The Gadget Show Live, April 2013: Technology in the UK
by Ian Cutress on April 4, 2013 6:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
- UK
- Gadget Show
Programming Gangnam Style and 4K Racing
One of the more esoteric demonstrations at the event was by a company called Aldebaran Robotics, makers of the NAO range of human-like robots for teaching school children how to react and program machines logically. There are clearly hits of Honda’s ASIMO robot in here, but the NAO robot does something other than running – Gangnam Style!
A project that encourages school children to think in a way that promotes coding is a good thing in my opinion, especially for the computer driven age we live in today. Having something visual like the NAO helps this, and some of the software seemed easy to use as well.
One of the uses for the NAO is to play football (the non-US kind) in the Robocup World Championship. The next big event, the Robocup German Open, is just 3 weeks away and will take place in Magdeburg, Germany.
In the coding world, one stand was dedicated to four teams of programmers designing new games and utilities in the Unreal Engine 3.0. All the screens were on display showing just how involved making a game and using engine software is.
Dirt 3 meets 84” 4K with a £12k Racing Seat
Perhaps the most interactive excitement I had at GSL was at the LG booth, were one of their 84” 4K panels was on display hooked up to Dirt 3. The game was also connected to a Vesaro racing simulator, capable of independent motion in all four corners to correspond with the feelings in game.
The Seat
The 4K Screen
Despite not owning a driving license or a car, I love driving games, go-karting and the Formula 1. The whole experience was great, with it being my first proper attempt at using both manual gear changes with a flappy paddle steering wheel. Luckily enough I did not crash in any major way and in my three lap race I did not finish last!
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jabber - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
The Gadget Show??? I must admit I don't know anyone that watches that show anymore. It was okay originally when they group tested the latest cameras and deep fat fryers but now it's all stupidly expensive Arab prince playthings. It comes to something when the cheapest stuff they show are Apple products. A reality disconnect. Oh and the presenters are dicks too.hughlle - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
Have to agree. It's in the name. Gadget. An igloo 360 degree gaming experience does not really fal into the notion of a gadget for me, considering the level of sophistication, let alone the size of the thing.IanCutress - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
There are two different markets for gadgets - the consumer or the business. Now I can't imagine an individual having a 360 gaming experience in the home unless they have the space and the cash, but there is scope for businesses to hire them for events, or use them as marketing tools to build new clients. In that sense, they are very much a gadget from my POV.Also the 'Live' show floor has very little to do with the OTA TV programme, except in name and advertising. There are corollaries between items featured in the TV Show and the event, mostly by virtue that the company making the product wants to advertise it to the event audience. Not once did I see or bump into any of the Gadget Show presenters.
The TV broadcast doesn't specialise in any real field; their market is the non-enthusiast. As such, the non-enthusiast may not appreciate being told the difference between 18 different smartphones or laptops, only one or two, and they don't really care about the motherboard as they buy systems prebuilt. And in much the same way that Top Gear doesn't really review anything for regular people, TGS veers into that high end space more often than not in order to show 'here's something in the high end space''.
Ian
Modjo30 - Friday, April 5, 2013 - link
Guess you don't watch it ever then because they are always testing the cheaper items, they were testing the latest touch screen camera's on the latest episode, costing £199 and £299, i wouldn't call that arab prince playthings really, However it is a bit like Top gear, an awful lot of people are interested in seeing these amazing gadgets and what peoples minds have thought up, you go back to your farm and your armish lifestylecjs150 - Friday, April 5, 2013 - link
The presenters are not dicks, they are too juvenile for their balls to have dropped yet.It is a show made by 9 year old boys for 9 year old boys (but with a pretty women as one of the presenters in case the 9 year old's elder brother (13) ends up watching it). Shame because some of the tech is truly interesting.
takuan2uk - Saturday, April 6, 2013 - link
Hi, I used to be a Gadget Show fan as well, but it has long ceased to be a show aimed at techies and gadget freaks. As is common with many programs it has dumbed down and become more sensationalised so as to appeal to a wider audience. You can tell that they're milking it for all it's worth when they sent one of the presenters to Italy just to test out some (rather ordinary) headphones!AncientWisdom - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
Great write up, definitely some interesting ideas and gadgets presented.very interested in a follow-up of the Gunnar products as well as the group robot stuff which I find very stimulating intelligently speaking.
NobleKain - Monday, April 8, 2013 - link
AncientWisdom ~Following this write-up, I went and bought a pair of the Gunnar's (Wi-Five model). I love them! My assumption is that since I have a FSA (health savings account) that I haven't yet touched, I can probably get them reimburesed given their purpose (Note: I have not yet attempted reimbursement, so don't trust that it is possible... I just assume it is).
Anyway, I have had my pair since last Friday (4/5/13). I absolutely love them. I'm a comp programmer, so I spend 8+ hours a day in front of my PC, followed by an evening of reading on my iPad mini. They make a HUGE difference, but you should note: it takes awhile to get used to them (it took me a little over an hour). While the magnification is minor, it's enough to "weird" out your eyes. I presume this is because your eyes are used to working harder. Whatever the reason, it takes a bit to get comfortable with them, but after the hour, I can now wear them without issue. Also, I no longer need a "warm-up" to them. They simply work comfortably.
Another caveat; the magnification REDUCES the clarity of anything more than 10ft. away. Again, this is very, very minor, but it is worth noting. These won't be all-day replacements for all activities. These are single-purpose glasses, IMO... looking at computer screens.
I got the yellow'd tinted versions, and I'd suggest you do the same, unless you NEED the clear versions.
Anyway, as a customer, I'm very happy with my purchase - and if I'm correct that I can use my FSA funds, I'll be even happier. Either way, it's worth it (I paid $106 after tax). I'm tempted now to get a pair for home, so I don't have to bring these ones back and forth.
dylan522p - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
Great write up, but I feel like the gadget show is not about gadgets.jabber - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
We used to go to the Stuff show at the end of the year. Then the next day we visited Selfridge's home entertainment and computer dept. We found 95% of the gear on show at the Stuff show in there...and it didn't cost anything to go in.Suffice to say we don't bother paying/visiting that many gadget/tech shows these days.