As technology advances and focuses on entertaining its consumer it is about time that we pushed it forward to use it for more than that. Technology not only to make life comfortable but as well as to aid its users. Technology to really take care of us is what Toshiharu Mukai seeks to accomplish with his invention of Robear.

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 In conclusion Byford finds that although Robear has a cute face, charming actions, and can gently lift his patients he cost too much and he is too complicated for a regular care worker to be able to perform maintenance on him. And for that reason it will take some more time before he is ready to reach the mass public. For me personally I find the idea of Robear to be very attractive but I agree with Byford’s findings because one of the most important things with a new invention is how easy it is to use and its cost.

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After taking a closer look at Robear he carries the characteristic of transcoding from Lee Manovich’s new media principles. In talking about transcoding Manovich explains how it is the blend of a computer layer and a cultural layer,

“the computer layer and the culture layer influence each other. To use another concept from new media, we can say that they are being composited together. The result of this composite is a new compputer culture – a blend a human and computer menings, of traditional ways in which human culture modeled the world and the computer’s own means of representing it. (page 46).”

This can only remind me of Robear because he is a blend of human and computer meanings as Manovich puts it. Robear imitates human culture in the form of care and assistance. But in the same way Robear is a set of automated actions put together by different strings of coding.

This also reminds me of Turing’s Computing Machinery and Intelligence passage where he questions computer intelligence in whether or not a machine can really think. With that analysis I cannot help but think of Robear. Turning includes a point “It is not normally possible to determine from observing a machine whether it has a random element (pg 5).” Robear is an invention that follows a set of predetermined actions as they are pressed on its control panel but if Robear were able to function without the control panel if he functioned from sight or by voice would that not be counted a random element? In a way it would be making its own choices, its own decisions. We have not been able to get there just yet but we are slowly becoming closer and closer.

With that I cannot help but wonder if society now would be able to warmly accept this type of caregiver in the household?

or

If one day it is possible for a machine or invention to be the sole caregiver in a household, not just for the elderly but as well as for personal assisting, looking after the young, cooking for us, driving for us, would you be able to accept it?

Small Home Robot, Omates Yumi.

The article is both a presentation of the small home robot, Omate’s Yumi and an analysis of if you should get one. So, Yumi’s capabilities are basically same as the smartphone s’ except that it has a very high quality screen and speaks ; it also shares capabilities of Echo Dot to be always ambiently awake and responsive to your voice. It’s actually just like the first personal computer “that came straight out of the box with pre-loaded software”. (Athique, ch 1, pp11)

Source: start robot

Source: hondamarlboro

Problem in the article I would say is answering a question: should we get the Yumi? And argument that authors makes here is that no, it is nothing special, just a smartphone inside a cute body that can run Alexa and that we should get a more serious robot like the ASUS Zenbo.

Source: Charles Goodell

As for the evidence author talks about the Yumi’s hardware capabilities (what the robot body can do) that they are extremely limited. It will bump into things and can fall off a table. All it’s body is good for is turning slightly to face you. It’s just smartphone in a cute gigantic case.

To analyze the evidence the author uses comparisons to other products that have similar capabilities. For what’s missing in the article would be that the author could have included pictures and/or descriptions of the products he compared the Yumi to.

So how is this New Media? How does this product satisfies the New Media’s five key principles?

In my opinion it is definitely New Media and it definitely has all five principles. Here is why:

1. Numerical Representation – Yumi processes a large amount of computer data stored in binary code for a potentially infinite number of programs and apps that include many types of media.

2. Modularity – all the apps it can run can be downloaded, deleted, or replaced, without changing anything about the Yumi or the app – they are independent.

3. Automation – it has all the normal automated processes of a smartphone, and the extra automation of both Alexa (which is software) and the capabilities of the Echo Dot to stay awake and hear your voice (which is hardware).

4. Variability – each Yumi has a copy of the Alexa program that becomes a customized version that “knows” the voice of its owner.

5. Transcoding – “While from one point of view, computerized media still displays structural organization that makes sense to its human users — images feature recognizable objects; text files consist of grammatical sentences; virtual spaces are defined along the familiar Cartesian coordinate system: and son on — from another point of view, its structure now follows the established conventions of the computer’s organization data. (Manovich, pp 45)

   Because Yumi has a face and voice it’s more extreme transcoding. We know that transcoding includes computer layer and cultural layer which depend on each other.

   – Computer Layer – Yumi has the ability to store, sort, and retrieve  data and run programs. Also the Alexa software.

   – Cultural Layer– Yumi uses face and body, Alexa’s voice, and the way she speaks English and understands it (instead of in binary code). Also it should have the screen and GUI (Graphical User Interface).

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   Questions:

   1. Are you interested in home robots?

   2. Which one would you prefer Yumi or Zenbo?

At the beginning of his article Adam Conner-Simon claims that in any type of communication/relationships it is difficult to read someone else’s emotions. Can we trust facial expressions? Are they always accurate? Researches from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) came up with “EQ-Radio”, device which can detect individual’s emotions using wireless signal with 87% accuracy. But how does this device work? It measures subtle changes in heart beating and breathing and detects if person is sad, happy or angry. This device can be used in health care (which is the most important in my opinion ), entertainment or consumer behavior. If you are tired or/and stressed, smart homes system can “read” your mood and adjust the air temperature and suggest you to take a walk or drink some water. Project leader Dina Katabi believes that “our results could pave the way for future technologies that could help monitor and diagnose conditions like depression and anxiety”.

We all know that facial expressions are not reliable enough; on-body sensors like chest bands and ECG monitors are inconvenient to wear. So what does make EQ-Radio different and useful? EQ-Radio sends wireless signals that reflect signal from a person’s body and bring it to the device. It can help to find out the individual’s emotional level. “By recovering measurements of the heart valves opening and closing at a millisecond time-scale, this system can literally detect if someone’s heart skips a beat,” say researches. “This opens up the possibility of learning more about conditions like arrhythmia, and potentially exploring other medical applications that we haven’t even thought of yet.”

I am not very good at analyzing new technological devices, but EQ-Radio seems very useful for me, especially if it can help people with depression and other psychological problems. Adam Conner-Simons used enough evidences to make me believe that he exactly knows what he is talking about and we can trust his opinion:

1. Analyzing previous studying and devises. For example, he mentioned Microsoft’s vision-based “Emotion API”, which focuses on facial expressions (he proved that this system is not accurate enough).
2. Mentioning competent opinions.
3. Scientific studies and experiments.
4. Detailed descriptions of devise.
5. Ideas on how this EQ-Radio can change the future.

Technology which was describe in Conner-Simon’s article, obviously, has a numerical representation: “New media object can be described formally (mathematically). For instance, an image or a shape can be described using a mathematical function” (Manovich 49). As far as I imagine, quantity of heartbeats and frequency of breathing can be only described using a mathematical function.

Transcoding? For sure. “Beginning with the basic, “material” principles of new media — numeric coding and modular organization — we moved to more “deep” and far reaching ones — automation and variability” (Manovich 63). Individual’s mood level is based on transcoding. For example, number 49 can mean that person is tired, yet upset. Again, this is my interpretation of this technology, which might be wrong.

At the end of “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” Alan Turing states: “We may hope that machines will eventually compete with men in all purely intellectual fields. But which are the best ones to start with? Even this is a difficult decision” (Turing 460). I do not think that machines should compete with human intelligence, because it might be dangerous. Technological devises should help us to improve our health, make our lives easier and many things (like space and time travelling) achievable. However, I think good ruler should have not only intelligence, but heart.

1) Do you find EQ-Radio useful in our society?

2) Do you want to read people’s emotions or you prefer to keep in unknown/private?

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Tesla Inc. is a known car manufacturer throughout the automotive industry and as well as in the Tech industry, for its sporty, aerodynamic shaped vehicles and its feature of self driving car computer system. From a recent article in the Daily Mail UK, World’s first self-driving Tesla taxis are set to hit the roads in Dubai by 2020, shows how Tesla inc. has gained trust in its electric self driving cars from a nation that has build its fortune from oil.

The authors purpose of writing this article is to inform people on the position of Tesla as a company and its growth and expansion into newer global market. Many of us might be hesitant to let a computer become our personal driver but this however is the future, as gradually more companies are including/planning on self driving car feature in its vehicle, as listed in this article. Expanding into a country who is rich in oil and open to using fully electric self driving vehicle is huge for the Tesla inc. and for the future of the automotive industry. The evidence from this reporting ca be analyzed by other countries who maybe want to move in this direction to have more sufficient cars on the road.

The findings in this article is to show the possibilities in our future to having self driving car just as an added feature in cars, just as we have lane departure warning as an option to be added in today’s car. Maybe A.M. Turing was right when he predicted that machines may be able to think in fifty years in 1950. “I believe that in about fifty years’ time it will be possible, to programme computers, with a storage capacity of about 109, to make them play the imitation game so well that…”(Turing,8). Although it will take people to get used to it at first, I believe that like every new technology, we as humans will adapt to it slowly. The use of Self driving taxis can also become a tourist attraction for many and benefit Dubai’s economy for the time being. Although it’s in early stages, one thing missing from this article is more information on how Tesla operates its self driving vehicles.

From the list of Lee Manovich’s new media principles, Self driving car falls under the characteristic of Automation because sensors and the software behind the Tesla vehicles uses “high-level” automation. According to the article by Manovich high level automation is automation, “which requires a computer to understand, to a certain degree, the meanings embedded in the objects being generated” (Manovich, 32). In this case when a sensor detects and an object, it is embedded in the computer to slowly slow down to stop.

1. My first question would be, will you trust a self driving Uber car to pick you up and take you to your destination?
2. Secondly, although Tesla has proven what its computers in its car can do, Do you think that fully self driving car will ever come to NYC where it’s constantly stop and go traffic?

Technology is arising and rapidly developing to accommodate the needs of  society. The development of technology is also profound in the clothing industry these days. Smart mirror has been currently launched and many retailers are looking into its functions with expectations to increase sales.

The author tries to see if smart mirrors are a big technological innovation in shopping industries. The writer questions whether the shopping experience would be enhanced and  return on investment would be increased by helping sales associates.

The author uses several examples to explain how smart mirrors function. First, Macy’s introduced the smart dressing room in 2010.

Secondly, Me-Ality is a body scanning and measurement device that can generate a user profile for better fitting. Thirdly, Styku is a portable 3D body scanning platform that is mainly for designers instead of consumers. The author states that these technologies helped designing better smart mirrors. Fourth, 4D Retail Technology Magic Corp’s 4D Magic Mirror display, which has a long name, has a virtual assistant. The e-assistant answers key questions and gives advice. Fifth, RFID technology (fitting room) offers different kinds of fitting rooms. The technology helps customers to get immediate assistance and to communicate with a sales representative. Furthermore, customers can even make a purchase. Lastly, the Memomi’s Memory Mirror tracks a customer’s movements and accelerates the realism of the new look by showing the texture of garments (Weinswig).

(Photo : Love, Julia, Memomi’s Memory Mirror)

The writer analyzes the functions of the mirror by showing many examples of actual smart mirrors in actual stores. She mainly focuses on how the technology works.However, she has doubts about the cost of installing smart mirrors and whether the customers will adopt to this technology.

Her analysis focuses more on the fucntions of the mirros instead of stating examples of customer feedback. For instance, she could have given surveys and conducted interviews. Also, she complains about the cost of a mirror implementation. I would suggest that she states the cost of installment and compare it with the ordinary mirror installations in clothing shops.

     There are three media principles of Lee Manovich that apply to Smart Mirrors. They are: “Numerical Representation”,”Automation”, and “Variability”. Numerical representation which is stated in the reading : all new media objects that are converted from analog media sources are composed of digital code(page49) which is a great example that shows the analog image of body in the mirror that is being converted to pixels on the screen.

     The second example is the 4D Retail Technology Magic Corp’s 4D Magic Mirror display which relates to the automation principle. Since automation enables auto-manipulation and access, this technology enhances the communication and interaction by having the automated assistance system.

Lastly, variability is a new media object that is not something fixed and can exist in different yet potentially infinite version (page59); it has many relations with Smart Mirror. Take an example of memomi’s memory mirror, which follows a customer’s real-time movements and shows how the outfit would look on a customer. In addition to this,  the machine’s functions keep data which can be sent through wires and enables immediate delivery (page56). This describes how the fitting room works. As stated in the previous paragraph, fitting room enables customers to make a purchase while they are still in the fitting room. Another example that relates to variability principle is 4.3 module which talks about the interactive computer installations which use information about the user’s body movements to generate sounds, shapes, images to control behaviors of artificial creatures(page57). It all applies to the function of smart mirrors.

Reading this article, it surely benefits customer by reducing the hassle-time spending on taking on and off clothes; however, I also question the technology to fulfil the actual look. Furthermore, since all the techonologies are being so sophiscated, imagning myself in the world that bases everything on technology, I would feel scared rather than in awe..

1. Do you think you would like to go shopping with these smart mirrors installed? Why? What aspects do you like or not like about it?
2. Is there any techonology that could replace or enhance the shopping experience? Or can you think of fashion shows which uses high-technology.

Works Cited

Have you ever wanted to take a selfie capturing your entire background but you was alone or take a picture of your group but one person is left out because someone needs to take the picture. Even with a selfie stick you are still not able to get the angle you want. I am pretty we have all heard about drones, but what about selfie drones? According to this article the task of taking a good selfie get easier with this invention, but is it worth the money?

Credits

The purpose of this article is to show the latest innovation in the drone technology industry. When we think drone we think military, but based on the article the writer discuss about a company called “AirSelfie” that produces pocket sized camera drones that can be used by anybody with a smartphone.

The problem this article try to solve is whether or not this latest selfie technology is actually worth the money. The evidence used in the article was the purchased of the drone. The device was analyzed based on the characteristics that a consumer would expect from a selfie drone which are: compatibility to smartphones, components, size, camera quality, battery life and price.

In reference to Lee Manovich’s New Media principles, this technology describes the variability principle due to the different varieties of camera drones that ranging from military camera drones to media camera drones. He quotes “ Instead of identical copies, a new media object typically gives rise to many different versions.” (Pg 36).

After her analysis of the device, the writer states “If there’s a catch with AirSelfie, it’s that you only get three or four minutes of flying after 30 minutes of charging. That will annoy some people. Also, there’s no flash. But even given those drawbacks, early adopter types and selfie-hounds are going to think AirSelfie is pretty wonderful. And at $300, the price is right.”(Blaustein) I find it convincing due to this device drastically changing how we take pictures as individuals, and the easy usability of it, even with the drawbacks of having no flash and a limited flight time.

The only thing I feel that is missing from this analysis is the longevity of the device, its wear and tear and waterproof or water resistance capability. Other than that it’s a great device, I am big on the latest technology and to see how taking pictures is a big part of our everyday life, and there is a device to meet the “selfie” fab that is really popular in our social online world. I feel like this also touches on Nick Couldry “Digital Media and Social Theory” he says “if curious about the local patterns of order and resource concentration emerging in production and everyday life online” (pg 8)

I believe that this innovation will change the way we all take pictures as individuals, it ticks off a lot of boxes that we want and it is truly worth the purchase to finally get the perfect hand free selfie. I am looking forward to the release of the device and to see how it will shape our online life even more. Do you see yourself using this device? Why or why not? Would you pay the current price for it ?

Credit

In the past, there have been countless times that I have been walking to the train station and I see my train approaching the station (I live in an area with an elevated subway system.) 90% of the time I usually decide to run full speed to try and catch it; and the other 10% I usually end up saying “forget it, guess I’m late!” I know, I had bad time management, and I still somewhat do…

Source: poemlust

If you’re like me and can relate to what I just said, I guess you’re tired of missing your train because you either rushing out of your house or you just don’t know when your train is approaching the station. Rene Ritchie states in his article, “The Transit App for iPhone Review” that an app called Transit has made finding the nearest station, catching a train or knowing when a train is scheduled to arrive is as easy as checking the weather or a social media update.

Overall, Ritchie is very pleased with the Transit app, stating that it is, “incredibly well thought out, beautifully designed, and lightning-fast to use.” He supports those claims by stating that the app remembers the last route you took even if you closed the app, and it also relocates you to where you currently are via location services. Transit’s interface is also huge and the color’s match your city’s subway system. For example, in NYC, the D train’s color is orange and the regular buses are blue. Finally, the app requires minimal internet connection to process so even if you have a slow internet connection, the app will still be useful to you. I personally use this app myself on a regular basis so I can confirm that Ritchie’s claims about the app are valid!

source: me

What Ritchie is missing from his article is a comparison to other transit apps. What makes this app so different and useful compared to Google Maps or Apple Maps? More importantly, what makes the Transit app an essential? Ritchie does not go into detail about similar apps, and how the Transit app is superior. Arguably, his article is indeed titled, “The Transit App for iPhone Review” so it makes sense to pretty much talk about only the Transit app, but consumers reading his article such as myself would like to know why we should download this app and why we this app is a better alternative to the current transit app we are using.

The Transit app does contain characteristics of variability and cultural transcoding. For variability, the app is updated regularly and it is strongly influenced by its users. According to Adrian Athique, “The ‘author’ of the message is influenced by the wider cultural context of the society that they inhabit, as well as by their own social and institutional position (page 92.)” He is saying that the author or developer(s) in this case, are subject to strong influence from its community. They will listen to constructive criticism and make any changes necessary. Since the Transit app is on the App Store, users can easily make a review on it and the developers can either learn from their mistakes, or adopt better ideas. Over time, the app will continuously improve through updates and customization. For cultural transcoding, it is an application, so it is created through a software, engineered for humans. According to Lev Manovich, “On the level of representation, it belongs on the side of human culture, automatically entering in dialogue with other images… but on another level, it is a computer file that consists of machine-readable headers, followed by numbers representing color values of its pixels (page 45.)” To us, we see the easy side of the app, vivid colors, big fonts, and a beautiful display, but the app was created with a much more complex background than we may assume.

In conclusion, I’d like to know how you manage your way around NYC! Do you use Transit yourself? Or perhaps another app? Or do you just wing it? Can you think of a negative consequence that would result in using this app? For me, the app isn’t always accurate, so it may make or break your day!