Lip-reading computers recognize languages

Researchers at the School of Computing Sciences at the University of East Anglia conducted statistical modelling of the lip motions of 23 bilingual and trilingual speakers. The languages tested included English, French, German, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Polish and Russian, and the system was able to identify with very high degree of accuracy which language was spoken by an individual speaker.

"This is an exciting advance in automatic lip-reading technology and the first scientific confirmation of something we already intuitively suspected -­ that when people speak different languages, they use different mouth shapes in different sequences," said Professor Cox who, along with PhD student Jake Newman, led the team.

"For example, we found frequent "lip-rounding" among French speakers and more prominent tongue movements among Arabic speakers."

http://www.newscientist.com/
filed under: computers & accessories, technologies

Property spectrum: Information
Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. This technology can read lip movements and recognize the language spoken.

"The inspiration I had was to use offshore membrane enclosures to grow algae. We're going to deploy a large plastic bag in the ocean, and fill it with sewage. The algae use sewage to grow, and in the process of growing they clean up the sewage," said Jonathan Trent, the lead research scientist on the Spaceship Earth project at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Cali.

It is a simple, but elegant concept. The bag will be made of semi-permeable membranes that allow fresh water to flow out into the ocean, while retaining the algae and nutrients. The membranes are called "forward-osmosis membranes." NASA is testing these membranes for recycling dirty water on future long-duration space missions.

http://www.nasa.gov/
filed under: energy, environment

Property spectrum: Webs & Fibres
Solid components are replaced with webbed and fibrous materials for improved strength/weight ratios, flexibility, and durability. Semi-permeable membranes allow fresh water through and keep the algae in.

Tilting 4-Wheeler

The 4MC prototype vehicle is a home-built, ride-able mode of transport that comes with a triangle base platform for added stability, offering the rider an amazing feel and huge front-end stability up to 40-degree lean angles, making it a snap to sit at full lean at a standstill or when you're speeding along a tight corner. The more the lean angle increases, the further apart the wheels move to increase the stability. Two upwardly looping front suspension arms will handle the steering, making room for a nice tight turning circle, and just like a bike, you will need to counter steer the 4MC into corners.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/
filed under: automotive, safety

Property spectrum: Flexibility
Increasing flexibility is one of the most applied properties. Many products evolve from rigid to completely flexible. A 4 wheeler that tilts makes it more stable in when cornering.

Sea 'Snake' generates electricity with every wave

Harnessing the power of waves is an attractive proposition because they are much more energy dense than wind. But wave power remains the poor relation of the renewable energy sector due to the difficulties of cheaply operating machinery in the harsh marine environment. The world's first commercial wave farm only began operating last year, off the northern coast of Portugal.

A variety of other designs are in testing around the world, but none are as unusual as the Anaconda. The rubber snake is filled with freshwater - to help deter sea creatures from setting up a home inside - and sealed at both ends to create a semi-rigid balloon that floats at the sea's surface.

http://www.newscientist.com/
filed under: energy, machines & engines, technologies

Property spectrum: Pulsation - travelling wave
Rhythmic action evolves so that continuous action of a system or subsystem evolves towards periodic action. The pulsating action here is that of a travelling wave that generates electricity.

Feather coating to reduce drag

Coating the rigid wings of airplanes with artificial bristles that mimic feathers could make them more efficient, according to engineers. An Italian team has demonstrated how feather-like structures help reduce drag on a cylinder and says they could have the same effect on underwater and aerial vehicles.

Although they may not look like they can have much of an effect, during gliding some covert feathers stick up at right angles to the wing's surface and vibrate in the airflow. To test whether this has any effect on flight performance Bottaro and Julien Favier, also at Genoa, added synthetic coverts to a computer model of a 20-centimetre-diameter cylinder and put it in a virtual wind tunnel.

Their synthetic feathers are modelled as rigid keratin bristles 4 to 6 centimetres long and 0.5 millimetres in diameter, coating the cylinder at a density of around three fibres per square centimetre. The cylinder was orientated with its long axis perpendicular to the air flow, placing the synthetic feathers parallel to the wind.

http://www.newscientist.com/
filed under: aerospace, automotive, physics

Property spectrum: Surface
This property describes the evolution of surface texture. Surfaces tend to evolve from flat, smooth surfaces towards bumpy surfaces. Protruded surfaces may improve heat dispersion and reduce drag in the air or under water.

 PermaFLOW self cleaning drain system

It's a replacement sink trap that improves the standard design in almost every way. First, it's see-through, which means if the sink isn't draining like it should, you'll be able to see why. Secondly, its unique design and shape increases the turbulence of the water while it's draining, which minimizes build-up. And thirdly, it's got an easy to use knob which turns an internal wiping mechanism that should easily clear up any clog. Brilliant.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/
filed under: building & construction, household, tools

Property spectrum: Transparency
Products that are transparent have multiple advantages, other than a better aesthetic appearance, e.g.: increased natural illumination, saving energy, increased visibility for safety and ease of inspection.