UK Space Agency pumps £20 million into drone development https://telecoms.com/522658/uk-space-agency-pumps-20-million-into-drone-development/ The UK Space Agency has announced a £20m funding pot for drone projects, which will be available for companies working on aerial connectivity, such as drones delivering medical supplies and providing dedicated connectivity for emergency services. The funding is part of the European Space Agency's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services programme, and applications can be filed under three categories: drones, high-altitude platform stations and high-altitude long endurance. The funding follows £50m in ARTES funding announced in January, which was available for firms developing new satellite constellations, the ground systems needed to access them, or whole end-to-end systems.

Thinking beyond audio: Augmenting headphones for everyday digital interactions

Microsoft Research

Advancing the potential of human-computer interaction

Headphones possess remarkable potential that extends far beyond what meets the ear. Discover how augmenting headphones with additional sensors and ...

Microsoft Research explores the potential of sensor-enhanced headphones to expand the capabilities of human-computer interaction. By incorporating sensors such as microphones, proximity sensors, motion sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and LiDARs, headphone designers can explore new avenues of input and interaction, allowing for a wide range of applications beyond traditional audio control. These include context-aware privacy controls, directed speech interaction, and socially recognizable gestures for audio-visual control, among others.