It’s Got Its Eye on You: Smart Camera Learns as it Tracks
Despite the fact that we all know what happens when machines get too smart, some researchers are still trying to teach them new tricks. Zdenek Kalal, a researcher at the University of Surrey, wants to teach machines to “see.” By using a unique object tracking algorithm that he calls Predator, Kalal has enabled computers to learn various faces, track objects regardless of position, scale or orientation changes, and even recognize tracked objects through disappearing and reappearing.
Predator learns as it goes, meaning that every mistake and misstep it makes improves its future performance. Predator could, in theory, be used for some terribly scary things: things like tracking faces on public sidewalks or specific cars on public streets, building a database of recognized faces or any number of other privacy-invading applications. But for now, it is just nicer to believe that it would be used for positive things like helping disabled people use computers.
Bug Master: DIY Kit Lets You Control Tiny Cockroach Minds
Most of us, upon seeing a cockroach in our homes, will call the exterminator or buy a can of bug spray. But if the evil geniuses at Backyard Brains have anything to say about it, we will soon be strapping little remote control backpacks onto the pests and forcing them to do our bidding. Their RoboRoach Kit attaches to roaches and lets you control their movements…about 25% of the time. (CAUTION: If you are very sensitive to the welfare of insects you may find the below video disturbing.)
The tiny backpack works by delivering electrical impulses to the roach’s antennae nerves, which direct it to turn one way or the other. The catch is that it only works on about one-quarter of roaches currently; Backyard Brains is hoping that the effectiveness will increase with future generations. And when it does, maybe we can look forward to tiny, disgusting little cyborg cockroach armies taking over kitchens everywhere.
