domenica, 05 luglio 2009

WELCOMEUROPE TRAINING COURSES

training welcomeurope
by welcomeurope

postato da oscarboscaro alle ore 14:30 | link | commenti
categorie: research, european commission, welcomeurope

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sabato, 04 luglio 2009

Whiskered robot rat gives tactile sensing a boost

http://cordis.europa.eu/

Date 2009-07-02

Whiskers are an integral component of a rat's life. Without them, rats would have a hard time navigating in their world, as well as orientating and balancing themselves. Now scientists from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) - a partnership between the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol (UoB) - in the UK have developed the innovative 'SCRATCHbot' robot rat that is able to search and identify objects by using its whiskers.

SCRATCHbot is part of the EU-funded ICEA ('Integrating cognition, emotion and autonomy') project, which falls under the Sixth Framework Programme's (FP6) 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area. Financial support for the project amounts to EUR 5.8 million. ICEA, which will end in December 2009, is targeting the development of biologically inspired artificial intelligence systems.

'Our project has reached a significant milestone in the development of actively-controlled, whisker-like sensors for intelligent machines,' explained Professor Prescott from the Department of Psychology at the UK's University of Sheffield. Professor Prescott is cooperating with the BRL to design artificial touch technologies for robots that will fuel our understanding of how the human brain controls the sensory systems' movements.

'Although touch sensors are already employed in robots, the use of touch as a principal modality has been overlooked until now,' he pointed out. 'By developing these biomimetic [i.e. nature-mimicking] robots, we are not just designing novel touch-sensing devices, but also making a real contribution to understanding the biology of tactile sensing.'

The scientists were encouraged to develop the innovative technology by looking at how animals use touch in their environment. Nocturnal creatures (animals that become active during the night) benefit immensely from this physical sense because their vision is limited in the dark and in poorly-lit areas.

Rats are nocturnal by nature; they effectively use their whiskers to explore their surroundings. By using precise rhythmic sweeping movements of their whiskers, they can accurately determine the shape, position and texture of objects, according to the scientists. Once this happens, they can then use the information to develop environmental maps.

From a conventional standpoint, vision is a key component for robots when they need to identify objects. This new technology is unique in that it depends exclusively on sophisticated touch technology. The robot is able to operate in spaces where the use of vision is not possible, such as smoke-filled rooms.

'For a long time, vision has been the biological sensory modality most studied by scientists. But active touch sensing is a key focus for those of us looking at biological systems which have implications for robotics research,' said Dr Tony Pipe from the Department of School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UWE Bristol and BRL.

'Sensory systems such as rats' whiskers have some particular advantages in this area. In humans, for example, where sensors are at the fingertips, they are more vulnerable to damage and injury than whiskers,' he added. 'Rats have the ability to operate with damaged whiskers, and in theory broken whiskers on robots could be easily replaced without affecting the whole robot and its expensive engineering.'

The future looks bright. The scientists highlighted how the new technology has the potential for a number of further applications where vision is seriously limited. 'Future applications for this technology could include using robots underground, under the sea, or in extremely dusty conditions, where vision is often a seriously compromised sensory modality,' Dr Pipe underlined. 'This research builds on previous work we have done on whisker sensing.'

SCRATCHbot is now being presented at a global workshop that is studying how robots can help humans understand the brain's mechanics.

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

University of the West of England Bristol:
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/

Bristol Robotics Laboratory:
http://www.brl.ac.uk/index.html

ICEA:
http://www.iceaproject.eu/

Remarks:

Category:Project results

Data Source Provider:University of the West of England Bristol

Document of reference:Based on information from the University of the West of England Bristol

Subject index:Coordination, Cooperation,Electronics, Microelectronics,Information and communication technology applications ,Information Processing, Information Systems,Innovation, Technology Transfer,Materials Technology,Robotics,Scientific Research

Programme Acronym: MS-UK C , FP6-IST

Related News: Robots and scientists thinking together

Record control number (RCN):30979

postato da oscarboscaro alle ore 10:04 | link | commenti
categorie: research, european commission, collaboration, fp6

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sabato, 04 luglio 2009

Design of a new visual identity for the Information Society Website

http://ec.europa.eu/

Deadline: 19 August 2009

(03/07/2009) The purpose of this service contract is to design a new visual identity for the Information Society website (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society) and to develop a range of html templates and related cascading style sheets based on the new visual identity

Planned Timing

15 July 2009 : Launch of the negotiated procedure
19 August 2009 : Close of the negotiated procedure submission
11 September 2009 : Completion of the negotiated procedure
30 September 2009 : Start of contract
28 April 2010 : End of contract

Additional Information

Contact:

Linda Jones

postato da oscarboscaro alle ore 10:01 | link | commenti
categorie: web , ict , european commission

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venerdì, 03 luglio 2009

Potential benefits and analysis of potential obstacles of wider implementation of RFID solutions in healthcare delivery system

http://ec.europa.eu/

2 July 2009

The E.C. commissioned a "Study on the requirements and options for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) application in healthcare". The final report provides an assessment of the main drivers, obstacles and uncertainties surrounding the deployment of RFID in healthcare in Europe. It identifies the most promising RFID applications in the healthcare delivery domain by reviewing the costs and benefits, as far as possible, and assessing enablers and obstacles to full deployment of RFID. Finally, the report provides an evaluation of the current market for RFID in healthcare in Europe and its future potential.

Get this document

Additional Information

Contact:

ehealth@ec.europa.eu

postato da oscarboscaro alle ore 19:06 | link | commenti
categorie: ict , rfid, european commission

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venerdì, 03 luglio 2009

QUELLI DELLA VITA SPESA A FARE LA SPESA

“Quelli della vita spesa a fare la spesa” cosi gli adepti dalle scienze sociali pensano i Consumatori.

Dicono: con questo fare avete dato senso al vivere , avete inquinato, lacerato le relazioni umane; pressappoco rimbambiti.

La vita spesa a fare la spesa così ci vogliono gli adepti della scienze economiche; pressappoco idonei per generare, con questo fare, il 70% della ricchezza che circola, anzi circolava.

Una iniqua distribuzione di questa ricchezza però ha reso i redditi insufficienti per continuare a vivere quella vita ed esercitare quella spesa fino alla crisi.

Per uscire da questa maledetta crisi ci viene caldamente raccomandato di tornare a fare la spesa per tutta la vita.

Questo tormentone allude, illude, illumina.

Allude al contributo fornito dai Consumatori alla crescita economica.

Illude sulla possibilità di creare indefinitamente ricchezza, magari, con il debito.

Illumina sulla improrogabilità che venga retribuito quell’esercizio di spesa per garantire la crescita. Si, la crescita a cui nessuno sembra voler sottrarsi, neanche quelli che scherniscono il nostro vizio di consumare.

Mauro Artibani

Per approfondire il tema trattato: PROFESSIONE CONSUMATORE

Paoletti D’Isidori Capponi Editori

Marzo 2009

www.professionalconsumer.splinder.com

www.professioneconsumatore.org

postato da prosumer alle ore 09:40 | link | commenti
categorie: consumi, crisi

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giovedì, 02 luglio 2009

Commission updates rules for state funding of public broadcasters

http://ec.europa.eu/

(02/07/2009) - The European Commission has adopted a new Communication on state aid for the funding of public service broadcasters. The Communication provides a clear framework for the development of public broadcasting services and enhances legal certainty for investment by public and private media alike. The new Communication replaces the Commission’s 2001 Broadcasting Communication. Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said: "One of the Commission's main objectives is to preserve a vibrant media landscape in the online environment, notably by ensuring that online offers of public broadcasters do not distort competition to the detriment of offers from online services and print media."

Go to related site

Additional Information

Commission Press Room: IP/09/1072

postato da oscarboscaro alle ore 23:10 | link | commenti (1)
categorie: ict , viviane reding, european commission

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Chi sono

Nome: OSCAR BOSCARO

Oscar Boscaro. Mi sono imbattuto in questo BLOG semplicemente per poter collaborare assieme a tutta la BLOGSFERA sulle INNOVAZIONI, per dare il mio contributo ad una ITALIA che possa Rialzarsi facendo capire al Mondo intero quanto può valere l'impegno distribuito di Tutti, perchè la INTELLIGENZA COLLETTIVA crea SVILUPPO

Oscar Boscaro

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