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The Pentagon’s new heartbeat detection laser could save us from our surveillance horror

Jul05
by on July 5, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, artificial intelligence


The Pentagon last week unveiled a long-range laser device capable of detecting a person’s unique heart-signature. It was designed to thwart terrorism, but could lead to the Holy Grail of civilian surveillance: an ethical, non-invasive method of conducting biometric identification from afar. Science fiction has long told us that wars in the future would be fought with lasers, we just assumed they’d be weapons. The Pentagon’s heartbeat-detecting laser, called Jetson, is entirely harmless. It uses a technology called vibrometry to detect the subtle vibrations of a person’s body caused by the movement of blood throughout their circulatory system. Set phasers…

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CHEAP: Get $530 off an Alienware Aurora desktop computer

Jul05
by on July 5, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Plugged


Dell’s Alienware brand focuses on gaming computers. They’re typically quite expensive, but thanks to a deal, you can now get $530 off a new Alienware Aurora desktop computer, bringing the price down to $1,599.99. Here’s what you get for your money: Six-core Intel i7-8700 Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB 12GB DDR4 RAM 1TB M.2 PVIe NVMe SSD It’s a decently souped-up bit of kit, and that comes with the usual accoutrements, including a Qualcomm DW1810 Wi-Fi. You can also get a keyboard and mouse for free, although you’ve got to select that option when checking out. If you’re tempted, you…

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This video shows the impressive tech behind robots walking on rough terrain

Jul05
by on July 5, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, artificial intelligence, robots


While robots taking a tumble is pretty funny, watching how these humanoid machines figure out how to walk autonomously without falling is absolutely fascinating. In a new video, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) showcased an automatic footstep planning system for Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and NASA’s Valkyrie robots. The method uses the machines’ sensors to work out the most efficient path to a human-selected location. It also works on rough and narrow terrains. Previously, the IHMC relied on a manual method that required a human operator to place the desired footsteps in a special user interface. Unfortunately, this…

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Social media shaming and forgiveness: why nobody’s beyond the pale

Jul05
by on July 5, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Opinion


She was a high-flying international human right’s lawyer who worked with refugees. Then she was found dead on a beach in East Sussex. What happened in-between is a story of crime and punishment, and a question of how justice works in the social media era. Simone Burns, who is also known as Simone O’Broin, first achieved international infamy in the business class cabin of an Air India 777. She’d been drinking. Three bottles of wine had hit her like a freight train, and the cabin crew decided to stop serving her, provoking a fiery backlash from the intoxicated lawyer. Burns…

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India claims its Aadhaar push is for the ‘good’ of people despite serious privacy concerns

Jul05
by on July 5, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, India


Last year, India’s top court ruled that the central government’s national identification system – Aadhaar – doesn’t violate the privacy of citizens. Now, there are three major developments on this front that might put privacy activists on high alert. First, India’s parliament passed an amended bill on Aadhaar that allows voluntary use of the ID to open a bank account or get a SIM card and penalty for any private company if it stores Aadhaar data – a step to curb frequent data leaks. Then the government’s chief economic advisor, K Subramanian, said in this year’s Economic Survey report that a master…

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