Designer Stefan Ulrich has come up with what could be an early prototype of a real body pillow girlfriend. He calls it Funktionide, an "emotional robot" that changes form depending on how you hold it. Combined with advanced robotics, this could yield something that is soft, cuddly, humanoid, and capable of intelligent conversation. Yes, and it breathes. You can see a slightly intimate video of a guy and his Functionide above.
Funktionide hints at the future of body pillows
New York City will "aggressively" issue $1,000 fines for not wearing a face mask
New York is seeing a bump in Covid-19 cases. In response, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will start fining people up to $1,000 for refusing to wear a face mask. If a person is caught without a mask in public, they will first be offered a free mask by a city employee. If… READ THE REST
New photo enhancing AI includes physical damage restoration option
YouTuber bycloud takes viewers through Microsoft's new AI for repairing old photos, which he says "is probably the best physical damage restoration for images I've ever seen." The supporting academic paper is Bringing Old Photos Back to Life. Results still have a significant range of quality, but some of the best ones are quite impressive.… READ THE REST
The Bouguer gravity anomaly means that gravity is not evenly distributed
I just learned about the Bouguer gravity anomaly, which the US Geological Survey defines as: Measurements of the gravitational field vary slightly from place to place due to the composition and structure of Earth's crust. This digital grid describes the complete Bouguer gravity anomaly for the conterminous US. For example, here's a map of the… READ THE REST
Sharpin's Digital Pinball Machine brings old-school arcade action into your home
Consider this — are you someone who would want a full-sized pinball machine in your home? If you were a kid who spent more than 10 minutes in an arcade, a bowling alley, a family fun center, or a similar location during the 80s, 90s, or 00s, the answer from that kid is likely an… READ THE REST
Lumen5 Video Maker's AI brain practically makes your social media videos for you
If you include video in social media posts for your business, you'll see a 66 percent boost in serious engagement. Your brand awareness will be up over 50 percent. And an overwhelming 93 percent of marketers confirm that video on a social media post has resulted in a new customer. While the numbers are compelling,… READ THE REST
Vocabulary Quest is an action-adventure game that also happens to teach you advanced vocab words
Studying for vocabulary tests in grade school was always the worst. Just you, a list of words, a sheet of paper and a pencil…and endless, endless, endless repetition. It was always the equivalent of an educational death march. But the importance of an extensive vocabulary is undeniable. The disparity in vocabulary from 3-year-olds in rich… READ THE REST
