3D-printed attachment turns any smartphone into a DNA-scanning microscope

"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/

Snapchat Murders Facebook!

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKSr6h5-fCU

Get a Better Night's Rest With This Amazing Pillow!!

Look at this video:

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.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/chrona-smart-pillow-kickstarter/ 

New Facebook Caller ID App!!

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.

In a Couple Years, you’ll be able to Sleep in While this Robot makes you Breakfast.

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.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/moley-robotics-introduces-robot-chef-that-makes-high-quality-food/

The Smartest Motorcycle Helmet in the World, the Skully AR-1.

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).

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/skully-the-smart-helmet-that-can-save-your-life/#/3

Make a perfect meal with this knob!!

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.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/meld-smart-knob-kickstarter/

Like something out of a James Bond flick, these hair extensions can remotely control electronic devices!!

Another one on my list of unnecessary inventions is what, creator Katia Vega, refers to as Hairware. As the topic suggests, this piece of technology is basically hair extension with sensors, which senses when the extension is being touched and subsequently, runs a predefined instruction on a smartphone via Bluetooth. The more I think about this, is the more I ask myself, "why was this thing even created?" I understand the possible need of something of this sort in times of emergencies, but there already exist such devices such as the button. Now, anybody can press a button on their clothing to, probably call 911, but in order for this Hairware to work, it requires that the user has long hair, of similar texture and color as the extension. Furthermore, do not even forget the number of unintentional 911 calls, or maybe even unintentional selfies that an average user would carry out by the many involuntary strokes of the hair that practically everyone with long hair does. This so-called innovation, in my opinion, would be a disaster.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/hairware-smart-hair-extensions/ 

Push a Button and Receive a Roll of Toilet Paper at Your Door!!!

Amazon is currently developing a new 'wand' called the 'Amazon Dash', which allows for users to order groceries from a range of 500,000 items by simply scanning the bar code of the item (if you already own one of the items), or by pressing the built-in mic button, and saying the name of the item you need. Amazon will receive your order, send a confirmation to your mobile device (you can cancel within thirty minutes of ordering), and then start processing your order, and you should subsequently receive your items the same or the following day. This device though, can only be obtained from an invitation to subscribers of a service called 'Amazon Fresh' (which costs US$300 per year). Also, the service is currently only available in Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco of the United States. I think that this is indeed a great invention to help people avoid the hassle that involves going to the grocery store. If they can somehow extend this service to more states of the U.S. and hopefully other countries of the world, then this could be revolutionary. Leave your thoughts below.

https://fresh.amazon.com/dash/

Solve Complex Math Problems by Snapping a Picture!!!!!!

An amazing app was developed and launched last October, which essentially solves complex mathematics equations by just pointing the camera of your smartphone to the equation. The app then uses character recognition software and a set of algorithms to solve the equation. I recently had the opportunity to try out this app, called PhotoMath (which is available for free on the App Store, Play Store, and Window Store). Although the app had a little trouble solving extremely complex equations, most of the equations I threw at it (from my college math course), it was able to solve within 3 seconds tops, and also, the developers are working on an updated version, which would be capable of solving a wider variety of complex mathematical equations. Furthermore, not only does the app give you the answer to the equation, but it also provides step to step guidelines on how it went about solving said equation. I think that this is a marvelous app, once used for the right reasons.  I would definitely recommend the use of PhotoMath for rechecking your answers, but certainly not for solving the equation before even attempting it. As I mentioned above, the app is free for all Android, Apple and Windows mobile devices, so feel free to check PhotoMath out when you get the chance. You have nothing to lose, and trust me, you won't be disappointed.

https://photomath.net/en/

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photomath/id919087726

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microblink.photomath

Windows: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/photomath/1f25d5bd-9e38-43f2-a507-a8bccc36f2e6

References

PhotoPay. (2014, July 11). Photomath [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbVB50mIh4

Foldable Smartphone Coming in 2016!

According to an article by Malarie Gokey, Samsung is planning on bringing a fully foldable smartphone into the market next year. Details about exactly how foldable or flexible the device would be is yet to be released. While I respect Samsung for being the innovators that they are, I honestly fail to see the point or the motivation behind creating a foldable smartphone. Haven't we already seen foldable phones, i.e. flip phones? I would rather have the current bar-shaped design than going back to the days of the flip phone, but that's just my opinion. Even if the phone will be flexible, rather than merely foldable, I still don't see why someone would want a phone that can bend. What exactly would such a smartphone be able to do better than the flat-screen smartphones that exist today? Act as a bending toy for babies? Please leave your opinions below on the topic and if you somehow have other uses of the foldable/flexible smartphone, please enlighten me!

                                               References

Gokey, M. (2015, March 24). Samsung wants to give you a smartphone you can fold in 2016. Digital Trends. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/foldable-smartphone-screens-possible-in-2016/

New Google Wristband Detects Cancer!

In a recent article by Williams Pelegrin, a new wristband is said to be under development by Google. Now this wristband, if successfully created, will be able to detect cancer cells in a person's body. Furthermore, it is said that the wristband would be able to gather all infected cells and generate energy to the blood vessels, to either modify or destroy those cancer cells. The article goes on to further explain that this band, or at least, the technique used in the band, could also be used for other diseases, such as HIV. I think that this is a marvelous idea by Google. But, due to the recent flop of Google Glass and a whole list of other Google products, I can't help but ask myself, can we really get our hopes up for such a wristband? What do you think?

References

Pelegrin, W. (2015, March 26). A wristband that can detect cancer cells? It could become a reality in five years. Digital Trends. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/google-patent-wristband-detects-cancer/

Keep Android Phone Unlocked!

I recently read an article on The Verge called "New Android Feature Keeps your Phone Unlocked While it's in your Pocket" which stated that a new optional feature to be rolled out on android devices would keep the device unlocked, once it is in on a person, i.e, hand, pocket, bag etc.. The feature would do this using the phones built-in accelerometer (D'Orazio, 2015). I soon began to wonder who would even want to use this feature. Such a feature would more quickly run down the battery (which already struggles to keep a charge for a single day) of those android devices. Androids are not quite popular for battery life. All those power-consuming useless gimmicks, now coupled with this feature that would keep my phone screen on as long as it's in my pocket, can only lead to disaster. Instead of charging my android 3 to 4 times per day, I now may have to charge it 30 to 40 times per day, due to the fact that the screen (the part of the device that consumes most energy), would be on as long as I have my phone on me (which is like 90% of the day). Furthermore, since the screen would be active in my pocket, the rubbing of the screen may accidentally open apps, make calls and a whole list of other stuff that could only lead to embarrassment and more battery drainage. And don't even get me started on theft. Say for instance, someone grabs your phone while you're using it and shoves it in his/her pocket and runs away. Now, if you don't have the aforementioned feature, then there is a great chance that the phone might lock before the thief has a chance to use it. With the feature however, said thief will have access to the phone as long as he/her does not rest the phone down (on a desk for example). While I see this feature having few benefits, let us not get ahead of ourselves here and sacrifice security and efficiency for convenience. Technology is here for the good of mankind and I'm 100% confident that this feature would not be contributing to that mantra.

References

D'Orazio, D. (2015, March 21). New android feature keeps your phone unlocked while it's in your pocket. The Verge. Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/21/8270425/android-on-body-detection-security-option-leaked

    

Need to Unlock Someone's iPhone? Get this Black Box!

I recently read an article on Business Insider called "A Little Black Box Makes it Easy to Unlock Almost Any iPhone Even When it's Secured with your Fingerprint" which confirmed that a small black box, called "IP-BOX", is capable of accessing iPhones, provided that the said phone is locked with the ''four-digit code method" (Cook, 2015). The article went on to further explain how the device uses a process known as "bruteforcing" to guess the phone's passcode. Let me explain how it works. Say for instance, you bought an iPhone and decided to lock it with a four digit code. I then steal your brand new iPhone but have no use for it due to the lock that you imposed on it. Hence, i go onto Aliexpress.com and purchase the IP-BOX V5 for just US$139. When I receive the device, I connect it to the stolen iPhone and the IP-BOX automatically enters (one code at a time), every possible four digit code, ranging from 0000 all the way to 9999. A few questions were initially raised in my mind, the first one being, "what about the limit of 10 incorrect passcodes on iPhones?" After further reading of the article, it turned out that the IP-BOX has a secondary connection to the phone's battery, which would cut the power and restart the phone before the phone could recognize the possible hacking. My next question, naturally, was, "well how exactly would the box know when to power off the device?" The article then went on to state that the IP-BOX uses a light sensor to "monitor the levels of light coming out of the phone screen, and detect changes. If it notices a change, that means the screen has been unlocked, and the password was correct" (Cook, 2015, para. 6). Thus, if the sensor did not pick up a change, the box would automatically know that the passcode was incorrect. I have to give props to the creator of this brilliant invention. But, although it can indeed be used to aid people who have miraculously forgotten their four-digit passcode, we have to keep in mind, that it can also encourage theft of iPhones as shown in my example above, and even violation of privacy. What I would advice iPhone owners/users to do, is to choose the longer worded option for a password, rather than the simple four-digit code. By doing this, you would ensure that even if your iPhone was stolen, the thief would not be able to access it as easily as if it had a four-digit passcode.

References

Cook, J. (2015, March 19). A little black box makes it easy to unlock almost any iphone even when it's secured with your fingerprint. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-to-unlock-almost-any-iphone-2015-3

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/IP-BOX-V5-FOR-IPhone-2G-3G-4-4s-5-5c-5s-IPAD-UNLOCK-Passcode-and/927318_32224287130.html