Cybex, a German manufacturer of strollers and child car seats, has designed a foldable version of the latter. Their Solution G2 collapses for easier transport and storage, knocking roughly a third off of its volume. The 12.8-lb (5.8kg) seat looks less like a child's car seat and more like an expensive piece of office furniture. The headrest and side wings are adjustable, the idea being that it can grow with your child; the company cites 3 to 12 as the target ages. Additionally, both the seatback and the headrest can recline. On the safety front, the seat is designed with an energy-absorbing shell and headrest, which the company says confers a 20% safety increase in a side impact. These run $300.

Pets bring immeasurable joy to the lives of many seniors, offering friendship, emotional support, and a sense of security within the home. However, this harmonious relationship faces challenges when its time for outdoor activities. Many older adults with mobility limitations find themselves struggling to manage both their walking aids and their furry friends, particularly smaller animals like cats or tiny dog breeds that may become frightened or overwhelmed in busy outdoor environments.The current market offers limited solutions to this dilemma. Traditional mobility devices typically provide minimal storage capacityperhaps enough for a small bag of groceries or personal items, but rarely sufficient for accommodating an animal companion. This gap in design thinking has left many seniors reluctantly choosing between their need for mobility support and their desire to include their pets in outdoor adventures, a choice no one should have to make.Designer: Jeongrae Kim, Shua Bong, Seunghee LeeEnter the TOOS, an innovative design concept that brilliantly merges functionality with compassionate understanding of seniors needs. This thoughtful creation combines a sturdy four-wheeled walker with an integrated pet carrier, allowing older adults to bring their animal companions along without compromising their own stability or comfort. The ingenious arrangement creates a win-win situation where both human and animal needs are addressed through a single, elegant solution.The pet compartment features a clever design with mesh screens on the front and sides, providing ample ventilation while keeping animals secure. The open top and rear sections allow for easy access and give pets the freedom to peek out and enjoy the surroundings without feeling confined. A soft, cushioned base ensures that the animal remains comfortable throughout the journey, transforming what might otherwise be a stressful experience into a pleasant outing for both parties.Versatility stands as one of the TOOSs most remarkable attributes. When the user needs to rest, they can simply flip down the padded seat positioned above the pet carrier, creating an instant place to sit and relax. This dual-purpose feature eliminates the need to seek out public benches, which might not always be available when fatigue sets in. The thoughtful engineering ensures that the pet below remains undisturbed and comfortable while their human companion takes a breather.The carrier compartment demonstrates impressive adaptability, serving equally well as a conventional storage space when pets stay home. Groceries, personal items, or shopping purchases fit comfortably in the same area that might otherwise house a furry friend, making the TOOS practical for daily errands regardless of whether the pet joins the outing. This flexibility maximizes the utility of the device across various scenarios.Beyond its practical advantages, the TOOS design concept represents something profoundly important: independence. By removing barriers that might otherwise keep seniors and their pets confined indoors, this innovative mobility aid fosters continued engagement with the outside world. Regular outdoor excursions benefit both the physical and mental health of older adults while simultaneously enriching the lives of their animal companions through stimulating new experiences and environments.The simplicity underlying the TOOS concept belies its potential impact on users quality of life. By addressing multiple needs through a streamlined, intuitive design, it offers a pathway to maintaining active lifestyles and nurturing important bonds between seniors and their pets. As our population ages and pet ownership among older adults continues to rise, thoughtful innovations like the TOOS will play an increasingly vital role in supporting fulfilling, connected lives for seniors and the animals who bring them so much happiness.The post Multi-functional Walking Aid Concept Reimagines Mobility for Seniors and Their Pets first appeared on Yanko Design.

Modern design comes together with artistic expression in the Nouvelle Apartment (by Elemental Design). Every detailfrom the deep sienna hues to the bold architectural linesmakes sure the home is as visually striking as is functional. As rounded archways soften structured forms, this space acts as a testament to intentional design. Lets walk through the Nouvelle Apartment to unveil its design secrets.The living room is designed to be both dynamic and visually striking. The neutral walls provide a refined backdrop. These allow bold accents and sculptural furnishings, including the Togo lounge chair, to take center stage. The glass coffee table with metallic finishes reflects light in an interesting way. Beneath it all, a plush, geometric-patterned rug introduces softness. Anchoring the room is a sleek, modern fireplace, subtly framed by an organic-textured surround. Finally, a bold abstract painting injects character.The base in the kitchen is set with a checkered floor. This is paired with natural wood cabinetry and marble and tiled backsplash, adding visual interest. We also see dark gray accents for the fridge and cabinetry. These add contrast. In one corner, a bench with curves and soft upholstery gives residents a spot to have a quick seat.The dining area in the Nouvelle Apartment is as organic as it gets. A cylindrical-shaped table is paired with curved wooden chairs. Illumination is provided with the floor-to-ceiling window as well as the floor lamp.This bedroom quite gives the apartment its name: nouvelle or trendy. Beige and white stripes adorn the walls, while a blue striped rug adds visual interest to the wooden floor. The bed is minimalist but uses a bold blue color to make a statement. A special mention for the wall feature with curves and wooden recessed shelving to display decor pieces. Theres also an ergonomic workstation, continuing the color scheme of white and blue.Another bedroom in the Nouvelle Apartment uses black and gold accents on a neutral base. A wooden nightstand houses a black flowerpot lamp, while a compact desk, paired with a curved chair, provides room to work the day away. The textured wall behind the bed factors in warmth, while the monotony of the cabinetry is broken with a wooden console. Finally, a large plush chair acts as an accent piece.The bathroom is an affair of white, black, and dark brown. Residents have ample room to store essentials with the modern rustic cabinetry. The black tones of the floor are continued into the hardwarealso seen in the glass partition segregating the shower cubicle. An organically shaped mirror adds functionality as well as style.

Now out of beta, RTX Remix allows modders to upgrade classic games with cutting-edge graphics.

The ABS Cyclone Ruby has enough graphics power for video and rendering courtesy of some still-hot last-gen tech.

The degree to which Donald Trump and Elon Musks interests are intertwined is unprecedentedand ultimately unsustainable.

If everythings computer, it would be nice to know how long computer last.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Gemini Robotics uses Googles top language model to make robots more usefulThe news: Google DeepMind has released a new model, Gemini Robotics, that combines its best large language model with robotics. Plugging in the LLM seems to give robots the ability to be more dexterous, work from natural-language commands, and generalize across tasks. All three are things that robots have struggled to do until now.Why it matters: The team hopes their work could usher in an era of robots that are far more useful and require less detailed training for each task. Incorporating LLMs into robotics is part of a growing trend, and this may be the most impressive example yet. Read the full story.Scott J MulliganIf youre interested in how researchers are making robots more useful, why not take a look at these stories:+ The robot race is fueling a fight for training data. AI is upending the way robots learn, leaving companies and researchers with a need for more data. Read the full story.+ Its becoming easier to train robots with sound, which helps them adapt to tasks and environments where visibility is limited. Read the full story.+ To be more useful, robots need to become lazier. Smarter data processing could make machines more helpful and energy-efficient in the real world. A good way to test this principle is to make robots play soccer.+ Gen AI models arent just good for creating picturesthey can be fine-tuned to generate useful robot training data, too. Read the full story.MIT Technology Review Narrated: How the Ukraine-Russia war is reshaping the tech sector in Eastern EuropeStartups in Latvia and other nearby countries see the mobilization of Ukraine as a warning and as inspiration. They are now changing consumer productsfrom scooters to recreational dronesfor use on the battlefield.This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, whichwere publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as its released.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 The European Union is pushing back against Donald Trumps tariffsBy slapping the US with its own levies. (WP $)+ Its measure could affect up to 26bn of American-made goods. (FT $)2 What does waste mean to Elon Musk?DOGEs crude calculation of what isand isntvaluable doesnt make sense. (The Atlantic $)+ Musk seems to be testing the limits of Trumps patience. (FT $)+ Hes admitted hes struggling to balance his DOGE commitments with his work. (Insider $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? Its complex. (MIT Technology Review)3 Big Tech is calling for new nuclear power stationsWith the notable exception of Microsoft. (FT $)+ Interest in nuclear power is surging. Is it enough to build new reactors? (MIT Technology Review)4 BYD is rapidly gaining on Tesla Its undercutting the EV maker in 10 major non-Western markets. (Rest of World)+ Mercedes-Benz is turning its attention to solid-state batteries. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Where it all went wrong for Europes EV battery darling. (Bloomberg $)+ BYD is one of MIT Technology Reviews 15 climate tech companies to watch. (MIT Technology Review)5 Intels future is hanging in the balanceShares are down, jobs are being cut, and competition is heating up. (The Guardian)6 North Korean hackers snuck spyware onto the Google Play app storeThe malicious software can take control of a devices audio and camera systems. (TechCrunch)7 Things arent looking good for iRobotIts future seems increasingly precarious. (The Verge)+ The company is undergoing a strategic review to see if it can be salvaged. (Bloomberg $)+ A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook? (MIT Technology Review)8 Spotify has removed Andrew Tates misogynistic coursesFollowing complaints from its own employees. (404 Media)9 An arbitrator has instructed a former Meta employee to stop promoting her new bookThe new memoir details alleged claims of misconduct at the company. (The Verge)10 How to decide where to hunt for alien lifeTop tip: search for the cosmic shoreline. (Quanta Magazine)Quote of the dayThe President is basically a car salesman now.Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky accuses Donald Trump of acting like a showroom salesman after he urged Americans to buy Tesla electric cars, MSNBC reports.The big storyWhat the future holds for those born todayAugust 2024Happy birthday, baby.You have been born into an era of intelligent machines. They have watched over you almost since your conception. They let your parents listen in on your tiny heartbeat, track your gestation on an app, and post your sonogram on social media. Well before you were born, you were known to the algorithm.Your arrival coincided with the 125th anniversary of this magazine. With a bit of luck and the right genes, you might see the next 125 years. How will you and the next generation of machines grow up together? We asked more than a dozen experts to imagine your future. Read what they prophesied.Kara PlatoniWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ These indigenous heavy metal bands are tackling climate change, one devastating riff at a time.+ Eating asparagus raw is a thing, apparently.+ How our cultures monsters have evolved over time, and what they tell us about ourselves.+ There are few animals more fascinating than the Greenland shark.

Long-time Apple pundit John Gruber has launched an uncharacteristically strident attack against what he says are Apple's lies over the Apple Intelligence roll-out. And, he's spot-on with his arguments and conclusions.John Gruber (far right) with Greg Joswiak (left) and Craig Federighi (center) after WWDC 2024 image credit: John GruberFor years, John Gruber has hosted "The Talk Show," an extended post-WWDC conversation with Apple executives such as Craig Federighi. He's also written about Apple extensively, and in recent months has been increasingly critical of Siri as have others, including AppleInsider, but now he's gone further about what he calls the AI fiasco."The fiasco here is not that Apple is late on AI," he writes. "The fiasco is that Apple pitched a story that wasn't true, one that some people within the company surely understood wasn't true, and they set a course based on that." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A leaker is hyping up the upcoming release of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the image being used shows something that is more likely to be part of case production, rather than a component of the smartphone itself.A render of what the iPhone 17 Pro could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderSince the start of the year, rumor sharers have repeatedly insisted that there will be a major change to the way Apple designs the camera bumps in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. However, while there have been renders of complete devices and early components, there's not been a believable one of a real-world component yet.In an image shared by serial leaker Majin Bu on X, a selection of metal plates are displayed in a pile. The plates, at first glance, have holes and spaces that hint at being used somehow in connection to the rumored iPhones, complete with a space for MagSafe components and the camera layout. Rumor Score: Unlikely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums