Tech Tuesday: "Forget fingerprints: New security technology tracks body odor"

Article:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/7/forget-fingerprints-new-security-technology-tracks/

Scientists in Spain say that they have been successful in creating an "electronic bloodhound" that can sniff out the identifying qualities of each human being. They say that their system is very accurate and simple. Furthermore, the scientists claim that their odor tracking system could easily replace fingerprinting and iris scanning.

Since each person's body odor has recognizable patterns that remain steady, the the rate of accuracy is higher than 85 percent. Due to the fact that it proves less intrusive than other security searches, this new security system could eventually be used in airport security lines or at border control checkpoints. All the technology does is "sniff" the travelers as they walk by.

In most airports or border checkpoints, our identity verification depends on our resemblance to our ID card or passport photo. However, with the new sensors that capture body odor, security searches can be less aggressive. In addition, the process of verifying someone's identity can be less time consuming and more efficient.

Tech Tuesday: "Powerful artificial muscles made from ... fishing line?"

Article: http://www.gizmag.com/fishing-line-thread-artificial-muscles/30960/

A research project led by the University of Texas discovered that artificial muscles can be made from fishing line.  To make the muscles, the team attached one end of a fishing line to the tip of a power drill. The other end that is hanging below it was held in place by a heavy weight.  

Once the drill was powered up, the line began twisting along its length. When it could no longer twist, the line bunched up into a series of coils. The scientists then heated those coils with a hair dryer to permanently set them. 

If heat is subsequently added to the coiled fishing line, it coils even tighter thus contracting like a muscle. According to a published paper on the research, "it can lift loads over 100 times heavier than can human muscle of the same length and weight, and generate 5.3 kilowatts of mechanical work per kilogram [2.2 lb] of muscle weight, similar to that produced by a jet engine." Furthermore, the research project proved how a number of those artificial muscles can be weaved together for extra power. 

Advertisement

David Keane & Aixa Cortes
Digital Media
Advertisement 

Aixa: I translated the words in the ad to Spanish and chose the font (Pacifico) and added a stroke effect. This made the text stand out from the background image. Lastly, I resized and placed the logo onto the ad.

David: I found a picture of Spanish fisherman to coincide with the idea of appealing to a bilingual audience. I then added and strategically placed the stuffed animals to seem like they were really there. Drop shadow was added for realism.

David: I found a vintage looking picture of a child fishing, and added a stuffed animal friend to drive home the point of the ad. I then found a real company that makes drawings stuffed animals and used their image. I made it glow.

Aixa: I wrote the words that explain the special offer our companies was offering.  I chose the Pacifica font and added a stroke effect to it as well. Furthermore, I resized the logo and placed it onto the ad.

Tier 2

Result of Photoshop Tutorial

Link of tutorial: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/text-effects-tutorials/crisp-metallic-text-effect/

Tier 3

What does the design of the logo say to its viewers?

The Animal Planet logo uses the color green to imply health and growth. The different shades of green as well as the different sizes are used to represent the variety of animals on the planet. In addition, the placement of the word animal above the word planet reaffirms the fact that animals are found ON the planet. Lastly, the M was placed sideways to give an appearance of animal stripes.

The Crayon Box Daycare and Preschool logo has a childish look that would appeal to children. It even looks as if it was drawn by a preschooler. Furthermore it has various colors just like the ones found in a real crayon box. The colors pink and yellow are used to represent cheerfulness and innocence. The colors green and blue signify growth and peace, and the color purple represents creativity. All these characteristics are found in a daycare and preschool, so they incorporated them into the logo through the colors. 

Tier 1

What effect has social media had on you?

Social media has been a major distraction in my life. I have had to learn to control my time spent on them because they made me lose my focus many times before. I even have had to deactivate certain social media accounts so that I could regain control of my life and my time.

It was very hard concentrating on the task at hand when I was constantly updating myself by browsing through all my accounts. Furthermore, I lost a lot of valuable time that I could have spent doing more productive or enjoyable things. For instance, I could have been spending more time with my family rather than wasting that time on social media. . Due to social media, I could no longer enjoy the moment. I was too busy in the technology world that reality just slipped right past me.  Therefore, I was no longer present or aware of some of the remarkable things that occurred in my life.

All in all, the technology of social media was more of a distraction than a benefit. It is a very powerful tool that could have helped me, but it stole from me instead. Due to social media, I lost many things. I lost control, time, and even memories that I could have made with those around me. However, I have realized the negative effect that social media has had on me. And as a result, I have been able to discipline myself in those areas of self-control and time management.

Tech Tuesdays: "EmoSPARK: An artificial intelligence console that wants to make you happy"

Article: http://www.gizmag.com/aritificial-intelligence-emospark-cube/30168/

The EmoSPARK is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled cube that interacts with its user. It uses both content analysis and a facial recognition software to provide its user with robotic companionship. After analyzing the emotions projected by the user, the EmoSPARK works to improve their mood and overall happiness by recommending certain songs,videos, or content on websites.

The EmoSPARK console is 90 x 90 x 90mm (3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 in), and it contains a unique chip called the Emotional Processing Unit. This allows the chip to build up and store information on an Emotional Profile Graph for all the users which it interacts with. As the relationship between the user and the cube develops, the EmoSPARK also develops its skills in conversation and ability to comfort. 

Users communicate with the cube by either typing or talking to it through their television, smartphone, tablet, or computer. The cube then, acquaints itself with the users likes, dislikes, and moods based on eight primary emotions: joy, sadness, trust, disgust, fear, anger, surprise, and anticipation. The crowdfunding campaign for the EmoSPARK cube on Indiegogo has already started, and early pledges are available for US$224.