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Precision pest control

A new smartphone app is being developed to help farmers in hot climates identify and record the spread of locusts on their land. The app uses advanced computer vision technology to recognize locusts through the phone's camera and record its location, enabling farmers to target pesticides more accurately and reduce crop damage.

USC research fosters communication between smart buildings and people

A new USC study explores how virtual assistants can facilitate cooperation between humans and buildings, leading to improved energy efficiency and environmental outcomes. The researchers found that small talk and social dialogue help people connect with AI-powered avatars, resulting in better behavioral changes.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalInternational Journal of Human-Computer Interaction·DateJan 9, 2019

Communication between neural networks

The study combines synfire communication, coherence and resonance to provide insight into how messages are exchanged between brain areas. The researchers found that oscillations play a significant role in determining whether communication can take place.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Reviews Neuroscience·DateDec 17, 2018

Study reveals how Chinese travellers use technology abroad

Chinese backpackers rely heavily on digital technologies like Ali Pay and WeChat Pay for mobile payments and enjoy sharing their travel experiences on social media to receive comments and complements. Their IT use is influenced by collectivistic culture, guanxi, and the need for constant connectedness with families.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPacific Asia Journal of the Association for Information Systems·DateDec 13, 2018

Scientists from CMU and NTU Singapore discover how mechanical strain shapes plants

The study reveals that biomechanical factors play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, with mechanical stress and deformation influencing leaf geometry. The research provides insights into the formation of complex 3D shapes in plants, which can inform the creation of bioinspired structures in soft materials like hydrogels.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 22, 2018

The smart factory

Researchers at Swansea University are developing data-driven computational models to predict machine failures and optimize production processes in Crown's smart factories. The goal is to increase efficiency, accuracy, and productivity while addressing the current lagging productivity levels of UK manufacturers and suppliers.

Photo recognition that keeps personal interests private

A new framework, EnfPire, is proposed to preserve users' privacy when using photo-based information services. The framework successfully abstracts location information and returns a set of candidates to the user, who compares them with the original feature using a simple recognizer.

SourceOsaka University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security·DateNov 14, 2018