Published in: Forum Agenda, 7. October 2024
This monthly round-up brings you the latest stories from the world of technology.
Top tech stories: Meta and Snap unveil new augmented reality glasses; SpaceX capsule docks to collect stranded astronauts; Texas business uses 3D printing to build new hotel.
1. New look for augmented reality
Technology giants Snap and Meta have unveiled new augmented reality (AR) glasses as the firms look to develop wearable tech hardware that can rival or replace smartphones.
In September, Snap announced the fifth generation of its Spectacles product which can overlay digital graphics onto the physical world. The technology is only available to developers who will need to pay $99 a month for a full year to build AR apps that can be used on the device.
Later in the month, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, unveiled new lightweight AR glasses at the company’s annual conference. The prototype, dubbed Orion, is also capable of overlaying 2D and 3D content on the real world and can use AI to analyse use to provide wearers with proactive suggestions.
The device can be operated with hand signals but also via signals from the body – including from the brain – via wristbands.
2. Rescue for stranded astronauts
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) to bring home stranded astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams. However, they will still have to wait until February 2025 to return to Earth.
The astronauts travelled to space aboard a Boeing Starliner in June on what was planned to be an eight-day visit. However, technical issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks, meant that their return was delayed.
Boeing and Nasa spent several months investigating issues before taking the decision to return the capsule empty.
The SpaceX capsule, manned by Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Roscomos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, had been due to transport four astronauts but travelled with two empty seats to allow for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth.
Since the retirement of Nasa’s shuttle fleet, the US has been reliant on Russia’s Soyuz crafts to bring astronauts to and from the ISS.
The agency awarded both Boeing and SpaceX contracts in 2014 as part of a key goal to enable two American companies to perform space missions.
3. Technology news in brief
A Texas-based hotel and campground is expanding to build what it says is the world’s first 3D-printed hotel. The company, called El Cosmico, is working with ICON, a construction technologies company, to create the new structures.
Researchers at the University of California have developed a new type of battery that can be charged in just one minute. The technology uses a novel design that allows for rapid charging without compromising the battery’s lifespan.
Amazon has announced plans to invest $4 billion in Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. The investment is part of Amazon’s strategy to enhance its AI capabilities and compete with other tech giants in the AI space.
4. More on technology from the Forum
As the metaverse evolves, comprehensively understanding identity is crucial for its potential to revolutionize how people interact and express themselves digitally, facilitating a space that respects privacy, security and human rights. Read more here.
Innovators need to learn to explain and sell the value of the technology they’re developing, argues Thomas Crampton, Co-Founder, Crampton Blackie Partners. He explores four ways innovators and entrepreneurs can engage more effectively with investors. Find out more here.
2025 will mark 100 years of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs based on quantum mechanics. With a second century of quantum development on the horizon, two quantum experts explore how governments, civil society and the private sector can collaborate to ensure inclusive and equitable advances. Learn more here.
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