C this takes twice as long - an article
"Abbreviated "text speak" may save time, but takes twice as long to read than normal language, a study shows." (stuff.co.nz)
Technology(Wikipedia) "Technology is a broad concept that deals with a species'
usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species'
ability to control and adapt to its environment. In human society, it
is a consequence of science and engineering..."
1 Definition and usage
2 Science, engineering and technology
3 History
4 Technology and society
5 Technology and philosophy 5.1 Technicism 5.2 Optimism 5.3
Pessimism 5.4 Appropriate technology 6 Other species
7 See also 7.1 Theories and concepts in technology 7.2 Economics
of technology...
Technology in 2012: year in review
"Technology has never been more important than it is today, and it has shaped 2012 in ways that few could have imagined at the beginning." (telegraph.co.uk)
SmartThings "makes it easy to connect the things in your physical world to the Internet.
You can monitor, control, automate, and have fun with them from anywhere - at home, office, or on the go. We've made it possible to install apps that interact with your SmartThings, as well as online and other services.
This unlocks a world of possibilities and and unlimited potential to make your life easier, more convenient and fun.
We call these SmartApps." (kickstarter.com)
Will we ever… create intelligent robots?
"Walking, talking androids have been a sci-fi staple for decades, but as John Pavlus reports building one in reality is still a matter of getting the right parts and smarts." + Will we ever... pass the Turing Test for computers? "As the latest set of contestants fail the infamous Turing Test, John Pavlus explores what it will take to create a computer that can think like a human." (BBC)
'Ghost town' being built in US to test new technologies
"A 'ghost town' is being built in America to test out the latest technologies such as renewable energies and terrorism security systems.
It'll look just like a city with roads, houses and buildings - but no one will live there...
It's being built in Lea County, New Mexico, and will cost around £600 million." (BBC)
Real-world beaming: The risk of avatar and robot crime - with a video
"First it was the telephone, then web cameras and Skype, now remote "presence" is about to take another big step forward
- raising some urgent legal and ethical questions." See: The law and ethics of beaming (BBC)
Robots and Avatars – our colleagues and playmates of the future. "Led and conceived by body>data>space, this innovative project explores how young people will work and play with new representational
forms of themselves and others in virtual and physical life in the next 10-15 years.
It examines multi-identity evolutions of today’s younger generations within the context of a world in which virtual and physical spaces
are increasingly blended..."
2011 - The technology year
"It has been a momentous year, with riots, revolutions, natural disasters and economic crises.
And looking back month by month, technology has played a big part in many of those stories, while making plenty of its own headlines." (BBC)
Technology trends of 2011: year in review
"BlackBerry's crash, the launch of Google+, and the growing popularity of Android, eBooks, the iPad and hacktivism made 2011 a busy year for tech trends." (telegraph.co.uk)
50 things killed by technology
"Ringing the cinema to check film times, owning an encyclopaedia and dialling 1471 are among 50 things killed off by modern technology, according to a new poll." (telegraph.co.uk)
'Antimagnet' joins list of invisibility approaches
"Researchers have designed a "cloak" that is invisible to magnetic fields both coming in and coming out...
Such an antimagnet could hide any objects, even magnetic ones...
The idea could be put to use in hiding the "magnetic signatures" of submarines to evade detection or underwater mines, or even to trick metal detectors." (BBC)
TERRORIST 'PRE-CRIME' DETECTOR :
Terrorist 'pre-crime' detector field tested in United States - 27 May 2011
"Screening system aims to pinpoint passengers with malicious intentions...
Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST), a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programme designed to spot people
who are intending to commit a terrorist act, has in the past few months completed its first round of field tests..." (nature.com)
Totally Unscientific Test Determines Fastest Toy Robot in the UK+ a video (technabob.com) "The Gadget Show staged a foot race among various toy robots from all over the world in Manchester, England. The robots were controlled by audience members, which led to utter chaos. Some robots eventually made it to the finish line." (Neatorama)
RoboCup
"is an international robotics competition founded in 1997.
The aim is to develop autonomoussoccer robots with the intention of promoting research and education in the field of artificial intelligence.
The name RoboCup is a contraction of the competition's full name, "Robot Soccer World Cup".
But there are many other stages of the competition such as "Search and Rescue" and "Robot Dancing". (Wikipedia)
Octavia the Android, a Real-Life Rosie the Robot
"The robot's main mission will be to support and work closely with humans.
She's designed to communicate clearly about her goals and abilities, collaborate to solve problems and interact with naval staff." (foxnews.com)
TAP YOUR SKIN TO DIAL YOUR PHONE
"Researchers have developed a way for people to use their own skin as a keypad or pull down menu to control MP3 devices, make phone calls or play games. It's called Skinput " (news.discovery.com)
Nose scanning techniques could sniff out criminals "We already have iris and fingerprint scanning but noses could be an even better method of identification, says a study from the University of Bath, UK." (BBC)
Fujitsu Automation unveils HOAP-3 robot "Short in stature at 60cm and weighing in at 8.8kg...
A camera, microphone, speaker, expression LED, audio recognition function, voice synthesis function, and image recognition function have been added." (ubergizmo.com)
What Apple's iPad can do
"Apple has launched a touchscreen tablet called the iPad, which can be used to watch films, play games and browse the web." (BBC)
Microsoft and HP show off 'slate' PC- with a VIDEO
"The firms unveiled the Windows 7 powered touchscreen machine, also known as a tablet, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The aim of the device is to bridge the gap between laptops and smartphones." (BBC)
The driverless taxi of the futureat Heathrow Airport.
"The driverless taxi, or personal rapid transit, drives itself around a network of guideways using a combination of systems including laser sensors
and computer controls.
The electric vehicles look a bit like the futuristic transport pods used in James Bond movies." (BBC)
Driving a car using your phone
"Researchers in Germany have developed software that allows you to drive a car - with a mobile phone.
It is part of project aimed at creating a fully automated vehicle.
The BBC's Berlin correspondent Steve Rosenberg tried it out." (BBC)
Futuristic gadgets out of Japan
- "a phone that transfers data through people's bodies,
a music player controlled by eye movement
and a flexible organic light-emitting diode screen (OLED)." (BBC)
The restaurant (in downtown Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province)
"has 18 types of robots, including dumpling robot, noodle robot, cooking robot, waitress robot and usher robot." (telegraph.co.uk)
In the Future, Robots Will Surf Their Own Internet
"The EU-funded RoboEarth project is bringing together European scientists to build a network and database repository for robots to share information about the world..." (fastcompany.com)
South Korea deploys robot capable of killing intruders along border with North
"South Korea has deployed sentry robots capable of detecting and killing intruders along the heavily-fortified border with North Korea...
Two robots with surveillance, tracking, firing and voice recognition systems were integrated into a single unit...
The robot uses heat and motion detectors to sense possible threats, and alerts command centres " (telegraph.co.uk)
ROBOTS :
"Collected here are a handful of images of our recent robotic past, and perhaps a glimpse into the near future." (32 photos total) (boston.com)
MORE ROBOTS "Collected here are a handful of recent photographs of robotics in use around the world. (36 photos total) (boston.com)
'Naked' scanner in airport trial "A scanner which produces "naked" images of passengers has started a trial at Manchester Airport. The authorities say it will speed up security checks by quickly revealing any concealed weapons or explosives." + VIDEO (BBC)
Airport stops scans on children
"Security staff at Manchester Airport have been banned from using new "see-through" security scanners on passengers aged under 18."
(BBC)
Children draw own visions of 2020
"Children asked to come up with ideas for life in 2020 have designed labour-saving devices, magic pencils to do their homework and, of course, robots."
+ PICTURES (BBC)
100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About
"Some of the technology we grew up with will not be passed down the line to the next generation of geeks."
Suggestion : Utilisation de "used to" (wired.com)
BIG BROTHER BINS
Tagging technology to track trash
"The ebb and flow of thousands of pieces of household rubbish are to be tracked using sophisticated mobile tags...
It is hoped that making people confront the final journey of their waste will make them reduce what they throw away...
In order to monitor how the pieces of rubbish move around the cities and beyond, the MIT team has developed a small mobile sensor that can be attached to individual pieces of waste. ..
Everything will be traceable. " - with a VIDEO (BBC)
Web children 'living in prisons'
"Many children are living in a "prison-like environment" surrounded by technology, the chairman of the Independent Schools Association warns...
Recent research suggests five to 16-year-olds are spending up to six hours a day online or watching television."
A "survey suggested the children were spending 2.7 hours a day on average watching television, 1.5 hours on the internet and 1.3 hours on games consoles." (BBC)
"In the exhibition Design and the elastic mind in New York Nokia demonstrates the prototype of Morph,
a mobile phone built with nanotechnology." Read about the "Morph Concept". (nokia.com)
Anti-smoking shot could curb addiction
"Vaccine robs smokers of nicotine buzz...
A shot that robs smokers of the nicotine buzz from cigarettes showed promise in midstage testing and may someday offer a radically new way
to kick a dangerous habit." (msnbc.msn.com)
Georgia Tech Sees Promise for NanoGenerators in Clothing
"Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Ga. are developing a ‘power shirt’ made of nanowire-affixed
textiles to let soldiers generate power from clothing via physical motion.
Georgia tech researchers showed how textiles fibers covered with zinc oxide nanowires can create sufficient power for small portable devices." (nanoscienceworks.org)
3D TV ex : "The Alioscopy technology ... ideal for use in a variety of industries, including media and entertainment (film, video, casino gaming and advertising/digital signage), scientific, medical, architectural, and design visualization." (spike.com)
Vision of the future seen in bionic contact lens
"
Prototype includes light-emitting diodes, basic wiring and a tiny antenna...
Future versions, the scientists believe, could serve as a flexible plastic platform for applications such as surfing the Internet on a virtual screen, immersing gamers in virtual worlds and monitoring patients’ medical conditions." (msnbc.msn.com)
Europe delays airport X-ray eye
"EU lawmakers have delayed the introduction at airports of full body scanners, machines that generate images of passengers - minus their clothes...
The new scanners have already been introduced in several US airports
and have been tested around the world."
(BBC News)
Brain chip reads man's thoughts
"A paralysed man in the US has become the first person to benefit from a brain chip that reads his mind...
The brain chip reads his mind and sends the thoughts to a computer to decipher...
He can think his TV on and off, change channels and alter the volume thanks to the technology and software linked to devices in his home." (BBC)
Emotibots
"Emotibots is an exhibit at the Science Museum in London, in the museum's Antenna Gallery.
The exhibit features robots with sensors that respond to human interaction.
The main attractions include the Heart Robot and the Hexapod Robot. (mahalo.com)
The
rise of technology addiction (BBC) "The seemingly exponential growth of portable technology
has sparked fears that people are becoming addicted or swamped by
gadgets and their uses."
CCTV
boom 'failing to cut crime' "Huge investment in closed-circuit TV technology has failed
to cut UK crime, a senior police officer has warned...
an "utter fiasco" - with only 3% of London's street robberies being
solved using security cameras. " + New database (BBC)
Is
tech good for kids?- an article PARENTS FRET OVER WHEN A CHILD SHOULD HAVE A LAPTOP OR CELL PHONE (siliconvalley.com)
Microchip
implant (human) "A human Microchip Implant is an integrated circuit device
or RFID tag encased in silicate glass and implanted into a human's
body.
Such implants can be used for information storage, including personal
identification, medical history, medications, allergies, and contact
information." (Wikipedia)
Electronic
voting "Electronic voting technology can include punch cards, optical
scan voting systems and specialized voting kiosks (including self-contained
Direct-recording electronic (DRE) voting systems). It can also involve
transmission of ballots and votes via telephones, private computer networks,
or the Internet.
Electronic voting technology can speed the counting of ballots and can
provide improved accessibility for disabled voters. However, there has
been
controversy, especially in the United States, that electronic voting,
especially DRE voting, can facilitate electoral
fraud..." (Wikipedia)
Issue
tracking system
"An issue tracking system (also called trouble ticket system
or incident ticket system) is a computer software package that manages
and maintains lists
of issues, as needed by an organization...
An issue tracking system often also contains a knowledge base containing
information on each customer..." (Wikipedia)
Google
hacking "is a term that refers to the art of creating complex search
engine queries in order to filter through large amounts of search
results for information
related to computer security..." (Wikipedia)
Dangers
of World Internet Governance "Internet communications spill over national borders, connecting
and uniting people everywhere.
Other countries fear that cultural fragmentation and the violation
of national sovereignty will result from increased interconnection." (techliberation.com)
BIOMETRICS :
Fingerprint breakthrough offers new forensic evidence - 4 August 2011
"A technology to extract fingerprints from a crime scene could show if a criminal suspect has taken drugs or been in contact with explosives.
This could provide new information about a suspect's actions and habits." (BBC)
Foreign national ID card unveiled
"The first identity cards (biometric cards) from the government's controversial national scheme are due to be revealed." (BBC)
Examples
of Biometric Systems(biometrics.org)
Face - Multimodal - Fingerprint / Palm Print Retinal -
Hand and Finger Geometry - Vein - Handwriting - Various/Others
-
Iris - Voice/Speaker
Satellite
phone "A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a
mobile phone, but unlike conventional cellular phones, which use cell
sites, it uses orbiting satellites..." (Wikipedia)
Driverless
car "The driverless car concept embraces an emerging family of
highly automated cognitive and control technologies,
ultimately aimed at a full "taxi-like"
experience for car users, but without a human driver..." (Wikipedia)
Self-Driving
Car "The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is
an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that's responsible for
the development
of new technology for use by the military. Their latest project is
to encourage the development of vehicles that will drive themselves" (videos.howstuffworks.com)
A GPS tracker lets you track your kids with a text
- "a wearable GPS beacon for your kids, which parents can call or text at any time and instantly receive a text back with its location,
or track at all times on the web..." (engadget.com)
Global
Positioning System (GPS) "Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 Medium Earth Orbit
satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables
a GPS receiver
to determine its location, speed, direction,
and time..." (Wikipedia)
Brain2Robot "A robot arm controlled by the user's
thoughts could one day make life easier for people with paralysis." (physorg.com)
Radio-frequency
identification (RFID)
"is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and
remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.
An RFID tag is an object that can be applied
to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the
purpose of identification using radiowaves.
Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line
of sight of the reader..." (Wikipedia)
Technologies
on the rise in 2008
"A number of technologies have exploded throughout 2007, from
Facebook and the iPhone to the Nintendo Wii...
Here the BBC News website gives its predictions for five technologies
that could become big in 2008.
1. The web to go 2. Ultra mobile PCs 3. IPTV 4. Wimax 5. Mobile VoIP" (BBC)
Year
in pictures - The technology stories that made
the headlines in 2007 (BBC)
** Liz : New technologies and old people (1) **
Langue : Anglais, niveau : B1 - par Liz (London, England) - 15 avril 2012
Liz explains why she thinks new technologies could be useful for old people, computers for example. http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?article2399
** Liz : New technologies and old people (2) **
Langue : Anglais, niveau : B1 - par Liz (London, England) - 15 avril 2012
She thinks that a good idea would be to have a computer in all retirement homes since old people are capable of learning things.
It could be some computers adapted to special needs for example. http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?article2400
** Liz : New technologies and old people (3) **
Langue : Anglais, niveau : B1 - par Liz (London, England) - 15 avril 2012
Mobile phones could also be useful for old people, if they weren't so small. Adapted phones would be good. http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?article2401
Enregistrements faits par l'assistante de Philippe Hattais (Ac. Créteil) ainsi que ses notes (englishdaybyday.net)
CCTV : http://0z.fr/DkvJU
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES :
The Ultimate Robots Picture Quiz - interactive
"Write the name of the film in the box beneath the image and wait for the tick (or the cross)." (empireonline.com)
1954-2012 (High-tech vocabulary)
"Watch the 2 videos, you will see what was expected in 1954 and what is expected in the coming years.
To compare and comment, learn the vocabulary below." Created byRenée Maufroid. (Ac. Lille)
Genetically modified cows produce 'human' milk
"Scientists have created genetically modified cattle that produce "human" milk in a bid to make cows' milk more nutritious." (telegraph.co.uk)
Cartoon: Screen Time
"This cartoon by Brighty from The Sun is a comment on the the fact that
watching TV is not as popular as it used to be, especially at Christmas time..." +LANGUAGE (englishblog.com)
Rapyuta: The RoboEarth Cloud Engine
"Rapyuta, the RoboEarth Cloud Engine, helps robots to offload heavy computation by providing secured customizable computing environments in the cloud..." (YouTube)
Bionic man unveiled at London's Science Museum - video
"A bionic man, which has artificial organs, synthetic blood and robotic limbs, goes on display at the Science Museum in London on Tuesday.
The human-like machine has cost more than £500,000 to make, but scientists who built him believe it could provide a range of benefits, such as replicating parts of the human body using the same technology." (guardian.co.uk)
Tiny shoulder robot provides physical body for virtual friend - ARTICLE + VIDEO
"Researchers at Yamagata University are developing a miniature , wearable humanoid robot that sits on your shoulder to keep you company.
The small MH-2 bot can perch on your shoulder like a parrot and then remotely inhabited by your friends through telepresence from anywhere in the world.
The robot has two arms, a head and a body as well as a mechanism for realistic breathing. The idea is that you can share a journey or an experience with a friend who is unable to be in the same geographical location as you..." (wired.co.uk)
Reuters Video: Google sees tech in eyeglasses
"In an effort called Project Glass the world's biggest search engine is working on glasses with a computer screen.
The specs, though just prototypes, are already stirring controversy. Jeanne Yurman reports."
VIDEO + TRANSCRIPT+ VOCABULARY (englishblog.com)
Project KARA
"The demo shows a humanoid robot being “born.” She is created to serve people—as a housekeeper, as sexual plaything, and in other roles as needed. But something in the manufacturing process goes wrong..." (slate.com)
Future of computer interaction: Brain control
"The computer keyboard and TV remote control may be the ways we interact with our technology today, but new ideas are appearing all the time...
Ian Hardy looks at how your eyes or even your brain can be used to control technology." (BBC)
Goodnight iPad "A witty parody picture book for the gadget-crazy kid in all of us."
Economist Video: Beyond the PC
"As this video from The Economist online explains, we are entering what some in the technology industry refer to as a post-PC era.
Mobile digital gadgets are overshadowing the personal computer and their impact will be far-reaching..." + LESSON IDEAS + LINKS (englishblog.com)
The RepRap project
"is an initiative to develop a 3D printer (RepRap, short for "replicating rapid prototyper") that can print most of its own components...
Due to the self-replicating ability of the machine, authors envision the possibility to cheaply distribute RepRap units to people and communities,
enabling them to create (or download from the internet) complex products without the need for expensive industrial infrastructure." (Wikipedia)
Robots compete in football World Cup - in Bangalore City
"A football tournament played by robots has taken place in India with over 50 teams from 17 different countries." (telegraph.co.uk)
Robot Olympics held in China
"Walking, running and even dancing humanoid robots have been pitted against each other at the International Huro Olympic Games in northern China.
Nineteen international teams travelled to Harbin to put their robots to the test in 17 disciplines.
The games run for three days..." (BBC)
I'm here- a short film by Spike Jonze - A robot love story (imheremovie.com)
"The film is a love story about two robots living in a Los Angeles where humans and robots coexist.
The plot is based on The Giving Tree, and the man character is named after Shel Silverstein." (Wikipedia)
THE RAVEN
"Summary: Chris Black possesses a power that could lead to the destruction of the current regime, and they will stop at nothing to destroy him.
The chase is on as Chris runs for his life in this sci-fi thriller set in an alternate and futuristic Los Angeles." (YouTube)
Real birds eye view! Golden Eagle in flight - Animal Camera - BBC "Animal lover Steve Leonard explains the secret behind the spectacular footage of birds of prey in flight used in this short video.
Take a flight with a Golden Eagle in Scotland with the help of the ultra lightweight animal camera.
Great short video from BBC wildlife show Animal Camera." (YouTube)
Ten years of changes in technology
"Technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones looks at how technology has changed during the noughties.
The decade has seen a digital revolution that's transformed the communication and entertainment industry." (BBC)
YouTube video leads to Hollywood contract
"A producer from Uruguay who uploaded a short film to YouTube in November 2009 has been offered a $30m (£18.6m) contract to make a Hollywood film." (BBC) Watch the video. (YouTube)
"The 2057 documentary is a 3 part series by the Discovery Channel.
It's a an entertaining documentary about life in 50 years.
The city episode shows us how much city life will be incredibly interconnected. The extreme interconnection has risks however
which we must avoid before problems occur." (YouTube)
Robots- a slideshow
"The Americans seem ready to wage war using robot soldiers. Is
this good news?... Learn about it here.
American speech, standard speed. EXE file to download (1.98Mb)" (pagesperso-orange.fr/prof.danglais)