Artificial Intelligence Helps Create new Magic Tricks

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Artificial Intelligence Helps Create new Magic Tricks

British researchers have managed to teach a computer to come up with magic tricks. This is the first time that a form of artificial intelligence is used to create new magic tricks that can be performed by people.

The researchers showed the computer to know how certain magic tricks - like a card trick where the magician supposedly can read minds - worked in rough lines. Then they shared the results of experiments were also aimed at the computer, providing more insight into how people can understand and easily handle magic tricks. Based on these data, the computer then created completely with the new variants of the magic tricks.

Lots of information

Artificial intelligence can handle much larger amounts of information than a person and more efficiently run through all the possible outcomes," says researcher Howard Williams. "So even though, someone in the audience may have seen a variation in a trick before, now you can use artificial intelligence, psychological and mathematical principles to devise many different versions, which keeps the audience guessing."

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For more details, watch our video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_CFsFXBkZU

Enthusiastic audience

The researchers showed the magic tricks invented by the computer and to the general public was enthusiastic. One of the variants invented a magic trick with a card game. Now even available in the Google Play Store. Here are a number of cards displayed in a specific way, and the magician - based on seemingly innocuous bits of information that the public gives him to identify the card chosen by the public.

Using the app, the magician can then display map on a phone screen. The computer was used to deposit the cards in such a way that a specific card can be identified with as little as possible information. Very concretely the magician compared with the traditional approach and one question to put less before it can select the correct card. The app simply ensures that the magician does not have to remember the order of the cards.

Jigsaw

The magical jigsaw was another trick that the computer was fine from the feet. A magician makes this puzzle. The puzzle shows different forms. Then the magician has again set the puzzle and make it again. On the puzzle that will be displayed, are missing some. At the conclusion of this trick several factors: the size of the puzzle, the number of puzzle pieces, the number of forms that appears and disappears, and the number of ways the puzzle can be put together. Such a complex situation with many variables is highly suitable for a form of artificial intelligence to process and come up with variations on this trick by changing certain variables.

"Using Artificial Intelligence to create magic tricks is a great way to demonstrate the possibilities of computer intelligence," says researcher Peter McOwan. "And it is also part of our research into the psychology of the viewer.

Artificial Intelligence And Xbox 360

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Artificial Intelligence And Xbox 360

Let's leave the format war between Sony and Microsoft and explore a gaming phenomena that unquestionably improves current gaming trends -- Artificial Intelligence, or AI to many. Touted to make new breakthroughs and trends in the world of gaming, AI is the enabling of intricate decision-making capabilities in a software. Speaking of AI, the Xbox 360 boasts of an AI-capable system designed and developed by many brilliant and innovative engineers. Though the Xbox also has this feature, it is more pronounced and better in the new console combined with the HD DVD technology.

Of course, such high-quality consoles deserve top-notch games and the developers stepped up to the challenge. Game developers for Xbox and its new improved counterpart also added AI programs to their games, giving the in-game personas the ability to think like a real person. With the vast power of the new consoles, the whole universe of gaming comes alive. A summary of the improvements AI bring to online gaming: non-player characters or NPCs act in realistic manner, not to mention that allies are more helpful and enemies become more fiendish than ever.

Such simplistic notions cannot fully express the benefit of AI in a game sequence. The simplicity of the summation only contrives to hide the complexity of the AI behind the Xbox 360. But the concept of AI is not a modern one. In fact, AI is a subject of discussion, debates, and practical simulations within the academic setting for years. Chris Satchell, Microsoft's General Manager for Game Development, attests to this fact. From the development of Pac-Man, game designers and developers have been employing the use of AI, even if it is just in its simplest state. Take Pac-Man for example, wherein the main objective is to eat as many golden pellets as possible without being eaten by the "ghosts." This simplicity is matched by the elementary pre-scripted AI patterns used. The ghosts almost always follow a straight line but they deviate from their path when they sense your presence. It is noticeable especially when your Pac-Man does not change position at all -- the ghosts move according to the path, changing directions only when they get close to you.

Twenty years later since Pac-Man, family computers, and many computer hardware changes, game developers still use the same simplistic AI tricks. The hardwares evolve to accommodate the intensity of the modern graphics as well as the sound system for more biting audio. However, despite these changes, AI programs continue to be a sort of last-minute addition. In fact, the programs are deemed to be unimportant in gaming. As a result, the NPCs, largely remained as stupid bots who don't move even if caught in a crossfire. This is what the AI programs for the Xbox 360 take care of.

Satchell affirms that the new processing model composed of three powerful symmetric cores more than makes up for the lack of "reality" of the old console models. He asserts that this new Microsoft innovation is really a paradigmatic shift because the standard for game consoles and computer hardware is the use of a single core. He added that this shift to a three-core system will add considerable burden to the lives of game developers but add to greater delight of all Xbox 360 gamers. This is because a fully AI-capable three-core system provides greater flexibility and more cycles which make gaming more exciting and interesting.

The key to achieving that is to make sure that the AI programs of the new Xbox run smoothly on all three cores. Therefore, the developers need to take extensive sections from their codes and test it on all three cores. As a result of all these great efforts, the CPU's main processor does not take all the burden of handling multiple tasks; instead, the added cores take over the job. The results are more efficient gaming, sharper graphics, quality audio, and thinking characters which give Xbox 360 games advantage over others.

Artificial Intelligence - The Future of Smart Phones

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Artificial Intelligence - The Future of Smart Phones

Smartphones are evolving. The constant rapidity in their growth has never failed to amaze us. Mobile phones have now become something more than just being a device to call or kill the boredom and dullness. This is all because they have become intelligent machines due to AI.

Artificial intelligence, a.k.a. machine intelligence is the development of computer applications that can process information, and respond in a way which is closer to human reasoning. You can even call this process of making computers think for themselves.

Artificial Intelligence on phones has become the de facto must-have feature whether consumers know it or not. 

Gone are the days when artificial intelligence was a fantasy in movies. This tech has enabled the emotional capacity to interact with humans. Many of us are already taking advantage of it through mobile apps. Owing to this thousand of new smart apps and devices are being launched every day. As this smartphone revolution is poised to go onto the next levelwith "superphones" let us see what all these smart pieces of slabs have to offer us. Here are some ways that prove smartphones actually stand true to their name when fused with the magic of AI.

Brainy Photos and Filter Apps

Google Photos is available by default in many Android Smartphones. It uses AI and machine learning to identify human faces in a photo. It is this ability to understand the content in a photo which makes Google Photos better than an ordinary photo storage app.  Users can also make it easier for users to find images they want quickly. Apps such as Prisma and Artisto use AI to apply filters and convert an ordinary photo into a beautiful work of art.

Chatting Made Fun

Googles Allo also employs AI and language processing tools to understand how a user converses over the messenger with friends. It focuses more on the context and content of a conversation so that it can come up with smart suggestions and more accurate answers. The more time you spend on the messenger, more are the chances of getting accurate results.

Typing made Easy

Oh! Typing on touchscreen phones was always been an uncomfortable experience as compared to a proper keyboard. Microsofts SwiftKey takes it a step further by using AI. It helps you understand what message is written and accordingly provide accurate text predictions and the auto correction options. This is where predictive text input helps users overcome the limitations of small keys and keyboards.

Making Smartphones Actually Smart

It is again the AI Assistant that has made Googles Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones a unique device. Like the AI in the Allo, it creates a virtual image of a user based on his queries, commands and browser history, so it can understand the context in query better and provide more appropriate suggestions.  HTC has deployed a similar AI tool called Sense Companion in the HTC U Ultra and U Play smartphones that works in similar lines as Google Assistant.

AI in smartphones is still at a very nascent stage but the immense potential of Artificial Intelligence is sure to change all. Looking at the pace with which AI is increasing it won't be absurd to say that in future every personal and official task of the human being will be handled by the Smartphones.

All thanks to this brilliant technology in the mobile phones that we quickly and easily shop online, or book the hotels and restaurants or a flight. So, imagine friends, when the nascent stage of Artificial Intelligence can do this much, the future is sure to bring something very colossal, for sure.

Are MRI's Always Accurate

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Are MRI's Always Accurate

If you have been injured in an accident the most important task you have is to seek medical attention immediately. After your injuries have been treated and your condition has been diagnosed you may be ordered by your physician to get more tests. One of the test they may order is called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This is a non-invasive way to take internal pictures of the body. Unlike X-Rays and Computed Tomographic (CT) scans, which use radiation, the MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The MRI scanner contains a magnet. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is about 10 thousand times greater than the earth's.

This is done by the magnetic field forcing hydrogen atoms in the body to line up in a certain way, much the same way a needle on a compass moves when you hold it near a magnet. When radio waves are sent toward the lined-up hydrogen atoms, they will bounce back. A computer will then record the signal. Different signals are sent by different tissues. For example, healthy tissue sends back a slightly different signal than cancerous tissue.

Single MRI images are called slices and these slices can be stored on a computer or printed on film. The width of the slice can affect the quality of the image produced. An MRI can easily be performed through clothing. However, because the magnet is very, very strong, certain types of metal can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the images.

The accuracy of the MRI may not be as fool proof as we have been lead to believe. An MRI reading may indicate that there is not a problem, a negative MRI, but in actuality there is a problem that is not detected. MRI's have been regarded as a highly effective way to get information on internal issues in the body. They have been used for years as evidence of injuries caused by an auto accident. The most common injury from a car accident found would be a bulging or herniated disc.

One man reported that he had an MRI after a fall and the scan showed nothing except bulging disks. He was told that bulging disks were normal. He was instructed to do neck exercises. He followed the exercise regime and eventually felt better. A year later he fell again and suffered the same symptoms but they were more painful and debilitating. The symptoms didn't lessen so he had another MRI which showed a nerve impingement that was diagnosed as serious enough to cause paralysis if he did not have surgery to widen four to five vertebrae and free the trapped nerves.

There are many explanations as to why scans can render such diverse results. MRI's are performed by Radiology centers which then send the reports to the doctors. Doctors can never be sure if the MRI was done well, interpreted well or if the machine is used is the most current available. Also, the manner that the scan was performed can affect the results. If the width of the picture slice is too wide it might be hard to read. Some companies don't even take an MRI of the entire spine if a cervical, lumbar or thoracic MRI is ordered. They set gaps between the slices. This cuts down on the time required completing the MRI, but it also creates inaccuracies since there are no images of the gaps. If the disc herniation falls within the gap there would be no image of it. The thought is that more MRI's can be scheduled by reducing the time required for each MRI. This means more profits for the testing facility and inaccurate test results for the patient.

Are movies based on books always a success

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Are movies based on books always a success

The transference of novels to movies is perhaps one of the oldest sources of screenplays, with the very first printed book ever, The Bible, being the source of film many times. The huge volume of novels that have been created is reason enough for books and similar texts to be used as the foundation of many movies, but are films and television able to accurately represent the written word?

Novels, texts and books providing the script for movies range from works of fiction to autobiographies to plays to non-fiction historical accounts to comic books with the creative licence of the director and screenwriter being able to determined how close to the books any movies will remain.

Perhaps one of the most popular phrases used when considering movies based on novels is "The book is far better than the movie" with a level of doubt associated to the process of a movies interpretation of a novel. This is evident in a great many films with novel sources, including the notorious "A Clockwork Orange" written by Anthony Burgess and recreated to the screen by Stanley Kubrick. Generating countless discussions and debates, the movie and Kubrick's interpretation was supported by Burgess, which was based on the American transalation of the novel. However there was a crucial omission from Burgess' novel to film, which removed Burgess's British version of the narrative which created a far bleaker conclusion without Burgess' original reform plot twist, in standard Kubrick style.

While just one example, of which there are hundreds, this subject of books and movies and the issue of representation is often a basis of discussion with a wide opinion being that each medium can boast its own pros and cons.

To begin with, time is an obvious issue with movies only demanding a few hours while books can be a real investment|the question of time and the investment of the reader or audience is a factor. Movies are a relatively small commitment, being around two hours while books can take days or weeks to read. Notably, movies have the benefit for fast entertainment where the viewer only wants to spend a few hours on a particular story. However, the issue of adapting boks and novels to film there will normally be alterations to the original storywhich makes it suitable for the film format. While the trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings" had a duration time of more than 10 hours, significant storylines and characters were cut from famous novels by J.R.R. Tolkien that were regarded as unnecessary for the movies progression.If this is the case, does this mean that a movie based on a novel is actually the directors or screenwriters interpretation of a text, not the actual text put to screen itself?

Additionally,the reading of books forces the reader to visualise the characters and world to their own choice and explains the innermost thoughts of characters, movies put these images to screen, whether it is how the reader saw them or not. While this can present a major benefit for some, there is certainly cases where audiences dispute with the casting of certain characters, which will impact on the overall success of the adaptation.

Naturally, the question of cutting text and storylines from books is not always the case as with many children's books, graphic novels and comic books actually being filled out for the screen adaptations. In reality, one of the most highly anticipated movies for 2009 is based on a 48-page children's book called "Where the Wild Things Are" that has sold over 19 million copies worldwide according to HarperCollins.

The element to consider of the qualities of movies and their literary sources is a question that won't date with new films being adapted and produced every year. Actually, the amount of movies in production with a literary source is increasing as computer graphics and special effects are being expanded, which means books that use to contain imagery beyond reality are now able to be created.

So the consideration of whether books to movies adaptations are successful or not is one that may not have an answer. Both mediums are broadly audience based, meaning that it is more an issue of whether the individual finds a particular film or novel enjoyable, instead of grading the whole process a success or not.

Are Desktop Computers Becoming Obsolete

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Are Desktop Computers Becoming Obsolete

For decades, desktop computers have ruled the roost when it came to power, storage and capability. The only way you could get the most out of games, doing heavy graphics work and massive number crunching was to have some type of desktop computer system. Laptops generally had slower processors, less memory, smaller hard drives and were significantly more expensive than desktop computers. However, in today's hyper-connected world, and with huge advances in technology, desktop systems simply aren't as relevant as they once were. However, this begs the question, are desktops obsolete?

Unquestionably, laptop computers are far more portable enabling users to take their computer with them virtually anywhere they go. Schools, restaurants, hotels and even public areas like parks and airports are providing wi-fi connectivity and smart phones allow internet access anywhere you can get a signal which is virtually everywhere now. Portable devices can now be used to surf the 'net, use instant messaging, doing emails and many other functions have essentially replaced the need for a fixed system. This means desktop computers aren't required for many things users have a need for.

Also, laptop computers today have multi-core processors, have several gigabytes of RAM and have huge hard drives. Couple these with a high end graphics processor chip which many manufacturers are doing and a laptop will do games and graphics work just as well as any desktop computer available. Add in a docking station to make it easy to connect full size screens, keyboards and other peripherals and the laptop actually becomes a complete replacement for desktop systems. Even prices for laptops are extremely reasonable now. Today, finding laptops with dual, triple or quad core processors, 4 gigs of RAM and a 350 gig hard drive for under $500 is easy to do.

However, desktop systems still offer capabilities that laptops simply can't. Since desktop systems have slots, adding new functions such as multiple graphics cards, firewire cards, additional USB ports and RAID controllers is as simple as opening the case and inserting the card. Also, desktops are much easier to add memory and hard drive capacity as well as doing upgrades such as replacing a CD-ROM drive with a Blu-ray. Repairs for desktop computers are a lot less expensive as well Even a main board replacement with a processor upgrade is usually less than $200.

While mobile devices and laptops are replacing desktops in a lot of respects, there is still a need for desktop computers in many cases, especially in the office and for gamers. Even with the advanced technology that goes into laptops today, desktop systems are still more capable, easier to expand and upgrade and gives you more performance for your dollar. While desktops aren't as relevant as they once were, they're far from obsolete.

Archive Alive - Kiosk Software For Museum Touchscreen Kiosks

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Archive Alive - Kiosk Software For Museum Touchscreen Kiosks

That age old problem of space.
One of the most common problems in many museums and galleries, big or small, is display space. Often a great many items of public and historical interest are stored away purely due to the fact that there is nowhere to display them.

Some exhibits are overlooked and left in storage for years at a time, either that or a great deal of time is spent by staff re-arranging galleries and moving fragile exhibits to and from storage.

The ideal would be to be able to give the public access to all of your exhibits without having to actually "exhibit" them.

A simple to use customisable system allowing museums and galleries to give virtual access to all of these exhibits, documents and anything else to the public without having to expand the size of your museum would be the prefect solutions for many museums, galleries and heritage sites.

A new solution to this old problem is "Archive Alive"

Simply take photographs of all your stored exhibits, decide what you want to say about them, then put your pictures and text into Archive Alive.

The easy to use management console is where you would import photographs of any exhibits and items, together with your text information, audio and video clips. These are organised into galleries for easy searching by your visitors to allow viewing of all those exhibits that are stored away due to lack of space.

Once uploaded your visitors can access all this information via the touch screen kiosks. Each kiosk can show the entire collections or selected galleries on each kiosk.

The visitor facing pages of can be configured into galleries and sub-galleries, with the look of each page customisable to how you want to present the information.

A major concerns is always security when it comes to giving the public a computer to use in a public place. This is on of the many advantages of using kiosks rather than a PC on a desk. With only a touchscreen interface the ony thing that the public can do is what you want them to.

The software has been specifically written to be as simple to use as possible. Full training for staff is available as online videos showing every aspect of the day to day running of the software, and absolutely no computer knowledge is needed to use the visitor facing side of the software ensuring that anyone who visits your attraction can easily use the information points.

Archive Alive can be bought as a "do it yourself" package or in conjuction with myKiosk Museum information system. The MyKiosk Museum information kiosks can be bespoke branded with removable - interchangeable facias that you can change depending on what you are exhibiting, and how you would like them to look. They can all be networked so updating your virtual exhibits is just a mouse click away.

Who are Kiosks4Business?
As an operating division of Sequoia Technology Limited, a small to medium sized business based in Reading, kiosks4business was created to public access computing solutions for local authorities and public organisations. We have built and installed Parent Information Point systems in more than 15 councils across the UK and hundreds of other systems into automotive dealerships and other applications.

For more information regarding bespoke touch screen kiosks please contact the team. If you have an idea for a new project please contact us with your ideas and the functionality that you require.