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.
Featured
How tech is turning science into a hobby
From astronomy to video games, consumer technology is helping people pursue their interests while also advancing community science.
You’re thinking of the metaverse all wrong, says Matthew Ball
Rumors of the metaverse’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Meet Thresh, the world’s first professional gamer
Was Elon Musk any good at Quake? “He’s a legit gamer,” but…
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3D-printed nuclear reactor parts installed at US plant
An Alabama power plant is now using 3D-printed nuclear reactor parts, a milestone that could shape the future of nuclear energy.
NASA needs people to pretend they’re living on Mars
To prepare for a future in which astronauts are living on Mars, NASA is looking for people willing to live in a simulated Mars habitat.
Robot café hires people with disabilities to operate robo-waiters
At the Dawn Avatar Robot Café in Tokyo, diners are served by robotic avatars controlled remotely by people with disabilities.
The 2021 Disney Accelerator sheds light on Disney’s metaverse ambitions
From AI to AR to live video shopping: these are the 8 companies selected for the Disney’s yearly accelerator program.
Holograph tech “teleports” Olympic badminton competition
Japanese telecom company NTT is using holograph tech to recreate Olympic badminton matches at a venue 22 miles away in real time.
This 3D-printed graft may improve ruptured eardrum surgery
Researchers at Harvard have developed a 3D-printed graft they hope will make ruptured eardrum surgeries safer, faster, and more effective.
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Hard Reset
What will the Disneyland of the future look like?
VR theme park experiences are adding a new dimension to an industry that’s long relied on 20th-century technology.
Honda startup equips shoes with vibrating navigation system
A Honda-established startup is developing a vibrating navigation system that helps visually impaired people get around by vibrating their feet to relay directions.
Surgeons can now practice on a 3D-printed copy of your liver
A new technique for creating life-like 3D-printed livers based on individual patients’ scans could help surgeons be better prepared for operations.
Many amputees couldn’t afford a bionic arm — until now
Indian startup Makers Hive has developed a bionic arm that’s not only 90% cheaper than most, but also more functional.
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Ramen Profitable
A new kind of haptic wearable: GPS for the blind
A new kind of wristband is about to enter the wearable tech scene — the first haptic GPS for the blind.
VR aromatherapy might be coming to a headset near you
VR smell can be used to improve immersion—and possibly even mental health.
How Spin is making its e-scooter service more accessible
Spin, a micromobility provider, is using AI to help make e-scooters safer and city streets more accessible to all residents.
This 'Metaform' optical device could shrink the size of AR headsets
By bridging nanophotonics and freeform optics, University of Rochester researchers hope to enable next-gen AR optics in XR wearables.
Startup turns sawdust “ink” into 3D printed wood
Massachusetts startup Forust can make 3D printed wood with a natural-looking grain out of two wood waste products: sawdust and lignin.
World’s first VR opera to open in London
“Current, Rising,” the world’s first VR opera, promises to immerse audiences in a “hyper-reality” made possible by technology.
The first 3D-printed house made with dirt
The world’s first 3D-printed house made from dirt is environmentally friendly and looks great.
Controversial police killings are being recreated in VR
Virtual reality simulations of controversial police killings of Black Americans are being included in a police training program.
Simulated walking is a big step forward for VR accessibility
Researchers in Japan have developed a system that makes your brain think you’re walking — even when you’re sitting still.
Making VR more accessible for the hearing impaired
In his latest project, Myles de Bastion shows how VR accessibility could be extended to the hearing-impaired in remote settings through ‘environmental captioning’ and sign language.
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