So I’m sitting here watching my iPhone update when suddenly it occurs to me that about three years ago I wrote a whole thing about needing a new computer but not being sure what I should get. It then dawns on me that I never did finish that story and let everyone know what I …
Category Archives: gadgets
If You’re In Hamilton And Have Some time, These Tactile Navigational Belt People Might Be Able To Use Your Help
I got this sent to me the other day. It’s kind of fascinating, and reminded me of the old Peepo of years gone by. I definitely have questions, but it looks kind of neat. I certainly won’t be able to go to the lab and try it out, but I can at least spread the …
A Computer Wrote A Science Fiction Movie And It Makes No Damn Sense
Artificial intelligence is at the point where it’s often amazingly, well, intelligent. There are things it can do as good as or better than humans, but judging from whatever the hell this is, there’s still at least one group of meat-based organisms that won’t have to worry about having its jobs taken anytime soon. Screenwriters. …
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When I Say “Grandpa”, You Say “Bot”
I love technology, but I don’t like the idea of using it as a cure for loneliness. But a lot of people are getting this idea, and designing gadgets for people who spend too much time alone, like seniors and young single people, but especially seniors. First up is Hasbro’s companion robot golden retriever. They …
GM Just Launched A Car Sharing Service In Kitchener Waterloo
I won’t be using this on a regular basis myself since the world still hasn’t come around to the idea of giving driver’s licenses to blind people, but I can absolutely imagine giving it a go when we have far away visitors who can drive but don’t have a car or can’t bring it with …
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I Wanna Get a Gita!
As I sit here, and my arm slightly protests from carrying home a few bags of groceries yesterday, I am reminded again of this Gita helper robot thing I read about the other day, and how I kinda sorta want one. The team’s first product is Gita, a round rolling robot that can carry up …
Stupid Smart Products Nobody Needs But Somebody Will Buy Anyway
Since this is a favourite infuriating topic of ours, some of you might enjoy this round-up of smart gadgets that really don’t need to be smart and probably have no legitimate reason for existing. Highlights (if you want to call them that) include a $209 frying pan that can keep track of what you’ve put …
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Smashmouth’s All-star As Performed By A Windows XP Sound Scheme
This is exactly what the title says it is. Extra points for not doing the whole song. The gag makes its point and then goes home before it stops being funny, as it should be.
Dish, Now With Accessible Set-Top Boxes
Dish has jumped into the adding accessibility features to our boxes market and is now offering text to speech and other features on its Hopper 3, Hopper 2 and Wally receivers. Judging from the demo video up top, they did a pretty decent job for a first release. If Dish is available in your area …
Will Alternative Facts Still Be Lies When It’s Impossible To Tell The Difference?
So it looks like not only are we going to have to worry about digitally fabricated realistic sounding audio when trying to separate fact from fiction, but soon enough we’ll have digitally fabricated facial expressions to contend with as well. Great. One research paper published last year by professors at Stanford University and the University …
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