Roomba maker iRobot swept into bankruptcy

Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics, its lender and primary supplier, will acquire all of iRobot’s shares.  Roomba maker iRobot has filed for bankruptcy and will be taken over by its Chinese supplier after the company that popularized the robot vacuum cleaner fell under the weight of competition from cheaper rivals. The…

Scientists built an AI co-pilot for prosthetic bionic hands

Managing each finger separately can, with the right sensors, ease control issues. Modern bionic hand prostheses nearly match their natural counterparts when it comes to dexterity, degrees of freedom, and capability. And many amputees who tried advanced bionic hands apparently didn’t like them. “Up to 50 percent of people…

How to break free from smart TV ads and tracking

Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options.  Smart TVs can feel like a dumb choice if you’re looking for privacy, reliability, and simplicity. Today’s TVs and streaming sticks are usually loaded up with advertisements and user tracking, making offline TVs seem very attractive. But ever since smart…