Consumer Tech
The technology of the next decade could remake the modern world, from AI agents to virtual worlds and beyond. The real question is what today’s gadgets mean for tomorrow’s world.
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How consensus can undermine science
The main objective of consensus statements appears to be to reduce doubt, which may stifle scientific inquiry.
Pac-Man turned 45 today. The surgeon general once warned that playing it could make kids violent.
Officials’ warnings about the impact of video games on kids were never proven true. They may be making the same mistake with social media.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s delay could lead to a spike in real-life crime
If violent video games caused real-world violence, we’d see spikes in crime right after their release. Instead, we see the opposite.
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New 3D bioprinting technique creates bone with living cells
A new 3D bioprinting technique could let doctors print new bone containing living cells right inside a patient’s body.
3D-printed halo helps dog adjust to life without eyesight
The owner of a blind dog named Sienna used 3D printing to custom-build a device that would stop the diminutive Pomeranian from running into walls.
First AR-assisted knee replacement in America is a success
The United States’ first AR-assisted knee replacement surgery was a success, marking another milestone for the use of AR in healthcare.
Doctors use AR surgery to implant 3D-printed eye socket
Doctors in Israel used a combination of AR surgery and 3D printing to repair a patient’s damaged eye socket quickly and efficiently.
TikTok users rally to help elite athlete with Parkinson’s
TikTok users are rallying to help elite athlete Jimmy Choi by designing a pill bottle that’s easier to use when his hands shake due to Parkinson’s disease.
The next car you purchase could include 3D printed parts
Automakers are relying more heavily on 3D printing, and for drivers, that means more customization options.
This may be the 3D-printed submarine of the future
Using unique construction techniques, this 3D-printed submarine may set the pace for the building of large AUVs to come.
This VR exoskeleton lets you actually run through virtual worlds
A VR exoskeleton called the Holotron works with a person’s entire lower body to let them control the locomotion of an avatar in VR.
Smartphone app gives independent travel to the disabled
A new smartphone app unlocks independent travel for people with intellectual disabilities.
Heads up display lets firefighters see through smoke
Qwake Technologies’ C-Thru is a heads up display that combines AI, augmented reality, and thermal imaging to help firefighters battle blazes.
Amputee veterans need to game, so this engineer builds new controllers from scratch
Inspired by his visits to Walter Reed Medical Center, engineer Ken Jones makes adaptive controllers to keep veterans gaming.
Experts say education coming to the VR world is going to be “absolutely incredible”
Because of the pandemic educators are looking for more remote learning options and discovering the benefits of virtual reality.
New data visualization tool lets scientists “walk” inside cells
A new data visualization tool called vLUME recreates tiny objects like cells and neurons in a virtual world, allowing scientists to then explore them in VR.
Military dogs may soon sport AR goggles in enemy territory
Military dogs will don augmented reality goggles to test their ability to keep soldiers safe by allowing them to direct the dogs from afar.
New VR movie lets you play god to a planet of AIs
In the new VR movie “Agence,” artificially intelligent characters respond to the actions of the viewer in unpredictable ways.
The latest step in manufacturing in space
Made In Space is sending a 3D printer to the ISS in hopes of providing proof-of-concept that microgravity is the place to build precision parts.
Minecraft’s urban planning AI could help design future cities
AIs design entire settlements in an annual Minecraft competition that could reveal uses for the tech in real-world urban planning.
Playgrounds are boring. Here’s how to make them fun again
One father in Portland, Oregon is helping design the parks of the future with inclusive playground equipment that makes play accessible to all.
Facebook's new augmented reality glasses will turbocharge hearing
Facebook released details of augmented reality glasses that can tune out the real world and make computer-generated sounds seem real.
3D printed homes could soon be made out of dirt
By transforming soil into a construction material for 3D printed homes and other structures, researchers hope to slash concrete’s environmental impact.
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