Monthly Archives: January 2015

An Ozobot In Your Future

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The whole purpose of DigiDame is to inform people over 50 about what’s happening in the digital world. I’m well aware that many of my readers know more than I do. I still feel it’s very important to bring certain products and services to your attention so that when you’re in conversations with younger folks, you are as “cool” as they are.

One of the newest products that I wanted to give you a heads up on is Ozobot, a tiny robot that recognizes codes and sensors for both mobile digital devices (tablets) and analog surfaces (paper).

The Ozobot traces paths that you create, either for games or other activities in the future. Watch both videos for complete demonstrations of the “bots” capabilities.

The bots flash colors depending on the color of the path they are following. The bots can also follow tracks you draw or ones supplied from the company. Ozobot is also looking for other software developers to create additional applications.

If you buy a complete set from Ozobot, — a race track kit with two robots–for around $150. Additional robots sell for $59. Check out Amazon.

Engadget wrote about Ozobot. So did Mashable.
http://youtu.be/-xFjTXQ8uho
http://youtu.be/Aw_qJp6jm8I

KISS At CES

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It pays to have friends in high places. Pal Steve Greenberg did a TV gig for Harman International at CES. In addition his usual Hollywood fee, they also gave him two tickets to the KISS concert that they were sponsoring at the Hard Rock tonight in Las Vegas.

I jumped at the chance when Steve invited me to join him. I attended one of KISS’ first concerts. It took place on Long Island and it was love at first sight. The face paint and stage outfits drove everyone wild. Wikipedia said it best. “KISS’ elaborate live performances, featuring fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits and pyrotechnics” is still a draw after many decades.

“The band has sold more than 40 million albums in the United States, of which 24 million have been certified by the RIAA and their worldwide sales exceeds 100 million records, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time.”

The original 1973–80 lineup consisted of Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar and vocals) and Peter Criss (drums and vocals).

KISS is about technology. Thank you Harman for presenting this legendary talent.

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Ford’s Smart Mobility Initiative

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Image: CEA
Mark Fields, CEO, Ford

When I first read the copy I wrote below, I have to admit I sounded like a PR person for the Ford Motor Company. That’s not the case. I just want to let you know the steps they are taking to gain our trust as seniors. For some, they didn’t have that good a reputation in the last decades.

Ford has been exhibiting at CES for a number of years because it wants to be known as a technology-focused automobile company. Ford has also taken a lead on vocalizing the importance of innovation and the growing global transportation challenges.

In his keynote address, Ford CEO Mark Fields announced the company’s Smart Mobility initiative. There are 25 experiments ranging from big data analytics to a car swap service. Ford also wants to be a leader in autonomous cars. More from Ford in the coming weeks. A story in Detroit News explains more about the technology Ford is working on. Check out the videos below that demonstrates their commitment to performance.

http://youtu.be/2zsA4RohPp8

Beam Me Up

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I may not attend CES next year. I can send a Beam (from Suitable Technologies) to the show for me. That’s exactly what Beam, the company, did this year. Their CES booth was filled with robots, no human beings. It was awesome.

Humans doing booth duty at a trade show is so passé. Ha,ha. Beam is a remote-operated robot that will allow anyone to virtually be present at meetings across the nation. Unlike FaceTime and Skype, you control where the camera is going. The videos will explain how it operates.

Grandmas and grandpas who live out-of-state can visit with their families. Yes, it is costly, but with the price of travel, you could amortize it over the years.

http://youtu.be/-uUb4TrPyxs

The Beam Remote is five feet tall, weighs 95 pounds, can roll along at walking speed (about 5 feet per second), and has a 17-inch screen. It’s got two HD cameras, six microphones, speakers, Wi-Fi, and LED lamps.

The Beam is selling the robot starting at $16,000, and its charging dock for $950.

Watch the videos to fully understand Beam’s potential and capabilities.

http://youtu.be/WwVDs6PqX9s
http://youtu.be/vzXnpmOWb-c

CES Snapshots

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This video made news at CES. If you really want to see what a GoPro can capture, click on the video above. It gives you an intense and up-close look at the recent fires raging in Australia.

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FaceCake Marketing Technologies allows consumers to virtually try on individual or multiple clothes. Walk in a store, leave your street clothes on, and let the software help you try on as many outfits as you want. You’ll never see a dressing room again.

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Indiegogo brought successful campaigns to CES.

12,000 steps yesterday.

Flying Machines

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I taped this video at #CES 2015 Unveiled

I got so lucky at Unveiled #CES 2015, the press preview night. Hundreds of press people showed up to see many of the new products that were being presented for the first time. Somehow I got the front and center spot when officials at DJI gave their Inspire 1 camera drone a spin. I felt like I was receiving a private demo of DJI’s latest flying platform.

DJI describes themselves as a leader in easy-to-fly camera drones/quad copters for aerial views. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the area is known as China’s Silicon Valley. Offices can now be found in the United States, Germany, Japan, Beijing and Hong Kong.

The handheld camera mount is built to hold the DJI Inspire 1 camera and gimbal, allowing users to take their camera from the aerial platform and capture stabilized footage on the ground.

Trust me, this is going to be the next big trend in video photography. Prices have not been decided.

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Scenes From CES 2015, Las Vegas

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Getting here was pure hell. I have never encountered such a mob scene at Miami International Airport. There were 75 people on the First Class line before us. After waiting an hour, my traveling companion, (Steve Greenberg) and I got a skycap to check us in. We ran to the gate but American Airlines closed the door to the airplane and wouldn’t let us on.

We were miserable. Our luggage was on the flight. We just stood there in shock. After a lot of whining, we were rebooked on another flight. We were squeezed in the back of the plane with a woman who coughed all over us for three hours. We had to fly to Dallas and then pick up a second flight to Vegas.

We finally made it. We rushed from the airport to an event called “Unveiled,” because that is where the press gets to preview some of the new products before CES opens. It was outstanding. Sponsored by CES, it featured some amazing new ideas. I will try to showcase a number of them in upcoming days. Everyone in the room felt the excitement. This week is going to be amazing.

Here are some photos from Unveiled.

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Gary Shapiro, (left) CEO, CES, being interviewed at opening of show.

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The most popular guys in the room. The lead team from USA Today.

Back To The Future Of The Typewriter

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My new friend, Gerald Posner (yes, the author) posted a story on Facebook from the Wall Street Journal yesterday about the growing number of people “rediscovering the virtues of a manual typewriter.”

Many of these folks are writers, people who have had a very special relationship with these machines because they helped them create their masterpieces. I can only assume that the sounds and the feel of the keys possibly bring back some of inspiration and motivation they had in their early years.

As a result of this renewed interest, several inventors are reinventing the typewriter to be digital machines. Two of them raised significant money on Kickstarter.

The first one is the Qwerkwriter.

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The Kickstarter campaign explains that the “The Qwerkywriter is an 84 key, USB, Bluetooth enabled, typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard that simulates a tactile clickity-clack feel of a vintage typewriter. It features custom typewriter-inspired keycaps, an integrated tablet stand, and a detachable USB cable via mini-USB port.” To learn more about what the Qwerkywriter can do, click here

The next digital typewriter is the Hemingwrite.

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Kickstarter claims that The Hemingwrite is a distraction-free writing tool. “It combines the simplicity of a typewriter with all of the modern conveniences of living in 2014: cloud documents, e-paper display, and full-size mechanical keyboard. To read more about it, click here.

Both digital typewriters will be available later this year. Both Kickstarter campaigns point out that unlike computers these machines just allow writers type their stories without the distraction of the Internet. This may be what they need to stay focused. Good luck!

By the way, Gerald Posner’s new book “God’s Bankers: A History of Money & Power at the Vatican” is due out next month, I think it’s so terrific that, in my estimation, a major studio is going to grab the movie rights immediately,

Wikipedia lists Posner as an American investigative journalist and author of several books, including Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK(1993) which explores the John F. Kennedy assassination, and Killing the Dream: James Earl Ray and the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1998).

His wife Trisha is also a very successful author and helps Gerald with his books as well.

This Is What Driving Will Look Like In The Future

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This just may be the unit that stops people from taking their eyes off the road while texting. Woohoo!!!

Navdy, a hardware start up company from San Francisco, is introducing its aftermarket LCD on-the-dash display sometime this year. It displays driving directions, messaging, and audio, right in front of the driver. Hopefully no more looking down when you want to answer a call or receive a text. It also offers gesture controls. That means you can wave your hand and turn on/off the radio, phone, app, and other options. Gesture controls are getting much more sophisticated, so at some point, we will all be waving our hands in the air to do many functions.

Navdy’s communications app integrates with both iPhone or Android. It answers phone calls and shows contact information. Music selection will also be featured.

Navdy will retail at $499.

Here are some of the specs:

5.1″ wide transparent Head-Up Display (HUD)
High quality projector.

IR camera for touchless gesture control.

Accelerometer, e-compass, ambient light sensor.

WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0/LE.

Audio out via Bluetooth or 3.5mm minijack,
mini-USB port.

Internal speaker and microphone with
noise canceling DSP.

I will let you know when Navdy is available at retail.

Auto Efficiency And Safety Device

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http://youtu.be/_AyXNeRbpRk
I have always been a nervous automobile driver and a nervous passenger. I always feel like the car next to me is going to jump out of its lane and smash into my car. I have always been like this.

It drives (no pun intended) Eliot crazy. I’m always braced for the worst. There must be a lot of folks like me because Automatic Labs has a new “smart driving assistant” that helps you drive safer and more efficiently. Granted, it doesn’t actually prevent accidents but it certainly makes you more aware of road safety. The wireless adapter plugs into your car’s standard diagnostic port and connects to your iPhone or Android when you are driving. The video above shows you where the diagnostic port is located on many cars.

A companion app logs fuel efficiency, trip costs, and driving habits. If that’s not amazing enough, the device has audible alerts and teaches the driver about fuel efficiency.

Automatic keeps track of where you parked, provides a “check engine light” and alerts an emergency list of contacts in case of an accident.

The Automatic sells for $99.99.