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 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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Rec Room is VR’s first ‘unicorn’ startup. Who are they and what makes them special?
An emphasis on community and user-generated content has driven success for the game-based virtual world.
Holographic collaboration may be the future of work
Campfire emerges from stealth with an integrated system for real-time, remote 3D collaboration.
Can VR help formerly incarcerated individuals return to the job force?
Goodwill and Accenture have teamed up to create “Project Overcome,” a VR experience that simulates the job-seeking process in hopes of curtailing recidivism.
AI reconstructs lost art painted over by Picasso
You can now buy a reconstructed piece of lost art discovered lurking beneath a famous Picasso painting.
YouTuber builds VR gloves for just $22
YouTuber Lucas VRTech developed a pair of open source, finger-tracking VR gloves that cost just $22 in materials.
Video game reveals your “soft skills” to potential employers
The Scoutible app reveals job candidates’ soft skills, which often don’t translate through resumes and interviews but are essential for success.
The surprising cure to cybersickness – using VR underwater
Cybersickness is similar to motion sickness, but it comes from using electronic screens like virtual reality. A new study shows that aquatic VR could be the cure.
David Attenborough’s AR app puts dinos in your living room
The film David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive now has a companion AR app that brings three extinct creatures to life in your home.
AI backpack “sees” for visually impaired people
An AI backpack powered by Intel technology “sees” for visually impaired people, letting them know about any potential obstacles in their path.
Facebook's neural wristband could replace keyboards
A neural wristband that allows wearers to control AR glasses by simply moving their fingers is under development at Facebook Reality Labs.
New method for making 3D printed organs is 50 times faster
A new technique for making 3D printed organs uses hydrogels and light to print at speeds 50 times faster than conventional methods.
Metahuman lets you create photorealistic, animated digital humans
Epic has released a new character creation tool in Unreal Engine, called MetaHuman Creator, that helps you render an almost endless selection of near-photorealistic digital people.
Virtual patients help doctors improve bedside manner
The Virti platform lets doctors and med students interact with computer-generated virtual patients so they can improve their bedside manner.
Building infrastructure on Mars is tricky — these bugs could help
Landing on Mars is just the beginning — to live there, we’ll need to invent Martian concrete.
Nike unveils its first hands-free sneaker: The GO FlyEase
The GO FlyEase is Nike’s first completely hands-free sneaker — and the design was inspired by a letter from a teenage boy with cerebral palsy.
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.
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