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Tactile robot with a sense of touch can fold laundry

<p>Why can you buy a robot vacuum cleaner easily, but not one that folds laundry or irons clothes? Because fabric is actually a very difficult thing for robots to manipulate. But scientists have made a breakthrough with a robot designed to have tactile senses.</p> <p>Fabric is soft, and deformable, and requires a few different senses firing to pick up. This is why the fashion industry is so <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/garment-supply-chain-slavery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labour-intensive</a>: it’s too hard to automate.</p> <p>“Humans look at something, we reach for it, then we use touch to make sure that we’re in the right position to grab it,” says David Held, an assistant professor in the School of Computer Science, and head of the Robots Perceiving and Doing Lab, at Carnegie Mellon University, US.</p> <p>“A lot of the tactile sensing humans do is natural to us. We don’t think that much about it, so we don’t realise how valuable it is.”</p> <p>When we’re picking up a shirt, for instance, we’re feeling the top layer, sensing lower layers of cloth, and grasping the layers below.</p> <p>But even with cameras and simple sensors, robots can usually only feel the top layer.</p> <p>But Held and colleagues have figured out how to get a robot to do more. “Maybe what we need is tactile sensing,” says Held.</p> <p>The Carnegie Mellon researchers, along with Meta AI, have developed a robotic ‘skin’ called <a href="https://ai.facebook.com/blog/reskin-a-versatile-replaceable-low-cost-skin-for-ai-research-on-tactile-perception/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ReSkin</a>.</p> <p>It’s an elastic <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/explainer-what-is-a-polymer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymer</a>, filled with tiny magnetic sensors.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p220637-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p>“By reading the changes in the magnetic fields from depressions or movement of the skin, we can achieve tactile sensing,” says Thomas Weng, a Ph.D. student in Held’s lab, and a collaborator on the project.</p> <p>“We can use this tactile sensing to determine how many layers of cloth we’ve picked up by pinching, with the sensor.”</p> <p>The ReSkin-coated robot finger could successfully pick up both one and two layers of cloth from a pile, working with a range of different textures and colours.</p> <p>“The profile of this sensor is so small, we were able to do this very fine task, inserting it between cloth layers, which we can’t do with other sensors, particularly optical-based sensors,” says Weng.</p> <p>“We were able to put it to use to do tasks that were not achievable before.”</p> <p>The robot is not yet capable of doing your laundry: next on the researchers list is teaching it to smooth crumpled fabric, choosing the correct number of layers to fold, then folding in the right direction.</p> <p>“It really is an exploration of what we can do with this new sensor,” says Weng.</p> <p>“We’re exploring how to get robots to feel with this magnetic skin for things that are soft, and exploring simple strategies to manipulate cloth that we’ll need for robots to eventually be able to do our laundry.”</p> <p>The researchers are presenting a <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/reskin-cloth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> on their laundry-folding robot at the 2022 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Kyoto, Japan.</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=220637&amp;title=Tactile+robot+with+a+sense+of+touch+can+fold+laundry" width="1" height="1" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/laundry-folding-robot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Ellen Phiddian. </em></p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Carnegie Mellon University</em></p> </div>

Technology

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New Australian telescope to help find far-flung galaxies

<p dir="ltr">A new multi-lensed telescope will give Australian astronomers a new set of eyes to search for and study ultra-faint galaxies and astronomical objects in the southern hemisphere.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appropriately named the Huntsman Telescope, the instrument is made up of 10 Canon super-telephoto lenses and has begun science operations at the Siding Spring observatory in north-central NSW, near the town of Coonabarabran.</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with spying distant astronomical objects and galaxies, the telescope is expected to be used to view transient astronomical events, such as sudden explosions of stars.</p> <p dir="ltr">Scientists hope to use the Huntsman to further our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve, how they engage with structures around them, and what happens when galaxies collide.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Dr Lee Spitler, the Principal Investigator of the Huntsman Telescope, the telescope’s work will be crucial for understanding what could happen if our Milky Way Galaxy ever collided with its neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, which is theorised to occur in 4.5 billion years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Huntsman Telescope is pioneering the way in which we view our Southern skies by capturing images of the faintest galaxy structures that conventional telescopes simply couldn’t,” Dr Spitler said in a <a href="https://spaceaustralia.com/index.php/news/new-huntsman-telescope-turns-its-eyes-sky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2b971d8-7fff-8d04-3a74-6ad790618068"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“The ability to observe the remnants of galaxies colliding with each other and searching for the faintest and smallest galaxies in the Universe will help us understand the potential fate of the Milky Way in the far distant future.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/huntsman-telescope.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Huntsman Telescope looks deep into space at the Siding Spring Observatory. Image: Macquarie University</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Though named after a spider, PhD candidate Sarah Caddy said the Huntsman Telescope’s ten individual “eyes” was inspired by the northern hemisphere’s Dragonfly Array program, but its technology has been pushed even further.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Huntsman’s new suite of powerful computers enable each lens or ‘eye’ of the Huntsman to operate independently of each other. This will allow the telescope to autonomously detect ultra-fast transient events like stellar flares from distant stars or even more exotic phenomena like aiding the search for origin of fast radio bursts that continue to elude astronomers,” Ms Caddy explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After the success of Dragonfly in the northern hemisphere, it certainly makes sense to have a similar facility here in the Southern Hemisphere to access parts of the sky that Dragonfly can’t. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only that, but Australia is home to many world-class radio telescope facilities. Combining data from radio surveys of the southern sky with Huntsman optical data will help us piece together a more complete view of how galaxies evolve.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“Even the geographical location of Australia is important for Huntsman’s transient science goals. Huntsman will contribute to the growing number of Australian rapid response facilities aiming to capture events like the optical counterparts to Fast Radio Burst and Gravitational Wave progenitors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so excited to see the project move from the commissioning phase into full-time science mode, and I can’t wait to see how this amazing new facility will help Astronomers explore our Universe in the years to come,” she concluded.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-105d4c57-7fff-bfbf-50d3-215a65a3ee12"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Macquarie University</em></p>

Technology

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James Webb Telescope captures oldest galaxy

<p dir="ltr">After its <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/nasa-releases-highest-resolution-images-of-infrared-universe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first images</a> spread like wildfire across the internet, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is believed to have broken the record for the oldest galaxy ever detected.</p> <p dir="ltr">Scientists from the Harvard and Smithsonian Center of Astrophysics have identified a 13.5-billion-year-old galaxy called GLASS-z13, which dates to 300 million years after the Big Bang.</p> <p dir="ltr">The previous record-holder was a galaxy known as GN-Z1, spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2016, with its light taking 13.4 billion years to reach Hubble.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team of researchers, who shared their findings in a pair of preprints published on Wednesday, also identified another galaxy, GLASS-z11, which is roughly the same age as GLASS-z13.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-52462869-7fff-9362-ee05-0113f733676e">"We found two very compelling candidates for extremely distant galaxies," Rohan Naidu, one of the researchers who detected GLASS-z13 in Webb's data, told <em><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=35871X943606&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.2.4-stackpath&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fwebb-space-telescope-found-oldest-and-most-distant-known-galaxy-2022-7&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newscientist.com%2Farticle%2F2329601-jwst-has-found-the-oldest-galaxy-we-have-ever-seen-in-the-universe%2F&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=-600&amp;xuuid=388e4cc6413616544971c2f592b98908&amp;abp=1&amp;xcust=xid%3Afr1658964936510ffc&amp;xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Scientist</a></em>.</span></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/glass-z13-1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The red circle captured by the James Webb Space Telescope is believed to be the oldest galaxy ever observed. Image: Naidu et al, P. Oesch, T. Treu, GLASS-JWST, NASA/CSA/ESA/STScI</em></p> <p dir="ltr">"If these galaxies are at the distance we think they are, the universe is only a few hundred million years old at that point."</p> <p dir="ltr">Researchers told the publication that these two galaxies are relatively small compared to the Milky Way galaxy, which is 100,000 light-years wide. In comparison, GLASS-z13 is approximately 1600 light-years wide, while GLASS-z11 is 2,300 light-years in diameter.</p> <p dir="ltr">"With the advent of JWST, we now have an unprecedented view of the universe thanks to the extremely sensitive NIRCam instrument," researchers explained in the <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.09434" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preprint</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the JWST commenced science operations in mid-July, it is expected that it will help scientists uncover more about the universe’s age and evolution. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/content/science/firstLight.html#:~:text=Webb%20will%20be%20a%20powerful,darkness%20of%20the%20early%20universe." target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA attributes this</a> to its ability to peer further back in time - as far as the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang - allowing for the discovery of previously unseen galaxies.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9589b833-7fff-c5fc-c0d6-834b46d8fe93"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Naidu et al, P. Oesch, T. Treu, GLASS-JWST, NASA/CSA/ESA/STScI</em></p>

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Marie Kondo folding guide: The ultimate guide to how to fold clothes and save space

<p>Decluttering queen Marie Kondo revolutionised the way we approach organisation. Her best-selling book<span> </span><em>The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up</em><span> </span>introduced her minimalist methods to the masses. She demystified how to organise your closets and inspired millions of people to tackle tidying. Thanks to the runaway success of her Netflix series,<span> </span><em>Tidying Up with Marie Kondo</em>; and her second book<span> </span><em>Spark Joy</em>, her advice continues to motivate dramatic wardrobe makeovers. Starting a closet cleanout may seem daunting, but Kondo offers an easy-to-follow guide that anyone can use to completely overhaul your home.</p> <p>The KonMari formula is essentially a two-step system to get rid of excess stuff. First, you have to touch everything you own and ask the fundamental question – does this spark joy? Once you have only happiness-inducing belongings left, create categories and find a place to store each item that’s visible and easily accessible. The goal is to arrange the contents so that you can see every item at a glance, just as you can see the spines of books on a bookshelf.</p> <p>That’s where the famous Marie Kondo folding routine comes in. The neatness guru advocates approaching it like origami, folding garments into neat bundles that can stand up on their own (think of them like file folders in a row). Her space-saving techniques are so popular because they simply work. By the time you finish, you’ll see something you adore everywhere you look. A functional space makes life easier, and when you surround yourself with the things you love, Kondo promises your house becomes your own personal paradise.</p> <p>Here we break down Kondo’s top tips and tricks to mastering an orderly wardrobe.</p> <p><strong>How to fold T-shirts</strong></p> <p><span>If you have a graphic or logo tee, you’ll want the front to be on the outside so you can identify it at a glance, which means you should lay your shirt face down. Your gut may be to fold it in half lengthwise, but doing so creates a crease down the middle. Instead, take one side and fold it in toward the centre, then fold the sleeve back in the other direction. Repeat on the other side. Once you have a long rectangle shape, fold the top of the shirt down toward the hem, leaving a little space on the bottom. Fold the shirt in half again (you might need to fold it into thirds depending on how long it is) to reinforce its shape. The result should be a neat little packet. If it collapses or falls over, it needs readjusting (the rectangle might be too wide, or the height of the folds too low or high). Experiment until your top can stand upright by itself, an accomplishment Kondo calls the “golden point of folding.” Another Marie Kondo folding commandment: After each fold, smooth your hand over the entire garment before moving to the next step. It helps the item, no matter the style, to keep its shape long term. It also reinforces the idea behind her strategy: Folding properly deflates clothes and maximises the amount you can store.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 216.40624999999997px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847075/2-fold-tshirt_edit-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/13a4034fafda4b8980710972ff31ab64" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold a long sleeve shirt</strong></p> <p><span>This KonMari folding method starts with laying your shirt on a flat surface with the sleeves spread out to the sides. Follow the basic procedure of how you folded a T-shirt, bringing the edges toward the centre to make a rectangle. The trick is to fold the sleeve back away from the centre of the shirt (roughly around the underarm area), and then fold it again toward the bottom, following the line of the garment (it should look like an upside-down L shape). Repeat with the opposite side, but not quite to the edge. The aim is to avoid having the sleeves overlapping each other, which would add bulk. When you run your hand over the final product, you’ll see there is almost no perceptible bump where the sleeve is, which helps the garment stay put without collapsing. Once you have your rectangle, fold it in half from the top down, leaving a slight gap between the neckline and the bottom. Fold again into thirds, stand it up, and you’re done!</span></p> <p><strong>How to fold a sweater</strong></p> <p><span>When it comes to winter weather knits, the KonMari method doesn’t offer a one size fits all formula. Kondo says if you try to fold thick sweaters or fleece into compact bundles, they will always expand with air, so her trick is to fold them relatively loosely to begin with. If they won’t stand up in your drawer, it’s fine to lay them down instead. It’s the only time Kondo suggests a storing method that stacks items on top of each other. To start, lay your sweater flat on a surface facing up. Imagine a line going down the centre, then fold both sides of the sweater in to meet that middle line. Fold the sleeves in the same way you would for a long sleeve shirt (over and down so it creates a triangle). The two sides of the sweater should meet in the middle, and the cuffs of the sleeves should be touching the sweater’s hem. Start from the top and fold down into thirds. If it’s very bulky, you may only have to fold it in half. Pro tip: When storing multiple knits, try folding the sides in so all your sweaters have the same width – they’ll stack more easily that way.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 228.90625px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847073/4-fold-sweater-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b92d96df847541e8bbd42652b80b600b" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold a hoodie</strong></p> <p><span>Kondo’s technique for folding clothes isn’t an exact science, so you may have to experiment to get the best fit for a hoodie. Lay it flat facing up and turn both sides toward the centre to make a rectangle. The trick here, because it’s most likely a thick fabric, is to not meet all the way at the middle line. Instead, fold the sides in just shy of the centre. Continue by folding the sleeves the same way as a sweater. Spread out the hood so it’s flat, making sure to tuck any strings inside the hood, then fold it over so it fits into the rectangle. This simplifies the shape, and from there you just need to fold the garment (in half or thirds): The number of folds should be adjusted so that the folded garment, when standing on edge, fits the height of your drawer.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 270.31249999999994px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847072/5-fold-hoodie-copy-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e7db9d574c724f9eb421f5b5c03a6173" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold pants</strong></p> <p><span>The Marie Kondo folding rule of thumb is to fold any bottoms that are made of cotton (like jeans), but to hang anything more formal, such as suit pants or styles with a centre crease. The first step is to place the pants flat, face up. Fold in half lengthwise, putting one pant leg on top of the other (the zipper should be on the inside). If the seat of the pants sticks out, you can fold the protruding piece (yes, right where the crotch is) back against the pants so you now have a straight line. Next, fold the legs up toward the waistband, but not quite touching it, leave about a 2cm gap. Then fold this in thirds again until you have a neat little package. With the waistband facing down, line them up like soldiers in a drawer for easy access.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 205.85937499999997px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847071/6-fold-pants-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8898d9fc5337465c9e063c5e5be131a7" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold shorts</strong></p> <p><span>Similar to how you handled pants, except much simpler, shorts only need to be folded once lengthwise, and then once in half. Put one leg on top of the other, and don’t forget to fold over the point that sticks out. Then fold them in half, bringing the hem up to the waistband. For styles that have more volume, such as wide-leg culottes or wool shorts, it’s often best if you begin by folding them in thirds. After that, fold them in half.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 335.7421875px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847070/7-fold-shorts-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e18b865c3b8c40acb9f3554425313271" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold underwear</strong></p> <p><span>When folding your undies, which are often made of light and flimsy material, the Marie Kondo method is to focus on making them as small as possible. The bottom is the most delicate part and should be folded inside, while decorations like bows in the centre of the waistband should be folded to show on the outside. Begin by spreading out a pair with the back facing upward. Fold in half lengthwise, bringing the crotch up to just under the waistband. Next, fold both sides over so that the crotch is wrapped inside (this should create a square shape), then roll up from the bottom. When you turn the undies over, they should be shaped like a spring roll with only the front waistband showing. For boxers and briefs, fold both edges toward the middle to make a rectangle, then fold in half, and then in thirds.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 283.984375px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847069/8-fold-underwear-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7fa0c9c2e63149adab1e2da761137fd0" /></p> <p><strong>How to fold socks</strong></p> <p>Kondo’s feet accessory decree: Never, ever ball up your socks. If they are balled or tied up, they are always “in a state of tension,” their fabric stretched and elastic pulled. Getting your sock drawer in order is actually pretty simple. Start by placing one sock on top of the other, and laying both flat. For low-cut “no-show” socks that just cover the feet, folding in half once is enough. For ankle socks, fold the toes inward about an inch from the top. Fold over again toward the centre, and once more in half so it stands upright. Knee socks and over-the-knee styles will get the same treatment, folding them four to six times, depending on their length. You can adjust the number of folds to achieve the height that best suits the drawer. Just remember, with the Marie Kondo folding system, your aim is to always make a simple rectangle. Store the socks on their edge and you’ll be amazed at how little space you need compared to your “potato ball” days.</p> <p><img style="width: 283.20312500000006px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7847068/9-fold-socks-1-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/05d1a9ab2cc042bbb333c4f377b7a29b" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Rachel Weingarten. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/marie-kondo-folding-guide-the-ultimate-guide-to-how-to-fold-clothes-and-save-space" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Reader's Digest</span></em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Home & Garden

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Behind the new Samsung Fold: how the quest to maximise screen size is driving major innovation

<p>To enlarge a phone, or not to enlarge a phone? That is the question. In the world of flagship smartphones, there seems to be one clear trend: bigger is better.</p> <p>Manufacturers are trying to strip away anything that might stand in the way of the largest possible slab of screen. There is also growing demand for thinner phones with diminishing <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/bezel-4155199">bezels</a> (the area surrounding a screen).</p> <p>This trend has now culminated in the latest innovation in smartphone design, the <a href="https://www.t3.com/au/news/best-folding-phones">foldable screen phone</a>. These devices sport thin <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/what-is-oled">OLED</a> self illuminating screens that can be folded in half.</p> <p>The newest release is the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21427462/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-2-review">Samsung Galaxy Z fold 2</a> – a device that is almost three-quarters screen and has extravagant overtones rivalled only by a hefty <a href="https://www.samsung.com/au/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold2/buy/">A$2,999 price tag</a>.</p> <p><strong>Hear from them</strong></p> <p>But to prevent the phones themselves from growing to unwieldy size, manufacturers are having to find ways to balance size with usability and durability. This presents some interesting engineering challenges, as well as some innovative solutions.</p> <p><strong>Internal design complexities of folding phones</strong></p> <p>Modern phones still typically use a thin LCD or plastic OLED display covered by an outer glass panel.</p> <p>Folding displays are a new category that exploit the flexibility of OLED display panels. Instead of simply fixing these panels to a rigid glass panel, they carefully engineer the panel so that it bends – but never quite tightly enough to snap or crack.</p> <p>Internal structural support is needed to make sure the panel doesn’t crease, or isn’t stressed to the point of creating damage, discolouration or visible surface ripples.</p> <p>Since this is a mechanical, moving system, reliability issues need to be considered. For instance, how long will the hinge last? How many times can it be <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20898484/samsung-galaxy-fold-folding-test-failure-durability">folded and unfolded</a> before it malfunctions? Will dirt or dust make its way into the assembly during daily use and affect the screen?</p> <p>Such devices need an added layer of reliability over traditional slab-like phones, which have no moving parts.</p> <p><strong>Large screen, thin phone: a recipe for disaster?</strong></p> <p>Each generation of smartphones becomes thinner and with smaller bezels, which improves the viewing experience but can make the phone harder to handle.</p> <p>In such designs, the area of the device you can grip without touching the display screen is small. This leads to a higher chance of <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/study-19-percent-of-people-drop-phones-down-toilet/">dropping the device</a> – a blunder even the best of us have made.</p> <p>There’s an ongoing tussle between consumers and manufacturers. Consumers want a large, viewable surface as well as an easily portable and rugged device. But from an engineering point of view, these are usually competing requirements.</p> <p>You’ll often see people in smartphone ads holding the device with two hands. In real life, however, most people use their phone with <a href="https://www.smartinsights.com/mobile-marketing/mobile-design/research-on-mobile-interaction-behaviour-and-design/">one</a> <a href="https://alistapart.com/article/how-we-hold-our-gadgets/">hand</a>.</p> <p>Thus, the shift towards larger, thinner phones has also given rise to a boom in demand for assistive tools attached to the back, such as <a href="https://www.androidcentral.com/best-popsockets">pop-out grips and phone rings</a>.</p> <p>In trying to maximise screen size, smartphone developers also have to account for interruptions in the display, such as the placement of cameras, laser scanners (for face or object identification), proximity sensors and speakers. All are placed to minimise visual intrusion.</p> <p><strong>Now you see it, now you don’t</strong></p> <p>In the engineering world, to measure the physical world you need either cameras or sensors, such as in a fingerprint scanner.</p> <p>With the race to increase the real estate space on screens, typically these cameras and scanners are placed somewhere around the screen. But they take up valuable space.</p> <p>This is why we’ve recently seen tricks to carve out more space for them, such as <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/this-is-the-worlds-first-smartphone-where-half-the-screen-is-a-fingerprint-scanner">pop up</a> cameras and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=phone+screen+hole+for+camera&amp;source=lmns&amp;bih=598&amp;biw=1280&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU871AU871&amp;safe=active&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXvcyoveDrAhUwhUsFHXvqBYMQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA">punch-hole</a> cameras, in which the camera sits in a cutout hole allowing the display to extend to the corners.</p> <p>But another fantastic place for sensors is right in front of us: the screen. Or more specifically, under the screen.</p> <p>Samsung is one company that has suggested placing selfie-cameras and fingerprint readers behind the screen. But how do you capture a photo or a face image through a layer of screen?</p> <p>Up until recently, this has been put in the “too hard basket”. But that is changing: Xiaomi, Huawei and <a href="https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/262497-samsung-patent-shows-phone-camera-inside-display">Samsung</a> all have patents for <a href="https://www.phonearena.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s21-s30-under-display-camera_id125174">under-display cameras</a>.</p> <p>There are a range of ways to do this, from allowing a camera to see through the screen, to using <a href="https://www.rp-photonics.com/microlenses.html">microlenses</a> and camera pixels distributed throughout the display itself – similar to an insect’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect/Nervous-system#ref250944">compound eye</a>.</p> <p>In either case, the general engineering challenge is to implement the feature in a way that doesn’t impact screen image quality, nor majorly affect camera resolution or colour accuracy.</p> <p><strong>Laptops in our pockets</strong></p> <p>With up to 3.8 billion smartphone users <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/">expected by 2021</a>, mobile computing is a primary consumer technology area seeing significant growth and investment.</p> <p>One driver for this is the professional market, where larger mobile devices allow more efficient on-the-go business transactions. The second market is individuals who who <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/779/mobile-internet/"><em>only</em> have a mobile device</a> and no laptop or desktop computer.</p> <p>It’s all about choice, but also functionality. Whatever you choose has to get the job done, support a positive user experience, but also survive the rigours of the real world.</p> <p><em>Written by Andrew Maxwell. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/behind-the-new-samsung-fold-how-the-quest-to-maximise-screen-size-is-driving-major-innovation-145700">The Conversation.</a></em></p>

Art

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"He brought these people into the royal fold": Unearthed pic of Epstein, Weinstein and Maxwell at Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday

<p>A photograph of smiling Jeffrey Weinstein, his alleged pimp Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein celebrating at Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party has been uncovered. </p> <p>The shocking image was obtained exclusively by<span> </span><em>The Sun</em><span> </span>and shows the trio grinning happily at the camera.</p> <p>The three are believed to have been invited to be in the presence of royalty by Prince Andrew. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B53MPiFgqnl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B53MPiFgqnl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New York Post (@nypost)</a> on Dec 9, 2019 at 10:50am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While Epstein, Weinstein and Maxwell mingled at the lavish birthday party in 2006, police had already prepared an arrest warrant for Epstein on child sex abuse charges and were raiding his Florida mansion. </p> <p>Eight days after the billionaire posed in a US Navy Seal uniform for what would become an astonishing snap, he was in cuffs.</p> <p>Tuxedo-wearing Weinstein was due in court the month after the photo was taken on account of a sex offence. </p> <p>Maxwell, seen in a gold mask and red headdress, is currently being investigated by the FBI on suspicion of procuring underage girls for Epstein.</p> <p>A source told<span> </span><em>The Sun on Sunday</em>: “This photograph sums up just why the Epstein affair has been so disastrous for Andrew.</p> <p>“He brought these people into the royal fold, to Windsor Castle no less, where they could rub shoulders with the great and good.</p> <p>“It is an astounding lack of judgment at the very least.</p> <p>“This picture will raise further questions about Andrew’s interaction with these individuals.”</p> <p>The disturbing picture was taken at the AUD $770,296 birthday ball bash in Berkshire on July 15, 2006. </p> <p>Around 400 guests turned up in mainly Victorian dress for the party’s 1888 theme marking 100 years before Beatrice had been born.</p> <p>The now-shunned group were photographed on a patio, next to a wicker sofa, in front of the lush Windsor grounds. </p> <p>It is an identical backdrop to official photos released of the event showing Andrew, ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and sister Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>The ball continued the Queen’s tradition of giving her grandchildren a party to mark their entry into adulthood.</p> <p>However she and Prince Philip did not attend the ceremony. </p> <p>Royals at the bash included Peter and Zara Phillips and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.</p> <p>Guests guzzled down 400 bottles of expensive champagne and ate 4000 canapes.</p> <p>An estimated 250 guests were invited to a three-course dinner, and later on a further 150 arrived for canapes and champagne at 10pm.</p> <p>Princess Beatrice wore a AUD$19,251 blue taffeta gown, which was created by Fergie’s British designer friend Georgina Chapman. </p> <p>Interestingly enough, she would become the wife of Weinstein who she went on to divorce following the #MeToo scandal and dozens of women claimed he had sexually abused or harassed them. </p> <p>In his Newsnight interview last month, a 59-year-old Prince Andrew claimed he had no idea of the probe into Epstein at the time of the Windsor Castle birthday bash.</p> <p>Jack Scarola, 72, a lawyer for Epstein’s victims, told The Sun on Sunday: “There was a fairly extensive investigation under way by then.</p> <p>“It is absolutely certain that at the time of the Windsor Castle gathering, Jeffrey Epstein was aware an investigation was going on – a search warrant had been executed on his home.</p> <p>“I will leave it to others to judge whether it goes to the heart of concerns about the conduct of Prince Andrew.”</p> <p> </p>

News

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Samsung delaying Galaxy Fold launch due to screen issues

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A report from </span><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsungs-galaxy-fold-smartphone-release-delayed-11555941705?mod=e2tw"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Wall Street Journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has suggested that Samsung are pushing the breaks on the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which is the brands latest phone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Galaxy Fold is a phone that is bendable, but people have found it too flimsy. The Fold has been plagued with bad press since the announcement, but not all complaints have been legitimate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some had issues with the size of the phone, but that can be overlooked as the users adjust to their new device.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, other issues are more pressing. Some users, who were too excited about their new phone to read the instructions, peeled off the protective film that is necessary for the device to function properly.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those who keep the film on report a large crease down the middle of their phone that is frustrating to look at.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">After one day of use... <a href="https://t.co/VjDlJI45C9">pic.twitter.com/VjDlJI45C9</a></p> — Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekovach/status/1118571414934753280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">17 April 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some are folding the phone like it’s built to do, but are losing the function of the other screens. Journalists who have been given the phones as trials are reporting these problems, which can be seen in the tweet below.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">The screen on my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GalaxyFold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GalaxyFold</a> review unit was completely broken and unusable just two days in. Today Samsung has replaced my review unit, and I am waiting on an official statement. <a href="https://t.co/VXionV5PsO">pic.twitter.com/VXionV5PsO</a></p> — Gautam Tandon (@TheGautamTandon) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGautamTandon/status/1118804506618335237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">18 April 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Samsung have released a statement addressing the issues with the phones:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We recently unveiled a completely new mobile category: A smartphone using multiple new technologies and materials to create a display that is flexible enough to fold. We are encouraged by the excitement around the Galaxy Fold.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While many reviewers shared with us the vast potential they see, some also showed us how the device needs further improvements that could ensure the best possible user experience.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To fully evaluate this feedback and run further internal tests, we have decided to delay the release of the Galaxy Fold. We plan to announce the release date in the coming weeks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Initial findings from the inspection of reported issues on the display showed that they could be associated with impact on the top and bottom exposed areas of the hinge. There was also an instance where substances found inside the device affected the display performance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We will take measures to strengthen the display protection. We will also enhance the guidance on care and use of the display including the protective layer so that our customers get the most out of their Galaxy Fold.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We value the trust our customers place in us and they are always our top priority. Samsung is committed to working closely with customers and partners to move the industry forward. We want to thank them for their patience and understanding.”</span></p>

Technology

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Best way to fold fitted sheet

<p>If, like most of us, you tend to just ball up your fitted sheets and shove them in the linen cupboard, read on. There is a way to fold your fitted sheets so that they end up a neat and tidy rectangle, just like your flat sheets. Interested? Here’s how it’s done.</p> <p><strong>Step 1</strong></p> <p>Hold the fittest sheet over your hands, with the top corners inside out and have the elastic edge facing towards you.</p> <p><strong>Step 2</strong></p> <p>Fold the sheet in half vertically, placing the right corner over the left corner and create a pocket. Now flip the sheet upside down and create a second pocket at the top.</p> <p><strong>Step 3</strong></p> <p>Adjust the way you are holding the sheet so that you have two corners over your left hand and two over your right hand. The folded seam should be at the bottom with the tucked and gathered edge facing towards you.</p> <p><strong>Step 4</strong></p> <p>Now fold the sheet in half again, so that the four fitted corners meet. Place the right set of corners over the left set.</p> <p><strong>Step 5</strong></p> <p>Keep the gathered edges facing up, and fold the longer side of the curved edge into the middle a little bit, in order to create a straight edge. Your sheet should now be a rectangle. Fold in half first, and then fold into thirds. For best results, fold the fittest sheet straight out of the dryer while still warm. </p> <p>Have you got any tips for solving some of life’s great mysteries like this one? We would love to hear from you in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/06/5-foods-you-should-never-reheat/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 foods you should never reheat</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/8-top-laundry-tricks/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 tricks that will change the way you do laundry forever</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/20-fast-fixes-for-clothing-disasters/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>20 fast fixes for clothing disasters</strong></em></span></a></p>

Home & Garden

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Why everyone should fold their clothes vertically

<p><em>Image credit: Just a Girl and Her Blog</em></p> <p>This may be hard for some of you to hear; we’ve been folding clothes the wrong way our whole lives. Instead of stacking shirts, sweaters and jeans on top of each other with the aim to fold them flat, we should have been thinking vertically.</p> <p>By folding clothes in a manner that allows them to ‘stand on end’ then it creates neat rows from the front the back of your draw-so you can see all of your options at once.</p> <p>The innovation comes from Marie Kondo’s best-selling book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing’.</p> <p>For our convenience, Lifestyle bloggers such as Lavendaire and Sarah Sky have mastered the technique. They’ve shared their closets and drawers to create details descriptions on how to copy the method.</p> <p>See below how to fold a jumper and also a pair of pants vertically. Still no word on how to get fiddly summer dresses in there. </p> <p><a href="/video/?bctid=4712248774001"><img width="496" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/14098/jumper_496x280.jpg" alt="Jumper"/></a></p> <p><a href="/video/?bctid=4712276006001"><img width="500" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/14099/pants_500x280.jpg" alt="Pants (1)"/></a></p> <p><strong><em>Related links:</em></strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/10/household-tricks-from-1900s/">Vintage household tricks from the 1900s</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/11/clever-ways-to-use-adhesive-hooks-at-home/">14 clever ways to use adhesive hooks in the home</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/11/household-products-never-to-buy/"><em>8 household products you should never buy</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Timesaving tricks for perfectly folded clothes

<p>Laundry. It’s the chore that just keeps on going. And going. Not only do we have to sort, soak, wash and dry, we also need to find the time (and space) to actually fold and put the dry washing away. It’s time consuming and you could definitely be forgiven for wanting to ball everything up and leave it sitting, clean but unsorted, in the laundry basket. Fortunately, there are a few tricks and tips that can make the process that little bit easier. Here are our four favourites:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Always roll your socks –</strong> Rolling and tucking your socks is the quickest way to not only store them neatly but also eradicate the “odd sock” dilemma that often crops up when stored differently.</li> <li><strong>Use a magazine for shirt folding –</strong> Your average-sized magazine is the perfect T-shirt/shirt-folding companion due to its edges and sharp corners. Simply place the mag with the top sitting across the neck of your item of clothing and fold over and around. Quick, neat and simple!</li> <li><strong>Fold and hang your jumpers/winter woolies –</strong> Save space and prevent stretch by folding your jumpers over the hanger instead of hanging them by the shoulder.</li> <li><strong>Store sheets the easy way –</strong> Sick of battling with oversized sheets? Keep sets together and make life easier by folding your fitted and flat sheet loosely then placing in the matching pillowcase.</li> </ol> <p> </p>

Home & Garden