack the minute precision required in delicate environments such as the eye. Despite this, it was a robot who was operating on Revd Dr William Beaver, 70, an Associate Priest at St Mary the Virgin, Iffley, Oxford, who had a membrane 100th of a millimeter thick blocking his retina. He is the first patient ever to undergo this experimental procedure.

DELICATE PROCEDURES

The Preceyes surgical robot, developed by a Dutch medical robotics firm, was specifically designed for this sort of procedure. It is able to move precisely and adjust for the trembling of the surgeon’s hands controlling the robot. Preceyes is controlled using a joystick and touch-screen, and is monitored using microscope. In this particular surgery, it was controlled by Robert MacLaren, Professor of Ophthalmology, who was assisted by Dr Thomas Edwards, Nuffield Medical Fellow.

The robot features seven independent computer-controlled motors, which act like a mechanical hand that moves with a precision of 1000th of a millimeter in scale. Large movements of the joystick result in small movements of the robot, and has a “freezing” function that stops the robot when grip is lost on the joystick or when preparing for drug delivery. With the successful operation on Beaver, the field may open up to more robot assisted eye surgeries. But the ultimate goal is performing operations impossible with human operators.

“We can certainly improve on current operations, but I hope the robot will allow us to do new more complex and delicate operations that are impossible with the human hand,” says Prof Robert MacLaren, who led the procedure, to the BBC.

Becoming Human: Intel is Bringing the Power of Sight to Machines

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Intel acquires eight-year old startup Movidius to position itself as the leader in computer vision and depth-sensing technologies. While the details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, Intel and Movidius both stand to gain from this deal.

COMPUTER VISIONARY

No, this is not the beginning of a Terminator-esque world.

But yes, it certainly is a start of major developments in computer vision and machine learning technology. Intel is intent to boost its RealSense platform by acquiring Dublin-based computer vision startup Movidius.

With Intel’s existing framework, coupled with Movidius’ power-efficient system on chip (SoC), the pairing is bound to lead to major developments in consumer and enterprise products.

“As part of Intel, we’ll remain focused on this mission, but with the technology and resources to innovate faster and execute at scale. We will continue to operate with the same eagerness to invent and the same customer-focus attitude that we’re known for,” Movidius CEO Remi El-Ouazzane writes in a statement posted in their site.

TO ADD SIGHT TO MACHINES

With the existing applications of Intel’s RealSense platform, Movidius is even better equipped to realize its dream of giving sight to machines. But Movidius is not the only one that will benefit from this deal.

Movidius-Intel-drone-HZ-855x500
Remi El-Ouazzane and Josh Walden. 

“We see massive potential for Movidius to accelerate our initiatives in new and emerging technologies. The ability to track, navigate, map and recognize both scenes and objects using Movidius’ low power and high performance SoCs opens up opportunities in areas where heat, battery life and form factors are key,’ explains Josh Walden, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s New Technology Group.

Movidius has existing deals with Lenovo, for its Myriad 2 processors, and with Google, to use its neural computation engine to improve machine learning capabilities of mobile devices.

Breakthrough ‘Madala Boson’ Could Unlock the Mysteries of Dark Matter

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The Higgs’ boson helped us understand known matter, but scientists at the High Energy Physics Group (HEP) of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg believe they have the necessary data to discover a new boson, called the Madala boson. Its discovery may help us explore more about what dark matter is and how it interacts with the universe.

DISCOVERING THE MADALA BOSON

Discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has contributed heaps to our understanding of modern physics. But the Higgs boson only explains mass that we can see, touch and smell. Known matter only makes up 4% of the Universe’s mass and energy. Scientists predict the discovery of a new boson which interacts with dark matter, which makes up 27% of our universe.

Using the same data that led to Higgs’ discovery, the bright minds at the High Energy Physics Group (HEP) of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg have come up with the Madala hypothesis, which they believe will help them discover the new Madala boson.

The Madala boson team isn’t lacking in scientific minds, as they have around 35 students and researchers to brainstorm and help understand data from the experiments. They also have the support from Wits University, such as theorists Prof. Alan Cornell and Dr. Mukesh Kumar and Prof. Elias Sideras-Haddad’s assistance in detector instrumentation.

Image credit: Taylor L; McCauley T/CERN
Image credit: Taylor L; McCauley T/CERN

DARK MATTER MATTERS

Man’s understanding of physics keeps on evolving. Professor Bruce Mellado, team leader of the HEP group at Wits says we are now at a point similar to when Einstein formulated relativity and to when quantum mechanics came to light. We found classic physics lacking as it failed to make sense of plenty of phenomena. When the Higgs’ boson was discovered, the Standard Model of Physics was completed, but we have still only scratched the surface. Modern physics still can’t explain other phenomena including dark matter.

The discovery of the new Madala boson puts man in a good position to learn more about our universe. Perhaps there are even more particles to be discovered aside from this new boson. The future of modern physics has never been brighter.

Unlimited Energy: Physicists Assert We Already Have a Viable Model of a Fusion Device

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IN BRIEF

One of the biggest challenges in the fusion energy development is finding the best shape for the device to contain the plasma, but physicists in the United States believe they may have found a new kind of nuclear fusion device that could be the most commercially viable design yet.

HOLY GRAIL

Physicists around the world are on a mad dash to build a nuclear fusion machine that can replicate the Sun’s atom-fusing process and provide everyone with a low-cost, sustainable energy resource—effectively ending our dependence on fossil fuels.

Replicating how the sun and stars create energy through fusion is essentially like putting “a star in a jar,” although there is no “jar” in existence that is not only capable of containing superhot plasma, but also low-cost enough that it can be built around the world—although it’s not for lack of trying.

In fact, physicists are working on a new kind of nuclear fusion device that could be the most commercially viable design yet.

In a new paper published in Nuclear Fusion, physicists working at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) assert that a model for such fusion device “already exists in experimental form – the compact spherical tokamaks at PPPL and Culham, England.”

Test cell of the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade with tokamak in the center. (Photo by Elle Starkman/PPPL Office of Communications)
Test cell of the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade with tokamak in the center.

SPHERICAL TOKAMAKS

Current designs for this so-called “jar” essentially call for doughnut shaped objects that come complete with powerful magnetic fields which suspend the plasma inside it, called tokamaks. It’s incredibly expensive to make and also hard to maintain, which is why physicists continue to develop new designs that will, hopefully, keep the cost down.

So far, there are two advanced spherical tokamaks in various stages of development. The first is the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST), which UK expects to be completed soon; the other is the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) at PPPL, which went online last year.

“We are opening up new options for future plants,” said Jonathan Menard, lead author and program director for the NSTX-U.

But the devices, described in the 43-page paper, still have a long way to go. They must first be able to control the turbulence created after the plasma particles are subjected to electromagnetic fields, and also control how the superhot plasma particles interact with the device’s walls to avoid possible disruptions, which can happen if the plasma becomes too impure.

PPPL Director Stewart Prager said these two reactors, “will push the physics frontier, expand our knowledge of high temperature plasmas, and, if successful, lay the scientific foundation for fusion development paths based on more compact designs.”

Work in the World of Tomorrow: AI to Replace 7% of Jobs by 2025

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A new report asserts that, by 2025, jobs from the customer service, trucking, and taxi industries will be taken over by cognitive technologies. Yet, we will begin to truly feel the impact of this in just 5 years.

SUPPORT FOR THE SUPPORT

A report that was released by Forrester last month predicts that cognitive technologies will take over some 7% of jobs in the United States in less than a decade (by 2025). Notably, the report asserts that the trend will make itself felt five years from now.

“By 2021, a disruptive tidal wave will begin. Solutions powered by AI/cognitive technology will displace jobs, with the biggest impact felt in transportation, logistics, customer service, and consumer services,” says Forrester VP Brian Hopkins. Forrester estimates around 6% of jobs will be eliminated by as early as 2021.

Credits: Engineering & Technology Magazine

The study further details that 16% of US jobs will actually be replaced. Much of the disruption will be in office and administrative support staff. The job loss is, however, cushioned by the creation of new jobs at an average of 9% — a total of 8.9 million new jobs in the US by 2025.  These jobs augment “cubicle work,” like monitoring robot professionals, data scientists, automation specialists, and content curators.

FAST LEARNERS

Machines are learning to do more, and they are learning fast. The predicted surge in so-called intelligent agents in 2021 will be brought about by the increasing capacity of machine and AI-based services to deliver. They already understand human language and behavior remarkably well, and moving forward, it is expected that they will learn even faster from their users and predict a person’s needs to the point where they are basically making decisions for them.

The study also notes that companies like Facebook and Google are working on developing their algorithms by building huge bodies of data. Both are currently creating a baseline set of AI and cognitive services, which other companies can tap by 2021. Facebook’s Messenger already uses more than 33,000 bots.

Alarmingly, 93% of automation technologists think they are only partially prepared to face the challenges of handling smart technologies, Forrester notes. But hopefully, this will free us up for better jobs in the future. Time will tell.

Uber’s Self-Driving Taxis Have Hit The Streets

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IN BRIEF

Today, Uber’s self-driving autonomous cars began picking up passengers in Pittsburgh. In this first stage of testing, the cars still require a person to monitor progress and ensure that there are no issues.

As part of their bid to build an empire that consists of cars that drive themselves (yes, cars that drive sans driver), Uber just launched partially self-driving taxis. They started rolling along the streets of Pittsburgh today.

But don’t get too excited about taking one for a spin yourself, an engineer will be in the driver’s seat to get things started and make corrections if the car makes a mistake. And notably, the “partially autonomous” part is of importance, as  drivers are always supposed to keep their hands loosely on the steering wheel so they can takeover when needed. To clarify, the car is the one doing the driving, but humans are needed for oversight.

A touch-screen is located in the backseat in order to give passengers all of the trip details, and a “liquid-cooled” computer will also be on-board, recording trip and map data in the trunk.

Uber self-driving test. Credit: Uber
Uber self-driving test. 

Hoping to hire the taxi yourself? That may be difficult, as individuals will be randomly assigned a self-driving car when they request an UberX ride on their app. But! Passengers who take a ride in the experimental self-driving cars will get their trip for free.

Notably, Uber plans to install self-driving kits into existing vehicles rather than build fully autonomous cars from the ground up. To that end, last month Uber acquired Otto, a company that works on retrofitting heavy-duty freight haulers on the highway in order to turn them into self-driving trucks.

Otto’s LIDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor technology detects infrared emissions to help monitor speed, and is geared to be adapted for use in Uber’s autonomous vehicles.

The future, my friends, truly is now.

Why Coffee Might Be The Secret To Your Best Workout Ever

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Former Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin says she always has coffee before she works out. Here’s what a pre-sweat cuppa can do, and how to get the most out of it.

Nastia Liukin shot to fame in 2008 when she became the Olympic individual all-around champion in gymnastics. She’s now retired from the sport, and the 26-year-old says in a new interview that it took her a while to find a new fitness groove.

Now, she tells New York magazine, she wakes up around 5 a.m. to squeeze in a workout—Pilates, running, spinning, or hot yoga. “I like to eat something very small beforehand, whether it’s a banana or a piece of fruit, and I have coffee,” she says. “It was the same when I was in gymnastics.”

Eating a little something makes sense, but is swigging a cup of coffee before your work out really a good idea? Surprisingly…yes.

“It’s a great idea—it’s very helpful,” Albert Matheny, M.S., R.D., a certified strength and conditioning specialist at SoHo Strength Lab and Promix Nutrition, tells SELF. The caffeine in coffee is a central nervous stimulant, which makes it good for athletic performance with aerobic sports like running and cycling, he says.

Matheny points to research that’s found coffee can improve sprint performance, as well as cycling and running time trial performance. It also can improve your endurance because it delays the onset of muscle fatigue and central nervous system fatigue.

One study published in the British Journal of Sports Science also found that people who drank coffee before running 1,500 meters on a treadmill finished their run 4.2 seconds faster than those who didn’t have coffee beforehand. Basically, having a cup of Joe before you work up a sweat can get you revved up and stay that way, giving your workout an added boost.

A little pre-workout coffee can also help you burn more calories since it increases your heart rate, but Matheny says it’s only a very tiny amount. Plus, it may make your workout more enjoyable.

How much are we talking about here? Matheny says an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee, which typically has anywhere from 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine, pre-workout is fine, but he recommends having no more than 200 milligrams. “Anything above that is too much—you’ve lost the performance benefits of the coffee and you’ve overstimulated yourself,” he says.

Just be wary of trying this in the evening. Performance nutritionist Samuel Accardi, R.D., lead dietitian for The Charge Group, tells SELF that the half-life of caffeine is five to six hours, meaning it takes five to six hours for half of the caffeine content to leave your body. If you have a 10 ounce cup of coffee at 5 p.m., by 10 p.m., it would be the same as if you drank five ounces of coffee.

New York City registered dietitian Jessica Cording agrees that you should keep your caffeine portions small and early. “I would keep it to a small amount to avoid getting jittery,” she tells SELF. And, if you’re more sensitive to caffeine but still want a little boost, she recommends trying matcha tea. “To give the caffeine a little time to get into your system, aim to have it 30 minutes to an hour beforehand,” she says.

That’s one easy workout tweak we can get behind.

12 Things Every Coffee Lover Needs ASAP

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For some people, coffee is kind of a way of life. And that’s not a bad thing: A cuppa joe can enhance a workout and keep you, uh, “regular.” And true coffee lovers know this: It’s not *just* about the java. I mean, who is Lorelei Gilmore without her kitchen coffee maker? Accessories and gadgets to further enhance the coffee drinking experience are key. I’m talking cute little stirring spoons, adorable creamer cups—the works. And anything that can make the time between wanting coffee and drinking coffee shorter is a gift from the java gods. Here, 12 things you’re going to want to order ASAP if you’re a coffee fanatic.

1. Make a fancy AF café au lait at home with the help of this milk frother.

aerolatte

Aerolatte Original Electric Hand Held Milk Frother, $18, amazon.com

Just pour warm milk into your mug, froth, then top it off with hot coffee. Get it here.

2. Thanks to this dispenser, you’ll never dig through a bag of coffee grounds again.

coffeedispener

Zevro Indispensable 1/2-Pound-Capacity Coffee Dispenser, $26, amazon.com

It releases one tablespoon of grounds with the push of a button, and it keeps your precious java fresh. Get it here.

3. This engraved spoon will make stirring your creamer into your coffee a *witty* experience.

coffeespoon

Engraved Coffee Spoon, $16, etsy.com

Because it’s always nice to start your day with coffee and a smile. Get it here.

4. Or skip a spoon altogether with this self-stirring mug.

selfstirmug

Self Stirring Mug, $19, thinkgeek.com

A battery-operated disk at the bottom of this mug gives you the perfect blend of coffee and creamer every time. Get it here.

5. An *udderly* adorable pitcher to hold your creamer is a must.

udderscreamerholder

nicee Glass Cup/Creamer Pitcher, $8, amazon.com

Just to remind everyone where your milk or creamer came from. Get it here.

6. This mug has your priorities in order.

coffeemugmain

Coffee First Mug, $15, society6.com

Friends don’t let friends complete any task before coffee. Get it here.

7. A collapsible travel mug makes for an eco-friendly way to get your caffeine fix.

stojocup

The Collapsible Pocket Cup, $15, stojo.co

This cup collapses from a 12 oz. five-inch tall cup to a leak-proof disk that’s smaller than two inches. Get it here.

8. A reusable filter cup lets you turn any type of coffee grounds into a single-cup Keurig brew.

keurigreuse

Solofill Single Cup Reusable Coffee Filter, $10, target.com

Just fill it with a scoop of grounds, place it in your Keurig, and watch the sweet, java magic happen. It’s eco-friendly, too! Get it here.

9. This tray brilliantly lets you make ice cubes out of coffee so your iced coffee doesn’t get watered down.

icedcoffeetray

Cool Beans Ice Cube Tray, $9, fredandfriends.com

The ice cubes are in the shape of coffee beans, for extra cute points. Get it here.

10. A one-minute coffee and espresso maker will get you your java fix fast.

aeropress

Aeropress Coffee And Espresso Maker, $30, amazon.com

Make one to four cups of smooth coffee in just one minute with the Aeropress. Get it here.

11. A pretty, perky travel mug will brighten your morning sip.

travelmugs

Sweet Salutation Travel Mug, $20 each, anthropologie.com

And it’s made of ceramic, too. Get it here.

12. This gadget will stop you from spilling a precious drop of coffee while you carry it.

coffeespill

The Incredible Spill Not, $15, amazon.com

Just place your mug on the coaster and carry it from the handle. Physics will keep it from spilling no matter how much you move. Get it here.

Now go get yourself a cup of the sweet, heavenly stuff!

High Angle View Of Coffee Cup On Wooden Table

What Drinking Coffee Actually Does To Your Body

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Its effects may appear to be magical, but there’s a lot happening under the surface when you’re enjoying your morning mug.

Whether you just like the taste of coffee, drink it out of habit, or truly rely on it for energy, it’s no secret the drink has magical powers. But have you ever thought about what it’s actually doing after you gulp down your morning mug?

Coffee comes from a bean, so it contains phytonutrients and polyphenols, chemical compounds found in plants that are believed to have antioxidant benefits, Dana Hunnes, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., senior dietician at UCLA Medical Center and adjunct assistant professor at the Fielding School of Public Health, tells SELF. “But for the most part, caffeine tends to be the nutrient in coffee that people are most aware of and that’s the best studied.”

From your brain to your bowels, coffee does work on your body. Here’s what’s really happening when you drink it.

The caffeine enters your bloodstream and quickly finds its way to your brain, where it works as a stimulant and boosts alertness and energy.

“The chemical enters your bloodstream fairly quickly,” Hunnes says. It can take as few as 10 minutes from drinking for caffeine to start working. Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a nervous system depressant, meaning its presence suppresses arousal and promotes sleep. When caffeine intrudes and binds to the receptors, adenosine’s effects are lessened, and we become stimulated. This increased brain activity then stimulates the release of adrenaline, which is what gives us that big burst of energy and attentiveness associated with a morning cup of Joe. Studiesalso have connected caffeine consumption to a boost in memory.

The downside is that drinking too much can cause insomnia.

“If you have caffeine later in the day, it can actually predispose you to develop insomnia or make it worse if you already have it,” Rachel Salas, M.D., an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine who specializes in sleep medicine, tells SELF. It can keep anyone up if they drink it too close to bedtime, but if you’re prone to develop insomnia, a coffee habit can be the trigger that causes a chronic problem. Salas suggests stopping coffee (and all other caffeine) consumption at noon if you think it may be impacting your ability to fall asleep at night. If you can’t function before your morning cup, it’s a red flag you need to take a look at your sleep habits. Coffee is a helpful crutch when you’re tired, but it’s not going to actually give you more energy in the long term. Only good sleep can do that.

That’s partially because caffeine stays in your system for hours and hours.

“The way we metabolize coffee is called a half-life,” Hunnes says. In most people, caffeine’s half-life is 4 to 6 hours. “It takes about 6 hours to reduce the amount of caffeine in our blood by about 50 percent,” she explains. So if you drink a 200 mg cup at 9 AM, by 3 PM you’ll have 100 mg left, and by 9 PM you’ll have 50 mg. Keep in mind, that’s the average half-life—how quickly you metabolize caffeine really depends on your individual body chemistry and genetics.

Caffeine also impacts our pleasure centers, which improves our mood…and keeps us hooked.

“It can help you be more alert and reactive, but it can also help pep you up and impact your mood,” Salas says. Like most drugs, caffeine in coffee increases the levels of feel-good chemical dopamine in our brains. (Other stimulants like cocaine have the same effect, but just much stronger.) This can improve our moods and increase happiness. But for daily drinkers, this can create dependence, resulting in withdrawal symptoms when you go without—it’s why habitual users tend to wake up grumpy and get headaches if they don’t get their fix.

Too much caffeine can have a negative impact on mood and mental health.

High doses can mess with your brain chemistry too much, and cause jitteriness and nervousness. Studies have shown that high doses of caffeine can increase anxiety and panic attacks. Those who already struggle with these mental health challenges tend to be more sensitive to caffeine and its mood-altering effects.

Drinking large amounts of coffee can cause a spike in blood pressure and heart rate.

Studies have suggested that coffee increases heart rate, thanks to caffeine’s impact on hormones and neurotransmitters. But drinking coffee in moderation—one to three cups per day–shouldn’t have a noticeable impact on a healthy adult. According to the Mayo Clinic, some habitual drinkers may have a slightly higher blood pressure, while others develop a tolerance and are not affected in the long term. There isn’t a clear explanation as to why caffeine causes this increase in blood pressure, but it’s likely due to increased adrenaline and other hormonal responses brought on by the stimulant.

Coffee stimulates bowel movements, and may even reduce the risk of gallstones.

Ever notice you really have to hit the bathroom after a cup of coffee? Experts believe caffeine directly stimulates the colonic muscles, prompting bowel movements. Plus, if you’re drinking it hot, the warm liquid itself can help relax the colon and prompt muscle contractions, adding to the laxative effect. When the muscles in the gallbladder specifically are stimulated, it increases emptying, which can reduce the risk of gallstones.

It’s a myth that coffee is dehydrating.

“It’s a very mild diuretic,” Hunnes says. “But it’s not really much of a dehydrator.” She says that if you were to drink a huge amount in one day, say 8 cups (which is not recommended), and have no other fluids all day, you might experience slight dehydration. But coffee contains a lot of water, and it counts toward your daily fluid intake just like a plain glass of H2O would.

Coffee may suppress appetite and boost calorie burn, but it’s not a magic weight-loss bullet (sorry).

Coffee is a known appetite suppressant and may stimulate thermogenesis, or the process our bodies use to create heat, which theoretically leads us to burn more calories. But there’s not much evidence that these effects are large enough to result in significant or long-term weight loss, the Mayo Clinic says. Black coffee is a good low-cal way to get your fix, but choking it down for its supposed weight-loss benefits probably won’t bring any noticeable changes.