How to re-embrace face-to-face instead of virtual everything

How to re-embrace face-to-face instead of virtual everythingHow to re-embrace face-to-face instead of virtual everythingWhen was the last time you wondered how to let someone know exactly what you were thinking without using a gif or emoji?The increase in technology within recent years, although bringing about many positives to society, has had a detrimental effect on communication, said Neil Shah, founder and director of The Stress Management Society whos working with RESCUE on sharing ways to help people reduce stress.All that screen time also has resulted in people becoming less effective and comfortable communicating face to face, said Shah. More than that, face-to-face communication is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and stressful for many, and a lot of people tend to overthink it. The less we engage in personal communication the harder it becomes.We can all agree that socializing in person is important, but increasingly difficult and confusing after all that screen time.In a previous professional incarnation, I used to produce a lot of glittery events including schmancy celebrity studded parties around Fashion Week and the Academy Awards, and international networking events. Ive always been fairly gregarious, but even I would get nervous at times.Here are some things I learned about how to socialize successfully1. Plan in advanceIf you head to a conference and panic when faced with a room full of hundreds of strangers, you may end up just heading back to your hotel room and skipping everything - and then kicking yourself for wasting an opportunity. Try researching any relevant hashtags in advance and pay attention to conversations happening online and then join in. Youll find familiar faces and potential kindred spirits in advance, so you wont feel like youre walking into a room alone. Its also a nice way of blending your social media self with the 3D version of yourself2. Have a wingman or threeOne of my schticks when hosting an event was to positi on myself near the door and greet each and every guest. I understood that not everyone loves to socialize, and that on some level they were there because I invited them (or because of the swag). But even the fruchtwein socially gifted among us can sometimes blank out on a face or name. For that reason, Id always have one or more of my interns positioned near the door and Id ask them to escort in each guest and introduce them by name. It wasnt just a nice touch, it made the guests feel welcome - it also reminded me who I needed to be extra nice to. If youre at a networking event, you can ask a trusted friend to keep an eye out for anyone you really want to talk to, and take it from there.3. The rule of oneProfessional networking can be excruciating. For that reason, I always remind myself that I dont have to connect on a deeper level with everyone in the room. In fact, I tell myself that if I only get one great result from the event, it will have been worth it. One new contact, one interesting industry related conversation, one new resource - If I manage that, my time was successfully spent.4. Choose wiselyAs I get ready to launch a brand new professional networking group this spring, I am ever mindful of my past mistakes. Life is too short to spend listening to long schpiels about widgets. Dont feel bad about turning down invitations to events that sound boring or feature nothing beneficial to you for the long term. Conversely, if youre the one doing the planning, carefully curate your guest list and then cull as needed. Youll build a loyal and interesting group instead of a huge one filled with people everyone will avoid.5. It isnt always funIf you realize that cocktail parties involveboth cocktails and the word party but are, in essence, about building your professional standing or network, youll have a better mindset. Know that enjoying yourself is the bonus, but networking and work lunches totenstill have the same bottom line - business first.Shah also offered some tips to help stress less when face-to-faceTry progressive muscle relaxation tensing, holding, then releasing muscles, has also been proven to lower both physical and mental stress.Mirror the other persons movements and expressions mirroring someone creates a social bondin the other persons brain and lead to rapport, lowering any potential conflict.If you make a fool of yourself, stay positive. Often when we mess up, no one really notices, or even cares.

Steve Jobs did this brilliant thing when it came to his female employees

Steve Jobs did this brilliant thing when it came to his female employeesSteve Jobs did this brilliant thing when it came to his female employeesThe fidelity to innovation expressed by the late Steve Jobs took many different forms. Most famously, Jobs engendered considerable strides to the world of technology and digital branding.More discreetly, Jobs privileged methods of interoceptionover conventional wisdom when making major decisions. But it didnt just end there.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreRecently, Andy Cunningham, who was Jobs former publicist heldan event called,Lessons Learned From The Powerful Women Who Worked With Steve Jobs, in which several of the female executives that worked with Jobs at Pixar, Apple, and NeXT, explained what it was like to work with the business magnate before he succumbed to pancreatic cancer back in 2011.Equal opportunistThe event was moderat ed by journalist Katie keramiker and held by the Cunningham Collective. Hafner frequently reported on the growth of both Apple and NeXT in their fledgling days back in the early 1980s and 90s.The unorthodox CEO was said to have adopted a pretty ridged binary standard when evaluating the merits of his colleagues, but it wasnt the one most often occasioned by many high ranking members of the corporate world. In Jobs mind, there were the insanely great, and then there were the crappy.Michelle Quinn, who covered the event, co-signed this by saying, Jobs didnt care about the gender of his colleagues, as long as they could get the job done.The discussion was peppered with anecdotes exhibiting the iconic innovators loyalty to this principle. One instance saw Jobs reprimand the chairman of a company interested in a partnership with Apple with a simple but fierce ultimatum. He did this in a response to Susan Barnes, then the head of the Mac division at Apple who was taking the lead with nego tiations, being told by the chairman to go shopping while the men hashed out the details. Barnes recalled Jobs reaching out to the company via fax with a simple stipulierung Ms. Barns makes the decision on this negotiation. It was that or no deal.Collectively, the women said that Jobs often reiterated his belief that an economy that confined women to limited roles effectively handicapped itself. Debi Coleman, who worked as finance and operations chief at Apple for more than 10 years, celebrated how Jobs rejected the antiquated idea of professional women being hired to merely follow instructions. Jobs welcomed the challenge of having to defend his ideas to peers who may have expressed a contrary opinion. It was all for the greater good of his objectives.The Steve Jobs that emerged was one appreciated for his fierce passion and drive that meant he judged his colleagues on whether they cared as much as he did about a products success, recalled Barnes.According to fellow panelist Joanna Hoffman, one of the original members of the Macintosh team, Jobs surrounded himself with a large portion of women in high ranking positions.If nothing else, the success of the projects these women contribute to should stand as a final world against gender-based exclusion in the workplace.

In tight labor market, screening in is the new screening out

In tight labor market, screening in is the new screening outIn tight labor market, screening in is the new screening outTheres been a shift in thinking amongst some hiring managers and recruiters in todays tight labor market, with unemployment at a 50-year low,reports HR Dive. Instead of beginning the process by rejecting unqualified candidates some are hiring with an eye on finding reasons to hire people, not to reject them called the screening-in model.To make koranvers they are finding the best possible talent, Michelle Armer, chief people officer of CareerBuilder, told HR Dive in an email, recruiters are no longer searching for the reasons an applicant would not fit the position or company, but rather they are considering a candidates current skill sets and the likely potential for them to enhance their proficiencies.This means you dont necessarily have to perfectly fit the skills and requirements listed on the job description, but rather be a good overall fit and have the poten tial and willingness to learn.This also means that companies and recruiters are getting proactive and searching for potential hires themselves chasing down candidates hired away by other companies, or candidates rejected the first time. Job seekers who dont make the cut for one position might be interviewed for another. Relationships with desirable candidates are ideally built before the position is even created.Relatedly, Philip Leslie, CEO of web-based interview technology RIVS, and formerly of Microsoft, wrote on his blog that his two mentors at Microsoft were both history majors not computer science or computer engineering. Had the company screened them out due to their background, he wrote, it would have lost two great employees and mentorsThe company welches brilliant in that regard there was an extreme focus on candidates who had the ability and motivation to excel at the job, even if on paper the candidates background had some elements that were non-traditional. Although th ere are valid reasons to screen out candidates based on certain firm requirements, there is also a huge upside to giving candidates a way to tell their story to uncover unexpected gems. Thats called screening in and we dont see it happening enough.While hard screen-outs are necessary in many cases say, travel is required and the hiring manager needs to know whether or not a candidate is willing to travel or not in many cases, it can bring up biases. What the candidate brings to the table is their experience and traits specific skills can be trained.

The Importance of Book Jackets

The Importance of Book JacketsThe Importance of Book JacketsMost readers do indeed judge a book at least in part by its cover, which is why major book publishers have whole departments and many, many meetings dedicated to their creation. Judging a Book by Its Cover- the Jackets Importance to Book Sales The book jacket is a sales tool, inviting readers to the text, telling them much about what they will find on the pages between the covers. Despite the adage, the book jacket generally broadcasts to the consumer much about the book, ideally casting it in the best light possible to draw in its target readers. Whether its in the mystery novel genre, a serious nonfiction tome, a romance or a cookbook, the reader should be able to ascertain book genre and the tone of the book from taking a quick gander at the front of the book jacket. Of course, the potential reader should also be able to clearly read the title of the book. Read All About Book Titles, Starting With What Makes a Good Book Title In plus-rechnen to whats typically on the front cover, the details of the plot, an idea of what some others think about the book, the biography of the author are additional pieces of information that can be found on the other parts of the book jacket- the back and the flaps- once the book is picked up off the shelf (or clicked on). Making Book Jackets- The Process in Brief In a traditional publishing house, the book jacket design process generally happens in tandem with much of the editorial and production processes of the bookand starts months- even a year or more- in advance of publication. It is because the book jacket needs to be included in the book publishers seasonal or specialty sales materials, such as catalogs (which are used by the sales representatives to sell the book into bookstores, gift stores, libraries, etc.) or BLADs or ARCs. Its obvious from the catalog when there hasnt been a resolution about the book jacket- the books page will have a blank box with the book title or a large author portrait photo. (Given the importance of the jacket in wooing book buyers, this is bedrngnis a desirable situation.)In a traditional publisher, a designer on staff in the cover art department or a freelance designer who has been engaged for the purpose gets early access to any information or materials available on the book (manuscript, synopsis, etc.). From those materials and discussions with the books editor, the designer develops concepts for the cover.Then, generally, the books editor, the editorial director, and the publisher will weigh in on the different concepts and narrow the choices. Often, theres a weekly cover art meeting in which the art department presents jacket concepts and invites discussion about the dozens-to-hundreds of books that are being produced throughout the year.If youre an author being published by a traditional publishing house, dont count on having a lot of say on your book cover. Most editors want their authors t o buy-in to their own book cover design so that you might be consulted at some point in the process. But this is typically a courtesy extended by a thoughtful and responsible editor. Unless youre a bestselling or high-profile author, your contract will elend likely entitle you to cover approval, and the final say on the book jacket design will rest with the publisher or someone on the publishing or editorial staff.Once pretty much everyone is happy with the concept, the jacket is fully designed and released for purposes of promotion on online bookseller sites (like Amazon.com, which gets a feed of pre-publication book details), seasonal publisher catalogs, etc.It is not uncommon for a jacket to be changed after the designs are shown, or the book is announced in a catalog. When the book is being sold in to stores pre-publication, the bookstore buyers opinions can do much to sway a publisher into changing a jacket. As buyers- especially buyers from major accounts, such as Barnes No ble- are extremely well-versed in what their customers generally respond to, they may have a strong opinion about a jacket, especially if there are high sales expectations for the book. The buyer has a lot of clout, so its not uncommon for a jacket to be modified because buyers reacted negatively to the original concept.

What You Dont Know About Sample Functional Resume

What You Dont Know About Sample Functional Resume What You Must Know About Sample Functional Resume Utilizing entry-level resume examples can provide you a tried-and-tested structure to take as a starting point and also provides resume help to learn how to finish each resume section with guides in regards to what to include and exactly what you ought to avoid to be able to entice the appropriate employers. Applying for employment is one among the tedious works done by work seeker. This way youll be able to make certain it is really relevant for the sort of job youre applying for, and your abilities and experience will be placed in the very best light possible. Hard skills is your principal asset. On the contrary, it highlights your abilities and abilities. Next, you will start to list your key abilities and abilities. Youll observe that even the greatest functional resume will damage your odds of getting hired. A functional resume is a sort of resume format which allows you to emphasize your precise job skills and abilities while downplaying any weaknesses you might have in work history. For instance, if you need to both highlight your abilities and include your chronological work history, look at a combination resume. For those who have information on the subject of the particular job opening in that company, you might use the targeted resume. If your gaps are because of necessity, such as, for instance, a family illness, they will usually be understood by potential employers and you need to not have any difficulty offering a genuine explanation. Odds are you could wind up not including some substantial places and which include other folks that are not that needed. You want to keep in mind that you know yourself much oben liegend than others. Communication skills refer to the ability to convey data in a very clear and understandable fashion, the capacity to engage with distinct people and personalities and the capacity to listen and comprehend what others are saying. A History of Sample Functional Resume Refuted A resume builder will allow you to rectify any errors and supply you with a working vision of the resume as you edit. There are a lot of free creative resume templates youll be able to use, allowing you to focus your energy on everything else you should do. There are a few simple tweaks that may make a functional resume advantageous Double check to ensure that everything on the last version of the resume is about you. A basic resume is also simpler to read. If youd like to see resume samples for one more business, you can view all our resume samples here. Our technicians will kindly answer all your questions. You may make use of these samples as guides. This sample functional resume contains useful info and important step-by-step guidelines that could help you in writing a functional resume by yourself should you have enough expertise in your profession. You should simply understand the aim of every one of the four standard types of resume and current resume guidelines. Creating a functional resume can be fascinating whenever you have the most suitable guideline to follow. Sample Functional Resume - What Is It? You are beginning to think you desire a professional. Many are highly-reputed. If you dont have sufficient work experience, you should earn a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Next on your resume is going to be an expert summary. Be certain to use keywords from the work description in your resume. You should tailor your summary stellungnahme to back up your targets and bring forth skills that may not be readily apparent in your latest experience. The skills summary has become the most important portion of writing a functional resume. Resume creators enable jobseekers to make and download their finished resumes right from the web to begin applying immediately. You can trust the ideal essay help online. Our site is just one of the most appropr iate for essay help. The actual individuals highly praise our essay help site. By making use of a template, you receive a feeling of what information to include in your resume and the way to arrange it. When its about you you know what resume format you ought to use. Use headings to organize the info in your resume. Your information was saved successfully. If you want to compose a functional Resume Templates then you are able to take assistance from the below-given sample functional resumes. Its the very same with resumes. Functional and conventional resumes arent the only resume types to select from. While Canadian resumes are available in many unique formats, they share some standards that you ought to know about.

Best Resume Writing Tips Secrets That No One Else Knows About

Best Resume Writing Tips Secrets That No One Else Knows About How to Choose Best Resume Writing Tips Possessing a photograph on your resume is recommended. The info on your resume is a significant component in landing you your dream job, and thats why you should find out the best ideas for writing a great resume. Even youre using non-traditional job searching approaches and dont use any on-line sources. Know the purpose of your resume Some folks write a resume as though the aim of the document was supposed to land work. The New Angle On Best Resume Writing Tips Just Released Developing a wonderful skills section can help recruiters skim your document quickly to see whether you have the qualifications they seek. Thus, make certain you mention all your courses. Youre better off to showcase your skills by your experience or have a short and descriptive collection of only the critical skills needed by the employer. If youre asking for a job which has unique requirements, you might need another edition of your resume to totally demonstrate your qualifications. The Fundamentals of Best Resume Writing Tips Revealed Though its not a resume in any respect. From the info it is possible to gather here, you will see it isnt as challenging to understand how to compose a resume as you might have thought. You may decide to change the info provided or you might just alter the order in which you present the info. Best Resume Writing Tips - Is it a Scam? Websites like Etsy let you download professionally designed resume templates all you need to do is add your own info. There are many websites with tips around the internet, but most bring just a few them. Templates can be quite so helpful in regards to writing your resume, simply as there are such a wide variety of templates to pick from on the net, and you may see which ones really suit your aesthetic. The templates are supposed to be a guide to begin, but it must be expanded on to make it your own. Eve n if you believe you dont have plenty of experience, you really do. The majority of the time the folks that are reading the resume really dont have a thing to do with the job and dont have any direct experience with it. The truth is it might even hurt your odds of landing an interview. The absolute most important issue to acquire an opportunity of being interview by your prospective employer to acquire your fantasy job is to compose an effective and right to the point resume. The Best Resume Writing Tips Cover Up Today its not what you should do. In case there are numerous technical abilities and interests which you want to enumerate in your resume, a fantastic practice to divvy them up. When there are several proofreading programs and tools you may use, additionally it is valuable to ask trusted friends or colleagues to examine your resume. First notice the shortage of relevant key terms. New Ideas Into Best Resume Writing Tips Never Before Revealed Your prior experience working at similar-sized businesses, or even owning your very own small company is well worth highlighting on your resume to demonstrate that youre multi-faceted. For instance, if youre asking for a digital marketing related job, your certification of digital advertising and marketing course will enable you to get your interview call. Analyze job ads You will discover loads of helpful info on job ads. Its possible to also incorporate details about volunteering on your resume, especially when you have few or no preceding jobs to write about. The Basics of Best Resume Writing Tips Each entry in the sections should get an asterisk or bullet at the start. As soon as you have included all of the information and have checked for consistency and formatting, take a great look at how the resume looks and if its professional. fruchtwein resumes incorporate the subsequent sections, even though the order depends upon the resume format you pick.

The Dos and Donts of References Resume

The Dos and Donts of References Resume Type of References Resume For each new job opportunity, you should make certain your list of references is the perfect fit. References can boost your work application in a huge way. You need to be sure the people selected as references will result in your job search. Your references could make or break your odds of landing work, so make sure that you pick the best people to talk for your benefit.Generic CVs are a sure means to receive passed to the base of the pile. Choosing good references can occasionally be a challenge, and it could take a small planning to get the ideal match. Introducing References Resume My critique provides you with the tools you should bring your resume to the next level. Choosing the perfect personal reference is an extension of that skill and why you would like to have a list with a variety of choices. Dont state at the base of the page your references are offered upon request. Listing a person for a refere nce without permission could be damaging to your job application. Be sure to discover before you give erroneous contact information to a possible employer. You are going to want to be prepared so you can immediately give them what they have to make the hiring decision. You should bedrngnisify your references when youre trying for job interviews, since you dont understand how quickly the employers may call. You should select those who will emphasize your strengths to possible employers. Each contact in your professional network knows you a certain way and will have the ability to supply an account of your achievements and strengths for various jobs thus its crucial to customize the reference page based on the abilities and qualities you are going to need for each vacancy. If your reference is someone renown in the business or industry. For instance, if you are asking for a project lead position, you desire a reference who can describe your capability to manage teams and dead lines. You must incorporate the internship position, as well as the company, organization or institution you worked for and the whole period of your services. The Number One Question You Must Ask for References Resume Youve already done the tough work of making good references. When youre asked for references, youre able to strategically select the best people to represent what you would like highlighted for the opportunity, she states. As soon as its important to get people who can vouch for your abilities and abilities, offering a list of references right from the gate during work search isnt always the ideal policy. An important resume skill is the capability to match yourself to the job that you are looking for. To put it simply, a reference is an individual, possibly a prior employer, teacher or just a co-worker or friend that is ready to vouch for all the brilliant abilities and achievements you laid out so beautifully on your resume. Needless to say, you can provide an other reference if you think that it would make a difference or offer another insight. A superb reference is necessary to prove your work history and education. Ultimately, adding references poses a danger of the applicant. What You Should Do to Find Out About References Resume Before Youre Left Behind Only submit your references if youre asked to. Your references have agreed to enable you to give their contact information to a possible employer. Second, they may not want to openly share personal information. Recent references are best, even though there are exceptions. If you know in advance your reference may be reached by a particular business, you can share your resume and the work description with your references. Its important you keep in contact with your references periodically, since you want current contact info, and you want to make certain your reference remembers who you are. Youll also discover a sample reference list. Below youll discover a sample reference list. Academic references also can be helpful if you want more references to enhance your professional resume. You can give a list of references following your interview if its requested. So youve completed final interviews and have been asked to supply references.

25 questions to ask a mentor

25 questions to ask a mentor25 questions to ask a mentorA few years ago, around the time when I was launching this blog, I wrote an article called4 Types of Questions to AskA Mentor. To this day, it is the most-read article onBe Leaderly, and its popularity keeps growing.In the article, I share a simple model for making the most out of every conversation with your mentor. To begin, come prepared with four questions. Its a way to show appreciation for your mentor and their time and commitment to you. Ultimately, both of you should leave every conversation feeling like it was time well spent. All it takes is a few minutes of thoughtful preparation.Heres how it works Before every meeting with your mentor, prepare one question from each of these categories stories, situations, self-awareness, and skill building.In my workshops and group coaching programs, I like to share those categories, and then ask the participants to compile their own questions to ask a mentor. Here are some good one s theyve come up with recentlyStoriesAsk your mentor to tell a story from his or her career. Some questions to consider1. How did you land your current role?2. Think back to five years ago. Did you envision this is where you would be?3. Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? How did you handle it?4. How did you learn to embrace failure?5. Whats the most important leadership lesson youve learned and how is it valuable?6. Tell me about a recent setback and how you recovered?7. Was there ever a job position that you applied for and got, but you werent 100% qualified?8. How did you build the skill of always speaking so engagingly in front of others?SituationsIdentify a challenging situation and share it with the mentor. Ask your mentor to act as a sounding board. Some questions to consider9. Im considering a career transition. What do you see as the pros and cons?10. Who are the people I need to align with in this organization to achieve success?11. What advice can you offer on how to progredienz in my career?12. How do you successfully stay connected to key influencers who do not work in same office or geographical area?13. When trying to gain buy-in to implement a new program, what tactics have worked for you?Self-awarenessAsk a question that invites your mentor to contribute to your self-awareness. Some questions to consider14. Where do you see my strengths and what should I focus on to improve?15. What do you see as some of my blind spots?16. How do you think others perceive me?17. How I am viewed by leadership?18. Do I come across as poised and calm?19. How am I viewed (i.e., whats my personal brand) in our organization?20. Did everyone understand what I presented at the brde meeting?21. How could I have communicated my idea more clearly?Skill-buildingIdentify a skill you currently want to develop, and ask your mentor for advice or resources. Some questions to consider22. How do you approach risk-taking?23. What new skills do I need to mo ve ahead?24. How can I become a more assertive negotiator?25. How can I become better at managing people who do not report to me?Which of these questions could you ask your mentor? Do you have any to add to this list?By preparing thoughtfully for each mentoring session, youll avoid the awkwardness of feeling like youre wasting your mentors time, and it guarantees that the mentoring relationship can continue to be gratifying for both of you for many years to come.This post was originally published on BeLeaderly.com.

iPhone Apps for Robot Control

iPhone Apps for Robot Control iPhone Apps for Robot Control We have seen thousands of iPhone applications and can expect to see even more as Apple marches closer to its fall release of theiPhone5. Tzu siche are multiple apps available for iPhone, iPad, or iPod to remote-control gadgets such as your computer, DVR, digital camera, or even your car. Have you imagined controlling a robot in a manufacturing plant using an iPhone?Dr. Vikram Kapila, professor of mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and his students are developing apps that allow you to control robots with just a tap or flick of a finger.Currently in the nutzerfreundlichkeit testing stage, the iLabArm and iLabBot are part of one of their projects started over two years ago to monitor, command, and control a variety of laboratory testbeds using iPod, iPhone, and iPad over an ad hoc Wi-Fi network. Our goal was to take advantage of an iPhones or iPods touchscreen to create an intuitive int erface for interacting with physical devices such as robotic manipulators, mobile robots, and also our own control lab experiments, says Dr. Kapila.A wrist-joint of a 5 degree-of-freedom robotic manipulator being commanded by an iPod Touch held in a benutzers hand. Photo courtesy of Jared Alan Frank and David Lopez.The iLabArm not only uses the touch feature of the iPhone but also embedded sensorsthe accelerometer and gyroscopeto move the robotic arm. As the hand is tilted forward and backward, the iPhones accelerometer data is used to command the wrist-joint to tilt forward and backward, respectively (see videos). The iLabBot can control a mobile robot (Qbot, based on iRobots create platform). As the bentzer touches a specific area on the iPod screen, the Qbot in the real world is commanded to the corresponding location.Command, Control, and MonitorWhen Dr. Kapila and his team started the project in the summer of 2009, the hardware wasnt available in a small footprint and the softw are features on the iPhone and iPod were not openly available. One of his research students, Jared Alan Frank, addressed the problem by using an open sound control (OSC) protocol. OSC allows a user to interface computers with electronic musical devices such as synthesizers. The idea was to send the OSC command from the iPhone or iPod to a MAKE microcontroller, which would then interpret it to command motors instead of playing music and other activities of the robot to control its behavior, says Frank.The experiments took several months and attempts during which Frank worked with high-school teachers under NYU Polys Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program, funded by the National Science Foundation. Part of the program required teachers to work in the lab over a six-week period to learn mechatronics and do research. We first tried this with an off-the-shelf monster truck that you normally control through radio control and then we used iRobots Create platform and controlled it t hrough the iPhone, says Frank.A Qbot mobile robot (based on iRobots Create platform) being commanded by an iPod Touch held in a users hand. Alternative iPod interfaces allow the Qbot to be commanded to a specified position on the grid. Photo courtesy of Jared Alan Frank and David Lopez.One of the key challenges of the project was that they werent able toreceive any messages from the robotic platform back to on their iPhone app. You dont just want to control the hardware, but also be able to monitor it, says Dr. Kapila. In spring of 2011, they were able to find hardware solutions that were more amenable to this development. Since then, the team moved its development to Arduino microcontrollers interfaced with Wi-Fly shields to create a local ad hoc wireless network. Both of these are smaller than the palm and are mounted one on top of the other. That allowed us to make a more acceptable footprint of the hardware that one could easily connect to the robotic platform with a total cost of less than $100, says Dr. Kapila.Using hardware and software thatwere already available, it took the team a short time to work through their software protocols and iPhone appsto not only command their robotic projects but also get information back from the projects onto the iPhone or iPod.Robots in Real LifeThe next step was to create an easy-to-use graphical user interface for the apps. We made an interface that allows a user to control a robotic arm. As the user holding an iPhone tilts or turns his or her wrist, the iPhones accelerometer data is used such that the robots wrist mimics the wrist motion of the user (see videos). Moreover, as the user enacts a pinching action on the iPhone screen, the robot gripper is opened and closed, explained Frank. These apps can be used in the medical device field or in a manufacturing plant for a lab automation exercise to control robotic arms of any size.Besides the engineering field, theres plenty of potential for such mobile apps to be use d in themilitary, says Dr. Kapila. He says the U.S. military has a mandate that by 2025, 25% of its vehicular systems (air, water, and ground) must be robotic. Imagine a soldier in a desert with a robot and heavy gear to control it in his/her backpack, he says. The same soldier probably has an iPhone for keeping in touch or for listening to music. What if he/she could use the same device to control the robots?Such tactile and intuitive interfaces are needed if we want robotics to become common in our society, says Dr. Kapila, who believes that one day robots will work along with humans in workplaces, homes, grocery stores, museums, parks, etc. If a housewife or a grocery store employee, who dont have a scientific or engineering background, are going to use robots every day, they have to be able to interact with these devices almost intuitively, just like the two- to three-year-old kids using iPhones and iPads these days.Such tactile and intuitive interfaces are needed if we want rob otics to become common in our society.Dr. Vikram Kapila, professor of mechanical engineering, Polytechnic Institute of New York University