Making health and motion sensing devices more personal

An electrical impedance tomography toolkit lets users design and fabricate health and motion sensing devices.

Rachel Gordon | MIT CSAIL • mit
Sept. 22, 2021 ~5 min

Engineers create 3D-printed objects that sense how a user is interacting with them

Advance incorporates sensing directly into an object’s material, with applications for assistive technology and “intelligent” furniture.

Adam Zewe | MIT News Office • mit
Sept. 14, 2021 ~6 min


5 reasons video games should be more widely used in school

While China has taken steps to rein in the playing of video games among students during the school week, a U.S. scholar makes the case for why the games should be featured more prominently in school.

Andre Thomas, Director - LIVE lab and Associate Professor of the Practice, Texas A&M University • conversation
Sept. 3, 2021 ~9 min

Smart laser cutter system detects different materials

“SensiCut,” a smart material-sensing platform for laser cutters, can differentiate between 30 materials commonly found in makerspaces and workshops.

Rachel Gordon | MIT CSAIL • mit
Aug. 19, 2021 ~5 min

Fish fins are teaching us the secret to flexible robots and new shape-changing materials

Fish fins are extremely flexible yet also strong. A special segmented fin design is the key to this useful combination of properties and could inspire new morphing materials.

Francois Barthelat, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Aug. 18, 2021 ~6 min

What are dark patterns? An online media expert explains

Deceptively labeled buttons, choices that are hard to undo, web designs that hide options – these dark patterns are how some websites trick people into giving up their money and information.

Jasmine McNealy, Assistant Professor of Telecommunication, University of Florida • conversation
Aug. 3, 2021 ~4 min

It's not just bad behavior – why social media design makes it hard to have constructive disagreements online

How social media services work – the nuts and bolts of interacting with others online – has the power to shape and improve online arguments. Here's how.

Amanda Baughan, PhD Student in Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington • conversation
July 7, 2021 ~8 min

Ecomimicry: the nature-inspired approach to design that could be the antidote to urban 'blandscapes'

Generic urban landscape design is damaging for people and nature: an ecomimicry approach instead encourages nature to flourish even in cities.

Caroline Nash, Research Fellow in Biodiversity Conservation, University of East London • conversation
June 29, 2021 ~8 min


Tackling air pollution with autonomous drones

Alumni of the MIT New Engineering Education Transformation Program (NEET) worked together remotely from across the globe to design thinking machines.

Kate Petersen | School of Engineering • mit
June 24, 2021 ~9 min

With Ford's electric F-150 pickup, the EV transition shifts into high gear

Ford's electric F-150 pickup won't roll off assembly lines until early 2022, but the company has received thousands of preorders already for a vehicle aimed at the mass market, not eco-buyers.

Brian C. Black, Distinguished Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Penn State • conversation
June 15, 2021 ~9 min

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