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A new system enables users to control the movements of robots using brain signals and simple hand gestures. The new system— created by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)—works by harnessing the power of electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG). A human user is outfitted with a series of electrodes on their scalp and forearm, which are the linked to the robot. Traditionally,…

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While it has long been known that plant matter has the potential to produce renewable fuels, doing so efficiently and inexpensively has turned out to be a difficult roadblock to overcome. However, E. coli—bioengineered by scientists from Sandia National Laboratories—could make it economically feasible to produce jet fuel, as well as other materials like plastics, nylon, pharmaceuticals and other products from lignin, an organic polymer that helps form the tissues…

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Regulators will consider changing requirements for TV stations to carry children’s programming after broadcasters asked for relief from the rules, which were set before the internet offered a proliferation of video for youths. The Federal Communications Commission will begin to review rules on children’s programming at its July 12 meeting, agency Chairman Ajit Pai, an appointee of President Donald Trump, said in a blog post Wednesday. Changes wouldn’t be final…

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Taking inspiration from desert crops, researchers are one step closer to genetically enhancing crops to grow in water-limited conditions. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have identified a common set of genes that drought-resistant plants all use to survive in semi-arid conditions, paving the way for scientists to bioengineer drought-resistant crops. ORNL senior staff scientist Xiaohan Yang, PhD, of the Biosciences Division, said that…

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WASHINGTON – When the Air Force dispatches aircraft to the Asia-Pacific to monitor the atmosphere for signs of nuclear activity from North Korea, it relies on its WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuke-sniffing planes. But with only two of those in the service’s inventory, it’s possible the WC-135s might not be able to respond to every contingency. Defense News reports. Continue reading original article The Military & Aerospace Electronics take: 21 June…

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Boeing engineers are working on a design for a hypersonic airliner that would travel at speeds up to Mach 5 at altitudes up to 95,000 feet, according to a talk given this week at a conference of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in Atlanta. The aircraft would cross the Atlantic in about two hours, and the Pacific in about three. “We’re excited about the potential of hypersonic technology…

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As TV viewing moves toward digital platforms and traditional television makes advances, interactive features are increasingly popping up. Time will tell if consumers will love it or leave it. Interactive features built into either programming or advertising can serve multiple purposes including strengthening engagement and lengthening viewing time; and monetizing content through e-commerce. Digital giants like Amazon and Facebook both have features built to get viewers more deeply involved in…

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Out-of-home video viewing continues to climb, and it’s a trend that has caught on around the world. More than half of internet users in the U.S., United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and Germany watched video content away from their homes at least once a month, with one out of six doing so on a daily basis, IHS Markit found in a Q1 2018 survey. Read the entire article here.

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Getting rid of paper diaries after 60 years isn’t easy for Nielsen. Nielsen is telling its clients there will be a short delay in getting new local ratings in mid-size and smaller markets. And it says that competitors using big data to measure local viewing should take another look at their numbers because converting set-top box data to accurate viewership numbers can be challenging. In 2016, Nielsen announced that it…

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Walmart has unveiled the first fruits of its Store No 8 skunkworks operation: a members-only personal shopping and concierge service called Jetblack. Fourteen months in the making, the startup company allows customers to order products around the clock by text, and receive a courier-delivered package the same or next day, ostensibly via Walmart subsidiary Parcel. Read it all here.

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