If you are searching for a way to quickly bring wireless convenience to serial connectivity you should deftly check out WiSer which is now available to purchase from the Crowd Supply website priced from just $60. WiSer allows you to establish a wireless, peer-to-peer serial connection between two devices. Debug code, log data, update firmware, […]
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If you are wondering if your iPhone will get the new iOS 18 software later this year, we have a great video from iReviews that details which devices are expected to get Apple’s latest update. For those eagerly awaiting details, a recent video has shed light on what to expect, and the changes are nothing […]
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The Flipper Zero digital multi-tool already has tons of uses, from hacking to controlling home systems. Now it can even play games, thanks to a partnership with Raspberry Pi. This comes in the form of a new add-on for the device, appropriately called the Video Game Module.
The module is powered by the Raspberry Pi-developed RP2040 microcontroller and it can run games programmed in C, C++ and MicroPython. To suit the quirkiness of Flipper’s device, however, the module goes a few steps further. It features sensors for hand-tracking, a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer, so games can include tilt and shake functionalities.
Now, you may be wondering why you would play real games on the Flipper Zero’s teensy-tiny screen. The 1.4-inch monochrome display may work for the hacking minigame often associated with the device, but would likely struggle with anything beyond that. Luckily, the Video Game Module allows for video output to external displays.
In other words, the module’s suite of sensors combined with the video output turns the Flipper Zero itself into a controller, with the game being played on an actual screen. It’ll be really cool to see what the open source community does with this thing. It could end up like the famously-derided Ouya console only, you know, good.
This is the latest Flipper Zero module and programmers will likely have a field day experimenting with the hardware. There’s a built-in USB-C connector to interface with the microcontroller for making changes and the whole thing can actually work on its own, without any need to connect to Flipper’s gadget. Think of it as one-part Flipper module and one-part Pico-type device with an onboard IMU.
Alex Kulagin, founder and COO of Flipper Devices, hopes that this accessory will “unlock new ways of using Flipper Zero” and “bridge the gap between retro-gaming nostalgia and cutting-edge research.” The Video Game Module costs $49 and the Flipper Zero costs $169.
Gaming is just the latest use for the Flipper Zero. This digital Swiss army knife was originally pitched as a multi-tool for hackers, but it’s fully open source and is capable of interacting with devices via IR, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth and physical connections. Users have turned these cute Dolphin-inspired gadgets into universal remotes, key fob testers, GameShark-like cheating devices and much more. They can also unlock certain safes, but you didn’t hear that from us.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-flipper-zero-digital-multi-tool-can-now-play-games-complete-with-hand-tracking-140052359.html?src=rss“The game industry is out of step with contemporary media in terms of LGBTQ representation, and it is failing its LGBTQ customers.”
This sentiment has felt true for years, and now the statistics in GLAAD’s first annual gaming report prove it. The media watchdog and LGBTQ advocacy group today published GLAAD Gaming: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Video Games, offering a comprehensive breakdown of the industry from the perspective of queer players and developers.
According to GLAAD, 17 percent of the total gaming audience identifies as LGBTQ, or about one in every five players. This figure falls in line with statistics for Generation Z. Still, just 2 percent of all games on the market contain LGBTQ content, a saturation level that falls miserably short of those in film, TV and other forms of entertainment media. GLAAD found that 28.5 percent of films from the top 10 distributors in 2022 contained an LGBTQ character, and LGBTQ characters appeared as series regulars at a rate of 10.6 percent on primetime scripted broadcast shows in 2022 and 2023.
For the gaming stats, GLAAD ran the numbers: In November 2023, the Xbox store had 146 games with LGBTQ content, while PlayStation offered a list of 90 titles with LGBTQ themes, and Nintendo’s Switch eShop had 50 games tagged LGBT. Steam had 2,302 English-language games under its LGBTQ+ tag, but that figure dropped to 1,506 when filtering out “adult only sexual content” titles. Together, these games composed less than 2 percent of the Xbox, Playstation and Switch digital libraries, and they made up just 1.7 percent of Steam’s offerings (without the adult-only content). For context, it’s estimated that about 1 percent of all games released in the 2010s included LGBTQ themes.
“Despite the significant progress we’ve seen, gaming remains woefully behind other forms of entertainment media when it comes to representation,” GLAAD Associate Director of Gaming Blair Durkee said.
GLAAD’s report identified the following reasons behind the lack of LGBTQ representation in video games:
“Some reasons for exclusion are passive. Often, game companies have not considered that they should represent LGBTQ people, nor do they see us as a major part of the core gaming audience. Some reasons for exclusion are active. Companies worry about pushing away a core audience that they assume are resistant or hostile to LGBTQ content. This imagined core audience, however, is a myth, and it is one of the reasons it was paramount for GLAAD to create this gaming report. LGBTQ gamers are a significant part of the existing active gamer market and, by and large, non-LGBTQ gamers are not nearly as resistant to this content as many assume.”
More than 60 percent of non-LGBTQ respondents said they weren’t bothered by LGBTQ protagonists and NPCs in their games, and 70 percent said they were fine with titles that presented the option to customize a bisexual, gay or lesbian character. Resistance toward these themes is waning with each new generation of players, GLAAD found.
One of the report’s key takeaways is the idea that developers seem to be building games for an outdated stereotype, rather than the reality of the market. Straight, white, cisgender men definitely play video games, but the actual gaming audience is much more diverse and it’s only become more variable.
“The lack of LGBTQ representation in video games is often explained by the assumption that the stereotypical core video game consumer is a white, heterosexual, cisgender man between the ages 18 and 34,” GLAAD said. “However, our data shows that 17 percent of active gamers are LGBTQ, a 70 percent increase from the 10 percent counted in Neilsen’s 2020 report.”
This figure is even higher for younger players, the next generation of gamers. Roughly 25 percent of players under the age of 35 identify as LGBTQ, a higher concentration than reported in the human population as a whole. This trend drives home another conclusion of GLAAD’s gaming report — the idea that LGBTQ players are drawn to games in particular because they offer an immersive outlet for expression, experimentation and escape.
“The interactive nature of games, the opportunity to build community in gaming, and the long history of LGBTQ game industry professionals makes this medium a uniquely powerful tool for LGBTQ people to safely discover, connect, and express themselves,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. “Particularly for LGBTQ gamers, gaming can not only be an escape and source of entertainment, but also an important outlet of self-expression.”
In the GLAAD survey, 72 percent of LGBTQ players said that seeing characters of their gender identity or sexual orientation portrayed well made them feel better about themselves, and this number was even higher among younger players. Overall, 36 percent of LGBTQ players reported that video games helped them discover their sexual orientation or gender identity, and this percentage rose to 41 percent among LGBTQ players of color. Notably, GLAAD found that gamers of color are less resistant to titles with queer content than white players.
More than 40 percent of LGBTQ players said video games helped them cope with a lack of acceptance in the real world. At the same time, 51 percent of LGBTQ players said they wanted video games to do more in terms of inclusion, and 74 percent wished for more opportunities to explore and express their true selves in games.
“Games are a medium in which players can be anything, but the game industry has continued to rely on very narrow representational options,” GLAAD said.
Transgender content faced the most resistance among all respondents. Concerning LGBTQ players, 63 percent said they were more likely to buy a game that supports a bisexual, gay or lesbian protagonist, while 46 percent said the same about a transgender main character. However, 94 percent of LGBTQ respondents said they were just as likely or more likely to purchase a game that includes the option to embody a transgender protagonist. Among non-LGBTQ gamers, 80 percent responded the same way.
The importance of representation in video games has only grown amid an avalanche of anti-LGBTQ violence and legislation in the United States. In the first weeks of 2024, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed or passed in the US, a majority of which target transgender youths. This is already a dramatic spike from 2022 and 2021, both record-setting years in terms of anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Queer players are more likely than their counterparts to use gaming as an escape, according to GLAAD, and this is even more true for people living in states that have proposed or passed anti-LGBTQ legislation. While 66 percent of all LGBTQ gamers said they use gaming to express themselves in ways they don’t feel comfortable doing in the real world, this statistic rose to 75 percent for players living in states with proposed or active anti-LGBTQ bills.
“For these LGBTQ gamers, gaming is necessary to cope with real-world discrimination and targeting,” GLAAD said in its report. “Game developers need to understand the role gaming plays for LGBTQ gamers in the United States and especially LGBTQ gamers in states where they are disproportionately targeted and attacked.”
Researchers offered the following recommendations for increasing LGBTQ representation in games:
The percentage of games with LGBTQ representation should be proportional to the share of gamers who are LGBTQ.
Game developers should strive for representation that promotes inclusivity and acceptance.
The game industry should take responsibility for making their communities more inclusive.
The game industry should consult LGBTQ media content experts.
LGBTQ game industry workers should be hired in positions of authority.
Amid all of the percentages, GLAAD identified a clear pattern in its first gaming report: Representation matters a lot to most LGBTQ players, and the majority of the remaining audience isn't too bothered by queer content. Sometimes, it's even preferred.
“We are nearly invisible in game representations, despite being a significant percentage of gamers,” Ellis, GLAAD’s president, said.
The report’s survey data was collected in collaboration with Nielsen Games and includes responses from 1,452 active PC and console players in the US, with a boost sample of LGBTQ gamers to ensure accuracy for the community-specific questions. The survey was distributed between June and August 2023.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/glaads-first-annual-gaming-report-is-here-to-tell-us-how-gay-games-are-140021089.html?src=rss
NVIDIA has just unveiled a new graphics card that’s set to transform the way professionals work across various industries. The RTX 2000 Ada Generation GPU is not just an upgrade; it’s a leap forward, offering up to 50% more performance than its predecessor, the RTX A2000 12 GB. This new card is designed to fit […]
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Imagine having control over your finances with a tool that not only simplifies the process but also enhances it with the power of artificial intelligence (AI). This is what ProjectX offers—a sophisticated, open-source financial management platform that uses AI to help you make smarter, more secure financial decisions. ProjectX is at the cutting edge of […]
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In this guide, we will look at how to optimize your iPhone camera settings. In the digital age where smartphones double as high-quality cameras, mastering your iPhone’s camera settings can elevate your photography and videography game to professional heights. Whether you’re capturing life’s moments or creating content, understanding and optimizing your iPhone camera settings is […]
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Adding to the ever growing range of artificial intelligence (AI) writing platforms available to help you improve your writing skills, create story lore, write books and more is the Novelcrafter AI creative writer. Specifically designed for authors and writers the platform offers users an innovative AI writing assistant designed to assist authors from the spark of […]
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I love spending time and canoodling with my cats, but as much as I love being around them, cats are pretty quick-witted creatures, and they require constant entertainment and stimulation, which often times can be pretty difficult to keep up with. If you’re pretty much in the same precarious situation as me and are always looking for new ways to keep your pet entertained, productive, and happy, then this collection of pet products promises to come to your rescue! From a modular pet-friendly sofa to a pet-friendly console – these product designs will take good care of your pet, and keep them active and content. You can take a little breather, while they wrestle around with these newfound fun products! These are the cat-friendly products you need in your home!
Dubbed the CONNECT Tree, this sophisticated and functional cat tree is a literal haven for the kitties. Designed by Vazken Karageozian, the tree was inspired by the needs and requirements of his two cats – Gray and Ella. The CONNET Collection takes a modular and innovative approach to constructing and designing a cat tree.
The cat tree is designed to be a multi-level system that can be customized using attachable accessories. It creates a cozy, comfy, and fun recreational activity for your cats, allowing them to engage in unique activities besides scratching and climbing your couch. The tree is the centerpiece of the multi-accessory system.
Called the Quarter Sofa, this modular and pet-friendly sofa is made using wood and fabrics, including various circular and square modules. The various modules can be assembled and disassembled and moved around to build different configurations. It’s a furniture design that meets the needs of both humans and cats!
The innovative configurations you can make using the modules serve as a cat playground. They can jump around, and move enabling them to play together, even if you have multiple cats.
The Mocats Multifunctional Cat Furniture allows indoor cats to experience the outside world, without stepping out of their home. The cat furniture is shaped like a city skyline, and it is quite adaptable and modular, providing cats with their own apartments, buildings, and roofs to explore.
This modular and interesting design lets you build the sort of toy that will perfectly fit your home. It features undulating rooftops, which add a nice touch to your home, and interior design, while also functioning as a unique piece of furniture for your cat to explore, and pass time in.
On the Chinese version of the Tesla website, you may come across a $13 Tesla Cybertruck Corrugated Cat House, and this little invention certainly took the internet by storm. It got everyone wondering if Tesla has really decided to get into the pet product industry, and is the Cat House just the start of a whole new onslaught of pet products?!
The unique-looking cat tray is inspired by the angular shape of Tesla’s electric pickup truck. It measures 56x41x25cm and has a futuristic shape, unlike typical cat trays on the market. It is embedded with thick corrugated paper, and it is designed to be a multifunctional product.
This adorable little box-shaped shelter looks like a shipping container home for cats! It is made using stiff paper boards, building lightweight yet durable boxes for kitties to play in, rest in, paw at, or engage with. It is made using sustainable materials, and the boxes stack up one on top of the other, creating the ultimate haven for cats.
The shelter has multiple entry points to elevated vantage points, as well as a hanging toy to keep the kitties entertained. What makes the Cat Box unique, is the use of honeycomb board – a sturdy material that merges a core and honeycomb structure between plywood layers. Using a honeycomb board is an environmentally friendly decision, which also takes into consideration the well-being of our pets.
Dubbed the Triangle Toy, this unique pet toy entertains your furry friends, while also doubling up as a work of art. This one-of-a-kind pet toy isn’t just about play, it’s also about providing a visual experience that is inspired by the beauty of nature.
The Triangle Toy shows how pet products can be made super creative. It functions as a canvas for the motifs of clouds, the sun, and the mountains. The huge mountains are represented by the triangular structure, while the gentle flow of the clouds is shown by the rolling ball.
Named the Choo Choo, this console is a rather unique and innovative creation in the arena of pet-friendly furniture. The Choo Cho console is a dedicated space built from natural materials like wood and cane webbing, and it attempts to build a solid connection between cats and humans.
When you look at the console, you are reminded of a bullet train, and it has a contemporary vibe to it that also represents a sense of speed and efficiency. The Choo Choo console perfectly encapsulates the concept of high-speed transportation with the utility of a pet-friendly design.
The Snowhouse Sofa perfectly captures the pretty image of snow falling daintily and leaving an impression on whatever it falls upon. The Snowhouse Sofa is what a wooden sofa would look like if it experienced some snowfall! And, what makes the furniture design even more unique is that it perfectly caters to the needs of humans and pets.
The wooden sofa is covered with cushy white cushions that give the idyllic impression of fallen snow. The edges of the Snowhouse Sofa are rounded, which adds a depth of softness to the furniture piece, while the ends are hollow with empty spaces inside for your pets to lounge about in.
Dubbed the Lift Stool, this furniture design has a stunning translucent texture that will completely mesmerize you. It also has two lifted ends that truly make the entire design, and as you peep into the two lifted ends you can see empty space for your cats! It is truly unlike any stool I’ve ever come across.
The stool is hollow from within, which makes it an excellent lounging spot for your cat. If your cat doesn’t want to sit inside, you can slide in your favorite books and other souvenirs, allowing you to store them away, concealing them from curious eyes.
Called the Travel Habitat Carrier, this adorable cat shelter is like a mini RV for your pet. You can carry it around on your back wherever you go, letting your pet chill and relax with you, as you move about and complete your tasks.
The carrier doubles up in size when taken off your shoulders, making it a unique and expandable product. It can transform into a large and spacious home for your cat with an integrated litter box, ample ventilation, and a space for a kibble and water bowl.
The post Top 10 Cat-Friendly Designs To Keep Your Feline Friends Content, Cozy & Occupied first appeared on Yanko Design.
Nothing announced that it will reveal its latest Phone 2a on March 5th, but there's a not-great surprise for American fans of the product. Rather than being released officially like the Phone 2, the device will come to the US as part of a "developer program." That sounds a lot like the way it released the original Phone 1, which was sold for $299 stateside under a similar-sounding "Beta Membership" program.
The company didn't reveal any images of the device or pricing, but the company may use a simplified Phone 2 esthetic. That unique design was a standout feature thanks to the transparent Gorilla Glass back, 11 LED "Glyph" strips, a metal frame and curved edges.
The Phone 2a is rumored to be a budget version of the Phone 2, which cost $600. In a teaser video, the company questioned how it could make it "cheaper" and also mentioned that it has made better supplier connections so it can pass the savings onto consumers. Earlier rumors peg the European price around €400 ($430), with the savings chalked up in part to a cheaper MediaTek Dimensity 7200 processor.
The same rumors suggests it'll have a simplified interface with fewer LED strips, plus dual cameras centered at the top like eyes on a head (backed up somewhat by Nothing's "See the world through fresh eyes," as The Verge points out). Sketches shown in Nothing's release video appear to back up that claim. We may learn more soon, as Nothing is holding a press conference in Barcelona for Mobile World Conference (MWC) on February 27th.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nothings-phone-2a-will-debut-on-march-5-123559888.html?src=rss