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Who Is Smiling & Who Is Not
Article posted June 7, 2012 at 11:16 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 210
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Students at the MIT media lab have created a computer software which uses a specially designed algorithm to determine if a person's smile is genuine. It can tell if the person is smiling because they are happy or if they are smiling to hide their anger or frustration.
This is interesting because it could be used by law enforcement to help get truthful answers out of those they are interogating. With this technology we can see the truth about a person's intentions. As this technology advances we will be able to tell if someone if faking beind sad or if they are lying just based on their expression.
Below is an example of the same person with two different smiles, can you guess which is real.

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/smile.png
The one on the left is genuine while the one on the right is hiding frustration.
Boyle, R. (2012, May 29). Algorithm can tell if your smile is happy or born of frustration. Retrieved from http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-05/new-
algorithm-computer-can-tell-if-your-smile-happy-or-borne-frustration
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Article posted June 7, 2012 at 11:16 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 210
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Super Shoe
Article posted June 7, 2012 at 11:00 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 88
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Nike has developed a special shoe called the Lunar TR1+ . It is equipped with pressure and motion sensors allowing it to actially coach you. By coupling the data the shoe collects and an application for the iPhone you get a coaching experience. The application will give motivating commeans such as: "Run faster!" and "Jump higher!" to show you what to improve on.
This is interesting because it will allow athletes to train ans condition themselves whenever they want without having to rely on an expensive personal trainer.
Newcomb, T. (2012, May 30). An exercise tracker that doubles as a real-time coach. Retrieved from http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-05/exercise-tracker-doubles-real-time-coach
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Article posted June 7, 2012 at 11:00 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 88
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Paralysis Wonder Cure
Article posted June 7, 2012 at 10:35 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 74
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People who are paralyzed from the waist down used to have no hope of walking or standing again, but this is no longer the way things are, because there is hope for a cure. EPFL, a medical research company has been testing a treatment for human paralysis on paralyzed rats (rats have similar skeletal structures to humans). Using a robotic harness, and a special chemical cocktail designed to stimulate brain cells, rats with spinal cord injuries were able to re-learn how to walk. Researchers believe this will one day be the way we we will cure paralyzed humans so they will be able to walk again.
This is interesting because with this technology we will one day beable to cure people who are paralyzed. These people will be able to walk for the first time in years if not their lives.
Below is a rat undergoing the treatment and wearing the harness.

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/ratfull.jpg
Boyle, R. (2012, May 31). After robot-assisted rehab and a dose of chemicals, paralyzed rats walk again. Retrieved from http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-05/after-robot-
assisted-rehab-and-dose-chemicals-paralyzed-rats-can-walk-again
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Article posted June 7, 2012 at 10:35 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 74
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The Joggbot
Article posted June 7, 2012 at 09:59 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 148
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The Joggbot is a hovercraft that will fly above your head and motivate you to run longer and faster. The robot will hover alongside or infront of you like a training partner would and it will calculate based on past performance how long to make you run before allowing you to catch up it also stays near you using either a small transmitter you can wear or through a specially designed t-shirt.
This is interesting because this technology will allow people to improve their exercise habits and create an overall healthier world.
The Joggbot (upper right) and a man wearing the special shirt (lower left) are shown below.

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/joggobot2.png
Boyle, R. (2012, June 4). Motivating robot follows you on your morning run. Retrieved from http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-06/video-motivating-joggobot-
hovers-above-your-morning-run
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Article posted June 7, 2012 at 09:59 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 148
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Hydrogen Plane
Article posted June 7, 2012 at 09:57 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 78
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Boeing has been developing its hydrogen powered plane for years codenamed the Phantom Eye. It is meant to be a both powerul and efficient aircraft, and by the time development is finished it will be able to fly at 65,000 feet for four days and it can carry a 450-pound payload. Because it runs on hydrogen it is good for the enviroment because when the power of hydrogen is harnessed the only waste product produced is H20 (water).
This is interesting because this hydrogen plane could be the future of air travel. This technology will allow any number of possibilities including being used to make multiple military supply drops without having to waste valueble time landing and it can be used to send constant streams of reconnaissance without running out of fuel.
Boyle, R. (2012, June 5). Boeing's corpulent hydrogen-powered drone makes its first flight. Retrieved from http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-06/boeings-corpulent-
hydrogen-powered-drone-makes-its-first-flight
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Article posted June 7, 2012 at 09:57 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 78
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About the Blogger
I can accurately shoot an arrow from up to 50 yards away. I will sometimes cut salmon salmon just for the fun of it. I once made a yak dance using my mind.
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