Fujitsu to Unveil Human-like Robot
Engineers from Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. will present technical details next week of a miniature humanoid robot whose movements can be programmed by users.
The robot, to be discussed at Tokyo University during a meeting of the Robotics Society of Japan, is intended for researchers working with robotic technologies.
Hoap-1 (for Humanoid for Open Architecture Platform) will initially be sold only in Japan at a cost of $41,000 each. Fujitsu Automation Ltd., which developed Hoap-1 with Fujitsu Labs, plans to sell 100 copies within three years.
The robot stands more than 18 inches tall, weighs more than 13 pounds and has 12 degrees of freedom of movement in its legs and 8 degrees in its hands. Accompanying simulation software can help users write motion control algorithms for such things as two-legged walking and research on human-to-robot communication links, the company said.
Fujitsu will also provide software with the robot so users can simulate the control programs that they develop before implementation.
Vernier Ships Wireless LAN Security System
Vernier Networks Inc. announced this week the first customer shipments of its wireless LAN roaming, security, control and accountability solution.
The company said at the Networld+Interop show that NTT Multimedia Communications Laboratories Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. made the first purchase of its product, which is currently in beta testing at the Handspring facility.
Vernier, based in Mountain View, Calif. is a spin-off of networking technology company Packet Design Inc. It said it built intelligence into network components after recognizing the shortcomings of intellectual property in the wireless realm, and thereby maintained roam, session and security context for users.
The company's solution comprises two components. One part, the access manager, sits at the access edge and enforces authentication and password-based security. The access manager then directs network access requests to the control server, which interfaces into the site-specific authentication server to verify network access status and grade.
Digital Music Comes to Handhelds
A recent agreement between Palm Inc., Shinei International and Liquid Audio Inc. will create new avenues of disbursement for the music industry.
The agreement will bring a complete digital music package to Palm PDAs. Shinei's expandable Porteson MP3 player and Palm co-branded Liquid Player Plus desktop software, licensed by Shinei from Liquid Audio, will allow users to burn their own CDs, set up customized play lists, check the latest album covers and listen to music through their PDAs.
The deal also will see the launch of a Palm-branded music download Web site hosted by Liquid Audio that gives users access to thousands of secure digital downloads.
Nielsen-type Ratings Coming to the Internet
Internet operators from all walks of life are close to accepting a set of guidelines that will help major advertisers understand the depth of market penetration a particular site has.
The guidelines will create rankings for Web sites that will be similar to those used to rank the TV industry--ratings that help set the demand for advertising dollars.
The exact workings of the system are still being ironed out by collaborative efforts among groups from the advertising industry and online operators.
Marketing experts feel once operators can show prospective advertisers numbers that make sense to them, more advertising revenue will be created online.
Conference in Asia to Focus on E-Business Solutions
Registration is now being taken for the 4th Annual Borland Conference Asia Pacific.
The event will be four days of in-depth information sessions specially designed for professional developers and IT managers who implement and manage e-business solutions.
Among the topics of discussion during the event will be RAD, enterprise computing, software design and the Internet. Software and product sessions will focus on Windows, Linux, Java, JBuilder, Delphi, Kylix, C++Builder and
Enterprise Products.
For more information or to register, call 1-800-177-974.
Trio of Airlines Testing Interactive Flights
Three global airlines--Singapore, Air Canada and Cathay Pacific--have begun to test the waters of bringing the Internet to their passengers while still in flight.
The airlines are experimenting with a service that will allow passengers to send and view e-mail while they are in flight. Currently the service is offered free on all three airlines, but charges will be implemented on the service by the end of the year.
Air Canada offers the service on five Boeing 767s; Singapore Airlines began with e-mail on its Los Angeles-Tokyo-Singapore route and expects to have six or seven Boeing 777s and 747s equipped with it by November; and Cathay Pacific presently has one e-mail ready Airbus A330-300 in its fleet.
All three are working with software supplier and developer Tenzing Communications, a Seattle-based firm that is trying to get 50 to 75 commercial airliners from various carriers using its system by the end of the year.
Mobile Entertainment Dates Set
The date is set for the Mobile Entertainment show in Las Vegas.
Gaming developers and carriers will descend on Caesars Palace on Oct. 25-26.
The event is produced by the Strategic Research Institute and is geared toward bringing both industry veterans and newcomers together to discuss winning strategies in mobile entertainment, while providing practical advice on content and implementation.
An international focus on case studies and mobile entertainment lessons learned from carriers and content developers worldwide is on the slate. Some of the geographic areas scheduled to be covered include the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia.
U.K. Police Using Text Messages to Warn Citizens
A new plan is being tested in the U.K. city of Birmingham and has police in West Midlands sending out text messages to mobile phones warning residents of potential danger areas or crimes being committed.
The system will use mobiles to flash warnings of shoplifters spotted on close-captioned TV.
The system is being ground tested in the area and if proven effective could be spread to other cities and regions in the country.