| Microsoft granted patent for wearable EMG device May 2nd 2012, 05:18  Those muscle spasms? They're now good for something. Okay, so Microsoft's just-granted patent for a wearable EMG device doesn't really thrive off of involuntary twitching and such, but it does use your movements to control your smartphone, notebook and other gadgets. The "Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller," which we first glimpsed back in 2010, uses sensors to interpret the electrical signals generated by a user's muscles, and then communicates with the wearer's computer via a wireless (or wired) connection. Redmond envisions the wearable device in various incarnations: as an armband equipped with sensors, a shirt, eyeglasses and even nodes attached directly to the user's body. In the armband example, motion control could be used to interact with a PMP while the user is jogging. No matter the setup, a calibration process allows the system to locate specific sensors and collect information based on specific gestures or movements, which means playing Guitar Hero with only an air guitar may someday be a reality after all. Continue reading Microsoft granted patent for wearable EMG device Microsoft granted patent for wearable EMG device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 01:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  US Patent Office | Email this | Comments | | Auto-composing keyboard creates tunes tailored to your taste May 2nd 2012, 04:06  We love listening to our favorite tunes, as they provide a soundtrack to our otherwise dull and silent blogging existence. But, sometimes the lyrical stylings of Jay-Z and glorious jams of Trey Anastasio simply don't meet our musical needs. We need something different, something never before heard by human ears, to get us through the news day. Enter Cornell students Charong Chen and Siyu Zhan, who have constructed an electric keyboard that one ups Yamaha's singing piano by creating and playing its own compositions. Users simply select between two mood modes -- happy or tender -- to determine the tune's tempo, then play a couple notes and the piano sets to sating sonic cravings. There's another mode that allows users to play a melody to "train" the keyboard, which then plays permutations of that melody in an automated jam session. In that training mode, users can play as long as they like to give the keyboard a better idea of what they're into, which allows the algorithm to better tailor its audial output. The hardware making the music happen is comprised of a microcontroller (MCU) with the composing algorithm on board, a numpad for choosing the operational mode, and a 23-key piano that communicates with the MCU through a trio of encoders. The results are impressive, if not quite concert-hall quality. Hear it for yourself in the video after the break. Continue reading Auto-composing keyboard creates tunes tailored to your taste Auto-composing keyboard creates tunes tailored to your taste originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 00:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Hack a day | Cornell University | Email this | Comments | | Warner Bros. intros 'Inside the Script' eBook series, gives film buffs a deeper look May 2nd 2012, 03:28  From time to time, we see movie studio Warner Bros. bring forth ways to give its oldies-but-goodies a longer life span. On this occasion, Warner's launching a novel eBook series titled "Inside the Script." The new release will give movie buffs a deeper look into a handful of the studio's films, which will include tidbits such as complete shooting scripts, deets about the flick's development and other "rare" goods. At launch, Warner will offer classics like Casablanca, Ben-Hur, An American in Paris and North by Northwest -- all available now on iBooks, Kindle and B&N's NOOK for $10 each. Those eager to flip through the antique pages can head to the source below, where you'll be able to grab the version best suited for your device. Continue reading Warner Bros. intros 'Inside the Script' eBook series, gives film buffs a deeper look Warner Bros. intros 'Inside the Script' eBook series, gives film buffs a deeper look originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 23:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Warner Bros. | Email this | Comments | |
