This week, we have a pair of smart sneakers that orders pizza, a robot that solves a Rubik’s cube in 380ms and a pair of audio-focused AR smartglasses coming from Bose. I think it might also be the first time AR news has outnumbered VR news in the newsletter!
Smart pizza-loving sneakers, a lightning speed Rubik’s cube robot and Bose AR smartglasses
Learn how to build a conversational voice assistant!
A whole series of in depth, step-by-step articles and accompanying content that’ll help you build a virtual assistant/chatbot no matter your skill level! Content is almost all in there for early access release! Pre-register and get a discount code when it’s out as my way of saying thanks for the support!
Virtual Reality
Fixing the “Can’t Reach Oculus Runtime Services” error
Big software glitch meant Oculus Rift devices around the world stopped working… here’s the fix!
Stroke rehabilitation VR game debuts at SXSW
This VR game is designed to help stroke victims.
VR and architectural visualisation: the big issues! (Part 1)
Barry Dineen from BVN looks at their experience using VR for architectural visualisation.
Exclusive: Scaffolding in VR – interaction design for easy & intuitive building
Barrett Fox and Martin Schubert from Leap Motion give some great insight into VR interaction design.
Motorola’s next Moto Mod may be a VR headset
Still a rumour but looking likely — a Motorola VR headset.
VR headset uses robot arm to feed you candy
Yep, no more starving while in the virtual world.
Augmented Reality
Bose is making AR glasses
The speaker and headphone manufacturer is bringing AR to your ears, rather than your eyes, with AR glasses. There’ll be a Bose AR SDK later this year too. Wareable had a good look at them too.
Toshiba’s AR glasses stick a tiny Windows PC on your face
The DynaEdge AR smartglasses are focused on the workplace and use Windows!
Panasonic’s take on Google Glass will turn you into a culinary master
It’s aimed at training restaurant chefs!
Jurassic World Alive AR game is Pokémon Go with dinosaurs
There’s another Pokemon Go-like game to go with the Harry Potter, Garfield and Ghostbusters.
Ever secretive Magic Leap continues trend after YouTube interview vanishes
Such mystery!
Apple’s Eddy Cue discusses video service, says you’ll use AR “all the time”
Not a whole lot of this article is about AR but it’s important as it shows Apple really are intending to make AR a huge deal soon enough.
Wearables
There’s now a smartwatch version of the Australian earpiece which translates nine languages
Lingmo decided that earpieces weren’t for everyone and has a second approach.
Alivecor wearables May detect unsafe potassium levels in the future
This could really help people as high blood potassium is linked to diabetes, dehydration and kidney disease.
Pizza Hut announces trainers that can control your TV and order pizza
Press the tongue on these shoes for the connected magic to happen.
Google Pixel Buds prep Double Tap for next track & Triple Tap/in-ear detection to sleep [APK Insight]
New features coming to the Google Pixel Buds in the next version of the Google app!
Huami’s Amazfit core is breaking out of China, with Fitbit in its sights
The company is from Xiaomi and are bringing their wearables into the US.
Fitbit’s new ‘mass appeal’ smartwatch is called the Versa
We now know the name of the next Fitbit!
Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics
Googlers are furious about their AI being used with military drones
Googlers discovered, much to their dismay, the AI they built is being used by the US Department of Defense to analyse video footage captured by military drones.
AI could help your charitable dollars go further
A good use of AI that could make a positive difference!
Future Today Institute: China will become the world’s ‘unchallenged AI hegemon’ in 2018
The headline is a bit misleading, as the report says they’ll “lay the groundwork to become the world’s unchallenged AI hegemon” in 2018. It raises good points though — China has a huge population and “doesn’t have the privacy and security restrictions that might hinder progress in other nations”.
Microsoft is bringing more AI to Windows 10 with Window ML for developers
The Inquirer say it’s coming to a Visual Studio near you!
Security bods exploit flaws in Pepper the robot to bork it with ransomware
Poor Pepper…
Microsoft’s Outlook for iPhone boss is now in charge of Cortana
As a result, Cortana will soon be able to read Outlook emails on iOS and Android.
Flippy the burger-flipping robot is already on unpaid leave
Flippy worked for one day, but put too much pressure on his human counterparts who couldn’t keep up with the robot’s speed and the influx of customers.
Evernote will use AI to automate your workflow
It will scan text and suggest items you’ll want to action from it.
3 reasons to question the use of emotion-tracking AI in recruiting
There could be unintended consequences, so it’s good to look at those and discuss them.
Insect-like robot learns to adjust its walk on the fly
A team at the Tokyo Institute of Technology is “teaching a six-legged android to improvise and adapt—just like bugs”.
Rubik’s robot so fast it looks like a glitch in the matrix
This robot solves a standard Rubik’s cube in 380 milliseconds.
‘Virtual moron-idiot’: Telstra’s support chatbot backfires
This is a tale which highlights why it’s important to design and test your chatbot/virtual assistants properly — and ensure people can get in touch with a real person if they need to.
We need to improve the accuracy of AI accuracy discussions
Danny Crichton from TechCrunch points out the adjustments the tech press need to do to improve their AI coverage.
Segway actually thinks you’ll want an Android-powered robot that you can ride
Loomo can give you a lift or follow you around.
Internet of Things and Makers
Your smart home is spying on you. Here’s how to spy back.
Gizmodo have some tips for keeping an eye on your smart home devices.
Ignore all ‘fake news’: this is why Alexa is really laughing at you
Amazon Echo devices have been randomly laughing at people, creeping them out. 100% not what you want to hear late at night. Amazon have worked out what was going on though and are fixing it.
UK gov tackles lacklustre IoT security with new code of practice
Connected tech makers “have been told to implement security by design”.
Amazon updates Alexa so you don’t have to say ‘Alexa’ repeatedly
You can now turn on a setting allowing a follow up question after your initial one.
Report: Alexa will soon be laughing at you in the workplace, too
Okay, not really, that’s been fixed. But, Amazon is planning to integrate Alexa into enterprise software.
47.3 million US adults have access to a smart speaker, report says
Nearly 1/5 of US adults have access to a smart speaker, which is pretty good adoption for an IoT device!
Acer’s smart beads are built for Buddhists
Acer’s Leap Beads count the number of mantras recited during prayer time.
Philips Hue outdoor lights will be available in July, with three products on offer
They are releasing a range of outdoor Hue lights!
Events and Conference Discount Codes!
AI Expo Global (18-19 Apr)
3 co-located events. 19 conference tracks. 9,000 attendees. 300+ speakers. 300+ exhibitors. It’s all happening in London! Use the discount code DEVDINER20 to get a good deal on your tickets! They have a a free Data Analytics for AI and IoT track too!
AI Expo Europe (27-28 Jun)
Can’t make it in April? It’s all happening in Amsterdam too in June! The discount code DEVDINER20 gets you a good deal with this one as well!
AI Expo North America (28-29 Nov)
Around North America? Get ready super early for the AI Expo coming your way in November! The discount code DEVDINER20 works for this one too!
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Want more?
A neat way to add I/O with the physical world — the Wio Terminal
The world of micro-controllers and maker creations is a vast and ever-growing one that can be super intimidating to newcomers. Should you start with an Arduino? A Raspberry Pi? What's an ESP something something? How do you add a screen? Sensors? The team at Seeed Studio are trying to make things easier and their Wio Terminal looks like a nice option for those who want to start with a screen and some sensors.
Building a 3D printed AR headset with The Triton Project
It's always exciting to stumble upon another AR headset being developed! Graham Atlee has been putting together The Triton Project, an exciting new headset similar to Project North Star that can be put together with off-the-shelf parts! Here's a Q&A with Graham on how it came about and how you might be able to get your hands on one!