Bit Corporation released the Bit79 in 1989 as a machine that looked ready for serious work. The beige wedge-shaped case held a full keyboard across the front, a cartridge slot sat on top, and vents ran along the sides. Power and reset switches sat near the left edge. A person could sit down, flip the power on, and face a choice between typing programs or playing games.
Jake Laser grew up watching his father face constant barriers from a wheelchair. Multiple sclerosis had attacked nerve signals to his legs decades earlier, ending a life that once included marathon running and hiking as a chemical engineering professor. Simple outings turned complicated fast. Stairs and curbs created hard stops that no standard chair could clear.
Plug a recent iPhone into Anker’s Smart Display Nano Charger, priced at $25.99 (was $39.99), and the small screen wakes up right away. It flashes the model name for a moment before settling into numbers that show exactly how much power flows in and where the battery sits. That quick recognition sets the tone for what Anker built here.
Zelda Breath of the Wild has long rewarded patient exploration and creative problem solving across its enormous map. Turning that same world into a convincing virtual reality experience has required ongoing refinement from modder Crementif through the BetterVR project for the Cemu emulator. Version 0.9.17, released in mid-June, focuses on everyday frustrations that kept the game from feeling fully ready for long sessions.
Engineers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, working with colleagues at Waseda University in Japan, have added a working underwater capability to remote-controlled cockroaches. The insects already carry small electronic packs that let operators steer them through rubble and tight spaces. A new 3D-printed attachment now supplies oxygen so the same insects can keep moving when those spaces fill with water.