| In this edition: Google Maps’ chief on immersive navigation; the utility of carbon-plated sneakers; a partnership in flying taxis. |
|
| |
 | | ILLUSTRATION: NOAH FRIEDMAN |
|
|
| Last year, the buzz from the CES global tech show in Las Vegas was a futuristic sound system that used camera-powered head tracking and sophisticated acoustic engineering to beam sound directly to the ears of the listener, and nobody else. Its creators said they raised millions of dollars from investors and planned to ship the devices this past March. They never did. Hardware startups are facing an innovation crunch, thanks to rising economic uncertainty and interest rates, Covid-19-related issues in China, and a plunge in venture-capital funding. It could be a while before the next wave of startups unveil gadgets we can’t live without. Read on for WSJ Personal Tech reporter Dalvin Brown’s overview of CES. Meanwhile, among the gadgets that are on display at the show, a trend is subtler, more effective tools to assist disabled people, from stair-climbing wheelchairs to closed-caption glasses. Plus, here’s more from CES: - 🎥 Explore the ideas for devices to make life easier for people with disabilities. (Watch)
- 🎧 The best of CES: What gadgets stood out at this year’s show? (Listen)
🤔 What do you think? What everyday problems do you wish gadget makers could solve? Send me your thoughts, questions and predictions by hitting "reply" to this email. |
|
| |
 | | PHOTO: PAUL ELLIS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES |
|
|
| Wind and solar developers are concocting elaborate plans to provide round-the-clock renewable power—the industry’s holy grail—with a mix of options that include building huge amounts of renewable capacity, storing excess power on batteries, and using algorithms to make project economics work. More on this topic: - Building a power grid to span the world. (Read)
- Using the ocean’s power to fight climate change. (Read)
- Can the EV help save the electric-power grid? (Read)
|
|
| |
| ✨ The Future of Everything Festival. Join us at Spring Studios in New York May 2–4 for unscripted interviews, immersive storytelling, jaw-dropping technology and rare experiences with experts. The Future of Everything Festival looks at the world through the lens of the global forces that are shaping it now, and in the future. It was, and continues to be, the definitive gathering for the smart, the curious and the ambitious. As a subscriber, enjoy exclusive discounted rates. Register here. |
|
| |
 | | PHOTO: F. MARTIN RAMIN/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
|
|
| When Eliud Kipchoge broke the world marathon record last September, he was wearing $275 Nikes with a carbon-fiber footplate that promises energy return with each step. Carbon-plated sneakers have caught on with professional runners—do you need a pair? More on this topic: - Five ways you’ll exercise smarter in the future. (Read)
- How fitness trackers are about to get a lot more granular. (Read)
- Can you fight aging? Scientists are testing drugs to help. (Read)
|
|
| |
| 📰 Enjoying this newsletter? Get more from WSJ and support our journalism by subscribing today with this special offer. |
|
| |
| |
From Laundry to the Ocean: Fixing the Microplastics Problem in Clothes | | With each wash, everything from sweaters to socks is releasing tiny, microscopic fibers into our water. Alternatives are in the works to stop microplastics from coming off our garments. Will it be enough? | | |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| $29 billion | | The valuation of OpenAI, the research lab behind the widely publicized ChatGPT chatbot, in a potential tender offer, according to people familiar with the matter. That would make it one of the most valuable U.S. startups on paper despite generating little revenue. No final deal has been reached and terms could change, the people said. |
|
|
| |
| 📰 Catch up on the headlines, understand the news and make better decisions. Sign up for What’s News, free in your inbox on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons. |
|
| |
 | | PHOTO: ARCHER AVIATION |
|
|
| The maker of Jeep is getting into the electric flying-taxi business. Stellantis struck a deal with Archer Aviation to help it build its Midnight model, designed to carry up to five passengers, including the pilot, and take trips of about 20 miles with a 10-minute charging time in between. More on this topic: - The CEO of Wisk Aero has thoughts on when flying taxis will take off. (Read)
- Autonomous delivery and work drones will still need a human minder. (Read)
|
|
| |
 | | PHOTO: TRAVIS GESKE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
|
|
| How will the next generation find their way in the world—literally? Christopher Phillips, the head of Google Maps, envisions a more photorealistic view of digital navigation: “You’ll be able to transport yourself to what it really looks like to be there at that time of day.” More on this topic: - Delivery town: how your online order will change your city. (Read)
- What it will take for augmented reality to become our reality. (Read)
|
|
| |
| |
- An Experimental Cancer Vaccine Turned Tumor Cells Into Traitors (Gizmodo)
- ISS Astronauts Are Building Objects That Couldn’t Exist on Earth (Popular Science)
- Sun-Powered Water Splitter Produces Three Times More Green Energy in the Lab (Science)
|
|
| |
| |
