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Submission + - Mayfair Games shuts down after 36 years of board games

Submitted by damnbunni
damnbunni writes: Long time board game publisher Mayfair Games (English-language publisher for Settlers of Catan, Agricola, and many more) has shut down.



All of their games have been sold to Asmodee, who also own Fantasy Flight Games, Z-Man Games, Rebel, Edge Entertainment, and a host of other board game companies they've picked up over the years.



Source

Submission + - Student Uses Oculus Rift and Kinect to Create Cool Body Swap Illusion (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: Using an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, Microsoft Kinect, a camera, and a handful of electrical stimulators, a London student's virtual reality system is showing users what it's like to swap bodies. Looking down, they see someone else's arms and legs; looking out, it's someone else's point of view; and when they move their limbs, the body they see does the same (those electrical stimulators mildly shock muscles to force a friend to mirror the user's movements). It's an imperfect system, but a fascinating example of the power of virtual reality. What else might we use VR systems for? Perhaps they'll prove useful in training or therapeutic situations? Or what about with robots, which would be easier to inhabit and control than another human? The virtual body swap may never fully catch on, but generally, virtual reality will likely prove useful for more than just gaming and entertainment.

Comment Re:"we provide network access as part of rent" (Score 1) 185

by GreenK (#47140787) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Taking a New Tack On Net Neutrality?

One thing i remember from college dorms is that they had a special "movie channel". It wasn't an additional purchase it just came as an added service (i'm sure it increased the room cost). But basically it was a movie channel playing relatively recent movies. We weren't blocked on channel but there was an added benefit/cost. If they did something like that with the internet network then it might work. Don't block anything but if they get "special" access to "game servers", movie services (hulu/netflix) automatically by paying a raised rent or a discount from buying it normally then that would be a way to go that direction.

Comment That would suck (Score 5, Insightful) 185

by GreenK (#47140747) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Taking a New Tack On Net Neutrality?

Do you do the same with the phone system or TV channels? Are commercial numbers or OTA channels (by way of shared antenna) blocked unless there is a kickback of profit? I'd be super pissed finding someone messing with internet, phone, or TV. I think we put up with legal requests if made by court order and for health of the network somewhat but not just for profit.

Comment Uggg.. (Score 1) 237

by GreenK (#46170659) Attached to: Update on the March of Progress: How Slashdot's New Look Is Shaping Up

Agreed --I can't stand the new layout. I've got it back on classic and hope it remains there. The new layout makes me scroll way too much and waste screen space. I much prefer condense formats. I'm sure there are improvements to the flow and the actual site but it's the readability that is killing the "update". As long as their update allows me the old classic view i'm okay. If they force it I'm sure someone will codemonkey some end-user fix for us.

Submission + - Google Glass Making Its Way Into Operating Rooms (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: Among the possible uses for Google Glass that early adopters are dreaming up, you can now add "surgical assistance" to the list. With approval from the institutional review board, a UCSF cardiothoracic surgeon recently utilized Glass during procedures by utilizing its voice activation features to refer to patient x-ray scans. Aimed at providing surgeons with the most up-to-date patient data, a startup named VitaMedicals is building apps to stream in patient records and live scans to the device. Even though it's early days for Glass, its potential in the medical space is huge and could revolutionize how doctor's access and apply information from patient records.

Submission + - Bionic Eye Implant Available In U.S. Next Month (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: Starting next month, Americans suffering from degenerative eye diseases can get excited about the launch of the Argus II, a bionic eye implant to partially restore vision. Designed for those suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, the Argus II is a headset that looks akin to Google Glass but is actually hard wired into the optic nerve to transmit visual information from a 60 electrode array. The device opens the door for similar "humanitarian" implants that both reduce the difficulty in getting government approval and increase the adoption of brain implants.

Submission + - Affordable Blood Work In Four Hours Coming To Walgreens (singularityhub.com) 4

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: With the cost of healthcare services increasing, it's welcome news that a recent deal between Walgreens and Theranos will bring rapid, accurate, low-cost blood testing to the local pharmacy. A pinprick of blood from a finger is enough to run any number of a la carte diagnostic tests with results in four hours or less. The automation of blood testing in one convenient machine may mean that the demand for clinical technicians may decline, but the benefits of making blood analysis more accessible to everyone is enormous.

Submission + - FDA Approves Wearable "Artificial Pancreas" (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: The FDA has approved a device that acts as an "artificial pancreas", which both continuously monitors a patient's glucose levels and injects appropriate amounts of insulin when needed. When blood-sugar levels become low, the device from Medtronics warns the wearer and will eventually shut down. The MiniMed 530G looks to offer an on-the-go solution for the growing number of people suffering from Type 1 diabetes who have to test their blood and inject insulin throughout the day. The company plans to improve the device to make a fully automated version down the road.

Submission + - Harvest Automation Brings Affordable Robotics to Big Ag (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: Boston-based Harvest Automation has made good on its mission to bring robots into the world of agriculture by introducing Harvey, a bot tasked with the rather modest job of moving plants around in nurseries and greenhouses because people aren't keen on doing the laborious work. At a price point of $30k each, two bots would cost the same as three unskilled human laborers who earn about $20k annually not to mention medical bills due to injury. Harvey's job may not be flashy, but considering the potted plant industry is valued at $50 billion, the bot's little impact could translate into significant money.

Submission + - Robot Produces Paintings With That 'Imperfect' Human Look (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: An artistic robotic system named e-David has been developed that produces paintings that appear to be created by humans. Using an iterative process of brush strokes and image comparison, e-David's assembly line welder arm can paint in up to 24 colors and add shading where needed. The robot even cleans its five brushes along the way, according to University of Konstanz researchers who developed the system as an exercise in machine learning.

Submission + - CubeSats To Spur Satellite Revolution (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: Thanks to the miniaturization of electronics, small CubeSat satellites have quickly become the standard for orbital Earth monitoring. Their modular design and lower cost makes them accessible to many, from university researchers to backers of crowdfunding campaigns. This year, the number of CubeSats launched will at least double the number in orbit to date.

Submission + - High Tech STEAM Carnival Aims To Entertain, Inspire, And Educate (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: A self-described think tank of engineers and inventors called Two Bit Circus have completed a successful crowdfunding campaign to launch a high tech reinvention of carnivals form yesteryear. The campaign raised over $100k to launch the STEAM Carnival (as in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) to take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco next year. Showcasing robots, fire, and lasers, the goal of the carnival is to inspire young people into science and technology through these entertaining and educational events.

Submission + - 'Anti-Gravity' 3D Printer Sculpts Shapes On Any Surface (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: A 3D printing technique has been developed that prints objects that seemingly defy gravity. Dubbed the Mataerial 3D printing system, a robotic arm can print 3D curves on floors, walls, and ceilings, whether the surface is smooth or uneven. Custom-shaped objects are created using a thermoplast that dries on contact with air, which offers an alternative fabrication method to typical 2D layering printing approaches. Though its broad practicality is questioned outside artistic creations, the video produced by the team is mesmerizing.

Submission + - Chinese Firm Approved To Raise World's Tallest Building In 90 Days (singularityhub.com)

Submitted by kkleiner
kkleiner writes: The long anticipated Chinese construction project called Sky City, a 220-story building that can house 30,000 people, has finally received approval from the central government to break ground. The firm Broad Sustainable Building previously constructed a prefab 30-story building in 15 days (verified by timelapse video), but for Sky City, they have an even more aggressive schedule: 90 days to build 2,750 feet into the air. Once completed, the building will be a place for people to both live and work, with recreational facilities, theaters, a school, and a hospital all within the structure.

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