Remember the days when kids would play with those amazing little bricks called Legos? This was back before every child had their own IPad to play games like Angry Birds. Well, with the use of augmented reality and API’s, Team Filip Denker and Peter Papp may have created a solution that will have kids put down the IPad and pick up the IPhone instead (it’s a good thing, trust me).

My Bricks Online is a tool that came out of the TechCrunch Disrupt London hackathon. What exactly is the tool and how will it help with the addiction of IPad usage that kids suffer from today? By downloading this tool on your smart device (i.e. a smartphone), you can augment your Lego creations by giving them sounds based on the colors of the bricks used. This opens up a world of possibilities for kids, and even adults.

This hack was created to persuade kids to put down the electronics they’ve become so addicted to today. It definitely attracts me to pull out the old Legos and start building to explore all the amazing possibilities. This idea is a gateway to multiple other possibilities. If this was done with Legos, it can also be used for other non-electronic activities in the future. Do you think this is a good idea, and do you think it can replace those IPads for Legos?

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/04/my-bricks-online/

As our dear Nittany Lions climb the ranks of the college football world, capturing our attention, Snapchat is using the ranks of college football to capture the attention of this same collegiate world.

Snapchat has had Spectacle vending machines pop up randomly over the past few weeks, and the most recent vendor appeared in Pasadena, next to the Rose Bowl Stadium. Past locations have been Venice Beach, Big Sur, Tulsa, and Santa Monica. This marketing scheme has kept the Snapchat faithful on their toes for sure.

What exactly are Snapchat Spectacles though? Entering the wearable technology market, these smart glasses, that don’t look very smart, are a way of linking up your Snapchat with your first-person views. The glasses will record a clip of whatever you are looking at, and transmit it to your phone for you to send to your friends on social media.

This is a very great strategy by Snapchat. The Tech Crunch article I looked at points out how huge football games will draw huge crowds, and that people tend to share more when they’re at a big event, such as a college football game. I know whenever I am standing in Beaver Stadium singing “Sweet Caroline,” my phone is out swaying with me as Snapchat allows my friends to experience the moment with me.

Would you get a pair of these kooky spectacles? I’m not entirely sure if I would, but I would love to hear what your views on this smart-wear are.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/19/snapchat-spectacle-vending-bot-lands-at-the-rose-bowl-stadium-in-pasadena/

In the midst of the age of wearable technology, the Intel Corporation is laying off a major portion of its wearable department. What does this mean for the wearable industry? With products like Google Glass, Snapchat Spectacles, and third party smart watches not being as popular in an Apple Watch/Fitbit dominated wearable market, it would interesting to see Intel try to stay in the game with a smaller team.

Tech Crunch made an update in their article by quoting Intel in saying that, “Intel is in no way stepping back from the wearable business. In fact, we have several products in the works that we are very excited about, as well as prior launches that highlight our wearable technology such as the TAG Heuer Connected watch and recent Oakley Radar Pace smart eyewear.”

Intel is very certain that their wearable department can compete in such an Apple/Fitbit smart watch dominated market. I personally don’t think that Intel will be able to survive in this market (being that I had to Google what the Oakley Radar Pace eyewear was). Not only that, but with the large amount of layoffs in the department, products that might have had a chance to be successful, such as the Basis Ruby, will never see the light of day.

As of now, Intel has been set back significantly. Based on the company’s domination in other markets, I find it difficult to believe that they will worry too much about the wearable department. I think Intel will be out of the wearable game in a few years, but I would like to hear what you have to say on the matter. Could Intel come back and put the Apple Watch and other high-end wearables to shame?

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/18/intel-layoffs/