Microsoft has unveiled its latest research project today, Project Zanzibar. It’s a smart mat that’s designed to blend the digital and physical worlds by sensing touch, gestures, and objects. A team of researchers, with a love of toys, created the project at Microsoft’s research labs in the UK. The mat folds and combines sensing, near field communication (NFC), and multi-touch to imagine a fu...

China has the potential to create 45% of the revenue across consumer goods by 2030.China’s digital economy has experienced massive growth over the last decade.About 10 years ago China accounted for less than one percent of the global e-commerce market; today its share is 42%. In comparison, the United States’ share of the market is 24%, down from 35% in 2005, as this graph illustrates.Such is...

A newly granted patent shows Amazon is pursuing augmented reality tech to fuel a new focus on auto parts. Shopping online for aftermarket auto parts can often be a difficult and frustrating task. Aftermarket auto parts are usually manufactured by third parties, and are often inconsistent in quality and design.For example, if the owner of a 1995 Ford Fusion wanted to order new fender liners, she...

Uber has acquired JUMP, a U.S. bike-sharing startup in a deal reportedly valued at around $200 million. The acquisition announced on Monday doesn’t come as a huge surprise after Uber piloted “Uber Bike by JUMP” in San Francisco earlier this year. Adding bike-sharing to its mobility services seems like a natural fit for Uber which strives to “make it easier to live without owning a personal...

Tech companies claimed the top five spots in the U.S. for research and development spending again last year, investing a combined total of $76 billion. Amazon was at the top of the list, spending $22.6 billion in 2017, 41 percent more than in 2016 (when it also topped the list).Amazon has poured resources into AWS, Alexa and technologies like computer vision to support ambitious projects such a...

Over the last decade or so televisions have become seemingly-less deigned; all that’s appeared to have changed is their depth due to the advancing technology, and the only thing distinguishing between the many brands is the logo on the front.Designed to get the user more involved by removing all unwanted elements, ARTE sets out to break the mould of TV design. The conventional television stand...

Antonio Paglia sure seems to think the Tesla Helicopter is well on its way. Built in a time where Tesla’s batteries will be able to power large manned airborne vehicles, the Tesla Helicopter carries the company’s DNA, both physically and spiritually. Designed for efficiency and speed, the Helicopter would do well in departments like safety and patrol, allowing the administration to effectivel...

Over a third check mobile devices immediately after waking up. Screens are so ingrained that over 60 percent of women own two or more mobile devices and use them every day.As innovation in mobile changes how society operates, women are using their phones to assist them in practically every aspect of their lives, from consuming news to budgeting to waking up in the morning. Almost half of women...

For many years, drivers thinking about switching to an electric car have had very limited choices. By the end of 2010, a meager 6 electric vehicle models (incl. plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles) were available to consumers in North America. In recent years however, with the growing acceptance of electric cars, more and more manufacturers decided to enter the EV market. According to a repo...