Month: December 2018
Scientists create 3D-printed hand that can play Jingle Bells!
Scientists have made a 3D-printed robot hand that can play Jingle Bells on the piano. Researchers at Cambridge University said soft and rigid materials in the design replicate the bones and ligaments of a human hand, but not the muscles or tendons. The hand cannot move its fingers independently, but can play simple musical phrases by…
Big Ben brought back to life by Snapchat augmented reality
The front-facing camera will also add a virtual hat onto users (Snap/PA) Big Ben is making an early comeback this Christmas thanks to Snapchat’s latest augmented reality feature, which sees the scaffolding around Elizabeth Tower fall away inside a life-size snow globe! Snapchat’s latest AR Lens works when users hold their…
Elon Musk unveils The Boring Company’s traffic-busting underground tunnel
Image: Press Association Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has unveiled his ground-breaking underground transportation tunnel, which he hopes will provide an answer to “soul-destroying traffic” across the world. Reporters and invited guests took some of the first journeys in the subterranean tube system beneath the surface of Los Angeles, which could…
Two thirds of drivers forget where they have parked, claims Nissan survey
Nearly two thirds of UK drivers (65.1%) – or around 21.4 million motorists – have forgotten where they parked their car with multi-storey car parks being the place where they are mostly likely to lose them. According to the survey of 2,000 motorists carried out by Nissan, one in three (33.75%) said they do so…
Ex-NASA engineer builds ‘glitter-bomb trap’ to shame package thieves
A former NASA engineer has built a high-tech glitter bomb, anti-theft device to horrify thieves who steal Christmas packages from outside people’s homes. Frustrated after a parcel was stolen from his porch in California, YouTuber Mark Rober spent months building a bait trap which would cover thieves in glitter, stink spray and shame when they…
British augmented reality start-up Blippar goes into administration
Augmented reality experience maker Blippar has gone into administration. The British start-up, founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs Ambarish Mitra and Omar Tayeb, said it was unable to secure additional funding from one of its shareholders. We’re saddened to announce that Blippar has gone into administration today. We’re eternally grateful to all our team members, customers,…
Mobile coverage still limited in many rural areas, says Ofcom
Half of premises in remote locations across the UK still have “patchy or unreliable” mobile reception, despite wider improvements to mobile coverage across the country. According to Ofcom’s annual report, reliable voice calls are now available to 97% of premises in urban homes and offices from all operators, while 83% have access to complete 4G…
Ford develops ‘smart kennels’ to keep dogs relaxed during fireworks
Ford has designed a noise-cancelling kennel for dogs to ease the stress created by fireworks displays celebrating the New Year. The quiet kennel uses similar noise-cancelling technology found in cars and headphones but remains a concept for the moment. Microphones inside the prototype detect the sound of fireworks and transmit opposing frequencies from built-in speakers…
Fortnite leads YouTube’s list of most watched gaming trailers
Fortnite leads YouTube’s list of most watched gaming trailers. Some 48.6 million views of the game’s Season 5 trailer beat the likes of Fallout 76 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Fortnite has topped YouTube’s list of the most watched gaming trailers of the past 12 months, rounding off a successful year for the survival game.…
Brits sitting on £3.5 billion of unused gadgets, including old laptops and phones
Brits are sitting on almost £3.5 billion worth of unused gadgets in their home, a study has found. The average household has old phones, computers, games consoles and TVs gathering dust in drawers, cupboards and even under the stairs, totalling around £127. UK homes are also hoarding 4.4 million unwanted iPhones and 2.6 million old…
