The Plyy is a fully customizable accessible gaming controller for everyone
There are many people who want to play console games but can't due to problems using traditional controllers. German brand Plyon wants to change that, creating a prototype of a fully customizable gaming controller. Digital Trends spoke with head of design Alexander Römmelt about the project.
The Fairphone 3 places ethics and the planet over specs and greed
The new Fairphone 3 is a smartphone sold not on the specification, but on the sustainable materials inside, ethical production methods and supply chain, and how it can be recycled and reused when you’re finished with it. The mid-range phone is designed to last longer than others too.
Scientists develop implant to restore sight by stimulating the optic nerve
Blindness is difficult to treat, in part because it can be caused by so many different issues in the eye, the brain, or the optic nerve which connects the two. Now, scientists have developed a technology to directly stimulate the optic nerve, which could be used to restore people's sight in the future.
2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV rated at 259 miles of range, outpacing most rivals
The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV will have the longest range of any mass-market electric car, according to a new report. Range is expected to increase from 238 miles to 259 miles per charge. Chevrolet hasn't officially commented on the range increase, which was listed on an EPA website.
The three largest public EV charging networks are now working together
Electrify America has signed an interoperability agreement with EVgo. This follows agreements between both major electric-car charging networks and ChargePoint. That means drivers can charge at stations on all three networks with one account, making the charging process much easier.
The Amazon rainforest is burning, but there’s a way you can help from your desk
In response to the fires in the Amazon, search engine Ecosia is planting even more -- an additional one million trees in the Brazilian rainforest to help make up for the biodiversity lost in the flames. The engine plants a new tree for every 50 searches.
Where do AirPods go when they die? The big problem with tiny earbuds
True wireless headphones are tiny and convenient, but they’re also among the most ephemeral tech products you can buy. With relatively short lifespans and designs that make them exceedingly difficult for disposal or repair, industry leaders like Apple are creating a potential e-waste problem with ever pair they sell.
The Biotica800 air purifier uses probiotics to clean the air in your home
The BetterAir Biotica800 air purifier disperses probiotics through the air to neutralize harmful bacteria and trap allergens. It aims to be a completely natural solution to home and office air purification. The unique approach of the Biotica800 targets the causes of indoor air pollution at the source.
Biologists create an ‘eyeball on a chip’ that actually blinks
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a human eye replica that’s actually capable of tearing up and blinking. Here's why they've created it -- and, no, it isn't because they're building a Terminator-style robot.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets a solar roof to help recharge its battery pack
The latest Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will get a solar roof that helps recharge its battery pack. While the new Sonata Hybrid will be sold in the United States, Hyundai hasn't yet discussed plans to offer the solar roof here. Hyundai isn't the first automaker to offer solar charging.
The Winston Privacy Filter hides your online activities from prying eyes
People are growing more conscious of the footprint they leave behind online and how private data can be leaked, sold, and used by unscrupulous companies. The Winston Privacy Filter is a box that plugs into your router and protects your online activities, making it impossible for anyone to snoop on you.
Japanese researchers are teaching tires how to generate electricity
Japanese tire company Sumitomo teamed up with researchers at Kansai University to develop an experimental tire that generates electricity. It uses an Energy Harvester to convert the friction generated as the car moves into a small amount of electricity used to power accessories like the tire pressure monitoring system.
Google Nest gives 100,000 Home Minis to people living with paralysis
Google Nest is giving away 100,000 free Home Minis to people who are living with paralysis. The company announced a partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Friday to provide the devices to paralyzed individuals to help them gain some additional independence.
About a third of U.S. households lack broadband internet. 5G may change that
A new report from The NPD Group says that almost a third of U.S. households do not have access to broadband internet, and that many of these households are in rural communities. Broadband is considered to be a minimum of 25Mbps or greater. However, 5G could help bring broadband to underserved communities.
HomeStay Intelligent Home platform gives aging loved ones independence, security
The Australian company HomeStay's Intelligent Home smart home platform provides remote monitoring for senior citizens and allows them to continue living on their own. Motion sensors, door sensors, and an emergency pendant let loved ones keep an eye on seniors from a distance.
Clever new haptic vest could let rescue dogs take commands from miles away
Researchers in Israel have developed a haptic vest for dogs. It allows owners to communicate instructions to their pooch through specific vibration patterns. In doing so, it could be possible to communicate information to dogs in scenarios when other forms of communication are not available.
A.I. cameras could help stomp out wildfires before they become disastrous
This summer marks one year since California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire season ever. Could cutting-edge technology help avoid future incidents? The folks behind Bee2FireDetection certainly believe that it can. They’ve developed technology aimed at helping spot fires earlier.
Implant restores sight in blind patients by beaming images directly to the brain
Engineers have developed a new neural implant which could help completely blind people by bypassing non-functioning optical nerves and inputting images directly into their brain. It has already resulted in partial sight being restored to six participants in an experimental study.
Withings latest blood pressure monitors detect heart problems before they happen
Withings put innovation at the forefront with its new BPM Core and BPM Connect blood pressure monitors. The ECG-equipped BPM Core brings clinical-level heart monitoring to the comfort of your home, while the BPM Connect is a modern take on Withings' classic blood pressure monitor.
How gender questioning and transgender gamers found a safe space in VR
Virtual reality headsets started life as futuristic gaming peripherals. These days, they’re used anywhere from movies and entertainment, to design and military simulations. For trans and gender-questioning people, VR headsets are a necessary stepping stone for safe gender exploration.
Comcast lets people with physical disabilities control a TV with just a glance
It's hard enough when you have a physical disability, but watching TV shouldn't be one of those difficult activities. Comcast is now making it a little easier, by giving people a way to connect their existing assistive devices like eye-glance systems with their Comcast cable boxes.
Mastercard’s Digital Wellness program uses A.I. to make online paying safer
Mastercard has announced the new Mastercard Digital Wellness program -- with the goal of using artificial intelligence to make paying for things online a little easier. The new system makes use of "billions" of data points to authenticate users, enabling click-to-pay technology.
How Zvox soundbars use advanced tech to help the hard of hearing enjoy TV again
ZVOX audio has been credited as the maker of the first commercially successful soundbar, but the innovation didn’t stop there. Led by CEO Tom Hannaher and his team are working to help bring high-quality TV audio to the hearing impaired, from soundbars to affordable hearing aids.
At Collision 2019, technology finds its purpose: Doing good
Collision is ostensibly a startup show, with nearly 1,100 startups, 26,000 attendees, and conference tracks for pitching venture capitalists called Growth Summit and MoneyConf. But in 2019, another theme was clear: Fixing the world. Here are our takeaways from the event.
Twitter co-founder Ev Williams still wants to save the world
Social media has led to a mental health crisis in Gen Z and a rise in hate speech. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, according to Ev Williams, the co-founder of Twitter and Medium. But weaning ourselves off today's social media won't be easy, he told Kara Swisher at the Collision conference.
UV-activated superglue could literally help to heal broken hearts
Scientists at Zhejiang University in China have developed a potentially life-saving ultraviolet-activated adhesive glue that is capable of efficiently healing damage to organs, including the heart. Here's how its inventors have demonstrated its amazing abilities so far.
Cleanyst imagines a new mix-at-home paradigm for cleaning products
Just like Keurig offers coffee junkies a quick and clean solution to making a cup of joe, a new Miami-based startup called Cleanyst is offering a new smart home solution that enables users to mix and match high-quality concentrates to create home cleaning products that are organic, clean, and efficient.
Google’s Street View cars are helping build a giant map of global air pollution
For the past several years, a growing number of Google’s Street View cars have been doing more than just taking photos. They’ve also been measuring air quality. Here's how they've been doing it -- and what this could mean for solving the global problem of air pollution.
Chicago’s trash-eating river robot is a glimpse into the future of crowdsourcing
From controlling a trash-picking robot on the Chicago River to helping discover new planets, our hyper-connected world is giving the public a host of new tools to help solve some giant problems. Here's why it's so exciting -- and what this all means for the future as we know it.
Drone delivers lifesaving kidney for transplant patient in world first
A medical facility in Maryland has become the first to use a drone to deliver a kidney for transplant into a patient. The specially built drone is capable of maintaining and monitoring a viable human organ during flight. The transplant operation was deemed a success and the female patient left hospital this week.
The world is switching to eco-friendlier fridges and A/Cs, leaving the U.S. behind
Refrigerants used in U.S. fridges are terrible for the environment. Many other parts of the world use hydrocarbons instead of HFCs for refrigerants, but bipartisan legislation requiring the switch is stalled, and the Trump administration has yet to sign the Kigali Amendment, which requires similar changes.
George Clooney and Microsoft’s TrialWatch hopes to put a spotlight on injustice
Microsoft and The Clooney Foundation for Justice unveiled the TrialWatch app Thursday during an event at Columbia University — a new tool in CFJ’s ongoing effort to shine a light on injustice in courts around the globe.
Amal and George Clooney want to change the world. Can Microsoft help?
Microsoft and The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) unveiled the AI-powered TrialWatch app Thursday morning, a new tool in CFJ’s ongoing TrialWatch effort to shine a light on injustice in courts around the globe – which too often are simply barbaric.
A battery-free pacemaker harvests and stores energy from heartbeats
Researchers in China and the United States have developed a new battery-free pacemaker which gathers its required electricity from the energy of heartbeats. While not yet ready for humans, it was recently demonstrated successfully in pigs. Here's why that's so important.