Meta's Reality Labs has unveiled a revolutionary sEMG-RD (surface electromyography research device) smart bracelet that could eliminate keyboards and mice by reading electrical muscle signals directly from the wrist. The device features 16 gold-plated sensors distributed around the wrist, capturing muscle electrical signals at 2,000 samples per second to detect micro-contractions even when there's no visible movement. Users can control computers through subtle finger movements, write letters by drawing in the air, and even type messages by tapping fingers slightly on any surface, with the system translating each movement into text on screen. Trained on data from over 300 participants using deep learning models, the bracelet requires no individual calibration and works across different hand shapes, skin types, and movement styles without needing surgery or implants. The technology proves particularly groundbreaking for accessibility, as it can detect residual muscle activity in people with spinal cord injuries and works for those with tremors who struggle with handheld devices. Published in Nature journal, this research represents Meta's vision for seamless human-computer interaction, where the wrist becomes the primary interface for controlling AR glasses and future computing devices through pure intention rather than physical movement.

Design visionary Neri Oxman has unveiled Eden Tower, a revolutionary conceptual skyscraper that employs "ecological programming" to create buildings as ecosystems rather than objects in space. Developed at Oxman's Foster + Partners-designed Manhattan lab, the structure features stacked circular platforms with concentric levels hosting different ecosystems, where algorithms account for sunlight, wind, contamination and other factors to optimize both ecological health and human habitation. The EDEN platform uses generative AI, rapid environmental simulation, and reinforced learning to analyze vast datasets of plant and animal species' biological requirements, creating a "computational rulebook" that generates architectural forms maximizing ecological well-being. Each level features diverse topography—some open-air, others enclosed glass spaces—with a primary truss system supporting lighter lower levels while anchoring heavier ecosystems above that provide regulating services like thermal buffering and carbon sequestration. Unlike conventional architecture designed solely for human comfort, this data-driven approach enables design for "nonhuman" species who "don't speak the same language as us," reversing the narrative from displacing nature to direct collaboration and cohabitation. The tower represents a paradigm shift toward buildings that augment rather than degrade ecological services in dense urban environments.

Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a new Range Rover logo featuring two interlocking Rs—one standard, one flipped upside down—marking the first official emblem for the luxury SUV brand since its 1970 debut. Unlike the traditional Range Rover badge that simply displays the full brand name across hood and boot, this minimalist double-R motif has been specifically designed for merchandise, event spaces, and applications "where the familiar Range Rover device mark does not fit, such as on a label or as part of a repeating pattern." The logo resembles a belt buckle turned sideways, with critics noting its apparent simplicity suggests a design process limited to basic "cut-and-paste capability and a 'Rotate 90' function" rather than sophisticated brand development. JLR also introduced a complementary repeating-R pattern using the Range Rover R positioned at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions for potential use on grilles and speaker covers. The rebrand comes as luxury automotive brands expand ownership experiences beyond vehicles themselves, with Range Rover likely targeting exclusive merchandise and event branding that aligns with the designer fashion sensibilities of its clientele. While vehicles will continue displaying the full Range Rover name, this logo represents JLR's broader strategy shift following their controversial Jaguar rebrand with the polarizing "Copy Nothing" campaign.

Heatherwick Studio has unveiled the Xi'an Centre Culture Business District, a groundbreaking 155,000-square-meter development that challenges conventional mall design through human-centered innovation. The district's centerpiece is the remarkable "Xi'an Tree" - a 57-meter vertical park featuring 56 cascading terraces with gardens inspired by ancient Silk Road biomes, from alpine tundra to dry steppe. More than 100,000 custom glazed ceramic tiles, crafted by local artisans, clad the facades in homage to Xi'an's famous Terracotta Army, creating a tactile experience that invites visitors to touch and explore. Located between the ruins of the Temple of Heaven and Shaanxi TV Tower, the district integrates retail spaces, offices, apartments, and public plazas with walkable streets and rooftop terraces. The project's cascading volumes reference traditional Chinese temple roofs while offering three distinct visual experiences - from city skyline to street-level intimacy to door-level sensory details. Opening in December 2024 with free public access, this development represents a bold reimagining of commercial architecture that prioritizes community gathering over sterile shopping experiences.

Studio Proba founder Alex Proba is revolutionizing swimming pool design by transforming mundane aquatic spaces into vibrant underwater art installations. The multidisciplinary designer hand-paints swimming pools with graphic murals, including two pools at Palm Springs houses and a mural on the deck of Roosevelt Island's public pool, showcasing her signature organic shapes and explosive use of color. Her most notable work includes the Marrow House pool in Rancho Mirage, featuring chartreuse petal-like shapes twisting toward pink and orange orbs, contrasting beautifully with Donald Wexler's geometric mid-century architecture. The Manhattan Park pool project required 50 gallons of paint to cover the 8,000-square-foot deck with oversized shapes that morph toward the rectangular pool. Using water-based pool paint applied in multiple coats, Proba and her assistant endure grueling 12-hour painting sessions in scorching Palm Springs heat, with paint trays literally melting in the sun. These immersive artworks create dynamic visual experiences where water distorts and refracts the colorful forms, turning every swim into an intimate interaction with art and redefining luxury living spaces as personal galleries.

Google returns to Milan Design Week with "Making the Invisible Visible," a groundbreaking collaboration between Chief Design Officer Ivy Ross and acclaimed light artist Lachlan Turczan that transforms abstract concepts into tangible experiences. Running from April 7-13 at Garage 21, the installation features Turczan's latest artwork, Lucida (I–IV), described as spaces "sculpted entirely out of light" using mist and large-scale optics that respond dynamically to visitor movement. As guests navigate through these "luminous veils," their presence causes light to "bend, flow or solidify into structured planes," creating an immersive experience that hints at a future where "form no longer relies on physical mass, but instead on energy and perception." The exhibition then transitions into showcasing Google's hardware design philosophy, revealing the invisible journey from inspiration to tangible products. This represents the culmination of Google's six-year Milan Design Week evolution, building from 2019's biometric "A Space for Being" through 2023's water-inspired installations to 2024's synesthetic color-sound explorations. By making the intangible touchable through light manipulation, the installation embodies Ross's belief that "humans affect technology, and technology affects humans," offering visitors a profound meditation on the alchemy between abstract ideas and physical design reality.