John Roach » tech news

Emotiv, what the future will bring?

John Roach — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:40:05 +0000

Based on the latest developments in neurotechnology, the Emotiv EPOC is a revolutionary, new personal interface for human computer interaction.The Emotiv EPOC is a high resolution, neuro-signal acquisition and processing wireless neuroheadset. It uses a set of sensors to tune into electric signals produced by the brain to detect player thoughts, feelings and expressions and connects wirelessly to most PCs.

Now think of connecting your home appliances, your car and your PC to this magnificent gadget. The possibilities do seem limitless. Emotiv seems to have the best learning algorithms available in the consumer electronics world which makes it possible for prospective developers to develop 3rd party applications and interfaces. Just watch the video below! And yes the developer tools can work with Microsoft Visual Studio

EMOTIV Demo

A Cyborg Composer

John Roach — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:05:40 +0000

Hi. There. Before you read this post please listen to these music pieces.

Listen here for the first peace here : Emily Howell 1

Or download from here : Emily Howell 1

Listen to the second peace from here: Emily Howell 2

Or download from here : Emily Howell 2

Enjoyed it? Which one felt odd? The first one? The second one?

Now the crux of the matter. Which do you think was written by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) ?

Both pieces above were written by a computer software. Designed by David Cope.

A short wiki search on David Cope :

UC Santa Cruz emeritus professor David Cope is ready to introduce computer software that creates original, modern music. (Catherine Karnow)

David Cope (b. San Francisco, California, United States, May 17, 1941) is an American author, composer, scientist, and professor emeritus of music at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His primary area of research involves artificial intelligence and music; he writes programs and algorithms that can analyze existing music and create new compositions in the style of the original input music. In addition to regular music classes, he teaches a summer Workshop in Algorithmic Computer Music that is open to the public as well as a general education course entitled Artificial Intelligence and Music for enrolled UCSC students.

His software has started angering people who believe music can only written with soul. And the above is nothing more than random notes. However what they don’t realize is that maybe your computer gains its soul with this neat little software.

I do believe that one day computers will gain their full sentience. They will be aware and start asking the serious questions. And I do believe that creating music by using AI software is just brilliant.

Tell me what you think! Is this music real enough for you?

Peace!

LCD screen can recognise what happens in front of it

John Roach — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:47:19 +0000

Robots go Open Source!! Thanks to Willow Garage Watch Video

John Roach — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:13:38 +0000

MIT’s Shape-Shifting Robots (Audio Slide Show)

John Roach — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:05 +0000

Giving Small Robots New Ways to Move (IEEE)

John Roach — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:57:17 +0000

I always thought that there should be smaller robots. We do have the technology. Look at your PDAs,IPhones and HTC model telephones. All are actually sophisticated computers. Why not use this technology to make smaller bots? And while making them smaller why not make the so they can move easily through. After all a cockroach can go to places where you would usually say “How in the hell did it get up there?”.

These 10 years are about bio-robots. By tagging the name of bio-robots I mean robots that act and move like insects and other simple life forms. And if we can perfect our way in constructing and programming such robots we will find out how to make androids!! ( Probably going too far.) I hope to maybe get my hand on some part to make my own. But I just really don’t have the time .