BIDI makes LCD touchscreen A PASSE past

1. This is definitely going to be some thing new for most of the readers.....the following article makes the present touchscreen a PASSEE by introducing the BIDI.

2. The BiDi Screen is an example of a new type of I/O device that possesses the ability to both capture images and display them. This thin, bidirectional screen extends the latest trend in LCD devices, which has seen the incorporation of photo-diodes into every display pixel. Using a novel optical masking technique developed at the Media Lab, the BiDi Screen can capture lightfield-like quantities, unlocking a wide array of applications from 3-D gesture interaction with CE devices, to seamless video communication.The BiDi Screen uses a sensor layer, separated by a small distance from a normal LCD display. A mask image is displayed on the LCD. When the bare sensor layer views the world through the mask, information about the distance to objects in front of the screen can be captured and decoded by a computer.

3. This allows a typical LCD screen working by interpreting hand gestures, without touching the screen.This allows viewers to control on-screen objects by waving their arms in the air without touching the screen, let alone a mouse or keyboard.Although users can touch the screen to activate controls on the display but as soon as they lift their finger off the screen, the system can interpret their gestures in the 3-D.

4. "This is a level of interaction that nobody's ever been able to do before," New Scientist quoted Ramesh Raskar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, as saying.The screen - dubbed BiDi, short for bi-directional - allows users to manipulate or interact with objects on the screen in three dimensions.

5. It will also function as a 3D scanner, he adds. "If you spin an object in front of screen, the software will stitch together a 3D image."The new system uses an array of optical sensors that are arranged behind a grid of liquid crystals, similar to those used in LCD displays. They physically control how much light passes from the display's backlight.In the new system a regular grid of hundreds of pixels spread across the screen use their liquid crystals to create a tiny hole that acts as a pinhole camera lens, focusing an image of the scene in front onto a thin translucent film a few centimetres behind the LCD.

6. Those images are detected by a camera inside BiDi, allowing the device to know what is happening before it.

7. Thanks http://infotech.indiatimes.com and http://web.media.mit.edu/~mhirsch/bidi/

Y2K Bug!!!!Do u remember the time?

1. I was just wondering about the time when the much-hyped Y2K crisis had come in with a long, sustained roar and went out with a mewl.While the world excogitated dire predictions of massive global infrastructure failures -- everything from elevators to air traffic control systems was rumored to be vulnerable , the specter of a total paralysis of business operations resulting from cascading Y2K failures galvanized organizations into a frenzy of activity. For many CIOs, the unprecedented size and scope of addressing Y2K problems was the biggest project of their careers.

And then it was over. On Dec. 31, 1999, the world held its breath and nothing happened. Jan. 1, 2000 came in just like any other day. There were no major failures to report anywhere.

2. Today after 10 years....I feel the time has just rolled like a ball....so quickly we are a decade ahead of that night....the night that was a wakeup call for every one who felt that there is no need of IT then....the night that showed how heavily we r banked on the IT......

3. Thanks to http://www.computerworld.com for making me remember that.

Google Binged!!!! - My 100th Post

1. For so many days wanting to upload some post but just could'nt find anthing so interesting before I read about this.

2. From the time Bing was introduced and pitted against arch rival Google,there have been talks and forums across proving each others superiority over each other.Now for the first time some one Big has come up with this.....it follows down..please read!!!

3. A Mozilla official today advised Firefox users to the extension that adds Microsoft's Bing to the list of the browser's search engines after Google's CEO downplayed consumers' privacy concerns.

4. Citing a clip from a CNBC broadcast shown below, during which Google chief executive Eric Schmidt discussed online privacy, During the interview, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt was asked: "People are treating Google like their most trusted friend...should they be?" It was Schmidt's answer that motivated Dotzler to show users how to drop Google, Firefox's default search engine, for rival Bing.

"IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE," SCHMIDT TOLD CNBC. "IF YOU REALLY NEED THAT KIND OF PRIVACY, THE REALITY IS THAT SEARCH ENGINES, INCLUDING GOOGLE, DO RETAIN THIS INFORMATION FOR SOME TIME AND IT'S IMPORTANT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE ARE ALL SUBJECT IN THE UNITED STATES TO THE PATRIOT ACT AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE AUTHORITIES," ADDED SCHMIDT.

5. Asa Dotzler, Mozilla's director of community development, then on provided a link to the Firefox extension that adds Bing to Firefox's search engine list.

6. Google chief executive Eric Schmidt would be now trying to undo his statement in some form but the arrow has been shot….and the dent on the google is seen……so googler’s Be ware now on!!!!!!

7. Thanks http://www.computerworld.com

LAPTOP Face Recognition falls FLAT!!!!

1. Now this is one interesting thing to read.All those claims by Saif Ali Khan in his ad promoting one company for face recognition feature introduction had made its way out of the IT World.....well....so it seems!!!!read ON.........

2. Experts from Bkis Internet Security in Vietnam have proven how easy it is to defeat this.In front of technology experts, authors and press representatives from different countries participating in an internet security conference, Bkis experts demonstrated the vulnerabilities in Face recognition function on Asus, Lenovo and Toshiba laptops. Even when set at the highest security level, the laptop could not prevent Bkis expert Mr Nguyen Minh Duc from breaking into the system. With some technical tricks, Duc in turn logged onto Asus, Lenovo and Toshiba computer at the amazement and continuous applause from the audience. Everyone was really surprised to see how a famous and trusted security technique could be broken so easily.A Pic is shown below from actual demo loc.In some cases,even the owners of Facebook profile photo could be printed and used.

3. What the researchers found is that the technology just isn't that hard to fool. Even photographs that have previously been digitized and distributed, like those on Web pages or transmitted through videophone conversations, will do the job.The model exploits the flaw in image processing. In other words, it uses a photo of a person instead of his/her real face. It works because the algorithms will process in effect digital information.Provided those conditions, an attacker might take some photos of one user within the system, perform some image editing, regenerate “special pictures” and penetrate into the system.

4. Now the worry point is that Biometric data, including facial recognition, is increasingly being built into passports, drivers licenses and other forms of ID. Australia and Germany both use facial recognition to control access and determine identity at border crossings, and the U.S. and other countries are moving in that direction. So....ab kya hogaaaa?

5. Thanks http://www.examiner.com,http://www.bkis.com and Chip magazine.

Green Dam Youth Escort : What's that?

1. The title suggests that it has got something to do with college unions doing thier bit contribution in saving some water or fighting over some water dam issue.But its nothing like that.It is the name of a firewall which is a first of its kind official government imposed content-control software developed in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Under a directive from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) , it is mandatory to have either the software, or its setup files accompanied on a compact disc or pre-installed on all new personal computers sold in mainland China, including those imported from abroad. 

2. The firewall software is to be made a mandatory pre-requisite for new computers sold in the country, as a meaure to help stamp out pornography and other vile elements on the Web. The move thus has been widely criticised by industry groups and officials as rash, politically intrusive, technically ineffective and commercially unfair.Few of the features of the software are enumerated below :

• Designed to work with Microsoft Windows operating systems,the software is specifically aimed at restricting online pornography but could be used for other purposes.
• Green Dam Youth Escort automatically downloads the latest updates of a list of prohibited sites from an online database, and also collects private user data. 
• Green Dam recognizes pornographic images by analyzing skin-coloured regions, complemented by human face recognition. The software is incapable of recognizing pictures of nudity featuring black- or red-skinned characters but sensitive enough to images with large patches of yellow that it censors promotional images of the film Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties. 
• The software's misrecognition of "inappropriate contents" in applications including Microsoft Word can lead it to forcefully close those applications without notifying the user, and so cause data losses.
• The software runs only on Microsoft Windows x86, so Microsoft Windows x86-64, Mac and Linux users are ignored. Even on Microsoft Windows, the software is known to interfere with Internet Explorer and Google Chrome, and is incompatible with Mozilla Firefox.
• Some computers sold in China already come with parental-control software, but it isn't government-mandated.
  

3. The latest good news for the chinese people is that for the time being the compulory shipping and installation by the user has been put on hold.

4. Thanks http://www.circleid.com and off course wiki like always!!!!

D-ROLL : No end to imagination

The tashan of modern gadgets which apart from being fashionable are getting smaller, slimmer ,sleaker and smarter day by day . And the latest creation to catch eye is “D-roll” or “digital roll,” the new device works like a regular laptop, but rolls up to be a side bag or even a backpack for easy transportation. Designed like an artist’s tube, the D-roll Laptop features a roll up OLED screen and a slide out keyboard, together with a mouse and a detachable webcam that can be worn on your wrist when not attached to the system. The mouse and web camera can also be used as the end caps for the laptop case, while the straps double as ports to plug in your USB devices. 

RDM : Rival for BLU RAY?

1. Even before Blu ray product's have been able to reach the consumer,a new rival by the name of RDM(...in short for Royal Digital Media) has come out with HD VMD(Versatile Multilayer Disc) and CH-DVD(China Blue High-definition Disc) -- all set to tittupp into town to challange BLU Ray. Royal Digital Media has introduced its bona fide Blu-ray rival... while casually forgetting to name it. These "high-definition discs" will be able to store up to 100GB and will boast military-grade encryption. RDM's format "will transform perceptions of high-definition," as it is able to "display the next generation of high-definition: 1920p."

 

2. DreamStream is the first company to implement a 2,048-bit encryption in consumer media. AES encryption, used in Sony's Blu-ray discs, relies on only a 128-bit system. 

3. For consumers, RDM's increase in storage capacity allows for a single disc to hold approximately four hours of video content at 1920p resolution. 

4. Because RDM's system is based on inexpensive red laser technology, their players are expected to sell for much less than Sony's, which routinely sell for hundreds of dollars. The retail prices for RDM's players and discs are expected to "equal those of the traditional DVD format, greatly undercutting Blu-ray," .

5. RDM's technology can be implemented into existing DVD production processes through the integration of a proprietary software and firmware system. The only potential hardware modification is, "at most, the simple replacement of a single chip," said Levich. As such, existing DVD manufacturers will be able to integrate RDM's technology with only minor modifications to their production processes. 

6. RDM's players are backwards compatible and able to read traditional CDs and DVDs. Moreover, an innovation in data processing enables RDM's players to "drastically enhance the playback quality of regular DVD content," said Diebel. 

7. The incorporation of DreamStream's encryption into RDM's system will thwart the piracy of digital content. The content of RDM's discs will only be able to be read by RDM's players. Thus, ensuring that the content cannot be copied and illegally distributed. Will it really?....so many claims till date on such issues have been found cracked a day after launch…well for now ALL THE BEST for the new BLU ray rival.

8. Thanks http://dreamstream.info

KINDLE : WELCOME TO INDIA

1. Kindle has finally reached the shores of Hindustan.For those of you,who are puzzled of what KINDLE is all about  what be able to judge a fair idea from the pics below.An e book storage and reading device. 

2. Capable of  wirelessly downloading  books, magazines, newspapers and personal documents ,the Kindle screen has no backlight, so it doesn't give out the glare a normal screen would. The navigation is fairly simple and all the text content is custom formatted.  

3. The device features a 2,50,000 word dictionary that can be accessed independently to look up a word, or from within text. It can also play MP3 but the quality of sound takes rating  this on the back foot.The  battery life that comes due to the electronic ink display. On a single charge it can last up to two weeks without the wireless network on. And 2-4 days with wireless! 

 4. Indian users can avail of a catalogue of 2,80,000 books, each downloaded in about a minute over 3G GSM or EDGE. There are no data charges for downloading a book, the service for which is provided globally by AT&T and its international partners.  

5. Kindle is weighs around 290 grams, almost the weight of advanced mobile phones. The display specifications include 6″ diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale. The Kindle offers  2Gb of Memory Storage though 1.4Gb would be available to the user and they dont have to connect it to a PC if they need to transfer ebooks because it has inbuilt 3G connectivity & Wi-Fi connectivity. 

6. However, the Kindle does not have any sort of content filtration or rating system, so there is the risk of mature content being easily accessible to minors. So, will the Kindle tinkle in India? Well a few things go against it. First is the price tag …sources put it at about Rs 20,000/-.

7. Thanks www.thinkdigit.com and www.amitbhawani.com for info.

1 MBPS BROAD BAND CONNECTION : HUMAN RIGHT IN FINLAND

1. If there was any further proof needed of how much the Internet is affecting human lives and can help enrich it, just look towards Finland. The country has become the first in the world to make broadband Internet access a human right, making us consider whether we should move there or not.

2. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has stated that starting next July, every person in Finland will have the right to a one-megabit broadband connection. That’s right, 1Mbps. And here in India, we start jumping around when the same is offered for upwards of Rs. 1,500.

3. The biggest kicker, though, is that in another six years, the Finnish government wants to make 100Mbps speeds the mandatory minimum for all its 5.5 million citizens. Granted, that’s a small population, but it still throws a poor light on almost all other governments across the world.

4. And yes, some variations of the above will be allowed if connectivity can be managed on mobile phone networks.

5. It’s unfair to compare India to Finland, given the gross discrepancies, but doesn’t this make your blood boil? There’s hardly any broadband penetration in India, Internet speeds are a joke and let’s not even get started on 3G.

6. Thanks Indiatimes.com for the info

NIKON S1000PJ : DIGITAL CAMERA WITH INBUILT PROJECTOR

1. The thing that was till now thought of as futuristic has finally arrived...and that too at a reasonable and worthy price....the title says it all...DIGITAL CAMERA with a inbuilt PROJECTOR.

2. The first one to attempt this and allowing the consumers to exploit this is NIKON...vide model NIKON S1000PJ as shown in pic and video below.

MY WINDOWS 7 HOUSE PARTY PACK : THANK YOU MICROSOFT

1. Two months back I had registered to host a house party on the occasion of launch of WINDOWS 7( :-)...the secret known to beta testers) ...the next generation windows OS after answering a few FAQs on Windows 7 without realising that I would end up as a winner of the signature edition of the house party pack including the original Windows 7.I got the confirmation from microsoft two weeks back......still then I had thought of it being some spam mail....till I got the tracker ID from DHL....so since last two weeks have been waiting to get that pack of Windows 7....and finally today I got the pack today......and it looks like this .......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8...thanks Microsoft for the dabba.....so happy to use a genuine edition of a Windows OS for the first time!!!!!ha ha ha!!!!that to on my name direct from the US of A.

...thanks Microsoft again....and lets meet u guys at the webinar day after!!!!

RADIATION EFFECTS & UR MOBILE - QUANTIFIED

1. We all hear about how the radiations emitted from our mobiles keep effecting us on the wrong side……but what are the specifications laid down for quantification of these effecting variables? What are these variables ?How much do they effect us? Do separate mobile handsets effect us in different ways?Are their any safe limits in these? What are the available standards?

2. The first and the most significant variable is the Specific absorption rate (SAR) , a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field. It is defined as the power absorbed per mass of tissue and has units of watts per kilogram. SAR is usually averaged either over the whole body, or over a small sample volume (typically 1 g or 10 g of tissue). The value cited is then the maximum level measured in the body part studied over the stated volume or mass.

3. SAR is used to measure exposure to fields between 100 kHz and 10 GHz. It is commonly used to measure power absorbed from mobile phones and during MRI scans. Few specifications of good and bad mobiles as found rated from TOI site at their INFOTECH tab are shown below with details :

SAMSUNG IMPRESSION : GOOD

Maximum radiation: 0.35 Watts per kilogram (W/kg) (based on reported radiation level when held up to your ear)

SAR when held at the ear: 0.35 W/kg

SAR when worn on the body: 0.83 W/kg

MOTOROLA RAZR V8 : GOOD

Maximum radiation: 0.36 W/kg

SAR when held at the ear: 0.36 W/kg

SAR when worn on the body: 0.86 W/kg

SAMSUNG SGH-T229 : GOOD

Maximum radiation: 0.38 W/kg

SAR when held at the ear: 0.38 W/kg

SAR when worn on the body: 0.69 W/kg

MOTOROLA MOTO VU204 : WORST

Maximum radiation: 1.55 W/kg

SAR when held at the ear: 1.55 W/kg

SAR when worn on the body: 0.58 W/kg

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8330 : WORST

Maximum radiation: 1.54 W/kg

SAR when held at the ear 1.54 W/kg

SAR when worn on the body 0.99 W/kg

4. United States: The FCC requires that phones sold have a SAR level at or below 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg) taken over a volume of 10 gram of tissue while European Union specify SAR limits within 2 Watts/kg taken over a volume of 10 gram

5. So next times some one asks you or even mentions about radiation effect of mobiles on health….just make the aspect more clear of weather of not his/her mobiles in meeting the S.A.R norms or not?

6. Thanks Wiki,Tech gadgets and TOI.