Blogs

Fingerprint Attack on iphones by UBER app

Nothing is going great for the app based cab service UBER from stealing confidential data of Alphabet’s self driving car project to mistreating employees.

As per the report of The New York Times Uber secretly identified and tagged the iphones if the app has been deleted from the iphone and devices information is erased still Uber could track the iphones .Thus violating the privacy guidelines by Apple.

UBER used the FINGERPRINTING Attack to get the information. They geofenced Apple’s HQ in Cupertino due to which a virtual geographic boundary is created by the means of GPS or RFID technology thus enabling the software to trigger a response when a mobile phone entered or left the said area. Uber then jumble its code for the person who is in that geofenced area by creating a digital lasso around so that it can keep the particular person in dark. This attack could not be detected by the employees at the Apple’s HQ in Cupertino.

As per the report of IAMAI, Delhi stands ahead as the internet ready state

Delhi has topped in the terms of the internet readiness as it has a very competitive position in the areas of IT environment, e-participation and govt. e-services as per the report presented by the industry body IAMAI. Delhi has left behind Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Chandigarh is ranked second with e-infrastructure and e-participation. Third slot has been given to Puducherry for e-infrasructure. Ministry of Electronics & Information technology secretary Aruna Sundararajan said that within 5-6 years India will be ranked in top 5th in connectivity.

The report states that Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra are having the highest number of digital startups.

MEDICAL PRODUCTS AS A PLATFORM FOR AUGMENTED REALITY

When Ivan Sutherland introduced his “ultimate display” in 1965, he thought about a world existing of real and virtual objects that is presented to the observer through his natural perspective, his eyes. Most of todays Augmented Reality solutions still use hardware interfaces that do not follow this most natural form of immersion, e.g. augmented camera views of tablet PCs and smartphones. Anyhow, in the last few years more and more head worn AR interfaces have been created and released. SDKs related to such head mounted displays have inspired thousands of developers to create AR worlds for instance to enhance industrial tasks or make cultural experiences more interactive and appealing.

However, it is extremely difficult to introduce these devices to the medical world, in particular to intra-operative tasks that require high quality standards of medical products. One could go all the way to certify a device, such as Hololens and comparable hardware, as a medical product. This is certainly a commendable and important approach, which will happen once the benefit for patient treatment has been proven and usability and robustness has reached a level to become accepted in a high performance working environment such as operating theaters.

Another approach is the usage of existing medical products as a platform, which is extended by Augmented Reality functionality, e.g. endoscopes or microscopes. Endoscopic cameras are highly used for many types of minimally invasive surgeries to minimize tissue damages and reach anatomical areas, which are difficult to be accessed in open procedures. Furthermore, reality is captured as digital video data. For this reason, the Augmented Reality scene benefits from all advantages of a video see-through (vs. optical see-through) approach, having been discussed widely in the literature. This includes for instances the synchronization of real and virtual objects ensuring a geometrically correct overlay in any situation. There has been an interview with the company SCOPIS, which has been published some time ago on this blog. SCOPIS is a good example of augmenting the endoscopic video data with 3D planning information, registered with the 3D intraoperative anatomy of the patient.

Beside endoscope cameras also operating microscopes are well established in today’s operating theatres e.g. in the field of neurosurgery. Microscopes are getting even closer to Ivan Sutherland’s vision of an “ultimate display”, presenting the Augmented Reality scene from the user’s natural perspective.Wolfgang Birkfellner and Eddie Edwards have introcudes groundbreaking research in this application field some years ago. However, microscopes are today still pure analog, optical devices, which means that surgeons see a magnified situs through a set of optical lenses. In fact, medical device companies such as Brainlab have started integrating Augmented Reality supported navigation systems into these optical see-through devices.

In order to take full advantage of augmented microscopic views a video see-through device would be a much better platform for augmented reality based navigation software (e.g. registration, synchronization, image composition).
Recently, the company ARRI has released the first video see-through operating microscope. The digitalization of the real world with high quality stereo cameras and optics in combination with surgical applications being characterized by complex anatomical structures, availability of 3D imaging data (CT and MRI), preoperative planning procedures can be a perfect match to develop Augmented Reality software solutions that bring a real benefit for patient treatment.

Drones recognise and follow forest trails in search of lost people

A team of Swiss researchers have taught drones to recognise and follow forest trails. This research unlocks applications of drones for search and rescue in wilderness. The researchhas been published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and will be presented in May at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Stockholm.
Every year people get lost in the wild worldwide. In Switzerland alone, around 1000 emergency calls per year come from hikers, most of whom are injured or have lost their way. Drones are an efficient complement to human rescuers and can be deployed in large numbers, are inexpensive and prompt, and thus minimise the response time and the risk of injury for those who are lost or work in rescue teams.

A group of Swiss researchers from the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the University of Zurich and NCCR Robotics has developed Artificial Intelligence software to teach a small quadrocopter to recognise and follow forest trails. This research is a premiere in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics and could soon be used in parallel with rescue teams to search for people lost in the wild faster than would be achievable by human rescuers alone.

“While drones flying at high altitudes are already being used commercially (see Amazon or DHL), drones cannot yet fly autonomously in complex environments, such as dense forests. In these environments, any little error may result in a crash, and robots need a powerful brain in order to make sense of the complex world around them.”, says Prof. Davide Scaramuzza from the University of Zurich.

The drone used by the Swiss researchers observes the environment through a pair of small cameras, similar to those in your smartphone. Instead of relying on sophisticated sensors, their drone uses very powerful artificial-intelligence algorithms to interpret the images to recognise man-made trails. If a trail is visible, the software steers the drone in the corresponding direction.

A team of Swiss researchers have taught drones to recognise and follow forest trails. This research unlocks applications of drones for search and rescue in wilderness. The researchhas been published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and will be presented in May at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Stockholm.

Every year people get lost in the wild worldwide. In Switzerland alone, around 1000 emergency calls per year come from hikers, most of whom are injured or have lost their way. Drones are an efficient complement to human rescuers and can be deployed in large numbers, are inexpensive and prompt, and thus minimise the response time and the risk of injury for those who are lost or work in rescue teams.

A group of Swiss researchers from the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence, theUniversity of Zurich and NCCR Robotics has developed Artificial Intelligence software to teach a small quadrocopter to recognise and follow forest trails. This research is a premiere in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics and could soon be used in parallel with rescue teams to search for people lost in the wild faster than would be achievable by human rescuers alone.

“While drones flying at high altitudes are already being used commercially (see Amazon or DHL), drones cannot yet fly autonomously in complex environments, such as dense forests. In these environments, any little error may result in a crash, and robots need a powerful brain in order to make sense of the complex world around them.”, says Prof. Davide Scaramuzza from the University of Zurich.

The drone used by the Swiss researchers observes the environment through a pair of small cameras, similar to those in your smartphone. Instead of relying on sophisticated sensors, their drone uses very powerful artificial-intelligence algorithms to interpret the images to recognise man-made trails. If a trail is visible, the software steers the drone in the corresponding direction.
Interpreting an image taken in a complex environment such as a forest is incredibly difficult for a computer; sometimes even humans struggle to find out where the trail is!”, says Dr. Alessandro Giusti from “Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence”.

The Swiss team solved the problem using a so-called Deep Neural Network, a computer algorithm that learns to solve complex tasks from a set of “training examples”, much like a brain learns from experience. In order to gather enough data to “train” their algorithms, the team hiked several hours along different trails in the Swiss Alps and took more than 20 thousand images of trails using cameras attached to a helmet. The effort paid off: when tested on a new, previously-unseen trail, the deep neural network was able to find the correct direction in 85% of cases; in comparison, humans faced with the same task guessed correctly 82% of the time.

Advantages of Virtual Reality in Medicines

Virtual reality is used in many areas of healthcare which range from diagnosis, treatment, e.g. surgery, rehab and counselling. It is also used to train the next generation of doctors, paramedics and other medical personnel and has shown a range of benefits from doing so.
So what are the advantages of virtual reality in healthcare? There are several which are related to medical/surgical training, preventative medicine, counselling and architectural design of new hospitals.

Virtual reality medical training

Let’s start with virtual reality as a means of training healthcare professionals. It is used in medical schools and other similar settings as a means of education and instruction. It enables medical students to acquire knowledge and understanding about the human body by means of interaction within a virtual environment.
Medical students can perform ‘hands on’ procedures but in a safe and controlled setting. They are able to make mistakes – and learn from them but in an environment where there is no risk to the patient. They interact with a virtual patient and as a result of this, learn skills which they can then apply in the real world.

Virtual reality dentistry

But virtual reality isn’t only confined to medical schools. Dentistry is another area in which it plays a part. For example, there is a system known as ‘HapTEL’ which is based upon haptics (Greek for touch) in order to train new dentists. This virtual dental chair includes a training scenario in which the student is shown a 3D set of teeth that they work on.
They perform a range of procedures, e.g. a filling using a virtual drill which replicates the movement and pressure of a real drill by means of force feedback. This feedback takes the form of subtle changes of pressure which enables the student to adjust their technique accordingly.
This is discussed further in our virtual reality in dentistry article.

Virtual reality and paramedic training

It is also used to train paramedics and other similar personnel who need to learn life saving skills but without placing themselves and their patients at risk. They are able to do this by interaction with a simulated accident or emergency in a virtual environment but with minimal risk. These scenarios are realistic and enable them experience a high pressure situation and respond accordingly.

Virtual reality preventative medicine

Virtual reality is used to educate patients about positive lifestyle choices, such as stopping smoking, moderate alcohol intake, healthy eating and exercise. There is an emphasis on educating people to make positive changes about their health which will reduce the risk of illnesses, many of which are preventative.
Both desktop and fully immersive CAVE systems can be used to demonstrate the effects of negative lifestyle choices, e.g. smoking on health with the aim of changing people’s behaviour.

Virtual reality counselling

Counselling is another area where virtual reality has been utilised. A classic example is phobia treatment, for example a fear of public speaking where the sufferer is able to learn skills and build up their confidence in a virtual environment.

This is discussed in greater detail in our virtual reality in phobia treatment article.
It also used to treat people who have developed post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a life threatening situation. One example is that of soldiers who have served on the front line in Afghanistan and have become traumatised as a result. They are taught a range of techniques for dealing with the symptoms of their condition using virtual reality. This takes the form of a pair of virtual reality glasses or head mounted display (HMD), data glove and input device, e.g. joystick.

Find out more in our virtual reality treatment for PTSD article.

Virtual reality architectural design

Virtual reality is used by architects and the construction industry to design and test new buildings. It enables them to walkthrough a virtual model in order to evaluate this which saves both time and money.
One example of this is the design and build of a new clinic which can be explored using a virtual reality headset, data glove and input device. The user moves around the building in the same way they would in the real world and are able to assess various aspects whilst they do so. This is a safe and controlled way of doing so which is also cost effective.

To summarise: the main benefits of virtual reality in medicine include:

  • Safety
  • Time
  • Money
  • Ability to re-use on a regular basis/skills refresh
  • Can be used remotely
  • Efficiency
  • Realistic
  • These benefits appear in many of the individual articles related to this section.

Flying Insect like robot – RoboBee by Harvard University

As engineers and scientists collaborate to design ever more sophisticated aerial robots, nature has been a constant source of inspiration, with flying insects, birds and mammals providing valuable insights on how to get airborne.
Recently, a robotics team at Harvard University developed a method that would allow their insect-size flying robot — dubbed “RoboBee” — to conserve energy midflight, much as bees, bats and birds do.

By attaching a shock-absorbing mount and a patch that conducts electricity, the researchers were able to direct the tiny robot to perch on a variety of surfaces and then take off again. When activated, the electrical charge held RoboBee in place, much like how a balloon will stick to a wall after you rub it against a wool sweater. Terminating the charge enabled the robot to detach from the surface and fly away.

RoboBee is about the size and weight of an actual bee — about 0.004 ounces (100 milligrams) and 0.8 inches (20 millimeters) tall, with a wingspan of 1.4 inches (36 millimeters), according to the study’s lead author, Moritz Graule, who conducted his research as a student at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (WIBIE) at Harvard University.
Thin copper wires send control signals and power to the robot body, and the wings can move independently and are driven by “artificial flight muscles,” Graule told Live Science in an email.

Flight of the RoboBee
The robot originally made its debut in 2013, in a study published May 3 in the journal Science. It was the first robotic insect that was capable of hovering, Graule said, and it was modified for the new study to allow it to land midflight.

Why would a flying drone need to perch? For much the same reason that flying animals pause during their flights — to conserve energy.

“Many applications for small drones require them to stay in the air for extended periods,” Graule said. “Unfortunately, today’s flying microrobots run out of energy quickly (approximately 10 to 30 minutes). We want to keep them aloft longer without draining too much energy.”

While RoboBee’s flying technique closely mimics the biomechanics of insect flight, finding a method that would allow the robot to perch on different surfaces required an approach that didn’t follow natural models as closely, Graule said. Animals use adhesives or gripping mechanisms to hold themselves in place, but those weren’t practical choices for such a tiny robot, according to the researchers.

The solution was electrostatic adhesion. The scientists attached an electrode patch to the top of RoboBee, which could be charged to create an attraction to a target surface. RoboBee would fly up toward a target, and at contact, the charge would be activated. Small pulses of energy kept the robot “stuck,” and turning off the charge allowed RoboBee to easily drop off and continue on its merry way.