Development of a robotic pourer constructed with ubiquitous materials, open hardware and sensors to assess beer foam quality using computer vision and pattern recognition algorithms: RoboBEER.

There are currently no standardized objective measures to assess beer quality based on the most significant parameters related to the first impression from consumers, which are visual characteristics of foamability, beer color and bubble size. This study describes the development of an affordable and robust robotic beer pourer using low-cost sensors, Arduino® boards, Lego® building blocks and servo motors for prototyping. The RoboBEER is also coupled with video capture capabilities (iPhone 5S) and automated post hoc computer vision analysis algorithms to assess different parameters based on foamability, bubble size, alcohol content, temperature, carbon dioxide release and beer color.

High definition 3D telemedicine: the next frontier?

Evidence from the literature indicates that the degree of immersion often referred to as the "sense of being there" experienced by clinicians and patients is a factor in the success of tele-health installations. High definition and 3D telemedicine offers a compelling mechanism to achieve a sense of immersion and contribute to an enhanced quality of use. This article surveys HD3D trials in tele-health and concludes that the way HD3D is integrated into telemedicine depends on the clinical, organisational and technological context.