Episode 196 – Fish Lips

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Robots and cosmetics loom large in this week’s episode of Games at Work, just not at the same time!  Beginning with a pair of life-like robots, Michael and Michael take a look at a tortoise that is designed from the ground up to provide robot-to-human feedback on how to interact with it, turning red, and even withdrawing its head under its shell when children bang on its shell, and alternately dancing a bit when the children pet it.

Another robot is designed by MIT’s CSAIL team for undersea adventure — swimming naturally as other fish do, which can allow it (and the attached camera) to get much closer to other fish without causing as much alarm as a human might.  Communication with this robotic fish is done via sound, and an innovative Nintendo controller.

News in Augmented Reality include a development from Sketchfab to download 3D models to a plethora of 3D software, Sotheby’s use of Curate and Rooomy to stage houses for sale with digital furniture, and in the cosmetics industry, with L’Oreal’s acquisition of ModiFace, whose purpose is to create augmented reality tech for beauty brands.  ModiFace allows the user  have a virtual makeover, and see what different products would look like for their eyes, hair & lips.

Michael and Michael ooh and ahh over the new TRON Legacy lightcycles from LEGO, which are due to be available any moment now.

Selected Links

TechCrunch article:  This tortoise shows kids that robot abuse is bad — https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/20/this-tortoise-shows-kids-that-robot-abuse-is-bad/

TechCrunch article:  MIT’s soft robotic fish is studying real ones in Fiji — https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/21/mits-soft-robotic-fish-is-studying-real-ones-in-fiji/

Discussion on Swarming robots in Episode 150 — Cyber Dementors — https://gamesatwork.biz/2016/10/23/episode-150-cyber-dementors/

TechCrunch article: Sketchfab lets you import 3D models into your favorite 3D software — https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/21/sketchfab-lets-you-import-3d-models-into-your-favorite-3d-software/

Digital Trends article:  Sotheby’s is making homebuying immersive with AR app Curate — https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/sothebys-curate-ar-app/

Rooomy — https://www.rooomy.com

Digital Trends article:  Cosmetics giant L’Oreal buys AR beauty company ModiFace — https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/loreal-buys-modiface/

ModiFace — http://modiface.com

Style My Hair by L’Oreal — http://www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/hair-looks/style-my-hair

Slashfilm article: Cool Stuf: LEGO ‘TRON Legacy’ Lightcycles Hit Shelves Next Week — http://www.slashfilm.com/tron-legacy-lightcycle-lego-set/

Alto’s Odyssey — http://www.altosodyssey.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:30 — 32.8MB) | Embed

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Episode 195 – Augmented Audio

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via GIPHY

 

Michael & Michael start off this episode with Google’s opening up of Google Maps APIs so that game developers can access all the power of Maps in their game construction.  This reminded Michael M a little of the Monopoly City Streets game, and even more about how Maps could be combined with Street Fighter, Real World Warrior Edition, where you can play as your favorite Street Fighter character, either on a tabletop, or out in the real world, right on the street using augmented reality.

Bose has announced at SXSW a pair of sunglasses to deliver augmented audio to the wearer, giving the user insight about their surroundings in an auditory manner.  This approach to mixed /augmented reality is very innovative, and via a venture fund, Bose AR is looking to be a platform and is actively signing up partners.

On the virtual reality side, the pair discusses a security certificate expiration that caused Oculus Rift headsets to suddenly cease operations, and the PlayTable which combines blockchain with a tabletop video screen to engage gamers.

Apple has acquired the digital magazine service Texture to further engage their user population, and Michael M shares how he’s been using Apple News as one way to discover articles to share here on the podcast.

Because of the news that Digg Reader is shutting down at the end of March, the pair remember their podcasting history together, which was influenced by the Diggnation podcast.

Both Michael and Michael have been playing the new Alto’s Odyssey game and think that you should too.  Give it a try!

Selected Links

The Verge article:  Google is opening up Maps so game developers can create the next Pokemon Go — https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/14/17114494/google-maps-location-games-jurassic-world-walking-dead

Monopoly City Streets — game ending blog — http://monopolyhq.com/2009/12/breaking-news-the-game-ends-in-one-week/

Kotaku article:  Street Fighter Gets Unofficially Ported To The Real World — https://kotaku.com/street-fighter-gets-unofficially-ported-to-the-real-wor-1823781690

Mashable article:  Bose’s AR sunglasses use sound, not a screen to augment reality — https://mashable.com/2018/03/11/bose-ar-augmented-reality-sunglasses-hands-on/

TechCrunch article: All of Oculus’s Rift headsets have stopped working due to an expired certificate — https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/07/all-of-oculuss-rift-headsets-have-stopped-working-due-to-an-expired-certificate/

Engadget article:  PlayTable combines blockchain and board games for peak nerdery — https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/14/playtable-board-game-hands-on/

D&D table discussed in episode 182 – Dungeons & Nike — https://gamesatwork.biz/2017/10/23/episode-182-dungeons-and-nike/

Apple to acquire digital magazine service Texture — https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/03/apple-to-acquire-digital-magazine-service-texture/

TechCrunch article:  Alas, Digg Reader is shutting down at the end of March — https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/14/alas-digg-reader-is-shutting-down-at-the-end-of-march/

Wikipedia article on Diggnation — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggnation

What is Dogear Nation YouTube video — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J0oxrAJWo8

Alto’s Odyssey — http://www.altosodyssey.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:04 — 19.0MB) | Embed

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Episode 194 – Human Roombas

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Michael and Michael get back together to talk about the latest smart home news, starting with the Amazon acquisition of Ring.  The pair speculate on what this level of integration in the Amazon ecosystem could bring — everything from delivery verification, to drone delivery enablement to package recipient identification.

Mobile apps captured their attention with location-based & experience-driven marketing as well as with augmented reality.  Augmented reality also features in this week’s episode in the form of a motorcycle helmet prototype  and the upcoming Ghostbusters mobile game.

What do you think will be the next big thing in IoT?   In AR?  Share your thoughts with us!

Selected Links

New York Times article: Amazon Buys Ring, Maker of Smart Home Products — https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/business/dealbook/amazon-buys-ring.html

Adweek article: How These 4 Brands Are Using Their Apps to Personalize Customer Experience — http://www.adweek.com/digital/4-brands-explain-how-their-apps-improve-customer-experience/

The Next Web article: How a French 16-year-old is teaching the world to build VR headsets for $100 — https://thenextweb.com/virtual-reality/2018/02/21/how-a-16-year-old-in-a-village-in-france-taught-the-world-to-build-vr-headsets-for-100/

Tech Crunch article: Can Ghostbusters copy Pokemon GO’s success with its own AR mobile game? — https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/23/can-ghostbusters-copy-pokemon-gos-success-with-its-own-ar-mobile-game/

Tech Crunch article: LiveMap shows off latest prototype of augmented reality motorcycle helmet — https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/11/livemap-shows-off-latest-prototype-of-augmented-reality-motorcycle-helmet

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:14 — 33.6MB) | Embed

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Episode 193 – Icy Robotic HomePods

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Curling at the 2018 Pyeonchang Winter Olympics

Michael M welcomes the HomePod and it’s robotic assistant Siri to his home, and shares some of his good experiences with his new smart speaker, not the least of which was listening to the radio broadcast of the Tar Heel Sports Network synchronized to the television video courtesy of the Tunecast app and the HomePod.

The 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympics’ opening ceremony incorporated augmented reality and drones, much to the delight of the Games At Work crew.  Michael R pointed out the challenges involved in the droneshow, remembering the Super Bowl 51 weather, wind and security conditions that required that the drone performance be taped beforehand, just like what was done in South Korea.  Nevertheless, an impressive performance by the Intel team!

Touching on The Void’s newest virtual reality experience, and remembering their earlier Ghostbusters example from episode 176, Michael and Michael discus how to optimize your home automation & Internet of Things setup, making suggestions on router configuration and the importance of frequent updates to keep current with security patches.

Closing out the episode, the team returns to Olympic competition and this time the thrill of victory goes to skiing robots, although the frozen trampoline does get honorable mention.  Hope you enjoy!

Selected Links

iFixIt article — HomePod Teardown — https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/HomePod++Teardown/103133

CNET article: Apple’s HomePod gets a warm welcome from Google Assistant — https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-homepod-gets-warm-welcome-from-google-assistant/

The Verge article:  Sonos made a playlist for Apple’s HomePod launch — https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/9/16995262/sonos-apple-homepod-launch-day-playlist

The Scholarly Kitchen article: What Will Scholarly Information Providers Do About Voice User Interfaces (VUI)? — https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2018/02/01/will-scholarly-information-providers-voice-user-interfaces-vui/

TuneIn Radio — https://tunein.com

iMore article: Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire blew my mind and made me cry — https://www.imore.com/star-wars-secrets-empire-blew-my-mind-and-made-me-cry

The Void’s Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire — https://www.thevoid.com/dimensions/starwars/secretsoftheempire/

Games at Work Episode 176 — I Got Slimed — https://gamesatwork.biz/2017/08/24/episode-176-i-got-slimed/

Nerdist’s Star Wars Episode IX Opening Crawl Revealed?! — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9kRsLLhjg&feature=youtu.be

MIT Technology Review article:  A fast-evolving botnet could take gadgets in your home to the dark side — https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610056/a-fast-evolving-new-botnet-could-take-gadgets-in-your-home-to-the-dark-side/

Gizmodo article:  The House that Spied on Me — https://gizmodo.com/the-house-that-spied-on-me-1822429852

The Verge article:  Robots compete in their own Olympics ski tournament, capture our hearts — https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/12/17004084/winter-olympics-pyeongchang-robot-ski-tournament

Mashable article:  This kid jumping onto an icy trampoline in slow motion is actual magic — https://mashable.com/2018/02/12/kid-frozen-trampoline/

What games are the hosts playing?

Michael R:  Darts of Fury — http://www.dartsoffury.com
Michael M:  Watching Olympic curling and learning new terminology, like the hog line, eh!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:06 — 41.5MB) | Embed

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