David Lidsky's Blog, page 2967
June 12, 2015
"You've Taken Your First Step Into A Larger World"
Industrial Light & Magic has opened a virtual-reality development studio called "ILMxLAB" in an effort to expand VR's reach beyond gaming
When Oculus took the stage in San Francisco yesterday to present their Rift VR headset to the public, they stayed exclusively within the confines of the gaming world. They showed off the compatible Xbox controller. They demoed an immersive flight-simulator game. The move made sense, what with the Electronic Entertainment Expo kicking off in SoCal next week, but the focus on gaming alone seemed to reinforce a major issue for the technology—how does it excite non-gamers?
Report: Uber Deems China Its "Number One Priority"
Uber is looking to invest more than $1 billion in China this year, according to an email from CEO Travis Kalanick to investors.
Since making its way to China last year, Uber has grown exponentially in cities like Hangzhou and Chengdu. In fact, during its first nine months in China, the ride-hailing company brought in more than 400 times as many rides as it did in during its first nine months in New York. These numbers come from an email to investors sent by Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, which the Financial Times published Friday morning.
This Simple But Ingenious Plate Stops You From Eating Too Much
No more self-delusion. Your heaping pile of pasta isn't a diet plan—and now your plate will remind you.
It started with a simple idea: If people tend to overeat because they have trouble estimating portion sizes, why not draw portion sizes directly on a plate? Last year, Dutch designer Annet Bruil sketched out a plate that graphically illustrates a balanced meal. Now—with more evidence that the plate can actually help improve nutrition—she's ready to start mass manufacturing.
From Thomas Heatherwick, A Cancer Care Center Where Nature Helps Heal
Heatherwick Studio aims to harness the healing effects of greenery with a new Maggie's Centre in Leeds.
Plenty research shows that green space and natural light can improve our mental and physical well-being. Just looking at plants can make us happier, help us relax, and increase productivity.
How Pyrex Transformed The Way We Cook
The pioneering cookware brand introduced handsome, multi-functional products to the dinner table.
The story of how the kitchenware brand Pyrex first entered America's kitchens reads like a tall tale. The saga began in 1913 when Corning scientists were investigating new applications for the heavy-duty glass that was originally used for railroad lanterns.
This Calculator Will Tell You If A Robot Is Coming For Your Job
The answer is yes. The real question is when.
Is a robot coming for your job? Now you can find out via an algorithm, appropriately. A handy calculator from NPR, based on research from Oxford University, will tell you how likely it is that your job will be automated in the next couple of decades.
This Robot Can 3-D Print A Steel Bridge In Mid-Air
Autodesk and MX3D have teamed up on a robot that can actually "draw" city infrastructure, on location and without human intervention.
In 2017, Dutch designer Joris Laarman will wheel a robot to the brink of a canal in Amsterdam. He'll hit an "on" button. He'll walk away. And when he comes back two months later, the Netherlands will have a new, one-of-a-kind bridge, 3-D printed in a steel arc over the waters. This isn't some proof-of-concept, either: when it's done, it will be as strong and as any other bridge. People will be able to walk back and forth over it for decades.
Do Green Spaces In Cities Help Close "Well-Being Gaps" Between Rich And Poor?
Poor neighborhoods are often much sicker than richer ones. But more greenery could go a long way to improving everyone's health.
Can neighborhood green spaces help close the gaps in health between people of different incomes and backgrounds?
Oculus Touch Teases The Motion-Controlled Future Of Gaming
For real this time.
After three years of speculation, anticipation, and experimentation, we now know what Oculus's first consumer-focused virtual reality headset is going to look (and feel) like. This was the biggest announcement the virtual reality technology company made during a press event on Thursday, and will rightfully receive the bulk of the attention, because without the headset, the rest of Oculus's efforts become pedestrian. But it wasn't the most important announcement.
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