PLUGHITZ Live Presents (Audio)

It's no secret that there is a ton of information available, with more added every minute. The problem is that it is very difficult to control what you see. Publications cover a wide range of topics, so subscribing to a single publication can inundate you with things that you're not interested in. A customizable feed aggregator is exactly what you need, and exactly what you get in Feedme.

In our research for F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, we have long used RSS feeds to find topics. Subscribing to publications that focus on topics in our area of interest has been a big part of our show research. However, as the industry has changed, so have the content of those feeds. For example, tech sites cover automotive technology more today than ever before. As the show does not cover automotive technology, this is clutter in our process.

This is exactly the problem that Feedme is looking to solve. Rather than subscribing to publications and weeding through the topics that you're not interested in, Feedme allows you a finer granularity of control in your feed. By creating topic-based feeds, you can see articles about that topic, whether or not you have ever interacted with that publication before. This level of discovery means that you can get a wider view of your topic than from just the publications in your existing circle.

Feedme has taken the best behaviors from a good RSS reader and integrated them into the platform. Rather than trying to render each piece of content in a unified way (a task that even Microsoft and Apple have failed to do well), Feedme focuses on discovery and then directs the viewer to the original content. This ensures that content creators continue to generate revenue without having to work directly with Feedme to generate specialized content.

The Feedme app is available now for both iOS and Android, and is free to use. To learn more about the platform or to download the app, head to their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Wireless electricity has been a dream since the days of Nikola Tesla, but it's never really come to pass. There's the Qi and Ki standards for wireless power, but that's not quite the same thing. There have been some developments in the past few years, but none of them are really commercially viable, for various reasons. But, a new technology standard has been created, called Wi-Charge, that avoids the pitfalls of the others.

The Wi-Charge technology, which they call AirCord, uses infrared to transfer power wirelessly. The biggest advantage of infrared is that it doesn't lose strength over normal distances. The power transmitter could easily be installed on the ceiling and a device on a table could receive the full strength of the signal. This differs from the RF-powered systems that we've seen in previous years, where the amount of power available degrades quickly over short distances, making it a fairly ineffective concept.

Of course, like with any infrared technology, it is very focused and directional. But, with the proper work, the transmitters can push power in more of a fan design, rather than a straight line. That can make it perfect for powering all of the devices on a table, like lamps or phones, or a group of electronics in a collection on a wall, like security and safety devices.

The company is looking to work with product manufacturers to integrate AirCord technology into their products, such as phones. The goal is to have a small army of products with "Powered by Wi-Charge" on their packaging available for purchase, creating an active ecosystem to encourage adoption. It is a similar approach to the Qi Certified products that have made that standard a success.

To learn more about the technology and see the current lineup of products that are compatible, head to their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Robotics competitions are a lot of fun. So much so, that we've dedicated an entire show to them. But, building a competition-ready robot from scratch is not possible for everyone. That's why pre-built machines and kits are available. One of the most impressive kits that we've ever encountered is from Chinese company GJS Robot.

These machines, known as Ganker, are impressive for a number of reasons. The first is its control system. Rather than having a traditional controller to make them move, it looks and functions more like fingers. You put your hands into the controls and your motions are translated fairly directly into the motion of the robot. This direct translation makes it really easy to learn. Todd took to the controls like a fish to water.

Another thing he learned was just how maneuverable these robots truly are. He touched the controller and it leaped forward, nearly launching off of the table. He then was able to make it move far slower within moments. This showed us the range of speeds that the Ganker is capable of.

But competitions are not all about speed - they require a way to compete. These robots are able to be customized with various "weapons," but unlike something like BattleBots, these are not intended to destroy or incapacitate one another. Instead, the game is played more along the lines of a karate competition. There are sensors throughout the body that, when triggered, score points for the opposing robot. Score enough points and you win the match, while both competitors live to fight another day.

The GJS Robot Ganker is available now for $499, while its smaller companion, the Geio, is available for $199. You can learn more about the products from the company's Amazon store or their official website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

The next big arena in computing is quantum computing. Some of the most publicized innovations and even some of the best recent science fiction projects have centered around quantum computing. That's because the technology promises a seismic shift in the way we think about computers and the way they are able to make calculations. Those changes will lead to faster and more powerful computers, which can improve our lives through improved scientific research, and more. The beginning of this revolution, however, is small, thanks to Aquark Technologies.

The company, which is a startup spun out of the University of Southampton, is focused on shrinking a core component of the quantum computing ecosystem. They have accomplished this by creating a miniaturized cold atom system, which is integral to the quantum computer. While the traditional system would have required a large amount of space and several qualified engineers to operate, the version developed by Aquark Technologies is comparable to the size of a matchbox.

By shrinking this singular component, a quantum computing system can now be tiny. We were treated to a non-functional prototype of one of these quantum computers. The reason for the non-functional prototype was not because a functioning version doesn't exist, but because it would have been too difficult to bring into the country. It was smaller than the size of a shoebox and its working companion is able to calculate and keep time to the same quantum accuracy as the official atomic clock in Paris, France.

While this could easily be a revolutionary device in the quantum realm, it is still in an early stage. The company was founded only a few months ago, building on the doctoral thesis of its founder, Physicist Dr. Andrei Dragomir. To learn more about the project and follow its development, check out Future Worlds.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

When it comes to materials design, carbon nanotubes are a big area of experimentation and design. Think of them as very small pasta and, under the right conditions, can be pulled and molded into nearly any shape. Then can be woven together like thread to form fabrics. But, these fabrics are incredibly strong and lightweight. We've seen them used to lighten heavy parts of planes, boats, and more. But Canatu is using them in a new way.

One aspect of carbon nanotubes is that they can be great electrical conductors. That means that you can run power across them. But, any time you run electricity, you create heat - sometimes a small amount, sometimes a large amount. In the case of carbon nanotubes, the heat produced is slight, but useful. When combined with certain existing products, that heat can be used to make the products better.

Take, for example, the sensor in your car that determines if the roads are safe enough to use cruise control in the cold. Those sensors can freeze over themselves and produce a false reading. But, if you include the carbon nanotubes into the sensor's design, or as a covering over the top of the electronics, you can keep the sensor from icing over, protecting your driving.

Another great use is on airplanes. The leading edge of the wing can also ice over, causing unexpected behavior. Currently, planes have various ways to deal with the problem, but all of them add weight to the plane, which equates to more fuel usage per flight. But, the lightweight nature of the carbon nanotube fabrics means that, by covering the leading edge of the wing, you can keep it ice-free with minimal additional weight.

To learn more about how Canatu is using carbon nanotubes and other materials, check out their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

In the world of virtual reality and augmented reality, one of the most difficult aspects of the technologies has been controls. Most platforms have leaned into the concept of a more traditional videogame controller, or something in the arena of a Wii Remote. However, this takes a lot of the reality out of the virtual or augmented realities. It also prevents usage for a wide variety of high precision purposes. The team at BeBop Sensors has developed a control system that opens up those uses in VR and AR.

The product itself is called Forte Data Gloves, and, as the name suggests are essentially gloves, with a strong focus on virtual reality. Like many controllers, it has positioning sensors, motion sensors, and command capabilities. Where the gloves really get exciting is in the extreme precision of the control. Each finger is able to be tracked individually, allowing for motions such as grabbing and picking up items. It also allows for interacting with virtual displays.

Within the gloves is haptic a feedback system, designed to give the wearer physical information about their virtual interactions. Imagine performing a virtual surgery on a patient during training. As you pick up a scalpel, you can feel a little response. As you put the knife to work, you can feel a little motion to simulate the resistance of the skin.

In addition to VR or AR interactions, the Forte Data Gloves can also be used to control physical devices. They can be used to move or train a robotic arm or even a drone. You can even navigate through a 3D map with just your hands.

To learn more about the Forte Data Gloves, explore the product's capabilities, or to contact the company, check out the BeBop Sensors website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Over the past few years, we've seen a large increase in virtual reality adoption. But, like any media type, it can only be a success if there is content to support it. Videogames have been the go-to content type for virtual reality, but developing VR games is not inexpensive. VR has also had its costs, both in monetary investment, as well as in the size of gear. If you wanted to produce anything of quality, you needed a large camera. But, 360Rize is trying to change that.

The company's new Penguin camera is smaller than a smartphone and can produce some impressive results. The front and back each have a lens, which sits off the body of the camera. This is done because each lens has a field of vision beyond 180 degrees. With this wider field of view, the camera has more room to create a healthy stitch without an incredibly visible seam - a common problem with small 360 cameras.

The camera's small size also gives it the ability to record in places that would normally be prohibitive, including in residential settings. Imagine being near the water and being able to take the Penguin out on a boat with you. You could capture a full, immersive recording of your experience. Using the 360Rize's streaming capabilities, you might even be able to let people experience the journey with you live, from their browser or VR headset. With these capabilities and the small size of the camera, VR and 360-degree videography are finally hitting a point where it could become mainstream.

The 360Rize Penguin camera is available now on Amazon starting at $149, and in bundles of varying price. To learn more about the product or the camera bundles, check out the company's website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

There are some products that are perfect for evolution through connected technology, and then there are some we usually skip over. One of those products we usually skip over is the humble desk lamp, but fortunately, the team at Lumicharge don't feel the same way, as they continue to bring cool new features to lamps.

Last year they brought us the original Lumicharge lamp. This year, in addition to improving the existing model with Qi wireless charging, we get a whole new model: the Lumicharge-LD. This new product is more of a low-profile design. It is designed to be short, versus the original product, which is tall and thin. But, it features the best of the original - the universal charging wheel. On this wheel are three plugs: Apple's Lightning, micro USB-B (commonly known as microUSB), and USB-C. These plugs will allow you to charge any phone made in the last *+ years. It also features the 10 watt Qi charger on the top.

However, the LD model sets itself apart in a number of ways. First, the light is not on a stick in the air. Instead, it radiates from the center of the device, above the controls but below the charging. This is a very different take on the light design from its sister product. It also allows for color customization, meaning you are not stuck with the VERY white light of the other product, making it a much better option for a bedroom.

The new LD also features a Bluetooth speaker, again making it a perfect bedside companion. With this one device, you have a clock, a color-changeable light, a dual phone charger, and a Bluetooth speaker - all in a compact body.

The new Lumicharge-LD is available for preorder now and will be shipping soon. To learn more or preorder yours, head over to their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Insomnia is common for many people, and most people never seek help. They look to sound machines and light therapy, but they never do anything to learn what their problem is and what the best course of action is to correct it. Part of the reason for this is because of the cost, both in money and time, that must be dedicated to sleep studies. But, Awarables is looking to help reduce the friction.

With all of the wearable devices and smartwatches, getting information about your sleep is easy, but getting actionable insights into what you can do to improve your sleep is far more difficult. Awarables has taken a different approach, working to bring the quality of data available through sleep studies to your own bedroom. This goal is accomplished through a combination of hardware and software. The company's Sleep Recorder tracks more than just movement - it records every heartbeat using a clinical-grade EKG. It even listens to audio, looking for snoring and other breathing abnormalities.

The data is then combined using advanced analytics based on the same science that powers sleep clinics. The connected app, called Sleep Help, then makes recommendations, creating an adaptive behavioral therapy program to help teach you how to sleep. Through these recommendations, you should be able to adjust your habits and behaviors in order to improve your sleep quality and schedule. With time, the adjustments become more natural and become part of your normal day. As that happens, the Sleep Recorder will recognize the changes and ease back on its recommendations moving forward.

The Awarables Sleep Recorder and the Sleep Help connected platform will be available in late 2020. To learn more about the offering and be notified when it becomes available, check out the company's website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

New audio technologies are paving the way for improved hearing aids, and Rachel Bishop, an audiologist with the Phonak company, was at CES 2020 to share the Phonak Virto Black.

Shaped like an earbud, Phonak hearing aids aim to bust the stigma of hearing loss, and close the seven-year gap - the average time between when people realize they're having hearing problems and when they actually decide to do something about it.

The hearing aids employ Binaural VoiceStream Technology that streams the full audio bandwidth in real time and bidirectionally, tackling challenging listening situations by simulating what the brain does with sounds from both ears. Linking the two hearing aids ensures that wearers can benefit from hearing speech in both ears, especially in a noisy environment, on the phone or when the hearing aid wearer can't face the speaker.

Marvel hearing aids also feature RogerDirect an auxiliary device that be placed between speakers wearing the Phonak Virto hearing aid, canceling noise and enabling the speakers to hear one another better. The puck can also be worn around the neck. The device has an accelerometer that points the microphone directly towards the speaker. When paired with the Phonak Virto Marvel aids, it enables people with hearing loss to be able to hear up to 10x better in a crowded room, than someone with normal hearing, in the same conditions.

The hearing aids connect directly to either your iOS or Android smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled devices and can be used for hands-free calls, TV, music, e-books, podcasts and more. The hearing aid batteries have a six-year lifespan and can be used all day without recharging.

Phonak sells to audiologists and audiologists service costs are bundled into the device, typically for the life of the hearing aid, and range in price from $4000 to $6000.

Learning more about Phonak Virto Marvel hearing aids at the company website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.