Newstalk 1010

Tinkerbots Building Blocks Record The Way Kids Play
15 Apr 2014
0

Tinkerbots Building Blocks Record The Way Kids Play

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
Imagine if your toys had a record button so they could remember the way you play with them. This is the premise of Tinkerbots, a new robotic building block system that allows you to design creations with moving parts. Each toy you build includes a set of camcorder-like ...
Google’s Balloon Network No Joke, Travels The World In 22 Days
07 Apr 2014
0

Google’s Balloon Network No Joke, Travels The World In 22 Days

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , ,
Everyone thought it was an April Fool’s joke, when nearly a year ago Google announced that they would offer internet access through a system of balloons. Yes, balloons, the wibbly-wobbly, drifting-bobbing helium-filled kind that give up to the winds if you let go of the...
Facebook’s Futuristic Plans For Virtual Reality Headsets
31 Mar 2014
0

Facebook’s Futuristic Plans For Virtual Reality Headsets

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
With Facebook’s $2 billion acquisition of virtual realiy company Oculus VR making headlines several people have asked me to explain the story right from the begining so here you go. If you’re already familiar and simply want my thoughts, feel free to skip ah...
Radar’s Future – Finding Airplanes With Lasers
24 Mar 2014
0

Radar’s Future – Finding Airplanes With Lasers

by Kris Abel
Role, , ,
Scientists in Italy have completed formal tests of the world’s first laser-based radar system that promises to capture highly detailed information about airplanes in the sky. The recent disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 has highlighted the need for survei...
Child’s Heart Printed In 3D For Life-Saving Operation
17 Mar 2014
0

Child’s Heart Printed In 3D For Life-Saving Operation

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
Among the trickiest operations they perform at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Kentucky are the ones they eloquently refer to as “children with complicated hearts”. 14 month-old Roland Lian Cung Bawi was born with a rare abnormality where the two main arteries of his hear...
Drummer Gets Bionic Arm, Has Fastest Drumsticks Alive
10 Mar 2014
0

Drummer Gets Bionic Arm, Has Fastest Drumsticks Alive

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
Some people struggle with a career choice, but Jason Barnes always knew that he wanted to be a drummer. He applied to the school where many of his idols went, the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, and saved up his tuition by cleaning out the rooftop ventilation syst...
Sniffer Dogs Offer Up A Breath Of Fresh Tech
03 Mar 2014
0

Sniffer Dogs Offer Up A Breath Of Fresh Tech

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
A dog’s nose is a wondrous thing. That cold, wet snout that pokes between the bed sheets and wakes you up in the morning can sift through scents at an astonishing parts per trillion. Imagine taking a sip from several Olympic-sized swimming pools and tasting the presence...
Toronto Student’s Google Doodle Wins $10,000 Scholarship
25 Feb 2014
0

Toronto Student’s Google Doodle Wins $10,000 Scholarship

by Kris Abel
Role, , ,
17 year-old Cindy Tang has won a national competition put on by Google Canada to create a special design for the search giant’s homepage. She topped thousands of students across the country who submitted designs, each aiming to finish the phrase “If I could invent anyth...
Playful Inventions From The New York Toy Fair
24 Feb 2014
0

Playful Inventions From The New York Toy Fair

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , , , ,
There were more than 150,000 toys on display at this year’s annual International Toy Fair in New York. For more than a century the industry show has been a welcome market for inventors and entrepreneurs to showcase their would-be hit toys alongside the big brands and th...
Entertainment Extra: The End of Jay Leno & Getting Aggro On Jeopardy
22 Feb 2014
0

Entertainment Extra: The End of Jay Leno & Getting Aggro On Jeopardy

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
Check out this week’s Entertainment Extra where, amongst reviews of Three Days To Kill, Pompeii, and Tim’s Vermeer, film critic Richard Crouse asked me to join him for the second half of the show to take part in his weekly chat about pop culture. We discuss ...
Police Use Lasers To Scan Crime Scenes In 3D
17 Feb 2014
0

Police Use Lasers To Scan Crime Scenes In 3D

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
In Iron Man 3 Tony Stark analyzes a crime scene using holographic images. He pans and zooms through an impressive 3D model of Mann’s Chinese Theatre, even stepping into it to search for the tiniest of clues. It was intended to seem futuristic and it was…eight months ago...
Psychology Technology: Coping Virtually With Phobia, Addiction, and Schizophrenia
11 Feb 2014
0

Psychology Technology: Coping Virtually With Phobia, Addiction, and Schizophrenia

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
We perceive our world more and more through digital senses. It’s there in the way we map it, scan it, and digitize it into video games. It’s no surprise then that therapists are exploring new technologies for tools and exercises to help people cope with their fears and ...
The Most Famous Human Brain In Medicine Has Been Uploaded To The Web
04 Feb 2014
0

The Most Famous Human Brain In Medicine Has Been Uploaded To The Web

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
For the first time researchers have scanned a human brain at the cellular level, revealing an unprecedented amount of detail and structure on the most mysterious part of our bodies. When you view the brain at this level of magnification it becomes as expansive as the un...
A Faster Commute. The Promise Of Smart Traffic Lights, Elevators, And Bus Stops
28 Jan 2014
0

A Faster Commute. The Promise Of Smart Traffic Lights, Elevators, And Bus Stops

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
You can listen to my radio series live every Monday on Moore in the Morning at 6:45 am Between traffic lights, elevators, and bus stops we spend a good portion of our lives just waiting. This week we’re exploring new technology that aims to eliminate those delays by sen...
Smart Contact Lenses Promise Eye Sensors And Zoom Vision
20 Jan 2014
0

Smart Contact Lenses Promise Eye Sensors And Zoom Vision

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
You can listen to my radio series live every Monday on Moore in the Morning at 6:45 am Follow @RealKrisAbel Smart Contact Lens The finger prick test for blood sugar is a pretty uncomfortable way to manage diabetes. I don’t know how people do it, other than you have to i...
3D Printed Food, Night Vision iPhones, And Smart Earbuds Among CES Best
13 Jan 2014
0

3D Printed Food, Night Vision iPhones, And Smart Earbuds Among CES Best

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
You can listen to my radio series live every Monday on Moore in the Morning at 6:45 am Follow @RealKrisAbel From among the thousands of new gadgets and devices that were previewed last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas I’m afraid we only have time...
Criminals Can Be Found Reflected In Their Victim’s Eyes
06 Jan 2014
0

Criminals Can Be Found Reflected In Their Victim’s Eyes

by Kris Abel
Role, , ,
You can listen to my radio series live every Monday on Moore in the Morning at 6:45 am Follow @RealKrisAbel Take a picture of someone up-close and you might just be photographing yourself, reflected in their eyes. Research led by Dr. Rob Jenkins at the Department of Psy...
Voice Donors Help Create Personalized Digital Speech
23 Dec 2013
0

Voice Donors Help Create Personalized Digital Speech

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
In the new movie Her, Joaquin Phoenix portrays a lonely writer who ends up falling for the Siri-like voice assistant of his new operating system, played by Scarlett Johansson. It’s an easy story to buy into because the computerized voices in today’s gadgets have become ...
Google Buys Industry’s Worth Of Robots For Secret Project
16 Dec 2013
0

Google Buys Industry’s Worth Of Robots For Secret Project

by Kris Abel
Role, , ,
Google has been quietly buying up robotics companies out of Japan and the United States. So far they have acquired eight companies for an undisclosed amount. It’s a major move, worth billions of dollars, and one that gives them a leadership position and early monopoly o...
Family Adventure: Mountain Climbing & Freediving At The Ontario Science Centre
09 Dec 2013
0

Family Adventure: Mountain Climbing & Freediving At The Ontario Science Centre

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
The Ontario Science Centre has opened a new hall called The Human Edge with 80 exhibits that explore the remarkably plastic nature of your body, the way it can adapt and change to the demands we put upon it in a lifetime. This week on Technical Knockout we’re looking at...
Web Puzzle Cicada 3301 Aims To Recruit Intelligent Minds, But For Who?
02 Dec 2013
0

Web Puzzle Cicada 3301 Aims To Recruit Intelligent Minds, But For Who?

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
The internet is home to many puzzles, pranks, mysteries, and conspiracies, but there is one right now that is capturing the imagination of web surfers more than any other. It’s known as Cicada 3301 and is a Da Vinci Code-like trail of messages and clues hidden within im...
Your Digital Senses – New Twists On Listening, Taste, And Temperature
25 Nov 2013
0

Your Digital Senses – New Twists On Listening, Taste, And Temperature

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , , ,
We perceive the world through our senses and use technology to interact with it. This week we’re exploring three remarkable innovations that hope to move that relationship forward. Noise-Cancelling Windows Noise-cancelling headphones have transformed long-distance...
Technical Knockout: PlayStation 4 Vs. Xbox One
18 Nov 2013
0

Technical Knockout: PlayStation 4 Vs. Xbox One

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One offer crisper graphics, faster loading times, and a list of improvements, but without anything new to revolutionize the way we play games. Neither has a must-have title at launch, so all-in-all it should be easy to wait for better gam...
Cool Dads: Robo Hands, Helicopter Escorts, Custom Donkey Kong
11 Nov 2013
0

Cool Dads: Robo Hands, Helicopter Escorts, Custom Donkey Kong

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , , , ,
Every parent wants to do the impossible for their children. Thanks to our hi-tech world that’s not as silly a notion as you might think. This week we’re looking at three cool Dads doing just that. Personal Prosthetics 12 year-old Leon McCarthy loves his pros...
Police Tech: Wearable Cameras, GPS Bullets, And Drug-Sniffing Sewers
05 Nov 2013
0

Police Tech: Wearable Cameras, GPS Bullets, And Drug-Sniffing Sewers

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
Law enforcement agencies are always testing out new technologies in the hope of reducing costs and making their jobs easier. This week we’re looking at three that deal with aspects of surveillance, drug-dealing, and responding to people who keep changing their stories. ...
Flying Cars, Jetpacks, & Social Robots: We’ve Become The Jetsons
28 Oct 2013
0

Flying Cars, Jetpacks, & Social Robots: We’ve Become The Jetsons

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
Although it lasted for just one season in 1962, The Jetsons proved to be a very influential series through endless repeats, embodying our fanciful ideas and dreams for the future. It’s amazing that just fifty years later the show’s flat-screen televisions, video calls, ...
Mind-Blowing Inventions From Award-Winning Students
21 Oct 2013
0

Mind-Blowing Inventions From Award-Winning Students

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , ,
Its award-winning ideas this week as we explore a number of engineering contests that have revealed student inventors displaying more than just their talents, but the ability to spot something entirely new. The Battery-Free Flashlight Since LED lights consume just a fra...
Great White Sharks On A Curved Screen. Submersive Cinema At The Ontario Science Centre
14 Oct 2013
0

Great White Sharks On A Curved Screen. Submersive Cinema At The Ontario Science Centre

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
There are two things that set Great White Shark apart from all other shark documentaries. The first is that it’s projected against a domed OMNIMAX screen at the Ontario Science Centre, which is so large and angled above that it encompasses all of your peripheral vision ...
Body Tech: Music Teeth, Bionic Legs, And Thoughtful Driving
14 Oct 2013
0

Body Tech: Music Teeth, Bionic Legs, And Thoughtful Driving

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
No more buttons, levers, or dials. This week’s cutting-edge stories are all about how are bodies can control cutting-edge technology. Split Music Player Here we have a set of earbuds that are themselves the MP3 player. No cables, no box, no belt clip. You just turn them...
DNA Artists, Science Scanners, & Drawing Long Distance
07 Oct 2013
0

DNA Artists, Science Scanners, & Drawing Long Distance

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
For longer than anyone can remember, public exhibitions have been used to gather large crowds to test out new ideas that unite the worlds of art and science together. This week we’re exploring three extraordinary examples that are sure to surprise you. Stranger Visions ...
The Future Of Disney Tech: Robots, Mouse Ears, And Interactive Gardens
30 Sep 2013
0

The Future Of Disney Tech: Robots, Mouse Ears, And Interactive Gardens

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , ,
Through animation Walt Disney was a pioneer in technology who always maintained a fascination for how the spirit of invention could shape the future. Today the company maintains a number of R&D labs around the world that are producing ground-breaking technologies th...
Syria’s Chemical Problems, Rescue Radar, And Drone Tour Guides
16 Sep 2013
0

Syria’s Chemical Problems, Rescue Radar, And Drone Tour Guides

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , , , , ,
This week’s focus is on new innovations in rescue as we look at the latest developments spanning the areas of military conflict, natural disasters, and the confusion of everyday life. Mobile Lab Invented To Consume Syria’s Toxic Chemicals Defusing a bomb can take ...
The Future Of Driver Safety: New Locks, Warnings, And Impaired Tests
09 Sep 2013
0

The Future Of Driver Safety: New Locks, Warnings, And Impaired Tests

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , ,
It’s the 21st Century and our news reports are still filled with stories about traffic accidents and impaired driving so our theme this week is on safety as we look at three developing technologies that hope to bring about big change. The Pee Analyzer Drunk Driving Test...
Back To School Shopping Advice For Tech
02 Sep 2013
0

Back To School Shopping Advice For Tech

by Kris Abel
Role, ,
Whether it’s for the classroom or your home office this is certainly the time of year to grab new gear. To help you battle the hype and sales pressure let me arm you with some practical advice. Laptops Take the same approach you’d use with buying a car. Invest some time...
Back To School Apps: Tutoring For All Ages
02 Sep 2013
0

Back To School Apps: Tutoring For All Ages

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
Now’s a good time to feed your mind. These innovative study aids can help you reinforce the lessons you’re taking in school and refresh your memory from the classes you’ve already mastered. Kindergarten & Primary Students Learn With Homer iPad Free/$1.99 Lessons Hom...
App Reviews: The Human Body, Animated Grumpy Cat, Re-Mission 2
26 Aug 2013
0

App Reviews: The Human Body, Animated Grumpy Cat, Re-Mission 2

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , ,
The Human Body iPhone/iPad $2.99 What does it look like inside your body when you burp? When you breathe? When you run? When you poop? This app gives kids a visible body they can play and poke with, to see and explore the way our internal organs and systems work. Drag-a...
App Reviews: Plants Vs Zombies 2, Breaking Bad Alchemy, CARROT Alarm
19 Aug 2013
0

App Reviews: Plants Vs Zombies 2, Breaking Bad Alchemy, CARROT Alarm

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , ,
Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time iPhone/iPad Free You can’t ask for a better sequel than this. When Crazy Dave wants to eat a taco all over again (a really, really tasty taco) he invents a time machine that lays down fresh ideas for battling zombies across the sand...
App Reviews: Disney Animated, Ikea 2014, Bramble Berry Tales
12 Aug 2013
0

App Reviews: Disney Animated, Ikea 2014, Bramble Berry Tales

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , , , ,
Disney Animated iPad $13.99 This is the big book of Walt Disney; the man, his films, his company, its history, and innovations, but made specifically for the iPad so it can come alive the way you’d expect a Disney book would. The illustrations and photos awaken and play...
App Reviews: Timeline WWI, Chefs Feed, Tiny Thief
05 Aug 2013
0

App Reviews: Timeline WWI, Chefs Feed, Tiny Thief

by Kris Abel
Role, , , , , ,
Timeline WW1 with Dan Snow iPad Free/$9.99 It’s like pulling moments and memories from out of a well-packed chest. TV presenter and researcher Dan Snow has organized a wealth of archival films, photos, and journals into a timeline that may start out chronological, but t...
App Reviews: djay 2, Drive Assist, Ultimate Sharks
29 Jul 2013
0

App Reviews: djay 2, Drive Assist, Ultimate Sharks

by Kris Abel
Role, , , ,
djay 2 iPhone/iPad $0.99/$4.99 For most of us a playlist is a collection of songs grouped by theme or mood, but like a human DJ this app can go further, analyzing your music library so you can group tracks by their Beats Per Minute (BPM). With a tap of the Automix butto...