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#TechTuesday: Electric Trucks, USB HIV Diagnosis and the Dyson University

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B-Reel help launch the world’s first 'Dimensioning Instrument'

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Creative agency B-Reel has helped launch the first product from innovation start-up InstruMMents; a company founded by the creators of fitness and lifestyle tracker Misfit Shine. Heralded as the world’s first “Dimensioning Instrument,” the “01” device, which was fully funded in less than 24 hours via Indiegogo, is a compact handheld gadget that can measure almost anything; 01 rolls over straight, curved or contoured objects to intuitively capture, log, and share dimensions. Elegantly carved in aluminium, 01 is contained within a pen, pencil or stylus, and wirelessly connects to smartphones. The InstruMMents team, a collective of veterans in device and software development, wanted to tackle to problem of archaic measuring methods. 01 uses a proprietary multi-sensor system, requires only one hand to dimension, and is the only such device in the world that works on 3D surfaces. Used to de-sign buildings, fit clothes or hang pictures, it helps makers and weekend decorators intuitively capture linear or contoured lengths. Users can also log, search, and share dimensions using the InstruMMents iOS and Android apps.

There is a dire need to rethink how we capture and use dimensions. Measuring tape, for example, hasn’t really changed since its creation in 1860” InstruMMents founder and CEO, Mladen Barbaric

As well as using their expertise to create InstuMMents product launch film, B-Reel were also tasked with developing their brand and product positioning, tone of voice, social content strategy and concept. Davor Krvavac, Creative Director at B-Reel, said: “When we first started to look into this, it dawned on us very quickly that measuring is one of humanity’s most fundamental methods. It’s the first step to understanding stuff, whether you’re smashing particles or choosing a piece of flat pack furniture for your daughter’s room. This product sets a new paradigm in how we measure things and as such it required a new language to describe it. Our whole approach focused on this shift from measuring to dimensioning.”

 

The Charge Electric Truck that can be built in just 4 hours!

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British automotive company Charge has unveiled its vision for what it calls the “Future of electric trucks,” with an autonomous vehicle that can reportedly be assembled in just four hours! The Charge truck, created with funds from Russian investment firm Kinetik, was unveiled at the Wired 2016 conference last week as an alternative to lorries that are currently on the road, with the company aiming to create a more affordable model of truck that was both safer and better for the environment. The vehicles are built from ultra-lightweight composite materials and custom-built hardware, including the electronics and motors. The company claims this alone will reduce operation costs by more than 50%. It says the truck will be so easy to assemble that one person can do it in four hours. All vehicles are capable of driving autonomously. They receive over-the-air updates like a smartphone would. The trucks are emission-free for the first 100 miles (160 kilometres) of the journey, but for longer journeys a dual mode can be used to extend the range to 500 miles (805 kilometres). The company is planning to open its first factory by the end of 2017 near its current headquarters in Oxfordshire and it expects the vehicles to be on the road soon after.

We find trucks today totally unacceptable. We are removing all the barriers to entry for electric vehicles by pricing them in line with conventional trucks” Kinetik CEO, Denis Sverdlov

 

The USB Stick that diagnoses HIV in 30 minutes

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A group of scientists have developed a home HIV testing kit that speeds up diagnosis and allows patients to monitor their own treatment. The teams from Imperial College London and DNA Electronics worked together to create the USB stick, which uses a drop of blood to detect HIV. If the HIV virus is present, the acidity of the sample will change, triggering an electrical signal that can be read by a computer, laptop or handheld device. The initial research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has shown the device to be very accurate. Among the 991 blood samples tested, the technology was accurate 95% of the time. The device also drastically reduces the amount of time the testing process takes. While current tests take at least three days, the USB stick can produce a result in under 30 minutes. It also means that the level of HIV in the blood stream can be regularly monitored, allowing professionals to see if the virus developed a resistance to the prescribed drugs. Being able to regularly monitor the viral levels also enables healthcare professionals to check if the patient is taking their medication, as stopping medication has been reported to cause HIV drug-resistance.

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Graham Cooke, senior author of the research, from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College, said: “HIV treatment has dramatically improved over the last 20 years, to the point that many diagnosed with the infection now have a normal life expectancy. However, monitoring viral load is crucial to the success of HIV treatment.” The team believe the stick could be particularly beneficial in remote regions of sub-Saharan Africa, where people may not have easy access to testing facilities. They are also investigating whether the device can be used to test for other viruses, such as hepatitis. The USB stick is similar to a smartphone dongle developed by Columbia Engineering researchers last year. It can simultaneously detect HIV and syphilis within minutes.

 

Phrasee claim dual honours at inaugural UK Business Awards

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Artificial intelligence-based marketing technology firm Phrasee was judged as the “Best New Business” and CEO Parry Malm as “Tech Entrepreneur of the Year” at the inaugural UK Business Awards, held on November 14th, 2016 in London. Phrasee launched in February, 2015, and now employees 15 people at their headquarters in Putney, London. Their software uses AI to write better marketing language than humans, and they boast a who’s who of large global brands on their client roster. In July 2016, Phrasee closed a £1m seed funding round, led by Next 15 PLC. It was the first venture capital investment in the UK’s technology sector after the Brexit referendum. Malm said of his company's victory: “London’s tech economy is galvanising the country’s confidence, and we’re proud to be trailblazing the UK’s path towards entrepreneurship and tech innovation.” Of his own personal victory, he added: “I’m humbled to be selected as the UK’s top tech entrepreneur for 2016. It’s a testament to one thing, and one thing alone; my ability to surround myself with awesome people. This trophy is reflective of their talent, not mine.”

 

James Dyson invests £15 million in University to tackle engineering skills gap

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James Dyson is set to launch a university to bridge the UK’s engineering skills gap, offering aspiring engineers an alternative to a traditional university degree. The Dyson Institute of Technology will offer engineering degrees, and is to be based at Dyson’s recently expanded Research and Development Campus in Wiltshire. The announcement comes as Dyson has revealed it is looking to double its engineering team by 2020, and will be investing £15 million in the university over the next five years. The four-year degree includes an academic learning element, initially delivered by the University of Warwick, while the Institute applies to the Department of Education for its own degree-awarding powers.

I know there are many people out there who are as obsessive about engineering as I am. Therefore, why not get stuck into an engineering job straight from school?” James Dyson

Alongside theoretical modules, students will get practical experience developing Dyson products and working alongside the company’s 3,000-strong existing engineering team. Students will also graduate from the course debt-free, having earned a salary throughout, and with the prospect of earning a full graduate wage. Applications for the Dyson Institute of Technology opened this week, with courses due to start from September 2017. James Dyson, said: “The UK’s skills shortage is holding Dyson back as we look to increase the amount of technology we develop and export from the UK. We are taking matters into our own hands. The new degree course offers academic theory, a real-world job and salary, and access to experts in their field.”

 

Adobe purchase TubeMogul for $540 million

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Adobe announced last Thursday (November 10) that it would be buying out advertising company TubeMogul for about $540 million, net of debt and cash, giving it a bigger presence in the rapidly growing online video market. The deal will help Adobe add an ad buying platform to its digital marketing unit, which offers tools for businesses to analyse customer interactions and manage social media content. Facebook, Google and Twitter Inc have all been betting big on video over the past year, a format where advertisers are willing to pay a premium for a few seconds of users’ undivided attention. Adobe said the acquisition would not have an impact on its adjusted earnings in the year ending December 2017.

Whether it’s episodic TV, indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, video consumption is exploding across every device and brands are following those eyeballs” Brad Rencher, Adobe’s EVP of Digital Marketing

 

Apple Watch turned into a camera thanks to third-party band

Apple Watch wearers can now take photos with a flick of the wrist using the CMRA watch band. Produced by visual communication company Glide with input from global design consultancy IDEO, the CMRA band has two HD cameras for capturing photos and videos. Glide and IDEO claim the product is the first to add camera capability to the Apple's smartwatch, which is sometimes criticised for offering limited functionality independent of its paired iPhone. The CMRA band has both a self-facing camera for video chat and an outward-facing one for photographing other subjects. The two-megapixel self-facing camera lens is located just above the watch face, while the eight-megapixel outward-facing camera is directly adjacent to it, just beyond a sharp bend in the wrist band. The wearer pushes an indentation on the band to start the camera and angles their wrist to get the desired composition.

As smartwatches become independent of the phone, wrist cameras will become commonplace for capturing memories and communicating” Glide CEO, Ari Roisman

Glide is the company behind a visual messaging app of the same name. Roisman worked with former Apple Watch engineer Shawn Grening to develop the project in little over one year. If they prove popular, products like CMRA could turn around flagging smartwatch sales, which fell by 32% in the second quarter of 2016. The CMRA band has eight gigabytes of embedded memory and a rechargeable battery. Photos captured on the band automatically sync to the iPhone's camera roll. Available in blue, black, white or grey, the splash-resistant rubber band connects to the phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Glide is now taking pre-orders and plans to ship the product from spring 2017.

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Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.

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