Those who indulge in trading card games know that building the best deck is the key to victory. What exactly that entails is a mystery to us muggles, but keeping track of your cards is a vital part of the process, one that this DIY card scanner (original German; English translation) seeks to automate.
At its heart, [Fraens]’ card scanner is all about paper handling, which is always an engineering task fraught with peril. Cards like those for Magic: The Gathering and other TCGs are meant to be handled by human hands, and automating the task of flipping through them presents some challenges. [Fraens] uses a pair of motorized 3D-printed rollers with O-rings to form a conveyor belt that can pull one card at a time off the bottom of a deck. An adjustable retaining roller made from the most adorable linear bearing we’ve ever seen ensures that only one card at a time is pulled from the hopper onto an imaging platen. An adjustable mount holds a smartphone to take a picture of the card, which is fed into an app that extracts all the details and categorizes the cards in the deck.
Aside from the card handling mechanism, there are some pretty slick details to this build. The first is that [Fraens] noticed that the glossy finish on some cards interfered with scanning, leading him to add a diffused LED ringlight to the rig. If an image isn’t scannable, the light goes through a process of dimming and switching colors until a good scan is achieved. Also, to avoid the need to modify the existing TCG deck management app, [Fraens] added a microphone to the control side of the scanner that listens for the sounds the app makes when it scans cards. And if Magic isn’t your thing, the basic mechanism could easily be modified to scan everything from business cards to old family photos.
Audio startup Krisp on Wednesday said it is launching a new feature that uses AI to change a user’s accent during calls. The company is initially rolling out support for changing Indian English accents to U.S. English. The startup says the accent conversion process preserves the speaker’s voice and only switches phonemes to match American […]
There's something remarkable about a boat travelling uphill. Canal locks are a simple yet ingenious system that has made it possible for centuries.
How a Canal Lock Works
The humble lock gate has more to it than first appears. Here's how one of the most common types works.
For a boat approaching a lock from below and meeting a closed gate:
1. Bring the water to your level
Close the top gate to seal the lock. Then, open the sluice (or paddle) in the lower gate — often a sliding panel — by cranking it with the ever-handy windlass (a simple metal crank that fits onto square spindles on the lock mechanism).
2. Enter and seal the gate
Once the water is at the lower level, you can push the giant counterweights to open the gate and steer the boat inside. Don't nudge too far forward, or you'll bump the cill, a stone ledge at the top end of the lock. Close the gate behind you and shut the sluice to stop water escaping.
3. Raise the water level
With the lock sealed, open the top sluices. These often feed through side channels or culverts, letting water in gently from upstream, usually below the surface, to reduce turbulence. You'll gradually float upward as the lock fills.
4. Head upstream
Once the water level matches the upper pound (the upper stretch of water), open the top gates, close the sluices, and cruise on your way.
The same principles, in reverse, work for approaching the lock from above.
As you can imagine, operating locks is much harder work if you're boating solo.
Water Supply for Canals
One thing that makes all this possible is a steady supply of water. You can't rise in a lock without water to fill it. So, canal builders had to ensure the canal had enough water to stay navigable and to keep the locks functioning.
For some of the London canals, the builders created huge reservoirs with long feeder channels to ensure the canals had enough water. In some places, water is pumped back uphill to be reused at the top of a flight.
Canal water doesn't flow much — it's a closed system in many places. I'd heard that, in principle, it only takes one lock's worth of water for a boat to travel down a whole flight of locks: each lockful of water carries the boat one step down and ends up in the next pound. So, a boat going down several locks essentially transfers a single chamber's worth of water from the top to the bottom.
But in practice, how much water gets used depends on boat traffic from either side, whether you meet locks full or empty, and water-saving features such as side pools. In my research, it wasn't as simple as it seemed.
The Mitre Gate
Holding back tonnes of water is no small task. Mitre gates are angled to meet, pointing upstream and forming a shallow V. This shape means the water pressure pushes the gates closed, creating a tight seal — the water effectively locks itself in.
A stone arch bridge uses a similar principle—compression strengthens the structure under pressure.
Leonardo da Vinci sketched an early design for the mitre gate around 1500. The design still looks like a modern lock gate. Not bad for an invention 500+ years ago.
Understandable Engineering at Large
Canal locks are like playing with water in the bath but on a massive scale. They're inherently satisfying to watch and operate. At their peak, they revolutionised transport across much of Europe and beyond.
The same basic idea still operates in the Panama Canal, where giant ships are lifted 26 metres over the isthmus simply by filling and draining the lock chambers in sequence.
The dimensions of a lock determine the size of the boat that can pass through. Panamax is the maximum size a ship can be to fit through the Panama Canal—a constraint that shapes shipbuilding worldwide.
In the UK, Tardebigge Locks has 30 locks to raise boats 67m over just 3.6km. Not to be outdone, Caen Hill Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal has 29 Locks, 16 of which are in a straight line, rising 72m over 2.1km.
For a single, remarkable lock, have a look at Falkirk Wheel lock in Scotland. It's the "one and only rotating boat lift", which replaces 11 locks with a 2 min rotating journey lifting boats through the air.
Full disclosure:
We recently took a canal boat trip on London's Regents Canal, including a visit to London's Canal Museum.
Far from its industrial heyday, the whole place was buzzing with people out for leisure up and down the length of the journey. The towpath—horses towed the barges by walking alongside—was packed with walkers, joggers and cyclists.
And it never failed to fascinate when the boats moved up or down a lock.
Sometimes cell phones die sooner than expected or electric vehicles don't have enough charge to reach their destination. The rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in these and other devices typically last hours or days between charging. However, with repeated use, batteries degrade and need to be recharged more frequently.
A moment’s inattention is all it takes to gather the information needed to make a physical copy of a key. It’s not necessarily an easy process, though, so if pen testing is your game, something like this Flipper Zero key copying toolchain can make the process quicker and easier when the opportunity presents itself.
Of course, we’re not advocating for any illegal here; this is just another tool for your lock-sports bag of tricks. And yes, there are plenty of other ways to accomplish this, but using a Flipper Zero to attack a strictly mechanical lock is kind of neat. The toolchain posted by [No-Lock216] starts with an app called KeyCopier, which draws a virtual key blank on the Flipper Zero screen. The app allows you to move the baseline for each pin to the proper depth, quickly recording the bitting for the key. Later, the bitting can be entered into an online app called keygen which, along with information on the brand of lock and its warding, can produce an STL file suitable for downloading and printing.
Again, there are a ton of ways to make a copy of a key if you have physical access to it, and the comments of the original Reddit post were filled with suggestions amusingly missing the entire point of this. Yes, you can get a key cut at any hardware store for a buck or two that will obviously last a lot longer than a 3D-printed copy. But if you only have a few seconds to gather the data from the key, an app like KeyCopier could be really convenient. Personally, we’d find a smartphone app handier, but if you’ve got a Flipper, why not leverage it?
As the dictionary will tell you, the “blockchain” is a decentralised distributed database that stores transaction records as a sequence of blocks with hashes of the previous block, timestamps, and transaction data.
Sounds complicated. But don’t be intimidated by the complexity of the blockchain or write it off as a boring area for IT geeks and mathematicians. Blockchain technology is likely to improve the lives of ordinary people in Egypt very soon.
Blockchain - Is It Something About Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies? Not Only
Many have heard the word “blockchain” in the context of the cryptocurrency world. And it’s true - this technology was first seriously applied in 2008 when the revolutionary Bitcoin technology was proposed. What’s good about cryptocurrencies?
They can be used to quickly pay for any service in the world, stored securely without a single intermediary; they continue to grow rapidly in price, are easily converted into the currency of any country, and allow you to remain completely anonymous.
It is known that to generate cryptocurrency, you need to mine - use electricity and computing power. You can also buy it on the stock exchange - at a higher rate and with a commission. Fortunately, today, Egypt has the opportunity to earn any cryptocurrency absolutely easily and legally - thanks to the MelBet EG betting site.
There, you can bet on matches with the best odds and earn money on football, squash, boxing, tennis, and dozens of other sports - and collect your winnings not only in EGP but also in any cryptocurrency. But, of course, the use of blockchain is not limited to just crypto tokens.
Why Do We Need Blockchain at All?
Without many buzzwords, blockchain is needed to ensure authenticity. What verification methods have been used before? For example, wax seals on envelopes. Or government forms - with watermarks and a complex seal. You can also use trusted intermediaries - for example, a bank - if we are talking about finances. After all, it is unlikely that a bank will betray its reputation for the sake of stealing your transfer of 1000 Egyptian pounds.
And yet, all this is vulnerable. Seals or signatures can be forged (besides, you can’t transfer them to the Internet). Government forms - too, and the state can fall into a crisis or simply cancel old obligations. And even with independent banks, for example, there may be problems - after all, they are controlled by specific people. Blockchain solves all these problems. It is an open register, the records that are available to everyone (for example, you can find out the balance of any cryptocurrency account) - but which cannot be falsified in any way.
How Does Blockchain Work? Principles of the Most Secure Verification Method
Roughly speaking, the blockchain protects against counterfeiting in two ways at once: a large number of witnesses and an impartial mathematical algorithm. The blockchain itself is a database of records with information that is simultaneously owned by all computers in the network. All computers constantly communicate with each other and collectively check every change in the blockchain.
Let's say you have 0.01 BTC to transfer to someone else. Then, you publicly declare this to all computers in the network. Now you need to confirm this operation somehow - control that you have these funds. This requires an independent, honest computer witness. Each time, it is chosen randomly, or rather, it wins a competition for the right to become a witness.
The essence of this competition is to be the first to solve a complex mathematical problem (doing such exercises is called “mining”). All other network participants will check the answer. This can be done by anyone who has a copy of the blockchain database (checking the answer is easy, but calculating it yourself is very difficult). Only after this will the “universal” blockchain be updated - and information about your transaction will appear.
Why Can’t Blockchain Be Faked?
Without many buzzwords, blockchain is needed to ensure authenticity. What verification methods have been used before? For example, wax seals on envelopes. Or government forms - with watermarks and a complex seal. You can also use trusted intermediaries - for example, a bank- if we are talking about finances. After all, it is unlikely that a bank will betray its reputation for the sake of stealing your transfer of 1000 Egyptian pounds.
And yet, all this is vulnerable. Seals or signatures can be forged (besides, you can’t transfer them to the Internet). Government forms - too, and the state can fall into a crisis or simply cancel old obligations. And even with independent banks, for example, there may be problems - after all, they are controlled by specific people. Blockchain solves all these problems. It is an open register, the records that are available to everyone (for example, you can find out the balance of any cryptocurrency account) - but which cannot be falsified in any way.
How Does Blockchain Work? Principles of the Most Secure Verification Method
Blockchain application services are not limited to cryptocurrencies and financial transactions. Remember the example of seals and government forms or intermediary organisations. Wherever they are needed, verification is needed, and therefore, blockchain:
● Confirmation of ownership - for real estate or for an art piece you bought, for example (even digital, as well as for your personal copyrights;
● Gambling - in games and entertainment that are held not for the sake of virtual items and achievements but with real cash prizes, fairness control is especially important; for example, on MelBet, all top online games have the function of independent verification of the fairness of mechanics;
● Issuance of rights and licensing - thanks to the blockchain, it will no longer be possible to buy a fake driver's license or a diploma of higher education;
● Security systems - independent registries can be used in security systems and wherever it is necessary to protect against counterfeiting of information, for example, in IoT devices;
Blockchain systems, in fact, technically prohibit lies and forgeries - therefore, the potential scope of their application is huge.
Blockchain of the Future: Promising Sectors for Using Chain Ledgers
So far, 90% of blockchain technologies are concentrated in the financial sector. However, this does not mean that it will always be like this. Here are some areas where we will see a blockchain breakthrough in the near future - including in Egyptian markets:
● Control of product release and supply chains - if there are goods with license numbers - equipment, medicines, etc., no one will be able to make a counterfeit and enter fake numbers into the database;
● Fair political elections - with blockchain, it will not be possible to miscalculate the results or steal someone else's voting rights;
● Gaming and e-sports - even here, there is an application for blockchain if you want to create an independent system, for example, with rewarding players without taking into account the decision of a single centre;
As for eSports - do not think that the maximum reward in games can be experience points or skins (and it is not even about whether the blockchain has already been implemented or not, but about the emergence of high-quality online betting services. On the Melbet website, bets on eSports tournaments have long been available, from the League of Legends to CS. Of course, winnings can be collected in Egyptian pounds and any of the 20+ popular types of crypto tokens.
Blockchain Pioneers: Egypt's Top Users
Egypt is actively implementing blockchain technologies - both at the private and state levels. For example, the Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) system has been implemented at customs for several years now, and it uses blockchain to increase transparency and security in customs procedures. The system is involved in organising the transfer of documents between carriers and state customs. Service has become faster for all users, except for fraudsters - now they are banned from crossing the border.
Blockchain technologies are mandatory in Melbet betting software. The largest Egyptian betting platform is number 1 in terms of customer security - no one can access your profile and account. Blockchain also allows you to quickly and securely transfer data from sports informants without the risk of counterfeiting, providing the best service for sports analysts, as well as making secure payments of winnings on bets for clients anywhere in the world.
Prospects: What Will the Introduction of Blockchain Bring to Egyptian Reality?
Apparently, in the coming years, we will see blockchain at the service of the Egyptian government, logisticians, and carriers in medical databases. Of course, financiers will continue to implement blockchain.
At the very least, blockchain will reduce the costs of information security - extra money can be redirected to improve the quality of activities in any other area. In the long-term, blockchain can completely change all Internet services and our ways of working with any values - from information to real wealth.
Le domaine de l'informatique quantique présente désormais chaque mois des nouveautés toutes plus impressionnantes les unes que les autres. Des chercheurs chinois prennent part à la course en...
Des chercheurs américains ont mesuré une infime tension électrique en exploitant le champ magnétique terrestre dans le mouvement de rotation de la Terre. Cette découverte, bien que modeste,...
Nvidia has seen its fortunes soar in recent years as its AI-accelerating GPUs have become worth their weight in gold. Most people use their Nvidia GPUs for games, but why not both? Nvidia has a new AI you can run at the same time, having just released its experimental G-Assist AI. It runs locally on your GPU to help you optimize your PC and get the most out of your games. It can do some neat things, but Nvidia isn't kidding when it says this tool is experimental.
G-Assist is available in the Nvidia desktop app, and it consists of a floating overlay window. After invoking the overlay, you can either type or speak to G-Assist to check system stats or make tweaks to your settings. You can ask basic questions like, "How does DLSS Frame Generation work?" but it also has control over some system-level settings.
By calling up G-Assist, you can get a rundown of how your system is running, including custom data charts created on the fly by G-Assist. You can also ask the AI to tweak your machine, for example, optimizing the settings for a particular game or toggling on or off a setting. G-Assist can even overclock your GPU if you so choose, complete with a graph of expected performance gains.
More than 40,000 bridges in the United States are deemed structurally deficient, and as many as 221,000 are deemed in need of repair, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Florida International University (FIU) researchers have developed a system that could play a key role in restoring them.
From virtual reality to rehabilitation and communication, haptic technology has revolutionized the way humans interact with the digital world. While early haptic devices focused on single-sensory cues like vibration-based notifications, modern advancements have paved the way for multisensory haptic devices that integrate various forms of touch-based feedback, including vibration, skin stretch, pressure, and temperature.
During a livestream on Tuesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the first major upgrade to ChatGPT’s image-generation capabilities in over a year. ChatGPT can now leverage the company’s GPT-4o model to natively create and modify images and photos. GPT-4o has long underpinned the AI-powered chatbot platform, but until now, the model has been able to […]
The Arc Prize Foundation, a nonprofit co-founded by prominent AI researcher François Chollet, announced in a blog post on Monday that it has created a new, challenging test to measure the general intelligence of leading AI models. So far, the new test, called ARC-AGI-2, has stumped most models. “Reasoning” AI models like OpenAI’s o1-pro and […]
OpenAI released updates Monday for Advanced Voice Mode, its AI voice feature that enables real-time conversations in ChatGPT, to make the AI assistant more personable and interrupt users less frequently. Manuka Stratta, an OpenAI post-training researcher, announced the changes in a video posted Monday to the company’s official social media channels. OpenAI’s latest update aims […]
Genetics firm 23andMe, maker of the once-popular take-home DNA testing kits, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, casting a looming shadow over the extremely sensitive user data it's still storing on its servers.
The company, which was founded almost two decades ago, has been in severely dire financial traits for years now, struggling to effectively monetize its service, which most customers will only buy once.
Now, its cofounder and CEO Anne Wojcicki — a die-hard for the company, who has made several takeover bids — has resigned, leaving behind a shell of its former self.
And that could spell a data privacy disaster of unprecedented proportions as 23andMe is more vulnerable than ever to being snatched up by another company — along with its treasure chest of DNA data.
In a "consumer alert" to California residents, the state's attorney general Rob Bonta implored them to invoke "their rights" and direct "23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company."
As the Washington Post columnist Geoffrey Fowler points out in a helpful piece, it takes just a minute to delete your data from the website.
Besides the threat of a takeover, consumer data could already be vulnerable to hacking. Case in point, the personal data of nearly seven million customers was exposed for a whopping five months in 2023, greatly undermining the company's reputation.
23andMe maintains that everything is fine, promising that there will be no changes to how it manages and protects people's data, as CBS News reports.
But that shouldn't dissuade users from deleting their data before it lands in the wrong hands. Besides, it's not just their own DNA that's at stake.
"If you gave your data to 23andMe, you also gave the genetic data of your parents, your siblings, your children, and even distant kin who did not consent to that," privacy expert Carissa Veliz told the BBC in November.
In the meantime, Wojcicki is still hoping to pick up the pieces.
"While I am disappointed that we have come to this conclusion and my bid was rejected, I am supportive of the company and I intend to be a bidder," she tweeted on Monday. " I have resigned as CEO of the company so I can be in the best position to pursue the company as an independent bidder."
"Our foundation was the trust and respect of our customers, and they were always the guiding light on how we made decisions," she added. "If I am fortunate enough to secure the company’s assets through the restructuring process, I remain committed to our long-term vision of being a global leader in genetics and establishing genetics as a fundamental part of healthcare ecosystems worldwide."
Des chercheurs de l'Université de Californie du Sud ont mis au point une technologie capable de capturer le dioxyde de carbone et de le transformer en matériau de construction durable. Inspirée des récifs coralliens, cette avancée promet des bâtiments à bilan carbone négatif.
D'ailleurs, la méthode pourrait profondément modifier l'industrie du bâtiment, un secteur responsable d'environ 11 % des émissions mondiales de CO₂. Grâce à cette innovation, il serait possible de construire des structures solides tout en réduisant l'impact environnemental.
Des coraux à l'impression 3D : un procédé biomimétique révolutionnaire
Les récifs coralliens ont inspiré cette technologie, car ils transforment naturellement le dioxyde de carbone en calcaire. Par photosynthèse, les coraux capturent le CO₂ atmosphérique et le combinent à des ions calcium pour créer des structures minérales. Les chercheurs ont imité ce mécanisme en imprimant en 3D des échafaudages polymères recouverts d'une couche conductrice. Ces structures sont ensuite plongées dans une solution de chlorure de calcium et soumises à des réactions électrochimiques précises.
Le CO₂ devient du carbonate de calcium solide et résistant
Une fois immergées, les structures reçoivent un flux de dioxyde de carbone, qui se décompose en ions bicarbonate. Ces ions réagissent avec le calcium présent dans la solution pour former du carbonate de calcium, un minéral très résistant. Ainsi, les pores du polymère imprimé se remplissent progressivement. Ceci en formant un composite minéral-polymère dense et mécaniquement robuste. Ce matériau pourrait être utilisé dans des structures porteuses de grande échelle, comme des murs ou des colonnes.
Un matériau résistant au feu avec un mécanisme d'extinction intégré
Lors de tests de résistance au feu, les matériaux fabriqués ont maintenu leur intégrité malgré 30 minutes d'exposition aux flammes. Le carbonate de calcium libère alors de petites quantités de CO₂. Cela contribue notamment à éteindre naturellement l'incendie. Cette propriété unique constitue un atout majeur pour les applications dans la construction, notamment dans les zones à risque d'incendie. Les chercheurs soulignent que cette fonction de sécurité est entièrement intégrée au matériau, sans additif extérieur.
Un procédé durable, réparable et à empreinte carbone négative
Au-delà de sa performance technique, le matériau peut être réparé simplement par une réaction électrochimique à basse tension. Cela prolonge sa durée de vie tout en limitant les déchets liés au remplacement de composants endommagés. Après analyse du cycle de vie, l'équipe a prouvé que la capture de carbone dépasse les émissions générées lors de la fabrication. Le matériau offre donc un bilan carbone négatif, ce qui constitue un progrès majeur dans la lutte contre le réchauffement.
Vers une commercialisation rapide et un changement d'échelle
Les chercheurs ambitionnent désormais de commercialiser la technologie brevetée. Grâce à une approche modulaire, les éléments peuvent être assemblés en grandes structures prêtes à l'emploi. Cette méthode de fabrication pose les bases d'une nouvelle génération de bâtiments écologiques, capables de stocker du carbone au lieu d'en produire. Elle représente un tournant pour le secteur du bâtiment face à l'urgence climatique.
Google améliore son outil d’intelligence artificielle NotebookLM avec plusieurs nouvelles fonctionnalités, dont « Mind Map », un outil visuel de synthèse qui promet de transformer la façon dont les utilisateurs interagissent avec leurs documents. Qu’est-ce que NotebookLM ? NotebookLM est un assistant IA conçu par Google pour résumer, rechercher et analyser des bibliothèques d’informations. Il permet aux utilisateurs […]
Le constructeur chinois BYD veut rendre la recharge des véhicules électriques aussi rapide que celle des voitures thermiques. Sa nouvelle berline Han L promet d'ajouter jusqu'à 400 kilomètres d'autonomie en cinq minutes seulement. D'ailleurs, même si BYD reste discret sur les détails techniques, plusieurs sources confirment la faisabilité de cette performance. Une telle avancée pourrait transformer la perception des voitures électriques, longtemps freinée par le temps de recharge.
Une batterie LFP et une architecture à haute tension
Au cœur de cette prouesse se trouve une batterie lithium-fer-phosphate (LFP) de 83,2 kWh qui fonctionne à 945 volts. Cette chimie est connue pour sa stabilité thermique et sa sécurité, en plus de sa capacité à supporter des charges plus rapides. De plus, BYD utilise sa nouvelle technologie Blade 2.0, développée en interne, qui optimise encore les capacités de la cellule. Grâce à cette architecture et à l'expérience acquise sur les LFP, BYD atteint une puissance de charge pouvant aller jusqu'à 1 mégawatt.
Une recharge possible grâce à deux ports de 500 kW
Pour atteindre cette puissance, BYD a adopté une stratégie inédite : un double port de charge. Chaque port supporte jusqu'à 500 kW, permettant à la voiture de se connecter à deux chargeurs simultanément. Ainsi, cette approche « double canon » réduit la taille des câbles nécessaires, souvent volumineux et refroidis par liquide. Elle permet également une répartition plus sûre et plus stable de l'énergie pendant les sessions de recharge ultra-rapides.
Des chiffres impressionnants à relativiser
Selon BYD, cinq minutes suffisent pour ajouter 248 miles (400 km) d'autonomie. Cependant, ces chiffres reposent sur le cycle chinois CLTC, réputé trop optimiste. En réalité, selon des estimations ajustées, la recharge proposerait plutôt environ 257 kilomètres d'autonomie. Même ainsi, la performance reste remarquable, avec un passage de 16 % à 80 % en seulement 10 minutes.
Des infrastructures encore limitées, mais en expansion
Pour accompagner cette technologie, BYD prévoit d'installer plus de 4 000 bornes de recharge ultra-rapides en Chine. Toutefois, chaque borne nécessitera de lourds investissements pour adapter le réseau électrique à cette consommation. Et pour les marchés étrangers ? Il faudra encore attendre. Les véhicules BYD restent pénalisés par des droits de douane de 100 % aux États-Unis. Cela rend leur exportation difficile. Mais la technologie, elle, pourrait inspirer d'autres constructeurs.
Un signal fort pour l'avenir de la mobilité électrique
La course à la recharge rapide est lancée, et BYD veut clairement jouer un rôle de leader. Grâce à son expérience en batteries et à une approche innovante, l'entreprise pousse l'industrie vers une expérience de recharge proche des véhicules à essence. Avec des technologies comparables déjà en développement chez Lucid, Porsche ou Hyundai, cette avancée confirme que la recharge ultra-rapide deviendra bientôt une norme. Ce n'est plus qu'une question de temps avant de la voir se généraliser dans le monde.
Attending retail conferences is an excellent way for professionals to network, learn about emerging trends, and grow their business.
If you are in the retail industry, you may find this structured list of best US retail conferences in 2025 very handy. Each conference section includes location, dates, notable speakers and a brief overview of what to expect from the event in terms of both content and audio visual services.
NRF Retail’s Big Show 2025
Location & Dates
12th-14th January 2025 – Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City
Overview
The NRF Big Show is the world’s largest general retail conference with over 40,000 retail professionals gathering for three days of learning and networking. It features 175+ sessions from AI and digital transformation to customer experience and marketing.
Attendees range from C-level executives to tech entrepreneurs, making it a prime event for gaining broad retail insights. This year’s roster features industry leaders such as John Furner (Walmart) and Tommy Hilfiger.
Key Benefits
○ Networking: Throughout the event you can connect with top retail CEOs and brand leaders who will be showcasing their achievements and experience in omnichannel marketing, merchandising, and more.
○ Business Growth: You can test drive the latest technology and see how it can transform your business.
○ Special Programmes: NRF offers extras like a Startup Hub for new ventures, store tours around NYC to see retail innovation in action, and even an opening night party and concert.
○ Audio-Visual Experience: The Big Show’s keynote stage is legendary: gigantic LED screens, concert-quality sound, and dynamic lighting turn presentations into captivating experiences.
Shoptalk 2025
Location & Dates
25th-27th March 2025 – Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Overview
Shoptalk is a premier event for e-commerce and retail innovation. It brings together more than 10,000+ attendees ranging from established retail brands to startups. The event is known for covering the latest trends in retail technology.
The 2025 agenda covers everything from AI driven tech to the future of retail media and brand marketing. Past Shoptalk speakers have included leaders like Walmart’s Chief Product Officer and Target’s Chief Marketing Officer. A new addition in 2025 is “The New Market” programme connecting media buyers, tech firms, and agencies.
Key Benefits:
○ Content: Shoptalk is all about covering the cutting-edge industry trends. You’ll hear from retail CEOs and innovators about AI-based customer experience enhancement and new marketing strategies.
○ Networking: A standout feature is Shoptalk’s curated one-to-one “Meetup” networking programme, which facilitated over 75,000 15-minute meetings in the past year. Through double opt-in matchmaking, you can schedule personalised meetings with potential partners, clients and investors.
○ Business Growth: Retailers and brands are incentivised to attend with free or discounted passes so you will meet the mix of attendees from small startups to Fortune 500 brands.
○ Audio Visual Excellence: Expect huge screens and theatrical lighting on the main stage, slick video interludes, and live demos during talks.
eTail West 2025
Location & Dates
24th-27th February 2025 – JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, Palm Springs, California.
Overview
eTail West (a.k.a. eTail Palm Springs) is a long-running conference (since 1999) focused on e-commerce and marketing strategy. It gathers over 2,500 senior e-commerce and digital marketing leaders for four days.
The content is very practical and covers topics like customer loyalty programmes, performance marketing, UX optimisation, unified commerce, and leveraging AI in retail. Past eTail speakers have included the EVP of Walmart, the Head of Digital at H&M, and the CMO of Designer Shoe Warehouse.
Key Benefits
○ Insights: eTail is known for its tactical sessions. Speakers often share real-world results and “how we did it” playbooks that you can take home to your team.
○ Networking: There are workshops and small group discussions tailored for specific roles (e.g. CMOs, heads of CX), as well as social activities.
○ Business Growth: You can meet vendors offering the latest in AI driven analytics, email personalisation, payment solutions, etc. It’s a great opportunity to discover tools and partners to help scale your business.
○ Audio Visual Impact: All presentations and panel discussions are supported by professional AV setups. The result is engaging sessions where technology and marketing concepts are brought to life on stage.
Retail Innovation Conference & Expo
Location & Dates
5th-6th June 2025 – McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
Overview
The Retail Innovation Conference & Expo is a leading event for retail technology and innovation, covering how emerging tech can transform retail.
The 2025 conference will focus on modern technologies like AI, robotics, and new marketing strategies. RICE is a bit smaller and more focused than NRF’s Big Show, but it attracts a highly engaged audience and progressive retail brands. Attendees get to directly connect with solution providers and even see robotics and other tech demos up close.
Key Benefits
○ Content: If you’re looking to future-proof your retail business, RICE delivers concentrated insights on what’s next. You’ll gain a roadmap of which technologies are truly making an impact and how to implement them.
○ Hands On Experience: Attendees can explore startups and established tech vendors showcasing things like robotics, smart checkout systems, IoT devices, and more.
○ Business Growth: The event draws professionals ranging from tech savvy retail executives to digital product managers and tech entrepreneurs. You might meet a peer who already implemented a solution you’re considering, or find a partner to pilot a new concept.
○ Audio Visual Highlights: Given its tech focus, RICE makes heavy use of audio visual elements to showcase innovation. Keynotes often incorporate high definition videos of new tech in action, and expo booths use large displays and interactive screens to let attendees experience product interfaces.
CommerceNext Growth Show 2025
Location & Dates
24th-26th June 2025 – New York Hilton Midtown, New York City.
Overview
CommerceNext is a conference squarely focused on retail and e-commerce marketing, specifically customer acquisition and digital growth strategies.
It’s designed for marketing leaders (CMOs, CXOs, digital directors) from retailers and direct-to-consumer brands aiming to scale their business online. In 2025, the Growth Show will cover how to leverage data analytics, AI, and automation to optimise marketing ROI and customer experience.
Key Benefits
○ Content: This conference is all about actionable marketing insights. You’ll learn the latest in SEO/SEM, email and SMS marketing tactics, how to harness TikTok and emerging channels for retail.
○ Networking: CommerceNext brings together a concentrated group of retail marketing professionals. You can swap stories with peers facing similar challenges and brainstorm solutions.
○ Business Growth: Beyond content, you may meet technology providers in areas like martech, analytics, and e-commerce platforms suited to your needs.
○ Audio Visual Engagement: As a modern marketing event, CommerceNext leverages AV to make data and creative examples pop.
Are you passionate about something? Do you know something inside out where others barely give it a glance?
As a schoolboy, I thought I was into birds—until my dad and I stayed with some family friends who were truly into birding.
They had a powerful telescope trained on the birds at the feeder in their garden. They had crystal-clear binoculars we used on a bird walk, which showed me birds clearer and closer than I'd ever seen. They knew what birds to look for and had tape recordings of specific bird calls that brought them to nearby bushes. They talked us through trips they'd been around the world to spot rare and remarkable birds.
Spending time with them changed how I saw birds forever. It was impossible to be around them and not start to love birds.
There are classic disciplines for geekiness: science, maths, computers, birdwatching, plane spotting, model trains.
But over the years, I've seen people geek out about so much more: gardening, plants, pottery, DJ'ing, Pokemon, sport, skiing, cycling, endurance, beekeeping, writing, business, spreadsheets, coding, magic tricks, sailing, a musical instrument, nightclubs, restaurants, personal development, gaming, crypto, cooking, travel, film, thrillers, local history, deals, football boots, coaching, shopping, clothes, cars, building, cameras, art, museums, relationships, pets, insects, decorating, and on and on.
If you don't pay close attention to Premier League football, it might be boring, but if you follow every detail, it can be engrossing. I didn't think much of textiles, but I found it fascinating after spending an afternoon weaving in Laos.
One of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing is Take Notice. Being a geek is noticing everything about something. It can also Connect you with others and keep you Learning—two more of the five.
The word geek derives from a word meaning fool or freak as if it's foolish to devote so much attention and time to one area. But the truth is, as the physicist Richard Feynman says: "Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough."
And the writer Henry Miller wrote:
"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."
Some of us had "publicly being a geek about something" trained out of us at school. The challenges of trying to fit in, to look cool, to make ourselves less vulnerable, to conform to social stereotypes (pretty, sporty, funny...), and to avoid snarky comments. As I've gotten older and more confident in myself, it's easier to unashamedly be a geek about something. I still meet with sarcasm and raised eyebrows at times, but now I'm comfortable enough to brush it off (most of the time). I love this quote from Simon Pegg about it:
"Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It's basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating."
Let's embrace our inner geeks. Dive deep into what fascinates you.
Try not to dismiss others' passions until you've had a go at getting into depth yourself. Their joy could be just the same that you feel with something else.
Everyone's a geek about something. And that's wonderful.
This is a revised and expanded version of my original sketch, which had just a few passions. I've thought about it so much since I first heard the phrase—I couldn't remember where—that I thought it needed an update. And we had a blast talking about this on the podcast.
When putting together a draft of a Sketchplanations book, this was my first title idea (preview).
Related Ideas to Everyone's a Geek About Something
Microsoft is launching a research project to estimate the influence of specific training examples on the text, images, and other types of media that generative AI models create. That’s per a job listing dating back to December that was recently recirculated on LinkedIn. According to the listing, which seeks a research intern, the project will […]
Bigscreen launched orders for its upcoming Beyond 2 PC VR headset yesterday, which is boosting field-of-view and clarity thanks to the inclusion of a new pancake lens design. Now, the company says that within a mere 10 hours of sales going live, Beyond 2 has already outsold the original Beyond by a significant margin.
In a series of updates on X, Bigscreen revealed just how well Beyond 2 was doing among PC VR enthusiasts.
“In just the first 25 minutes, Beyond 2 outsold the first day of Beyond 1 sales. In the first hour, we’ve doubled Beyond 1 launch day sales.” Bigscreen said early yesterday.
As the day went on, the company released more info on sales performance of Beyond 2 and its eye-tracking variant, Beyond 2e. And the most recent stat is pretty staggering.
“Within 10 hours of launch…Beyond 2 has sold more than the first FOUR MONTHS of Beyond 1 sales.”
Bigscreen Beyond 2 | Image courtesy Bigscreen
At the time of this writing, Beyond 2 and Beyond 2e are now quoted to ship in June 2025, already blowing past the first shipment batches, which were planned for April and May respectively.
But why the hype for Beyond 2? While you can read more about Beyond 2 here, including specs, it may come down to the easy upgrade pathway laid out by Bigscreen. Not only can Beyond 1 users purchase at a discount—$849 for Beyond 2 and $1049 for Beyond 2e—but it’s also backwards compatible with most Beyond 1 accessories, including the custom facial interface that’s required for Beyond 1.
Moreover, Beyond 2 packs in a new pancake lens design, offering up a wider 116-degree diagonal FOV, an adjustable IPD mechanism, and a lighter 107g design, with the 2e model adding AI-powered eye-tracking. It still has the same dual 1-inch 2,560 × 2,560 micro-OLED displays as the original Beyond, although its new lenses boast better clarity and FOV over the original.
Beyond 2 and 2e are priced at $1,019 and $1,219 respectively (or discounted for Beyond 1 owners). It was also unveiled alongside a new halo-style mount and Lightblocker facial interface, which is set to arrive in Q3 2025.
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has enjoyed an incredible resurgence over the past few years, evolving from a niche tabletop game to a cultural phenomenon. If you're looking for a hobby that combines creativity, strategy, and camaraderie, then D&D might just be the perfect fit for you.
Whether you’re someone who’s never picked up a die or a long-time player, D&D offers a rich, immersive experience that’s hard to match. In this post, we’ll explore why Dungeons & Dragons should be your next hobby and how it can enrich your life in ways you may not expect.
D&D Fosters Creativity
Dungeons & Dragons is a game where creativity knows no bounds, and the right equipment can make the experience even more immersive. Players often invest in beautifully designed game pieces like miniatures, custom battle maps, and thematic props to bring their campaigns to life.
Many also collect Liquid Core Dice, which adds a mesmerising touch to every roll, enhancing the magic of gameplay. Whether sketching custom character portraits, crafting hand-painted terrain, or designing elaborate storytelling elements, the creative possibilities in D&D are endless. Investing in unique gaming tools fuels imagination and makes every adventure feel truly personal and engaging.
Builds Strong Friendships and Community
This isn’t just a game; it’s a social activity. When you join a D&D campaign, you're not just playing a game—you’re joining a community of like-minded individuals. Whether you’re gathering around a table with friends or connecting virtually with players across the globe, D&D fosters camaraderie.
The shared experience of embarking on quests, overcoming challenges, and celebrating victories strengthens bonds between players. Many D&D players talk about the lasting friendships they’ve formed, which is one of the most rewarding aspects of the hobby. It’s a great way to meet new people, whether you're playing in person or online.
Encourages Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking
Dungeons & Dragons is far more than just rolling dice—it’s a game of strategy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Each campaign presents a unique set of challenges, from navigating dangerous terrain to solving complex puzzles or battling formidable enemies.
Players must think on their feet, make quick decisions, and collaborate with their fellow adventurers to succeed. The tactical aspect of the game teaches valuable skills like resource management, teamwork, and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations. For those who enjoy games that require deep thought and strategy, D&D is a perfect match.
A Welcome Escape from Reality
Many of us are looking for ways to unwind and de-stress. Dungeons & Dragons offers a great escape. The game provides a chance to step into a completely different world—one where you can be whoever you want and live out epic adventures.
For a few hours, you can forget about the stresses of daily life and immerse yourself in a world full of dragons, magic, and mystery. This kind of escapism can help alleviate stress and improve mental well-being. For those looking for a break from the mundane, D&D is a thrilling way to spend your downtime.
Offers Endless Replayability
One of the reasons Dungeons & Dragons has remained so popular for decades is its incredible replayability. Every campaign is different, offering a unique experience based on the Dungeon Master (DM), the players, and the decisions made throughout the game. No two campaigns are the same, even if you're using the same rules or settings.
The endless variety of character combinations, storylines, and possible outcomes keeps the game fresh and exciting. Whether you’re running a campaign for the first time or you’re an experienced player, there’s always something new to explore in D&D.
Accessible for All Skill Levels
Another reason to embrace Dungeons & Dragons is that it’s accessible to people of all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a complete beginner, D&D has something to offer. The rules may seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of them, they become second nature. There are also plenty of resources available for beginners, such as online tutorials, beginner's guides, and communities where you can ask questions.
The game can be played in many different ways. If you prefer a more casual, storytelling focused experience, you can lean into that. If you enjoy the mechanics of the game, there’s plenty of strategy to dig into. The flexibility of D&D makes it easy for anyone to jump in and start playing.
Whether you're looking to enhance your creativity, form lasting friendships, challenge your problem-solving skills, or simply enjoy an exciting escape, Dungeons & Dragons has something for everyone. The beauty of D&D is in its versatility; it can be as casual or as intense as you want it to be.
With an ever expanding community and endless opportunities for adventure, now is the perfect time to start your journey into the world of Dungeons & Dragons. So grab some dice, gather your friends, and prepare for a journey like no other. Your next great adventure awaits!
La cosmologie est en ébullition ces temps-ci. Après la nouvelle image du rayonnement fossile, c'est au tour du télescope spatial Euclid et du consortium DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) de donner des résultats sur l'expansion de l'Univers et la force qui engendre celle-ci : l'énergie noire.Cette expansion est si puissante que l'énergie noi...
In a world first, an Italian newspaper is printing a fully AI-generated edition for a month in what its director said Thursday was an experiment to "revitalize journalism, not to kill it."
