Consumer & Gadgets news
Consumer & Gadgets
Wearable glove turns data into heat and touch for more personal insights
University of Adelaide researchers have developed a wearable glove that uses heat, touch and physical objects to transform data into a sensory experience. The prototype, called ThermoPhy, was developed as part of a remote ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Intelligent, but not conscious: A warning about AI chatbots
Have you ever said "thanks" to ChatGPT, or "please" to Claude? Maybe you're just being polite, showing some civility to a helpful and eloquent conversational partner. You may even consider politeness a safe choice, just in ...
Jun 18, 2026
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Snap bets on AR glasses in post-smartphone race
Snap, the parent company of social network Snapchat, on Tuesday launched its Specs augmented reality glasses, a major bet by a struggling company to stake out ground in the post-smartphone era.
Jun 16, 2026
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UK social media ban: Tech restrictions for teens can't be the only approach
The UK government's decision to introduce restrictions on children's access to social media marks a significant moment in the evolution of online safety policy. For supporters, it represents a long-overdue response to growing ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Harsh critics are the most loyal fans of video game brands, study shows
Dr. Naser Pourazad, senior lecturer in marketing at Flinders University's College of Business, Creative Arts, Law and Social Sciences, has examined how video game fans express their brand advocacy through online forums—and ...
Jun 16, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AR-assisted Japanese flower arrangement helps beginners learn at home while preserving mindfulness
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is an important form of Japan's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) that fosters creativity, mindfulness and aesthetic sensitivity. Also known as "Kado," or way of the flower, ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Love at first prompt? How AI-assisted courtship is rewriting the rules of online dating
In the famous French play Cyrano de Bergerac, the brilliant but insecure Cyrano lends his eloquence to the handsome, tongue-tied Christian to help him woo his lover. Today, a remarkably similar scene is playing out among ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
AI model identifies consumers' emotional reactions to new product designs
A new AI system can convert social media discussion about a product into a new design that takes into account user needs more accurately than earlier approaches, according to research published in the International Journal ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Vehicle miles traveled: An improved, but imperfect, traffic metric
Opponents of new developments often argue that more construction will bring more traffic, frequently convincing developers to reduce the scale of their projects or seek out less densely populated areas to build. Although ...
Jun 15, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Human understanding of AI can't keep up with its advancement, researchers say
In a recent editorial published in Science, Microsoft's chief scientific officer, Eric Horvitz, and researcher Robert West from the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL in Switzerland issue a stark warning ...
Consumer & Gadgets
How bait‑and‑switch sales tricks make us click on online 'bargains'—and what to do about it
You're browsing a major online marketplace for a warm winter jacket when a sponsored listing catches your eye: a black, fleece-lined jacket, prominently priced at A$18.99 each. It's just what you want, so you click through, ...
Jun 12, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
High prevalence of poor sleep quality among Japanese esports players
A research team at the University of Tsukuba reported that 43.3% of Japanese esports players were classified as having poor subjective sleep quality, according to a cross-sectional survey. In particular, poor sleep quality ...
Jun 11, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Can Pepper the robot be a good playmate?
What's it like to play a physical game with or against a robot that both looks and behaves like a person? That's what NTNU researchers wanted to find out when they conducted a controlled laboratory experiment with Pepper, ...
Jun 11, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Rising costs and competition threaten GoPro
For nearly 25 years, GoPro cameras have gone underwater, glided with parachutes and slipped down ski slopes, allowing the adventurous to record images of their experiences.
Jun 11, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Entirely new way of making espresso shakes up the coffee world
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have harnessed the power of ultrasonic sound waves to make espresso-strength coffee with room-temperature water, cutting energy use by up to 75%. That morning coffee kick from a shot of espresso ...
Jun 10, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
The consequences of relying on AI for accurate news
It's no secret that the last few years have seen a massive explosion in the use of artificial intelligence for general information-gathering. An even more recent trend, though, is how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, ...
Jun 10, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
How AI chatbots become better learning coaches
Many AI systems answer questions in a matter of seconds—and, in the process, often prevent people from doing exactly what learning is all about: thinking for themselves. Machine learning expert Jakub Mačina is therefore developing ...
Jun 10, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Can e-scooters and e-bikes help more people use public transport?
Rideshare e-scooters and e-bikes, and a change in public perception, could help close the gap between public transport hubs and commuters' starting points or destinations, according to a new report.
Jun 10, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
'Technostress': Why many older people feel shut out by the digital world
From personal health portals to AI assistants that draft emails, the digital age has simplified endless everyday tasks. But for many older New Zealanders, the rapid march of technology has helped build a wall rather than ...
Jun 9, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Apple tries again on AI, turns to Google for help
Apple unveiled an artificial intelligence overhaul for the iPhone on Monday, turning to Google for help two years after the company stumbled in its first attempt.
Jun 8, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Apple expected to unveil new AI features at last developers conference with CEO Tim Cook
Apple is expected to unveil new artificial intelligence features at its annual developers conference beginning Monday, which will be the last one featuring CEO Tim Cook before he turns his post over to John Ternus in September.
Jun 8, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
New app lets anyone operate a robot from their phone
Someone with no computing experience may soon be able to remotely control a robot from anywhere on the planet using a smartphone, thanks to new technology developed by Georgia Tech. The new technology is also set to revolutionize ...
Jun 4, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Framework generates 'shadow art' from scan of any object
Some people have a gift for creating beautiful works of art. Others appreciate art but do not have the talent to create it. Researchers at Cornell Tech and the Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science have ...
Jun 4, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
New AI fitness coach explains bad form in real time to help prevent injuries
As any athlete will tell you, perfect practice makes perfect. But for individuals who do not have regular access to coaches or trainers, maintaining good form can be tricky. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic when many ...
Jun 3, 2026
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Consumer & Gadgets
Chatbot teddies for three‑year‑olds? Why AI toys are risky for kids
ChattyBear, a soft, brown-furred teddy bear, begins every conversation with a jubilant, "Hello, my buddy!"
Jun 3, 2026
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