Both American and European electronic entertainment rating boards are hesitant to classify video game loot box microtransactions as gambling.
Author: Nate Church
Psychologist: Korean Law Restricting Minors’ Access to Internet Provides Little Benefit
Stetson University’s Dr. Chris Ferguson argues South Korea’s law regarding the Internet usage of minors has had negligible positive effects on their health in comparison to its heavy constraint on personal freedoms.
OpenCritic to Warn Consumers of Video Games with Predatory ‘Loot Box’ Purchases
OpenCritic, the review aggregator that made waves with its unweighted and inclusive approach, is looking into informing consumers if a game contains microtransaction loot boxes.
REVIEW: ‘Ruiner’ Is a Brief, Brilliant Bloodbath That Will Thrill Old-School Shooter Fans
Developer Reikon Games’ Ruiner is a gruesome tour through a vivid cyberpunk dystopia, dripping with neon-soaked style, that will satisfy fans of old-school isometric shooters.
Researchers Develop ‘Smart’ Bandage That Can Speed Healing
Researchers from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are developing a smart bandage that can release medication and speed the healing process. These “intelligent bandages” are made from cotton coated with an electrically conductive substance, then further surrounded by a gel capable of storing medications like antibiotics or painkillers. The individual fibers are controlled by a device no larger than a postage stamp affixed to the bandage, receiving signals from your mobile device. The bandage heals wounds three times as fast as normal. Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Nebraska Ali Tamayol elaborated in a press release: This is the first bandage that is capable of dose-dependent drug release. You can release multiple drugs with different release profiles. That’s a big advantage in comparison with other systems. What we did here was come up with a strategy for building a bandage from the bottom up. Tamayol said that this technology “can be applied to many different areas of biomedical engineering and medicine,” which is good news for people suffering from long term or chronic wounds. Right now, there are an estimated 25 million Americans in need of just such a solution. Perhaps even more notably, such treatment could be invaluable
Report: Chief of Staff John Kelly’s Personal Cell Phone Compromised
According to three U.S. government officials, the White House Chief of Staff’s phone may have been compromised as far back as December 2016.
Study: Public Fears Growing Dominance of Robots
More than 4,000 Americans were surveyed about the ever-increasing presence of robots in our daily lives, with over 70% expressing concern over robots replacing humans.
Mattel Cancels Development of AI Child Monitor
After public bipartisan outcry, Mattel has decided to cease plans for production of the artificial intelligence children’s assistant “Aristotle.”
Honda Wants to Rescue Disaster Victims with Robots
During this year’s International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Vancouver, Canada, Honda offered the general public a glimpse into the future of disaster response.
Former Google Employee Engineering His Own A.I. Religion
Former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski is emerging from the shadow of a self-driving lawsuit to create a robot god.