All posts tagged: sensor

4 places to put a contact sensor that have nothing to do with security or doors

4 places to put a contact sensor that have nothing to do with security or doors

Published by skeptic

A contact sensor is a handy little device that can signal you if something is opened or closed, like a door or a window. It’s a useful theft deterrent to use alongside a security system, not to mention preventing your rebellious teens from sneaking out of their bedroom windows like they did in movies from the ’90s. Communicating with a smart home hub and/or app, contact sensors are most commonly used for security. But there are other ways and places you can use them if you really want to get creative that have nothing to do with security. Related I finally feel safe at home thanks to these 3 smart security gadgets It’s like hiring a security guard to roam around my home. Pipes or other water openings Stop leaks and plumbing troubles Credit: Christine Persaud / MUO Ideally, you should use a contact sensor that is specifically a water leak sensor for a place where there’s moisture, like your kitchen pipes, laundry area, or sewer drain. These are usually two pieces with a main unit …

This motion sensor ignores your pets but catches intruders

This $30 motion sensor ignores your pets but catches intruders

Published by skeptic

Home security is a crucial aspect of setting up a smart home. You don’t need a smart home to have a good security system. But, if you have a smart home, it’s a good idea to include some form of security aspects that you’re able to look at while you’re not home. It can provide you with peace of mind to know your home is safe and secure. There are different levels of security that you can incorporate in your home. While you don’t need to opt for a laser grid that you’ve seen in films like Ocean’s Twelve or Entrapment, you can still get some good motion detectors or sensors to alert you if something is going on at your residence when you aren’t there. One that I personally employ is a Ring Alarm Motion Detector and it has some great features that I’ve enjoyed for years. Related This $15 smart home gadget gives me more peace of mind than a security camera I use it for a lot of reasons. My home is …

GoPro’s new Mission 1 camera system includes a large 8K sensor and a model that accepts interchangeable lenses

GoPro’s new Mission 1 camera system includes a large 8K sensor and a model that accepts interchangeable lenses

Published by Jenni Sidey

Sign Up For Goods 🛍️ Product news, reviews, and must-have deals. You likely have a singular vision of what a “GoPro camera” is. The company invented the traditional action camera and has largely stuck to that format for years. Now, GoPro announced the Mission 1 Series at NAB 2026 and it’s a huge shift. The line includes three compact cameras built around a 50-megapixel 1-inch sensor and the company’s new GP3 processor. The lineup spans from a standard model through a high-framerate flagship to a version with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount — a combination that puts GoPro into categories it hasn’t competed in before. If you’ve been following action cameras, this one is worth paying attention to. Rather than creating another action camera that creatives can try to use as a makeshift cinema camera, the company has created a camera that’s actually made for long-form content creation. New thermal management, longer battery life, and increased accessory compatibility make this a very capable little brain for a bigger rig. The grip is fully mechanical …

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Release Date, Rumored Specs & Sensor

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Release Date, Rumored Specs & Sensor

Published by skeptic

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4, set for release on April 16, 2026, introduces significant updates to DJI’s compact camera lineup. According to TechAvid, one of the most notable features is the rumored 1-inch sensor, which could enhance low-light performance and support versatile framing options for various shooting formats. However, these advancements may present challenges, such as heat management and increased processing demands during high-frame-rate recording. Explore how the Pocket 4’s 4K 240fps slow-motion mode could expand creative opportunities, while also examining the trade-offs of its small form factor. Gain insight into how DJI might address thermal efficiency and storage bandwidth to maintain performance in demanding scenarios. This deep dive will provide a clear understanding of what to expect from DJI’s latest compact camera. Advancements in Sensor Technology & Framing Flexibility TL;DR Key Takeaways : The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is set to launch globally on April 16, 2026, featuring a compact design with significant advancements in sensor technology, slow-motion recording and reframing flexibility. A rumored 1-inch sensor upgrade promises superior image quality, especially in low-light …

MIT scientists create pill capsule sensor to help doctors track missed doses

MIT scientists create pill capsule sensor to help doctors track missed doses

Published by Jenni Sidey

Missing a dose can feel small in the moment. But in transplant care, HIV, tuberculosis, and many heart conditions, a skipped pill can carry a heavy price. That gap between what a doctor prescribes and what a patient actually takes has long frustrated clinicians and families. Now MIT engineers say they have built a pill that can confirm, within minutes, that it was swallowed, then largely dissolves in the stomach. The new system is designed to fit inside existing pill capsules. It relies on radio frequency, a signal type that can be detected from outside the body and is considered safe for humans. The capsule stays quiet before you swallow it. After ingestion, it sends a confirmation signal. Most of its parts then break down in the stomach, while a tiny radio frequency chip passes through the digestive tract and exits the body. “The goal is to make sure that this helps people receive the therapy they need to help maximize their health,” said Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, a …

Lidar-maker Ouster buys vision company StereoLabs as sensor consolidation continues

Lidar-maker Ouster buys vision company StereoLabs as sensor consolidation continues

Published by skeptic

Lidar-maker Ouster has acquired StereoLabs, a company that makes vision-based perception systems for robotics and industrial applications, for a combination of $35 million and 1.8 million shares. The deal is the latest in a march towards consolidation among perception sensor suppliers. Just last month, MicroVision bought the lidar assets of the buzzy-but-now-bankrupt Luminar for $33 million. Ouster itself has played the M&A game a fair amount, too. In 2022, the company merged with rival player Velodyne. The year before that, it bought lidar startup Sense Photonics. This consolidation is happening right as companies and investors rush to build businesses around “physical AI” — a broad term that encompasses everything from humanoid robotics and drones to self-driving cars and automated systems in warehouses. Even more obscure suppliers are raising big funding rounds as these technologies develop. Some startups are even trying to spin up entirely new sensor modalities. Ouster cofounder and CEO Angus Pacala told TechCrunch in an interview that he had been eyeing StereoLabs for years. He said he sees lidar as “the core component …

Scientists build the world’s first large-scale quantum sensor network to search for dark matter

Scientists build the world’s first large-scale quantum sensor network to search for dark matter

Published by Jenni Sidey

Researchers from China recently announced the creation of the largest quantum network in history to directly investigate the existence of dark matter. The project connects research centers located more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) apart. The work, coordinated by scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China, involves various precision measurement devices located in Hefei and Hangzhou. Researchers are targeting a theorised particle, called an axion, believed by many to constitute a significant fraction of the dark matter present in our universe. According to the study published in the journal Nature, dark matter accounts for approximately 26.8 per cent of the total mass and energy content of the known universe, but remains undetected by any means other than its gravitational effects on visible matter. Background And Scientific Motivation The researchers involved in the project include physicists with expertise in quantum sensing and nuclear-spin measurements. The objective of this collaboration was to detect extremely faint, transient signals, detectable only with very sensitive equipment, at times when Earth travels through very high densities of axion …

If you buy one smart home sensor, make it this one

If you buy one smart home sensor, make it this one

Published by skeptic

Adding smart home gadgets to your home may always seem like a good idea. But there are instances where the juice might not be worth the squeeze. You may oversaturate your Wi-Fi network with smart gadgets, slowing them all down. You can also buy an inefficient smart home device that ends up not providing you with the value that you’d hoped for. That’s why you need to carefully consider the smart home installations you’re making. Sure, there are ones that won’t affect your home much if you don’t like them, like a singular smart bulb or a small smart speaker. But if you’re going to make the investment to go more towards automation and higher security, it pays to think through your choices. If you’re looking into smart home sensors, going for a presence sensor makes the most sense. What’s a presence sensor? It’s a leveled-up motion sensor If you’ve ever used or thought of using a motion sensor, you understand that its main purpose is to alert people when motion is detected. This can …

New ‘glue sniffer’ sensor lets scientists watch brain cells talk in real time

New ‘glue sniffer’ sensor lets scientists watch brain cells talk in real time

Published by Jenni Sidey

The next time you reach for a memory or make a quick choice, a storm of tiny signals races through your brain. Scientists can usually see only half of that storm. Now, a new engineered protein finally lets them watch the quiet half too, the delicate chemical whispers that start each thought. Cracking the Brain’s Hidden Code Billions of neurons in your brain send electrical spikes along their long branches. When those spikes reach the end, they hit a dead end. The signal cannot jump the small gap to the next cell by electricity alone. Instead, the neuron releases chemicals called neurotransmitters into that gap, the synapse. Glutamate is the most common of these messengers, and it is central to learning, memory, and emotion. Glutamate is also subtle. The amounts released at a single synapse are tiny and vanish in a blink. Screening iGluSnFR variants in primary neuronal culture. (CREDIT: Nature Methods) For years, neuroscientists have been good at listening to neurons’ outgoing electrical spikes. They could see when a cell fired. What they could …

iPhone 18 Pro Max Camera Upgrades: 200 MP Sensor & More

iPhone 18 Pro Max Camera Upgrades: 200 MP Sensor & More

Published by skeptic

The iPhone 18 series is poised to redefine the smartphone landscape, offering a blend of advanced technology, refined design, and enhanced performance. Apple continues to push the boundaries of innovation with features like under-display Face ID, AI-powered photography, and a streamlined product lineup. These updates are designed to cater to a wide range of users, from casual consumers to tech enthusiasts, while maintaining Apple’s reputation for delivering innovative devices. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, in particular, stands out as a flagship model that combines aesthetic appeal with powerful functionality. The video below fromTT Technology gives us more details about the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Under-Display Face ID: A Seamless Experience Apple is reportedly testing under-display Face ID technology, a feature that could transform the iPhone’s design. By embedding the Face ID sensors beneath the screen, the iPhone 18 series may eliminate the need for the dynamic island, resulting in a cleaner and more immersive display. This innovation would allow for a more seamless user experience, as the display remains uninterrupted while retaining full functionality. Early …