Tech universe: Friday 18 June

Computers can now understand sign language. Photo / Supplied

CRUDE GESTURES: Take a cheap latex glove, add patches of colour,
webcam and software. Bingo: your computer can read gestures or even sign language. Goody! A whole new way for the computer to misunderstand what I meant to tell it to do.

SKIN PRINTS: Add specially cultured cells to an ordinary inkjet printer and you can print skin over a patient's burn wounds. Well, in mice, anyway. But can you refill the cartridges?

GPS FOR GPs: How you doing after that hip replacement? GPS could show how well patients are doing after surgery by tracking their movements. Add heart rate and blood pressure sensors for a fuller picture. ACC will love this!

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY: To study flight Japanese researchers made a robot Swallowtail butterfly. It bobbed and weaved just like a real one. The sting to come: wait till the Government adds a spy camera.
Video: here

LIGHT FLYING: How does a solar powered plane fly in the dark? It sets out on a sunny day. The Solar Impulse will attempt the first ever crewed 24-hour journey powered only by sunshine. Next up: figuring out how to use lunar power. Or is that just crazy talk?