Technology Archive

Emotiv’s EPOC headset controls your PC with thoughts

By
Nick Carson
Published: February 10, 2010

Emotiv’s EPOC headset came out in late December of 2009, promising to control games and your PC simply by thinking.

It’ll run you a cool $300…

It seems to look fairly nice, definitely comes right at you as a “yes, this thing scans your brain” kind of product.

The headset allows you to use your thoughts, feelings, and emotion to control games (designed specifically with EPOC in mind), as well as controlling your PC through its EmoKey feature.

EPOC Headset Features:
- Limited edition design
- 14 saline sensors offer optimal positioning for accurate spatial resolution
- Gyroscope generates optimal positional information for cursor and camera controls
- Hi-performance wireless gives users total range of motion
- Dongle is USB compatible and requires no custom drivers
- Lithium Battery provides 12 hours of continuous use

Using sensors placed all around the headset it picks up on the electric signals coming from your brain and turns these into real responses.

However it’s to be seen whether EPOC can be used effectively for controlling games and PC environments. It may not be ready for what most people would consider controlling computers with your mind like we see in the movies. But nonetheless it is moving the technology forward.

Press Demo for EPOC:

What do you think of EPOC?

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Emotiv EPOC Headset – Product Page:

- www.emotiv.com/apps/epoc/299/

Previews/Info:

- www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/emotiv-epoc-human-computer-interface-supposedly-on-track-to-ship/
- www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/the-emotiv-epoc-brain-controller-is-supposedly-out-now-did-y/
- www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/02/emotiv_epoc_neuroheadset_mindcontrolled_video_games.html
- www.crunchgear.com/2007/03/08/emotiv-project-epoc-sensory-gaming-for-the-masses/
- www.pcworld.com/article/183655/wrap_your_brain_around_a_game_with_emotivs_epoc.html

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Lower Barriers to a Web Presence

By
Nick Carson
Published: January 20, 2010
Lower Barriers to a Web Presence

My bi-weekly tech column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper)
- Original Article: Lower Barriers to a Web Presence (Published Issue 6, 16th Nov’09)

The web has evolved and it’s more accessible than ever before for individuals and small businesses to launch into the internet. In the past, creating a website was the sole domain of professional designers fluent in markup and programming languages such as HTML, PHP, and CSS. Those looking to create a front end web presence for their business might have invested significant time and money paying for a web developer.

However, that has changed in recent years, as anyone willing and able can get online. What was only possible by hiring professional developers with significant costs and development time has made its way to the individual and small business.

Starting up a personal homepage or blog takes less than an hour. Prominent blogging software such as Wordpress and Google Blogger make it possible to launch your own online presence overnight. A few steps are all that is required: Registering a domain, aka www.yoursite.com, costing only $10 through domain registrars such as Go Daddy. “Hosting” your website, essentially renting a server out in the webspace where visitors will connect to.

Most domain registrars facilitate this need as well, costing a mere $50 per year, offering more space and bandwidth than you probably need. With a domain and hosting secured a selection of free web applications are available to install to your website.

These applications allow one click installation of impressive and functional websites. Joomla, a content management system, creates a basic website foundation and allows any number of contributors to add and create content to be displayed on the site. It features plug-ins and enhancements such as customized templates, contact forms, and complete user log-in functionalities to mold the site to your needs.

Other applications lend themselves to specialized needs: phpBB for forums and message boards, Elgg allows creation of your own social networking site, and 4Images for photo gallery sites. Other services automate the entire process for you, providing the hosting, domain registration and applications integrated into a complete package for those looking to get online with fewer hassles.

In the case of a blog, Wordpress can be installed via Go Daddy. Wordpress itself is fantastic, with a very loyal and supportive community of users and developers. The blogging software allows administrative management of your site to upload new entries and content.

All of this can be accomplished with absolutely zero knowledge of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and PHP. The extras extend from there, allowing customization via plug-ins ranging from Google Analytics to monitor traffic and visitors to your site, search engine optimizations and more.

Small businesses and individuals are making use of these new advances in how we interact with the internet. The benefits of not having to invest thousands of dollars for professional web designers have made the journey online significantly easier and eliminated many barriers to entry from the past.

The market has shifted away from low end web developers to commercialized web software companies that can produce easy and affordable solutions to the consumer.

Have you used any of the services mentioned?

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Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

By
Nick Carson
Published: January 18, 2010
Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 5, 16th Nov’09

The military has uses for it, as does TV and their associated advertisers. The real question, however, is whether augmented reality can become useful for the average consumer.

Augmented reality is the use of computer generated images and information overlaid on a view of the physical world.

All of us have been exposed to it at some point. Football broadcasts are a prime example of the use of augmented reality. The yellow line denoting the first down marker is overlaid on the playing field to “augment” the view of the game. Of course, you won’t see this if you actually go to the game.

Broadcasts also overlay advertisements directly onto both the field and surrounding environment as a cheap alternative to physically printing the image. The military also employs the use of augmented reality by using HUD’s (Heads Up Displays) and HMD’s (Helmet Mounted Displays) to display tactical information directly to aircraft pilots.

Consumer level applications could be next as the demand grows for enhanced information-based systems. We have already seen several iPhone applications break into this new market. One of these is “Monocle”, a new feature of Yelp’s app, a service to find and review businesses. Monocle uses GPS and the compass to locate where a user is and to display markers and information about locations as you look through the iPhone’s camera. However, looking through a phone is a very clunky way of using the technology. It’s likely that a more advanced method of viewing our physically space will be needed.

Advances in wearable displays could realize the full potential of augmented reality. Embedding displays within glasses or contact lenses would provide for a permanent visual solution to look through. This kind of accessibility could pave the way for what will be a revolution in the way we experience our world.

Consumers would have a variety of opportunities to incorporate this technology into their everyday lives. With a visual display pointing out areas of interest to the user, even walking down the street would be a new experience. The augmented reality could be used to identify passing faces of friends and contacts, displaying their name and relevant information on demand.

Advertisers might also attract customers to their products via a whole new dimension of advertising. Imagine walking through Wal-Mart, wearing the embedded display glasses, picking up a product off the shelf and a video instantly plays to highlight its features. Augmented reality would be highly customizable, allowing the consumer to choose exactly what they wish to see when viewing the world.

Another important aspect of this technology is its ability to replace physical displays and input devices. With just your one pair of embedded display glasses, any location or object could be a virtual display. Why buy a TV when you could project a virtual one on your wall or desk? Products of the future could be controlled by visual cues overlaid on an object, allowing you to press and manipulate these virtual controls that exist only within augmented reality.

We’re not talking sci-fi here: all of these technologies exist and are currently in development.  Given time to mature, the right companies will take up the challenges of integrating these technologies. Augmented reality will permeate into each of our lives to redefine what it is to view an information based world.

The New Wave of Cloud Computing

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 26, 2009
The New Wave of Cloud Computing

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

The New Wave of Cloud Computing

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 4, 19th Oct’09

The “Cloud” is a metaphor for the internet, and the topic of cloud computing and web based services are quickly becoming a reality. Corporations of all sizes employ a lot of overhead simply to run their IT department. Of course, this is a necessity in order to manage a slew of computers that keep a business on its feet.

From servers to workstations to switches, there is a lot that goes into managing a network within a company. First, there is the initial investment of buying all the hardware and software required, which is followed by the operating costs of employing staff to manage the network and troubleshoot difficulties. Cloud computing alleviates much of the financial strain on companies by providing an external service instead of a dedicated in-house solution.

Currently, computers are purchased and upgraded by physically adding new components to make them faster and installing software locally to make them more usable. With a cloud controlled computing environment, all that would be required is to purchase a sort of terminal, which could be as simple as a monitor attached to a small computer capable of connecting to a network. This terminal connects to a server in the “cloud” and streams an operating system along with its software directly to the user.

With cloud computing, all computation and processing is done remotely on the server, therefore requiring very little processing power on the terminal’s part. Upgrading is simple as requesting more speed and power through the service instead of upgrading hardware locally. Likewise, software is purchased and installed just as easily on that user’s account.

Another beauty of cloud computing is allowing a user access from any terminal. Because terminal requirements are so low, one is just as good as any other. Even computers seen as outdated can utilize the full power of cloud computing, which makes the cost of computing decrease exponentially. The beginnings of the transition to cloud based computing can already be seen through several established and emerging technologies.

Google Docs is a prime example of the transition to cloud computing. If you have not had experience with it already, Google Docs gives you a full featured office suite where you can create and edit word documents, spreadsheets and more. What’s different is that its online and accessed through a web browser. This simplifies the process of moving documents around on disks and flash drives from computer to computer.

Microsoft has taken note of this new wave of web and cloud based services, and is poised to release its flagship Microsoft Office suite as free, web-accessible products. Documents can be created and edited, like Google Docs, and saved on a remote server accessible anywhere. The trend is toward more and more services accessed through the internet.

The infrastructure is not fully there yet to realize cloud computing for everyone. However, it is being slowly implemented within companies to manage the increasing number of computers in a more cost efficient way. Cloud computing is great for business, as it can reduce a lot of the costs in hardware, alleviate data loss problems and provide fewer barriers to entry.

Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 24, 2009
Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 3, 5th Oct’09

It’s the subject of numerous science fiction movies: the ability for an outside source to access your brain to identify what you are thinking. Scientists, led by Berkeley researchers Jack Gallant and Thomas Naselaris, have developed a method of reconstructing an image produced in your mind purely by tracking neural activity. The method involves using fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a specialized type of MRI scan that measures blood flow through the brain. The researchers focused on parts of the brain accountable for processing visual information. By monitoring active parts of the brain responsible for visual processing, they were successfully able to identify images within the brain. Currently, the technology allows researchers to pull an image from a large database that represents what a subject has seen– not quite a full reconstruction method. Through development, the technology is expected to make gains towards reconstructing visual images from scratch. That is where applications will really come into play.

Imagine being able to electronically search for pictures by using your mind. Simply thinking of a random object or a friend/acquaintance could one day produce that image on your personal computer. This could have far-reaching applications for new search platforms by, for instance, allowing you to navigate the web based solely on images produced by your brain. The days of simply thinking about what you want to say and seeing the words appear on a computer may quickly become a reality. In fact, the Bing search engine by Microsoft has already launched a new method of search dubbed “Visual Search”. It allows a user to search the internet by presenting them with a grid of images instead of using the typical text option we are all familiar with. Couple this with technology that allows images to be accessed directly from your brain and you have the ability to interact with the internet via your mind.

This technology could be adapted for a variety of uses. For example, consider the impact on the justice system. Investigations might utilize brain scans that depict the very scene of a crime from the point of view of a witness or culprit.

Image reconstruction may even alter the basic methods of computer operation. Identifying spoken words and language could pave the way for computer controlled interactions. In the near future, simply thinking about words and speech could produce them directly to your computer. The keyboard and mouse have been around since the birth of personal computers as our primary method of input. They remain two of the few technologies yet to be completely revolutionized. These devices are simply middle men in our interactions with computers. We think about words and images and rely on our fingers to produce what we were thinking. These technologies aim to cut out that primitive and inefficient process.

Who will be the new companies to emerge into the technology of computer-brain interactions? Although fully developed technologies might be decades away, the right insight and planning for this revolution could prove valuable. It is to be seen whether current leaders in the market will prepare and invest appropriately or if new, up-and-coming companies will seize the opportunity.

WiTricity will change the Tech Market

By
Nick Carson
Published: September 23, 2009
WiTricity will change the Tech Market

Article I wrote for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

View Article @ Warrington Times:
- WiTricity will change the Tech Market

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 1, 14th Sept’09

You’ve probably never heard of it, but there is a new technology that is emerging which could change the dynamics of the technology market in a huge way. It’s called WiTricity, and the concept is simple: Wireless Electricity.WiTricity is a technology developed by a MIT team led by Professor Marin Soljačić and it solves problems we all deal with everyday. We all carry laptops, cell phones and iPods around with us, and we all struggle with the problem of powering these devices.

Imagine now if all these devices could be powered without ever plugging them into an outlet. The technology uses electromagnetic resonance to transfer electricity wirelessly and safely over a distance of several meters. So the next time you come home and set your bag on the counter or sit in class at your desk, WiTricity could be automatically powering or charging your mobile devices. No more plugging in power adapters and messing around with all those cords.

The applications are limitless, everything from mobile electronics to wall mounted TV’s, medical devices, electric cars and more. The benefits are obvious of wireless power to the consumer, making our lives easier and removing some of our everyday headaches. The technology is real and was recently demonstrated in July at the TED Global conference by Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity.

TED WiTricity Video – Eric Giler

What does this all mean for the technology market and businesses? After WiTricity emerges, we could see a surge in its adoption across many markets. Companies could find themselves incorporating the technology directly into their products to allow consumers the ability to charge or power their devices wirelessly. In addition, they could be utilizing it to reduce costs and increase efficiency within their business. Dell, Apple, HP, Toshiba are all major corporations we could see in the coming years implementing wireless electricity into their mobile devices and laptops. Future versions of the iPhone will no longer ever need to be plugged into an outlet. Netbooks and laptops could throw away those ugly power adapters.

A wave of new products with wireless electricity would force companies to revamp their strategies. Consider the impact it will have on the battery market. Duracell (parent company Proctor and Gamble) and companies alike will need to innovate quickly if they want to stay in business.

With a widespread adoption of WiTricity, two things could happen: First, many products will do away with batteries all together such as remote controls, mice, keyboards- basically anything that stays in your house all the time. Second, mobile products like laptops and cell phones would integrate the technology, with most companies opting to have rechargeable batteries tied directly to the WiTricity component. If major battery companies fail tonotice the impact it could have, they might suffer the same fate as Kodak did when digital cameras first came on the scene.

WiTricity is just one of the many new technological innovations set to make a splash in the tech world in the coming years, possibly eliminating the need for batteries all together.

Will you be using WiTricity in the near future?

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