Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kinect aids in improving mobility and rehabilitating stroke patients

via img.skitch.com






Kinect's finding its way into more and more areas of research as a comparatively cheap way to create 3D images. The camera's particularly gaining ground amongst health practitioners, and now we've heard of Kinect being used for gait analysis and rehab.


The uses in gait analysis — the study of how people walk — are being developed separately by both Missouri University and by students from Oak Ridge High School, Tennessee. Equipment to monitor people's walking exists already, but is expensive and usually requires use in a specialized testing environment. Missouri's working in collaboration with Americare's Tiger Place senior housing, where the cameras are being installed into residents' apartments to collect data and analyse their...



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Monday, December 19, 2011

Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton used to let paraplegics walk (video)



It's not just nuclear-powered super soldiers who will use exoskeletons -- it can also be used to help those with physical disabilities. The Kessler Foundation grabbed one of Ekso Bionics' Ekso units and gave six people with severe spinal injuries, including a tetraplegic, the chance to walk. It's part of a trial study to examine the effects of walking for wheelchair-users, to see if it's better for their overall health or if it could contribute to their rehabilitation. A wider study will begin early next year with the hope of expanding use of the gear to domestic situations in the future. After the break we've got video of the people walking for the first time since their injuries and it's hard not to find yourself feeling a little emotional at the sight of it.

Continue reading Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton used to let paraplegics walk (video)

Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton used to let paraplegics walk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

YouTube launches education-only option for teachers worldwide

Even though there’s a ton of nonsense on YouTube that can admittedly be distracting to anyone at any age, there is a vast wealth of informative videos that could serve well in the classroom.

YouTube project manager Brian Truong explained on the official YouTube blog that “teachers that they want to use the vast array of educational videos on YouTube in their classrooms, but are concerned that students will be distracted by the latest music video or a video of a cute cat, or a video that might not be appropriate for students.”

Thus, the video sharing site’s developers have added a network setting that enables school administrators with access only to educational content from YouTube EDU.

YouTube has already put considerable effort into the project, which includes digital content from more than 600 partners, including the Smithsonian and TED. Furthermore, YouTube has worked with teachers to curate over 300 playlists categorized by subject (i.e. math, social studies, science, etc.) and by grade level. Teachers can also suggest their own playlists to YouTube.

For a closer look at the YouTube for Schools “global classroom” initiative, check out the promo video below:




Microsoft introduces OneNote for iPad, updates iPhone version

Microsoft introduces OneNote for iPad, updates iPhone version: Microsoft OneNote for iPad






Microsoft pushed out a native iPad version of the company's OneNote productivity app today along with enhancements to its existing iPhone counterpart. The popular note-taking utility allows users to create and edit documents on Apple's tablet, syncing them across devices via the cloud by way of Microsoft's SkyDrive. OneNote goes beyond simple text entry by offering checkboxes and bulleted items for easy composition of to-do lists, and photos can also be imported from the iOS camera roll to further personalize your work. A Windows Live ID is required to use the free-to-download app, though you'll only be able to create a total of 500 notes at no cost. An in-app purchase is required beyond that point, and is priced considerably higher on...



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Friday, December 2, 2011

Trouble hearing? Advanced Bionics' waterproof implant is paddling your way



If you're one of the 200,000 deaf people who've received cochlear implants, then here's an upgrade worth considering: the Neptune from Advanced Bionics claims to be "the world's first and only swimmable, waterproof sound processor," and it's just received certification for the US and Canada. Read on for more details in the full press release and soon you could be bantering while you bathe.

Continue reading Trouble hearing? Advanced Bionics' waterproof implant is paddling your way

Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind -- Engadget


It's certainly not the first Braille label printer we've seen, but Ted Moallem's Braille-It Labeler does bring notably unique element to the table -- namely, "sightless construction." Presented at this year's A Better World by Design conference, this compact device allows blind or visually impaired users to print out adhesive labels in Braille, thanks to a simple six-button design that's compatible with any Braille alphabet. Made out of relatively common materials like aluminum and steel wire, the Braille-It can also be constructed by the blind themselves -- a potentially groundbreaking development for a demographic that's too often ignored by the retail sector. Moallem, a former MIT grad student, explains:
Blind people cannot depend on mainstream commercial forces to advance the cause of Braille literacy. Nearly two centuries after the invention of Braille by a blind adolescent boy, the most widely used Braille-writing tools, the slate and stylus, are quite similar to the tools used by Louis Braille himself. In the hands of the sighted, the low-cost Braille industry has stagnated.
The inventor tested his label maker at a workshop last year in Katpadi, India, where blind trainees successfully taught other visually impaired users how to create their very own Braille-It. Moallem is now looking to set up similar workshops across other locations, including Senegal, Liberia and Lebanon. The ultimate goal is to empower blind consumers to create their own low-cost and potentially life-saving tools -- particularly in developing countries, which account for an estimated 90 percent of the world's blind population. If successful, Moallem's invention and ensuing campaign could provide a remarkably simple solution for a large, yet often neglected population. We certainly wish him the best of luck. Find out more at the source link below, or check out Inhabitat's extensive coverage for more images and insight.


Link: Inhabitat.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Dragon Express offers Lion users lower-cost speech-to-text

Dragon Express offers Lion users lower-cost speech-to-text:

Nuance released on Thursday a new speech-to-text app for Mac users called Dragon Express. The pared-down app features the same speech recognition engine as its full-featured, $199 cousin Dragon Dictate, but at a much lower price.

We have already reviewed Nuance's Dragon Dictate, which offers features like direct, in-app input, voice-based editing controls, voice commands to control you Mac, and more. Dragon Express is more akin to Dragon Dictation on iOS—activate the app (you can configure a hotkey), say something out loud, and your speech is converted to text. The text can then be sent to the clipboard and pasted into any other app. It can also be sent to any active text box in any currently running native Cocoa app.

Nuance said that Dragon Express can work with either your Mac's built-in mic or an optional USB headset. We haven't been able to test the app's accuracy without a headset just yet, but our experience with the iOS app suggests it should be good enough to at least give you a workable rough draft. If your typing speed isn't that great, or hampered by a repetitive-stress injury, Dragon Express could be a big help.

Dragon Express has a few more tricks up its sleeve, too. Using a limited selection of voice commands (or merely clicking the requisite icon on the app's toolbar), you can send the translated speech to Facebook, Twitter, in an e-mail, perform a Spotlight search on your Mac, or search online using Google.

Dragon Express only runs on Mac OS X Lion and is available now from the Mac App Store for an "introductory" price of $49.99.








Online Text to Speech Solutions for Corporate, Media and Public Web Sites

Online Text to Speech Solutions for Corporate, Media and Public Web Sites:

ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ is a family of online text to speech solutions that speech-enable your website(s) for the benefit of people who would like to listen instead of (or as well as) read. Without the need for downloading and installing any additional programs it is available to all users and from anywhere. ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ solutions are easy to implement and are used both in the public and private sectors worldwide.

ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ is built with usability, accessibility and device independency in mind to provide maximum access not only from PCs but also from iPhones and other smartphones including BlackBerry and Android powered phones, iPads, MP3 playing devices, PDAs, Video game consoles, Interactive Internet TVs and Internet booths and kiosks.



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Friday, October 21, 2011

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light:

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light

Were you aware that you could now use your iPhone’s camera flash as an indicator light? Of course you can and here’s how.


Note – This tip works on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S using iOS 5


First go into Accessibility using the Settings app (General > Accessibility). Next, select LED Flash for Alerts and simply turn it on.


LED Setting

LED Setting


Now, whenever you receive a new alert, you’ll see your iPhone’s camera flash blinking as well.


THE APPADVICE APP IS FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME! (AND WE MEAN LIMITED!)

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to download the AppAdvice app. It brings you daily updates on the world of iOS, iPhone, iPad and jailbreak free of charge right to your iDevice - On the App Store now.





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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Review – A Look at Accessibility and VoiceOver in iOS 5

Review – A Look at Accessibility and VoiceOver in iOS 5:

The day has arrived! iOS 5 will be released today for supported iPHone, iPod, and iPad devices. You can find out about the most compelling accessibility enhancements, especially those in VoiceOver in "A Look at Accessibility and VoiceOver in iOS5". We hope this review will be useful and informative.


Accessibility Features in the new iOS 5


Access granted

While we think of iOS devices as extremely easy-to-use, there are plenty of people for whom a touchscreen is less than ideal—especially those folks with disabilities. Apple has made an attempt to improve its devices’ accessibility with each subsequent software release; with iOS 5, the company has made far-reaching enhancements to accessibility across the board.
VoiceOver, first introduced in iOS 3, helps visually-impaired users navigate their iOS device by providing feedback via a synthesized voice and letting them use simplified gestures to interact with the touchscreen without having to see what’s on it. It gets a few improvements in iOS 5, including the addition of a compact voice option that (to my ears, anyway) sounded much better and more human when activated.
There are more options for the Rotor interface as well, including Volume, Hints, Search Fields, and more. In addition, iOS 5 now supports the expanded Eight-dot Braille configuration on Braille displays, and there’s an option for how VoiceOver should navigate images (options include always, with descriptions, and never).
In addition, users can now enable a text-to-speech option by enabling the Speak Selection option under Accessibility. When you select text in any app, a Speak button will then appear over it—tap that, and a computer-generated voice will read the selected text; during the speech, the Speak button will turn into a Pause button.
For the hearing impaired, iOS 5 now offers a Hearing Aid Mode that can improve compatibility with assistive devices, though it also warns it may reduce 2G cellular coverage. Plus, in addition to the Mono Audio capability that’s been around for a while, you can now adjust the balance of audio, even shifting it entirely to either the left or right channels. You can also have incoming calls automatically routed to the iPhone’s headset and speaker (or to the default audio output) and, on the iPhone 4, you can also choose to have the LED Flash blink when an alert goes off. Unfortunately, that feature did not appear to work in my tests—the sound and vibration went off as expected, but the light did not illuminate. Most of the colleagues I polled said they couldn’t get it to work either; one said that though it didn’t work when he first enabled it, it started functioning correctly later on.

Good Vibrations: iOS now supports custom vibration patterns, which can serve as a sort of Caller ID for users with visual impairment.
There’s also a nifty new feature that may even appeal to those who aren’t hearing impaired: custom vibration patterns. In the same way that you can assign a custom ringtone or other alert sound, you can now select a distinct pattern of vibrations. Apple provides a handful—the standard Alert, Heartbeat, Rapid, SOS, and Symphony (Beethoven’s Fifth, if you must know)—but you can also create your own in a nifty interface where you tap out the pattern and record it. You can also assign custom vibration patterns to individual contacts, so you’ll know when your significant other is calling without even taking your phone out of your pocket.

VIP Access: Users with motor impairments can take advantage of iOS's new AssistiveTouch technology to perform complex gestures and actions.
iOS 5 also includes accessibility features for a whole new class of users, those with motor impairment. The new AssistiveTouch feature adds a button that can be docked to one of the screen’s corners or along the sides (though not the bottom or top of the screen). Tapping this button summons an overlay menu that gives access to a variety of the device’s features, including a software Home button, screen rotation, screen locking, volume controls, muting, and device shaking. It also lets users simulate multitouch gestures with a single finger so, for example, you can mimic a two-finger tap, where necessary.
You can also record custom gestures and store them in a Favorites pane in case there are apps that require certain types of multitouch gesture. By default, the Favorites pane includes iOS’s pinch gesture, allowing disabled users to perform it with a single finger.
All in all, the improvements in iOS 5 help make Apple’s devices some of the most accessible to date. But it’s not without limitations. One major shortcoming is any sort of speech-to-text capability, a feature the company recently demonstrated running exclusively on its new iPhone 4S. Given the capability of third-party dictation apps like Dragon Dictation, it’s hard to imagine that the iPhone 4, at least, couldn’t handle systemwide speech-to-text functionality. Providing a system-level dictation feature to more than just users of the latest and greatest device would have been a great help for those users who have trouble typing on their current iOS devices.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Boogie Board Rip goes on pre-order, no more tearing through notepads

Boogie Board Rip goes on pre-order, no more tearing through notepads:


The Boogie Board Rip is now available to pre-order for all your digital sketching needs. The latest stylus-friendly writing tablet from Improv Electronics adds the ability to save notes and sketches, then port them across to your computer as PDFs. Its reflex LCD only uses power when it's wiping the screen, meaning it should squeeze out a week of typical use between charges. You can reserve yours now from the maker in the US and Canada, but at $130, it's pricier than previous storage-free Boogie Boards. Europeans longing for a digital sketch pad can lay a claim to one next week, with the scribbling slate set to ship on November 1st.


Continue reading Boogie Board Rip goes on pre-order, no more tearing through notepads

Boogie Board Rip goes on pre-order, no more tearing through notepads originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cyberdyne HAL robotic arm hands-on (video)

Cyberdyne HAL robotic arm hands-on (video):

Cyberdyne Robotic Arm hands-on



If the name Cyberdyne doesn't immediately ring a bell, its HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) robotic suit sure will. Here at CEATEC, we bumped into these folks who kindly offered to strap us onto their latest prototype arm -- a slightly smaller variant of the one installed on Cyberdyne's current suit. Most of the HAL's main part was strapped to the outer side of our upper arm with velcro, while our wrist was tied to the much smaller extendable piece; both parts were hinged together with a power unit. Additionally, a sensory pad was applied onto our forearm's medial cutaneous nerve (around the elbow area) to pick up our muscular nerve signal -- similarly, Cyberdyne's lower-body exosuit requires two sensors on each leg.



Our HAL was energized as soon as we tensed our arm muscles, so lifting up the tray of four 1.5kg water bottles was a piece of cake consistently throughout the demo -- we even managed it with just our pinky (see video above)! And as soon as Cyberdyne's lovely assistant Fumi turned the dial down, our superhuman powers were instantly taken away. We weren't given any dates or specs for this piece of kit, but if all goes well, we may well see a brand new full-body suit at CES 2012 in January, so stay tuned. Oh, and can someone please get Cyberdyne some WD-40?



Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Cyberdyne HAL robotic arm hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wacom intros new Bamboo line of tablets, carpal tunneled wrists tremble with excitement

Wacom intros new Bamboo line of tablets, carpal tunneled wrists tremble with excitement:


Members of the creative class, your input options have arrived. Wacom, maker of the tablet you've spent countless deadline-driven, bleary-eyed nights slaving over, has outed a trio of updates to its Bamboo line -- each targeted to a particular user profile. At the low-end of this newly introduced range, home office / business users can opt-in for the company's pen-only Bamboo Connect, which'll set you back about $80 for the base goods. But the real enhancements to a graphic designer's best friend comes via the wireless-capable (courtesy of a separate $40 RF dongle) Capture and Create models -- available for $100 and $200, respectively -- that add multi-touch functionality for "gesture-based input such as scrolling [and] zooming." While the latter entry is essentially a luxe, double-sized (and double-priced) version of the Capture, all of the tabs come bundled with a specific suite of PC and Mac-friendly software, and a pressure-sensitive, eraser-tipped pen. You can snag these latest Wacom family members right now, or if your wallet needs more convincing, feel free to peruse the PR after the break.

Continue reading Wacom intros new Bamboo line of tablets, carpal tunneled wrists tremble with excitement

Wacom intros new Bamboo line of tablets, carpal tunneled wrists tremble with excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penclic Mouse pointing device set to roll out in US and Canada

Penclic Mouse pointing device set to roll out in US and Canada:


The Swedish-designed Penclic Mouse has already been making the rounds in Europe for a little while, but it looks like it's now finally ready to make the jump to North America. While there's still no firm word on pricing or availability, Prestige International has confirmed that it will be bringing the device to both the US and Canada, where it will be available at Best Buy, Walmart and other major retailers. As you can probably surmise, the device itself is quite literally a combination pen / mouse (the two pieces remain attached), which the company says provides a "relaxed working position and advanced precision." As in Europe, the device will be available in both wired and wireless versions, and it's Mac and PC compatible. Check out the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Penclic Mouse

Continue reading Penclic Mouse pointing device set to roll out in US and Canada

Penclic Mouse pointing device set to roll out in US and Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon reveals $79 Kindle, ships today!

Amazon reveals $79 Kindle, ships today!:




As if a $199 Kindle Fire wasn't enough, Amazon's also launching a Kindle e-reader that'll dip below triple-digits for the first time. You heard right -- a $79 Kindle. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the company's Kindle line will "start" at the aforesaid price as of today, a marked decrease from the $114 being charged for its lowest end unit earlier in the week. If anything, that's a huge blow for Barnes & Noble, and we're surmising that a reactionary drop will be coming soon in the Nook family if it hopes to keep pace. We've also learned that this guy has ads built right in -- not a shocker given the price, but notable for those who aren't keen on buying a device that continually serves up commercials to justify the lower up-front tally.



Keep up with the unveiling at our liveblog of the Amazon event.



Update: We've added the first commercial video after the break.

Continue reading Amazon reveals $79 Kindle, ships today!

Amazon reveals $79 Kindle, ships today! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st

Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st:


Oddly enough, the Kindle Fire already feels like yesterday's news. Why? Because Amazon won't stop launching new products. Jeff Bezos just revealed the Kindle Touch here in New York City, noting that this guy's using an IR touch system, similar to the latest Nook and Kobo, and there's no keyboard (physical, anyway) to speak of. It's slimmer, smaller and lighter than the existing Kindle, with a muted silver chassis that looks almost nothing like the Kindles of today. The entire user interface has been re-thought out, with "taps" being used in place of buttons. Need another reason to buy? We're told that it's using the company's "most advanced" E Ink display yet, and while no specifics were doled out, "extra long" was the term used to describe battery life. A 3G-enabled model ($149 with free global roaming!) will also be available, with the duo up for pre-order later today and shipments going out on November 21st.



Keep up with the unveiling at our liveblog of the Amazon event.

Continue reading Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st

Amazon launches Kindle Touch and Touch 3G: starts at $99, ships November 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon Kindle Fire tablet unveiled: Android-based, 7-inch display, $199 price tag

Amazon Kindle Fire tablet unveiled: Android-based, 7-inch display, $199 price tag:



Okay, so it wasn't much of a surprise, but Amazon finally has a tablet, and as expected its name picks up where the Kindle left off: Fire. Of course, rumors of an Amazon tablet date back to this time last year (if not before), but it seems that Jeff and co. have wisely chosen to get this thing out on the open market before having yet another wild and wacky holiday quarter. Bloomberg has curiously reported on some of the details before the event itself kicks off, noting that the 7-inch device will run a version of Android while acting much like a "souped-up Kindle." The real kicker, however, is the price -- at just $199, it's bound to turn heads, regardless of whether you were interested in a slate before. Naturally, that bargain-bin sticker explains the lack of an embedded camera and microphone, though consumers will find WiFi (no 3G, sadly) and a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. It's also quite clear that Amazon's hoping to make a bigger splash on the content side of things than has been made already by Apple, and with the deals flowing like wine, we wouldn't be shocked if it does just that.



Update: Itching for specs? How's about a 7-inch IPS (!) panel, Gorilla Glass coating, a dual-core CPU and a chassis that weighs 14.6 ounces. There's also access to things you'd expect to have access to: Android Appstore, Kindle books, magazines, etc. -- all stored for free via Amazon Cloud Storage. Per Jeff: "Delete it and get it back when you want." Oh, and Whispersync now works with movies and TV shows! "When you get home, switch to your big screen TV. Your movie will be right where you left it."



While it's clearly Android underneath, the actual UI looks effectively nothing like it -- considering TechCrunch's intel that Amazon went and did its own thing without Google's blessing, we guess that makes some level of sense. Oh, and pre-orders are set to start today, with shipments heading out on November 15th.



Update 2: We've added the first commercial video after the break.



Keep up with the unveiling at our liveblog of the Amazon event.

Continue reading Amazon Kindle Fire tablet unveiled: Android-based, 7-inch display, $199 price tag

Amazon Kindle Fire tablet unveiled: Android-based, 7-inch display, $199 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, September 26, 2011

Converse Aims To Break The Language Barrier

Converse Aims To Break The Language Barrier:

Converse Aims To Break The Language Barrier


Converse by Riot icon

Converse ($4.99) by Riot converts text from one language to another.


The app uses an Internet connection to translate between: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portugese, and Dutch. The interface is about as simple as it gets. After the loading screen there is a single screen with two keyboards, each having a screen.


Select a language for each side. Typing a message on one side will translate it into the other side’s language. The field allows 60 characters for translation.


The ideal situation for using this app would be two monolingual people sitting across from each other at a table, with the iPad between them.



Converse by Riot screenshot

Life, however, is far from ideal, and the opportunities for using this app seem limited.


A better setup that I can see would be for those trying to learn a new language. The app could be a way to look up words or phrases in the other language, or as a quiz.


Added to the limited usefulness is the lack of user-friendliness.


Since the screen remains in portrait mode, the keyboards for both sides are smaller than if they were in landscape. A bluetooth keyboard isn’t a workaround, either.


Perhaps the biggest keyboard issue, though, is the functionality of the shift button. Don’t get me wrong, you can capitalize or select different punctuation; you just have to hold down the key each time you do it.


Obviously, physical keyboards require the shift button to be held, but this is iOS. Having the shift arrow turn blue is expected. At least you can hold down a letter to see variations for it.


This app could use some additional features, such as keeping a transcript, cut and paste functionality, and allowing for more than 60 characters. Oh, and a proper iOS shift key would be nice, too.









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Everything You Need To Know About “Assistant” – For The iPhone 5

Everything You Need To Know About “Assistant” – For The iPhone 5:

Everything You Need To Know About “Assistant” – For The iPhone 5

It has been a couple of months since 9to5Mac began teasing us with information on an unreleased “Assistant” feature for iOS that Apple is keeping warm for the launch of the iPhone 5. Born from Apple’s acquisition of Siri, the personal assistant app, and an alliance with Nuance, the new Assistant feature is rumored to be very similar, but built right into iOS and with more options. Today, in a well-timed post, 9to5Mac details what they claim is everything they know about it.


Essentially, the new assistant feature will be your own portable version of HAL. It will allow you to interact with your iPhone using your voice and some fancy waveforms on your screen. That is, similarly to Voice Control right now, you’ll be able to use a whole array of keywords and commands to interact with the core features of iOS. The exciting part about it is that your iPhone should be able to respond, and in a way, interact with you like an actual assistant. They point out the system’s ability to find GPS locations, and take you places (which might suggest a built-in GPS navigation app), as well as setting up appointments and reminders. It’s pretty much everything they have already said.


The complexity of the feature will require an iPhone 5 to take advantage of it. The device, they report, will feature Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor as well as, an entire 1GB of RAM. This will further allow for a much better experience with games, and browsing (your tabs will stay open longer).


Whether 9to5Mac is presenting us with actual insider information is questionable. Yet, the picture they paint looks credible enough, and sounds like an obvious evolution of the iPhone hardware, mixed with a couple of months of exciting discoveries from Apple’s developer tools. The hardware improvements, and especially an extended 1GB of RAM will be very beneficial, and really make your iPhone fly. As for “Assistant,” while I’m ready to believe it exists, it sounds very gimmicky at this stage. Without a doubt, it will take a lot of Apple magic to make it a compelling feature, especially knowing the current state of voice recognition engines.


 






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