Latest news with #cyberpunk
The Verge
3 days ago
- Health
- The Verge
That's what researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are proposing in
Track your mental stress... with a forehead e-tattoo? this paper published in Device. In an interview with IEEE Spectrum, co-author Nanshu Lu says it's meant to help people in 'high-stakes, high-demand' jobs monitor their stress in real-time. The e-tattoo measures brainwaves and eye movements to decode mental workloads to help prevent people in stressful jobs from reaching a breaking point. Obviously, this is research and not an actual thing yet — but it sure does look cyberpunk.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Forbes
Sol Straps An E-Reader To Your Face To Perfect The Lazy Reader Trend
Ironically, he can't see that perfectly-placed beam of light. Sol Updated May 7, 2025 to include beta Kindle integration If you've been on TikTok (or, more precisely "BookTok") you'll have seen them. People "struggling" with books falling as they lay in bed or holding tomes directly above their faces. They're "suffering" as they try and fail to hold books or e-readers for more than a few seconds. These are people who want only to lay as flat and still as possible while reading. They're the "lazy readers" and they've got hacks galore—from stands to articulated arms to special glasses with down-facing mirrors. Sol has seen their struggles and they're here to provide the ultimate solution. The Sol Reader is a pair of "cyberpunk" shades with a built-in E Ink display (technically two displays, but your binocular vision merges them into one). Put them on, open your book and the world fades away, practically no pesky muscle use required. Sol Reader Sol At first glance, the Sol Reader looks like a small VR headset or an oversized pair of sunglasses (depending on the finish you've selected—black, silver, gold, or dark blue). This was the most flattering I could make these in the real world. Anthony Karcz While I'm sure that Sol would like to call the Sol Reader futuristic-looking, I live in Florida and I've seen exactly this style of eyewear worn by cataract patients at my optometrist's office. The first night I used them to read before going to bed, my wife couldn't stop glancing over and giggling. These are not, by any stretch of the imagination, going to make you look cool. Sol Reader, back, with remote Anthony Karcz Flip it to the business side and you'll see a pair of lenses that look like something you'd see your optometrist use to dial in your eyeglasses prescription (Does this look clearer? How about now ?). This looks way better in binocular vision, a few inches from your face Anthony Karcz Unfold the arms, and the dual displays light up. Put the reader on (watch out for the surprisingly pokey earpieces at the ends of the arms), and those displays merge into a single 271 ppi E Ink display. While it's only around 30 ppi off your average Kindle, the proximity of the display to your eyeballs makes every missing nit stand out. The resulting output feels lower resolution than I'd expect from the specs. That's even more evident when you look at graphics of any sort (like book covers or comics). But for reading books, 271 ppi is more than clear enough. You dial in the focal point on the lenses (anywhere from 0 to 5.75 — if you're nearsighted or have 20/20 vision you might not need to adjust them at all) and do a quick walkthrough to set your font size. There's a densely-packed display that has your eyes travelling quite a bit but is more like a standard e-reader page, a larger font size that only takes up the bottom half of the screen to effectively eliminate excessive eye movement, and a default midpoint setting that's comfortable without making you feel like you're reading a board book. Navigating through a large library can be a bit tiresome, there's no search function (nor would entering things letter by letter via the remote be anything other than frustrating) but generally I could find what I was looking for in a few presses. Speaking of the remote, it fits comfortably in hand and is refreshingly simple to use. Other than the directional arrows to navigate menus, there's a page turn/enter button in the center and that's it. You largely forget it exists once you start reading. The Software While Sol has an ebook store, there's not much there (which makes sense, navigating publishing distribution contracts is way different than building reading hardware). They have a larger library available but only if you sign up for their "Beta Book Club" which still only gives you access to one book a month (while giving you credit to buy books once they're in the regular bookstore). As far as business models go, it's an odd one. The better usage for the app, then, is to upload your DRM-free ePub files (like the ones that you downloaded from your Kindle before Amazon disabled the feature back in February ). If you have a large library, this could take a little bit of time, since you have to upload files individually in the app or 10 at a time on their web interface. Once uploaded to the app, though, I was able to download all 130 of my books to the Sol Reader without any fuss. A quick aside — Sol is building their own DRM software standard . Why? Because they want you to be able to read the books you buy anywhere, but they also want authors to get paid. Sadly, pirated ebooks are extremely easy to find (which makes no sense to me when digital libraries exist). I'd love to see something like what Sol Reader is working on take root and be used by libraries so that you could easily read books you check out anywhere. May 7, 2025 Update : Sol reached out to let me know that "Kindle Integration" is currently in beta testing. Once out of beta, this makes Sol Reader much more useful for a lot more readers who are looking to take advantage of the hardware. The Experience Testimonials on the site praise the "immersion" and "movie-like" quality that Sol Reader brings to their reading experience. Obviously these are people who've never spent time under the covers with a flashlight after they were supposed to be asleep in bed, a book 3 inches from their nose. While the reading enhancement benefits may be overstated, it is an extremely handy reader for when you want to read late at night when your significant other is sleeping. There's no light leakage and you can be in a comfortable, nearly prone position so you're shifting around less. It's the perfect thing to grab when you wake up at 3 AM, mind racing, and need to read a bit to divert your brain's anxiety hamster from its wheel. Reading on the Sol Reader is comfortable, though you'll have to get used to moving your eyes around a bit more than if the reader was held in your hand. The First Edition reader is lighter than the original Limited Edition and has a redesigned nose piece for a snugger fit. It took some minor adjustment but once I settled in to a comfortable position (flat on my back like a true lazy reader) I didn't really feel the Sol Reader at all. The reader does make it easier to block out environmental distraction (like a TV in a dark room). However, it can start to feel a bit claustrophobic after a while, especially if you've turned on the auto page-turn feature. While I appreciate wanting to "lock in" to reading, I don't necessarily want to be locked in. I want to be able to put down the book and think about phrases, take a moment away from the page to absorb what I've just read. Even just answering a quick question while you're reading is inconvenient. Who's Sol Reader For? Aside from able-bodied 'lazy readers,' there is a very real audience for the Sol Reader. People with degenerative diseases such as ALS or Parkinsons can have issues when it comes to keeping a book steady enough to read for any length of time. And it doesn't even have to be a major disability, hand tremors can afflict almost anyone at any age for a variety of reasons. When all you have to have in your hand is a remote to turn the page and the reader itself is mounted on your face, there's no barrier to comfortably reading. Heck, you can set up the auto page-turn feature and you don't even need to use the remote. For those who've been kept from their love of literature by physical constraints, the Sol Reader gives back access to reading. Where to Buy Overall, the Sol Reader is a compelling experiment. And while it may only serve a niche market, it does what it says it does and it does it well. You can order the Sol Reader First Edition for $249 on the Sol site.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The nightmare lives revealed of the workers who build your laptops in Chinese ‘cyberpunk' megacity
Residents of China 's largest megacity - known for producing half of the world's laptops - have revealed what its really like to live in the dystopian metropolis. Chongqing in the south west of the country has a population of 32 million and covers an area the size of Austria. Filled with giant buildings, multi-level highways and a metro system that barrels through residential buildings - the sky-high futuristic city has sparked online intrigue in recent years. Chongqing emerged as a major hub for laptop manufacturing after computer hardware company HP set up its production base there in 2009. Other information companies have since followed suit, with firms like Foxconn, Quanta Computer, Lenovo and Asus, setting up successful operations in the Chinese megacity. Despite Chongqing's technical boom bringing in jobs for the city's inhabitants, locals have offered a grim insight into what its like working in China's 'cyberpunk city '. Scores of content creators have offered glimpses into their mundane lives working in factories, where they produce laptops and mobile phones, among other gadgets. One video shared on TikTok shows a young factory worker as he gets ready for one of his shifts. 'Cyberpunk city': Chongqing has also emerged as a major hub for laptop production and the overall electronic information industry Smog clouds: Chongqing is one of the world's most polluted cities Waking up in a bunk bed in a dark, crammed dorm room, the man films himself washing his face and brushing his teeth, before he trudges out to work. Just before starting his shift, he is given a sludgy meal to eat in a massive canteen, which is flooded with thousands of other fellow factory workers. After he finishes his meal he films from inside a locker room, where he is forced to leave his phone before getting to work. Because of this, he is unable to film what working in the factory actually looks like. Upon his return to his locker after finishing work, he appears deflated - offering an insight into the strenuous and glum conditions the city's factory workers are exposed to. Another content creator recorded his 12-hour night shift in an electronic factory in the city of Chongqing. Starting his shift just before 8pm, the young worker shows himself getting his gear on. Due to filming not being allowed inside the factory, the video then pans to a few hours later, in which he is seen silently scoffing down a meal of rice, chicken and soup during his dinner break. Cramped: The production worker shares a bunk with roommates and shows his TikTok followers how he starts the working day Cameras: The futuristic Chinese city of Chongqing is one of the most surveilled in the world The TikToker also records his colleagues, who are all seen quietly slumped on chairs as they try to rest before getting back to work. Others are seen helping themselves to food from the dining hall. Chinese factory workers have historically been known to endure demanding labour environments, where they are forced to work long hours often on low wages - with the videos shared on social media offering a glimpse of the lives they lead. Conditions in Chongqing's factories have often caused discontent amongst workers. Last year, the city saw violent protests after workers clashed with police during a demonstration involving hundreds of people working at a factory that produced Covid-19 tests. But hellish conditions are also seen elsewhere in Chongqing. The city is considered to be one of the most surveilled places in the world, with CCTV cameras dotted across the metropolis. Videos posted to social media show how facial recognition is being used to monitor people getting in and out of neighbourhood, while license plate readers track the movements of its citizens. Earlier this year, authorities installed 27,900 surveillance cameras and 245 sensors as part of a comprehensive 'grid' surveillance plan to keep tabs on its residents, according to Radio Free Asia. The city is part of the 'Sharp Eyes' pilot scheme to tackle crime, with the city's surveillance system closely monitoring every aspect of its inhabitants' in an attempt to minimise dissent. Neighbourhood committees tasked with monitoring the activities of Chongqing's locals have been likened to some of the world's most significant intelligence networks. Critics have long warned that such widespread surveillance in the Chinese megacity violates citizens' rights to privacy. A separate clip shared on social media platform TikTok filmed just how many surveillance cameras can be spotted while out and about in Chongqing. And if setting up facial recognition systems wasn't enough for the Chinese government to keep tabs on Chongqing's population, the city has also introduced the use of inspection robots. The bots are used in Chongqing's factories to independently patrol the premises, inspect key equipment and notify staff of any issues. A video circulating on TikTok shows white inspection robots whizzing through a railway power station in Chongqing. But the bots are not the only futuristic element the city has to offer. Locals have shared videos of themselves riding around Chongqing in driverless taxis. The vehicles offer an alternative to traditional taxi services, as passengers are able to hitch a ride with a robot. The self-driving cars use advanced technologies like radar, lidar, and cameras to navigate and respond to various road conditions. The city's rapid industrialization has also meant that Chongqing has become known as one of the world's most polluted cities. At the time of writing, Chongqing has an Air Quality Index of 89 - making it the most polluted city in the world currently. While it is important to note that AQI's fluctuate, a national environmental analysis report released by Tsinghua University and the Asian Development Bank in 2013 revealed that Chongqing was among the top 10 most polluted cities worldwide. Air pollution can cause severe health issues, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and cancer. Images and videos have captured how thick clouds of smog and smoke fill the city's skies, often leaving its residents in darkness. One clip shared on X shows dark fumes billowing out of coal-fired power plants in Chongqing. Another video shows a black mushroom-shaped cloud of pollution towering over the city's factories. Such is the level of pollution that the city is enshrouded by a thick layer of fog for over 100 days of the year. 'Sunlight is a luxury', local influencer Jackson Lu explained in a TikTok video. The city's gloominess is exacerbated by the fact that the entirety of Chongqing is built on multiple levels, often depriving residents who live in lower floors of natural light. Chongqing's architectural lay-out is another feature that makes the city uniquely dystopian - with trains that whizz through apartment blocks and makeshift towns located inside towering skyscrapers. 'In Chongqing, we never know which floor we're on,' said TikToker Hugh Chongqing in a video that has amassed a staggering 3.2 million likes. 'It looks like I'm on normal square: the street is over there. But if we go there [to the edge] now we're on the 22nd floor. 'But if we use the elevator on the square, it says we're on the 12th floor. Then we take the elevator to the eighth floor, walk through this garage, and then we will be on the street. Go inside the building on the right, it says we're on the 13th floor.' The video shows just how confusing it can be to visit Chongqing, and highlights how map apps will take you to where you're going - only for you to realise you're ten storeys too low or high. The massive tower blocks in which the city's residents lived have been dubbed 'coffins' due to their crammed conditions. In 2021, the population of Chongqing protested against being confined to the cramped apartment buildings after the city went into lockdown during the Covid-19 outbreak. Citizens were filmed chanting 'We want freedom' outside their windows.
