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Tech for Change

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Every day, we humans dream up more and more ways to use technology to make the world a better place. Whether its solar panels that generate green energy, 3d printed prosthetics, or gene editing tools that eradicate diseases; there’s no shortage of world-changing tech out there. But it’s also easy for all those good things to get buried beneath all the bad news on the Internet. That’s why we started Tech For Change: an ongoing series in which we shine a spotlight on positive uses of technology, and showcase how they’re helping to make the world a better place.

A child holds glasses in a Turn on the Subtitles ad.

Why turning on your subtitles might be more radical than you think

In an interview with Digital Trends, Henry Warren, co-founder of Turn on the Subtitles, explains why opting in for subtitles can improve a child's literacy.
Tech for Change 2024

Digital Trends 2024 Tech for Change Awards

A woman wearing headphones with her eyes closed.

How headphones are helping people with sensory needs live a calmer life

For people with sensory needs such as the neurodivergent or those with ADHD, the sounds of the world can be excruciating. Here's how headphones can help.
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How solar panels went from ’50s satellites to your backyard

Solar panel technology has come a long way. Ever wondered how we got here? Come and follow the surprising path the world's greenest power source has taken.
Original Series
Insider Tracker app on iPhone.

I tried a $500 health tracking app. Here’s why it’s worth every penny

Looking for a health tracking solution that goes deep? I tried InsideTracker, a $500+ health tracking app unlike anything else. Here's why it's a game-changer.
A diver stands near fish in Loddlenaut.

These video games are changing the conversation on sustainability

This year's Games for Change festival highlighted three projects that are rethinking how games can send a message about sustainability.
A speedrunner playing a game at Awesome Games Done Quick.

They raised $50 million for charity with dusty consoles. Here’s how

Games Done Quick has raised over $50 million for charity over the past 14 years. Here's the tech that keeps the show going.
The Framework Laptop with replaceable parts

5 ways PCs are becoming more sustainable, from recycling to smarter design

PCs are always getting faster, but are they becoming more sustainable too? Here are five reasons to be optimistic.
Gaming PC on a desk.

How I made my PC more sustainable, just in time for summer — and you can too

The summer months are rolling in and turning everyone's gaming room into a sweat box. Here's how to make yours more bearable in summer 2024.
A PlayStation Access controller sits on a table.

To build a PS5 controller for anyone, Sony had to reinvent the wheel

PlayStation raised the bar for accessibility with its Access Controller. It took a lot of feedback and iteration to get there.
movie theater cinema screen

How tech powers the sensory-friendly screenings that open theaters to everyone

Sensory-friendly screenings are becoming more normalized, but there's still a long way to go. How do these showings work and who benefits from them?
Lexie B2 OTC Hearing Aids in hand.

Two years later, over-the-counter hearing aids are still finding their groove

Americans have been able to buy over-the-counter hearing aids for almost two years. Have they made a difference? We ask the experts.
Timekettle AI interpreter hub held in hand.

This AI gadget let me speak in languages I don’t know or understand

The Timekettle X1 is a gadget dedicated solely to helping you speak and translate different languages. But is it any good? Here's what happened when I used it.
Lock screen on Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C

How futuristic display tech is trying to save your eyes

We can't escape screens, but a few brands are trying to make the ordeal less harmful for eyes. Science, however, has other thoughts about our screen habits.
Everything you need to know about Neuralink

Watch Neuralink’s first human brain-chip patient play chess via thought

Neuralink has live streamed a video showing its first human patient using its brain implant to play chess just by thinking about it.
Himiway C5

I had written off bicycles, until e-bikes unlocked an entire world for me

E-bikes weren't even on my radar until the Himiway C5 came along and turned me into an e-bike enthusiast over the course of my very first ride.
Honor Magic 6 Pro eye-tracking screen with a car in the background.

I moved a car with my eyes, and it blew me away

Here's something I never thought I'd say: I controlled a car just by looking at it with my eyes — and it truly blew me away.
A person sitting in a Honda Uni-One wearing a VR headset with their arms outstretched in pretend-flying position.

Honda puts VR tech on wheels with its personal mobility device

Honda believes its Uni-One personal mobility device could be a lot of fun when combined with VR tech.
TCL Linkkey IK511 5G Dongle against a blue background.

This tiny dongle will change 5G connectivity forever

TCL's new Linkkey IK511 is small dongle with 5G connectivity, and it's a pretty big deal. Here's why.
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander heads to the moon.

U.S. spacecraft lands on the moon for the first time in over 50 years

NASA and the company Intuitive Machines have made a historic landing on the moon, the first landing there by a commercial entity.
The CHAPEA mission 1 crew (from left: Nathan Jones, Ross Brockwell, Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu) exit a prototype of a pressurized rover and make their way to the CHAPEA facility ahead of their entry into the habitat on June 25, 2023.

NASA is looking for volunteers for yearlong simulated Mars mission

If you've ever wanted to visit Mars, then NASA has an offer for you. The agency is running a simulated mission to Mars, and it's looking for volunteers.
A person wearing the Oura Ring.

The Oura Ring showed me how months of stress destroyed my sleep

The Oura Ring showed me how stress ruined my sleep, and prompted me to take action. It also made me realize too much data isn't always a good thing.
Google Gemini app on Android.

Google is launching a powerful new AI app for your Android phone

Google’s latest mobile app is Gemini, which leverages generative AI tricks. But t the same time, it also aims to double as a Google Assistant replacement.
Brilliant Labs CEO models the company's new Frame smart glasses.

These 39-gram AR glasses have me excited for the future

You can get AI help with Brilliant Labs low-cost, multimodal smart glasses that accept input from voice or camera and display results on a display.
Using Browse for Me feature in Arc Search browser.

Arc Search is one of the best iPhone apps I’ve ever used

Arc Search tones down the clutter your average browser, but serves a breathtaking formula for looking up information on the web that will easily win you over.
Front three quarter view of a 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van.

Mercedes’ electric eSprinter isn’t just greener, it’s better

Mercedes-Benz is finally bringing its all-electric eSprinter van to the United States, and delivery drivers will find that it was worth the wait.
Everything you need to know about Neuralink

Neuralink implants brain chip in first human, Elon Musk reveals

Elon Musk’s Neuralink firm has performed its first implant in a human brain as part of early tests of a technology designed to help those with severe paralysis.
CSIRO's ASKAP antennas at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia, 2010.

What it takes to build a next-generation observatory

From rats to snow, building massive scientific instruments in harsh environments requires money, brilliant engineering, and good old-fashioned human sweat.
AI features see in a graphic for Google Chrome.

Google brings AI to every text field on the internet

Starting today Google is planning to bring three new AI powered features to its popular Chrome browser.
A graphic showing a Proto hologram.

Holograms are coming to university classrooms

Hologram technology has been breathing new life into music legends dead and alive for years, but now there are plans to use the same system for teaching.
An illustration of a black hole.

Scientists want your help to search for black holes

Black Hole Hunter invites members of the public to search through data collected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite to look for signs of a black hole.
The Lenovo Mechanical Harvesting keyboard and mouse combo on a white background.

This wireless mouse and keyboard are powered by mechanical energy

The Mechanical Energy Harvesting Combo uses mechanical movement to power a mouse and a keyboard, eliminating the need for external charging.
Wing's new, larger delivery drone.

Check out Wing’s largest delivery drone yet

Drone specialist Wing has announced plans to add a bigger drone to its delivery fleet that it says will simplify and streamline larger orders.
SpaceX's Super Heavy and Starship.

Flights to any city in less than 60 minutes? Musk still thinks it’s possible

It currently takes nearly 15 hours to fly from New York to Shanghai, but a Starship passenger service would be able to do it in a mere 39 minutes.