It’s an unfortunate fact that pacemakers do need to be surgically replaced every five years or so, before their battery runs out. The procedure could soon be considerably easier and safer, though, thanks to a membrane that goes around the implant. As a pacemaker sits inside a patient’s body, fibrotic tissue grows on its smooth surface over time. If that […]

Military personnel are regularly exposed to loud noises, such as when they’re being transported by helicopter. And while human soldiers usually wear hearing protection in such situations, the same can’t always be said for their “working” dogs. A new garment has been designed to address that problem. First of all, other canine hearing-protection wearables do already exist. However, these reportedly […]

Although virtual reality technology may allow users to see and hear computer-generated environments, the extent to which people can feel those worlds is still quite limited. That could be about to change, though, thanks to what’s being called an “epidermal VR” system. Developed by scientists at Illinois’ Northwestern University and the City University of Hong Kong, the experimental technology incorporates […]

Los Angeles-based artist Lucy McRae has created a machine she calls the Compression Carpet, which offers a hug to a person craving intimacy. McRae, who refers to herself as a body architect, imagines a future where the growing influx of technology starts to have a big impact on people’s mental wellbeing. She wonders whether mechanical touch, rather than physical contact […]

It’s no secret that Alexa can handle a multitude of tasks, from setting reminders to ordering toilet paper, but now, the personal assistant can even double as your creative muse. Adobe has launched a new Alexa skill called Adobe Inspiration Engine. With the skill installed, Alexa can share insightful quotes, creative exercises, or, on devices with screens, inspiring images as […]

Among the many proposed uses for aerial drones, one of the most compelling is the search for survivors at disaster sites. That process could soon be made much more efficient, thanks to a system that allows drone cameras to differentiate between living and dead bodies. The technology was developed in a partnership between scientists at the University of South Australia […]

Most people ignore the aches and pains they experience while running, pushing through this discomfort to the point they end up with an injury. Most recreational athletes don’t realize a few simple changes in their routine could help them avoid lengthy setbacks due to injury. Sports injury startup Fathom A.I. wants to change that with Fathom Pro, a sensor-based system […]

While users of full-scale augmented reality (AR) setups can already “reach in” and manipulate virtual objects with their hands, users of smartphone-based AR systems are limited to utilizing the phone’s touchscreen. That could soon change, though, thanks to new technology that puts their hands in the picture. Known as Portal-ble, the system is being developed by a team at Rhode […]

It’s not uncommon for factories to make use of robots to manufacture things like cars, each responsible for a different part of the build process. Researchers from MIT have created prototype assembly robots that can build small structures on their own or work together to create bigger ones. The idea behind Benjamin Jenett’s doctoral thesis is that, instead of producing […]

  Using a motorized prosthetic hand can be difficult, as users have to continuously concentrate on controlling the thing. That’s why scientists from Switzerland’s EPFL research institute are developing new technology, in which a computer takes over certain functions. Known as a shared control system, the setup incorporates muscular-activity-detecting electrodes which are placed on the amputee user’s residual arm stump. […]