‘Spider-like senses’ could help autonomous machines see better
By: Purdue University May 29, 2019 What if drones and self-driving cars had the tingling “spidey senses” of Spider-Man? They might actually detect and avoid objects better, says Andres Arrieta, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, because they would process sensory information faster. Better sensing capabilities would make it possible for drones […]
Virtual reality: how women are taking a leading role in the sector
By: Tola Onanuga May 28, 2019 Despite a well-documented gender imbalance within the tech industry, a survey suggests that when it comes to VR, women are starting to take up leadership roles in greater numbers When the Arab spring uprising began in 2010, film-maker Tamara Shogaolu was living in Egypt. As she travelled around the […]
New ranking reveals corporate tax havens behind breakdown of global corporate tax system; toll of UK’s tax war exposed
By: Mark Bou Mansour March 28, 2017 Decades of tax wars among the world’s richest countries are unravelling the century-old global corporate tax system, new research finds. Forty per cent of today’s cross-border direct investments reported by the IMF – $18 trillion in value – are being booked in just 10 countries that offer corporate […]
Robocrop: world’s first raspberry-picking robot set to work
By: Julia Kollewe and Rob Davies May 26, 2019 Quivering and hesitant, like a spoon-wielding toddler trying to eat soup without spilling it, the world’s first raspberry-picking robot is attempting to harvest one of the fruits. After sizing it up for an age, the robot plucks the fruit with its gripping arm and gingerly deposits […]
FDA approves Novartis’ $2.1 million gene therapy — making it the world’s most expensive drug
By: Berkeley Lovelace Jr., Angelica LaVito May 24, 2019 The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Novartis’ $2.1 million gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy — making it the world’s most expensive drug. The therapy, Zolgensma, is a one-time treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, a muscle-wasting disease and leading genetic cause of infant mortality […]
MobiKa: A low-cost mobile robot that can assist people in a variety of settings
By: Ingrid Fadelli May 23, 2019 Researchers at Fraunhofer IPA, in Stuttgart, Germany, have recently developed MobiKa, a low-cost, mobile robot capable of two-modal (voice and text) interactions with humans. Their robot, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could be particularly useful for assisting elderly people. Recent advances in robotics have enabled the development […]
NHS to sign up patients for ‘virtual’ A&E in tech revolution
By: Denis Campbell May 23, 2019 Millions of patients will be encouraged to use digital technology to assess how ill they are under a groundbreaking initiative by a leading NHS hospital, as part of a drive to reduce the use of A&E and outpatient appointments. A revolution in the NHS’s embrace of technology will see […]
MIT’s new robot takes orders from your muscles
By: Rob Verger May 23, 2019 Imagine you’re lifting a couch with a friend. You’re both at opposite ends, and need to communicate as to when to heft it up. You could go for it at the count of three, or maybe, if you’re mentally in sync, with a nod of the head. Now let’s […]
New Research Warns of ‘Normal Accident’ From AI in Modern Warfare
By: Adam Dachis May 23, 2019 Artificial intelligence provides vital solutions to some very complex problems but remains a looming threat as we consider its applications on the battlefield. New research details the impending risks and pins the fate of humanity on complex choices we will face in the near future. A new paper from […]