Communications of the ACM
An edited collection of advanced computing news from Communications of the ACM, ACM TechNews, other ACM resources, and news sites around the Web.
From ACM TechNews
Face Recognition for Pigs Could Improve Welfare on Farms
Wenhao Zhang and colleagues at the U.K.'s University of the West of England have developed a facial recognition system for pigs.
From ACM TechNews
Sensory Trick Makes Objects Seem Heavy or Light in VR
Vibrating pads on people's arms can support a more convincing illusion of weight in virtual reality by fooling the brain into ignoring certain sensory input.
From ACM TechNews
Apps Used as Alternatives to Prison in U.S. Have Privacy Flaws
Researchers found privacy flaws in apps used in the U.S. to track people waiting for immigration court dates, those in juvenile detention systems, and those on...
From ACM TechNews
DeepMind AI Learns to Play Soccer Using Decades of Match Simulations
Researchers trained an artificial intellgence to play soccer using an athletic curriculum resembling an accelerated model of a human baby maturing into a soccer...
From ACM TechNews
Earthquakes Seem to Come in a More Predictable Pattern Than We Thought
A machine learning model developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis can analyze decades of earthquake data to predict future earthquakes.
From ACM TechNews
Your Smartphone Could Recognize You by How You Hold It
Researchers trained an artificial intelligence-powered algorithm to identify individuals based their hand vibrations when holding a smartphone.
From ACM TechNews
Quantum Computers Might Not Offer Extreme Speed Boost for Chemistry
New research suggests the required computing power could diminish quantum computing's exponential speed advantage.
From ACM TechNews
Artificial Neuron Swaps Dopamine with Rat Brain Cells Like a Real One
Could be incorporated into future human-machine interfaces.
From ACM TechNews
Robot Unties Knotted Cables but Can't Pick Them Up
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) researchers have developed a robot that can untie knotted cables using the grippers on its arms.
From ACM TechNews
How the Secrets of Ancient Cuneiform Texts Are Being Revealed by AI
Artificial intelligence is being used to read and translate cuneiform, helping to recreate ancient libraries by piecing together fragmented tablets and predicting...
From ACM TechNews
Flexible Robot Hand with Precise Grip Lifts 1,000 Times Its Own Weight
Researchers have developed artificial muscles using a three-dimensional printer and tiny actuators that convert energy into movement.
From ACM TechNews
Headline Tricks Make People Share News Stories on Facebook
Usual punctuation in headlines can make people more likely to share news stories on Facebook, although asking questions is less likely to encourage engagement. ...
From ACM TechNews
Acoustic Levitation Used to Build Complex Structures in Mid-Air
A new system incorporates a robotic arm that generates sound waves to levitate and move objects to build complex structures in mid-air without touching the parts...
From ACM TechNews
Google Wants to Challenge AI with 200 Tasks, to Replace the Turing Test
Artificial intelligence researchers have proposed an update to the Turing test for rating the capabilities of AI technology.
From ACM TechNews
3D Rabbit 'Hologram' Created by Levitating Screen Using Sound Waves
An algorithm developed by researchers at the U.K.'s University College London can generate "holograms" by acoustically levitating objects.
From ACM TechNews
Global Satellite Map Will Help Hunt Down Illegal Fishing Vessels
A new digital map uses satellite radar imagery to identify potential illegal fishing vessels.
From ACM TechNews
Robot Can Find Keys in a Bag by Listening as It Rummages
Stanford University researchers trained a microphone-outfitted robotic arm to locate objects like keys in a handbag by listening for telltale sounds while searching...
From ACM TechNews
Smart Contact Lens for Glaucoma Could Release Drugs When Needed
A prototype wireless contact lens could help treat glaucoma by automatically dispensing drugs when pressure inside the eye becomes excessive.
From ACM TechNews
Virtual Tennis Racket Uses Air Jet to Recreate Feel of Hitting Ball
Researchers have developed the AirRacket, a virtual reality controller that emits bursts of compressed air to simulate a ball's impact in racket sports.
From ACM TechNews