Culled from Telegraph UK

British researchers are exploring ways to prevent information stored on robots being hacked or passed on to others, as part of a £2 million three-year project examining the implications of deploying robots in public spaces.

Humanoid robotics is an emerging research field that will become increasingly important as robots start to assist people in their daily lives, for example becoming companions for older people in their homes.

However, there is concern about how much information is gleaned and stored, particularly as these sociable human-seeming devices could lead to us being less guarded about what we reveal.

Dr Brown, Associate Director of Oxford University's Cyber Security Centre and Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, is researching ways to enable these robots to glean information without compromising users’ privacy.

He explained that humanoid robots have the potential to gather, store and analyse data about our movements and activities.

It is therefore important to design robots that have privacy embedded into their design, so their information gathering is restricted to what is needed to interact and carry out their tasks.

"While they provide opportunities to make our lives easier, the potential loss of control over this information should concern us," said Brown.

"At Oxford we have been exploring how individuals can maintain control over information about themselves, while still enjoying the potential benefits of robotic technology."

One technique being developed involves organising people into groups with similar interests, either online or at social gatherings, without needing each person to share their interests.

This would also allow commuters to search for car-pooling partners without broadcasting their home location and work route, which will be useful as self-driven cars start appearing on Britain’s streets.

It would also help motorists plan routes allowing for rush-hour traffic without the need for pervasive monitoring infrastructures.

Brown's research is part of a wider project that aims to measure how people respond to robotic surrogates in public spaces.

Researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Bath, Exeter, Queen Mary University of London and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory are introducing an advanced-programmed humanoid robot, ‘Nao’, to the public in Bristol in 2015.

Culled from BBC

Apple has unveiled its new iPhone technology for cars at the Geneva Motor Show.

CarPlay allows iPhones to plug into cars so drivers will be able to call up maps, make calls and request music with Siri voice commands or a touch on a vehicle's dashboard screen.

It requires Apple's latest software, iOS 7, and an iPhone 5, 5C or 5S.

Apple first announced plans to make its iOS mobile operating system more compatible with cars last June.

Car producers including Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo previewed CarPlay in Geneva with other producers saying they plan to adopt the system.

"iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimized distraction,'' said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPhone and iOS product marketing.

Ferrari is previewing CarPlay on its four-wheel-drive FF model.

Volvo plans to feature the iPhone system in its redesigned Volvo XC90 sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Mercedes-Benz isn't revealing which models will get CarPlay, but expects that both its S-Class large sedan and C-Class midsize sedan should be compatible with the system.

A long list of other car manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford and Honda, also are drawing up plans for CarPlay, according to Apple.

Google announced it was teaming up with car manufacturers including Audi, Honda and Hyundai to integrate its Android operating system into their dashboards last month.

GM and Honda declined to comment on their CarPlay plans.

Meanwhile Ford has already launched a voice-control system called Sync made by Microsoft in some of its cars and offers its own touch-screen technology.

Ghanaian rapper, EL, has turned down the opportunity to date pretty actress and television presenter, Nikki Samonas.

This happened as a result of Nikki disclosing that she had a crush on EL.

She said:

“I wish to date someone like E.L, he is cute and I go crazy anytime I see him. Although I haven’t got the opportunity to tell him yet I hope a to meet him and pour my heart out to him” Nikki told Showbiz in an interview last Sunday.

Asked how long she had been “eyeing” E.L, Nikki replied that it had not been that long a time but had strong feeling for him and could not tell if anyone admired E.L more than she did.

EL responded:

"It is a compliment for a beautiful girl like Nikki to say such things about me. In fact, she is also my kind of girl but it is unfortunate I am engaged to someone else” the artiste, EL, told Showbiz last Monday.

Ex President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was 77th yesterday. Check out the special ceremony that was held for him to mark his 77th birthday at the amphi-theatre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

During his presentation speech– OBJ says as I quote ”He thanked God for making him relevant and important towards contributing to the condition of the country”.

“Sooner than later, the cat will be let out of the bag by myself but one thing that is clear is that I was born, there is no doubt about that.

Ghanaian Actor, Chris Attoh posted this picture of his fiancee on his instagram page this afternoon and wrote…

The ks will in a few months time will visit the alter to make their vows as Kim Kardashian and kanye West have set their wedding date for May24th in the romantic city of Paris ..

According to US Weekly, guests will be flown in several days before the date..