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Inachus floating mansion launches in London

London based Sanitov Studio launched its stylish and sustainable floating home during the London Design Festival, which opened earlier this month. Named after the Greek mythical river god, “Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion. Spread over two levels, the home comes complete with designer furnishings, botanical garden wall, wooden floorboards, floor to ceiling windows, a rooftop deck, intelligent lighting system and photovoltaic panels for off-the-grid energy supply.

“The whole house has been made from a dedicated relationship with, and inherited sense of, the Scandinavian design approach,” Sanitov Studio’s lead designer, Alexander Hamilton Hose, told Gizmag. “The home is inspired by what the possibilities of the mobility of a boat and the solidity of a house can bring in one vision, including playing on the natural surroundings of the river.”

The Inachus prototype took nine months to complete as it was Sanitov’s first floating build and by its nature a few design features had to be adjusted. The home incorporates the use of sustainable and recyclable materials, such as fast-growing bamboo, reused industrial wood and recyclable concrete. The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall, a large skylight and an electric hatch that brings you up to the rooftop BBQ area and hot tub.

At the heart of the home’s hi-tech features is a Lutron light control system, which allows the home’s inhabitants to control all lighting aspects remotely using a smart phone or tablet. By using an internet connection, this function can be accessed from anywhere in the world, giving users the option to check if all the lights have been turned off or if on vacation, to remotely turn on the lights in the bedroom or living room to give the impression that someone is home.
The system has also been programmed to turn on the lights at an 80 percent capacity to save energy. Furthermore, the lights can be synced with the alarm system, causing them to flash on and off when triggered. This feature would obviously attract more attention to the home, while also making it more difficult for the intruder to see.

To further maintain a low carbon footprint, the Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. According to Sanitov, it is one of only 40 homes in the U.K. to boast an Energy Level 5 status, which equates to 100 percent energy efficiency. In addition, the home catches and utilizes grey water for the cleaning of the boat and for watering the internal botanical wall.

Sanitov Studio has a range of floating home builds in the pipeline and it is currently working on getting permission for a floating community in London. “It's lately gotten very popular and trendy to live in the water areas – and that's just the start,” said Hose. “Floating homes in floating communities have so many things to offer our urbanized cities and it’s only a matter of time before we will see them scaling up from niche to a phenomenon [and] help solve sustainable and socioeconomic problems to our growing cities all over the world.”

Prices for a Sanitov floating home like Inachus start from £750,000 (US$1.2 million) to build without a mooring. However, the Inachus prototype launched in London is currently for sale with its 60 year residential mooring license for £2.3 million (US$3.65 million).

World's biggest multi-touch wall created with two dozen MultiTaction displays

UK-based Engage Production has just stacked 24 MultiTaction Cell displays in the new "Executive Brand Suite" of an un-named City of London client to create the world's largest multi-touch interactive wall. Measuring some 9.9 x 3 m (32.48 x 9.84 ft), including the base, the monster installation's separate screens function as one huge touch display, capable of tracking and registering an unlimited number of simultaneous touch points.

The 55-inch MultiTaction Cell displays that make up the multi-touch interactive wall are manufactured by Finland's MultiTouch Ltd, creators of the Twitter Wall that impressed at CES 2011. This latest gigantic wall of touch forms part of a fully integrated and unique communications facility developed to showcase consumer changes resulting from advances in technology.

As you can see in the following demonstration video, all of the display cell modules used in the creation work as one to register and track an unlimited number of user hands, real world objects, optical markers, and IR pens at a gesture tracking rate of 200 frames per second. Users can also interact wirelessly with the installation using tablets.

In related news, MultiTouch Ltd has also announced the development of a new ultra thin bezel (UTB) MultiTaction Cell display. The bezel at the bottom and left of the new 55-inch unit is just 1.9 mm, and the right and top is 3.8 mm, a significant reduction on the stackable cells used for the monster wall in London (16 mm for the bottom and sides, 17 mm at the top).


The company says that the dramatic size reduction has been made possible by its patented optical imaging technology Computer Vision Through Screen, which integrates touch sensors into the LCD backlight modules. The system boasts the same fast tracking and unlimited simultaneous touch point capabilities as existing Cells, and is also network-enabled.
The new UTB Cell will be made available from the end of this month, with details of pricing available on request. In the meantime, here's a video showing six stacked UTB Cells in action.

Future Robot introduces new kiosk robot and sells 100 robots to Brazil

Future Robot has unveiled a new service robot called FURO-K that will function as a friendly kiosk. The company claims that people often prefer to wait in line to speak with a human employee rather than using an intimidating kiosk, so it has been designed to look cute and inviting. Furthermore, instead of sitting in a corner, the robot scoots around greeting customers in a synthesized voice to explain its features.

The robot comes with an integrated circuit card (ICC) reader, and near field communication (NFC) for non-contact data transactions. If you're old-fashioned it will also accept credit card payments and can print you a receipt. The company has already sold the robot to major hospitals in Korea and will begin providing services this month.

However, the real story is a recent purchase order from Brazil for one hundred FURO robots. That version of the robot has an anime-inspired female face and can function as a waitress. The plan is to deploy the robots as mobile advertisement and information kiosks at various Brazilian venues, such as airports and malls. The company has also sold units to Japan, China, and France.

“The key strength of Future Robot, in my opinion, is its human-robot interaction technology which is compatible with all other robots. As Steve Jobs ushered in a new smart society with the convergence of art and technology, I hope that Future Robot will pioneer the new robot age with the convergence of robots and technology.” said Future Robot's CEO, Se-kyong Song, who started the company following stints at Samsung and Philips robot research labs after graduating from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Hitachi develops "incorruptible" glass-based data storage technique

Back when compact discs were first coming out, they were touted as being able to store data “forever.” As it turns out, given no more than a decade or so, they can and do degrade. According to an AFP report, Hitachi has unveiled a system that really may allow data to last forever – or at least, for several hundred million years. It involves forming microscopic dots within a piece of quartz glass, those dots serving as binary code.

The idea is that eons after the dots are applied to the glass, a person (or whatever’s around then) should be able to easily read them using nothing more than an optical microscope – no medium-specific device, such as a CD player, will be necessary. Hopefully, the concept of binary code will still be understood.

The current prototype measures two centimeters (0.8 inches) square by two millimeters thick, and incorporates four layers of dots. It currently has a memory capacity of 40 megabytes per square inch, which is roughly equivalent to that of a music CD. The researchers believe, however, that adding more layers to boost its capacity should be doable.
The glass square has withstood exposure to high-temperature flames along with various harsh chemicals, and survived being heated to 1,000º C (1,832º F) for two hours. Not surprisingly, it is also unaffected by radio waves or immersion in water. Of course, glass is breakable, although quartz is known for being particularly hard.

According to Hitachi, the technology may see its first practical use in storing information for government agencies, museums or religious organizations.

This is not the first time that glass has been experimentally used for super-long-term data storage. Scientists from the University of Southampton have been working with monolithic glass space-variant polarization converters, that are read using a laser.

Samsung announces Galaxy S III Mini smartphone

Samsung has announced its latest handset at a press event in Frankfurt, Germany. The four-inch Galaxy S III Mini is an Android-powered smartphone designed to provide a premium alternative to the company's larger Galaxy S III device.

The handset is aesthetically identical to the original Galaxy S III, albeit with a significantly reduced footprint (four inches compared to the original device's 4.8-inch effort). The internals, on the other hand, aren't quite on par with the flagship handset, featuring a dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, up to 16 GB storage and a WVGA AMOLED (800 x 480) display. The Mini is also slightly thicker than its namesake, coming in at 9.85 mm.

Despite the slightly disappointing specs, the Mini does boast some compelling features. The device will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, complete with the company's TouchWiz UI overlay which provides access to premium features such as the Siri-like S Voice. The handset also features NFC connectivity and a 5MP rear camera capable of recording 720p video. The Galaxy S III Mini will not have 4G LTE connectivity.

Although the reduced screen size of the device may be appealing to many users, the performance premium here may make it difficult for it to compete with the iPhone 5, which features a similar (though much higher resolution) four-inch display. We're also not convinced that the device is deserving of the premium Galaxy S name, and there is potential that it may lead to a dilution of the premium perception of the brand.

There is currently no word on a release date or pricing for the device, but it's likely that it will hit a significantly lower price point than both the original Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5.

Washit cleans you and your clothes simultaneously

Water is a precious resource and in places like Australia and the U.K., the onset of summer coincides with restrictions on water use – hosepipes for watering gardens are banned, and showers are recommended over baths. But even taking a shower uses a fair amount of water, which all ends up down the drain. The same goes for doing laundry. If only there was a way to combine the two into one unified unit.

There is, or at least there could be in the future. Four university students in Turkey have collectively designed Washit, a concept shower and washing machine combo that's capable of cleaning you and your clothes simultaneously.

 Washit uses a closed-water plumbing system that collects the greywater from the shower outlet and stores it in a tank ready for washing laundry. Before the greywater reaches your clothes it passes through a series of three filters - carbon, organic, and chemical - to ensure your laundry doesn't emerge dirtier than when it went in to the machine. These filters can be removed for cleaning or replacement at any time.


The designers of Washit imagine the appliance will be used both in domestic and public settings. In a domestic setting the washing machine door is on the outside so that laundry can be deposited at any time. But in a public setting this would be switched around so that the door is on the inside. The user could then step in to the shower and remove their clothing in situ ready for washing. Washit can then dry the clothes ready for the user to put them back on before they leave the unit in the same outfit as they were wearing when they entered. Except both the user and their clothes would be clean and fresh.

 The Washit concept won the Hansgrohe Prize 2012: Efficient Water Design at the iF Concept Design Awards, with the judges noting, "This is an interesting combination ... a clever solution: identical components, resource-saving, aesthetic appeal, hygienic." The students are now at the prototyping stage, and figuring out the best way to take Washit from concept to reality.

Implications of Apple’s new Lightning connector

It may still lack a micro SD card slot and didn’t get the much-rumored NFC capabilities, but the most controversial change ushered in with the new iPhone 5 – as well as the updated iPod touch and iPod nano – was undoubtedly the introduction of the new “Lightning” connector. So just what does the switch from the 30-pin connector to the new 8-pin connector mean for consumers?

Apple has a history of being ruthless when it comes to dropping technology it believes is past its use-by date. The company dumped floppy disk drives from its iMac G3 in 1998 and ditched the optical drive from its MacBook Air in 2008 and MacBook Pro with Retina display earlier this year. It also phased out the Mini-DVI from 2008 in favor of the Mini DisplayPort. Now the 30-pin connector is joining the list.

Technology has advanced quite a bit since the 30-pin connector replaced FireWire on the third-generation iPods back in 2003. So it’s not surprising to find the new Lightning connector has a number of advantages over its predecessor. It is reversible, meaning it doesn’t matter which way something is plugged into it, and it is faster and more durable. Apple also describes it as all-digital and adaptive, meaning that it adapts to use only the signals required by whatever is plugged into it.
But it’s the 80 percent reduction in size compared to the 30-pin connector that has allowed Apple to significantly reduce the thickness of the three new Lightning connector-toting iOS devices unveiled yesterday. And in the gadget world where thin is in, the days of the 30-pin connector have long been numbered.

But what does it mean for consumers weighing up a potential purchase? If you’re new to the Apple fold then the new connector won’t really have any impact at all. The same applies for those upgrading from a previous model but who haven’t shelled out on any Made for iPod accessories. However, given the tremendous popularity of such accessories, these people will be in the minority.
No, the chorus of disapproval has come from those who have already invested in docks and other accessories built around the 30-pin connector. In an attempt to quell this chorus, Apple has announced a number of accessories to provide backwards compatibility with existing accessories, but these come at a price. A Lightning to 30-pin Adapter retails for US$29, while a 20 cm (7.8 in) Lightning to 30-pin Adapter cable sells for $39. There’s also a Lightning to USB Cable that retails for $19.

Even individuals are likely to complain about the extra expense, but spare a thought for businesses, such as hotels or gyms, that have invested in large numbers of 30-pin compatible iOS accessories. The cost of adding compatibility with the new Lightning connector through (easily pilfered) adapters is a much bigger problem.

Aside from waiting for the inevitable budget "knock off" adapters, there is another alternative. Wireless. There are already devices such as the CoolStream Bluetooth Receiver for iDock that plug into a dock to give it Bluetooth capabilities. While such devices allow you to go on using your existing accessories, the obvious downside is that the dock will no longer charge the mobile device.
That leaves upgraders just one more option. Passing your old dock or accessory onto a friend or family member and shelling out for one of the new Lightning connector compatible units set to hit store shelves in the near future. After all, Apple could really use the money.

Microsoft wants to turn your living room into a holodeck

Microsoft is beginning to emerge from what some have called "the missing decade" as a company eager to innovate and forge the future rather than be dragged along into it by its competitors. The Xbox brand is very much part of popular culture, and the Xbox 360 is expected to be superseded by a successor in 2013. But Microsoft is looking even further forward than that, with a recently revealed patent application suggesting the company wants to turn living rooms into something akin to the holodecks featured in Star Trek.

Although video gaming has evolved over the years – from the Atari classics of old to the innovative gems revealed at Gamescom 2012, they have for the most part remained stuck within the parameters of a flat display. There have been efforts to immerse gamers more fully in the experience, but when Nintendo's Virtual Boy remains one of the better attempt it's clear to see why none have become "the next big thing."

The Wii brought motion-control to gaming in a big, bold way, and the concept was promptly mimicked by both Sony (Playstation Move) and Microsoft (Xbox Kinect). These systems allow gamers to control characters in a more natural way, but the environments remain within the confines of a flat display.

Microsoft patent application number 20120223885, as filed in early-2011, relates to an "immersive display experience." It describes a system for bringing console gaming out from beyond the television screen and into the real world. The humble television set would still show the game's main visuals, but a "peripheral image" would be displayed onto all four walls of the room being used. The game's environment would then surround the player, with a depth-sensing camera system (Kinect is already capable of this) tracking the player's position so that they can, for example, "turn around and observe an enemy sneaking up from behind."

 

There is a new breed of virtual reality systems emerging, like the Oculus Rift and Sensics SmartGoggles gaming headsets, but this idea of bringing the gaming environment out into the living room itself could obliterate the need for such technology. Microsoft has already made great strides with Kinect, and Kinect 2 – likely to be a major force behind the company's next home console – could improve upon the concept even more. Which means this patent application, though merely a sci-fi staple at present, should be an attainable goal for the future.

Of course, in Star Trek the holodecks are enclosed rooms in which environments, objects, and people are displayed as though they were real. Technology still has a long road ahead in trying to turn holographic gaming into reality, but ideas like Microsoft's patent application are the first rung on that long ladder.

Slimmer iPod touch, new look iPod nano round-off Apple's big day

The announcement of the iPhone 5 might have been the focus of attention in Cupertino this morning, but Apple has also shown some love to the line that set it on the path to becoming the most valuable company in history – the iPod. Like the iPhone 5, the new iPod touch boasts a slimmed-down profile and 4-inch Retina display, while the new iPod nano sports a new form factor with a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display.

The new fifth-generation iPod touch shares a lot in common with the new iPhone 5. There’s the same 4-inch 16:9 display packing 1136 x 640 pixels, a front-facing FaceTime HD camera capable of shooting 1.2 MP stills and 720 p video at up to 30 fps, and the inclusion of Apple’s homegrown Maps app. It also features the new Lightning connector that means that physically connecting the new iPod touch to an existing dock will require the additional purchase of a Lightning-to-30-pin adapter.
However, the touch’s 5 MP iSight camera, which can capture 1080p video at up to 30 fps, is a step down from the iPhone 5’s 8 MP offering. The device itself is also smaller and lighter, measuring 4.86 x 2.31 x 0.24 inches (123.4 x 58.6 x 6.1 mm) and weighing 3.1 oz (88 g). Powered by Apple’s A5 chip, the iPod touch now boasts Siri support and will come running iOS6. The device’s battery should provide up to 40 hours of music playback or up to eight hours of video playback. It is available in 32 GB and 64 GB capacities and for the first time will be offered in a choice of five colors.

iPod nano

 

The seventh-generation iPod nano ushers in yet another new form factor for the device. It now features a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display – the biggest yet for a nano – along with a home button, and is the thinnest iPod ever, measuring 0.21 in (5.4 mm) thick. In keeping with the iPhone 5 and new iPod touch, the nano’s display is in 16:9 aspect ratio, but at 240 x 432 pixel resolution and 202 ppi.
The new nano also sports Apple’s new Lightning connector, but adds Bluetooth connectivity. The FM radio remains, as does a pedometer and support for Nike+. Apple claims the new unit offers the longest music playback of any nano, clocking up 30 hours on a full charge. Ever the fashion accessory, the new nano will be offered in a choice of seven new colors that can be matched to wallpapers. The new nano will be available with 16 GB of storage.

Both the new iPod touch and iPod nano will also come with new Apple EarPods that Apple will no doubt hope addresses one of the biggest criticisms of its iPod line. Apple say the new EarPods up the acoustic quality and are more durable and comfortable.

Pricing and availability

The iPod touch will be released in October priced at US$299 for the 32 GB model and $399 for the 64 GB model, while the new iPod nano, also available in October, will retail at $149.