Researchers have provided insight into human behavior for scientists, engineers who design and build social robots. via Theater arts research offers insight for designers, builders of social robots — ScienceDaily.
A comprehensive analysis of children’s rights in 190 countries around the world has now been released. Today, the Convention on the Rights of the Child remains the only formal global effort to improve children’s rights and the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Only three U.N. member nations have not ratified the treaty: … More Global report card: Are children better off than they were 25 years ago? — ScienceDaily
Bioengineers have created a biological mechanism to send genetic messages from cell to cell — something they’ve nicknamed the biological Internet, or “Bi-Fi.” via Bioengineers introduce ‘Bi-Fi’ — The biological ‘Internet’ — ScienceDaily.
From performing surgery and flying planes to babysitting kids and driving cars, today’s robots can do it all. With chatbots such as Eugene Goostman recently being hailed as “passing” the Turing test, it appears robots are becoming increasingly adept at posing as humans. While machines are becoming ever more integrated into human lives, the need … More How to train a robot: Can we teach robots right from wrong? — ScienceDaily
Researchers are offering an alternative to the celebrated “Turing Test” to determine whether a machine or computer program exhibits human-level intelligence. via Testing if a computer has human-level intelligence: Alternative to ‘Turing test’ proposed — ScienceDaily.
Developers have built and tested a new kind of interactive wayfinder: 3-D maps that vocalize building information and directions when touched. via A 3-D, talking map for the blind (and everyone else) — ScienceDaily.
Brain scientists have long believed that older people have less of the neural flexibility, or plasticity, required to learn new things. A new study shows that older people learned a visual task just as well as younger ones, but the seniors who showed a strong degree of learning exhibited plasticity in a different part of … More Many older brains have plasticity, but in a different place — ScienceDaily
Beyond being a fun distraction, social network games can offer family members a meaningful way to interact and meet social obligations, a new study concludes. Researchers found that some online games offer families a common topic of conversation and enhance the quality of time spent together, despite the fact that most don’t necessarily involve any … More Facebook games may actually do some good in your life — ScienceDaily
Third grader Cordell Steiner makes a pretty convincing argument for using video games in the classroom in this TEDx talk. He describes feeling more motivated to learn and master new skills because of his eagerness to beat his own high score or finish before the clock runs out. He says he used to be bored … More A Third Grader’s Plea For More Game-Based Learning | MindShift
Excerpt from Playing action video games can boost learning, study finds — ScienceDaily. A new study shows for the first time that playing action video games improves not just the skills taught in the game, but learning capabilities more generally. via Playing action video games can boost learning, study finds — ScienceDaily.
In a step toward robots smaller than a grain of sand, researchers have shown how chains of self-assembling particles could serve as electrically activated muscles in the tiny machines. via Microbot muscles: Chains of particles assemble and flex — ScienceDaily.
A mother knows best — and the amount of education she attains can predict her children’s success in reading and math. In fact, that success is greater if she had her child later in life, according to a new study. via Mothers’ education significant to children’s academic success — ScienceDaily.
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