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Tracking

OUTDOORS

WiNRADiO PFSL-G3 field strength logger now with TETRA protocol

By Ben Coxworth

01:03 January 22, 2010 PST

The WiNRADiO PFSL-G3 Portable Field Strength Logging and Surveillance System

Whether you’re tracking a moose, trying to locate a sinking ship, or conducting a little spying, you’re going to be using a field strength logger. One of the slickest units currently available is the WiNRADiO PFSL-G3 Portable Field Strength Logging and Surveillance System. Whereas such systems used to consist of several pieces of equipment, the PFSL-G3 is all contained in one portable, compact, rugged unit. It also now comes with an optional TETRA control protocol decoder, allowing users to prioritize signal traffic by importance. Read More

RESEARCH WATCH

Gestural interfaces make touch screens look so ‘last year’

By Jeff Salton

21:21 December 13, 2009 PST

A laboratory mockup of a thin-screen LCD display with built-in optical sensors (Photo: Mat...

The gestural interface used by Tom Cruise in the movie Minority Report was based on work by MIT Media Lab’s Hiroshi Ishii, who has already commercialized similar large-scale gestural interface systems. However, such systems comprise many expensive cameras or require the user to wear tracking devices on their fingers. To develop a similar yet cost effective gestural interface system that is within reach of many more people other researchers at MIT have instead been working to develop screens with embedded optical sensors to track the movement of the user’s fingers that could quickly make touch screens seem outdated. Read More

MUSIC

scoreLight musical instrument turns drawings into sound

By Dario Borghino

17:37 December 9, 2009 PST

ScoreLight is a one-of-a-kind musical instrument that scans objects with laser pointers an...

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have found a curious way to translate drawings and three-dimensional shapes into music. The prototype laser-based musical instrument known as scoreLight uses 3D tracking technology to generate real-time sounds based on the shapes and colors it encounters along the way, transforming doodling into a truly synthesized experience. Read More

CAMERAS AND IMAGING

ProFORMA software creates a 3D model of an object in minutes using a webcam

By Jeff Salton

18:58 November 29, 2009 PST

Using ProFORMA 3D modeling software, users can create models by rotating an object in fron...

Cambridge University PhD student Qi Pan has designed software that creates textured 3D models in slightly more than a minute using a stationary camera, such as a webcam. Conventional off-line model reconstruction relies on a number of phases - there’s an image collection phase that can be quite quick, followed by a very slow reconstruction phase, which requires a long time to verify a model obtained from an image sequence is acceptable. This new software creates a 3D model on-line as the input sequence is being collected. As the user rotates the object in front of a camera, a partial model is reconstructed and displayed to the user. Read More

ELECTRONICS

Tag it: real-time location monitoring with the T301W Wi-Fi tag from Ekahau

By Paul Ridden

18:15 October 19, 2009 PDT

The T301W wrist tag from Ekahau offers simple two-way communication as well as an 'unprece...

If you need to keep track of customers, workers or even your kids, but don't fancy the idea of implanting a chip, then the familiar form offered by Ekahau's T301W may be of interest. The unobtrusive watch-like wristband tag enables real-time location monitoring over a Wi-Fi network. It's accurate to within a few feet, allows for simple two-way communication and, being waterproof, can be safely disinfected for re-use. Read More

CAMERAS AND IMAGING

Using radio waves to ‘see’ through walls

By Darren Quick

21:52 October 12, 2009 PDT

On the left a person walks around inside a square of 28 radio transceivers creating 'shado...

University of Utah engineers have developed a system that uses a wireless network of radio transmitters to track people moving behind solid walls. They say the system could help police, firefighters and other emergency services capture intruders, and rescue hostages, fire victims or elderly people who fall in their homes by letting them know where to focus their attentions. The engineers’ system uses radio tomographic imaging (RTI) to “see”, locate and track people or objects in an area surrounded by inexpensive radio transceivers that send and receive signals. Read More

PET GIZMOS

RoamEO GPS dog collar keeps track of wayward pets

By Jeff Salton

19:15 August 18, 2009 PDT

The handheld GPS unit for the RoamEO Pup

If you’ve ever owned a recalcitrant retriever, a cat-crazy collie or an overly playful poodle, you’ll know the anxiety of watching them run out of view in search of new adventures, oblivious to your shouts of anguish (and anger). A GPS-enabled collar could be handy for tracking down wayward canines and keep them out of harm’s way … or the clutches of dog-nappers or an over-zealous ranger lurking in the neighborhood. The RoamEO is the latest GPS device for owners who worry about their dogs’ disappearing acts or who are sick of spending valuable time searching for that ‘duck-hunter’ who’s too dog-tired to return with the catch. Read More

 
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