The first hardware partnership between Beats and Nike has been revealed, and it seems like a surprisingly good fit.

With a Swoosh on the right bud, a Beats logo on the left, and a matte black charging case with Volt speckles and a "Just Do It" message inside the lid, the new Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Special Edition transforms Beats' workout earbuds into Nike's distinctive performance styling.

The brands say the collaboration aims to ‘bridge the gap between elite sport and street style’, reports LBB Online.

Beats hired longtime brand ambassador LeBron James for a supporting campaign designed by MIRIMAR in order to help achieve that goal. LeBron takes to the golf course in "Keep Your Head in The Game," and it soon becomes apparent that his skills are more suited to basketball than birdies. LeBron, however, silences the doubters with his brilliant green Powerbeats Pro 2 and relaxes into his round to the tunes of "Easy" by the Commodores. Actors Lionel Boyce and Travis "Taco" Bennett co-star with professional golfer Tom Kim.

“This isn't just a new colorway; it’s a collision of two brands that define performance, culture, and sports – the attributes of today’s athlete,” said Chris Thorne, CMO of Beats, in a statement. “By placing the Swoosh on our hardware for the first time, we’re honoring the shared DNA of Beats and Nike – and celebrating ambassadors like LeBron James who embody both. It’s a tribute to the grit, style, and sound that push people to their limits.”

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Although the Nike Special Edition doesn't have any new hardware features over the standard model, it does make the earphones more appealing to consumers who want their workout equipment to match the rest of their outfit.

It also helps that Powerbeats Pro 2 remains one of the most obviously exercise-friendly pairs of earbuds in Apple’s wider audio line-up, which now includes the AirPods Max 2

After a period dominated by lifestyle and direct-to-consumer style marketing, Nike is returning to sport-first, athlete-led storylines as CEO Elliott Hill continues to refine the company's focus on performance storytelling. The collaboration expands upon Nike's most recent SKIMS engagement, in which it introduced NikeSKIMS, a new brand with an outside partner for the first time.

What to know

• Nike x Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver premium sound that empowers athletes to tune out the noise, stay focused on their goals and push beyond their limits.

• The special-edition earbuds from Nike and Beats keep athletes locked in with secure-fit earhooks, built-in heart rate monitoring for workouts, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency mode, and standout sweat and water resistance.

• In a first for Beats, the brand shares its iconic branding by placing the signature "b" logo on the left earbud and the Nike Swoosh on the other.

• The special-edition earbuds will first become available via an early-access lottery March 17 on SNKRS. The earbuds will then launch globally March 20 at Nike website, Apple website and select Apple stores.

Garmin announced a new WhatsApp app for select Garmin smartwatches, now available for free in the Connect IQ Store. Those with a compatible smartwatch, including select fēnix, Forerunner, Venu and vívoactive products, can quickly communicate with others—all while keeping their phone in their pocket.

When using the WhatsApp app on their smartwatch, Garmin customers can:

• View recent messages and conversations at a glance

• Read and reply to messages using the built-in keyboard

• Quickly send emojis and reactions to messages

• See more chat history with up to 10 messages shown on screen

• See incoming calls with the option to decline

“Collaborating with WhatsApp underscores the strength and momentum of the Garmin Connect IQ ecosystem. By bringing a global messaging brand like WhatsApp to select Garmin smartwatches, we’re giving customers another meaningful way to stay connected—whether they’re training, exploring or simply on the move,” says Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing.

As always, personal messages and calls on WhatsApp remain protected by end-to-end encryption, so only the user and the person they are talking to can read or listen to them, says a press release.

Garmin customers can download the WhatsApp app now in the Connect IQ Store.

Furthering innovation through the Garmin developer program

WhatsApp is the first and only third-party messaging app currently available on Garmin smartwatches, made possible through Garmin’s robust developer program and Connect IQ platform.  

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“WhatsApp helps people stay connected no matter what platform they use. We’re proud to bring WhatsApp to Garmin smartwatches, so that more people can keep their private conversations going right from their wrist,” says Nikhil Joshi, Director of Product Management at Meta.

For those interested in building unique wearable experiences leveraging Garmin device sensors and features, click here to learn more about developing in Connect IQ.

The Connect IQ Store is an all-in-one source for Garmin customers looking to personalize their compatible Garmin devices. With thousands of options to choose from, users can download apps, watch faces, music streaming services and more right to their device. The Connect IQ Store is accessible through the Google Play and Apple App Store. For more information, email our media team or connect with us on LinkedIn.

VITA, a health-tech innovator, today announced the launch of VITA RING on Kickstarter, positioning the device as the pioneer of the "second phase" of smart rings. VITA RING shifts from passive data dashboards to proactive health interventions.

As chronic diseases increasingly affect younger populations and healthcare systems face overcapacity, there is a growing expectation for wearables to anticipate health signals before problems escalate. While first-generation smart rings introduced continuous tracking, VITA RING addresses the "engagement gap" by actively surfacing data when it matters most, says a press release.

"Smart rings are entering their second phase, from data collection to intervention," said Phoebe Zheng, the founder of VITA RING. "We believe awareness, not analytics, is the future of preventative health."

Instant Alerts Users Can Feel
Most wearables require users to manually open an app to review health charts, often after anomalies have already occurred. VITA RING aims to close this gap by monitoring core signals to build a personalized physiological baseline. When meaningful deviations occur-such as abnormal resting heart rate patterns, unusual SpO₂ fluctuations, or unexpected temperature shifts-the ring delivers on-device haptic alerts via an integrated ultra-low-power micro vibration motor.

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This interaction model allows users to receive critical signals during sleep, meetings, or workouts without relying on a smartphone. The system acts as an early-signal awareness tool, prompting behavioral adjustments such as rest, hydration, or stress management before issues escalate.

Shared Wellness with Health Agent Support

Beyond individual alerts, VITA RING introduces "Circle of Care," a consent-based system that allows users to share summarized health signals-rather than raw data streams-with family and friends. This feature focuses on meaningful deviations in sleep, stress, and physiological patterns, balancing proactive care with user privacy.

What sets this apart is its integration with VITA's Health Agent. Instead of deciphering complex metrics, family members can engage in AI-driven conversations to receive actionable guidance. By asking the Health Agent questions like "Should I encourage them to rest today?" or "How can I support them right now?", raw biometrics are translated into human-centered advice, such as suggesting hydration or a gentle check-in.

This ecosystem is specifically designed for adult children supporting aging parents and partners navigating high-stress cycles, providing peace of mind without the need for constant, intrusive messaging.

Hardware, Design, and CES Reception

VITA RING is crafted from aerospace-grade zirconia ceramic with a 2.7mm thickness profile. This material choice ensures superior scratch resistance and signal transparency while maintaining a smooth, jewelry-like finish. The device launches in four colors, with a fifth to be determined by the Kickstarter community.

Earlier this year at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, VITA RING was showcased. Attendees responded positively not only to its vibration-based alert system, but also to its minimalist, design-forward aesthetic.

Several visitors commented that the ring "didn't feel like medical hardware," but rather like a refined everyday accessory. The balance between discreet health monitoring and haptic feedback was a key differentiator; visitors highlighted that in sleep or high-focus environments-where phones are often muted-on-finger vibration alerts felt significantly more practical and immediate than traditional health dashboards.

Key Highlights‍

• Proactive Haptic Alerts: Integrated ultra-low-power micro vibration motor for immediate on-finger notifications

• Second-Phase Wearable Tech: Transitioning from static data collection to active health intervention

• Continuous Biometric Monitoring: 24/7 tracking of Heart Rate, HRV, SpO₂, and Skin Temperature

• Circle of Care: Consent-based wellness sharing system for families and partners

• AI Health Agent: Personalized guidance that translates physiological signals into actionable advice

• Premium Craftsmanship: 2.7mm ultra-slim profile made from aerospace-grade zirconia ceramic

• Exceptional Durability: Scratch-resistant and jewelry-like finish for 24/7 wear

As the smart ring market becomes increasingly competitive, VITA RING is not competing on tracking alone. Instead, it is attempting to redefine how wearable devices surface health signals - moving from passive metrics to proactive awareness, instant intervention, and Health Agent-guided connection.

If successful, it may signal not just a new product launch, but a new interaction model for wearable health technology.

Loss of communication can be among the most devastating symptoms for patients with paralysis. A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute and Brown University describes an investigational implantable brain computer interface (iBCI) typing neuroprosthesis that can restore communication with speed and accuracy. The tool, which utilizes the QWERTY keyboard and attempted finger movements, performed well in two BrainGate clinical trial participants - one with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the other with a cervical spinal cord injury. Their results are published in Nature Neuroscience.

“For many people with paralysis, when losing use of both the hands and the muscles of speech, communication can become difficult or impossible. Often, people with severe speech and motor impairments end up relying on things like eye-gaze technology – spelling words out one letter at a time by using an eye movement tracking system. Those systems take far too long for many users,” said senior author Daniel Rubin, MD, PhD, a critical care neurologist with the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery at Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute. “Patients often find this and other types of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems frustrating to use. BCIs are on track to become an important new alternative to what’s currently offered.”

Communication devices for people with paralysis have been sub-optimal for many years. Patients often describe them as slow, error-prone, and difficult to use; some people abandon them altogether. This gap between what is available and what is needed inspires BrainGate - a team of neurologists, neuroscientists, engineers, computer scientists, neurosurgeons, mathematicians, and other researchers from multiple partner institutions working together to create better communication and mobility tools for people with neurologic disease, injury, or limb loss, Mass General Brigham said in a press release.

“Since 2004, our BrainGate team has been advancing and testing the feasibility and efficacy of implantable brain computer interfaces to restore communication and independence for people with paralysis,” said co-author Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD, leader of the BrainGate clinical trial and director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery at Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute. “The BrainGate consortium demonstrates the strength of academic and university-based researchers working together, thinking about what’s possible, and then advancing the frontiers of restorative neurotechnology. And by doing so, we make it that much easier for industry to create the final form of implantable medical devices for our patients.”

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The new BrainGate iBCI typing neuroprosthesis starts with microelectrode sensors placed in the motor cortex, a part of the brain that controls movement. Next, a QWERTY keyboard is displayed in front of the participant, with each letter mapped onto fingers and finger positions - up, down, or curled. As the participant intuitively attempts these finger movements, the electrodes sense the brain’s electrical activity, then send a signal to a computer system that can translate the neural activity into letters. This output is then processed through a final predictive language model to ensure a cohesive, accurate communication result.

Two clinical trial participants, one with advanced ALS and the other with a spinal cord injury, used this new iBCI typing neuroprosthesis to communicate rapidly and accurately. The participants calibrated their devices with as few as 30 sentences; one participant was able to reach a top typing speed of 110 characters or 22 words per minute, with a word error rate of 1.6%. That’s on par with able-bodied typing accuracy. What’s more, both participants used the device from the comfort of their own place of residence, demonstrating the potential for translation and at-home use in the future.

“Decoding these finger movements is also a big step toward being able to restore complex reach and grasp movements for people with upper extremity paralysis,” said first and corresponding author Justin Jude, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Mass General Brigham. “And there’s also room to make this communication tool better—like implementing a stenography or otherwise personalized keyboard to make typing even faster. Our BCI is a great example of how modern neuroscience and artificial intelligence technology can combine to create something capable of restoring communication and independence for people with paralysis.”

Complex electronic circuits have been successfully constructed inside thin, flexible fibers by a research team at Shanghai's Fudan University. This innovation, known as a fiber chip, enables textiles to process data similarly to a computer while yet being pliable enough to be twisted, stretched, and woven into regular garments.

The advancement has the potential to revolutionize sectors such as virtual reality, high-tech textiles, and brain-computer interfaces (BCI), which enable direct communication between the brain and external systems.

Computer chips are usually made of stiff materials like silicon and are flat and rigid. Additionally, it has proven challenging to attach enough electronic components to fibers to make them functional because to their curvature and small surface area. The Fudan University team decided to do more than merely use the fiber's surface to overcome this problem. In order to utilize all of the interior space, they instead created a multilayered spiral architecture, which effectively consists of multiple layers of circuitry inside the fiber, reports China Daily.

According to the team's experiments, 10,000 transistors – the tiny switches that process data in electronics – can fit on a fiber chip that is just 1 millimeter long. As a result, it has the same processing capacity as a heart pacemaker chip. The fiber could accommodate millions of transistors and achieve the power levels of a typical desktop computer processor if it were stretched to a length of one meter.

The study, which questions the conventional method of producing computer chips, was released in the journal Nature.

Scientists have been giving fibers fundamental abilities like energy storage and touch perception for decades. However, in order for these smart textiles to work, they typically needed to be connected to large, rigid computer chips. The clothes became unpleasant and stiff as a result. The fabric can now think and act on its own thanks to the new fiber chip, which removes that necessity.

“Our fabrication method is highly compatible with the current tools used in the chip industry,” said Chen Peining, a researcher at Fudan University's Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices. “We have already achieved a way to mass-produce these fiber chips.”

The healthcare industry will be significantly impacted by the technology. Current BCI systems require external computers to be linked to stiff electrodes. A closed-loop system, in which medical stimulation, data processing, and sensing all take place inside a single, soft fiber, might be made possible by the fiber chip.

According to the study's co-author, Professor Peng Huisheng, these fibers are as flexible as brain tissue and as thin as 50 micrometers, which is thinner than a human hair. As a result, they are safer and more efficient in treating neurological conditions.

The technology may result in more intelligent tactile gloves in the virtual reality space. The clumsy hardware used in many VR gloves nowadays makes them feel strange.

According to Chen, fiber-chip-based smart tactile gloves are identical to regular cloth. During a remote robotic surgery, surgeons may use their ability to sense and mimic the feel of various items to "feel" the hardness of tissue.

Clair, a new women's health firm, has emerged from stealth with ambitions to introduce a wearable that can be worn on the wrist and offers continuous, non-invasive insights into the hormone patterns of women.

Clair, which was founded by Stanford graduates Jenny Duan and Abhinav Agarwal, bills itself as the first wearable designed especially to measure hormonal dynamics in real time without the need for needles, blood draws, or urine testing. Instead of measuring hormones directly in blood, saliva, or perspiration, it characterizes the product as continuous hormone monitoring by physiological inference. According to the company, its technology uses a variety of physiological cues to determine changes in important reproductive hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, and estrogen, reports Future Fem Health.

Skin temperature, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep architecture, breathing rate, electrodermal activity, and motion tracking are the ten biosensors that Clair utilizes to monitor hormonal changes. Throughout your cycle, these signals correspond to changes in progesterone and estrogen.

Clair is intended to fill a number of gaps in the healthcare system as it stands today. Women are still underrepresented in clinical trials and medical research, which results in a lack of data and a slower rate of advancement in our knowledge of women's health issues. Duan and Agarwal hope to bridge these gaps with Clair, a technology that offers ongoing, noninvasive hormone insights.

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According to Bavan, hormone tracking can “provide insight into menstrual cycle patterns and can aid with both diagnosing and assessing treatment for [various] conditions.”

“[Clair enables] patients [to] gain insight into their personal hormone fluctuations over different time periods,” Bavan said, “and share this information at healthcare visits to better understand and correlate any medical issues they are facing and avoid repeat blood draws.”

Clair focuses on four primary uses:

• Fertility tracking: The majority of ovulation tests identify the spike in LH that occurs when your body tries to ovulate, but they are unable to verify if ovulation actually took place. Clair monitors the rise in progesterone after ovulation to verify the release of the egg. Notifications will be sent to you prior to the onset of your fertile window, not after it has passed.

• Hormonal health management: If you're tired after eight hours of sleep and your fitness tracker indicates that you're recovering "excellently," Clair can demonstrate that your weariness was caused by a nocturnal rise in progesterone. The effects of hormones on mood, energy, and sleep quality are demonstrated by continuous tracking, which identifies trends that snapshot testing overlooks.

• Athletic performance: By explaining why recovery seems more difficult in the luteal phase and high-intensity training may feel simpler in the late follicular phase, Clair can help you modify your program according to real physiology rather than conjecture.

• Support during the menopause and perimenopause: Clair will offer knowledge amid hormonal changes that typically leave women in the dark about their bodies.

In order to establish Clair as a legitimate medical device rather than just a lifestyle item, Duan and Agarwal intend to apply for FDA approval. The company intends to start a clinical trial at Stanford Medicine this spring as part of this endeavor.

Duan stressed how crucial it is to exercise initiative when attending college. "One of the best places to go out and try something new and choose a path that comes in line with your mission and vision for the world is Stanford," she said.

Canadian neurotech company Naqi Logix has closed its acquisition of Paris-based neurotech startup Wisear, expanding its earbud-based neural interface platform and establishing a European R&D hub.

The acquisition marks a major step forward in Naqi’s strategy to build the leading non-invasive neural interface platform, strengthening its intellectual property portfolio while integrating Wisear’s experienced team in signal processing, embedded AI, and wearable neurotechnology. Together, the combined organization accelerates Naqi’s roadmap across accessibility, robotics, AR/VR, and next-generation human-computer interaction, says a press release.

“Naqi Logix was born from a deeply personal mission: to give people a new way to interact with technology when traditional interfaces fail them. Wisear emerged from Europe with a bold vision to bring neural control into everyday consumer devices. Bringing these two journeys together is about accelerating a shared destiny by creating a universal, invisible interface layer for the global wearables ecosystem. Together, we believe this marks the beginning of the post-touch, post-voice era of computing,” said Mark Godsy, Co-Founder & CEO of Naqi Logix.

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Wisear’s technology and talent will play a central role in advancing Naqi’s core platform, enabling faster collaboration with OEMs and strategic partners while improving performance, reliability, and real-world usability of neural input across consumer and enterprise applications.

“From day one, Wisear was built around the idea that neural interfaces should feel natural, wearable, and ready for everyday life,” said Yacine Achiakh, Co-Founder & CEO of Wisear. “Meeting the Naqi team felt less like a partnership discussion and more like a continuation of the same journey, making this union a natural step forward.”

“This acquisition validates years of deep R&D work around ear-based bioelectrical signal capture and real-time intent decoding,” said Alain Sirois, Co-Founder & CTO of Wisear. “By joining Naqi, we can now push this technology further and faster within a platform designed to scale, integrate with partners, and reach real users in everyday contexts.”

Following the close, Wisear’s Paris operations will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Naqi Logix, providing a dedicated European innovation hub focused on product development, data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. It will serve as a strategic center for advancing Naqi’s next-generation neural wearables, expanding AI-driven intent detection, and accelerating the development of software, firmware, and cloud platforms.

By integrating Wisear’s engineering talent and European innovation heritage with Naqi Logix’s patented neural-interface platform, the company intends to deepen its global R&D capabilities and accelerate commercialization across consumer electronics, assistive technologies, robotics, and extended reality platforms.

Naqi Logix will continue to focus on developing advanced signal-processing algorithms, real-time neural-intent inference models, embedded AI firmware, and next-generation wearable architectures. The teams will collaborate closely on engineering, AI/ML, and product teams to accelerate product roadmaps and support global commercialization efforts.

About Naqi Logix

Naqi Logix is pioneering neural interfaces through everyday wearables. By transforming smart earbuds into AI-powered neural input devices, Naqi enables hands-free, voice-free, camera-free, and screen-free control using subtle facial micro-gestures.

About Wisear

Wisear is a French deeptech company recognized for its pioneering work in signal processing, embedded AI, and wearable neurotechnology. When we connected, it was clear we had a shared vision.

A team of Chinese researchers have created an amazing device that enables persons with restricted movement to use computers and view virtual reality content by only moving their eyes. The device can be powered by blinking.

According to the team, this has the potential to replace a lot of current-generation systems that can strain the eyes and rely on external power. Its solution is said to be as light as standard spectacles, making them more pleasant than the heavy substitutes of today. For those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which severely impairs their ability to utilize their limbs and fine motor skills, it can be an attractive choice, reports New Atlas.

The wearable device detects even the smallest movements of the eyeball and precisely converts them into commands that make sense in the given context. A cursor may be moved across the screen by rotating your eyes to the left. Additionally, you may use your eyes to control the mobility of your wheelchair and navigate through text in a virtual reality setting.

The main wearing part of the system is a very thin, flexible coating of skin-safe, clear PDMS plastic that is applied to your eye like a contact lens. Its primary function is to produce a tiny amount of static electricity by rubbing on the eyelid during a blink. Additionally, there are special spectacles with lenses coated with transparent sensors known as substrate electrodes (made of a material called ITO). As the eye moves in various directions, they are positioned to "catch" the electrical signals produced by the contact lens.

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A tiny signal processing processor is attached to the glasses in order to filter out noise, boost the signal that the tracker receives, and convert it into commands like "turn left" or "move the cursor up".

The user's eyelid scrapes against the PDMS contact lens each time they blink. Due to this friction, a significant amount of negative static electricity builds up and is stored on the lens's surface. After a single blink, the lens remains charged for up to ten minutes. This stored static charge travels with the user's eye as they move it up, left, or right.

Electrostatic induction is the process by which the charged lens pushes and pulls electrons within the glasses' sensors as it approaches them. A brief electrical pulse is produced by this movement of electrons. Based on which sensor "feels" the electrical pulse, the system can determine precisely which direction the eye is gazing because the sensors are placed in a grid.

A live rabbit and a set of mechanical artificial eyeballs were used by the researchers to test the device.

A safety solution designed specifically for cyclists, the Aerobag system maximizes riders' peace of mind when they go out for training or recreational riding. The system consists of an aerodynamic pouch on the wearer's back that contains the necessary electrical components and a replacement CO2 cartridge. Nine motion sensors are used by the system to continuously scan the wearer and activate the airbag system if a crash is detected.

The system is made by a Belgian firm of the same name. It's designed for use by professional cycling teams, and will in fact be used by the Netherlands' WorldTour Team Picnic PostNL for training this season, and possibly for races. Other pro tour teams are reportedly in the works, reports New Atlas.

Aerobag uses electronic sensors and software to detect a crash and trigger inflation.

“It’s all fired by an algorithm,” explains Quinton van Loggerenberg, Aerobag international business development manager. “There are XYZ sensors, inertia sensors, impact sensors, and there are magnetic fields to give you a fixed zero – the system is very clever”

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He explains that cycling kit needs to be lightly modified to accommodate the system: “That’s only because we need to control where the tubes go so that the inflation happens in the right place”

The Aerobag uses its cartridge to inflate a network of sleeved TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) tubes that are channeled through the slightly altered straps of the cyclist's third-party bib shorts. These tubes expand to create airbags that shield the neck, spine, chest, and hips from severe collisions in as little as 100 milliseconds.

Importantly, the cyclist can continue racing after the collision by folding the now-deflated tubes back into the shorts. The Aerobag system is completely reusable except for the need to refill the CO2 cartridge.

Pricing should eventually be between €700 and €850 (about US$815 to $990), according to van Loggerenberg.

We are excited to introduce Tactus Wearable, a next-generation device designed to transform how music is experienced by the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Sleek and textile-integrated, this smart vest and jacket combine patented vibration technology with high-fashion design to convert every beat into a physical sensation.

The Stealth of Inclusive Design

One of the most revolutionary aspects of Tactus is its commitment to inclusive design. Unlike bulky medical devices or conspicuous gear, Tactus is built directly into everyday clothing. It looks and feels like high-quality streetwear, allowing users to experience rhythm and emotion without the device defining their aesthetic. Whether dancing, walking, or socializing, the technology remains invisible to the eye while being deeply felt by the wearer.

Proven on the World Stage

Tactus is already making waves globally. In November, the company served as an official partner of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, where they exhibited throughout the event. Athletes and attendees from around the world were able to test the technology firsthand, proving that the future of music is not just heard - it’s felt.

The Future of Live Performance

The vision for Tactus extends far beyond individual use. They are currently:

• Piloting Hybrid Concerts: Launching in Tokyo and Hong Kong, these live shows allow both performers and audience members to wear Tactus gear, ensuring everyone in the crowd shares the same visceral energy.
• Empowering Performers: Tactus is collaborating with a Deaf dance group who use the devices during rehearsals and live shows. The haptic feedback allows dancers to synchronize perfectly with the music and each other through tactile cues.

By translating sound into physical vibrations across the body, Tactus opens new pathways for connection and expression, ensuring that the joy of music belongs to everyone, regardless of hearing ability.

According to The Information, Apple is reportedly developing a wearable pin with artificial intelligence that could be released in 2027 with an estimated 20 million units. The device is shaped like a round disc that is slightly thicker than an AirTag and has a glass and aluminum shell that hooks onto garments.

According to reports, the device would have a speaker, three microphones, two cameras, and a physical button. It would likely pair with devices like iPhones to provide access to the audio, video, and photo data it is gathering. It's easy to imagine a device that can search up information from your phone or ask inquiries while on the go using whatever results from Apple's collaboration with Google's Gemini AI, according to CNet.

The idea of a wearable AI device is not new; many companies, such as note-taking specialists Memories.ai, are experimenting with it. The praise and life-logging business Looki, but not every endeavor in the area has been fruitful.

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Humane, a company founded by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, attempted and failed to create a trend with its $699 AI pin. In the end, HP purchased the technology underlying Humane's expensive pin.

However, Apple may be well-positioned for success in this quickly evolving market given its record for producing wearables that are less costly and swiftly iterate new technology year after year. There have also been rumors that Apple is developing smart glasses and a ring.

There might be competition. Former Apple designer Jony Ive is developing a small-form AI hardware device for OpenAI.

Researchers at The University of Queensland are using wearable robotic exoskeletons to help people with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) walk further, faster and with more confidence.

The device, designed to enhance movement by providing assistance at the ankle joint, is being trialed as part of the iMOVE-MND project led by Associate Professor Taylor Dick from the School of Biomedical Sciences.

“We are seeing exoskeletons go from fiction to reality; our device consists of a small pack containing the ‘brain’, motors and batteries worn around the waist, with cables that transmit force to the ankles making it easier for a person to walk," Dr Dick said.

"A bit like adding an extra spring in your step. It’s lightweight, portable and untethered, so we can move beyond the lab and into the real world. We’re targeting the ankle joint based on our biomechanics research showing it plays a critical role in walking performance for people with MND.”

According to Dr. Dick, the primary goal of the device is to assist individuals living with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in preserving their mobility for the maximum duration possible, reports The University of Queensland.

She explained that while most robotic exoskeletons are typically utilized in rehabilitation settings to gradually restore lost function, this project takes a different approach. The team aims to help patients sustain their ability to walk and remain independent as their condition advances.

As the first device of its type in Australia, it also marks a global milestone as the first trial involving participants with MND. Dr. Dick noted that the research team is particularly eager to evaluate the technology’s performance in everyday, real-world settings rather than limiting tests to a controlled laboratory environment.

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Dr Dick said the results so far had been impressive, with participants noticing an immediate improvement in mobility.

“We hear things within 5 minutes of wearing the device like: ‘I regained my confidence in walking’.”

Dr James Williamson, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Biomedical Sciences, is leading the technical development of the device.

“The exoskeleton uses sensors to detect force through the foot and applies mechanical assistance accordingly,” Dr Williamson said.

“A mini motor for each leg helps with plantarflexion and dorsiflexion, which means moving the leg up or down, and we apply that assistance for each and every step.”

The UQ Centre for Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research was launched earlier this year – the first center to integrate discovery, translational, care and clinical trial research.

Dr Williamson said the goal of the exoskeleton was to increase the number of steps someone can take in a day while minimizing their fatigue.

“If we can help someone stay out of a wheelchair for a week, 2 weeks, a month, then that’s a massive win,” he said.

Wearlinq, a San Francisco-based maker of a wireless clinical-grade wearable 6-lead EKG, has secured a $14 million Series A investment and $5 million in venture debt funding.  

“Today, I’m proud to share a major milestone for our team: we’ve raised a $14M Series A, led by AIX Ventures, with continued participation from our earliest supporters SpringTide Ventures, Berkeley Catalyst Fund, and Amino Capital, alongside other outstanding funds and a group of deeply experienced clinician and medtech operators,” said Konrad Morzkowski, cofounder and CEO of Wearlinq.

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the US and worldwide. Nearly 1 in 3 deaths are tied to it, and far too many are preventable with earlier detection, better monitoring, and timely treatment.

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The funding will allow Wearling to bring their technology to hundreds of thousands of patients in the near term, and many more in the years ahead, expanding access to high-quality cardiac monitoring that can meaningfully change outcomes.

Wearling’s eWave is a continuous, 6-lead wireless ECG cardiac monitor that interfaces with the wearer's phone and provides clinicians with reports in less than 48 hours along with real-time data. The wireless monitor can operate for over five days on a single charge, according to the manufacturer, reports MobiHealth News.

Although the business says it intends to expand into other indications in the future, the device can currently assist in the detection of arrhythmias.

“Even a 10% reduction in early heart disease death in the U.S. equates to over 100,000 lives saved,” explained Morzkowski. “There is no bigger mission for us, and this new funding gives us the ability to scale eWave nationally.”

While VR headsets are engaging, they are excessively heavy, cumbersome, and constrictive for daily usage, and most AR glasses in today's portable entertainment market feel like enlarged phone screens. Customers are looking for something different: a gadget that offers true cinematic immersion without being heavy, noisy, or uncomfortable. Something that can be used anywhere without upsetting other people or sacrificing comfort, such in a café, on a plane, or in bed at home.

Xynavo AR glasses offer a glimpse of what the future of portable entertainment may look like, and they are currently available for backing on Kickstarter.

Built around the ideas of Lightweight Immersion, Private Audio, and Expandable Functionality, Xynavo turns everyday viewing into a full theater-grade experience while remaining incredibly portable. It’s not just another AR device – it’s a next-generation personal cinema platform designed for real-life freedom.

Xynavo’s AR glasses offer a sweeping 70° field of view, creating a virtual display equivalent to a 300"+ screen. Powered by dual 4K displays, the massive virtual screen remains sharp and immersive across your entire field of view. The moment you put it on, your environment fades and a true cinematic scene fills your vision – ideal for travel, gaming, movies, and streaming. This is not a portable screen; it’s a cinema you can wear.

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Xynavo is powered by dual 4K displays, delivering ultra-high resolution to each eye for a truly cinema-grade viewing experience. The glasses offer exceptional sharpness even at massive, cinema-scale sizes – so text stays crisp, details stay clean, and motion remains smooth.

Xynavo weighs just 95 grams, making it one of the lightest immersive, cinema-grade AR glasses available today. It maintains a careful balance of a 70° wide field of view, private in-ear audio, full 3D support, and adjustable diopters. All of this is built into a lightweight frame that lets you enjoy full movies, binge entire shows, or play games for hours with ease.

The glasses connect instantly to a wide range of devices through its Type-C cable and included HDMI adapter. Whether you’re using a smartphone, handheld game console, tablet, laptop, gaming system, or PC, Xynavo works seamlessly without the need for special apps or pairing.

Xynavo is designed as an expandable visual platform, with built-in Type-C support for future external vision modules such as cameras, night vision, and thermal imaging.

A step toward human-machine interfaces that function in the chaotic conditions of daily life, engineers at UC San Diego have developed a soft, AI-powered wristband that can interpret your arm motions even during intense activity and utilize them to control machines in real time.

Wearable technologies with gesture sensors work fine when a user is sitting still, but the signals start to fall apart under excessive motion noise, explained study co-first author Xiangjun Chen, a postdoctoral researcher in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. This limits their practicality in daily life. “Our system overcomes this limitation,” Chen said. “By integrating AI to clean noisy sensor data in real time, the technology enables everyday gestures to reliably control machines even in highly dynamic environments.”

For example, the technology could allow people with restricted mobility or patients undergoing rehabilitation to use robotic devices using natural gestures instead of using fine motor skills. The technology may be used by first responders and industrial workers to operate tools and robots without using their hands in hazardous or high-motion situations. Even under turbulent conditions, it might allow remote controllers and divers to control underwater robots. The approach could improve the dependability of gesture-based controls in commonplace consumer gadgets, reports UC San Diego.

Professors Sheng Xu and Joseph Wang of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering's Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering collaborated on the project.

This is the first wearable human-machine interface that functions consistently under a variety of motion disturbances, as far as the researchers are aware. It can therefore adapt to how individuals move in real life.

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The device is a cotton wristband with a soft electrical patch adhered to it. It combines a Bluetooth microprocessor, a stretchable battery, and motion and muscle sensors into a small, multi-layered system. A composite dataset of actual motions and situations, ranging from sprinting and shaking to the motion of ocean waves, was used to train the system. A specially designed deep-learning framework receives and processes signals from the arm, eliminates interference, deciphers the gesture, and sends a real-time instruction to operate a machine, like a robotic arm.

“This advancement brings us closer to intuitive and robust human-machine interfaces that can be deployed in daily life,” Chen said.

Several dynamic circumstances were used to test the system. The device was used by the subjects to operate a robotic arm while they were running, subjected to a variety of disruptions, and exposed to high-frequency vibrations. The Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which replicated both lab-generated and actual sea motion, was used to evaluate the device under simulated ocean conditions. The system consistently provided precise, low-latency performance.

This research was initially motivated by the notion of assisting military divers in controlling underwater robotics. However, the scientists quickly discovered that motion-related interference wasn't limited to underwater settings. It is a prevalent issue in the wearable technology industry that has long restricted how well these systems function in daily life.

“This work establishes a new method for noise tolerance in wearable sensors,” Chen said. “It paves the way for next-generation wearable systems that are not only stretchable and wireless, but also capable of learning from complex environments and individual users.”

AT CES2026, JBL introduced five new pairs of earbuds across three different lines. First up are the Endurance Zone and Endurance Pace, two open-ear sports headphones from JBL's renowned Endurance series. These versions are made especially for athletes, allowing users to workout comfortably while maintaining unwavering performance and awareness. The JBL Sense Pro and JBL Sense Lite, two ear hook-style open earbuds with superior sound and comfort, are part of the brand's upcoming OpenSound portfolio. Lastly, the Soundgear CLIPS, ear clip-style earphones that also function as a fashion item, will double the size of the current Soundgear roster, which only includes the Soundgear Sense earbuds.

JBL Endurance Series

Endurance Zone

Like the brand's well-known Peak earbuds, the Endurance Zone earbuds use JBL OpenSound technology and a secure ear hook design with an adjustable memory wire for a snug, flexible fit. With an IP68 certification, a durable design, and a 32-hour battery life, they are designed to withstand any weather or exercise. You may even adjust the touch controls to your preferences with the JBL Headphones app. The Zones will retail for $179.95 this month on the company’s website and are available in white or black with gray, reports Christina Buff in Mashable.

Endurance Pace

The titanium memory wire neckband of the Pace open earbuds allows them to bend and flex without ever losing their shape, providing an even more secure fit for intense exercises. They are IP68-rated for sweatproof and waterproof protection, just like the Zone earphones. With directional audio and strong bass, OpenSound technology makes sure your music strikes strongly while maintaining your awareness of your surrounds. Although the battery lasts for a respectable 10 hours, you can extend it by four hours if necessary with a 10-minute Speed Charge. The Endurance Pace open earbuds are only available in black and will retail for $89.95 on JBL website this month.

JBL OpenSound Series

Sense Pro

The Sense Pros, the best open-ear headphones in JBL's collection, are designed for audiophiles who nevertheless wish to stay aware of their surroundings. With 16.2mm drivers, they employ cutting-edge air conduction technology and an Adaptive Bass Boost Algorithm for superior sound quality. In addition to having four microphones and JBL Voice Pickup Sensor technology for clear calls in noisy environments, they are designed for busy lifestyles. Spatial sound, wireless charging, and a battery life of up to 38 hours are further benefits. In March 2026, the JBL Sense Pro will retail for $199.95 in black or white.

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Sense Lite

The Sense Lites are essentially a scaled-down version of the Sense Pros, with more straightforward functions and looks. You will still have four microphones for clear calls, configurable touch controls, and Adaptive Bass Boost for strong sound in a sleek, comfy form that won't block your ear canals. The case holds somewhat less of a charge at 24 hours compared to 30, but the battery life is essentially the same. You will also save $50 with the reduced features. In March 2026, the JBL Sense Lite will retail for $149.95 in black, white, or purple.

JBL Soundgear CLIPS

The Soundgear CLIPS complement the current Sense earbuds in the Soundgear series. Like the Shokz OpenDots One, the CLIPS are the most stylish of the group and have a lightweight design that clips to your ear like an earring cuff. They are also available in four translucent colors. Your calls and music will stay private thanks to its SonicArc design, which places the speaker for improved bass performance with reduced sound leakage. You won't even notice that the Soundgear CLIPS aren't in your ear canals thanks to the Adaptive Bass Boost algorithm and four AI-enhanced microphones. In March 2026, JBL Soundgear CLIPS will retail for $149.95 in metallic copper, blue, purple, and white hues.

Northwestern University researchers have developed a wireless device that utilizes light to send information straight into the brain, marking a significant advancement in neurobiology and bioelectronics. Instead of using the body's conventional sensory pathways, the technology sends impulses directly to neurons.

The soft, flexible device rests on the head and fits under the scalp. From this position, it activates particular groups of neurons across the cortex by sending precisely regulated light patterns through the bone.

Light-Based Brain Signals in Animal Models

In order to excite specific populations of neurons deep within the brains of mice models, researchers employed small, precisely timed bursts of light. (These neurons have been genetically altered to react to light.) The mice rapidly acquired the ability to decipher specific patterns as significant indicators. According to Science Daily, the animals used the incoming information to make decisions and successfully complete behavioral tasks even in the absence of voice, sight, or touch.

Numerous medical applications may be supported by this technology in the future. Potential applications include manipulating robotic limbs, delivering artificial inputs for future hearing or vision prosthesis, aiding rehabilitation following injury or stroke, and altering pain perception without the need for medication.

Creating New Brain Signals With Micro-LED Technology

"Our brains are constantly turning electrical activity into experiences, and this technology gives us a way to tap into that process directly," said Northwestern neurobiologist Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, who led the experimental portion of the study. "This platform lets us create entirely new signals and see how the brain learns to use them. It brings us just a little bit closer to restoring lost senses after injuries or disease while offering a window into the basic principles that allow us to perceive the world."

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John A. Rogers, a leading figure in bioelectronics and head of the technology development, said, "Developing this device required rethinking how to deliver patterned stimulation to the brain in a format that is both minimally invasive and fully implantable. By integrating a soft, conformable array of micro-LEDs -- each as small as a single strand of human hair -- with a wirelessly powered control module, we created a system that can be programmed in real time while remaining completely beneath the skin, without any measurable effect on natural behaviors of the animals. It represents a significant step forward in building devices that can interface with the brain without the need for burdensome wires or bulky external hardware. It's valuable both in the immediate term for basic neuroscience research and in the longer term for addressing health challenges in humans."

Training the Brain to Recognize Synthetic Patterns

The team used mice with light-responsive neurons in their cortex to test the device. The animals were trained to link a specific stimulation pattern to a reward, which is typically found at a designated port in a testing chamber.

The implant worked like tapping a coded message straight into the brain by delivering a predetermined pattern across four cortical regions during a series of studies. Among a variety of options, the mice were trained to recognize this target pattern. They found the right artificial signal and navigated to the right port to be rewarded.

"By consistently selecting the correct port, the animal showed that it received the message," Wu said. "They can't use language to tell us what they sense, so they communicate through their behavior."

Future Development and Wider Applications

The team intends to test increasingly complex patterns and find out how many different signals the brain can consistently learn now that they have shown that the brain can interpret patterned light stimulation as meaningful information. Future iterations of the gadget might include more LEDs, closer spacing between them, larger arrays that cover more cortex, and light wavelengths that reach deeper into tissue.

Columbia University researchers developed a postage stamp-sized silicon implant, called the BISC (Biological Interface System to Cortex), that reads brain signals and uses AI to decode them in real-time, allowing paralyzed individuals to control computers, send messages (like "emails"), and operate devices just by thinking, offering high-bandwidth, wireless brain-computer communication that's smaller, safer, and more powerful than previous methods.

"Most implantable systems are built around a canister of electronics that occupies enormous volumes of space inside the body," says Ken Shepard, who led the project’s engineering, and is Lau Family Professor of Electrical Engineering, professor of biomedical engineering, and professor of neurological sciences at Columbia University.

Shepard is on a team of researchers from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science and Stanford’s Enigma Project whose remarkable new BCI – the Biological Interface System to Cortex (BISC) – may offer permanent liberation, reports New Atlas.

Brett Youngerman, a Columbia assistant professor of neurological surgery and primary clinical collaborator, believes that the BISC is a significant improvement for patients who require somatic relief that a BCI should be able to deliver.

“The key to effective brain-computer interface devices is to maximize the information flow to and from the brain,” says Youngerman, “while making the device as minimally invasive in its surgical implantation as possible. BISC surpasses previous technology on both fronts."

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According to Youngerman, the paper-thin BISC can be inserted through a minimally invasive incision in the skull and slid directly onto the surface of the brain in the subdural space. Even better, the BISC has neither wires nor brain-penetrating electrodes, an improvement that reduces “tissue reactivity and signal degradation over time.

What, then, is the key to BISC's excellent design? BISC's future of mass production is made possible by semiconductors, a tried-and-true technology and manufacturing process.

"Semiconductor technology has made this possible,” says Shepard, because semiconductors allow miniaturization that shrinks the processing might of computers from the volume of multiple bank vaults to size of a single wallet. “We are now doing the same for medical implantables, allowing complex electronics to exist in the body while taking up almost no space."

The stamp-sized BISC can be implanted through a tiny incision in the skull because of its small size and thinness (despite including analog components for recording and stimulation, a wireless power circuit and power management, a radio transmitter, and digital control electronics). With a throughput of 100 Mbps, which is 100 times higher than any competing wireless BCI, its external relay station may link the BISC to any computer.

The BISC recognizes body movements, sensory data, brain states, and even intent by decoding high-bandwidth recordings using AI models. As Shepard explains, “By integrating everything on one piece of silicon, we've shown how brain interfaces can become smaller, safer, and dramatically more powerful.”

Motorola used CES 2026 to discreetly test the waters in the nascent AI companion hardware industry by showcasing a simple wearable that is intended to serve as a constant companion rather than a fully functional smart device. The product was introduced by Lenovo at its CES-related Lenovo World Tour events.

The device itself is compact and simple, more akin to a bulky pendant than a conventional device. It is suspended from a delicate necklace chain and has a shiny, pearl-like shell with gently rounded edges. A small camera lens and sensor array are placed at one end, while the Motorola emblem is subtly placed toward the center. There are no apparent buttons or displays, save from a small speaker slit and tiny pinhole microphones.

According to Mashable, Motorola stressed that the wearable is only an early proof-of-concept. The gadget, which is powered by Motorola's Qira AI assistant, is intended to function in concert with a paired smartphone rather than on its own.

During demos, the wearable summarized data, recognized and described items in the user's field of vision, and started navigation tasks by opening apps on a connected phone. In one instance, the device launched Google Maps and entered a route on its own, demonstrating a restricted type of agentic behavior as opposed to straightforward verbal responses.

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Without committing to a release date, Motorola seems to be gauging industry and consumer response. The wearable is still a long way from being commercially available, the business stated, indicating that any further developments will probably depend on market preparedness and technological advancement.

An exoskeleton created by academics at Peking University may eventually give divers a much-needed boost to their flutter kicks. The gadget may help extend the life of scuba tanks by relieving some of the strain of underwater swimming.

Although the action appears to be rather serene and soothing when one watches a diver glide through the water beneath the sea's surface, the technique truly works the legs, which are the largest muscle groups in the body. A diver's tank supplies the oxygen needed for all that muscle contraction. The typical lifespan of oxygen for a diver using an 80-cubic-foot tank at a depth of 65.6 feet is between 35 and 50 minutes, reports New Atlas.

Rather than concentrating on breathing apparatus, the PU researchers adopted a novel strategy to increase the amount of time a swimmer could stay beneath on a single scuba tank: reducing the energy used during swimming and, consequently, the oxygen required by the diver.

Their exoskeleton is made up of several components. The diver's back is equipped with two sealed motor units. These are attached to pliable Bowden cables that descend to lightweight handcuffs on the diver's shanks and thighs. The complete device, which mounts outside a diver's wetsuit, is stabilized by a waist strap.  The diver's back bears the majority of the system's weight, which is around 9 kg (20 lb).

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The sensors included into the system known as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), which relay the location of the legs to the motor, are the source of the exoskeleton's true magic. This enables the motor to detect the location of the diver's legs during the flutter kick and modify the force applied to the Bowden cables as necessary. The motor engages and helps with the motion during the kick's downstroke because of an integrated clutch. To prevent the device from interfering with the diver's recovery motion during the upstroke, the motor is disabled.

Six qualified divers were given an exoskeleton by the researchers to test the system in a 50-meter (164-foot) swimming pool at a depth of two meters (6.6 feet).  Each diver used a flutter kick to accomplish three 100-meter (328-foot) underwater swims, both with and without the exoskeleton and with and without its power.  The test showed remarkable results, with a 22.7% decrease in air intake and a slightly over 20% reduction in quadriceps and calf activity.

The researchers say more testing is needed to further refine the exoskeleton.

"Our work provides a reference for the design and assessment of future underwater assistive devices, with the potential to strengthen the connection between humans and the ocean and to broaden the horizons of exploration,” the researchers said.