Consumer & Gadgets news

Consumer & Gadgets

VR can take users for a sneaky spin without making them sick, research shows

Surprising new research has revealed that people's perception of motion can be radically manipulated in passive virtual reality environments without making them feel unwell.

Consumer & Gadgets

Sony hikes PlayStation 5 console prices for Europe, UK and Australia citing economic turmoil

Sony said it will raise prices starting Monday for some PlayStation 5 video game consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing global economic turmoil.

Consumer & Gadgets

Using virtual reality to connect players with ocean ecosystems

Fewer people have been to the deepest parts of the ocean than have walked on the surface of the moon. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Transformational Play are hoping a virtual trip into the watery ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Nice flex: AI-powered smart clothing logs posture and exercises

Researchers at Cornell have developed a new type of smart clothing that can track a person's posture and exercise routine but looks, wears—and washes—just like a regular shirt.

Consumer & Gadgets

Nostalgia fuels UK boom in vintage video game repairs

The shelves lining Luke Malpass's home workshop are a gamer's treasure trove stretching back decades, with components of vintage Game Boys, Sega Mega Drives and Nintendos jostling for space and awaiting repair.

Consumer & Gadgets

Is the Switch 2 worth the price? Reviews are mixed

Gaming specialists who have handled Nintendo's new Switch 2 say the console is a clear upgrade on its predecessor, but it lacks must-have new features and the progress comes at a steep price.

Consumer & Gadgets

Fashion and tech now intertwined, researcher argues

Fashion is found on runways, shop windows and the accounts of social media influencers. Until recently, Varun Grover, Distinguished Professor at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and other information systems researchers ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Are lifetimes of big appliances really shrinking?

Big appliances, like washing machines, ovens and refrigerators, are a major investment for many households. Consumers hope that these appliances will last for decades. More and more, however, people have the perception that ...

Consumer & Gadgets

A behind-the-scenes look at Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo's Switch 2 is bigger and better than its predecessor of eight years past as the video game developer pushes to bring its brand into "a new era" where social experiences are at the forefront.

Consumer & Gadgets

Robotic dogs can inspire emergent leadership in humans

A study from the Media Innovation Lab (miLAB) at Reichman University's School of Communications explored how a robotic dog can influence leadership dynamics between humans. The study revealed that simple gestures of affection ...

Consumer & Gadgets

E-scooter crashes mainly caused by reckless driving, study shows

Crashes on electric scooters are mostly due to the behavior of the riders, with one-handed steering and riding in a group being some of the largest risk factors. Researchers are also concerned about riders who deliberately ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Q&A: What happens to your data if 23andMe collapses?

A paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine calls for regulations to protect customers' personal and genetic data in light of biotech company 23andMe's uncertain future.

Consumer & Gadgets

Young Chinese women find virtual love in 'Deepspace'

Rafayel's girlfriends went all out to celebrate their lover's birthday, renting malls across China for parties, decorating high-speed trains with his photos, and even staging a dazzling drone show.

Consumer & Gadgets

Safeguarding coffee grinders from hidden stones with acoustics

Most coffee connoisseurs are familiar with the gentle hum of their favorite café's grinder while they wait in eager anticipation of that aromatic first sip. But behind this everyday scene lies a surprisingly tricky problem. ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Social media design is key to protecting kids online

Social media is a complex environment that presents both opportunities and threats for adolescents, with self-expression and emotional support on the one hand and body-shaming, cyberbullying and addictive behaviors on the ...

Consumer & Gadgets

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 ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Security is just a side quest: Insights from the video game industry

The video game industry is a constantly changing market worth billions. In a qualitative interview study with industry experts, CISPA researcher Philip Klostermeyer from the team of CISPA Faculty Prof. Dr. Sascha Fahl investigated ...