Skin-Inspired Robotic Enhancements Animate the Inanimate

Developed by Yale’s Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio for NASA, new robotic skins aim to fit around static options and give them form—and movement. The skins are composed of supple elastic sheets and have sensors and actuators embedded throughout. This is a fascinating development that reflects a tangential robotics market, wherein an enhancement—rather than an independent form—is produced. Further, using more than one skin can lead to increasing complex series …

United Nations General Assembly’s “Waynak” Screening + makesense Discussions

For Global Goals Week, dialogue around migration and future climate refugees

Be it striving for sustainable urban development or empowering ocean conversationalists, Global Goals Week accompanies the United Nations General Assembly once a year—and aims to accelerate developmental goals across the planet. This year’s roster of events sees three spearheaded by France-based non-profit makesense—and their centerpiece experience is one to seek out. Vincent Hejduk, co-founder of the non-profit and film producer, will screen his short documentary “Waynak” before a conversation with …

Replicating ’50s Design Inside a Care Center for Alzheimer’s Patients

Featuring 11 storefronts replicating the design of the ’50s, Glenner Town Square in Chula Vista, California isn’t a film set—it’s a care center for dementia patients. From Rosie’s Diner to Alois’ Newsstand, each build-out aims to represent a portion of life during the prime years of patients—activating a type of a reminiscence therapy. Altogether, the goal is to initiate engagement and trigger conversation. The partners—non-profit George G. …