Plusses and Partnerships

By now, I'm sure you've all heard about Google+.  Some of you may even be on it.  If you are, be sure to add me to your circles - binary phoenix at gmail dot com (you know what to do with that). If you're not, don't ask me for an invite - Google turned them off, so I don't have any to give you.  As soon as they're active again I'll let you know.

So, here's what I like about Google+:  Circles.  I like the ability to split people into "friends," "acquaintences" and "following" and choose to post things only to one group.  For instance, I can share family pictures to only my friends, while sharing a blog post to everyone.  Yes, I know that Facebook has this capability with the locked post option, but going through and creating groups at this point on Facebook would be really difficult and annoying.  I have neither the time or inclination, honestly.  Google+ is letting me build it this way from the ground up. I also love the fact that Google doesn't have games, so I don't have to see my friends posting 5,000 times a day about their games (and that's after having blocked the posts from the games themselves).  I know they'll be there eventually. And finally hangouts.  I love the idea of being able to group video chat with friends or family easily.  Since many of my friends and all of my extended family live quite far away, this is a great option to have.

Here's what I don't like about it.  there's no one on it yet.  Seriously, it's ridiculous.  There are all these really cool features that I can't really test out because honestly, there aren't enough people on Google+ yet to give me a good feel for how they'll work.  Seriously Google, open up the invites already and let people on to the service.  In the meantime, I'll just keep smiling at this:

Yay.

The other thing everyone was buzzing about yesterday was Facebook's new video chat partnership with Skype.  It's totally awesome, because it integrates my largest social network with one of my most used apps, but - it doesn't allow for group video chat.  Apparently Mark Zuckerberg missed the memo that social media is all about connecting and sharing with ALL YOUR FRIENDS AT ONCE.  Plus, they missed the opportunity to announce the cool new feature BEFORE Google unveiled Google+.  I can imagine he's kicking himself about that right now.  If they had gotten the news out first, it may have seen like less of a move to keep up with Google's new social network.  For those who do want to chat with their groups, Facebook is also releasing the group chat feature to general users, so that you don't have to create a new group just because you want to chat with 4 or 5 friends at once, but it's not video - just regular chat.  Facebook fail.  They could have done so much more than they did, considering Zuckerberg's speech was about how Facebook is now all about innovation, since they've already gotten the user base.  Google+ is focusing on innovation first, and while it seems slow right now, I guarantee they'll get the user base once invites open up.  Everyone that I know on Google+ likes it much more than Facebook - maybe specifically because it's not overloaded with business and brands trying to sell themselves in a new advertising forum.  Only time will tell.

GeoHotz Is Working for Facebook

Two months ago George Hotz was ordered by a California court to never again publish secret codes used by Sony.  Now, he’s reporting on his Facebook page that he’s been working as a software engineer for Facebook since May 9.

This news is actually not all that surprising.  Many hackers join corporate payrolls after being caught, using their skills to help companies improve network security and develop and test new software.  After losing his battle against Sony in April, it makes sense that Hotz might want to get out of the hacking business for awhile.

While some have raised their eyebrows at this move by Facebook, Hotz isn’t the first hacker Facebook has hired.  Christ Putnam joined their ranks after building several Facebook worms.  Now that they have recently confirmed that they are working on a new iPad app, who better to hire to help develop it than the guy who made a name for himself hacking Apple’s iDevices?

E3 Coverage - WiiU Announcement Trailer

Okay, I know I promised Sony stuff, but I HAVE to get this out to you guys now.  Check out Nintendo's new console and revolutionary new controller - the WiiU

Some highlights

*HD graphics on both the big screen and controller screen
*Controller screen is a full 6.2 inches
*Dual analog sticks
*Dual shock capability
*Touch Screen
*Accelerometer and Gyroscope in the controller allows for motion controll
*Video Chat and web browsing on the crontroller - controller has a camera, mic and speakers of it's own.
*Compatable with the Wii Balance Board
*Compatable with the Wii Zapper


Some promises made:
*Darksiders 2 at launch of the WiiU
*Super Smash Brothers coming to WiiU

and maybe the biggest thing: EA Games took the stage to announce their new partnership with Nintendo for the WiiU

E3 Coverage - Ubisoft Press Conference

Hey folks, I know it's a bit late, but I'm going to get you everything from Ubisoft and Sony's press cons out this morning!  We're starting off with Ubisoft.

Ubisoft is celebrating 25 years in gaming, and their press conference was filled with some pretty corny "flashbacks."  In spite of the bad jokes, it was still a good show, though.  They kicked things off with Rayman Origins:

Then, after some corny gamer pick up lines they presented Driver San Francisco:

And the SURPRISE OF THE SHOW:  FarCry 3.

Then they showed us the irreverent Brothers in Arms: Furious 4:

Adventures of TinTin The Unicorn:

and the incredible looking Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Solder

Announced along with the trailer is that the game will include a totally customizable weapons system dubbed "gunsmith" and the launch of a totally free companion FPS Ghost Recon Online.  If you're interested you should head on over to Ubisoft's website to sign up for the open beta right now.

Track mania 2 was next:

Followed by this totally hilarious looking party game only for Kinect, Raving Rabbits: Alive and Kicking:

Just Dance 3 is coming to all platforms, and they touched on Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2.  Then they showed us Rocksmith, which is essentially Guitar Hero with a real guitar:

And finally, what we had all been waiting for; Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

I hope you're all enjoying the E3 coverage so far.  Sony is up next and it is MASSIVE so please be patient with me.

E3 Coverage - Electronic Arts Press Conference

Here's what we have from the EA press conference at E3:

Mass Effect 3:

The reapers have arrived and Earth is taken.  It's up to Shepard to get it back.  As promised, for long-time fans of the Mass Effect series, all previous decisions will affect the outcome in this game.  The combat will be intense, and the scale is absolutely huge.  The game will release March 6, 2011.

Need For Speed The Run:

Need for Speed: The Run is a high stakes cross-country race that for the first time in the franchise gets you out of the car for on-foot action sequences.  The game will feature interactive Autolog use in-game, and interactive video sequences.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Sad to say we didn't really get any new information on this game, just confirmation that it's going to be epic, and you're going to get to choose sides.

SSX:


SSX is going to be a truly massive, open world gaming experience.  The game will allow you to visit literally every major mountain range on the PLANET.  There will be three gameplay modes: Trick It, Race It, and Survive It.  The game will release in January of 2012.

FIFA 12:


FIFA 12 comes with a brand new gaming engine.  It's new features include tactical defending, precision dribbling, and a new player impact engine delivering real-world physicality to the game.  Players will now suffer real-world injuries.  The game will also come with EA's new "virtual league" EA Sports Football Club.  The online support features real-world driven challenges and events where players can connect and compete cross-platform at no charge.  No release date yet, as the game is "barely alpha".

Madden NFL 12


Am I the only one that finds it absolutely hilarious that the slogan for Madden 12 was "True to the game," when there is *no* game this year? At any rate the new Madden will feature a new collision system and defensive AI along with dynamic performance (are you confident when things go wrong?).  How you handle a situation might affect your team's performance in the game.  There will also be new online features.  The game releases August 30, 2011.

The Sims Social:


It's The Sims, only on Facebook.  Now you'll be able to interact with your friends in their Sims worlds, and yours.  Fans of the franchise have been asking for this for years, so it's nice to see them finally getting it.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning


Reckoning is an open-world RPG that features storytelling from R.A. Salvatore, art by Todd McFarlane, and game design from Ken Rolston.  Those are some HUGE names and from the looks of the trailer, the game is going to live up to everything those names lead you to expect.

Overstrike:


In Overstrike you will play a team of 4 elite agents using fringe-tech gadgets on a mission to stop a shadowy organisation from taking over the world.  The game will be multi-platform capable, and full of sarcastic humor, which you all know that I love.

Battlefield 3:


Last but certainly not least, EA showed off the new Battlefield 3.  With the new Frostbite 2 gameplay engine the game features a single and multiplayer experience available nowhere else.  With cinematic quality graphics and totally immersive audio, I can't wait to get my hands on this game.  There is a new online feature dubbed BattleLog which will let you create a friends' list, feature real time stats, and will be 100% free.  The game will feature a multi-platform open beta test in September, and the full release goes live on October 25.

Halo 4 Release Trailer

E3 Coverage - Microsoft Press Conference

Microsoft gave an amazing press conference today, focusing on new releases, nearly all of them Kinect compatible.  While I expected the Kinect heavy lineup, I was blown away by some of what was presented.

Modern Warfare 3:

The demo they showed was an underwater sub mission.  I've been disappointed with the last few CoD titles, but I have to say this one does look epic.  I'm happy that we're going to be back in modern times with incredibly realistic graphics.  Call of Duty MW3 DLC will be available FIRST on Xbox 360.  Look for this one releasing November 8th, 2011.

Tomb Raider:

The game features a 21 year old Lara Croft in the situation that makes her the Tomb Raider we all know and love.  Shipwrecked and held captive, Lara has to use her survival instincts to free herself.  The game is 3rd person and is intense and visceral.  The game will feature open environments and exploration as well.  Release will be sometime in Q4 2012.

Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Future Soldier:

The main focus during this demo was on the full Kinect compatibility in the gameplay with body tracking being used even for motion and firing.  Close your fist to fire, open it to stop firing and the gun points according to where your body turns.  The graphics are just as good as what was featured in the MW3 demo and this looks to be an intensely immersive gaming experience.  Weapons will be totally customizable for each situation, right down to the inner parts.  Players can choose to have the game customize them automatically, or do the customization themselves.  No release date was announced, however it was announced that ALL future Tom Clancy titles will be fully Kinect compatible.

Gears of War 3:

Horde mode is BACK, baby, and Ice T has reunited Body Count to do a song about it.  Jicinto has fallen, and your ragtag group is now floating on the ocean aboard a huge ship.  They're being chased by a giant infected and extremely pissed off Leviathan.  They touted this as being the "best, most polished Gears of War title yet," giving us all something to look forward to.

Fable The Journey:

The end of Albion is coming, and now, all that matters is the journey itself.  Heroes are no longer born but made, and once again that is your role.  Again fully Kinect compatible I was thrilled to see during the demo the spell action where you actually physically "charge" and "throw" your spells at enemies.  This is coming sometime in 2012.

Forza Motorsports 4:

This game will feature Kinect voice and head tracking, monthly expansions, and up to 16 player multiplayer on Xbox Live.  There will also be Xbox Live car clubs where you can show off your customized cars.  This game will have something for the casual fans as well as hardcore racing gamers.  Look for it October 11, 2011.

RYSE:

This totally new game is a first person totally Kinect compatible RPG taking place during the fall of the Roman Empire.  Use your body to fight, swing your sword and move through the world in what looks to be a fantastically immersive experience.  Even during the demo control looked smooth, without the lag that sometimes occurs with Kinect motion control.

Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition:

The classic Halo has been remade and remastered with enhanced and updated multiplayer maps and online coop.  7 classic multiplayer maps as well as a fully remastered campaign.  This one is coming November 15th.

Kinect Sports Season 2:

This game will feature golf, darts, tennis, baseball, football, and skiing.  The golf game allows you to use voice commands in order to change clubs, and you can now use a totally natural swing, just like you would on the golf course.  The football app allows you to voice call plays, and features multiplayer coop.

Mass Effect 3:

As the rumors predicted, Mass Effect 3 will feature Kinect support to provide a more immersive experience.  Instead of using the controller to select your conversation options, you will now be able to use Kinect voice support to speak the lines yourself.  You will also be able to use voice commands during combat to tell your team members when to move up, hold position or regroup.  Earth has been taken and Commander Shepard has to get it back.  Coming in Q1 2012.

Kinect Star Wars:

Fight as a Jedi on Tatooine, Corouscant, Endor, and other worlds from the movies.  Want Kinect control of your lightsaber? You got it.  Want Kinect capability for force push ability? You got it!  This may be the ultimate game for Star Wars fans.

Minecraft:

That's right, I said Minecraft.  The incredibly popular PC game that lets you build your own world and explore worlds built by your friends is coming to console, exclusively on the Xbox 360 this winter.

Dance Central 2:

One of the most exciting features of the new Dance Central is the simultaneous multiplayer dance off , and the inclusion of a new campaign mode.  All Dance Central 1 songs will be able to be imported into the new game, making more than 100 songs available for play at the release.

Kinect Funlabs:

Kinect Funlabs will let you explore the best of community created programs for the Kinect.  This is going LIVE TODAY, so be sure to check it out.  Apps that use facial and body scanning to truly make YOU the avatar, a finger tracking program that lets you create totally 3D art, and object capture that allows you to create a virtual version of any object.

Microsoft also announced some new features coming to Xbox Live.  This year, Microsoft will be introducing 10 times more partnerships including Bing voice search which will search libraries in Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Microsoft Entertainment and Music catalogs to bring you the content that you want.  Even more exciting is the fact that this year Microsoft will be bringing live TV including news, sports and local channels.

Finally, I'll wrap it up with Microsoft's biggest surprise - a new TRILOGY coming to Xbox 360:

That, my friends is a screen shot from the announcement trailer of Halo 4.  And they did announce it as a new TRILOGY.

Happy gaming!  Come back for more coverage later this evening.

E3 Coverage!

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is the event that gamers across the country look forward to each year.  Be sure to keep your eye on this blog for my coverage of the press conferences, and what's been announced for the year ahead.

First up is Microsoft, and should be interesting! There's been a ton of speculation that they'll be announcing a TV service this year after seeing the success of adding Netflix and Hulu Plus to their Xbox Live service.  We'll see!  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled here for updates!

Game Review: Portal 2

Portal 2 has been much anticipated throughout the country over these last several weeks.  Last night I finally got the chance to sit down and play it myself.  Here are my initial (spoiler-free) thoughts:

Portal 2 is overall just better than the original.  It's funnier, more challenging, and longer.  Both the graphics and the physics are better than in the original, and the single player storyline is great.  The trusty Portal Gun is still your main mode of transportation in both single player and multiplayer, but new challenges have been added such has mirror cubes and tractor beams.  There are times in single-player where you're required to change your portal's location in mid-air and other fun challenges.  Sometimes the solutions are obvious and easy, but there are other times when you'll have to muddle through every single option until suddenly you realize the answer has been staring you in the face all along.

The single player story is great, giving you more insight into Aperature's history.  GLaDOS is even more insane and the character dialog is even more hilarious than in the original.  You're playing as Chell again, dragged back to Aperature and undergoing more testing by the not-dead-or-destroyed GLaDOS.  The facility is quite worse for the wear, however.  The attention to detail in the game is amazing, and the graphics are truly a delight for the eyes.

For me, though, the best part about Portal 2 is the multiplayer, where you and your partner work together through testing challenges.  Portal 2 introduced a gesture system of communication for those who prefer not to use voice chat.  While GLaDOS insists it's not a competition, in her own sadistic way she still tries to pit you and your partner against each other.  Players earn "collaboration" points for figuring things out, and GLaDOS constantly hints that one of you is doing "better" than the other.  She also takes great pleasure when one of you is accidentally destroyed by the other, handing out bonus points for extra cruelty.  With 2 portal entrances and exits in play the multiplayer mode can get especially tricky, but it is super fun to have your partner falling in an endless loop and then suddenly change the portal location to have them rocket off at an angle to land on a seemingly unreachable platform.

To wrap it up - Portal 2 is awesome, and in every way better than the already great original.  The single player story is more in depth and the multiplayer is sure to keep you coming back for more.

Score: 9.5/10

*Disclaimer: I have not been paid by Valve or any other entity for this review.

Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

.....Good Morning, Dave.......

You science fiction fans out there will recognize that line from 2001: A Space Odyssey. What if we could take HAL 9000 and make it real?  Well, you know, minus the murderous tendencies.

Just imagine: you sit down at your desk, and after a moment for the facial recognition to log you in your virtual assistant asks you how your day is going and what she can help you with. She then reminds you of your schedule, tells you the weather, and reads you a few of your emails.

Sound far-fetched?  Meet Denise, the new virtual assistant from Brazilian company Guile 3D Studios:

Total awesomeness, right?  It gets even better.  The basic version of Denise is available at the Guile 3D website for only $100.  The Platinum and Business editions will run you a bit more, but are still incredibly inexpensive.  All I can say is that I want one.

I have not been paid by Guile 3D Studios for this post.

BYU Students Take Eye Control to the Next Level

Okay, I'm sure you all remember when I posted about the awesome eye-controlled laptop from Tobii a while back, right? If you don't, you can always scroll down a bit and have a look.

Well, now some students from BYU are taking eye-control technology it a step further by adding something that's really needed in the EC market - affordablility.  You see, even Tobii's system, the PCEye is considered to be inexpensive in the EC market, and it costs a whopping $6,900. Let's face it, that's not something most people with the types of disabilities these systems are designed for can afford.

So, the students from BYU partnered up with EyeTech Digital Systems and created a Windows 7 tablet PC using eye tracking software developed by previous students (also partnered with EyeTech Digital). This was all part of their year-long capstone engineering requirement. The tablet is a bit thicker than usual, but only cost them $1,500. When you consider that an ordinary Windows 7 tablet retails for around $750, that's really not bad!

The eye tracking software uses a camera to track where a user is looking. This allows a user to control the cursor simply by moving their gaze around a screen. Blinking will perform a mouse click.  The tablet will run any Windows program, from Solitare to Skype, and EyeTech Digital plans to market the technology as an alternative to the sophisticated systems that are already out there.

And hey, at that price, even tech enthusiasts like me could consider buying one. I can definitely see the possibilities.

Check out the new gadget!

Hey guys!  Just wanted to draw your attention to that handy little gadget labeled "ChaCha Search" on the right hand side of the screen.

ChaCha is a neat mobile app and website that is totally free to use, and will answer any question you have while you're on the go.  You can text your question in to 242242, or call it in to 18002ChaCha.  They also have a mobile smartphone app (available on iTunes).  You can catch them on Twitter or Facebook as well.  Each question is handled by a live human guide and the answers are super fast.  Things like 411 business look ups, movie times, sports scores, etc. are unlimited, while more difficult questions (say... sending in your chemistry homework....) have a limit of questions you can ask.  If you get a message that says something to the effect of "We didn't understand you..." just keep trying, or ask one of the unlimited question.

ChaCha also sends out jokes, pranks, and tons of other stuff.  Definitely worth a look.  Visit their website at www.chacha.com.

(Disclosure: while I am one of the "human guides" that works at ChaCha to answer your questions, I have not been paid to post the gadget or write this post.)

Heads in the Cloud - Computing in the Digital Age

Yesterday Amazon launched its cloud storage service know as Cloud Drive.  Ever since seeing the announcement on their webpage users around the world have been scratching their heads and saying "what the heck is 'cloud storage'?  What is a cloud?  Where is it? How do I use it?  Is it safe?"  Today I'm going to do my best to answer a few of those questions.

Every morning around the globe people wake up, get out of bed, and flip on a light switch.  The vast majority of them have no idea how the electricity is generated or transported to their house; they just know it works.  So it is with cloud computing.  A user can pull up an application on the internet, use it, and never have to install or run it on their own home computer system.  That in a nutshell, is what cloud computing is.

Contrary to what you might think, the idea of cloud computing is not new.  It was first theorized in the 1966 book The Challenge of the Computer Utility by Douglas Parkhill.  Almost all of the aspects of cloud computing that we use today came from that book, including the electric utility metaphor used earlier in this post. Businesses today utilize cloud computing for its agility, cost effectiveness, reliability and scalability.  Individual users are becoming aware of cloud computing technology mostly as it relates to cloud storage.  With digital collections of movies, photos, and especially music growing at an extremely rapid rate, users are looking for ways to store their collections without taking up valuable hard drive resources.  Additionally, cloud storage has the added bonus of being able to be accessed from any computer - you don't have to be at home.

The biggest question involving cloud computing and storage is undeniably safety.  With access occurring virtually, how can you be sure that it is safe?  Simply put, the companies providing these services have the greatest incentive to provide the absolute best in information security out there, because if people don't believe the service is safe, they won't use it.  No more business.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.  Will you be using Amazon's new cloud drive?  What cloud storage do you already use (hint: have a flickr or photobucket account? Post videos on youtube? Share photos on Facebook?  That's cloud storage, even if you didn't know it)?  Did you realize that's what it was before reading this post?

 

Welcome to Augmented Reality

A lone person driving down the road at night slows when they see a deer by the side of the road, highlighted blue by the HUD in their windshield.

A pilot getting ready to land sees the flight paths of the aircraft around him laid out with clear precision.

A gamer walking through the streets of New York holds up his smartphone and fends off attacking aliens.

A sports fan, watching the big game at home can see every play drawn out in perfect clarity as the announcers analyze the game.

Welcome to the age of augmented reality, where almost any aspect of our lives can be enhanced with virtual information.  Science fiction writers dreamed our world for decades.  Now we're living to see it all come to fruition.  Yet, so few people are aware of it happening, or even know what "augmented reality" is.  You see it every Sunday during football season when the 1st and Ten line is displayed on your television sets.  You see it when the GPS app on your phone shows you where you are in real-time with directions for where to go next laid out in front of you.  You see it when you hold up the same phone's camera to look at a landmark in a foreign country and see information about the landmark displayed for them to read.

Yep.  All of that is augmented reality.  And, it's been around longer than you think.  The first AR simulator was invented in 1962 by a man who was not a scientist.  His name was Morton Heilig, and he was a cinematographer determined to create the "movie of the future".  His invention, the Sensorama used 3D technology and could give a viewer the sight, sound, feel, and even smell of riding a motorcycle through the streets of Brooklyn.  Pretty impressive.  Unfortunately it was also incredibly expensive to make films for the contraption, and so the idea was laid to rest.

Fast forward to 1992, when L.B Rosenburg developed Virtual Fixtures, a functioning AR system at the US Air Force Research Laboratory and demonstrates the benefits AR can have on human performance.  Of course the military saw the benefits of the technology right away.  They now use AR in a variety of ways, most recently ARMAR, a head-up display designed to help military mechanics in making repairs.

These days anyone with an iPhone has access to a myriad of AR apps right at their fingertips.  Even more notable is that we now may have the first true AR gaming system on our hands.  This year Nintendo's 3DS system shipped with 6 AR cards included that will allow users to interact with virtual objects that appear in reality as shown by the system's camera.

Still don't think that AR is a big deal?  Check out the most recent advertising campaign taking place in London's Victoria Station right now:

So, what's next for science fiction writers?  With their dreams becoming reality every day, how are they going to push the envelope even farther?  I don't know, but I personally can't wait to find out.

Game Review: Beyond Good And Evil HD

For fans of the original, the re-release of Beyond Good and Evil in HD format was an exciting announcement.  Once again we can play as fearless reporter Jade with her loveable "uncle" Pey'j and wacky sidekick "Double H".

The storyline of Beyond Good and Evil remains unchanged from the original.  You play as Jade - a reporter on the planet Hillys, which is currently at war with and constantly under attack from the aliens known as the Domz.  As the game unfolds, it is your job to uncover a conspiracy between the Domz and Hillys' supposed protectors - the Alpha Sections.  In spite of the main story's seriousness, there is a lightheartedness to the characters that makes the game fun and easy to play.

There is one main side-quest to the game that involves photographing all of the different animal species on the planet Hillys.  While it sounds easy, this can be a difficult task, as you are sometimes photographing animals that are shy, small, and hard to catch on camera.  It adds an interesting element to the game, however, when you're stopping in the middle of a boss fight to snap a picture of the creature you're facing.

While the graphics have been revamped up to HD quality, sad to say the camera angles are still as frustrating and awkward at times as they were back in 2004 when the game was originally released.  There also isn't much replay value to the game - once you've played it you've played it.  However, it is a fun break from some of the longer, more in-depth RPGs out there.  I will personally replay it trying to get all those photos, looter races, and other tidbits that are included throughout the world of Hillys.

As a girl gamer I have to say that my favorite part of the game is Jade herself.  At last we have a smart, innovate, funny character to play whose wardrobe does not make her look like a wanna-be porn star.  Even her proportions are appropriate!

The game was originally designed as a trilogy and therefore ends with a twist.  While the sequel hasn't been produced online, it's been hinted at by the game's creator, Ubisoft that if enough people download the HD release, the sequels will be given the go-ahead.  So get out there and get downloading folks, for 800 Microsoft Points, you really can't go wrong with this one.

The Real-Life Data?

Meet Geminoid DK, a Geminoid-F series android, and the first humanoid robot of its kind to leave Japan.  It is also the most human-looking android I have ever seen (sorry Star Trek fans - Data doesn't count).

 

That's right folks - that's an android in the picture above.

The Geminoid series of androids was created by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory in the the Department of Adaptive Machine Systems at Osaka University.  The original version, Repliee Q1Expo was created in 2005.  Though older, Repliee Q1Expo is actually a much more complicated version of Geminoid-K, as it can respond to human interactions such as touch.

The Geminoid-F is controlled through a computer system designed to mimic the movements of the android's human counterpart.  It does not have an artificial intelligence of it's own, and does not have voice interaction yet.  However, it is the simplicity of the Geminoid-F model that made it affordable for purchase by Aalborg University's Henrik Sharfe.  Once shipped back to Denmark, the robot will be used to study questions about identity, humanity, and presence, as well as the cultural differences in perception of robots and robotic technology.

If you head on over to this site  you can see a video of this thing opening and closing it's mouth, moving it's head, and even breathing.  That's right - breathing.  Pretty amazing stuff, and I look forward to seeing the future uses and possibilities for this technology in the future.  Imagine teaching children on the autism spectrum to better interact socially using androids like these.  I see a world of possibilities here.

Unwell

Hey guys - just a note to let you know that regular posting will resume in a few days.  I'm sick with the flu and will be back when I'm better.  In the meantime, happy gaming!

Move Over Motion-Control

Forget motion controlled systems that still use a controller like the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Move.  Heck, you can even forget about motion controlled systems that require you to wave your hand or other parts of your body, like Microsoft's Kinect.  The next generation of motion control is already on it's way.

Picture this: you're playing an FPS (or other first-person view game) and instead of pushing a control stick or keyboard button to move down the next path all you do is *look* in the direction you want to go.  Imagine reading a webpage that automatically scrolls as you read - no mouse or keyboard action required.  Sound interesting?  Then check this out:

The folks at Tobii teamed up with Lenovo to create 20 prototypes of this Windows 7 laptop that they unveiled yesterday at the CeBIT conference in Hanover, Germany.  That strip just below the screen is the current eye-control sensor, and there's also a large hump on the back.  Neither is attractive or practical, but it is just a prototype.  Future plans entail the sensor becoming much more narrow - about the size of the small space below the laptop screen today.  If you'd like a review of how it it performed (I'll give you a hit: excellently) head on over to Endgadget and check out their video of the laptop in action.


Between the new BCI technology and this new eye-control system, we are two steps closer to synchronicity.  The future is coming!  Are you ready?

The Future Is Here - BCI Technology

Who out there hasn't read a novel or seen a movie that features some sort of BCI technology?  It seems that ever since the invention of the computer, humans have been fascinated with elusive Brain-Computer Interface and how it could make our lives better.  Cyberpunk novels and comics abound with tales of BCI technology, even going as far as to take it beyond EEG-style headsets to "wetware" - computers implanted directly into the human brain.

Today, both technologies are becoming a reality.  First, for the "dryware" BCI technology, check out the EPOCH - the newest BCI interface headset from the folks over at Emotive.

  According to the company's website:

The Emotiv EPOC is a high resolution, neuro-signal acquisition and processing wireless neuroheadset.  It uses a set of sensors to tune into electric signals produced by the brain to detect player thoughts, feelings and expressions and connects wirelessly to most PCs.

 Imagine a paraplegic being able to control their own wheelchair.  What about creating art and music using your mind alone?  Or what about controlling your favorite games through mind-power alone?  This device could make all that possible.  The best part about it is the EPOC only costs $300, and comes with the EmoKey software to link Emotiv technology to your applications for free.  Sound interesting and exciting?  Check it out over at their website.

Now for the "wetware": two different types of BCI technology are undergoing testing at the University of Pittsburgh for use with spinal cord injury patients.  In the first, a BCI will be placed on the patient's monitor cortex surface for up to 29 days.  The device will pick up the patient's neural activity and hopefully allow them to learn how to control assistive devices such as a wheelchair or prosthetic hand.  The second uses an array of tiny electrodes implanted on the surface of the brain to interpret individual neuron activity and hopefully allow patients to control a more sophisticated prosthetic arm.

The technology of the future is here folks.  Just imagine the possibilities for the years to come.

The Top 10 Video Game Themes

In honor of the Oscars tonight, I thought I'd send out a little "Top Ten" action.  Only instead of being for "best acting," here are my nominations for Top 10 Video Game Themes (and yes, I know this post may have been better suited to the Grammy awards but oh well):

10. Super Mario Bros.

9. The Legend of Zelda

8. Command and Conquer: Red Alert (Hell March)

7. Dragon Age: Origins

6. Fallout 3

5. StarCraft II

4. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion theme

3. Halo 3 (One Final Effort)

2. Castlevania Symphony of the Night (Moonlight Nocturne)

1. Final Fantasy 8 (Liberi Fatali)

Well, what do you think?  Do you agree with my choices?  What would you have chosen instead?

RIP MyGamerCard

It's a sad day for the XBox gaming community.  This morning as I was perusing my Facebook updates I was shocked and saddened to find this post from The Frag Dolls: 

Like many of you, I loaded up our forums and saw that my awesome gamer sig from MyGamerCard displaying a goodbye message. *sad face* You will be missed. Thank you for your support. - Spectra

Sure enough if you head on over here you can find the good-bye message left by MyGamerCard founder, Morgon.  It would seem that financial concerns and lack of support from Microsoft have led to the shutdown.  Whatever the reasons, we are all saddened by the loss of this great community resource.

RIP MyGamerCard - we will miss you.
~Binary Phoenix

Old Versus New: Why Anime Adaptations Fail

As an anime fan, I often find myself going back to some of my old Saturday morning favorites and thinking about how awesome they would look redone anime style.  Truthfully I think I'm looking to capture some of that nostalgia, and update it in a way that makes it relevant to my modern life and interests.

You can imagine, then, that I was initially pretty excited when I found this:

"The X-Men are reunited following the death of a teammate, and are summoned by Charles Xavier to Japan following the abduction of Hisako Ichiki (Armor). There, they confront the U-Men, a lunatic cult that steals and transplants mutant organs to further strengthen their own army, and the battle for justice is on.

The anime will premiere on Animax on April 1."

It looks pretty awesome.  The storyline sounds engaging.  I am excited.  I am also nervous, and cautious. I find myself wondering how much they are going to change the characters, and how these changes will be received by hardcore fans of the original comic and cartoon.  I also wonder if the actual series will be any good.  Let's face it, the trailer for the Iron Man anime totally rocked but when the series actually came out it wasn't nearly as well-done.  Many people were disappointed.

To a certain extent I think that our memories of the old series, and more importantly our memories of our emotions watching the old series tend to get in the way.  We remember how excited we were hearing the theme song music, feeling our little hearts thudding along with the beat.  We remember how we could get excited during the fight scenes, secure in the innocent knowledge that the good guy always wins.  We were young enough that we didn't care about things like artistry, shading, or corny dialogue.  The show was awesome and that's all that mattered.  The good guys fought evil, and evil always lost.

Today we hope that the anime will capture us in the same way, and bring back some of that feeling, and yet... it never quite manages to reach our expectations.  We're no longer children.  We notice how things are drawn, whether by hand or CGI.  We've learned enough about artistry to pay attention to the shading, coloring, and enough about writing to critique the dialogue.  It's harder to suspend our disbelief for the 30 minutes of the show and just immerse ourselves in it.  And, unlike so many of the new anime series out there that we can appreciate completely, we have something to compare the adaptations to.  It never quite measures up.

I for one will be trying to overcome this phenomenon, and I hope that I can give the X-Men anime adaptaion the chance that it deserves.

In The Words of Admiral Ackbar: "It's a Trap!"

Now normally I would not meddle in the world of religious activity or political statements - neither of those are what this blog is about (and frankly I don't really care).  However, the recently circulated Open Letter to Westboro Baptist Church supposedly from the hacker group Anonymous makes it somewhat necessary.  I'm reposting their reply here for your reading pleasure.  If you'd like to see it from the source for yourself, head on over here.

An(other) Open Letter to Westboro Baptist Church

18th February 2011

An Open Letter From an Anonymii.

TO THE CONGREGANTS OF WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH

We know that YOU in fact posted the Open Letter supposedly from Anonymous.

We know that you thrive on attention.

We know that you are short of money.

We know that this is a trap.

We know how you work. You don't give a flying fart about what your God thinks. But you know that putting God and Fag in a sentence together is guaranteed to make someone angry. You push it. You really push it. But you stay within the law. And then when some poor fool snaps, you sue them for infringing upon your rights.

Some of Anonymous thinks you're the worlds greatest Trolls. This is bollocks. You're in it for the money.

No doubt some of us will fall for it. But know this: most of us don't give a damn. You are shamelessly riding on the /b/andwagon after Anonymous' recent mass media coverage in order to get more publicity and more idiots to sue.

Yarbles to you.

WE ARE ANONYMOUS.
WE ARE LEGION.
WE DO NOT FORGIVE.
WE DO NOT FORGET.
EXPECT US.
But we're not all idiot newfags.

Peace out /b/rothers.