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News18
5 days ago
- Science
- News18
IIT-Guwahati develops sensor to turn air exhaled from mouth into voice commands
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, and Ohio State University, USA, have developed an underwater vibration sensor that enables automated and contactless voice recognition. The sensor, they said, offers a promising alternative communication method for individuals with voice disabilities who are unable to use conventional voice-based systems. The findings of the research have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. According to Uttam Manna, Professor, Department of Chemistry, voice recognition has become an integral part of modern life of late. 'It helps users in operating smart devices including mobile phones, home appliances and other devices through voice commands. However, for the people with voice disorders, this technological development remains inaccessible. 'Recent studies show that a noticeable percentage of children and young adults aged between 3 and 21 experience some form of voice disability, underscoring the significant need for more inclusive communication technologies," Manna said. The research team developed an underwater vibration sensor which can detect these water waves and interpret speech signals without depending on audible voice, thus creating a new pathway for voice recognition. Manna explained that the developed sensor is made from a conductive, chemically reactive porous sponge. When placed just below the air-water interface, it captures the tiny disturbances created by exhaled air and converts them into measurable electrical signals. The team used Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), a type of deep learning model, to accurately recognise these subtle signal patterns. This setup allows users to communicate with devices from a distance, without the need to generate sound. 'It is one of the rare designs of material allowing to recognise voice based on monitoring the water wave formed at air and water interface because of exhaling air from mouth. This approach is likely to provide a viable solution for communication with those individuals with partially or entirely damaged vocal cords," Manna said. On a lab-scale, the working prototype costs Rs 3,000, he said. 'With research exploring potential industry collaboration for bringing the technology from lab to real world use, the cost of the final product is expected to reduce," he said. The research team now plans to get clinical validation for the device. Further, the team plans to collect more datasets from individuals with voice disabilities who can articulate different words necessary for operating home appliances and other voice-commanded smart devices. 'Using these datasets, the research team will be able to refine the developed model for recognising specific words or phrases when exhaled air is directed over a water surface. 'This development holds potential beyond voice recognition. Other than hands-free operation of various devices, the developed sensor can also be used in exercise tracking and movement detection. 'Additionally, its proven durability, remaining stable after extended underwater use, suggests potential applications in underwater sensing and communication," Manna said. PTI GJS VN VN (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 18:00 IST News agency-feeds IIT-Guwahati develops sensor to turn air exhaled from mouth into voice commands Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-07-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Darcy wants to do HSC Advanced English. His school won't let him
Reported tactics include imposing entrance exams, pre-selecting English streams for students against their wishes, using a ranking system and setting minimum year 10 scores. The NSW Education Standards Authority sets no such markers. English Advanced is 'designed for students to become critical and sophisticated users of English and to develop their academic achievement through the study of complex texts', its website says. A small but successful cohort has the effect of boosting a school's English ranking. An analysis of NESA HSC data shows that some of the state's top 20 comprehensive public schools – all of which fall in the top quartile of socio-educational advantage – have lower-than-average percentages of students taking English Advanced. At Willoughby Girls High, the state's top comprehensive school, 26 per cent of students took Advanced. Former student Crystal Shi, who graduated in 2020, said the school divided students into classes based on their rank. In her year, the school ran three Advanced classes in year 11, but told students 'there would only be two classes in the HSC'. At the end of year 11, the results of who made it into Advanced would be displayed on a piece of paper outside the English staff room. 'The class that was dropped in year 12 was based on your ranking, and they gave it some stupid name,' she said. 'So everyone knew you were too stupid to do Advanced, but not bad enough to have been in Standard to begin with. 'They didn't want people who weren't going to be amazing to drag down the weighting. If your ranking wasn't good enough, too bad. 'There was so much pressure on me to perform well, but the system was never set up fairly.' HSC tutor Katie Ord said some schools required students to do an exam to have 'the opportunity' to do Advanced. 'If the teachers don't think the student will get a band 6, they will discourage them from pursuing Advanced,' she said. 'They are not encouraging growth, investigation and a further passion for English.' The NSW Department of Education said schools with lower participation rates in English Advanced tended to have higher than average proportions of students from a language background other than English (LOTE). 'Students may seek clarification about a decision on HSC selection by speaking with the head teacher, year adviser or deputy principal,' a department spokesperson said. Year 12 student Masi Haddad Hachour is at Greystanes High School, which encourages students to do English Advanced. He was shocked to learn many of his friends at study centres, who attend other schools, don't have the same opportunity. 'It makes me feel frustrated, and it impacts everybody because the HSC is a game, and everyone is ranked against each other,' Masi said. 'It's because schools, especially public schools, are so desperate and thirsty for validation from the department through high HSC results. So they do anything they can to get it – that includes forcing some students to drop out so that they don't skew HSC data, forcing some students to do lower scaling subjects like Standard English.' Many independent and Catholic schools encourage students to enrol in Advanced. The principal of Meriden, an Anglican girls school in Strathfield where 93 per cent of students take English Advanced, says their students 'are reminded not to underestimate their ability, to back themselves and use the resources around them to do their best'. A current year 11 student at partially selective Chatswood High School, who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals, said the school chose their English course for them. 'There was no opportunity to confirm, challenge, or properly discuss which English course I wanted to do.' Loading An internal Chatswood High policy document, seen by the Herald, advises students 'should have a minimum of 80 per cent and be ranked in the top 75 of the Stage 5 Year 10 English course and will need to have previously demonstrated the ability' to do Advanced. The student was placed in Standard. 'The whole experience really impacted my confidence. I started to question whether I was capable of doing well in English, even though I was genuinely interested and willing to challenge myself in my senior years,' they said. The Ponds High School enforces an arbitrary prerequisite. A subject selection handbook seen by the Herald states, 'the top 90 students (approximately) of the cohort may be offered a place into the English Advanced course provided they have a weighted average of 75 per cent' based on their year 10 assessments. Across the state, 36.3 per cent of HSC students take English Advanced while 47.6 per cent take English Standard, based on 2024 data. The remainder take English Studies or English as a second language or dialect (EALD). Every student must choose one of these four. Loading A Catholic Schools NSW report, released earlier this year, found the current HSC award system – which recognises only students who achieve a band 6 or mark above 90 – is distorting subject selection and discouraging students from taking more rigorous courses. Some schools measure their success by the number of band 6s they achieve. The report found it creates an 'incentive for teachers or parents to nudge students towards easier subjects where there is a greater chance of earning an award'. A former student from another northern Sydney school – who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals – said her teacher was 'consistently' advising her she could drop or change classes, at one point 'sneaking' withdrawal forms into her exams. '[She said] I would not be on par with the standards of English Advanced even when I was one of the top students of my English Advanced class in year 10,' she said. Despite her teacher's advice, she stuck with Advanced. It paid off – her HSC marks were 'really, really good'. She scored a band 5 in English and is now studying engineering. 'I didn't realise that maybe there was something wrong with my teacher and not me.'
Top Gear
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This just in: GM unveils stunning new one-of-one California Corvette hypercar
This just in: GM unveils stunning new one-of-one California Corvette hypercar How best to pay tribute to Southern Cali? A giant, aero-honed speed machine Skip 15 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 15 This is how General Motors is paying tribute to Southern California. Welcome to the mad, bad and entirely delectable California Corvette, a new hypercar concept that… well, we're not sure what it's supposed to do, but it looks ace. As it should do. Penned by GM's Advanced Design studio in Pasadena, it's a reimagining of the everlasting 'Vette, infused with 'a futuristic, Southern California twist'. Advertisement - Page continues below It's being hailed as a 'one-of-one' hypercar that combines 'racing simulator inspiration' with cues from Corvettes of yore. It's wide – wider than a Range Rover, in fact – with an aggressive, narrow-eyed front tapering around to a very low, aero-honed silhouette. Southern California has never looked so… angry. Or diffuser-y. The rear is basically a gaping set of tunnel entrances filtering into that underbody. The sides look as though the flesh has been stripped back to reveal the working tendons underneath. And Southern California has never had this much… stance. Being a concept, and one that pays tribute to the Golden State, it's powered by electricity, but in what capacity hasn't been revealed. GM has noted only that there's a 'T-shape prismatic battery pack' allowing for low seating and better airflow around and through the chassis. Yeah, F1 teams could probably use the Cali Corvette's rear tunnels for aero testing. It's a transformer, too – there's a single-piece canopy hinged at the front that turns it from a coupe to an 'open-air track car'. And considering how low, wide and angry it looks, confining it to a circuit might be best for all. Advertisement - Page continues below 'The California Corvette concept is another example of forward-thinking design,' said GM's global design VP Bryan Nesbitt. 'We invited multiple GM studios to envision Corvette-inspired hypercars – the first of which was revealed by our UK studio in March. 'The California team has now delivered a complementary study that honours Corvette's legendary performance, while infusing it with their own distinctive vision,' he added. Oh yeah, this is the second Corvette concept, following that mad, bad British one, and it'll be followed up by a third concept at some point soon. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
JEE Advanced 2025 scorecard released at jeeadv.ac.in: Direct link to download here
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has officially released the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025 scorecards today. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now check and download their scorecards from the official website — using their login credentials. The JEE Advanced 2025 results were declared on June 2, 2025, by IIT Kanpur. The results were announced online at 10:00 PM on the official website, Only those candidates who cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 were eligible to appear for the Advanced stage, conducted for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes at the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country. How to download JEE Advanced 2025 scorecard Candidates can follow the steps below to access their scorecard: Step 1: Visit the official portal: Step 2: Click on the 'JEE Advanced 2025 Scorecard' link. Step 3: Enter your registration number and date of birth. Step 4: View and download the scorecard for future reference. Direct link to download the JEE Advanced 2025 scorecard is here . About JEE Advanced The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced is one of the most competitive entrance exams in India for engineering aspirants. It tests candidates' grasp over Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics through rigorous, application-based questions. The exam aims to assess a student's analytical ability and problem-solving skills. Qualified JEE Advanced 2025 students have now moved on to the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process. JoSAA manages the seat allocation for IITs, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit deploys drones and AI to target building efficiency improvements
This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Detroit has launched a drone inspection pilot program for city-owned buildings that can identify energy-saving improvements and optimize performance. The drones capture visible and thermal imaging of the building; an AI platform developed by processes the images and building analytics to create 3D models and energy simulations that help city officials identify thermal inefficiencies, assess structural conditions and optimize potential upgrades. A partnership among Detroit-based technology incubator Michigan Central and startup venture platform Newlab, the pilot 'is a prime example of how public-private collaboration can unlock innovative solutions for cities,' said Tim Slusser, Detroit's chief mobility officer, in a statement. Detroit, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Central and Newlab in 2022 launched the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region as a real-world testbed for next-generation drone technologies 'to move drone technology from concept to city-scale deployment,' according to a press release. The number of use cases for drones in city operations is 'phenomenally high,' said Matt Whitaker, director of mobility innovation platforms at Michigan Central. Detroit had already established a transportation innovation zone to streamline permitting for new mobility solutions such as drones, and Michigan Central helped the city get Federal Aviation Administration permissions to fly the drones, Whitaker said. For this project, working with aerial photographers FlyGuys and drone operations management system Airspace Link, deployed drones to identify thermal deficiencies such as insulation gaps and potential water infiltration in three municipal buildings. It used the data to create 3D models it paired with energy simulations to pinpoint targeted upgrades that could reduce the three buildings' HVAC energy use by up to 22%, according to the press release. The final reports give the city a tiered approach to retrofitting the buildings, such as targeted weatherization at the curtain wall, replacement of specific failing windows, continuous wall insulation and roof enhancements. 'We are helping the city of Detroit, through the Office of Sustainability specifically, to identify vulnerabilities for cost and climate challenges,' said co-founder and CEO Tarek Rakha. 'Our AI analyzes and categorizes building deficiencies and uses simulation to clearly state the return on investment once we identify an anomaly or a deficiency.' Rakha said the combination of drones and its AI platform is '20 times faster, five to 10 times more affordable and 50% more accurate than [assessing thermal deficiencies by] regular means — including using drones in general because drones can collect data but not analyze it.' The company's technology can scan 'a huge number of buildings in a fraction of the time at a fraction of the cost because we're using our own AI analytics,' Rakha said. 'That makes scaling quite accessible.' Recommended Reading Drone as First Responder program set for takeoff following Trump executive order Sign in to access your portfolio
