Category: Consumer & Gadgets

Everything you say to an Alexa speaker will be sent to Amazon—starting today Amazon has disabled two key privacy features in its Alexa smart speakers, in a push to introduce artificial intelligence-powered “agentic capabilities” and turn a profit from the popular devices. Go to techxplore

Revolutionizing touch: Researchers explore the future of wearable multi-sensory haptic technology From virtual reality to rehabilitation and communication, haptic technology has revolutionized the way humans interact with the digital world. While early haptic devices focused on single-sensory cues like vibration-based notifications, modern advancements have paved the way for multisensory haptic devices that integrate various forms…

Household electricity three times more expensive than upcoming ‘eco-friendly’ aviation e-fuels, study reveals Existing tax policies during the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources will lead to major energy injustices and skewed priorities, new research published in Climate Policy shows. Go to techxplore

YouTube influencers: Gaming’s best friend or worst enemy? YouTube influencers are shaping the gaming industry in unexpected ways, and a new study in the journal Marketing Science uncovers the surprising truth: Although influencers can drive massive engagement with video games, they might also be costing game developers millions in lost sales. Go to techxplore

Home air conditioning units can balance the electrical grid without impacting comfort While adding wind and solar energy to the electricity supply can help reduce carbon emissions, their intermittency poses a challenge to traditional methods for maintaining electricity supply and demand. Go to techxplore

What is the ‘digital gender gap?’ Digital technologies, such as the internet and mobile phones, have spread widely, and become integral to many parts of our lives. Yet women continue to lag behind men in digital access in many countries. Go to techxplore

A late start, then a big boom: Why it took until 1975 for Australians to finally watch TV in color Some 50 years ago, on March 1 1975, Australian television stations officially moved to color. Go to techxplore

New device could allow you to taste a cake in virtual reality Novel technology intends to redefine the virtual reality experience by expanding to incorporate a new sensory connection: taste. Go to techxplore

HikingTTE: A deep learning approach for hiking travel time estimation based on personal walking ability At the University of Electro-Communications, a research team led by Mizuho Asako, Yasuyuki Tahara, Akihiko Ohsuga, and Yuichi Sei has developed a new deep learning model called “HikingTTE” that significantly improves hiking travel time estimation. Hiking is popular worldwide, but…

How far would you trust AI to make important decisions? Research suggests statistical literacy shapes trust From tailored Netflix recommendations to personalized Facebook feeds, artificial intelligence (AI) adeptly serves content that matches our preferences and past behaviors. But while a restaurant tip or two is handy, how comfortable would you be if AI-algorithms were in…

A guide for using VR and AR technology in foreign markets Global businesses are embracing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to connect with consumers around the world. The technologies offer new ways to get a feel for products before buying—for everything from virtually trying on a lipstick shade, exploring a brand’s world in…

PlayStation Network back online after 24-hour outage Sony PlayStation’s online services came back online on Saturday, the Japanese group said, after a 24-hour outage frustrated gamers around the world. Go to techxplore

Why your headphone battery doesn’t last: Advanced imaging sheds light on hidden dynamics Ever notice that batteries in electronics don’t last as long as they did when they were brand new? Go to techxplore

For some, life online comes with ambivalence: Book explores ‘digital backlash’ Even though digitalization is in full swing, most Norwegians are now ambivalent about life online, according to media researchers at the University of Oslo. Go to techxplore

Student creates online hub for wildfire relief with interactive map Johan Michalove is nearly 3,000 miles from the Los Angeles wildfires, but that didn’t stop him from pitching in. Go to techxplore

People are hawking TikTok-loaded phones for thousands on eBay, Facebook People are listing phones preloaded with TikTok for tens of thousands of dollars on eBay, Facebook marketplace and other online storefronts—though it is not clear if there are many buyers at those prices. Go to techxplore

How can we design humane autonomous systems? Experts share insight in book In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems are rapidly transforming various sectors, a book by a multidisciplinary group of scholars offers a timely and critical examination of these technologies from a human-centered perspective. The open access book delves into the…

What influences trust when conversing with chatbots? Whether on your bank’s website or your telephone provider’s help line, interactions between humans and chatbots have become part of our daily lives. But do we trust them? And what factors influence our trust? Researchers at the University of Basel recently examined these questions. Go to techxplore

TVs get smarter as makers cater to AI lifestyles Dazzling televisions that routinely star at the Consumer Electronics Show opening here Tuesday are getting ever smarter with an eye toward being at the heart of AI-centered lifestyles. Go to techxplore

Seven advances in technology that we’re likely to see in 2025 In the grand scheme of things, 45 years is not a long time. Back in 1980, it would take me three weeks to run a computer program, written in the programming language Cobol, that worked using punched cards. Each card represented one line of…

EU universal charger rules come into force EU rules requiring all new smartphones, tablets and cameras to use the same charger came into force on Saturday, in a change Brussels said will cut costs and waste. Go to techxplore

AI can’t do your Christmas shopping just yet—but next year might be different I’m a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out. Go to techxplore

New tool makes micro:bit programming portable for young learners A new coding tool will help make it easier for children to portably program a popular educational micro-computer on the fly. Researchers from Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications working in partnership with researchers at Microsoft have evaluated a new programming tool called MicroCode. Go…

Earning money while making power grid more stable—energy consumers can have key role in supporting grid flexibility By providing flexibility services to renewable energy systems, consumers can both help in balancing power grids and receive financial benefits. Hosna Khajeh’s doctoral dissertation from the University of Vaasa, Finland, introduces new methods that enable the efficient utilization…