An assortment of must have apps

Wattpad 

Wattpad is like a social network for aspiring authors looking to develop a fan base. Amateur writers can share their work and readers can choose from a plethora of published writers as well as undiscovered new talent. The Wattpad commu- nity is highly supportive and encouraging. Besides being able to receive constructive criticism and comments on their work, aspiring writers can also read other authors’ work making it a great learning tool. Users can even share accounts allowing them to write collaboratively with friends. Readers can vote up the work they like and these stories get
featured in the ‘What’s Hot List’ which changes daily according to reads and votes. It also has a ‘Featured Stories List’ which puts up work reviewed and deemed notable by an editorial review board. Readers can keep track of their favourite authors by becoming ‘fans’ and receiving an email each time the author releases new work.
A notable feature of Wattpad is its crowd- funding feature called “Fan Funding”. Authors can post information about their work and offer rewards – such as naming a character in the writers’ book after fans – in exchange for funds.  Wattpad has a clean user interface and is easy to navigate.
Download: http://dgit.in/1fUb4Di Price: Free for Android & iOS

Comic  Zeal 

Download: http://dgit.in/1jvjXqB Price: `302 (iOS) Comic Zeal is perhaps the best comic reader out there. It’s espe- cially meant for people who have their own collec- tion of CBR and CBZ comic files. The most appealing thing about Comic Zeal is the way it organ- ises your comic library. All you have to do is load your comics onto your device – using Wi-Fi, USB or Dropbox. It automati- cally detects and arranges your comics by series. You can also manually arrange your comics using swipe. Once selected, the comic will occupy the entire screen. To adjust reading settings such as brightness, panning, color and animation, one can simply tap
anywhere on the screen and is provided all the options. There’s a ‘Smart Zoom’ feature that remembers your zoom prefer- ence while flipping through pages. You can set up reading lists and track which comics you have and haven’t read. While set- ting up these lists, those with a penchant for categorising can keep the same comic in two dif- ferent lists thus creating multiple copies. The comic will remain on your device until you delete its very last instance. This makes editing your lists easier and you don’t have to worry about mistak- enly deleting the original comic. Bitolithic, the company that developed Comic Zeal, is dedi- cated to continuously improving the app by taking into considera- tion every user complaint that comes its way. So far, it’s only available for iOS at a price of $4.99 (~`302) which is a reduction from its previous $8 (`485) price tag. An Android-supported version of the app hasn’t been released yet nor is it in the works, unfortunately.
Download: http://dgit.in/1jvjXqB Price: `302 (iOS)

TeamViewer

TeamViewer is a free remote access app that allows you to con- trol your TV or computer from anywhere. It’s unlike apps like VNC where you have to launch the app each time you want to control a device.  To use TeamViewer, you’ll need to create a TeamViewer account and download the install- able from its site onto your com- puter. Then download the app to your phone, set a username and password for each device you want to control and you’re all set. You can zoom in and out of your desktop screen and even switch between monitors, if you have more than one con- nected to your computer. When your devices are connected over different networks, sometimes speed drops. To overcome this,  TeamViewer gives you the option of lowering image quality and disabling screensavers. It also easily overcomes firewalls and proxy servers to enable control of your work computer.
An assortment of must  have apps
With TeamViewer, you can switch off the TV/Computer from a different room, control play- back while watching a movie, assist your friends and family with their computer issues, and even help colleagues at work solve issues without leaving your desk.
Download: http://dgit.in/1mqeohM Price: Free for Android, Windows Phone 8 and iOS

Meritnation 

How do you get kids interested in studying for school? Make an app for it! That’s exactly what Meritnation has done. It makes studying for school fast, easy and fun. One can get study material for students from CBSE, ICSE, Maharashtra (MSBSHSE), Kar- nataka (KSEEB), Kerala and Tamil Nadu boards. Currently it only deals with Classes 6-12 since younger students may not have access to smartphones and tablets. But its site has course- work for lower standards as well. After downloading the app, the student must register as a user specifying which class s/ he is in. Study material is accord- ingly provided. The  UI is uncluttered and very well organised, first by Subject then by Topic. Once you choose a topic, study material is provided. After going through the study material, you can choose to revise or take a test and move on to the next topic. Videos, animations and interactive exercises make studying fun. Content is very concise and to the point. Math is explained step by step with the help of videos. Certain course materials require you to pay a fee in order to become available.
Download: Android - http://dgit. in/1fa8F82 | iOS - http://dgit.in/1prYxMR Price: Free for Android & iOS

Sing! Karaoke by Smule 

Sing! is a global karaoke party and social network with  us- ers from all around the world participating. It has a huge col- lection of songs. While some are free, others need to be pur- chased. The user interface is pretty cool right from the get go. The homepage shows you which countries most users are singing from. Clicking on a user lets you hear them sing and even join in if you like. Duets and group singing are support- ed by the app and you can join in an existing karaoke party anywhere for free. Most songs require you to pay 99 cents if you want to download and sing them by yourself. Lyrics are displayed on screen as are cues to show you when to start and how well you’re staying on track. Singers can record their voices, add effects and share their recordings online either through Facebook or Smule’s own network. You'll get scored based on how well you can stay on pitch. Of course, Smule offers enhancements that make users sound better which is probably a much needed feature consid-
ering the raw talent out there.
Download: Android - http://dgit. in/1fUemq8 | iOS - http://dgit.in/1h16kAs Price: Free for Android & iOS

Toshl 

Toshl helps you monitor your spending. It is well designed and makes keeping track of your expenses less cumber- some. Toshl helps you see exactly where your money is going. It can be configured for your whole family to use across smart- phones so that a family budget can be maintained. There's also a reminder every day for those of us who won't diligently enter expenses. You must enter your income so that Toshl can sum up and show you your net balance. While entering data, you can add generalised tags for regular expenses so you needn’t type them out repeatedly. You can set different budgets with these tags for say Bills, Groceries, Entertainment, Online Pur- chases, etc and see where you’re going overboard. Accordingly you can find areas to cut down on. Toshl is best used as a daily budgeting tool. All data is backed up very securely to Toshl.com and no one can gain access to it without a username and password.
Download: Android - http://dgit. in/1mqfF8G | iOS - http://dgit.in/1nTyGBW Price: Free for Android & iOS; `1,214 for Pro version

QuizUp 

QuizUp is a trivia-based, highly addictive game, originally made for the iOS platform but recently  ported to the Android platform as well. QuizUp is loosely based on an old popular board game called Trivial Pursuit . Once you create an account on QuizUp and log in, you can choose to be quizzed on more
than 400 topics. Each game consists of seven questions and points are given based on how quickly and correctly you answer these questions. You can play against random opponents or challenge your friends. You can even challenge random opponents who are the most experienced in a particular topic. The app tries to pair you against opponents who are more or less at the same level as you are but occasionally you may run into a much more experi- enced player. Depending on the points you score you increase your experience level per topic and gain achievements. QuizUp keeps track of all your statistics and you can review each game you’ve ever played in extreme detail, down to which questions you got
right and wrong. You can even submit your own questions which are added to its data- base post staff approval. Topics range from Movies to Food and even some academic ones like Math and Biology. Download: Android - http://dgit.in/ ONBeSs | iOS - http://dgit.in/1kXAUeV Price: Free for Android & iOS 

Google Driverless Car

I could still remember the day I watch the iRobot as a teen, and being skeptical about my brother’s statement that one day, the driverless car will become reality. And it’s now a reality, made possible by… a search engine company, Google.

While the data source is still a secret recipe, the Google driverless car is powered by artificial intelligence that utilizes the input from the video cameras inside the car, a sensor on the vehicle’s top, and some radar and position sensors attached to different positions of the car. Sounds like a lot of effort to mimic the human intelligence in a car, but so far the system has successfully driven 1609 kilometres without human commands!

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

“You can count on one hand the number of years it will take before ordinary people can experience this.” Google co-founder, Sergey Brin said. However, innovation is an achievement, consumerization is the headache, as Google currently face the challenge to forge the system into an affordable gem that every worker with an average salary could benefit from.

Parallella

Parallella is going to change the way that computers are made, and Adapteva offers you chance to join in on this revolution. Simply put, it’s a supercomputer for everyone. Basically, an energy-efficient computer built for processing complex software simultaneously and effectively. Real-time object tracking, holographic heads-up display, speech recognition will become even stronger and smarter with Parallella.

(Image Source: YouTube)

The project has been successfully funded so far, with an estimated delivery date of February 2013. For a mini supercomputer, the price seems really promising since it’s magically $99! It’s not recommended for the non-programmer and non-Linux user, but the kit is loaded with development software to create your personal projects.

I never thought the future of computing could be kick-started with just $99, which is made possible using crowdfunding platforms.

Project Fiona

Meet the first generation of the gaming tablet. Razer’s Project Fiona is a serious gaming tablet built for hardcore gaming. Once it’s out, it will be the frontier for the future tablets, as tech companies might want to build their own tablets, dedicated towards gaming, but for now Fiona is the only possible one that will debut in 2013.

(Image Source: Razer™)

This beast features next generation Intel® Core i7 processor geared to render all your favorite PC games, all at the palm of your hands. Crowned as the best gaming accessories manufacturer, Razer clearly knows how to build user experience straight into the tablet, and that means 3-axis gyro, magnetometer, accelerometer and full-screen user interface supporting multi-touch. My body and soul are ready.

Firefox OS

iOS and Android are great, but they each have their own rules and policies that certainly inhibit the creative efforts of developers. Mozilla has since decided to build a new mobile operating system from scratch, one that will focus on true openness, freedom and user choice. It’s Firefox OS.

Firefox OS is built on Gonk, Gecko and Gaia software layers – for the rest of us, it means it is built on open source, and it carries web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3.

(Image Source: Mozilla)

Developers can create and debut web apps without the blockade of requirements set by app stores, and users could even customize the OS based on their needs. Currently the OS has made its debut on Android-compatible phones, and the impression so far, is great.

You can use the OS to do essential tasks you do on iOS or Android: calling friends, browsing web, taking photos, playing games, they are all possible on Firefox OS, set to rock the smartphone market.

SmartThings

The current problem that most devices have is that they function as a standalone being, and it require effort for tech competitors to actually partner with each other and build products that can truly connect with each other. SmartThings is here to make your every device, digital or non-digital, connect together and benefit you.

With SmartThings you can get your smoke alarms, humidity, pressure and vibration sensors to detect changes in your house and alert you through your smartphone! Imagine the possibilities with this.

You could track who’s been inside your house, turn on the lights while you’re entering a room, shut windows and doors when you leave the house, all with the help of something that only costs $500! Feel like a tech lord in your castle with this marvel.

Eye Tribe

Eye tracking has been actively discussed by technology enthusiasts throughout these years, but it’s really challenging to implement. But Eye Tribe actually did this. They successfully created the technology to allow you to control your tablet, play flight simulator, and even slice fruits in Fruit Ninja only with your eye movements.

(Image Source: Eye Tribe)

It’s basically taking the common eye-tracking technology and combining it with a front-facing camera plus some serious computer-vision algorithm, and voila, fruit slicing done with the eyes! A live demo was done in LeWeb this year and we may actually be able to see it in in action in mobile devices in 2013.

Currently the company is still seeking partnership to bring this sci-fi tech into the consumer market but you and I know that this product is simply too awesome to fail.

Leap Motion

Multi-touch desktop is a (miserably) failed product due to the fact that hands could get very tired with prolonged use, but Leap Motion wants to challenge this dark area again with a more advanced idea. It lets you control the desktop with fingers, but without touching the screen.

It’s not your typical motion sensor, as Leap Motion allows you to scroll the web page, zoom in the map and photos, sign documentss and even play a first person shooter game with only hand and finger movements. The smooth reaction is the most crucial key point here. More importantly, you can own this future with just $70, a price of a premium PS3 game title!

If this device could completely work with Oculus Rift to simulate a real-time gaming experience, gaming is going to get a major make-over.

Oculus Rift

Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift. This history-defining 3D headset lets you mentally feel that you are actually inside a video game. In the Rift’s virtual world, you could turn your head around with ultra-low latency to view the world in high resolution display.

There are premium products in the market that can do the same, but Rift wants you to enjoy the experience at only $300, and the package even comes as a development kit. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.

The timing is perfect as the world is currently bombarded with the virtual reality topic that could also be attributed to Sword Art Online, the anime series featuring the characters playing games in an entirely virtual world. While we’re getting there, it could take a few more years to reach that level of realism. Oculus Rift is our first step.

Form 1

Just as the term suggests, 3D printing is the technology that could forge your digital design into a solid real-life product. It’s nothing new for the advanced mechanical industry, but a personal 3D printer is definitely a revolutionary idea.

Everybody can create their own physical product based on their custom design, and no approval needed from any giant manufacturer! Even the James Bond’s Aston Martin which was crashed in the movie was a 3D printed product!

Form 1 is one such personal 3D printer which can be yours at just $2799. It may sound like a high price but to have the luxury of getting producing your own prototypes, that’s a reaonable price.

Imagine a future where every individual professional has the capability to mass produce their own creative physical products without limitation. This is the future where personal productivity and creativity are maximized.

The Morph Concept

Launched alongside The Museum of Modern Art “Design and The Elastic Mind” exhibition, the Morph concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. This device concept showcases some revolutionary leaps being explored by Nokia Research Center (NRC) in collaboration with the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre (United Kingdom) – nanoscale technologies that will potentially create a world of radically different devices that open up an entirely new spectrum of possibilities.

Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices:

• Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live
• Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
• Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
• Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
• Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices

In addition to the advances above, the integrated electronics shown in the Morph concept could cost less and include more functionality in a much smaller space, even as interfaces are simplified and usability is enhanced. All of these new capabilities will unleash new applications and services that will allow us to communicate and interact in unprecedented ways.

Flexible & Changing Design

Nanotechnology enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. Fibril proteins are woven into a three dimensional mesh that reinforces thin elastic structures. Using the same principle behind spider silk, this elasticity enables the device to literally change shapes and configure itself to adapt to the task at hand.

A folded design would fit easily in a pocket and could lend itself ergonomically to being used as a traditional handset. An unfolded larger design could display more detailed information, and incorporate input devices such as keyboards and touch pads.

Even integrated electronics, from interconnects to sensors, could share these flexible properties. Further, utilization of biodegradable materials might make production and recycling of devices easier and ecologically friendly.

Self-Cleaning

Nanotechnology also can be leveraged to create self-cleaning surfaces on mobile devices, ultimately reducing corrosion, wear and improving longevity. Nanostructured surfaces, such as “Nanoflowers” naturally repel water, dirt, and even fingerprints utilizing effects also seen in natural systems.

Advanced Power Sources

Nanotechnology holds out the possibility that the surface of a device will become a natural source of energy via a covering of “Nanograss” structures that harvest solar power. At the same time new high energy density storage materials allow batteries to become smaller and thinner, while also quicker to recharge and able to endure more charging cycles.

Sensing The Environment

Nanosensors would empower users to examine the environment around them in completely new ways, from analyzing air pollution, to gaining insight into bio-chemical traces and processes. New capabilities might be as complex as helping us monitor evolving conditions in the quality of our surroundings, or as simple as knowing if the fruit we are about to enjoy should be washed before we eat it. Our ability to tune into our environment in these ways can help us make key decisions that guide our daily actions and ultimately can enhance our health.

Peptide Power: The Science Behind the 30-second Phone Charger

Lots of quantum dots

The new technology, which seems to be a brainchild of Gil Rosenmanand colleagues at Tel Aviv University in Israel, is based on biological quantum dots.

A quantum dot is a tiny crystal that is typically made of asemiconductor material such as gallium arsenide, and is small enough (less than 10 nanometres) to exhibit quantum confinement effects(which allow the electronic and optical properties of quantum dots to be controllably tuned).

The concept of using quantum dots for electronics is not new. In the past, electronic devices have focused on using inorganic quantum dots for transistor, solar cell, light emitting diode (LED) and diode laser technologies.

They are the building blocks of modern electronic devices, but these inorganic quantum dots are prepared using highly toxic components such as cadmium, zinc, sulphides and selenides.

Professor Rosenman’s group is working on bio-inspired self-assembly of biological, organic materials – peptides – to achieve the similar tasks as achieved by traditional inorganic semiconductors.

Going organic

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play different roles in our body.

In nature, the controlled self-assembly of peptides and proteins is critical for us to perform different tasks. If those processes are disturbed, they can lead to uncontrolled aggregation of peptides which can cause various disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Over the past decade, knowledge gained from nature has enabled scientists to fine-tune the self-assembly of peptides in the laboratory, so peptides can now be artificially modified to self-assemble in different conditions, and function outside a biological organism.

This has led to new applications of peptides in areas such as bio-nanomedicine, bio-nanotechnology, electronics, optics and energy storage.

StoreDot seems to have manipulated the chemistry of such peptides. This has allowed controllable self-assembly of two peptide molecules into an organic quantum dot of only two nanometres in size.

Since biomimetic self-assembly processes are highly specific, this may lead to an organic quantum dot manufacturing process with high yield and fewer imperfections in the final product.

It is critical to maintain a narrow size range of quantum dots in the final product. This is because different sized quantum dots act differently, but the current manufacturing protocols for inorganic quantum dots tend to suffer from such challenges.

Beyond chargers

It is clear that different biological semiconductors can be created to perform a myriad of tasks relevant to electronic devices. These include quick charging batteries and visible light emission for displays, on which StoreDot is currently concentrating.

It is not fully clear whether the rapid charging capacity shown by biological semiconductors makes use of the ferroelectricity(spontaneous electric polarisation), piezoelectricity (charge acquired through compression or distortion) and/or other properties of self-assembled peptides such as second harmonic generation (where two photons “combine” to create new photons with twice the energy).

Overall, the proof-of-concept demonstration to speed up charging times of current electronic devices is clearly remarkable.

Based on the crystallinity of the peptide-based quantum dots, StoreDot claims that they are stable over multiple cycles of charging – but bio-molecules such as peptides are prone to degrade under standard operating conditions.

Only time will tell whether such bio-based electronic devices will pass the rigorous stability tests expected by consumers across a range of environmental conditions.

Cortana: Microsoft's voice assistant

"Yay, it's Nick! How can I help?"

Thanks for asking, Cortana. And thanks for making the Windows phone software better, Microsoft.

With the new Cortana virtual assistant, Windows catches up with Apple's iOS and Google's Android in a major way. Microsoft takes some of the best parts of Apple's and Google's virtual assistants and adds a few useful tools of its own. The result is Cortana, named after an artificial intelligence character in Microsoft's "Halo" video games.

The new Windows system, Windows Phone 8.1, has several other new features, which I'll review separately later this week.

The update, including Cortana, will come with new phones starting next month, while existing phones will be able to download it for free in the coming months. On Monday, Microsoft made a preview version available to software developers. I was able to test that version over the past week.

Apple's Siri virtual assistant on iPhones and iPads has a feisty personality. She has good comebacks for such questions as, "What is the meaning of life?" She's also helpful with directions, restaurant recommendations and appointment reminders. Google Now on Android phones is boring by comparison, but better at anticipating your needs and giving you information before you even ask.

Cortana combines Siri's personality with Google Now's knack for anticipation.

Cortana also incorporates a feature for blocking calls, texts and notifications during times of your choosing, while letting you set exceptions for specific people or emergencies - defined as someone trying to call again within three minutes. That feature is separate on iPhones (though you can turn on Do Not Disturb, as it's called, via Siri or directly from its "Control Centre") and Samsung's Android phones. Cortana will also identify the name of songs heard in a retail store or bar, while you need separate apps such as SoundHound or Shazam on other phones (though the iPhone and iPad versions of Shazam can listen continuously in the background; that isn't yet in the Android version.)

Other differences include:

• Cortana asks rather than assumes

When you first use Cortana, she guides you through a brief questionnaire to gauge your interests. You can tap an icon on the top right to pull down a notebook and change your preferences.

Cortana also offers to scan your email for flights and other events to remind you about. Unlike Google Now, Cortana asks whether you'd like that flight tracked. Google Now does that automatically, and erroneously picks up itineraries that your travel companions send you. Also, Google Now works only with Gmail, while Cortana works with all major services except Yahoo, which Microsoft says it couldn't track because of Yahoo's terms of service.

Although Cortana avoids mistakes by asking, she requires slightly more work on your part. After asking Cortana about the latest Mets game, I had to tap a link to get future updates automatically. I didn't have to do anything with Google Now. But Google Now also assumes that just because I search for a company once, I want its stock quote every day.

Cortana shows you game scores - but might forget what you asked. Photograph: AP

• Cortana lets you ask follow-up questions

After asking Cortana for Mexican restaurants, I asked for ones that are open and got my list narrowed. I then asked for the ones that are good. Cortana responded with the Mexican restaurants that are both open and have at least four stars on Yelp.

Siri and Google Now tend to treat each request as new (though asking Siri "Which are the good ones?" will re-sort them by rating rather than distance), though both will let you make reservations through OpenTable. Cortana tells you only that a place takes reservations.

• Cortana offers more ways to set reminders

Like Siri and Google Now, Cortana lets you set reminders based on the time or location. When you arrive at work, for instance, she can remind you to mail a package.

Unlike the others, Cortana also lets you set people-based reminders. Let's say your friend Mary just had a baby. You can ask Cortana to remind you to mention that the next time you call, text or email Mary.

Some of the interactions got frustrating until I manually added my work and home addresses to Cortana's notebook.

Me: "Remind me to turn off the stove when I get home."

Cortana: "All right, where should I remind you?"

Me: "Home."

Cortana: "OK, what should I remind you about?"

Me: "Turn off the stove."

Cortana: "When would you like to be reminded?"

Me: "When I get home."

Cortana: "Sure, remind you when you get to home. Is this the one you want?"

The suggestion wasn't for my home but "Home Restaurant."

Microsoft says Cortana will figure out where you work and live over time.

Beta, could be better

Cortana is still in a "beta" test mode, so these kinks are to be expected. It's fine for basic queries, though sometimes you have to ask a few times. In requesting directions, I sometimes got a simple web search for my destination address. But repeating the address then got me actual step-by-step directions.

I asked all three virtual assistants on Friday whether I needed an umbrella. Siri and Google Now both told me I didn't, based on the fact that it wasn't raining. Cortana answered, "I'm not entirely certain." All three then presented a forecast.

By Sunday, Cortana seemed to have figured out I didn't need an umbrella. But I asked the same question 10 minutes later and got web results for "Do I need an umbrella?"

Both Siri and Google gave me movie times when I asked, "When is 'Frozen' showing?" Clicking on a time took me to a ticketing service. Cortana simply conducted a web search.

Cortana warns me of conflicts when adding a calendar event, but the warning comes after the fact as a "by the way." Siri warns me ahead of time, while Google Now offers no warning at all.

Ask Cortana to "tell me a joke," and she tries to text "a joke" to my cellphone, or "Me" in the address book. Cortana also won't compose email. Siri and Google Now do both email and texts.

These are all small points that I'm sure Microsoft will address over time. The company plans to keep Cortana in beta and limited to the US until the second half of the year, when the assistant will also debut in the UK and China.

Perhaps by then, Microsoft will offer a male voice, as Apple now does with Siri. In the meantime, enjoy interacting with Cortana. You can ask her to sing a song.

Overall, Cortana's improvements over Siri and Google Now aren't enough to compel a switch from an iPhone or Android phone – but Cortana does address an omission in Windows Phone for those already thinking of getting one.

LG's Home Chat

Dying for a beer in the comfort of your own home but can't remember if there's any left in the fridge? No worries - use LG Home Chat to text your fridge to check for you. You can also text your washing machine to start a load whilst you're out and about, or tell your robotic vacuum cleaner to start tidying up. Truly the next generation of home appliances

Panomo panoramic camera

Throw the Panomo camera ball into the air to take incredible 360 degree photographs from all angles. Possibly don't throw it too hard though

Goji Smart Lock

The Goji Smart Lock bypasses the need for keys, allowing you to gain access to your home with the simple tap of a smartphone or electronic fob. And no more worrying about whether you remembered to lock the door or not - it sends you a text when the locks are activated

Brain-computer Interfaces

The ability to control a computer using only the power of the mind is closer than one might think. Brain-computer interfaces, where computers can read and interpret signals directly from the brain, have already achieved clinical success in allowing quadriplegics, those suffering “locked-in syndrome” or people who have had a stroke to move their own wheelchairs or even drink coffee from a cup by controlling the action of a robotic arm with their brain waves. In addition, direct brain implants have helped restore partial vision to people who have lost their sight.

Recent research has focused on the possibility of using brain-computer interfaces to connect different brains together directly. Researchers at Duke University last year reported successfully connecting the brains of two mice over the Internet (into what was termed a “brain net”) where mice in different countries were able to cooperate to perform simple tasks to generate a reward. Also in 2013, scientists at Harvard University reported that they were able to establish a functional link between the brains of a rat and a human with a non-invasive, computer-to-brain interface.

Other research projects have focused on manipulating or directly implanting memories from a computer into the brain. In mid-2013, MIT researchers reported having successfully implanted a false memory into the brain of a mouse. In humans, the ability to directly manipulate memories might have an application in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, while in the longer term, information may be uploaded into human brains in the manner of a computer file. Of course, numerous ethical issues are also clearly raised by this rapidly advancing field.

Polaroid Socialmatic camera

Originally floated as a concept back in 2012, the Android-based Socialmatic could revive the beloved Polaroid as we know it. An inkless printing system enables users to print stickers of their sepia-tinted images, and customise them using the 4.5 inch touchscreen. Slated for release by the end of 2014, it may be hipster, but it's also incredibly cool

Screenless Display

One of the more frustrating aspects of modern communications technology is that, as devices have miniaturized, they have become more difficult to interact with – no one would type out a novel on a smartphone, for example. The lack of space on screen-based displays provides a clear opportunity for screenless displays to fill the gap. Full-sized keyboards can already be projected onto a surface for users to interact with, without concern over whether it will fit into their pocket. Perhaps evoking memories of the early Star Wars films, holographic images can now be generated in three dimensions; in 2013, MIT’s Media Lab reported a prototype inexpensive holographic colour video display with the resolution of a standard TV.

Screenless display may also be achieved by projecting images directly onto a person’s retina, not only avoiding the need for weighty hardware, but also promising to safeguard privacy by allowing people to interact with computers without others sharing the same view. By January 2014, one start-up company had already raised a substantial sum via Kickstarter with the aim of commercializing a personal gaming and cinema device using retinal display. In the longer term, technology may allow synaptic interfaces that bypass the eye altogether, transmitting “visual” information directly to the brain.

This field saw rapid progress in 2013 and appears set for imminent breakthroughs of scalable deployment of screenless display. Various companies have made significant breakthroughs in the field, including virtual reality headsets, bionic contact lenses, the development of mobile phones for the elderly and partially blind people, and hologram-like videos without the need for moving parts or glasses.

Body-adapted Wearable Electronics

From Google Glass to the Fitbit wristband, wearable technology has generated significant attention over the past year, with most existing devices helping people to better understand their personal health and fitness by monitoring exercise, heart rate, sleep patterns, and so on. The sector is shifting beyond external wearables like wristbands or clip-on devices to “body-adapted” electronics that further push the ever-shifting boundary between humans and technology.

The new generation of wearables is designed to adapt to the human body’s shape at the place of deployment. These wearables are typically tiny, packed with a wide range of sensors and a feedback system, and camouflaged to make their use less intrusive and more socially acceptable. These virtually invisible devices include earbuds that monitor heart rate, sensors worn under clothes to track posture, a temporary tattoo that tracks health vitals and haptic shoe soles that communicate GPS directions through vibration alerts felt by the feet. The applications are many and varied: haptic shoes are currently proposed for helping blind people navigate, while Google Glass has already been worn by oncologists to assist in surgery via medical records and other visual information accessed by voice commands.

Technology analysts consider that success factors for wearable products include device size, non-invasiveness, and the ability to measure multiple parameters and provide real-time feedback that improves user behaviour. However, increased uptake also depends on social acceptability as regards privacy. For example, concerns have been raised about wearable devices that use cameras for facial recognition and memory assistance. Assuming these challenges can be managed, analysts project hundreds of millions of devices in use by 2016