Rather than having to repaint a room numerous times in order to change the color

Rather than having to repaint a room numerous times in order to change the color, a new robotic lighting system called Lighty could get the job done in a matter of seconds.

Lighty uses a tablet-and-stylus interface to control a room that is equipped with an array of robotic lights in the ceiling. A camera embedded in the ceiling displays the image of the room on screen, and the user draws on the image, shading in dark or light areas as if they were coloring in a book. As the user shades in the areas, the robotic lights in the ceiling respond in kind, lightening or darkening the corresponding areas of the room.

The computer does all of the calculations, so all the user has to focus on is coloring, and can even blend light and dark areas for a moody effect. The lights in the ceiling are able to swivel around and aim at specific areas of the room, so for example, if you want to be a little suggestive, the room can be made completely dark except for the bed area.

The tablet interface, though simple, is reminiscent of a graphical design or art program, like Photoshop. The user chooses different brushes from a menu, then paints the displayed image of the room. The demo shows different intensities of light, as well as a few tools, such as a standard brush, one called “squirt,” as well as an eraser and undo button. Though the demo didn’t make mention of it, it’s entirely conceivable that the lighting system can replace the standard white lights with lights of a different color, allowing users to paint a room in many shades.

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Obviously, losing an arm creates significant hurdles for everyday life

Obviously, losing an arm creates significant hurdles for everyday life. From complex tasks like playing instruments, to simple things like tying a shoe or even holding a cup of coffee while trying to open a door, the use of one hand makes day-to-day tasks a challenge. If we lived in the world of Skynet and sentient robotic limbs, people who suffered a grievous limb injury could get right back in the game (not counting the robot war against all humankind of course). Fortunately, it turns out we do live in a world where a robotic arm is attainable, but we thankfully don’t have to be enslaved by machine overlords.

53-year-old Nigel Ackland was involved in an accident six years ago that resulted in the loss of his arm. In November of last year, he was given the carbon fiber arm and the Bebionic 3 myoelectric hand. Now, using the pair, he can perform some complex actions. The video highlights two actions that, though they are merely afterthoughts to people that have the use of two hands and all of their digits, actually require a significant amount of dexterity. These everyday tasks are tying a shoe and dealing a deck of cards.

Ackland can control the robotic arm via movements from his upper arm. The Bebionic 3 hand’s response to muscle twitches is so precise, that not only can a wearer tie shoelaces and deal cards, but can actually type on a keyboard, and perform the small, exact actions that dressing yourself requires.

Though the Bebionic 3 is precise, it still isn’t a real arm, and thus doesn’t offer the maneuverability and dexterity your own limb does. To alleviate this issue, the arm’s wrist can spin around and face the other direction, making it much easier to maneuver and grab objects — in theory, sometimes even easier than a person’s own arm and wrist.

Now, we don’t quite know if this bionic arm makes Ackland a cyborg like you might initially think, as the robotic bits in a cyborg need to provide a person with superhuman powers. However, the arm certainly provides Ackland with the ability to perform two-handed tasks once again, and it doesn’t seem to be too much of a hassle at that.

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