The blind can feel their loved ones’ smiles with this amazing app

What Next?

Smell your WhatsApp messages with this incredible kit

We’re all familiar with how common phrases like “hello”, “how are you?” and “bye!” look and sound – but how do they smell? A new project, Osmotheque, is tackling that question with its unique lab kit that allows users to create scents based on their texts. The portable laboratory translates messages into scents by using a unique formula that deconstructs text into fragrances attributed to their underlying emotions and intensity. The project aims to give depth to superficial online conversations with context created by smell, which is heavily linked to emotions and memory recollection.

Not sure what to wear? There’s a machine that can help with that.

So you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear – don’t sweat it! A new machine created by researchers at the National Taiwan University is curing fashion woes with its automatic trend detection software. The team of researchers trained the machine to analyse images deemed to be “on trend” over 2014-15, factoring in clothing patterns, colours, cuts, and the poses of the models. It then delivered tailored results to the individual based upon what’s fashionable and available in their wardrobe. It is hoped that the machine will be rolled out further to see more practical uses, including clothing style and product recommendations by fashion retailers.

The Block towers over the competition in the ratings

National Free to Air Station Audience
The Block – Sun Ch 9 1,074,000
The Bachelor Australia – Wed Ch 10 983,000
Highway Patrol – Mon Ch 7 945,000
The Bachelor Australia – Thurs Ch 10 942,000
Dancing with the Stars – Sun Ch 7 867,000
The Hotplate – Winner Announced – Wed Ch 9 856,000
The Hotplate – Mon Ch 9 854,000
Home and Away – Mon Ch 7 844,000
Animals Make You Laugh Out Loud – Tues Ch 7 841,000
The Hotplate – Tues Ch 9 833,000
31/08/15 – 06/09/15

Would you like a side of virtual reality with those contact lenses?

Clunky, awkward, and robust – welcome to the virtual reality headsets of 2015. Fortunately, that might not be the case for too long with incredible new technology patented by Magic Leap. The optical company has invented the world’s first contact lens with built-in augmented reality, which could see the death of boxy VR headsets for a discreet alternative. The lens fits over the eye like a normal contact lens, but includes a special microscopic patch for data display. Could this be the first truly wearable tech that sees widespread use?

Viral Video of the Week

Thought you’d seen it all with drones? What about fishing?

You might’ve seen fish caught with rods, lines, and traps, but you’ve never seen anything like this. A Kansas farmer has changed how we look at fishing by piloting a drone to snag a fish with no rod, making fishing history in the process. He then promptly proceeded to post the catch to his Snapchat story, proving that he might just be the most tech-savvy farmer in the USA. Take a look at the incredible catch below:

The blind can feel their loved ones’ smiles with this amazing app

You’d usually associate Listerine with plaque-busting slogans about mouthwash, which makes their latest endeavour a pleasant surprise. To help the blind feel when one of their loved ones smiles, the brand put together the Smile Detector app – an app that uses smartphone camera detection software to send a vibration when somebody in the room smiles. For many involved in the campaign, the possibility of being able to experience their loved ones’ and friends smiles is lifechanging, and adds an emotional depth to their lives. You can take a look at the campaign below:

App of the Week

This app will virtually walk you home so your friends know you’re safe

If you live in a large city, walking home late at night can be a worrying proposition at the best of times. Thankfully, a new app, appropriately named “Companion“, will put you and your loved ones’ worries to bed. Companion allows users to notify friends and family in their contacts about their destination. Once the address is entered, tabs can be kept on the position of the user by their loved ones until they reach home. Better yet, if the user deviates too much from the intended route, or it takes longer than expected to arrive, companions are immediately notified.

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