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Ubiquitous computing is a concept in software engineering, hardware engineering and computer science where computing is made to appear seamlessly anytime and everywhere. In contrast to desktop computing, ubiquitous computing implies use on any device, in any location, and in any format. A user interacts with the computer, which can exist in many different forms, including laptop computers, tablets, smart phones and terminals in everyday objects such as a refrigerator or a pair of glasses. The underlying technologies to support ubiquitous computing include the Internet, advanced middleware, operating systems, mobile codes, sensors, microprocessors, new I/Os and user interfaces, computer networks, mobile protocols, global navigational systems, and new materials.
Speech synthesis is the artificial production of human speech. A computer system used for this purpose is called a speech synthesizer, and can be implemented in software or hardware products. A text-to-speech (TTS) system converts normal language text into speech; other systems render symbolic linguistic representations like phonetic transcriptions into speech. The reverse process is speech recognition.
SRI International (SRI) is an American nonprofit scientific research institute and organization headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The trustees of Stanford University established SRI in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic development in the region.
The Mego Corporation is an American toy company that in its original iteration was first founded in 1954. Originally known as a purveyor of dime store toys, in 1971 the company shifted direction and became famous for producing licensed action figures, celebrity dolls, and the Micronauts toy line. For a time in the 1970s, their line of 8-inch-scale action figures with interchangeable bodies became the industry standard.
George Robert Stibitz was an American researcher at Bell Labs who is internationally recognized as one of the fathers of the modern digital computer. He was known for his work in the 1930s and 1940s on the realization of Boolean logic digital circuits using electromechanical relays as the switching element.
Actroid is a type of android with strong visual human-likeness developed by Osaka University and manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd.. It was first unveiled at the 2003 International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. Several different versions of the product have been produced since then. In most cases, the robot's appearance has been modeled after an average young woman of Japanese descent.
Fischertechnik is a brand of construction toy. It was invented by Artur Fischer and is produced by fischertechnik GmbH in Waldachtal, Germany. Fans often refer to Fischertechnik as "FT" or "ft". It is used in education for teaching about simple machines, as well as motorization and mechanisms. The company also offers computer interface technology, which can be used to teach the theory of automation and robotics.
Rosalind Wright Picard is an American scholar and inventor who is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, founder and director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the MIT Media Lab, and co-founder of the startups Affectiva and Empatica.
2-XL is an educational toy robot that was marketed from 1978–1981 by the Mego Corporation, and from 1992–1995 by Tiger Electronics. 2-XL was the first "smart-toy" in that it exhibited rudimentary intelligence, memory, gameplay, and responsiveness. 2-XL was infused with a "personality" that kept kids focused and challenged as they interacted with the verbal robot. Learning was enhanced via the use of jokes and funny sayings as verbal reinforcements for performance. 2-XL was heralded as an important step in the development of toys, particularly educational ones. 2-XL won many awards, and Playthings, a toy industry magazine, placed 2-XL on its 75th anniversary cover as one of the industry's top-ten toys of all time. The 2-XL name is a pun of the phrase "to excel".
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The history of robots has its origins in the ancient world. During the industrial revolution, humans developed the structural engineering capability to control electricity so that machines could be powered with small motors. In the early 20th century, the notion of a humanoid machine was developed.
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Lego Education is a Lego theme designed specifically for schools that concentrates sets that can be used by education institutions and includes sets that can focus on Duplo and Technic themes and contain larger amounts of blocks. The theme was first introduced in 1999.
Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots.
Educational robotics teaches the design, analysis, application and operation of robots. Robots include articulated robots, mobile robots or autonomous vehicles. Educational robotics can be taught from elementary school to graduate programs. Robotics may also be used to motivate and facilitate the instruction other, often foundational, topics such as computer programming, artificial intelligence or engineering design.
Kasey the Kinderbot is an educational toy learning system designed, developed, and sold by Fisher-Price, a wholly owned division of the Mattel Corporation, nominated for the Educational Toy of the Year award in 2002. Because of its strong commercial sales, Kasey was reported as an important item in the balance sheet of Fisher-Price.
Michael J. Freeman is an American inventor who works in trend analysis, advanced behavioral systems, programming of smart toys, cable television and robotics. He was a professor at three American universities and a consultant to business and governments.
Fred D'Ignazio is an American author, educator, and television commentator. He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and is considered to be one of the world's leading pioneers in multimedia-based education. From 1972 to 1976, he was an assistant editor for The Futurist magazine published by the World Future Society. In the 1980s and 1990s he was an associate editor and columnist for COMPUTE! and COMPUTE!'s Gazette and a technology commentator on ABC's Good Morning America. He is also the author of over 20 non-fiction books on science and technology, as well as a series of juvenile science fiction novels.
Marina Umaschi Bers is the Augustus Long Professor of Education at Boston College. Bers holds a secondary appointment in Boston College's Department of Computer Science. Bers directs the interdisciplinary DevTech Research Group, which she started in 2001 at Tufts University. Her research involves the design and study of innovative learning technologies to promote children's positive development. She is known for her work in the field of early childhood computer science with projects of national and international visibility. Bers is the co-creator of the free ScratchJr programming language, used by 35 million children, and the creator of the KIBO robotic kit, which has no screens or keyboards.
References
- ↑ "1960 - Rudy the Robot - Michael Freeman (American)". cyberneticzoo.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
- ↑ The Futurist. World Future Society. 1978. pp. 152, 357, 359, 360, 361.
- ↑ "World of 2-XL: Leachim". www.2xlrobot.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
- ↑ Maccarone, Grace; Krulik, Nancy E.; Epstein, Jolie (1985-04-01). Real Robots. Scholastic Paperbacks (T). p. 27. ISBN 9780590402668.
- ↑ Krasnoff, Barbara (1982). Robots, reel to real. Arco Pub. p. 118. ISBN 9780668051392.
- 1 2 New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. 1979-07-30.
- ↑ "16.4.2 - Robots and Robotics". www.xenology.info. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ↑ Gibson, Janice T.; Gibson-Cline, Janice (1980). Psychology for the classroom. Prentice-Hall. ISBN 9780137333523.
- ↑ "Lloyd's Is Offering $7,500 for Return Of Purloined Robot". The New York Times. 1975-07-17. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ↑ Reichardt, Jasia (1978). Robots: fact, fiction, and prediction. Viking Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780670601561.
- ↑ The P.T.A. Magazine: National Parent Teacher. Child Welfare Company. 1972.
- ↑ "Remembering the First Smart Toy: 2-XL". mentalfloss.com. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2019-06-01.