Nanobots get tiny propellers for targeted drug delivery

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/31/nanobots-propellers/

Nanobots need the proper propulsion system if they're going to be used to deliver drugs to targeted areas. Take for example this teeny-tiny corkscrew-shaped propeller made out of silica and nickel that's developed by a group of German and Israeli scientists. The team says it's around 100 times smaller than the diameter of a red blood cell at 70 nanometers in width and 400 nanometers in length, so it can swim through blood and other fluids without getting caught in protein chains and the like. In order to make a nanopropeller this small, its creators had to forego giving it a motor of its own -- it needs to be controlled externally by a weak rotating magnetic field.

The lack of an internal motor doesn't seem to affect its performance, though: it successfully swam through hyaluronan gel, a material found throughout the human body, during a lab test. Since the propeller is incredibly small, it can be used to target not just extracellular locations, but also materials inside cells, giving it huge potential in medicine. Its creators believe, for instance, that it can be used to deliver tiny doses of radiation, even to sensitive areas of the body such as the retina. It'll take a looong time for that to happen, though, so head over to ACS Nano where you can read the team's study on this minuscule propeller.

Filed under: Science

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Via: Gizmag

Source: American Technion Society, ACS Nano

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With Qi wireless charging, you'll soon be able to charge your device from a short distance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/31/qi-wireless-resonance-charging/

It's becoming more and more common to find mobile devices with wireless charging capability, either as a built-in feature or integrated into third-party cases. Progress has been somewhat hampered, however, by the fact that no universally adopted standard is available. Of the three major groups trying to corner the market, Qi -- a standard created by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) -- has arguably been the most successful at courting manufacturers and carriers (over 200 have signed up so far). The problem is, its abilities have been limited because it only uses a method called inductive charging; in other words, you can power up your smartphone as long as it's sitting on a charging pad. Wireless, sure, but it's still only marginally more convenient than simply plugging the handset in. Fortunately, Qi's adding some crucial functionality later this year that will allow you to charge your device from nearly two inches away.

With version 1.2, the WPC is adding resonance charging to Qi's features. This makes it so the receiver (the device that needs to be charged) and the transmitter (the charging pad or surface that's pushing the power to the device) won't need to physically touch each other anymore; now they can be up to 45mm (1.77 inches) apart. The new standard is backwards-compatible, so if you already have a smartphone or tablet with Qi built-in, you'll be able to charge them up from as much as 35mm away. The standard also allows multiple devices to charge up at the same time, provided they're both within range, and it will be capable of pushing as much as 2,000 watts to larger products like kitchen appliances.

Qi's newfound ability to charge your gadgets from a distance is much more convenient for end users than what its current products offer. Using this technology, you might be able to place charging pucks under tables so your phone starts charging whenever you're close by; you could put several devices in a Qi-compatible bucket, which would be very handy placed in between the two front seats in your car; and you won't have to worry about placing your device on a precise spot to get it to charge.

Two competing wireless charging standards, Rezence and the Power Matters Alliance, already have adopted resonance charging, but the WPC claims that Qi is more power efficient and has a larger group of partners and products. Representatives couldn't give specific stats on power efficiency yet, since the earliest products are still in development and results will vary from one device to another; that said, their initial estimates were somewhere between 70-80 percent. (Qi's inductive chargers average about 85.)

We should expect to see the first v1.2 products arrive sometime later this year, although kitchen appliances using the standard likely won't hit the market until 2015.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile

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How to Create a Custom Google Now Command for Anything on Android

Source: http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-custom-voice-commands-with-tasker-and-aut-1282209195

Google Now already has a ton of useful voice commands built in. Thanks to a recent update to Tasker plugin AutoVoice, though, you can now create your own commands that plug directly into Google Now to accomplish anything that Tasker can do with nothing but your voice.

For this guide, we're going to be using Tasker and AutoVoice primarily, focusing on the new UI. If you don't already have either of these apps, they're certainly worth paying the few bucks for. Not that you needed to be told that. You guys love Tasker. So, let's get started.

(Optional) Step 0: Get Ok, Google (If You Haven't Already)

One of the coolest features Google has introduced lately is the ability to launch voice commands without minimal non-voice input. If you're using a phone like the Moto X, you can already say "Ok, Google Now" to launch voice commands. If you're not, here are some of the ways you can get it:

• Use the Google Now launcher (on certain devices): One of the headlining features of the Nexus 5 when it came out was that you could say "Ok, Google" from the lock screen. This has since been expanded to several other devices, though it's unclear how many are supported. To make matters more complex, Google has added an "Ok, Google" everywhere option that lets you launch voice commands even when you're not at the home screen. This is also only supported on a limited number of devices and it's unclear how (or if) the rollout is happening. Still, if you're one of the lucky ones that this works for, it's a great option.
• Use an alternative launcher like Apex: Not content to wait for Google's rollout, some developers like Apex have added their own "Ok, Google" hotword detection. This allows you to launch voice commands from the home screen, even if you're not using Google's software.
• Use a third-party always-listening app like Open Mic+: If you really want the full range of Moto X-style control, Open Mic+ can help. This app keeps your microphone open listening for "Ok, Google" no matter where you are in the app. The downside to this is that it can drain your battery, but the benefits may outweigh the costs for some people.

Obviously, none of these are a perfect solution for all devices. We're still a ways off from being able to launch all voice commands entirely hands-free in all situations on all devices. However, there are at least a couple options for most people.

This step is also entirely optional. Most devices have a voice button in the default Google search bar, and you can tap that and speak to send a voice command. Even if you can't trigger voice search without touching your device, it's one tap on most home screens to get started.

Step 1: Allow AutoVoice to Listen for Google Now Commands

AutoVoice "integrates" with Google Now by listening for specific searches. Just like with Google's built-in commands, if a particular search matches a Tasker profile you've set up, AutoVoice will intercept the search and run your custom command instead. If neither AutoVoice nor Google recognize it as an instruction, it will conduct a regular search.

Before you can do this, however, you need to enable the AutoVoice accessibility service. To do that, first install Tasker and AutoVoice (if you haven't already) and do the following:

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap "Accessibility."
3. Tap "AutoVoice Google Now Integration."
4. Tap the toggle at the top of the screen.
5. In the dialog that pops up, tap "OK."

This service may be in a different place in the Settings app, depending on your device. Once the listening service is enabled, you can start creating your own custom voice commands.

Step 2: Create a Custom Google Now Voice Trigger

With the new Google Now integration, creating a custom AutoVoice command is a drastically simpler process. AutoVoice recognizes commands separately and passes them to Tasker with the AutoVoice Recognized event. You can then attach any action to that Event. To create a custom voice command follow these steps:

1. Open Tasker.
2. Tap the plus sign at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select Event.
4. Under "Plugin," choose "AutoVoice Recognized."
5. Tap the edit button next to "Configuration."
6. Either tap "Command filter" to type in the voice command you want to trigger the event, or tap "Speak filter" to say it aloud. The latter helps make sure Google will recognize it correctly, so we recommend that first.
7. Tap the check mark at the top of the screen.
8. Tap the left caret at the top left of the screen to save the Event.

This will create a custom voice Event that will be recognized when you say it aloud within Google Now. The next step will be to create a Task that will be activated when Google Now/AutoVoice recognize your command. At this point, the sky's the limit.

Step 3: Tie Your Commands to the Immense Power of Tasker

From here, you'll be prompted either to create a new task or choose from an existing one. A world of possibilities is open to you at this point, and it would be outside the scope of this article (or an entire site) to fully explore. However, here are some examples to get you started.

Send a canned text message to a contact.

1. Create a new task under Tasks.
2. Give your task a name (i.e. Text NAME)
3. Tap plus sign to add a new action.
4. Tap "Phone."
5. Select "Send SMS."
6. Enter a phone number and a pre-set message.
7. Optional: Check "Store in messaging app" if you'd like to keep a record of sent messages.
8. Tap the back button at the top left.

Change multiple settings in a single set.

1. Create a new task under Tasks.
2. Name it (i.e. Home Settings)
3. Tap plus sign to add a new action.
4. Tap "Net" and select WiFi.
5. Choose "On" under "Set."
6. Tap "Net" and select "Bluetooth."
7. Choose "Off" under "Set."
8. Tap "Misc" and select "GPS."
9. Choose "Off" under "Set."
10. Tap the back button at the top left.
11. Under the AutoVoice profile settings detailed in the, make sure "Event Behavior" is unchecked as mentioned above.

These are extremely basic examples, but part of the beauty of Tasker is that it can be extended to a huge number of tasks. As previously mentioned, you've already shared many of your Tasker actions, and if you have a home automation system, Tasker and AutoVoice can be used to create an impressive set of voice commands to control your entire home entertainment system with a little work. Tasker can be daunting, but this should at least help you get started with voice commands.

Photo mixed from Vivaporius.

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Turn Your iPhone Charger Into a Portable Backup Battery

Source: http://gizmodo.com/turn-your-iphone-charger-into-a-portable-backup-battery-1613449223/+whitsongordon

Even carrying your iPhone's charger everywhere you go doesn't guarantee you'll be able to keep your phone running all day. Sometimes outlets can be hard to find, and for those times the NomadPlus is here to help—transforming your iPhone's standard charger into a portable 1,500 mAh battery for back power on-the-go.

Shipping in late November for just $39, the NomadPlus simply requires you to insert the compact AC adapter that came with your recent-generation iPhone, immediately giving you a portable charging solution with enough power to bring a dead smartphone about 70 percent of the way back to life.

When plugged into a wall it charges a connected device first, and then itself. So come morning your smartphone is ready to tackle the day, and then the evening on top of that, even if you can't get access to an outlet. [Nomad]

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This Clever Transforming House Has Three Rotating Rooms

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-clever-transforming-house-has-three-rotating-rooms-1613527291

Sometimes you want a room with a view. Sometimes you want a bunker that's walled-off to the world. Why not have both? The Sharifi-ha House can shape-shift based on the amount of sun or level of privacy that its residents need at that particular moment.

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