Scientists develop pair of algorithms that could enable thermal cameras to pick out drunk people. US soldiers to wear blast sensors in Afghanistan, collect shock data. BMW Developing Handwriting Recognition, Gesture Controls. Illustration: Simon Lutrin/Wired Audi may have been the first automaker to integrate a touch pad into its infotainment systems, allowing users to simply draw letters rather than tediously scroll through an alphanumeric list to input an address or point-of-interest search.
But BMW refuses to be left behind, and in addition to a new iDrive controller with integrated touch pad, the automaker is working on new gesture-based controls that are unlike anything we’ve seen in a production vehicle. The next-generation BMW X5 sport utility vehicle prototype has been caught testing in the wild, and aside from a tweaked exterior and upgraded powertrains, BMW is also working on a capacitive touch pad embedded in the iDrive rotary controller. This is a similar tact to what Audi is taking, moving the standalone touchpad on the center console -– originally seen in the A8 and later, the A7 -– and mounting it inside its own MMI knob on the all-new A3. Smart shirt recognizes your exercise movements, vibrates to correct body form. There are a huge variety of exercise classes you can take to prepare your body for a summer’s reveal, but for those who prefer to train in privacy of their own homes, a new technology could help you track performance by just putting on a shirt.
Developed by ElectricFoxy, the Move is a technology garment that contain four stretch sensors to recognize your body movements during sports and exercise activities. The sensors read your posture and muscle movements from the shoulders and down your back to correct your body form. If the user does something incorrectly, a haptic feedback vibration alerts them to fix the issue. This is especially helpful for exercises that require precise poses such as yoga and pilates. ElectricFoxy also notes that Move could also be useful for physical therapy, dance, and even sports like golf and baseball to improve swing stances. Watch the promotional video for the Move smart garment below. The Shoe of Tomorrow Knows How Hard You Hustle. Innovation in athletic shoes historically has focused on improving materials and manufacturing to make lighter, stronger sneakers.
Now the focus is on making shoes smarter. The next generation of athletic shoes will feature radio frequency identification tags, motion sensors and accelerometers that will allow you to customize the look, fit and responsiveness of your kicks. The shoes of tomorrow also will transmit data to the cloud, allowing you to fine-tune your workout and brag about your accomplishments on Facebook or Twitter. The Adidas and Nikes of the world have been experimenting with this for almost 30 years. But advancements in radio frequency identification tags coupled with ever-cheaper microchips allow them to integrate technology and training more holistically. “The brands that are thriving today are the ones that make it much more than a transaction,” Jeff Lyman, a designer at Nike, said during a panel discussion last month at South By Southwest. Video: Nike. TinyDB: A Declarative Database for Sensor Networks.
Police Investigate High School Coach's Handling of Player Concussions.