Author: Robin Edgar

Organisational Structures | Technology and Science | Military, IT and Lifestyle consultancy | Social, Broadcast & Cross Media | Flying aircraft

Researchers printed a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons for the first time

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Researchers at the Zurich-based ETH public university, along with a US-based startup called Inkbit, have done the impossible. They’ve printed a robot hand complete with bones, ligaments and tendons for the very first time, representing a major leap forward in 3D printing technology. It’s worth noting that the various parts of the hand were printed Read more about Researchers printed a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons for the first time[…]

Google is testing community-sourced notes for search results

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Google is experimenting with a feature that would allow people to add their own notes to search results for anyone to see. In theory, this would make results more helpful, providing a bit of human perspective — like feedback on recipe links or tips relating to travel queries — so people can better find the Read more about Google is testing community-sourced notes for search results[…]

Researchers use magnetic fields for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring

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Synex Medical, a Toronto-based biotech research firm backed by Sam Altman (the CEO of OpenAI), has developed a tool that can measure your blood glucose levels without a finger prick. It uses a combination of low-field magnets and low-frequency radio waves to directly measure blood sugar levels non-invasively when a user inserts a finger into Read more about Researchers use magnetic fields for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring[…]

Three thousand years’ worth of carbon monoxide records show positive impact of global intervention in the 1980s

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An international team of scientists has reconstructed a historic record of the atmospheric trace gas carbon monoxide by measuring air in polar ice and air collected at an Antarctic research station.   The team, led by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, assembled the first complete record Read more about Three thousand years’ worth of carbon monoxide records show positive impact of global intervention in the 1980s[…]

Google Sues Men Who Weaponized DMCA Notices to Crush Competition

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Two men who allegedly used 65 Google accounts to bombard Google with fraudulent DMCA takedown notices targeting up to 620,000 URLs, have been named in a Google lawsuit filed in California on Monday. Google says the men weaponized copyright law’s notice-and-takedown system to sabotage competitors’ trade, while damaging the search engine’s business and those of Read more about Google Sues Men Who Weaponized DMCA Notices to Crush Competition[…]

AI weather forecaster complements traditional models very well

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Global medium-range weather forecasting is critical to decision-making across many social and economic domains. Traditional numerical weather prediction uses increased compute resources to improve forecast accuracy, but does not directly use historical weather data to improve the underlying model. Here, we introduce “GraphCast,” a machine learning-based method trained directly from reanalysis data. It predicts hundreds Read more about AI weather forecaster complements traditional models very well[…]

Google Witness Spills on Apple’s Cut From Safari Search Revenue

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Google pays Apple 36% of its search advertising revenue from Safari, according to new details brought to light in Google’s search antitrust trial on Monday as reported by Bloomberg. The mere utterance of the number, which Google and Apple have tried to keep sealed, caused Google’s main litigator John Schmidtlein to visibly cringe. “Like the Read more about Google Witness Spills on Apple’s Cut From Safari Search Revenue[…]

Micro-LED Displays @IDTechEx Report

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[…] IDTechEx’s report ‘Micro-LED Displays 2024-2034: Technology, Commercialization, Opportunity, Market and Players‘ explores various angles of Micro-LED displays. […] MicroLED displays are built on the foundation of self-emissive inorganic LEDs, acting as subpixels. These LEDs are usually in the micrometer range, without package nor substrate, and therefore are transferred in a way different from traditional Read more about Micro-LED Displays @IDTechEx Report[…]

New Israeli Law Makes Consuming ‘Terrorist’ Content A Criminal Offense

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It’s amazing just how much war and conflict can change a country. On October 7th, Hamas blitzed Israel with an attack that was plainly barbaric. Yes, this is a conflict that has been simmering with occasional flashpoints for decades. No, neither side can even begin to claim it has entirely clean hands as a result Read more about New Israeli Law Makes Consuming ‘Terrorist’ Content A Criminal Offense[…]

US Navy Uncrewed Submarine Will Launch, Recover Drone That Can Swim, Fly

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The U.S. Navy is set to demonstrate the ability of an uncrewed underwater vehicle, or UUV, to launch and recover a smaller drone that can both swim and fly. The service says it wants the two platforms to be able to go through the deployment and retrieval processes autonomously — without any human involvement. The Read more about US Navy Uncrewed Submarine Will Launch, Recover Drone That Can Swim, Fly[…]

In a first, cryptographic keys protecting SSH connections stolen in new attack

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For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that a large portion of cryptographic keys used to protect data in computer-to-server SSH traffic are vulnerable to complete compromise when naturally occurring computational errors occur while the connection is being established. Underscoring the importance of their discovery, the researchers used their findings to calculate the private portion Read more about In a first, cryptographic keys protecting SSH connections stolen in new attack[…]

European digital identity: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on eID

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[…] Under the new law, member states will offer citizens and businesses digital wallets that will be able to link their national digital identities with proof of other personal attributes (e.g., driving licence, diplomas, bank account). Citizens will be able to prove their identity and share electronic documents from their digital wallets with a click Read more about European digital identity: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on eID[…]

What does that free vs ad supported Facebook / Instagram warning mean, why is it there?

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In the EU, Meta has given you a warning saying that you need to choose for an expensive ad free version or continue using targetted adverts. Strangely, considering Meta makes it’s profits by selling your information, you don’t get the option to be paid a cut of the profits they gain by selling your information. Read more about What does that free vs ad supported Facebook / Instagram warning mean, why is it there?[…]

9th Circuit Advances Lawsuit Over Fortnite ‘Emotes;’ Says Dance Moves Are As Protected As Songs

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[…] Many courts have already dealt with these lawsuits-come-lately filed by opportunistic people who failed to capitalize on their own pop culture cache but thought it was worth throwing a few hundred dollars in filing fees towards a federal court in hopes that the eventual payoff would be millions. Most of these efforts have failed. Read more about 9th Circuit Advances Lawsuit Over Fortnite ‘Emotes;’ Says Dance Moves Are As Protected As Songs[…]

Korean Financial Regulator Chief: About 100 Stocks Targeted in Naked Short Selling, Indicating Pervasive Illegality

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In response to criticism suggesting that the ban on short selling implemented on Nov. 6 is a “political decision” aimed at next year’s general election, Lee Bok-hyun, the head of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), directly refuted the claims, stating, “About 100 stocks were identified as targets for naked short selling.” He said that it Read more about Korean Financial Regulator Chief: About 100 Stocks Targeted in Naked Short Selling, Indicating Pervasive Illegality[…]

HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen

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It’s rare, but now and then a company will go out on a limb and create a truly cutting-edge device, even if its books take a hit. That’s exactly what HP has done with the Spectre Fold. Despite having the same processor as last year’s ASUS Zenbook 17 OLED, HP’s take on a flexible-screen laptop Read more about HP Spectre Fold review – 3 in one laptop with folding screen[…]

Data broker’s staggering sale of sensitive info exposed in unsealed FTC filing

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[…] The FTC has accused Kochava of violating the FTC Act by amassing and disclosing “a staggering amount of sensitive and identifying information about consumers,” alleging that Kochava’s database includes products seemingly capable of identifying nearly every person in the United States. According to the FTC, Kochava’s customers, ostensibly advertisers, can access this data to Read more about Data broker’s staggering sale of sensitive info exposed in unsealed FTC filing[…]

US Court rules automakers can record and save owner text messages and call logs

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A federal judge on Tuesday refused to bring back a class action lawsuit alleging four auto manufacturers had violated Washington state’s privacy laws by using vehicles’ on-board infotainment systems to record and intercept customers’ private text messages and mobile phone call logs. The Seattle-based appellate judge ruled that the practice does not meet the threshold Read more about US Court rules automakers can record and save owner text messages and call logs[…]

WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call

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A new feature in WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call using the app. Knowing someone’s IP address can reveal a lot of personal information such as their location and internet service provider, so having the option to hide it is a major privacy win. “This new feature provides an Read more about WhatsApp will let you hide your IP address from whoever you call[…]

Capcom: PC Game Mods Are Essentially Just Cheats By A Different Name – uhm… what’s wrong with cheats (if it’s offline)?

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It truly is amazing that the video game industry is so heavily divided on the topic of user-made game mods. I truly don’t understand it. My take has always been very simple: mods are good for gamers and even better for game makers. Why? Simple, mods serve to extend the useful life of video games Read more about Capcom: PC Game Mods Are Essentially Just Cheats By A Different Name – uhm… what’s wrong with cheats (if it’s offline)?[…]

EU Tries To Slip In New Powers To Intercept Encrypted Web Traffic Without Anyone Noticing

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The EU is currently updating eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services), an EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the European Single Market. […] Back in March 2022, a group of experts sent an open letter to MEPs [pdf] […] It warned: The Digital Identity framework includes provisions that Read more about EU Tries To Slip In New Powers To Intercept Encrypted Web Traffic Without Anyone Noticing[…]

EU Commission’s nameless experts behind its “spy on all EU citizens” *cough* “child sexual abuse” law

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The EU Ombudsman has found a case of maladministration in the European Commission’s refusal to provide the list of experts, which it first denied existing, with whom they worked together in drafting the regulation to detect and remove online child sexual abuse material. Last December, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) filed complaints to Read more about EU Commission’s nameless experts behind its “spy on all EU citizens” *cough* “child sexual abuse” law[…]

Researchers posed as foreign actors, and data brokers sold them information on military servicemembers anyway – for pennies

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[…] Researchers at Duke University released a study on Monday tracking what measures data brokers have in place to prevent unidentified or potentially malign actors from buying personal data on members of the military. As it turns out, the answer is often few to none — even when the purchaser is actively posing as a Read more about Researchers posed as foreign actors, and data brokers sold them information on military servicemembers anyway – for pennies[…]

YouTube cares less for your privacy than its revenues

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YouTube wants its pound of flesh. Disable your ad blocker or pay for Premium, warns a new message being shown to an unsuspecting test audience, with the barely hidden subtext of “you freeloading scum.” Trouble is, its ad blocker detecting mechanism doesn’t exactly comply with EU law, say privacy activists. Ask for user permission or Read more about YouTube cares less for your privacy than its revenues[…]