Neurocam
Via KurzweilAI.netKeio University scientists have developed a “neurocam” — a wearable camera system that detects emotions, based on an analysis of the user’s brainwaves.The hardware is a combination of Neurosky’s Mind Wave Mobile and a customized brainwave sensor.The algorithm is based on measures of “interest” and “like” developed by Professor Mitsukura and the neurowear team.The users interests are quantified on a range of 0 to 100. The camera automatically records five-second clips of scenes when the interest value exceeds 60, with timestamp and location, and can be replayed later and shared socially o...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 11, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Emotional computing Neurotechnology & neuroinformatics Wearable mobile Source Type: blogs
Nick Bostrom: The intelligence explosion hypothesis
Via IEETPhilosopher Nick Bostrom is a Swedish at the University of Oxford known for his work on existential risk and the anthropic principle covered in books such as Global Catastrophic Risks, Anthropic Bias and Human Enhancement. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics . He is currently the director of both The Future of Humanity Institute and the Programme on the Impacts of Future Technology as part of the Oxford Martin School at Oxford University. (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 9, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Blue sky Ethics of technology Source Type: blogs
A high-fidelity virtual environment for the study of paranoia
Authors: Broome MR, Zányi E, Hamborg T, Selmanovic E, Czanner S, Birchwood M, Chalmers A, Singh SP Abstract. Psychotic disorders carry social and economic costs for sufferers and society. Recent evidence highlights the risk posed by urban upbringing and social deprivation in the genesis of paranoia and psychosis. Evidence based psychological interventions are often not offered because of a lack of therapists. Virtual reality (VR) environments have been used to treat mental health problems. VR may be a way of understanding the aetiological processes in psychosis and increasing psychotherapeutic resources for its treatment....
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 9, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Cybertherapy Research tools Virtual worlds Source Type: blogs
Effects of the addition of transcranial direct current stimulation to virtual reality therapy after stroke: A pilot randomized controlled trial
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support that tDCS, combined with VRT therapy, should be investigated and clarified further. (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 9, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Brain stimulation Cybertherapy Virtual worlds Source Type: blogs
The importance of synchrony and temporal order of visual and tactile input for illusory limb ownership experiences - an FMRI study applying virtual reality
Authors: Bekrater-Bodmann R, Foell J, Diers M, Kamping S, Rance M, Kirsch P, Trojan J, Fuchs X, Bach F, Cakmak HK, Maaß H, Flor H Abstract. In the so-called rubber hand illusion, synchronous visuotactile stimulation of a visible rubber hand together with one's own hidden hand elicits ownership experiences for the artificial limb. Recently, advanced virtual reality setups were developed to induce a virtual hand illusion (VHI). Here, we present functional imaging data from a sample of 25 healthy participants using a new device to induce the VHI in the environment of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In order to eva...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 9, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Telepresence & virtual presence Virtual worlds Source Type: blogs
Bodily maps of emotions
Via KurzweilAI.netBodily topography of basic (Upper) and nonbasic (Lower) emotions associated with words. The body maps show regions whose activation increased (warm colors) or decreased (cool colors) when feeling each emotion. (Credit: Lauri Nummenmaa et al./PNAS)Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have compiled maps of emotional feelings associated with culturally universal bodily sensations, which could be at the core of emotional experience.The researchers found that the most common emotions trigger strong bodily sensations, and the bodily maps of these sensations were topographically different for differen...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 9, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Emotional computing Research tools Source Type: blogs
An Inuit/Eskimo family in the Arctic 1959
The barren life of an Inuit family and their children in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Arctic Canada more than fifty years ago.Why do I blog this? Just because I liked it. (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 8, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Cyberart Source Type: blogs
Activation of the human mirror neuron system during the observation of the manipulation of virtual tools in the absence of a visible effector limb
Authors: Modroño C, Navarrete G, Rodríguez-Hernández AF, González-Mora JL Abstract. This work explores the mirror neuron system activity produced by the observation of virtual tool manipulations in the absence of a visible effector limb. Functional MRI data was obtained from healthy right-handed participants who manipulated a virtual paddle in the context of a digital game and watched replays of their actions. The results show how action observation produced extended bilateral activations in the parietofrontal mirror neuron system. At the same time, three regions in the left hemisphere (in the primary motor and the pri...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 2, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Telepresence & virtual presence Virtual worlds Source Type: blogs
Effect of Meditation on Cognitive Functions in Context of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Marciniak R, Sheardova K, Cermáková P, Hudeček D, Sumec R, Hort J Abstract. Effect of different meditation practices on various aspects of mental and physical health is receiving growing attention. The present paper reviews evidence on the effects of several mediation practices on cognitive functions in the context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The effect of meditation in this area is still poorly explored. Seven studies were detected through the databases search, which explores the effect of meditation on attention, memory, executive functions, and other miscellaneous measures of cognition in a samp...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 2, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Meditation & brain Research tools Source Type: blogs
A low-cost sonification system to assist the blind
Via KurzweilAI.netAn improved assistive technology system for the blind that uses sonification (visualization using sounds) has been developed by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) researchers, with the goal of replacing costly, bulky current systems.Called Assistive Technology for Autonomous Displacement (ATAD), the system includes a stereo vision processor measures the difference of images captured by two cameras that are placed slightly apart (for image depth data) and calculates the distance to each point in the scene.Then it transmits the information to the user by means of a sound code that gives information reg...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - February 2, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Neurotechnology & neuroinformatics Wearable mobile Source Type: blogs
Chris Eliasmith – How to Build a Brain
Via Futuristic newsHe’s the creator of “Spaun” the world’s largest brain simulation. Can he really make headway into mimicking the human brain?Chris Eliasmith has cognitive flexibility on the brain. How do people manage to walk, chew gum and listen to music all at the same time? What is our brain doing as it switches between these tasks and how do we use the same components in head to do all those different things? These are questions that Chris and his team’s Semantic Pointer Architecture Unified Network (Spaun) are determined to answer. Spaun is currently the world’s largest functional brain simulation, and i...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - January 25, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Cognitive Informatics Neurotechnology & neuroinformatics Source Type: blogs
MemoryMirror: First Body-Controlled Smart Mirror
The Intel® Core™ i7-based MemoryMirror takes the clothes shopping experience to a whole different level, allowing shoppers to try on multiple outfits, then virtually view and compare previous choices on the mirror itself using intuitive hand gestures. Users control all their data and can remain anonymous to the retailer if they so choose. The Memory Mirror uses Intel integrated graphics technology to create avatars of the shopper wearing various clothing that can be shared with friends to solicit feedback or viewed instantly to make an immediate in-store purchase. Shoppers can also save their looks in mobile app should ...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - January 25, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Telepresence & virtual presence Virtual worlds Wearable mobile Source Type: blogs
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on distressed (type D) personality traits
In conclusion, MBSR may reduce characteristics of the distressed personality type, likely through the mechanism of increased mindfulness. (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
Source: Positive Technology Journal - January 23, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Meditation & brain Source Type: blogs
Mobile biofeedback of heart rate variability in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy: a preliminary study
Authors: Druschky K, Druschky AAbstract. Biofeedback of heart rate variability (HRV) was applied to patients with diabetic polyneuropathy using a new mobile device allowing regularly scheduled self-measurements without the need of visits to a special autonomic laboratory. Prolonged generation of data over an eight-week period facilitated more precise investigation of cardiac autonomic function and assessment of positive and negative trends of HRV parameters over time. Statistical regression analyses revealed significant trends in 11 of 17 patients, while no significant differences were observed when comparing autonomic scr...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - January 23, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Biofeedback & neurofeedback Source Type: blogs
Transparent display @MIT
We describe the optimal design of such nanoparticles, and experimentally demonstrate this concept with a blue-color transparent display made of silver nanoparticles in a polymer matrix. This approach has attractive features including simplicity, wide viewing angle, scalability to large sizes and low cost. (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
Source: Positive Technology Journal - January 23, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Future interfaces Source Type: blogs
