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Computers That Learn Like Humans
DeepMind Technologies is developing a computer called the Neural Turing Machine, which crunches numbers like a traditional computer and processes data the way the human brain does. The machine's developers hope this architecture will excel at computational tasks and be able to learn and adapt like a human. With any luck, this hybrid will eliminate the need for programmers by programming itself.
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Invisible Hearing Aid
Smaller than a coffee bean, the Nanoplug hearing aid fits inside the ear canal, making it impossible to see. In this position, the device captures sound at about the same point the ear does, naturally localizing sound. Despite its size, the Nanoplug still provides all the features you would expect to see in a conventional design, and its built-in battery operates for six days without recharging.
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Taking the Touch out of Touchscreens
Researchers have developed a way to enable users to interact with touchscreens without actually touching the display. Gizmag explains how the smoke-and-mirrors technology behind the HaptoMime works, using an infrared touch sensor, an ultrasonic phased-array transducer, and an LCD screen. The scientists hope the technology will eliminate those finger smudges on computer screens and prevent the spread of disease through interfaces.
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Growing Atomic-scale Semiconductors
A team of scientists has developed a process called "pixel engineering" that enables the growth of hybrid, atomically thin semiconductor structures to enhance optoelectronic device performance. The researchers created the composites by combining 2D molybdenum and tungsten disulfide through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the application of high heat (850 C, 1563 F). Ultimately, the scientists hope to fabricate fully functional electronic devices on a single plane.
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Step Inside the Virtual World
Ongoing work on Oculus' virtual reality goggles focuses on increasing screen resolution, expanding the range of motion that can be tracked, and reducing latency. Even in this stage of development, however, the Rift offers a glimpse of how the technology can be used in the future. Phys.org looks at the ways architects, manufacturers, and NASA scientists are using these virtual reality goggles.
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