300GB Blue-ray is NOT for Games and Movies (via slashdot)
Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. have developed specifications for an optical disk that is the same size as a Blue-ray disk, but will stay readable for 50 years and has space for 300GB of data – and eventually a full terabyte. The Archival Disc is designed…
Getty Images Decides It’s Mostly Better To Compete Than Sue, Frees Up Millions Of Images (via Techdirt)
Getty Images has something of a reputation as a copyright maximalist. The company’s representatives have testified before Congress and pushed for copyright expansion in the past. It’s also well known for filing copyright lawsuits on those it claims…
Facebook Seeking to Block Illegal Gun Sales (via slashdot)
Facebook wants to regulate gun sales on its social networks, and plans on blocking users under the age of 18 from viewing any sort of gun-related offers from individuals or groups. “We have strict rules about how businesses can use our advertising…
For a long time, robots were the preserve of science fiction. We’ve always been fascinated by the idea of intelligent machines, whether it was the development of Asimov’s three laws of robotics, the bickering Star Wars droids, or Douglas Adam’s manically depressed Marvin. Yet, the impact of robots on day-to-day life has been slow to emerge. Few of us have the android domestic staff that was the stuff of 1950’s visions of the future, for example, but, in fact, robots are in more areas of our existence than you might think.
The first robotic patents for machines to be used in industry were granted in 1961, so they have a longer history than you might think. These were mainly for simple transfer systems that moved components from one place to another to aid assembly processes.
Because they were able to repeat tasks over and over again to the same level of accuracy, robots quickly found their place on the production line. This was something that came to public consciousness with the Fiat car adverts of the late 1970s. By this time, robots were undertaking other repetitive tasks such as welding and paint spraying. [Read more…] about Charting the Rise of the Robots
Google’s Project Tango Seeks to Map a 3D World (via slashdot)
Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects Group is working on a new initiative, Project Tango, which could allow developers to quickly map objects and interiors in 3D At the heart of Project Tango is a prototype smartphone with a 5-inch screen, packed…
One of the most dynamic, fastest-growing military technologies out there today is used in aircraft. From drones to stealth jets, there are numerous advancements taking place, leading us to new heights of military engagement around the world. Some technologies are controversial for their surveillance capabilities and the privacy concerns that arise, while others are controversial because of who is purchasing access to military power and technology they may not be able to handle. [Read more…] about India, Japan and Britain Boast New Drone Technology