SCHAFT team tops scores at DARPA Robotics Challenge

SCHAFT team tops scores at DARPA Robotics Challenge

 For those wondering who of 16 competing teams would walk away as top performers in the two-day DARPA Robotics Challenge in Florida over the weekend, the suspense is over. SCHAFT, a Japanese company newly acquired by Google, won the most points, 27 out of a possible 32. SCHAFT outscored some formidable big-name contenders such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and NASA. IHMC Robotics placed second. Third place went to Tartan Rescue, from Carnegie Mellon University, and fourth place was awarded to a team from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. The fifth-place went to RoboSimian, designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

 All in all, there were eight top scorers. Team TRACLabs, WRECS (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) and Team TROOPER (Lockheed Martin) were the next three. The eight teams now have the opportunity to continue their work with the help of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funding and are to compete in the finals event where one team will net the $2 million prize at the end of 2014. The Finals will require robots to attempt a circuit of consecutive physical tasks with degraded communications between the robots and their operators.
DARPA said that the 16 teams at this year's challenge in Miami represented a mix of government, academic and commercial backgrounds. They were not only from the United States, but also from South Korea and Japan. SCHAFT's high scores were impressive as the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC), established to advance state of the art in humanoid robot competition, is considered as a baseline on the current state of robotics. The event is a marker for assessing the evolution of robots in hazardous first-responder environments, a demonstration of what is so far possible in pushing technologies closer to the point where robots will help out in a range of rescue tasks quickly, efficiently and with minimal human interaction.

 The robots in the latest challenge had to complete eight tasks including climbing up-and-down a ladder, and removing obstacles and debris. Narito Suzuki, COO at SCHAFT, in a video showing the entry, pointed out their bipedal robot's strength and stability in navigating its way around.

 Video: SCHAFT : DARPA Robotics Challenge 8 Tasks + Special Walking

 The company has its roots in the University of Tokyo's JSK Laboratory. Interestingly, earlier this year IEEE Spectrum called attention to SCHAFT as a Japanese startup that had announced a breakthrough in motor technology that may bypass the limitations of existing systems. The April article said the company had developed a kind of actuator that may make robotic muscles much stronger. IEEE Spectrum also remarked that the DARPA challenge "will be a great opportunity for SCHAFT to show off its innovative motors. A good performance at the competition would compel the next generation of humanoid robots, in Japan and elsewhere, to adopt the technology."

 Video: DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials Day One Wrap

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 source: phys.org

Get Left 4 Dead 2 from Steam for free!

Left 4 Dead 2, for free on Steam until 26/12

 Valve is celebrating in a special way this year, offering the game Left 4 Dead 2 for free until 26/12 8pm (GMT+2) at night.

 A fantastic gift from Valve, which has demolished the servers of the Steam store. All you have to do in order to get it is to go here on the game's page and click Install Game. It's the same if you press Install Game through the desktop application of Steam.

 As noted by the L4D blog, for the game to stay permanently in your account, you will need to install it. Unknown if they just need to click Install or download partially or totally.

 If the Steam store does not load or crashes try again soon!

_______________________________________________________________________________ source: insomnia.gr

The 12 cyber-scams of Christmas

 This Christmas looks like being a bumper one for online shopping but not everyone is filled with the festive spirit and some have already set online traps they hope you will fall into.

 Here are twelve cyber-scams to watch out for this Christmas:

The first scam of Christmas is phishing

 

Don't get hooked by fake messages

 They've been around for years and we've all received a version.
Fraudsters send you a message and attempt to make you click on a link to a fake site or open some malware that infects your machine.
 They may be old but they have evolved and some are very cleverly targeted (known as spear phishing). Imagine you are placing orders on a well-known website for gifts. Suddenly you receive an email - apparently from that very site - saying that there is a problem with your last order and can you please "click here" to attend to the problem.
 Logos, email addresses, even the link might look genuine but you'll get more than you bargained for if you do as the email asks. Check twice and click once.

The second scam of Christmas is the fake virus checker

 

Beware of alerts promising to knock out malware that doesn't really exist

 You search for that elusive gift, and finally you're led to a site that appears to sell just what your nearest and dearest want.
 But wait, a message flashes up saying that your machine is infected… but don't worry just download the free virus check shown and your problem will be solved.
 By downloading it you will actually be infecting your machine and your problems will only just have begun. Install a good virus checker before you go online.

The third scam of Christmas is the fake upgrade

 

Promised upgrades don't always deliver

 As the Christmas spirit gets going we all send each other links to jokes and videos, on Facebook, by email and via Twitter.
 Now imagine you arrive at one of these sites and it tells you that you don't have the latest Flash

 Player so you can't watch that funny video, but not to worry click here and you can get your upgraded player immediately.
 Not only will this "upgrade" be malware but that malware will go on to send messages to all your friends telling them to go see the "funny" video.

The fourth scam of Christmas is the "current news scam"

 

Fraudsters are more than willing to take advantage of the news

 People will use major world events to scam you out of money, regardless of how sad the event may have been. We saw it with Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
 Difficult to believe in a season of goodwill but before the aid agencies had reached the poor people affected there were already scam emails and associated websites asking you to donate.
 They look genuine but don't be fooled. The money goes nowhere but to the scammers.

The fifth scam of Christmas is the illegal "cracked" download

 

Beware offers of "cracked" products offered on the net

 Many will be buying laptops or other computing devices for under the tree.
They are expensive and there are many tempting offers to buy incredibly cheap operating systems, office products or other tasty goodies. There are even more tempting opportunities to download "free" copies of "cracked" pirated software.
 However, not only are you likely to find that the download is an illegal copy - and may not actually run or has an invalid key - but also that it comes with a hidden present: malware.
 Buy from reputable sites and remember if it's too good to be true then it probably is.

The sixth scam of Christmas is the drive-by download

 

When speeding through sites take care with links that take you to unexpected places

 Sadly you do not have to agree to download software from a malicious site for it to happen. There are ways in which malware can be wheedled on to your machine just by visiting a site.
 We all roam randomly around the internet, especially when looking for presents, so it is hard to avoid such sites. However, try to watch for a trail that leads you into totally uncharted waters. It's difficult, but think before you click.
 And, keep your virus checker and your browser up to date. Both increasingly afford some protection again this type of scam.

The seventh scam of Christmas is the fake free wi-fi

 

Be suspicious of wi-fi connections labelled "free" if you do not know who is providing them

 For those who do venture out you will doubtless take refuge at some point in somewhere like a coffee shop, and often it appears to have free wi-fi.
 Such wi-fi connections should be considered insecure, so you should not visit any site where you need to enter credentials, card details or the like.
 All of that might be visible to others who can monitor your insecure connection to the free wi-fi.

The eighth scam of Christmas is the wi-fi probe

 

Are you aware of all the information your mobile is sending?

 Something few realise is that when we connect our mobile phone to a wi-fi, it keeps a record of the connection.
 Thereafter if the device is not connected to a hotspot, it continues to send out requests to connect to all the previous networks to which it had linked.
 These can be read and we are revealing all wi-fis we have previously joined.

 In effect, your movements can be tracked and often your home network will even reveal where you live just by the name you have given it.
 Don't give scammers information they might use against you in some form of con.

The ninth scam of Christmas is a combination of the last two

 

Leaving your wi-fi switched on all the time can leave you exposed

 If you keep your mobile wi-fi turned on there are methods whereby, as your mobile sends out a request to connect to a hotspot, a scammer can then pretend to be that very wi-fi.
 Your mobile is relieved to have found a connection it knows and so attempts to create a link, potentially giving away your wi-fi password.
 Worse still, your mobile might think it has a secure connection and start to send other data that can be picked up by the scammer.
 This and the two previous scams can all be stopped by simply turning off your wi-fi on your mobile's settings when not on a hotspot you trust.

The 10th scam of Christmas is the insecure website

 

Look out for a padlock in your browser to check you have a secure connection

 Whether intentional or not, some websites still ask you for your credit card details - and much other valuable personal data - without offering a secure connection.
 Know how your browser tells you that you have a secure connection - look for the padlock symbol or change of coloured address bar or whatever it is.
 If you don't have a secure connection don't trust that site with your details.

 They either can't be bothered, in which case they don't deserve your custom, or they're a fake.
Even if it is a secure connection make sure you click on the padlock symbol or similar to check that the site is registered to who you think it is.

The 11th scam of Christmas is the Man In The Middle (MiTM)

 

A Man in the Middle add-on may be watching over everything you are doing

 There is no point in having a secure connection to your bank or shopping site if there is a piece of software sitting on your machine that can read all of the data before it is secured for transmission.
 A particularly common MiTM scam is for a "helper" application that has been installed to make your life easier when using your browser.
 This helper may be helping itself to anything you enter on the screen.

 The safest way to avoid this is to ensure that you have no "add-ins" running.
If you know how, you can try this by manually configuring your browser but there are tools available, often from the banks free of charge, to do this for you.

The 12th scam of Christmas is the nastiest of them all: the phone call

 

It is worth being sceptical about whether the person calling you is who they say they are

 You're having trouble with that new laptop you bought as a present. You've just about got it running but you can't quite figure out how to finish it off.
 All of a sudden the phone rings and a voice says: "This Microsoft/Apple/Google/Dell/HP we see that you have managed to connect to the internet using one of our machines/software but look like you could do with some support. We're here to help you. All we need is your username and password…"

 These scammers work on the principle that eventually they will find someone in exactly that position and upon receiving such a call the frustrated user is very likely not to question but rather welcome the caller.

 All this caller is trying to do is help themselves to your login details and steal valuable data from your machine.

 Sadly, there are more than 12 scams to watch out for, but be particularly aware of those scams that take advantage of the time of year.

 Context is everything to the successful scam. If it appears relevant, useful or personal it is much more likely to succeed.


 Prof Alan Woodward lectures at the University of Surrey's department of computing and is chief technology officer at the consultancy Charteris.

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by By Prof Alan Woodward Department of Computing, University of Surrey
 source: bbc.co.uk

Great mistake the full charge of the mobile's battery!

Great mistake the full charge of the mobile's battery!

 According to reports the charging to 100% of the mobile's battery is not the smartest move to make...

 This article will certainly overturns everything we believed so far about the battery's of mobile phones, as we've found out the the full charge of the mobile's battery reduces the battery's life.

 Thereby for someone to keep the mobile's battery performance at peak long enough, the right thing to do is charge from 40% until it charges to 80% and not 100% and it would be wise  that the battery will never go to 0%.

 Unsurprisingly, the news has caused a lot of comments in the technological community because the news has overturn everything we knew until today for the charging of the mobile phone's battery based on manifacturer instructions of mobile phone...

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 source: greektech-news.blogspot.gr

5 Genius Tech Gifts

5 Genius Tech Gifts You Should Buy

 If you're like me, then you haven't done your holiday shopping yet.
Shame on us!
 But no need to panic. We've got you covered with some last-minute gift ideas -- and info on how you can still get them -- that will ensure that next year you don't end up with a lump of coal in your stocking.

Chromecast ($29-$35)

 A small, simple and inexpensive way to watch Netflix, YouTube and HBO Go (among others) or listen to music on your television. Plug it into your TV's HDMI port, connect it into a power source and to your Wi-Fi network and follow the simple setup instructions. It's compatible with both iOS and Android phones and tablets, Google's Chromebook Pixel and Mac and Windows computers.

Where to buy:

 It costs $35, but a number of retailers, including Best Buy and Amazon, have it listed online for $29. You can also find it in Best Buy, Staples and Walmart stores.

 I don't leave home without my Kindle, and I read much more because I have it. You have access to a huge selection of books, it's small and light enough to hold with one hand, the battery lasts seemingly forever and the e-ink display is easy on the eyes.

 Kindles start at $69, and the newest Kindle Paperwhite, which was announced in September, boasts an eight-week battery life and can hold more than 1,000 titles. It starts at $119.

Where to buy:

 An Amazon spokesperson said that people who order before 9 p.m. on Dec. 23 and choose 1-day shipping will still have a Kindle in time for Christmas. You can also purchase Kindles at stores like Amazon, Kmart, Best Buy, Staples, OfficeMax and Radio Shack,

Jawbone Mini Jambox ($179.99)

 Despite its size, this little speaker packs a lot of punch. Unlike some other Bluetooth speakers I've tried, it's extremely easy to pair with your devices, whether it's a computer, tablet or smartphone. It's designed beautifully and has surprisingly good sound quality and bass, especially for its size. The battery lets you play tunes for at least 10 hours continuously.

Where to buy:

You can order Mini Jambox by Dec. 22 from Jawbone's online store and select standard FedEx overnight shipping. But if you want to save on shipping costs, it's also available at a number of brick and mortar retailers, including Amazon, AT&T, Apple, Best Buy Target and Verizon.

Anki Drive ($199):

 For a brief moment recently, I was the most popular guy in the office. Pretty much every time someone walked by, they'd stop to talk to me.
 It was because I was playing Anki Drive, which is essentially the physical incarnation of a race-car video game. Players control cars -- which miraculously stay on an included mat-like racetrack -- with their compatible iPhones, iPads or iPods, and use weapons and tractor beams to try to rack up enough points for victory.
 The kit comes with two cars and everything you need -- except for compatible iOS devices -- to start driving. Nobody to play with? No problem. You can play against a car that, thanks to artificial intelligence (Anki is the brainchild of Carnegie Mellon University robotics PhDs), knows where you are and will probably beat you … at least at first.
 The cars only last for about 20 minutes on a charge, though they can be recharged in about eight minutes. Anki Drive is definitely pricey, but it's guaranteed to induce some smack-talk around the Christmas tree.

Where to buy:

 On Anki's website -- you can order up to 3 p.m. on Dec. 23, select overnight shipping and it will arrive by Christmas. It's also sold at the Amazon, Apple Store.

iPad Air (Starts at $499)

 What's most impressive for me about the iPad Air, which came out this fall, is the size and weight. (This shouldn't be that surprising, based on its name.) If you're used to an iPad that's a few years old, which I am, then this really feels like a completely different tablet.
 It's 20 percent thinner and about 30 percent lighter than its predecessor, and Apple upped the processing power by adding the 64-bit A7 chip. The battery is supposed to last for 10 hours. It's great for traveling and commuting (if you're a passenger or taking public transportation, not if you're driving). It's certainly more expensive than other tablets out there, like the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" and Google's Nexus 10, but if the person you're buying for already has other Apple products (and, of course, likes them), the iPad Air won't disappoint.
 But I tend to agree with David Pogue's assessment: If the person you're thinking about buying an iPad for has one that's only a year or two old, you may want to pass on it. But if you're considering buying the iPad Air for someone who doesn't have a tablet or has the first generation iPad, this is a great option.

Where to buy:

 Apple's online store holiday deadline has passed, so your best bet to get an iPad in time for Christmas is at an Apple Store or a retailer like Amazon, Best Buy, Target or Walmart.

Swiss researchers created a cube that can sit, jump and walk

Swiss researchers created a cube that can sit, jump and walk.

 Swiss researchers have created a metallic cube that can "walk" across a surface. Staff at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich crammed a series of inertia sensors and constantly-spinning rotors (called reaction wheels) into a 15-centimeter cube, dubbed Cubli, that enable the contraption to move around on its own. When one or more of the weighted rotors abruptly stops spinning, the machine sort of jumps on its edge -- all thanks to centrifugal force. Once upended, the rotors act like a gyroscope to maintain Cubli's position. Halt another wheel and things get really crazy: the device defies gravity, tipping up and balancing on one of its eight corners. By repeating these motions in succession, the gizmo uses a series of controlled falls to slowly hop across a surface. In terms of practical applications, the Swiss researchers said this tech could aid in remote planetary exploration, possibly giving the Curiosity rover and its ilk some company. All noble goals, but for now the lab says that Cubli is just a high-tech toy. And that? That's perfectly fine.

 Here is a video about it: The Cubli: a cube that can jump up, balance, and 'walk'

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 source: engadget.com

News, Progress, Etheral Aspirations

News, Progress, Etheral Aspirations

 Hello.

 Some serious progress has been made to our game since last time, so we decided to put some pictures of the in-game content. The pictures are mostly external areas and a couple interiors of buildings, dynamic lighting is the basic feature of the internal dark areas that gives a very nice atmosphere.
 Please check our games page and tell what you think.

         Link: Etheral Aspirations main page

Thanks

Sea turtle robot

U-CAT: The robotic sea turtle for the exploration of shipwrecks

 Valuable assistance to the archaeologists and researchers of the seabed is expected to offer a new robotic turtle the U-CAT, mostly in places that are either too deep or too dangerous for humans.

 The robotic turtle has 4 blades that allow movement in all directions, camera to record and convey it's findings to the land also it's autonomous which means it can sail in deep waters without being limited by cables.

 Shortly the turtle should be able to explore shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea under the program ARROWS of the European Union. 

See it in action in the video below:  U-CAT, Centre for Biorobotics

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source: digitalnews.gr

The Google purchased the Boston Dynamics

The Google has purchased the Boston Dynamics

 The Google purchased the Boston Dynamics as stated in the New York Times. The company builds robots that have the ability to run jump and walk. One of the robot called Cheetah has the ability to run faster than Usain Bolt.

This is the 8th purchase of Google in the field of robotics, which highlights the interest of the company for expansion in this area.

Interesting is the fact that Boston Dynamics had previously worked for the Pentagon making research robots, the New York Times reports that while Google will honor these actions and will not void contracts, no plans has been made for expansion to the military section.

Check out the video:  Cheetah Robot runs 28.3 mph; a bit faster than Usain Bolt

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source: insomnia.gr

Tech-news

Bean-Tech (Games) presents Tech-news!

 Form now on our blog's main page will be hosting various posts about Tech-news arround the world everyday.

So here is the first one: