Embedded systems

April 15, 2014

3D vs. 2D Printing: Similarities in Technical Details

3D printing is the process of making an object out of some material, often plastic. 2D printing, or just simply, printing, is the process of putting an image on paper. They appear to be two different processes. Internally, however, the technical workings behind both types of printing have some strong […]
April 30, 2014

Patent Infringement of Software

Patents protect an invention. Unlike copyrights (see post on copyrights), one must apply for a patent by filing with the patent office. If the patent is granted, then the patent holder has exclusive rights to that invention. When an invention is submitted for a patent, it becomes public domain. Others […]
April 30, 2014

Copyright Infringement of Software

Most people have a good understanding of what copyright protection means with regards to written words, such as a book or an article. Those same protections also apply to software source code. Suppose I write some software in C as follows: y = 0; for (i=1; i<=x; i++) y += […]
July 28, 2016
Traffic through construction zone

Can Autonomous Cars Make Split Decisions?

While many people wonder if they’re ready for self-driving cars, maybe we ought to be asking, “Are autonomous cars ready for us to use?” With almost daily headlines about such cars getting into accidents, it’s clear that they still struggle to discern conflicting data which we humans even struggle resolving. […]
September 29, 2016
Semi Truck on a Highway

Limit Conditions for Autonomous Trucks

A few companies are working on developing autonomous long-haul trucks for freeways. Articles here, here, and here mention the following as some of the driving (pun intended) factors for this technology: A driver shortage exists. Old drivers are retiring faster than new ones are joining. Trucks can stay on the […]
October 12, 2016
Empty chairs at the DMV

Autonomous Chairs? Seriously?

I came across some articles recently about Nissan’s autonomous chairs (here and here). Wait! Is that a typo? Should “chairs” be “cars”? No, it was not a typo. Seriously? Then is it a parody? Nope. Nissan does have autonomous chairs. Instead of standing in a line, patrons can instead sit […]
November 3, 2016

Coming to a Wrist Near You: Smart Watch Assistants

With a relatively simple software update, your smartwatch could be even smarter. Researchers have developed a proof-of-concept that can take any smartwatch and make it capable of telling what object (which must be vibrating in your hand) you are currently holding. This is done by changing how often the watch […]
November 22, 2016

Virtual Reality: A Real-Life Physician’s Assistant

Have you ever used virtual reality (VR) before? The technology is so promising, you can’t help but wonder all the things it will one day be used for! One industry which VR will especially impact is healthcare. Scientists, computer engineers, doctors and more have been working together to assist in […]
January 9, 2017

Thumbs Up for Forgetting Your Wallet at the Supermarket Check Stand

It’s a scenario you know well: you visit a grocery store, spend time selecting groceries, then finally approach the light at the end of the tunnel: the checkout stand. The cashier scans all of the items, and then it’s time to pay. You reach into your pocket, and panic: Your […]
February 11, 2017

It’s a Bat! It’s a Robot! It’s a Robat!

Bats have been a source of flying inspiration for inventors since the days of Leonardo Da Vinci. The bat moves in such fluid ways, and humanity has wanted to replicate this elegance for ourselves. Researchers at Caltech have just taken a great leap forward in doing so. Caltech recently designed […]