Prototype laser system lets users feel remote objects

Most of us are familiar with haptics on touchscreen phones. The feedback technology uses vibrating pulses to replace the tactility of, for example, pressing a physical button. At the recent computer graphics event Siggraph Asia 2009, a team of researchers from the University of Tsukuba demonstrated what they can do with haptics by letting users "feel" a remote object.

The prototype system comprises a laser range finder, computer and haptics generator. By placing the device on a glass casing (we are very familiar with this as many companies like to put their prototype devices in a see-no-touch environment) and using the laser to measure the distance from the panel to the actual object, the user can "feel" the latter via the pulses that are generated.

According to the literature, the reaction force is determined by the distance between the handheld device and the actual object. Users supposedly can feel details such as texture when the magnification factor is increased. The researchers say the system can be used for educating viewers valuable exhibits and inspection of engineering products. We just want to get one of these before we attend another mega-scale event like CES.

Asus announces Pine Trail Netbooks

CES might be just a couple of weeks off, but Intel just can't wait and has announced its second-generation Atom platform, Pine Trail. One of the first machines to come with the new chipset belong to Asus' Eee PC family.

The Pine Trail platform consists of a 45nm processor and the NM10 Express mainboard. The former might be the first Intel chips to integrate both memory controller and graphics engine together with the CPU on a single silicon.
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Why Google may want Yelp

Online reviews powerhouse Yelp might just be what Google needs to help rid the world of 40-pound tomes with yellow pages.

Throughout the second half of 2009, Google has had its eyes squarely on one of the last remaining online advertising markets it does not dominate: Local. With a series of moves, Google has shown a clear interest in combining Google Maps, search results, and its small-business-oriented advertising technology into its next big source of revenue growth as offline local businesses come online.

However, Google management seems to have decided to step up the pace. TechCrunch and the New York Times reported that Google is in discussions to acquire Yelp for US$500 million or more. Yelp has grown into a huge destination for those looking for new places to have fun, turning it into one of the more pervasive brands among the digerati.
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O2 to buy VoIP start-up Jajah?

O2, the mobile arm of Telefonica Europe, appears to be the winner of a bidding war for voice over IP start-up Jajah, according to a report on TheMarker that Reuters is citing.

O2 is expected to buy Jajah this week for US$200 million, according to a report on the Hebrew language news site. Cisco Systems and Microsoft were rumored to have been competing for the VoIP start-up.

Jajah representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Keeping warm and informed the USB way

During a recent trip to India, I learnt that the USB port has become indispensable to this traveling techie. As long as your device allows charging via USB, keeping warmed and informed is easily accomplished.

Here's why. On long train rides, one of the hardest parts thing to figure out is when to get off. It doesn't help that there are no announcements made at the various stations. So what I did was to use my iPhone as a GPS navigator to determine my location.

But here's the catch--the iPhone does not allow you to turn off the cell service and leave the GPS on to save power.
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