People moving in and out of photographs used to be reserved for the world of Harry Potter. But now computer scientists at the University of Washington have brought that magic to real life. Their algorithm, Photo Wake-Up, can take a person from a 2D photo or a work of art and make them run, walk or […]
Children Describe Technology That Gives Them a Sense of Ambiguity as ‘Creepy’
Many parents express concerns about privacy and online safety in technology designed for their children. But we know much less about what children themselves find concerning in emerging technologies. Now University of Washington researchers have defined for the first time what children mean when they say technology is “creepy.” Kids in a new study described […]
Alexa, Be My Friend: Children Talk To Technology, But How Does It Respond?
You ask Alexa to play a song, Siri for the weather or the Google Assistant to make a call. But what happens when your toddler asks a voice-activated device a question? Your daughter pauses, stammers, mispronounces a few words. She’s a beginner, after all. In return: Silence. Or the familiar, default robot apology. For such […]
And Then There Was (More) Light: Researchers Boost Performance Quality Of Perovskites
Solar cells need to slim down. Solar cells are devices that absorb photons from sunlight and convert their energy to move electrons — enabling the production of clean energy and providing a dependable route to help combat climate change. But most solar cells used widely today are thick, fragile and stiff, which limits their application […]
The First Wireless Flying Robotic Insect Takes Off
Insect-sized flying robots could help with time-consuming tasks like surveying crop growth on large farms or sniffing out gas leaks. These robots soar by fluttering tiny wings because they are too small to use propellers, like those seen on their larger drone cousins. Small size is advantageous: These robots are cheap to make and can […]
Researchers Achieve HD Video Streaming At 10,000 Times Lower Power
Wearable cameras such as Snap Spectacles promise to share videos of live concerts or surgeries instantaneously with the world. But because these cameras must use smaller batteries to stay lightweight and functional, these devices can’t perform high-definition video streaming. Now, engineers at the University of Washington have developed a new HD video streaming method that […]
Using A Laser To Wirelessly Charge A Smartphone Safely Across A Room
Although mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones let us communicate, work and access information wirelessly, their batteries must still be charged by plugging them in to an outlet. But engineers at the University of Washington have for the first time developed a method to safely charge a smartphone wirelessly using a laser. As the […]
Hybrid Optics Bring Color Imaging Using Ultrathin Metalenses Into Focus
For photographers and scientists, lenses are lifesavers. They reflect and refract light, making possible the imaging systems that drive discovery through the microscope and preserve history through cameras. But today’s glass-based lenses are bulky and resist miniaturization. Next-generation technologies, such as ultrathin cameras or tiny microscopes, require lenses made of a new array of materials. […]
UW Reality Lab Launches With $6M From Tech Companies To Advance Augmented And Virtual Reality Research
The University of Washington is launching a new augmented and virtual reality research center — funded by Facebook, Google, and Huawei — to accelerate innovation in the field and educate the next generation of researchers and practitioners. The $6 million UW Reality Lab, funded with equal contributions from the three initial sponsors, creates one of the […]
Flexible ‘Skin’ Could Help Robots, Prosthetics Sense Shear Force
If a robot is sent to disable a roadside bomb — or delicately handle an egg while cooking you an omelet — it needs to be able to sense when objects are slipping out of its grasp. Yet to date it’s been difficult or impossible for most robotic and prosthetic hands to accurately sense the […]