Date with a Robot
How close are we to giving personalities to robots and computers? TCD’s Prof Nick Campbell research focuses on developing an intelligent user interface to infuse robots with social verbal and non-verbal communication skills like laughter, humour, empathy, compassion and charm. Nick introduces Jonathan to Herme, a LEGO NXT (Mindstorms) robot to try and explain how his research is aimed at improving the emotional side of human interaction with computers and robots. We discover it’s not always what you say that counts and Jonathan meets Nick’s colleague Naomi Harte to take part in a fun language experiment that reveals how a simple audiovisual experiment can easily trick the mind…
Portable X-Rays
Radiology is at the centre of modern medicine. From dentistry to oncology, x –ray imaging is an indispensible tool; yet remarkably, until now, the vacuum tube x-ray technology used today has remained relatively unchanged for the past 100 years! But now, researchers at Tyndall National Institute in Cork are part of a global network of scientists (which includes researchers from Harwell Oxford Campus in the UK and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)) to develop future X-ray technology and pioneer the world’s smallest portable X-ray system. These new flat panel sources will be the size of a laptop and could save local health authorities up to €75,000 per machine. The technology has many applications, portable flat screen (Lap top) X-Ray device for GP surgery – no more going to hospitals, first responders, sports events, dental surgery, security are all possible avenues for the technology.
Little Country of Horrors
They mightn’t look as terrifying as Audrey II, but Ireland’s smaller creatures still have plenty to fear from our native carnivorous plants!
Stem Cells
Regenerative medicine is revolutionising healthcare and Irish scientists are playing a ground-breaking role, as for the first time ever, adult stem cells for human use are now being manufactured in Ireland. Kathriona visits the Irish Centre for Stem Cell Manufacture in Galway and meets Prof Frank Barry to find out how stem cells are grown and incredibly, to find out how researchers can now re-programme adult stem cells backwards to enable them to act like embryonic stem cells. We also and to find out about some of the different trials the centre is running at present that involves culturing adult stem cells to tackle conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, autism and osteoarthritis.
