This week on WDD’s Hotspot:
- World’s First Bionic Eye Implant a Success
A British man has become the first person in the world to receive a bionic eye implant that corrects for age-related macular degeneration, thanks to the Argus II – a retinal prosthesis made by Second Sight.
- New Robot-Run Japanese Hotel
At the Henn-na Hotel, robots help guests check in and out, carry luggage, and clean rooms. The hotel was designed by Kawazoe Lab, at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, and the Kajima Corporation.
- Friendship Bracelets that Teach Girls How to Code
A new brand of wearable, Jewelbots, allows tween and teen girls to program their friendship bracelets to communicate with each other and keep them connected to all their smart hardware. The device is also a great way to get young girls interested in programming, opening their minds to the wide world of STEM.
- Custom Playground for Autonomous and Connected Vehicles
The University of Michigan has officially opened “Mcity,” which includes over 28 acres of fake buildings, purposefully defaced road signs, and pedestrians pointedly standing in roadways. The first of its kind, the Mcity simulation is designed to test the university’s fleet of connected and autonomous vehicles as they interact with an ever-changing research facility.
