"Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have built a cheap 3D-printed attachment able to turn smartphones into sophisticated microscopes. Armed with the new device, a smartphone would be able to detect single DNA strands and analyze them to diagnose diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s without bulky and expensive equipment." (Borghino, 2015, para. 1). This amazing printed device is just one of the many that goes to show the capabilities and endless possibilities of 3D printing. Many people don't view 3D printing as a serious entity in the technological community, but the truth is, 3D printing will soon become bigger than what anyone anticipated. Soon, we will be able to stay at home and print out desired items. If we want to kill our neighbors, all we'll have to do is just print out a gun and some bullets, and shoot them right in their heads. Heck, we will even be able to print other 3D printers. The possibilities are endless.
3D printed smartphone microscope
First 3D printed gun
References
Borghino, D. (2015). 3d-printed attachment turns any smartphone into a dna-scanning microscope. Retrieved from http://www.gizmag.com/smartphone-dna-scanning-microscope/37288/
Not long ago, it seem as if Facebook was the ultimate social network. Over two billion users worldwide would log on each day to check their messages, status updates, etc. Nowadays, it seems as if Facebook has lost its spark among the younger folks and is now dominated by older people. I think that this is as a result of more exciting apps and networks, like Twitter, and more importantly, Instagram and Whatsapp, which were both bought by Facebook. One undoubtedly noteworthy app presently destroying Facebook is Snapchat. According to the video, Snapchat is becoming increasingly popular among youth because it enables them to view the day of others in the form of stories, which deletes after 24 hours. Can Snapchat be the next 'BIG THING'? I myself have found a passion for Snapchat, and have found recently, that I am no longer intrigued by Facebook. If you haven't tried Snapchat as yet, I advise you to do so as soon as possible, although I know that we Grenadians are quite slow to progress in terms of technological trends. But the truth of the matter is that Snapchat is growing quite rapidly, and will, sooner or later, make its way into our Grenadian society.
I think that this is brilliant, because unlike other companies that try to sell you large mattresses that they claim will make you sleep better, Chrona takes something as simple as the pillow, and tailors it for the same purpose. Furthermore, unlike those sleep tracking apps that merely tracks ones sleeping patterns, Chrona helps users improve those sleeping patterns by using different frequency sounds, so that users can get a better rest, regardless of the length of the rest. This type of technology may be especially useful to University students. Sleep is an integral part in proper functioning of the brain, but with the various assignments and quizzes that students are bombarded with, often times they lack proper sleep. As mentioned above, Chrona will improve the quality of sleep, rather than quantity, so even if students do not obtain a long rest, they can ensure that they are getting a high-quality rest. The best part of it all, like every other new device released today, Chrona is compatible with your smartphone.
A new Android app, called 'Hello' released by Facebook gives users a totally new and more effective caller ID. Facebook is now incorporating the telephone numbers that Facebook users have saved, with that users profile information. So, say for instance, you download this app, the next time someone calls your phone, if that person happens to have a facebook account, then certain public info saved on said person's profile will display on you screen, such as their name, picture, address etc. The app also allows one to search for a particular person on Facebook, and if that person has their phone number available to the public, then you can call them directly from the app. You can also block unwanted Facebkook profiles from calling your phone. The block feature will send blocked users straight to voice mail. This is a very incredible app. I have had the liberty of trying it out, and it seems to work quite flawlessly.
A company called Moley Robotics is planning to release a new robot in 2017, which cooks food for you. This robot, according to digitaltrends.com, uses a set of predefined recipes to automatically cook food without human intervention. But many questions still arise in my mind. For example, how would the robot know exactly where a particular ingredient is? And if the ingredient is unavailable, what will the robot do? Furthermore, I highly doubt that the robot will be capable of cooking those very complex dishes which requires speed and accuracy. If this robot does turn out to be successful, I see it potentially putting a large amount of chefs out of work, since the robot would be able to cook the meal the exact same way each time, eliminating human error. The robot is said to have an expected price tag of 10,000 Euros (US $14,800), when it is released in 2017.
If you are a true motorcycle enthusiast, then look out for this new helmet set to release in May, with a price tag of US$1,500. You may be wondering why this head protection gear is so expensive. Well, according to digitaltrends.com, "Don’t let the looks of a traditional full-face motorcycle helmet fool you; inside the DOT/ECE certified shell, wearers get intelligent audio — helmet-to-helmet communication, hands-free calling, and music streaming — and GPS navigation via Bluetooth to a cell phone, in addition to a wide-angle rear view camera that shows up on a transparent heads-up display built into the visor (fog, scratch, and glare resistant, of course)." (Barnwell, 2015, para. 3). While this is a great technological advancement, we have to keep in mind, the many distractions, and subsequent accidents that this helmet may cause. Also, does this helmet remind you of something? I do not know about you, nut it certainly reminds me of Google Glass (it is like a motorcyclist's version of Google Glass).
A start-up called Meld has recently developed a knob that replaces your current stove knob, and regulates the temperature of the cooking food by automatically turning itself. The knob gains information about the temperature of the food being cooked, from the Meld Clip, (a Bluetooth thermometer which clips on the side of the pot and extends down to the food). The whole thing is controlled by a smartphone app. The app allows you to choose from a long list of predefined recipes or to create your own recipes and cook times. This is a particularly great invention for individuals as me, who normally would burn the food or leave it undercooked. It would also allow me to multitask while cooking; something that I would usually avoid doing, due to my lack of skill in the cooking field. The price of the Meld Knob and Clip, plus the app, is about $129 US, which is certainly not bad, considering how much a smart stove top, carrying out the exact same function, would put you back.
