Digital Lounge News

Squirrels and Birds Inspire Researchers to Create Deceptive Robots

December 3, 2012 - Using deceptive behavioral patterns of squirrels and birds, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed robots that are able to deceive each other. The research is funded by the Office of Naval Research and is led by Professor Ronald Arkin, who suggests the applications could be implemented by the military in the future. The research is highlighted in the November/December 2012 edition of IEEE Intelligent Systems.

Robots in the Home: Will Older Adults Roll Out the Welcome Mat?

October 25, 2012 - Robots have the potential to help older adults with daily activities that can become more challenging with age. But are people willing to use and accept the new technology? A study by the Georgia Institute of Technology indicates the answer is yes, unless the tasks involve personal care or social activities.

Computer Science About to Get More Hip

Using Hip-Hop to Teach Computer Science

July 11, 2012 - Georgia Tech is welcoming 18 metro Atlanta high school students to campus this week, hosting a musical summer camp that is intended to have broad implications for the future of computer science education. The teenagers are creating and remixing hip-hop beats using a software program called Earsketch. Although only 5 of the students had ever written computer code before they arrived at the camp, each high schooler will create a three-minute, computerized tune by Friday.

Musical Robot Companion Enhances Listener Experience

June 26, 2012 - Shimi, a musical companion developed by Georgia Tech's Center for Music Technology, recommends songs, dances to the beat and keeps the music pumping based on listener feedback. The smartphone-enabled, one-foot-tall robot is billed as an interactive "musical buddy." 

Four Telltale Signs of Propaganda on Twitter

May 31, 2012 - A new study out of the School of Computer Science looks at “hyperadvocacy” on Twitter. The study identifies four characteristic behaviors of hyperadvocates, whose actions clearly separate them from the tweeting behavior of typical users.

Georgia Tech/Microsoft Study Shows Bandwidth Caps Create Uncertainty, Risky Decisions

May 7, 2012 - A new study by a Georgia Tech researcher shows that capped broadband pricing triggers uneasy user experiences that could be mitigated by better tools to monitor data usage through their home networks.