It was a lively day at Rapid Fusions South West UK headquarters, where guests gathered under a marquee on an airstrip-adjacent site to witness a 3D printing first. Over conversation, coffee, and paella, co-founders Jake Hand and Martin Jewell introduced Medusa, a large-scale hybrid manufacturing system that merges high-speed material deposition with integrated CNC finishing. Developed over 18 months, Medusa aims to tackle challenges that have long confined additive manufacturing to prototyping rather than true production.The launch is noteworthy for several reasons; companies are proceeding cautiously with CAPEX investments, creating a ripple effect across hardware sales, software, and services in AM. Rapid Fusion is well positioned to glean such insight, the company is a spin-out of Evo3D a well-established 3D printer reseller with its offices and showroom above the workshop that now houses the first Medusa 3D printer, and also the Apollo platform: an earlier example of the high deposition pellet based 3D printing approach often referred to as Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM).The Rapid Fusion Medusa. Photo by Michael Petch.From Concept to PrototypeHand recalled how Medusas inception began, quite literally, on the back of a [cigarette] packet. Yet, in under two years, Rapid Fusion advanced the concept into a robust industrial prototype. CTO Martin Jewell explained that the teams mission revolved around four key barriers blocking the mainstream adoption of additive manufacturing: speed, scale, fragmented workflows, and reliability.Medusa itself is not just another 3D printer, Jewell said. The one-click workflow and CNC finishing capabilities integrated within this system are transformational. Medusas hefty 22-kilogram toolhead moves at speeds of up to 1.2 meters per second, depositing material at rates of 17 kilograms per hour. This performance stems from an industrial-strength chassisbuilt like a literal tank, as Jewell described itensuring stability even under rapid, heavy-payload movement.Rapid Fusion has achieved this without VC funding and plans to stay agile, continuously iterating rather than sticking to rigid product cycles. They believe hardware-focused companies can suffer under VC expectations. Other businesses release a product and then run it until nobody buys it anymore. We dont operate that way, said Jewell.The company is also rapidly protecting intellectual property due to heightened competitor interest. Jewell said, We had to file three patents this morning because were showing the technology today. Once its in the public domain, you lose the ability to file. Competitors have downloaded all the materials from our website in the last two weeks. Its not ego; these are just facts, added Hand.3D printing on the Rapid Fusion Medusa. Photo by Michael Petch.Closing the Gap Between Additive and SubtractiveA standout feature of Medusa is its ability to combine additive and subtractive steps in a single automated workflow. The system integrates multiple printing heads for filament and pellet extrusion, as well as a CNC milling tool. Jewell stressed how this allows for seamless, no-hands transitions between printing and finishing, cutting lead times by around 60% compared to traditional processes.He also highlighted the systems advanced sensor suite and thermal visualization, which not only track real-time performance but will eventually enable predictive maintenance. Were looking at the long game, Jewell said. Its about reliability, minimizing downtime, and upgrading machine intelligence over time.Medusas modular design further underscores its adaptability and ease of service. Critical componentsincluding the machines braincan be swapped or upgraded in about 45 minutes, reducing extended outages and future-proofing customer investments.You could essentially do a brain transplant on the machine in about 45 minutes, Jewell explained. It means you dont need to replace the entire unit; you can upgrade components individually.Software Integration with AI BuildRapid Fusions hardware breakthroughs dovetail with automation-driven software provided by AI Build, a London-based company specializing in software for AM and hybrid manufacturing. Guy Brown, Head of R&D at AI Build, underscored the importance of a unified platform that spans every stage of manufacturing, from uploading design files to real-time process monitoring.Weve been printing in the lab for 10 years, and weve had a lot of failures, Brown said. All that pain has been turned into lessons learned and baked into our software.AI Builds platform automatically checks designs for additive manufacturing suitability, slices and simulates the toolpaths, and oversees process control. The system also introduces hybrid toolpathing, enabling subtractive stepstrimming or smoothing just a few millimetersin the same environment. This approach delivers high-quality surface finishes comparable to more complex multi-axis milling machines.Moreover, AI Build created a digital twin of the Medusa system to ensure collision detection and safe operations. A tailored post-processor handles tool-change macros that let customers easily calibrate their machines. Brown also highlighted AI Builds starter software, featuring a one-click slicing interface with nine preconfigured strategies. This simplified approach lowers the barrier to entry for those transitioning from smaller desktop 3D printers.This helps users reach their first print as fast as possible, he noted. Its about streamlining that learning curve so you can go from zero to functional part in a fraction of the usual time.Theres nobody in a factory setting thinking, I want a robot that prints. They think, I want to make a moldwhat are my options? So they talk to their integrators, said Hand. Traditional robot integrators and manufacturers, like ABB, KUKA, FANUC, are slowly recognizing large-format printings potential. FANUC is more open; KUKA and ABB are cautious.Thermal Shield and Real-Time MonitoringAI Builds Thermal Shield is a key software innovation, an infrared camera-based monitoring feature that checks interlayer temperatures during printing. The system automatically adjusts print settings to maintain optimal thermal conditions, preventing layers from overheating or cooling too rapidly.Thermal monitoring brings down the barrier to entry dramatically, Brown said, emphasizing how newer operators might miss subtle temperature cues an experienced operator would catch. The technology also logs comprehensive process data, enabling traceability vital for aerospace, automotive, and other sectors that demand rigorous quality control.Rapid Fusion envisions self-optimizing machines via on-prem AI, but data-sharing hurdles remain. They aim to integrate NVIDIA modules for localized machine learning without exposing sensitive data. Weve built the hardware infrastructure to enable AI-driven printing The next step is for it to adjust the process automatically, said Jewell.Thermal Camera on the Rapid Fusion Medusa. Photo by Michael Petch.De-Risking Through Simulation and ComplianceThe National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) provided crucial input for Medusas development, focusing on simulation, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. Dickon Walker, an R&D engineer at NMIS, explained that his team coordinated an industry steering group to gather real-world feedback, ensuring the printers design aligned with genuine production scenarios.NMIS conducted finite element analysis (FEA) to assess structural stability under Medusas high-speed, heavy-load conditions. Minor deviationsless than one millimeter across a large build volumewere uncovered through laser trackers and optical coordinate measuring systems. While small, these deviations still prompted hardware refinements.We simulated how the printer frame behaves when driving such a heavy tool at high speeds, Walker said. Though the deviations were under one millimeter, we aimed to refine alignment further.Beyond structural testing, NMIS managed CE marking guidelines, essential for market acceptance. Walker acknowledged that preparing technical files is not the sexiest part of engineering but remains critical for commercializing the machine. NMIS also validated mechanical properties by printing test samples on Medusa rather than relying on generic datasheets, which often reflect injection-molded rather than 3D-printed characteristics.Sustainable Materials With FilamentiveRavi Toor, founder and director of Filamentive, underscored the sustainability aspect of the Medusa project. While additive manufacturing is considered inherently less wasteful than subtractive processes, Toor cautioned against overlooking plastic consumption and end-of-life recycling.Pellet-based printingone of Medusas capabilitieseliminates spool waste and requires less energy than producing filament. The approach also encourages the use of locally sourced recycled materials, further cutting carbon footprints. In parallel, Medusas filament extruder allows high-detail prints and access to a broader array of materials.We cant ignore plastic consumption or recycling at the end of life, Toor noted. Pellet-based printing cuts waste from spools and reduces energy usage, while also making it easier to integrate recycled feedstock.Filamentive tested polymer blends such as recycled PETG or polycarbonate reinforced with glass fiber, achieving heat resistance above 100 degrees Celsius. Some of these blends reduce carbon emissions by up to 60% compared to virgin materials. Toor also praised Medusas modularity, which lets users replace only faulty componentslike the heated bed or extruderrather than discarding the entire machine.On the decision to use open materials and pelletised feedstock Hand said, Charging 200 to 300 for a kilo of PLA? Its insane. Its just the business modelkeeping customers locked in Were more focused on delivering the best solution, making a profit, and not exploiting the buyer. Rapid Fusion rejects closed systems and high material markups that trap users into overpriced consumables. They view this as a barrier to mainstream adoption.Backing from Innovate UKChaco van der Sijp, Innovation Lead at Innovate UK, likened attending Medusas launch to a parent at a childs graduation. Innovate UK, the UKs innovation agency, provided funding and strategic guidance, helping Rapid Fusion, AI Build, Filamentive, and NMIS iterate quickly and minimize risk.Were extremely thrilled with how this has panned out, said van der Sijp. Scaling large-format is a bold move, but were going to get there one day.He noted that additive manufacturing still faces skepticism regarding scalability and automations potential impact on employment. Innovate UKs stance is that automation, when done correctly, fosters new high-level jobs.Van der Sijp highlighted Medusas integrated approachcovering material sourcing, design, supply chain management, fabrication, and circular reuseas key to genuine transformation. By addressing the entire manufacturing ecosystem, Medusa aims to push additive technologies closer to a mainstream, globally recognized manufacturing solution.A Glimpse into the Future of Additive ManufacturingFrom the robust build of its chassis to the advanced software stack that orchestrates both printing and CNC finishing, Medusa represents a comprehensive step forward in industrial 3D printing. The collaboration between Rapid Fusion, AI Build, NMIS, Filamentive, and Innovate UK underscores a united push to overcome long-standing hurdlesspeed, scale, workflow integration, reliability, and sustainability.Rapid Fusion pegs the large-format markets annual TAM at 1520 million. They see themselves among the top three global players, aiming to expand demand rather than battle for a small pie.If the excitement at Rapid Fusions unveiling is any indication, Medusa may well represent an important moment for additive manufacturing in the UK, closing the gap between prototype-friendly 3D printers and the reliable, scalable systems that industries have long demanded.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us onLinkedIn and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows the Rapid Fusion Medusa launch. Photo by Michael Petch.Michael PetchMichael Petch is the editor-in-chief at 3DPI and the author of several books on 3D printing. He is a regular keynote speaker at technology conferences where he has delivered presentations such as 3D printing with graphene and ceramics and the use of technology to enhance food security. Michael is most interested in the science behind emerging technology and the accompanying economic and social implications.

The six finalist concepts in an international contest for a $160 million-to-$170 million upgrade of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City have been revealedUS, international, emerging and established architects were invited to participate in the two-stage contest for a 5,670m extension to the historic free-to-visit art museum located at 45th and Oak Streets in the centre of Kansas City.The finalists are Kengo Kuma & Associates of Tokyo, Renzo Piano Building Workshop of Genoa, Selldorf Architects from New York, Studio Gang from Chicago, Weiss/Manfredi Architecture of New York, and WHY Architecture of Los Angeles.The shortlisted concepts feature in a free exhibition at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and in an online gallery with the public invited to submit comments.The project will upgrade the museums original Beaux Arts building while also creating an additional extension featuring a new primary entrance and foyer, a photography centre, exhibition galleries, learning spaces, a theatre and a restaurant for indoor/outdoor dining and events.The first stage of the competition, which launched in October 2024, attracted 182 teams from 30 countries on six continentsRound one applications required architect-led multidisciplinary teams to submit details of project approach, team composition and experience. The six finalists each received a US$75,000 competition fee to draw up concept designs.Evelyn Craft Belger, chair of the museums board of trustees and the architect selection committee, said: These six concept designs articulate six unique visions of a new and even more dynamic Nelson-Atkins.This is a thrilling moment for the museum and our community when we start to visualise an identity that will carry us through the coming decades. We encourage our community to visit the exhibition and share your thoughts which proposal best realises your aspirations?Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art director and chief executive Julin Zugazagoitia said: We asked for bold, inspiring moves that also respected the existing museum campus and Im so happy to say weve received them in these initial designs. Each is a fascinating response to a complex project brief, together they bring myriad perspectives.The teams have shone their beams of thought on our big questions: how do we synthesise our existing icons with a new proposition? How do we modernise and embrace the future but keep the best of our history? And, most of all, how do we create a museum that is transparent for all and instills a sense of belonging and well-being?Originally founded in 1933 the fine art museum has more than 42,000 items in its collection and is particularly known for its displays of Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and for its Native American and Egyptian galleries.The museum occupies a historic Beaux Arts building along with a 2007 extension which is known as the Bloch Building and was designed by US architect Steven Holl and a 9ha sculpture park.The latest project aims to integrate the museums existing facilities into a cohesive new experience.Key aims include attracting new audiences and creating a museum for all that speaks to community.An overall winner will be announced in spring 2025.The Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtCredit:Image courtesy of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

An open international architecture and urban design contest is being held for a 24.5 million (CSK 730 million) new bus station and civic complex in Valask Mezi, Czechia (Deadline: 17 April)The two-stage competition organised by the Centre for Central European Architecture (CCEA MOBA) on behalf of the City of Valask Mezi will select a design team to create a new bus terminal, municipal office and parking garage in the centre of the historic settlement.The 24.5 million (CSK 730 million) project will transform a large former timber yard located next to Valask Mezis main station. New public spaces and two residential apartment blocks are also planned.Competition site: Valask Mezi bus station, CzechiaAccording to the brief: The city of Valask Mezi is announcing an open, two-phase architectural competition for the design of a bus terminal, municipal office, and parking garage.The competition also includes the design of public space and a conceptual proposal for two residential buildings.The competition is based on an urban study from 2021. The traffic solution, including the roundabout and the underpass connecting the project site with the railway station building and its platforms, is already defined and forms part of the framework for the design.Valask Mezi is a small town of around 23,000 inhabitants located in the Zln Region of eastern Czechia. The town is situated at the convergence of the Ronovsk and Vsetnsk Beva rivers, and includes a major train station.The latest contest comes just months after international competitions were announced for the 244 million upgrade of flood defences in Olomouc and to transform the disused Hotel Stroja in nearby Perov.Competition site: Valask Mezi bus station, CzechiaKey aims of the phased project include creating a new public park, station forecourt and park as well as delivering a new 22-bay bus terminal, a 6,600m municipal office block, a 250-capacity car park and residential development.Judges will include vice-mayor Yvona Wojaczkov, local assembly member Alena Carbolov, Pavla Matjka Enochov of the practice A69, and the towns chief architect Ondej Chybk.The contest language is Czech and English. Submissions will be judged on architectural quality, urban design quality, sustainability and technical design.The overall winner will receive a 33,500 (CZK 1 million) prize while a second prize of 23,500 (CZK 700,000) and third prize of 16,800 (CZK 500,000) will also be awarded.How to applyDeadline: 17 AprilCompetition funding source: The Municipality of Valask MeziProject funding source: The Municipality of Valask MeziOwner of site(s): The Municipality of Valask MeziContact details: ask@cceamoba.czVisit the competition website for more information

ink drop - stock.adobe.comNewsThe Netherlands bets on brain-inspired computing for a greener futureThe Netherlands is building a neuromorphic computing ecosystem, harnessing brain-inspired tech for unprecedented energy efficiencyByKim LoohuisPublished: 24 Mar 2025 12:15 A computing approach that requires up to 8,000 times less energy than conventional methods is emerging as a potential answer to one of technologys most significant challenges: the unsustainable energy consumption of modern computing systems.Neuromorphic technologies which mimic the brains architecture by integrating storage and processing are gaining momentum in the Netherlands, where a diverse ecosystem of researchers, startups and established tech companies is taking shape to advance the field.Were essentially talking about a new way of computing, said Frits Grotenhuis, director of Topsector ICT, a national organisation that coordinates and stimulates digital innovation in the Netherlands. It particularly relates to storage capacity and data processing. With insights from how the human brain functions, we can compute faster, cheaper and with less energy.Unlike many emerging technologies that focus on a single aspect of computing, neuromorphic technologies span multiple dimensions. It encompasses materials, devices, algorithms, architecture and applications, he said. That makes it fascinating but challenging you need to consider advancing each dimension while maintaining their integration.At the hardware level, neuromorphic technology incorporates novel materials and components designed to mimic neural networks. The architecture fundamentally differs from conventional Von Neumann designs by eliminating the separation between memory and processing units. This co-location drastically reduces the energy required for data movement, enabling more adaptive and resilient computing.Data processing can be done more at the source itself, whether its sensors or otherwise, said Grotenhuis. This not only makes it many times more energy-efficient and sustainable, but also enhances privacy since sensitive data doesnt need to be transmitted to external servers.Imagine a world where your computer runs on the energy of a light bulb instead of a power-hungry server farm. Thats the promise of neuromorphic computing. According to researchers behind a comprehensive whitepaper on neuromorphic computing in the Netherlands, analogue in-memory computing requires approximately 100 mW, compared with 100W for a typical central processing unit and 300-800W for a graphics processing unit. This represents a staggering efficiency gain of up to 8,000 times, drastically reducing power consumption while maintaining performance.Practical applicationsWhile the theoretical foundations of neuromorphic computing have existed for decades, recent advancements are accelerating its potential for practical applications. The US and China are miles ahead on this topic, said Grotenhuis. But within Europe, we have a good position. The UK, Germany and Switzerland are quite advanced, and the Netherlands is somewhere in the middle or slightly above.Nevertheless, Dutch scientific output in this field is growing at a higher percentage rate than even China, according to a report on neuromorphic technologies commissioned by Topsector ICT. The countrys research ecosystem spans multiple institutions, including CogniGron at the University of Groningen, Mesa+/Brains at the University of Twente, and initiatives at TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and Radboud University.Recent breakthroughs at these institutions align with work done elsewhere in the Netherlands. In 2022, researchers at the University of Twente announced they had developed molecular switches that mimic brain synapses a critical component for neuromorphic systems. As professor Christian Nijhuis explained in previous coverage by Computer Weekly, these molecular switches could potentially make computing 10 to 100 times more energy efficient.The Dutch ecosystem is also showing promising signs of market transfer. The Netherlands now has several startups that are leading with neuromorphic technologies, said Grotenhuis.Companies like AxeleraAI and Innatera have already brought hardware to market, while others, such as Onward, GrAI Matter Labs and Ourobionics, are advancing various neuromorphic applications.A spectrum of applicationsOne of the challenges in discussing neuromorphic technologies is the breadth of potential applications from edge computing in internet of things devices to enhancing AI capabilities and enabling new healthcare services.It could involve precision farming in the agri-food sector, the energy sector becoming much more sustainable and smarter healthcare, said Grotenhuis. The potential is enormous, especially from the sustainability perspective and the energy efficiency of this new technology.According to Topsector ICTs exploration, practical applications are expected to emerge at different timescales. Some, like event-based cameras sensors that only consume energy when there is a change in the field of view are already being deployed. These cameras represent an early example of neuromorphic sensing technology in action.In the medium term, chemical detection, sound sensors and robotics applications are expected to gain traction. Longer-term applications (2030-2035) may include sophisticated systems for self-driving vehicles, EMG wearables that interface directly with neurons controlling muscles, and cooperative robot systems.However, Grotenhuis is careful not to over-promise on immediate applications. Its difficult to predict exactly how this will develop, he said. Between now and five years, I think well mainly see growth in companies interested in the technology, focused on innovation in the technology itself and initial applications. The truly disruptive effects will likely only become visible after five to 15 years.Building a national ecosystemThe Netherlands is working to create a more cohesive ecosystem around neuromorphic technologies to accelerate development in this field. Topsector ICT has supported initiatives, including the aforementioned white paper on the state of neuromorphic computing in the Netherlands and an upcoming trade mission to the UK to learn from and potentially collaborate with British researchers and companies.This international connection fits within a broader European strategy. The European Commission has recently allocated hundreds of billions of euros for digitisation, including quantum computing and AI facilities. Similar investments in neuromorphic computing infrastructure could accelerate progress across the continent. We really need to look at the European level together and seek collaboration where relevant and appropriate, said Grotenhuis, noting that this is particularly important given the significant investments made by the US and China.The efforts align with the Netherlands National Technology Strategy, which has identified neuromorphic technologies as one of 44 key technologies for the countrys future, and ten of these technologies have been prioritised for national action agendas. We want to connect neuromorphic technologies to the agenda for AI and data, alongside crossovers with other technologies such as semiconductors and quantum computing, he said.An integrated approach is essential given the technologys multidimensional nature and potential synergies with other advanced computing paradigms. The white paper on neuromorphic computing in the Netherlands emphasises that neuromorphic systems can complement existing technologies rather than replace them. For instance, neuromorphic computing can drastically improve AIs energy efficiency by enabling local data processing. When combined with quantum computing, it could contribute to solving complex problems such as drug discovery. Integrated with photonics, optical neuromorphic systems could offer advantages where ultra-fast communication is crucial.With projections of up to $19bn by 2030, neuromorphic computing is poised for exponential growth provided key breakthroughs are achieved. Whats certain is that the quest for more energy-efficient computing is not a luxury, but a necessity. In the Netherlands a country with limited physical space and grid capacity for datacentres neuromorphic computing offers not only economic opportunities, but also a concrete contribution to sustainability goals.As the Dutch ecosystem for neuromorphic technologies continues to evolve, it represents a significant bet on a computing approach that draws inspiration from natures most sophisticated computing system the human brain. While we may never match the brains incredible efficiency outside our bodies, even a fraction of its capabilities could transform computing as we know it.In The Current Issue:UK government under-prepared for catastrophic cyber attack, hears PACSpace and power constrain datacentre planningDownload Current IssueSLM Series: Pryon - Mastering RAG implementation CW Developer NetworkSLM series - Qodea: A jumpstart for multi-model AI strategies CW Developer NetworkView All Blogs

Sigma BF camera in silver. Sigma Corp.Cameras were long ago overtaken by smartphones, but one class of camera, the "mirrorless," has seen a surge of interest in the past five years. Since 2019, unit sales of mirrorless cameras have grown by 150%, overtaking their predecessor, the DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera.An amazing 5.6 million mirrorless cameras were sold last year, two-thirds of the total digital camera market, according to data gathered by the Camera & Imaging Products Association.The stunning success of dedicated cameras raises a question in an age of smartphones with ever-rising pixel counts. Can growth continue, or is the long-term trend moving away from cameras and toward the lens you always have in your hand, purse, or pants pocket?Also: I've tested dozens of cameras - and this is the one I recommend for new photographers"When we started this project, I was quite nervous because the image quality of smartphones has been improving a lot," said Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma Corp., in an interview we had in New York last week. "These days, people don't buy cameras." Kazuto Yamaki, Sigma Corp. CEO Tiernan RayI was talking with Yamaki at a Manhattan pop-up store the company set up for the month of March to celebrate the debut of the company's newest mirrorless offering, the BF camera, which breaks several rules of digital camera design.Sigma, a 63-year-old company based in Kanagawa, Japan, just outside Tokyo, is known principally for its line of camera lenses, prized by professional photographers and beloved by devotees. (Full disclosure: I own two Sigma cameras, and they are all I use for photography.) However, for nearly a quarter-century, the company has also made an unusual selection of cameras. Also: The best camera phone: Expert tested and reviewedThe BF is Sigma's bet that a whole new audience of buyers can be lured away from smartphones by a radically simple design, a camera not so much for pro shooting, though it can do that as well, but for everyday use."The market has grown tremendously in recent years," said Yamaki of the mirrorless industry, "but it was supported by the DSLR users who switched to mirrorless," he observed."I think the market can grow again [] it really depends on the innovation we make. We need to adapt to a younger generation of new customers.""This can be a light for the future of the camera industry," he said of the BF.Sigma cameras are striking for their technical innovations and quirky design choices, and the BF is the quirkiest yet.Yamaki has said in interviews that "BF" stands for "beautiful foolishness," a phrase borrowed from a book about Japanese culture by Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuz called The Book of Tea: A Japanese Harmony of Art, Culture, and the Simple Life.Yamaki said the intention behind the BF is to create "a camera which people want to bring every day and take pictures of our daily lives."At first blush, it might seem quite foolish, though the BF is also quite a gorgeous piece of industrial design.It is a solid block of aluminum milled in a seven-hour process in the company's Aizu, Japan factory. It comes in either jet black or very bright silver. All the edges and buttons are subtle, with little to mar its austere looks. Sigma Corp. Sigma Corp.More significant is the novel user interface. Most still cameras have a set of dials to control features and a menu system with tons of extra options, all of which are viewed on the LCD monitor. Camera users switch between different "modes" that control features, such as shutter-priority or aperture-priority mode.Also: The best lights for streaming: Expert testedIn contrast to all that stuff, "the design concept of the BF is a modern-daycamera obscura," said Yamaki, referring toearly experiments in capturing images. "The camera is originally literally a dark box; I like that very simple functionality and design." A camera with "simple design, simple user interface," said Yamaki, is "the easiest camera to use. "Of course, I like the conventional camera, with a lot of buttons and dials, but sometimes, it looks too complicated," and, therefore, intimidating to a camera buyer who might otherwise be interested in trading up from a smartphone. Sigma Corp.The BF has eliminated dials and modes altogether. Instead, a large click wheel -- similar to the very first Apple iPod -- controls settings. Holding the camera with the right hand, you can click and rotate the click wheel with your thumb, which means the functions are all within a single gesture.By clicking the edge of the click wheel, each of the five essential settings -- shutter speed, aperture, ISO, EV compensation, and color mode -- can be accessed. By rotating the wheel, the values for each setting can be raised and lowered.Instead of looking at the values on the touch screen viewer as one does with other cameras, a second, small digital window -- called a "status monitor" -- sits above the click wheel and displays only the current setting. That keeps the LCD clear to show what you're shooting. Yamaki is quite familiar with the new user interface and demonstrated to me how the click wheel allows him to navigate through settings quickly. Sigma Corp.It's a way to consolidate the number of buttons that need to be dealt with and also to rid the screen of clutter.I don't have a loaner unit of the camera, and it is not shipping yet, but I tried one out at the pop-up store. It makes sense. It feels intelligent. You keep the smudgy fingerprints off of the screen, and you have the tactile reassurance of physical buttons that the photographer prizes.Yamaki is quite familiar with the new user interface and demonstrated to me how the click wheel allows him to quickly navigate through settings. He generally shoots pictures in aperture mode on a normal camera. On the BF, he sets everything else to automatic and uses the click wheel to change aperture settings on the fly.Also: I went mountain biking with this DJI camera, and the results blew me away"You can enjoy this camera -- very quick to shoot, quick to set, there is no stress," he quipped.The BF breaks with custom in other ways. There's no card slot but rather 230GB of internal flash memory storage. The BF has fasteners for a conventional camera strap, but Sigma also sells as an accessory a wrist strap, more like what you'd find with a consumer compact camera, furthering the overall consumer and leisure feel of the thing. The solid brick of aluminum feels very sturdy in the hand. Tiernan RayDespite being simple in design, the specs are very healthy. The 20-megapixel sensor produces what appeared to me to be quite crisp images. The camera is what's known as full-frame -- with a larger sensor chip than most mirror-less cameras -- which helps for low-light photography. The BF also films video in 6K resolution, up to 120 frames per second.Also of appeal to a new audience is that the BF has some incredible in-camera editing functions. From the camera roll, you can roll the click-wheel through functions such as darkening the background or lighting up the foreground exposure, or changing the color scheme. It's quite fluid on the crisp, roomy display. Most cameras have some post-processing like that, but I've never seen it in a way that is so slick and effortless. You might never have to bring your shots into Lightroom on the desktop.The solid brick of aluminum feels very sturdy in the hand. Sigma cameras always feel very well-built.It's funny that the BF is such a solid, gorgeous piece of metal and glass because it is not obvious that a very successful lens manufacturer would get into cameras. Making cameras requires substantial additional investment that is not as easily monetized as the lens business. Far smaller than Sony, Nikon, Canon, Hasselblad and others, Sigma manufactures cameras without any reasonable expectation they will take over the market.Making cameras, however, pays dividends for the lens business, Yamaki told me."Making cameras helps us a lot to make better optics," he said. Seeing what comes out of the sensor informs the assembly of glass and motors in the lens that has to bring enough light to the sensor to make use of all those pixels.And there is pride in creating, he added.Also: Will AI destroy human creativity? No - and here's why"Of course, we still believe the lens is the most important device" in photography, he said. But, "our engineers are so motivated when they work on the camera. We love cameras, and we do this business from our strong passion."Not only does Sigma use cameras to inform lens design, but it has also invested in the sensor itself for many years.In 2008, Sigma bought a high-tech Silicon Valley startup calledFoveon. For most of the sensor's life, Sigma has been the only camera maker in the world using its very special chips.All other sensors in the world, called Bayer sensors, use a checkerboard arrangement of photosensors to capture one of the red, blue, or green elements at each pixel. Because they capture only one of the three at each pixel, the image processor has to guess or interpolate the amounts of the other two hues to get the final color.However, The Foveon sensor captures all three -- red, blue, and green -- in every pixel. It does so by having a silicon chip that registers the wavelengths of light at different depths of the chip. A wafer of Foveon image sensors Tiernan RayAll that technical stuff means that, to those of us who love Sigma Foveon-based cameras, the images Foveon produces are not only extraordinarily sharp and rich in color, but they also have mysterious qualities.Foveon sensors capture the three-dimensional quality of objects; it looks as if you could reach out and touch the object in the shot. The weight and mass of things in the picture, the feel of different textures of things, leather or stone or metal, even the feeling of the air in the room -- they all show up in the shot in a way that makes Foveon pictures more real, more true than other digital pictures.Sigma's last Foveon camera model was in 2016. Yamaki has reiterated the company's commitment to making new Foveon sensors and a new camera using them over the years, but every year brought word that the project had been delayed.Also: This hidden Apple feature turns your iPhone or iPad into an AI image generatorThat is not surprising given that Foveon is a unique chip, very big and expensive to make, and improving upon previous versions is a formidable engineering challenge.Those of us obsessed with Foveon sensors have been waiting almost a decade for a new model, every year hoping to hear an announcement.The BF, like the flagship Sigma camera, the fp-L, uses Sony sensors instead. They are very good sensors, but we dream of another Foveon camera.I asked Yamaki if it was important for Sigma to own its own sensor chip.Also: The best vlogging cameras: Expert tested and reviewed"It's true, having a unique technological sensor is important," said Yamaki. "Developing our own sensor costs a lot, so it's quite challenging."Like the camera itself, the sensor informs lens design, said Yamaki. When the Foveon sensor first came out, Sigma made the first camera for it, the SD9, back in 2002."We realized that our lenses at that time were not good enough in terms of resolution because the Foveon sensor was very sharp and had fine micro-details," explained Yamaki. Stepping up its game to make better lenses for Foveon sensors led directly to a dramatic boost in quality for Sigma lenses, which helped to create the appeal of the Sigma lens brand.Beyond the practical motivations, Yamaki is clearly enamored of Foveon."My first daughter was born in 2000," recalled Yamaki. "Since then, as a father of young kids, I took family pictures only with a Foveon sensor camera.""I sometimes look back at those pictures; those are really good pictures!" he said wistfully. "So, I really want to make a new camera with a new Foveon sensor."In the meantime, Yamaki has no expectation the BF will dramatically change the size and scale of Sigma's business, just a desire that it be accepted in the marketplace and loved by its users."Scale of the business is not very important," he said. "Of course, profit is very important in order to survive in this industry."Also: The best photo editing software: Expert tested and reviewedHe said the most important thing is to make the best products, the best cameras and lenses."The second thing is to make our customers very happy with our company. And the third is to protect employees' jobs." Sigma is a family-owned company with no plans to list shares on the stock market. "I have a personal responsibility for the employees," he said.There's a wait to get a BF, as Sigma produces only eight or ten units per day. You can join the waitlist for the BF via the online form. While no date has officially been given for delivery, indications at the cocktail event were that units might start to be available in late April or early May. The camera (body only) costs $1,999. Lenses are priced separately.In the meantime, if you happen to be in the New York area, you can visit Sigma's pop-up store in Lower Manhattan through March 29.Check out the websiteto reserve a timed entry.Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.Featured

For hikers and trail runners who count every gram, the Nitecore NB10000 is the ideal power bank.

Screen-off fingerprint unlock coming to a Pixel near you soon.gettyWith smartphones firmly in the crosshairs of attackers, be they hackers looking to compromise rooted devices, scammers employing deepfake threats, or hundreds of dangerous apps that can bypass security protections, securing your Android device has never been more critical. Anything that can make that task easier, therefore, has to be applauded. So, please put your hands together for the Android 16 fingerprint update that could revolutionize access security for all Google Pixel users. Heres what you need to know.The Surprise Fingerprint Security Update Coming To All Google Pixel UsersWhile it would be easy to focus on the threats from remote attackers, like those using infostealer malware steal your smartphone account passwords, or stolen session cookies that can bypass 2FA protections, ignoring the threat to your data from those with physical access to your Android phone would be a critical mistake. Be they a suspicious partner or an opportunistic thief, gaining access to your data is easy when you dont have lock screen protection. A long PIN or password is ideal, but not popular as it takes too much time to enter for many users. This is where biometrics come in, and for most Android users, that means fingerprints. But even then, theres a time-related obstacle that stops some users from deploying this defense: having to wake the screen before you can use it. A surprise new discovery by way of an Android 16 Beta update might just have solved that problem for Google Pixel users. All of them.The screen-off fingerprint unlock feature first appeared in the Android 16 developer preview 2 when it was seemingly limited to just the Google Pixel 9 series of smartphones. Bad luck for anyone owning an older Google Pixel who thought that they might deserve the same security protections offered by enabling the fingerprint unlock function to work even if the screen is off. Now, according to the always reliable Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority, the release of Android 16 Beta 3 has surprisingly corrected this omission and made the screen-off fingerprint unlock feature available to all Google Pixel users as long as they have the under-display scanner. So, thats everything from the Google Pixel 6 on but excluding foldables.As long as you have installed the Android 16 Beta 3 update, Google Pixel users can enable the feature right now by heading to Settings|Security & privacy|Device unlock|Face & Fingerprint Unlock|Fingerprint Unlock and enabling the screen-off option in the when using fingerprint unlock configuration section.

Netflixs "Adolescence" has become an overnight sensation. Here are three invaluable lessons that ... More parents can learn from the harrowing story of Jamie Miller.gettyAsk any parent in the world what their worst nightmare is, and theyd all give you a similar answer: losing a child. But theres another fatemuch rarer, and arguably just as horrificthat you likely wouldnt even consider: your child taking anothers life.This is the terrifying premise of Netflixs current most popular limited series, Adolescence.The series follows 13 year-old Jamie Miller and his family after hes accused of brutally murdering a fellow female classmatea crime which he eventually pleads guilty to. The series has been revered in countless ways: for its brilliant scripting, actors and cinematography, but mostly for its gut-wrenching and eye-opening storyline.Although the series isnt based on a singular true story, the creators of Adolescence note that it draws influence from several real-life reports from the UK. According to the House of Commons Library, in March of 2023 alone, there were 18,500 convictions and cautions made for possession of a knife; 17.3% of these offenders were between 10- and 17-years old.Touching on themes such as incel culture, gender-based violence and the dangerous radicalization of young men, Adolescence sheds light on various terrifying realities ones that are becoming increasingly threatening in todays age.If you are a parent, these are just three of many reasons why you need to watch Adolescence, based on the sobering truths it confronts us with.1. Bullying Is Still Prevalent, But Less VisibleSociety has made powerful strides in recent years towards progression. Social issues that were once rife amongst the youthsuch as bullying, sexism, racism and homophobiahave started to become less prominent than they were just a few decades ago, thanks to education, prevention programs and increasing overall levels of tolerance. That said, there have been unfortunate regressions over the recent years.In 2015, survey results on bullying were incredibly hopeful; statistics indicated that it had reached an all-time low since 2005. Unfortunately, just five years later, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks. According to 2022 research from Scientific Reports, the pandemic marked a disappointing turning-point that resulted in a significant increase in cyber-bullying.Children today are more dependent on technology than ever before; they use their phones not just as tools but as lifelines to their social worlds. While parents once feared technology because their kids seemed savvier with it, many have since become more permissive upon recognizing how ingrained it is in their childrens lives, as well as their own.However, this shift in attitude has opened up new avenues for bullyingones that are increasingly hard to monitor and regulate. Balancing the respect for a childs privacy with the growing complexity of online interactions is challenging, and many parents are left feeling helpless when it comes to protecting their kids from harm or even realizing that their child might be the perpetrator.Adolescence exemplifies this issue. Even the detectives investigating the crimewho had full, unrestricted access to Jamies social mediacouldnt tell the difference between friendliness and bullying in his Instagram comments. The insidiously subtle form that bullying has taken on, paired with the incredibly cryptic, backhanded use of language and Emojis, has made it almost invisible to the untrained eye.2. Sexism Is Increasingly Normalized Amongst Young BoysNot only has bullying resurged amongst the youth, but so has sexism. A February 2025 study conducted in the UK, from PLOS One, highlights the increasing worry amongst school teachers about the impact of online misogyny on young boys. Out of 200 teachers in total, 76% of highschool teachers and 60% of elementary school teachers expressed this deep concern.Andrew Tatea social media influencer who is shockingly popular amongst young boys, whose content is blatantly bigoted and sexistwas mentioned frequently by the teachers within the study.One teacher within the study noted that a male student of theirs had publicly verbalized that its ok to hurt women because Andrew Tate does it, while another noted theyd heard a male student tell a fellow female student that she belonged in the kitchen. Appallingly, one teacher even noted that their male pupils touch girls non-consensually and do not understand why this is inappropriate.Of course, these comments and behaviors affect more than just the school staff who witness it. As one teacher in the study explains, The majority of the girls in my class have been worried about coming to school due to what the boys may say or do to them.Adolescence also captures this grim, growing norm with unsettling accuracy. Teenage boys in the seriessome only 12- and 13-years oldare well-versed in misogynistic rhetoric, including concepts like the 80-20 rule, red pill content and incel culture. These arent fictionalized aspects of the show; they are very real, very dangerous principles that are spread widely on the internet.For instance, claims are made that only 20% of men are deemed attractive enough to date the most desirable women, while the remaining 80% are left bitter and rejected. These kinds of warped perspectives incite resentment toward women, and are known to lead to violent fantasies or actionsaccording to 2020 research from Studies in Conflict & Terrorism.In the second and third episodes of the series, it becomes apparent that Jamie was influenced by these ideologies, to the point that his feelings about rejection by a female classmate were likely the trigger for his heinous crime against her. Disturbingly, Jamie had vocal supporters from the manosphereone of which even provided him with the murder weapon.3. Parents Always Need To Be VigilantWhen we hear of children who commit heinous acts and crimes, fingers are usually pointed at parents. Who raised them? or What was going on at home? are often the first thoughts to come to mind.While reports from the Office of Justice Programs do suggest that children of criminals and abusers are more likely to exhibit deviant behavior, there are always exceptions. Some of the worlds most infamous criminalslike Richard Cottingham, Dennis Rader and Randy Krafthad reportedly happy and healthy childhoods.Jamie, in Adolescence, had a normal childhood too. His parents, Eddie and Manda, were never abusive, nor did they have marital problems that may have affected their children; they were highschool sweethearts who were still madly in love decades later. Naturally, they were devastated by Jamies crime, asking themselves, How did we make him?Throughout his childhood, both Eddie and Manda ensured that Jamie wasnt doing the same things that theyd gotten up to as teenagers like underaged drinking, smoking, drug use or sex. When he was out with his friends, they knew where he was and what he was doing at all times; when he wasnt with his friends, he was home.But when he was home, he was always locked in his roomquietly browsing the internet until the early hours of the morning.Eddie makes a devastating observation in the final episode of the series. He explains that since Jamie was almost always at homeunder his roof, and not out and about being mischievoushe thought that hed been protecting him. He assumed that close proximity would make it impossible for Jamie to turn out as anything other than a happy, healthy young boy.Eddie even noted that hed made a concerted effort to be a better father than his was, and Manda poignantly stood by the fact that both Jamie and his sister were made in the same way: through love. Regretfully, Jamies normal upbringing couldnt prevent his eventual horrific crime.Parents today must understand that hatred, bigotry and violence arent just things that children can learn directly from their upbringing. The internet is saturated with dangerous, hateful rhetoric, and research suggests that its only becoming more prevalent. It only takes one video, one comment, one Google search or one conversation to plant the seed.If these messages are reinforced by peers or online communities, an otherwise well-adjusted and intelligent child can become radicalized shockingly fast. Its easy to forget that keeping a child physically safe is only one half of parenting; their minds also need to be guarded from dangerous ideologies. Thats why parents today need to be more vigilant than ever about the content their children consume and, more importantly, the ideas that take root.Curious what beliefs about gender roles you may be passing on to your children? Take this science-backed test to find out: Gender Role Beliefs Scale

The big picture: Nvidia's approach to co-packaged optics is a nuanced reflection of the technology's current limitations and future potential. By focusing on specialized applications with less demanding reliability requirements, Nvidia is positioning itself to lead the development of optical technologies for networking and data center applications while continuing to rely on traditional copper connections for its high-performance GPUs. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently addressed the reliability of co-packaged optics, a technology that uses laser light to transmit data between chips, and its potential use in the company's flagship GPUs. During the company's annual developer conference, Huang noted that while co-packaged optics offer superior energy efficiency and speed compared to traditional copper connections, they are not yet reliable enough for widespread use in Nvidia's GPUs.This reliability gap is significant, with copper connections being "orders of magnitude" more reliable than current co-packaged optical connections, making them the preferred choice for Nvidia's GPUs, Huang told a group of journalists after his keynote speech.However, Nvidia is exploring using co-packaged optical technology in more specialized applications. Huang said that the company plans to integrate the technology into two new networking chips designed for switches on top of its servers. These chips, set to be released later this year and in 2026, will be three and a half times more energy-efficient than their predecessors. This marks a significant step forward in advancing the technology, albeit in a more niche application where the reliability requirements might be less stringent than those for high-performance GPUs.Nvidia has also made significant strides in silicon photonics, with the introduction of its Quantum-X and Spectrum-X networking switches last week. These switches integrate optical communications into electronic circuits at a massive scale, enabling AI factories to connect millions of GPUs across sites while reducing energy consumption and operational costs.Nvidia claims these optics innovations use 4x fewer lasers to deliver 3.5x more power efficiency, 63x greater signal integrity, 10x better network resiliency at scale, and 1.3x faster deployment than traditional methods. // Related StoriesHuang highlighted the importance of the new networking switches, stating, "AI factories are a new class of data centers with extreme scale, and networking infrastructure must be reinvented to keep pace." By integrating silicon photonics into switches, Nvidia is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in hyperscale and enterprise networks, paving the way for "million-GPU AI factories," the CEO said.The industry's shift towards optical technology is driven by the need to address the increasing power consumption and heat generation associated with traditional copper connections. As AI computing demands grow, companies like Nvidia and startups such as Ayar Labs are exploring ways to make co-packaged optics more reliable and cost-effective. Mark Wade, CEO of Ayar Labs, told Reuters that while transitioning to widespread use of co-packaged optics may not occur until 2028 or beyond, optics is essential for building larger servers without being constrained by copper's limitations. "Just look at the power consumption going up and up on racks with electrical connections," Wade said. "Optics is the only technology that gets you off of that train."

A hot potato: To say the RTX 5000 launch has been far from smooth would be an understatement. Among the issues plaguing the new card have been black/blue screens of death and system instability problems. Nvidia rolled out fixes in recent weeks, but several owners of RTX 4000 and 3000 cards say their symptoms haven't gone away, and that Nvidia is prioritizing fixing the RTX 5000 series. It was back in February when reports of the issues first arrived. They seemed to originate from Nvidia's 572.16 driver release, which enabled RTX 50 support.RTX 40- and 30-series cards were impacted, but the 50-series was the worst affected. There were reports of some users getting around the problems by capping their display's refresh rate at 60Hz, which isn't what you want when gaming on high-end cards.Nvidia quickly confirmed that it was investigating the issues and would be releasing driver updates to address them. Several have been pushed out since then, and while they seem to have fixed (most of) the problems in the RTX 5000 line, they haven't been as effective for older graphics cards, and Nvidia is doing little to help.A user on the r/hardware Reddit forums has compiled a list of posts from other RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 owners who are continuing to experience BSODs and other system issues.PSA: Nvidia Widespread Black Screen or Hard OS Crash Issues on 4xxx (or older) Series Cards Need To Be Widely Known & Fixed.byu/Scotty1992 inhardwarePost author Scotty1992 writes that rolling back to the 566.36 driver was the only way to fix the problems impacting his Asus RTX 4070 Ti Super TUF card, the symptoms of which included Cyberpunk 2077 crashing his entire PC. Unfortunately, rolling back the driver has resulted in him being locked out of certain games, such as Half-Life 2 RTX, and unable to access newer Nvidia features. // Related StoriesSome of the posts say the crashes and sometimes performance dips occur when DLSS Frame Generation is used in conjunction with G-Sync. One of the suggested fixes, other than rolling back the driver, is to use an older version of DLSS and/or disable G-sync.In addition to Cyberpunk 2077, affected games include Alan Wake 2, God of War Ragnarok, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle mostly demanding titles that many users prefer to play with Frame Generation enabled.The big point of contention is that Nvidia seems to be focusing entirely on addressing the issues in RTX 5000 series cards while caring little about older generations, making no mention of RTX 40-series cards in its driver releases.