Robot Bartender Serves Up a Pint

Topic: Other Stuff

A robot bartender was introduced by Selfridges and Asahi beer that reports to be the world’s first robotic barkeep. The robot is now on duty at the flagship Oxford Street store. Mr. Asahi as the robot is known uses a combination of robotics and animatronics.

The robot is able to serve ice-cold beer and draught pints, halt pints and de-cap bottles of beer. The robot is powered by compresses air controlled via regulators and switches attached to a PC. The bot reportedly took a team of eight engineers 200 hours to assemble. Read more

Posted on Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:19:33 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Virgin Meida In Hot Water with ASA

Topic: Other Stuff

Virgin Media is in some hot water and the ASA has targeted Virgin Media for some of its claims on download speeds in advertising campaigns. The complaint was bought against Virgin media by rival BT.

The heart of the complaint is centered on Virgin's “Hate to Wait” campaign that has been running in newspapers. The ads hail the fast speeds Virgin estimates its broadband subscribers can download songs and TV shows. Read more

Posted on Wed, 2 Jul 2008 13:57:38 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Concept Clock Counts Time in Millionths of a Second

Topic: Other Stuff

If you are the sort who likes to be very precise in your time and I mean really precise, we have found your clock. The clock is called the Digital Time concept and is really long and bulky looking. It reminds me of a clock from the 1980’s or something you would see hanging above the door at missile command.

The clock counts time in one millionth of second intervals. I don’t know why you would need to know millionth of a second intervals, but I guess if your boss is really picky about clocking in or out early this would do the trick. Read more

Posted on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:26:38 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

LG opens European Design Center in London

Topic: Other Stuff

LG Electronics has announced the opening of its new European Design Centre in Covent Garden, London, UK.
The facilities were formally opened by HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, in a ceremony attended by leading members of local government and the UK’s design community.

The purpose of LG’s new Design Centre is to create European designs based on European consumers’ requirements. The designers will also be called upon to adapt products that will appeal to the European market, but which have been developed elsewhere. Read more

Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:19:18 GMT | by Luigi Lugmayr

English CCD Cameras May Hear and See Crime Soon

Topic: Other Stuff

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth are working on technology that could allow the CCTV cameras around Britain to be able to hear crime as well as see it. The researchers say that AI software could be use to position the cameras to point at crime scenes by listening for the sound of breaking glass or crowd noises.

The cameras would be able to rotate and focus on the relevant areas in only 300 ms. The project could help increase the number of crimes caught on tape but the tech will undoubtedly lead to debate on Britain becoming a “Big Brother” state. Read more

Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:22:12 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Scottish Ambulance Service Disc with 900,000 Records Lost

Topic: Other Stuff

The Scottish Ambulance Service has had a disc lost by a courier that has 900,000 records of ambulance calls made to the Paisley Emergency medical Dispatch Centre near Glasgow, Scotland. The disc was sent to MIS Emergency Services LTD responsible for maintaining the IT system used by the ambulance service.

A TNT courier lost the disc and it was reported missing ten days after it was shipped. The Ambulance Service says that there is little chance of the data being misused because it was encrypted and password protected. Read more

Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:11:17 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Firefox Sets Download Record

Topic: Other Stuff

Firefox 3 launched earlier this week and the downloads were audited for the first 24 hours it was available in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. Mozilla says that the software was downloaded more than 8 million times in the first 24 hours.

Despite a record setting launch, security firms found flaws in the browser already. Mozilla had trouble from the start trying to set the record when the servers crashed under the traffic load from users looking for the new version. Read more

Posted on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:55:53 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Grandfather of Modern Computer turns 60

Topic: Other Stuff

We tend to take our computers and digital devices for granted today. For the most part they have tons of power and are smaller than scientists from decades ago could have ever imagined. The grandfather of today’s digital computers, known as the Baby, turned 60 recently.

Baby took up an entire room and was invented at the University of Manchester. The Baby ran its first successfully executed program on June 21, 1948. The machine was built by Tom Kilburn and Freddie Williams from the University of Manchester and was the first digital computer capable of storing a program. Read more

Posted on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:10:54 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Apple Will Build its own iPhone chips

Topic: Other Stuff

This week Steve jobs said that Apple is planning to begin building its own chips for its iPod and iPhone devices. Apple bought PA Semi, a chipmaker in April of this year for a reported $278 million.

The move would let Apple distinguish its products, and likely allow it to enjoy some cost savings on chips and add exclusive features. Steve Jobs told the New York Times that, “PA Semi is going to do system-on-chips for iPhone’s and iPods”. Read more

Posted on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:53:41 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

UK Teens Use Google Earth to Crash Pools

Topic: Other Stuff

Google Earth now has another use for teens in the UK—searching for pools to party in. UK teens are reportedly using Google Earth of find homes nearby with swimming pools and then using Facebook to tell friends where to meet for the party.

The teens then “crash” the pool without permission or the knowledge of the pool owner. A police spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police reminds teens that using someone’s pool without permission is trespassing and therefore illegal. Read more

Posted on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:58:06 GMT | by Shane McGlaun

Crop Circle is Symbolic code for First 10 Places of Pi

Topic: Other Stuff

Crop circles are often the domain of UFO enthusiasts and pure nut balls. The most recent crop circle to… crop up… in Wiltshire has been identified as the symbolic code for the first ten places of pi—you know 3.14… so on and so on.

The crop circle is an impressive piece of design and measures 46m in diameter. It was created in a barley field near Barbury Castle. Despite what you believe for crop circles being made by aliens or simply made by geeks with too much free time, it’s a pretty impressive feat. Read more

Posted on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:29:26 GMT | by Shane McGlaun