Google Home Hub

$199 from JB Hi-Fi.Google Home Hub is a great gift for mum around the house. (Image: Google)

The Google Home Hub is the perfect companion for your mum, whether it be in the kitchen, the living room or the bedroom. Want to know how to stuff a turkey? Google Home Hub can not only show you via voice command, but it can also give you helpful recipes and information on where to buy the ingredients.

Your mum can also see the news and weather at a glance, plan her day, set reminders and place voice calls to friends and family. When she’s relaxing she can play her favourite songs on Spotify, control other smart devices in the house, and even use it as a digital photo frame.

Kindle E-Reader

$109 from Amazon Australia.The Kindle is a book lover’s dream (Image: Amazon)

While nothing can ever replace the majesty of a physical book, Kindle E-Readers go pretty close. It’s the perfect size to fit in your pocket, has battery power that lasts for weeks and can hold over 2,000 books at once. That means that whether mum likes true crime, cheesy romance or dense tomes on the history of agriculture in Ancient Egypt, she can access them all from the one spot.

The Kindle is particularly a saviour on holidays and during work commutes. With over 70,000 books free in the public domain and over 1 million ebooks under $3 on Amazon, it’s a thoughtful and cost-effective gift. Now all you need to do is give mum some peace and quiet so she can enjoy it!

Bellebeat Leaf Health Tracker

$135 from Bellebeat.Bellebeat is a hip alternative to a fitbit (Image: Bellebeat)

Fitness trackers have been all the rage for mums in the last few years, so much so that they’ve become kind of clichéd. That’s where Bellebeat comes in. The lifestyle brand offers stylish, understated fitness trackers that you can wear as a bracelet, a necklace or a clip.

Bellebeat products connect to a smartphone app to track your activity, sleep patterns, stress, meditation and reproductive health. It’s water-resistant, shower safe and made of wood and hypoallergenic stainless steel – and at half the price of some Fitbits, is a steal.

Cork Pops Legacy

$69.95 from Cork Pops.

The Cork Pops Legacy makes opening wine a breeze (Image: Amazon)

What’s the only thing your mum likes more than presents? Wine! Seeing that alcohol intake triples over Christmas, there’s a lot of wine to open. If you’re drinking expensive stuff – you know, above $5 – then the chances are you have to wrestle a cork before tucking into your Merlot.

The Cork Pops takes the hassle out of opening a bottle of wine. All you need to do is insert the needle through the cork, push the button atop the device and watch in awe as the cork pops out. It’s worth it for both the spectacle and the time your mum will save on uncorking wine in the new year!

Bedside Smartphone Vase

$43 from Uncommon Goods.

The Bedside Smartphone Vase brings feng shui to charging your phone (Image: UncommonGoods)

Between power outlets, cords and extension cords, charging your phone can be a messy business. Part smartphone stand, part vase, this product is exactly as its name suggests: it’s a vase that doubles as an aesthetically pleasing stand for your smartphone.

Handmade by Heather and Myles Geyman out of glazed stoneware, the stand holds a bouquet of flowers and your smartphone. It hides your charger cable by running it through the base, and has a separate section for the flowers so you don’t have to worry about water getting into your phone. We know mums are crazy about decor, and the house will remain looking and smelling fresh with this accessory.

iXPAND Base

$97 at Harvey Norman.

The iXpand Base is a foolproof backup solution (Image: SanDisk)

If your mum is anything like mine, then while she loves technology, she doesn’t exactly understand it. Whenever there’s a new gadget or gizmo, it comes down to me to explain it and set it up. And nothing is more annoying than explaining how to back up photos and videos.

Good news, the iXPAND Base does the job for you. It’s an iPhone charger that automatically backs up your photos, videos and contacts each time you charge. With 15W of power it charges quickly, and makes it super easy to restore your backed up files if you ever need to. All you need to do is plug in, tap and your files are back on your device. This is a present for you as much as it is for your mum.

HP Sprocket New Edition

$179 at HP.

Print on the go with the HP Sprocket (Image: HP)

Products like the HP Sprocket are bringing back the magic of instant photos with modern technology. The Sprocket is a portable printer that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Multiple people can connect at once so everyone can print their 2 x 3-inch photos.

The Sprocket comes in Blush, Luna Pearl and Noir variants, and boasts a variety of cool features. Your friends can print and view images from shared Google Photos albums, and you can even create augmented reality videos and 3D animations using the Sprocket app.

Ember Ceramic Mug

$279 at Ember.

Keep your coffee warm with the Ember Ceramic Mug (Image: Ember)

The only bad thing about tea and coffee is that eventually, no matter how hard you try, it eventually gets cold. Not with the Ember Temperature Control Ceramic Mug. Your mum will be able to binge watch Gogglebox, read her book and scroll through her Facebook feed – all with the exact same cup of her favourite warm beverage.

The Ember Ceramic Mug allows your mum to remotely adjust her drink to the ideal temperature and choose and save presets for different drinks. For example, my mum likes her coffee piping hot, but her tea just above lukewarm – she can set presets for both on the Ember app. As someone who microwaves his coffee about nine times, this is the first gift on the list that makes me wish I was a mum, so my child could read this article and buy this for me. Does that make sense?

Tech21xLiberty London Phone Cases

$59.95 from Tech21.

A change is as good as a holiday and a new case is as good as a new phone (Image: Tech21)

Chances are your mum has a smartphone, and chances are she doesn’t have a special case. It might even be from one of those stalls in a shopping centre… *shudder*. A new case can be as good as a new phone, and Tech21 cases are the best on the market. Just in time for Christmas, Tech21 has announced a fashionable new collaboration with Liberty London, a retailer known for its beautiful prints.

The Tech21xLibertyLondon range has ten different designs available across three product styles. Cases rarely find the sweet spot between being aesthetically pleasing and protective, but Tech21 has perfected it. These cases are so cool that your mum won’t want to hide it in her handbag. The Tech21xLibertyLondon is available for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. Don’t worry, Tech21 has plenty of other great cases to fit other smartphones.

Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II

$329 from Bose.

Gift mum some peace and quiet this Christmas (Image: Bose)

How many times has your mum told you just to give her some peace and quiet? There’s no better way to do exactly that by getting her the SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II. Completely wireless, comfy and immersive, offer your mum an easy and enjoyable way to listen to her favourite music.

Whether she’s trying to get the best bass out of “Living on a Prayer” or needs to increase the volume on her true crime podcasts, the Bose Connect app will let her get tips, unlock extra features and personalise sound settings.

Nokia 7.1 Smartphone

$478 from Harvey Norman.

The Nokia 7.1 offers premium quality at a budget price (Image: Nokia)

I hear you, I hear you. Nokia! What is this, 2004? Well, I’ve got news for you – Nokia is no longer the company that produced the brick phones of your childhood. For those looking for a premium device on a budget, the Nokia 7.1 is your go-to. It has a 5.84″ PureDisplay screen, a 12MP camera and runs Android One as smooth as Snake used to run back in the good ol’ days.

The Nokia 7.1 is intuitive, offers great graphical performance and has a long-lasting battery so your mum won’t have to charge it every few hours. Be warned though, once you show her the Live Bokeh mode, she’s never going to stop bugging you to pose for photos.

gadgets· technology

Tech Gifts for your mom this Christmas

Google Home Hub

$199 from JB Hi-Fi.Google Home Hub is a great gift for mum around the house. (Image: Google)

The Google Home Hub is the perfect companion for your mum, whether it be in the kitchen, the living room or the bedroom. Want to know how to stuff a turkey? Google Home Hub can not only show you via voice command, but it can also give you helpful recipes and information on where to buy the ingredients.

Your mum can also see the news and weather at a glance, plan her day, set reminders and place voice calls to friends and family. When she’s relaxing she can play her favourite songs on Spotify, control other smart devices in the house, and even use it as a digital photo frame.

Kindle E-Reader

$109 from Amazon Australia.The Kindle is a book lover’s dream (Image: Amazon)

While nothing can ever replace the majesty of a physical book, Kindle E-Readers go pretty close. It’s the perfect size to fit in your pocket, has battery power that lasts for weeks and can hold over 2,000 books at once. That means that whether mum likes true crime, cheesy romance or dense tomes on the history of agriculture in Ancient Egypt, she can access them all from the one spot.

The Kindle is particularly a saviour on holidays and during work commutes. With over 70,000 books free in the public domain and over 1 million ebooks under $3 on Amazon, it’s a thoughtful and cost-effective gift. Now all you need to do is give mum some peace and quiet so she can enjoy it!

Bellebeat Leaf Health Tracker

$135 from Bellebeat.Bellebeat is a hip alternative to a fitbit (Image: Bellebeat)

Fitness trackers have been all the rage for mums in the last few years, so much so that they’ve become kind of clichéd. That’s where Bellebeat comes in. The lifestyle brand offers stylish, understated fitness trackers that you can wear as a bracelet, a necklace or a clip.

Bellebeat products connect to a smartphone app to track your activity, sleep patterns, stress, meditation and reproductive health. It’s water-resistant, shower safe and made of wood and hypoallergenic stainless steel – and at half the price of some Fitbits, is a steal.

Cork Pops Legacy

$69.95 from Cork Pops.

The Cork Pops Legacy makes opening wine a breeze (Image: Amazon)

What’s the only thing your mum likes more than presents? Wine! Seeing that alcohol intake triples over Christmas, there’s a lot of wine to open. If you’re drinking expensive stuff – you know, above $5 – then the chances are you have to wrestle a cork before tucking into your Merlot.

The Cork Pops takes the hassle out of opening a bottle of wine. All you need to do is insert the needle through the cork, push the button atop the device and watch in awe as the cork pops out. It’s worth it for both the spectacle and the time your mum will save on uncorking wine in the new year!

Bedside Smartphone Vase

$43 from Uncommon Goods.

The Bedside Smartphone Vase brings feng shui to charging your phone (Image: UncommonGoods)

Between power outlets, cords and extension cords, charging your phone can be a messy business. Part smartphone stand, part vase, this product is exactly as its name suggests: it’s a vase that doubles as an aesthetically pleasing stand for your smartphone.

Handmade by Heather and Myles Geyman out of glazed stoneware, the stand holds a bouquet of flowers and your smartphone. It hides your charger cable by running it through the base, and has a separate section for the flowers so you don’t have to worry about water getting into your phone. We know mums are crazy about decor, and the house will remain looking and smelling fresh with this accessory.

iXPAND Base

$97 at Harvey Norman.

The iXpand Base is a foolproof backup solution (Image: SanDisk)

If your mum is anything like mine, then while she loves technology, she doesn’t exactly understand it. Whenever there’s a new gadget or gizmo, it comes down to me to explain it and set it up. And nothing is more annoying than explaining how to back up photos and videos.

Good news, the iXPAND Base does the job for you. It’s an iPhone charger that automatically backs up your photos, videos and contacts each time you charge. With 15W of power it charges quickly, and makes it super easy to restore your backed up files if you ever need to. All you need to do is plug in, tap and your files are back on your device. This is a present for you as much as it is for your mum.

HP Sprocket New Edition

$179 at HP.

Print on the go with the HP Sprocket (Image: HP)

Products like the HP Sprocket are bringing back the magic of instant photos with modern technology. The Sprocket is a portable printer that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Multiple people can connect at once so everyone can print their 2 x 3-inch photos.

The Sprocket comes in Blush, Luna Pearl and Noir variants, and boasts a variety of cool features. Your friends can print and view images from shared Google Photos albums, and you can even create augmented reality videos and 3D animations using the Sprocket app.

Ember Ceramic Mug

$279 at Ember.

Keep your coffee warm with the Ember Ceramic Mug (Image: Ember)

The only bad thing about tea and coffee is that eventually, no matter how hard you try, it eventually gets cold. Not with the Ember Temperature Control Ceramic Mug. Your mum will be able to binge watch Gogglebox, read her book and scroll through her Facebook feed – all with the exact same cup of her favourite warm beverage.

The Ember Ceramic Mug allows your mum to remotely adjust her drink to the ideal temperature and choose and save presets for different drinks. For example, my mum likes her coffee piping hot, but her tea just above lukewarm – she can set presets for both on the Ember app. As someone who microwaves his coffee about nine times, this is the first gift on the list that makes me wish I was a mum, so my child could read this article and buy this for me. Does that make sense?

Tech21xLiberty London Phone Cases

$59.95 from Tech21.

A change is as good as a holiday and a new case is as good as a new phone (Image: Tech21)

Chances are your mum has a smartphone, and chances are she doesn’t have a special case. It might even be from one of those stalls in a shopping centre… *shudder*. A new case can be as good as a new phone, and Tech21 cases are the best on the market. Just in time for Christmas, Tech21 has announced a fashionable new collaboration with Liberty London, a retailer known for its beautiful prints.

The Tech21xLibertyLondon range has ten different designs available across three product styles. Cases rarely find the sweet spot between being aesthetically pleasing and protective, but Tech21 has perfected it. These cases are so cool that your mum won’t want to hide it in her handbag. The Tech21xLibertyLondon is available for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. Don’t worry, Tech21 has plenty of other great cases to fit other smartphones.

Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II

$329 from Bose.

Gift mum some peace and quiet this Christmas (Image: Bose)

How many times has your mum told you just to give her some peace and quiet? There’s no better way to do exactly that by getting her the SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II. Completely wireless, comfy and immersive, offer your mum an easy and enjoyable way to listen to her favourite music.

Whether she’s trying to get the best bass out of “Living on a Prayer” or needs to increase the volume on her true crime podcasts, the Bose Connect app will let her get tips, unlock extra features and personalise sound settings.

Nokia 7.1 Smartphone

$478 from Harvey Norman.

The Nokia 7.1 offers premium quality at a budget price (Image: Nokia)

I hear you, I hear you. Nokia! What is this, 2004? Well, I’ve got news for you – Nokia is no longer the company that produced the brick phones of your childhood. For those looking for a premium device on a budget, the Nokia 7.1 is your go-to. It has a 5.84″ PureDisplay screen, a 12MP camera and runs Android One as smooth as Snake used to run back in the good ol’ days.

The Nokia 7.1 is intuitive, offers great graphical performance and has a long-lasting battery so your mum won’t have to charge it every few hours. Be warned though, once you show her the Live Bokeh mode, she’s never going to stop bugging you to pose for photos.

Ex-Googlers Launch Self-Driving Car Designed for Local Goods Transportation

The Nuro R1 is a unique autonomous vehicle that serves as a mobile logistics platform to deliver groceries, laundry or any other local goods.

How often do we come across a situation when there is some stuff that needs to be picked up from some place in the town, but nobody wants to drive? It sucks to get out of the comfort of the blankets and the coziness of the house just to get some groceries or that suit you left for dry cleaning last week! Nuro has come up with a ground-breaking solution!

The people of California witnessed the launching of an autonomous four-wheeler that kind of looks like a huge cabin on wheels, more of like a robot from the future Star Wars movies.

The vehicle belongs to its innovators, Nuro, which is a startup based in the city. The purpose would be to deliver things like pizzas, groceries, dry cleaning, random stuff that can be ordered online, without the need to keep humans engaged solely for the sake of riding their bikes or other vehicles to the suitable addresses to deliver the contents.

This cabin is designed keeping in mind the height of an SUV but is far more compact in terms of its width. With four different compartments within this electric car, one can use it for four different purposes, such as, refrigeration, cooking, storage of other forms, etc. It is still unknown as to which all companies would be using these delivery boys.

The lightweight (1/3rd of a normal car) is an added advantage along with the fact that the car would run on electricity. The car would be easily able to cover the suburban and urban regions, restricting it from driving on the highways, lest accidents should occur.

In order to work on Nuro, the co-founders left Google’s self-driving car programback in 2016.

Now, instead of waiting for a full two weeks, consumers would be able to get their products delivered within a week, and also quicker depending on their locations.

Legal issues would create a huge ruckus in the launching of this commercial vehicle in California, as the state does not allow vehicles running on the streets without a test driver. But then, since Nuro has no space for passengers, there would be some ray of hope still left for this autonomous little delivery robot. Also, because of its compact size, Nuro can easily navigate streets and avoid pedestrians. And if need be, it could also euthanize itself by crashing into a nearby tree to save humans, in case they come in the way.

AUTOMOTIVE

Volvo Is Set to Supply 24,000 Self-Driving Cars to Uber

Although Nuro doesn’t come with some way to communicate with the pedestrians or other road users, there are various other already patented solutions that provide a digital screen to indicate people the vehicle’s upcoming move. Ferguson, one of the co-founders, says that they would prefer Nuro to have predictable moves in order to let the drivers assume where it would move next, thus avoiding any sort of confusions.

Considering the rate of increase in population, there would be a huge concern of deployment due to automated technology, but Ferguson refuses to believe, and instead says that this would help in creating new markets and opportunities.

Who knows when we would get to see these automated Nuros take over the streets to deliver the things we need! But it sure would be fascinating!

Ex-Googlers Launch Self-Driving Car Designed for Local Goods Transportation

Ex-Googlers Launch Self-Driving Car Designed for Local Goods Transportation

The Nuro R1 is a unique autonomous vehicle that serves as a mobile logistics platform to deliver groceries, laundry or any other local goods.

How often do we come across a situation when there is some stuff that needs to be picked up from some place in the town, but nobody wants to drive? It sucks to get out of the comfort of the blankets and the coziness of the house just to get some groceries or that suit you left for dry cleaning last week! Nuro has come up with a ground-breaking solution!

The people of California witnessed the launching of an autonomous four-wheeler that kind of looks like a huge cabin on wheels, more of like a robot from the future Star Wars movies.

The vehicle belongs to its innovators, Nuro, which is a startup based in the city. The purpose would be to deliver things like pizzas, groceries, dry cleaning, random stuff that can be ordered online, without the need to keep humans engaged solely for the sake of riding their bikes or other vehicles to the suitable addresses to deliver the contents.

This cabin is designed keeping in mind the height of an SUV but is far more compact in terms of its width. With four different compartments within this electric car, one can use it for four different purposes, such as, refrigeration, cooking, storage of other forms, etc. It is still unknown as to which all companies would be using these delivery boys.

The lightweight (1/3rd of a normal car) is an added advantage along with the fact that the car would run on electricity. The car would be easily able to cover the suburban and urban regions, restricting it from driving on the highways, lest accidents should occur.

In order to work on Nuro, the co-founders left Google’s self-driving car programback in 2016.

Now, instead of waiting for a full two weeks, consumers would be able to get their products delivered within a week, and also quicker depending on their locations.

Legal issues would create a huge ruckus in the launching of this commercial vehicle in California, as the state does not allow vehicles running on the streets without a test driver. But then, since Nuro has no space for passengers, there would be some ray of hope still left for this autonomous little delivery robot. Also, because of its compact size, Nuro can easily navigate streets and avoid pedestrians. And if need be, it could also euthanize itself by crashing into a nearby tree to save humans, in case they come in the way.

AUTOMOTIVE

Volvo Is Set to Supply 24,000 Self-Driving Cars to Uber

Although Nuro doesn’t come with some way to communicate with the pedestrians or other road users, there are various other already patented solutions that provide a digital screen to indicate people the vehicle’s upcoming move. Ferguson, one of the co-founders, says that they would prefer Nuro to have predictable moves in order to let the drivers assume where it would move next, thus avoiding any sort of confusions.

Considering the rate of increase in population, there would be a huge concern of deployment due to automated technology, but Ferguson refuses to believe, and instead says that this would help in creating new markets and opportunities.

Who knows when we would get to see these automated Nuros take over the streets to deliver the things we need! But it sure would be fascinating!

This immersive Arduino course will teach you everything you need to know.

Arduino—a leading open-source platform that allows you to build complex and entertaining gadgets of your own design—is endlessly fun for tinkerers and dreamers of all skill levels. And this hands-on, projects-based Arduino Bootcamp lets you learn everything there is to know about Arduino 

You’ll finish this course having built an Arduino car, an Arduino phone, an online weather station, game projects, and much more. This course even teaches you the ins and outs of components like ultrasonic sensors, motor drivers, servos, and transistors—meaning you’ll have the skills you need to build even more complex projects on your own.

Embrace your inner inventor with this Arduino Bootcamp

This is a promotional article about company partners with Interesting Engineering. By shopping with us, you not only get materials you need but you're also supporting our website. Thank you!

electronics

Dive Into the Remarkable World of Arduino with This Bootcamp

This immersive Arduino course will teach you everything you need to know.

Arduino—a leading open-source platform that allows you to build complex and entertaining gadgets of your own design—is endlessly fun for tinkerers and dreamers of all skill levels. And this hands-on, projects-based Arduino Bootcamp lets you learn everything there is to know about Arduino 

You’ll finish this course having built an Arduino car, an Arduino phone, an online weather station, game projects, and much more. This course even teaches you the ins and outs of components like ultrasonic sensors, motor drivers, servos, and transistors—meaning you’ll have the skills you need to build even more complex projects on your own.

Embrace your inner inventor with this Arduino Bootcamp

This is a promotional article about company partners with Interesting Engineering. By shopping with us, you not only get materials you need but you're also supporting our website. Thank you!

This training bundle will teach you how to utilize the popular DIY platform to its full potential.

Raspberry Pi is one of the most powerful, dynamic, and easy-to-learn Internet of Things platforms on the market, offering nearly endless programming and computing possibilities for beginners and experts alike. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at DIY electronics, The Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle is a great training resource for any skill level. This bundle of courses is valued at over $800, but you can grab it today for just $34. 

Through eight easy-to-follow courses, this bundle will teach you about everything from the absolute basics of Raspberry Pi to how to build and manipulate your very own robots. You'll get hands on with a number of fun and useful Raspberry Pi projects, including mining for Bitcoin, controlling AC applicanes using Python, lighting up your Christmas tree, and building a complex robotic arm. 

 You'll get lifetime access to all course content, so you can go at your own pace and access it whenever you'd like. Dive into the fascinating and educational world of Raspberry Pi with this in-depth bundle for just $34 today.

electronics

Here's How You Can Master Raspberry Pi Programming

This training bundle will teach you how to utilize the popular DIY platform to its full potential.

Raspberry Pi is one of the most powerful, dynamic, and easy-to-learn Internet of Things platforms on the market, offering nearly endless programming and computing possibilities for beginners and experts alike. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at DIY electronics, The Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle is a great training resource for any skill level. This bundle of courses is valued at over $800, but you can grab it today for just $34. 

Through eight easy-to-follow courses, this bundle will teach you about everything from the absolute basics of Raspberry Pi to how to build and manipulate your very own robots. You'll get hands on with a number of fun and useful Raspberry Pi projects, including mining for Bitcoin, controlling AC applicanes using Python, lighting up your Christmas tree, and building a complex robotic arm. 

 You'll get lifetime access to all course content, so you can go at your own pace and access it whenever you'd like. Dive into the fascinating and educational world of Raspberry Pi with this in-depth bundle for just $34 today.

As part of the UAE Centennial 2071 initiative, Sheikh Mohammed has appointed the first State Minister for Artificial Intelligence, an effort which is sure to move the country in a bold new direction.

The UAE recently made a bold move that is perhaps the strongest demonstration of any government’s official endorsement of Artificial Intelligence technology. An Artificial Intelligence minister has been appointed, implying enough reliance and expectations of reliance on the technology to warrant the position. 

The official title will be State Minister for Artificial Intelligence, and the activities of the position will coincide with UAE’s 2031 AI Strategy, a comprehensive government effort that will integrate all AI technologies in the society.

The young appointee is 27-year-old Omar Sultan Al-Ulama, who brings his experience as Deputy Director of the Future Department and now Managing Director of the World Government Summit to the position.

The announcement came on Thursday from UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed, part of a general restructuring of the Cabinet: “We announce the appointment of a minister for artificial intelligence. The next global wave is artificial intelligence and we want the UAE to be more prepared for it.” 

“The new government will catapult the UAE into its prosperous centenary which aims for fostering knowledge, science and research as well as engaging the youth in the leadership of the nation,” Sheikh Mohammad said, stressing the true purpose behind the restructure as “a renewal of blood, a catalyst for change and a preparation for the next stage of our nation's path”.

With a nod to the AI minister and the Minister of State of Higher Education, Sheikh Mohammed assigned the Education Minister with the task of developing an Advanced Skills portfolio, an acknowledgment of the strong link between AI-assisted machanized labor, economy and education that will exist in the future, saying, “Advanced technology will create new jobs and make half of existing jobs redundant within just ten years.”

Also significant were the appointments of Mariam Al Muhairi and Sara Al Amiri as Minister of State for Food Security and Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, respectively.

“We also appointed Sara Al Amiri as a Minister of State who will be responsible for the Advanced Sciences portfolio. Her task will be focused on research, development and building scientific capabilities. Sara will also be responsible for the UAE Council of Scientists, and she will capably lead the UAE mission to Mars.”

SCIENCE

UAE Enters the Race to Put Men on Mars

The UAE’s forward-looking approach to embracing and making efforts to integrate vital new technology has earned the country respect from many countries in the world. This is the most evident in the generous support it has put behind developing and supporting a number of various projects centered around solar technology and autonomous cars.

Though the UAE's Centennial 2071 initiative is quite ambitious, this official restructuring of leadership is undoubtedly laying the foundation for accomplishing the aims set forth. The danger is not in Artificial Intelligence itself, but in countries which take on R&D projects for the technology without putting a solid blueprint in place --in other words, solid integrative approach. The UAE is proving with its recent actions that it can be a model in this domain.

Space

UAE Creates Role of Minister for Artificial Intelligence

As part of the UAE Centennial 2071 initiative, Sheikh Mohammed has appointed the first State Minister for Artificial Intelligence, an effort which is sure to move the country in a bold new direction.

The UAE recently made a bold move that is perhaps the strongest demonstration of any government’s official endorsement of Artificial Intelligence technology. An Artificial Intelligence minister has been appointed, implying enough reliance and expectations of reliance on the technology to warrant the position. 

The official title will be State Minister for Artificial Intelligence, and the activities of the position will coincide with UAE’s 2031 AI Strategy, a comprehensive government effort that will integrate all AI technologies in the society.

The young appointee is 27-year-old Omar Sultan Al-Ulama, who brings his experience as Deputy Director of the Future Department and now Managing Director of the World Government Summit to the position.

The announcement came on Thursday from UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed, part of a general restructuring of the Cabinet: “We announce the appointment of a minister for artificial intelligence. The next global wave is artificial intelligence and we want the UAE to be more prepared for it.” 

“The new government will catapult the UAE into its prosperous centenary which aims for fostering knowledge, science and research as well as engaging the youth in the leadership of the nation,” Sheikh Mohammad said, stressing the true purpose behind the restructure as “a renewal of blood, a catalyst for change and a preparation for the next stage of our nation's path”.

With a nod to the AI minister and the Minister of State of Higher Education, Sheikh Mohammed assigned the Education Minister with the task of developing an Advanced Skills portfolio, an acknowledgment of the strong link between AI-assisted machanized labor, economy and education that will exist in the future, saying, “Advanced technology will create new jobs and make half of existing jobs redundant within just ten years.”

Also significant were the appointments of Mariam Al Muhairi and Sara Al Amiri as Minister of State for Food Security and Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, respectively.

“We also appointed Sara Al Amiri as a Minister of State who will be responsible for the Advanced Sciences portfolio. Her task will be focused on research, development and building scientific capabilities. Sara will also be responsible for the UAE Council of Scientists, and she will capably lead the UAE mission to Mars.”

SCIENCE

UAE Enters the Race to Put Men on Mars

The UAE’s forward-looking approach to embracing and making efforts to integrate vital new technology has earned the country respect from many countries in the world. This is the most evident in the generous support it has put behind developing and supporting a number of various projects centered around solar technology and autonomous cars.

Though the UAE's Centennial 2071 initiative is quite ambitious, this official restructuring of leadership is undoubtedly laying the foundation for accomplishing the aims set forth. The danger is not in Artificial Intelligence itself, but in countries which take on R&D projects for the technology without putting a solid blueprint in place --in other words, solid integrative approach. The UAE is proving with its recent actions that it can be a model in this domain.

NASA's InSight lander will travel to Mars next year. When it does, it will be carrying two microchips bearing the names of members of the public.

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

An example of a "boarding pass" that members of the public can download by participating in NASA's Frequent Fliers program. With each NASA mission that flies their names, individuals can accumulate "miles" on their boarding pass.

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

When it lands on Mars in November of 2018, NASA's InSight lander will be carrying several science instruments -- along with hundreds of thousands of names from members of the public.

In 2015, nearly 827,000 people signed up to add their names to a silicon microchip onboard the robotic spacecraft. NASA is now adding a second microchip, giving the public another chance to send their names to Mars.

New submissions will be accepted through Nov. 1, 2017, at the following link:

go.nasa.gov/InSightPass

"Mars continues to excite space enthusiasts of all ages," said Bruce Banerdt, the InSight mission's principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "This opportunity lets them become a part of the spacecraft that will study the inside of the Red Planet."

This fly-your-name opportunity comes with "frequent flier" points reflecting an individual's personal participation in NASA's exploration of Mars. These points span multiple missions and multiple decades. Participants who sent their names on the previous InSight opportunity in 2015 can download a "boarding pass" and see their "frequent flier" miles.

As part of this frequent flier program, a chip carrying the names of 1.38 million people also flew aboard the first flight of NASA's Orion spacecraft in 2014. NASA is building Orion to carry astronauts to deep space destinations that will enable future missions to Mars.

After InSight, the next opportunity to earn frequent flier points will be NASA's Exploration Mission-1, the first flight bringing together the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to travel thousands of miles beyond the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars and beyond.

InSight will be the first mission to explore Mars' deep interior. The spacecraft will set down a seismometer to detect marsquakes and meteor strikes, using the seismic energy of these phenomena to study material far below the Martian surface. It also will deploy a self-hammering heat probe that will burrow deeper into the ground than any previous device on the Red Planet. These and other InSight investigations will improve our understanding about the formation and evolution of all rocky planets, including Earth.

InSight is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in May of 2018.

For more information on InSight, visit:

go.nasa.gov/InSightPass

Contest· NASA· Space

SEND YOUR NAME TO MARS?

NASA's InSight lander will travel to Mars next year. When it does, it will be carrying two microchips bearing the names of members of the public.

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

An example of a "boarding pass" that members of the public can download by participating in NASA's Frequent Fliers program. With each NASA mission that flies their names, individuals can accumulate "miles" on their boarding pass.

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

When it lands on Mars in November of 2018, NASA's InSight lander will be carrying several science instruments -- along with hundreds of thousands of names from members of the public.

In 2015, nearly 827,000 people signed up to add their names to a silicon microchip onboard the robotic spacecraft. NASA is now adding a second microchip, giving the public another chance to send their names to Mars.

New submissions will be accepted through Nov. 1, 2017, at the following link:

go.nasa.gov/InSightPass

"Mars continues to excite space enthusiasts of all ages," said Bruce Banerdt, the InSight mission's principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "This opportunity lets them become a part of the spacecraft that will study the inside of the Red Planet."

This fly-your-name opportunity comes with "frequent flier" points reflecting an individual's personal participation in NASA's exploration of Mars. These points span multiple missions and multiple decades. Participants who sent their names on the previous InSight opportunity in 2015 can download a "boarding pass" and see their "frequent flier" miles.

As part of this frequent flier program, a chip carrying the names of 1.38 million people also flew aboard the first flight of NASA's Orion spacecraft in 2014. NASA is building Orion to carry astronauts to deep space destinations that will enable future missions to Mars.

After InSight, the next opportunity to earn frequent flier points will be NASA's Exploration Mission-1, the first flight bringing together the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to travel thousands of miles beyond the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars and beyond.

InSight will be the first mission to explore Mars' deep interior. The spacecraft will set down a seismometer to detect marsquakes and meteor strikes, using the seismic energy of these phenomena to study material far below the Martian surface. It also will deploy a self-hammering heat probe that will burrow deeper into the ground than any previous device on the Red Planet. These and other InSight investigations will improve our understanding about the formation and evolution of all rocky planets, including Earth.

InSight is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in May of 2018.

For more information on InSight, visit:

go.nasa.gov/InSightPass

Intel Builds Chip to Function Like the Human Brain

The technology giant created a chip that takes inspiration from the synapses of a human brain. The chip could lead to self-learning AI applications.

Intel has turned to the human brain to inspire the design for its latest chip. The experimental chip called "Loihi” uses an unproven type of technology called "neuromorphic". The new chip ignores the traditional design of logic gates and instead uses "spiking neurons" as its fundamental computing unit. These computer neurons can move signals along in a similar way to our own brains neurons. The Loihi chip contains around 130,000 simulated neurons. To put that into perspective, a lobster has about 100, 000 neurons and the human brain has about 80 billion neurons.

Design based on brain increase workload but uses less power

The theory of turning to the human brain as a base model for processing instead of other ways is that using this method may allow for an increase in the speed of machine learning without the massive power requirements. Human brains work by communicating information with pulses or spikes. Brain cells don’t work alone; the activity of one neuron affects another as the information is passed in a relayed fashion. This means groups of cells working together are what increase intelligence and learning. If we think about this in terms of the chip, what we can see if that the energy usage is shared among groups rather being ‘on’ all the time. Human brains work by relaying information with pulses or spikes, strengthening frequent connections and storing the changes locally at synapse interconnections. As such, brain cells don't function alone because the activity of one neuron directly affects others. 

Intel says new chip has potential for use in personal robots

These types of chips could lead to the perfect kind of AI -- ones that can learn as they go, rather than being taught a long list of tasks prior to beginning their designated job. Intel already has their eyes on the applications of this chip saying,"The test chip [has] enormous potential to improve automotive and industrial applications as well as personal robots.” While neuromorphic sound good in theory they have yet to show their true potential up against the current deep-learning technology. But that isn’t deterring the big players to try and keep experimenting with this new technology. IBM built a neuromorphic chip called "TrueNorth" that has 4,096 processors simulating around 256 million synapses. But even with the potential power Facebook's deep learning specialist Yann LeCun has said that they are convinced the chip could stand up to complex tasks like image recognition.

Chip to be shared with leading AI researchers

Intel is determined to push Loihi as far as it can and will look to “"leading university and research institutions" as a testing ground for the chips. They plan to let these institutions who have a serious Ai agenda have free range with the chips in an effort to push their development and potential. The chips will be created using Intel's 14-nanometer process technology and be distributed in November this year.

electronics

Intel Builds Chip to Function Like the Human Brain

Intel Builds Chip to Function Like the Human Brain

The technology giant created a chip that takes inspiration from the synapses of a human brain. The chip could lead to self-learning AI applications.

Intel has turned to the human brain to inspire the design for its latest chip. The experimental chip called "Loihi” uses an unproven type of technology called "neuromorphic". The new chip ignores the traditional design of logic gates and instead uses "spiking neurons" as its fundamental computing unit. These computer neurons can move signals along in a similar way to our own brains neurons. The Loihi chip contains around 130,000 simulated neurons. To put that into perspective, a lobster has about 100, 000 neurons and the human brain has about 80 billion neurons.

Design based on brain increase workload but uses less power

The theory of turning to the human brain as a base model for processing instead of other ways is that using this method may allow for an increase in the speed of machine learning without the massive power requirements. Human brains work by communicating information with pulses or spikes. Brain cells don’t work alone; the activity of one neuron affects another as the information is passed in a relayed fashion. This means groups of cells working together are what increase intelligence and learning. If we think about this in terms of the chip, what we can see if that the energy usage is shared among groups rather being ‘on’ all the time. Human brains work by relaying information with pulses or spikes, strengthening frequent connections and storing the changes locally at synapse interconnections. As such, brain cells don't function alone because the activity of one neuron directly affects others. 

Intel says new chip has potential for use in personal robots

These types of chips could lead to the perfect kind of AI -- ones that can learn as they go, rather than being taught a long list of tasks prior to beginning their designated job. Intel already has their eyes on the applications of this chip saying,"The test chip [has] enormous potential to improve automotive and industrial applications as well as personal robots.” While neuromorphic sound good in theory they have yet to show their true potential up against the current deep-learning technology. But that isn’t deterring the big players to try and keep experimenting with this new technology. IBM built a neuromorphic chip called "TrueNorth" that has 4,096 processors simulating around 256 million synapses. But even with the potential power Facebook's deep learning specialist Yann LeCun has said that they are convinced the chip could stand up to complex tasks like image recognition.

Chip to be shared with leading AI researchers

Intel is determined to push Loihi as far as it can and will look to “"leading university and research institutions" as a testing ground for the chips. They plan to let these institutions who have a serious Ai agenda have free range with the chips in an effort to push their development and potential. The chips will be created using Intel's 14-nanometer process technology and be distributed in November this year.