Tag: Websummit

Security labels without silicon can prevent theft. Still, no electronic sensor functions without a wireless connection. The power supply required for such devices has an impact on battery size. Which is why a Norwegian-based startup has developed a new circuit architecture for wireless chips, so that they work in the subthreshold region. At 3.3 volts, conventional components need around...

Trees planted by companies can be a playful enterprise. But all game-designers need programming skills. Right? Wrong. A new platform developed by an English startup allows games to be designed intuitively. Ready-made figures, obstacles and collectable objects can be selected from a menu, with additional criteria such as size, position and movement completing the animation. Keyboard controls are quickly...

Wheelchairs can be controlled by the tiniest head movements. Of the 130 million wheelchair users worldwide, however, some 60% develop an ulcer at some point in their lives. This is caused by the pressure resulting from their remaining in the same position for long periods of time. But a Portuguese startup has developed a digital solution for the problem....

Mothers appreciate support to re-establish themselves professionally. Incarcerated people, too. All this thanks to an entrepreneurial US couple, whose non-profit organisation allows prison residents to participate in 6-month programming courses in Javascript and HTML. Or create and sound edit videos. Knowledge that increases their chances of finding jobs upon their release. An employment rate of over 80% for returned...

The flow of rivers can help generate electricity. So too five long, curved tube halves. At least, according to the patented design of a Lisbon-based startup. The parts are fastened to a pole, making a low-maintenance wind turbine. As the technology is scalable three sizes of the noiseless, aerodynamic turbine are planned. A small 100W generator, 1.2 metres tall;...

When it comes to storing information, our brain can be lazy. Chatbots with AI, however, absorb even the smallest details and learn from them. Including personal details. Often these are identified through a device’s location or IP address, but sometimes they are actively provided. For example, when a chatbot is fed concrete information or emails to produce a text....

Fish remains could replace the plastic used in packaging and clothes. Snakes, crocodiles and lizards are reared in animal farms to meet the luxury goods industry’s demand for exotic leather. Now, a Portuguese startup is hoping to prevent some 2 million animals each year from ending up as watch straps, shoes or bags. Animal cells are taken once from...

In health emergencies, drawing the correct conclusions can prove essential. When it comes to filling company vacancies, soft skills are often more important than a CV. Now, a French startup is helping firms recognise the personal strengths of their talent pool. Participants answer scientifically-based questions as part of an online test, and assess whether the results are logical or...