Everyday routines may soon be transformed by advanced technologies currently under development. From 3-D printed fashion to robots making meals and wearable devices predicting illness, engineers across the globe are testing prototypes that could become part of our homes.
Key innovations under study include:
- Hologram glasses created by Alex Kvasov and his team at CREAL in Switzerland
- 3-D printed clothing and footwear developed by Gihan Amarasiriwardena in Boston and Asher Clark in London
- Robots able to fold laundry or prepare food, designed by Chelsea Finn and Lucy Shi at Physical Intelligence in San Francisco
- Wearables detecting illness before symptoms appear, researched by Peter Cho and Karnika Singh at Duke University
- Power systems using body heat instead of batteries, engineered by Mohammad Malakooti in Seattle and Mason Zadan at Carnegie Mellon University
Table of contents:
- Alex Kvasov and hologram glasses in Switzerland
- Gihan Amarasiriwardena and 3-D printed clothing in Boston
- Chelsea Finn and robots at Physical Intelligence in California
- Peter Cho and illness detection at Duke University
- Mohammad Malakooti and body-heat energy in Seattle
Alex Kvasov and hologram glasses in Switzerland
Alex Kvasov co-founded CREAL near Lausanne, Switzerland. His company develops glasses that create 3-D illusions by projecting up to 6,000 images per second. The system uses light field display technology, allowing objects to appear sharp or blurred depending on where the wearer looks.
While commercial versions exist, such as Meta’s Orion glasses, they currently display only flat images and remain bulky. Other companies are also experimenting. Leia Inc. in California designed displays with a micro-layer that steers light so users see a 3-D scene on tablets or computers. Jochem Taminiau, who leads marketing at Leia, explains that a camera tracks eye movements to direct light and simulate depth.
These developments mark steps toward immersive interactions, with possible applications in entertainment, communication, and design.
Gihan Amarasiriwardena and 3-D printed clothing in Boston
Gihan Amarasiriwardena, co-founder of Ministry of Supply in Boston, uses computerized knitting machines the size of refrigerators. These machines weave yarn into garments designed for specific needs. One example is a sweater customized by thermal imaging, with thinner fabric in hotspots to regulate heat.
Shoes are also part of this trend. Asher Clark, co-founder of Vivobarefoot in London, introduced a scan-to-print-to-soil shoe. Customers scan their feet, select a style and color, and a laser printer fuses powder into shape. While the material is not suitable for backyard composting, industrial facilities can break it down.
Benefits of this technology include:
- Customized fit for comfort
- Reduced waste through on-demand production
- Use of recyclable and sustainable materials
| Innovator | Location | Innovation | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gihan Amarasiriwardena | Boston, USA | 3-D printed sweaters | Custom thermal zones |
| Asher Clark | London, UK | 3-D printed shoes | Industrially compostable materials |
Chelsea Finn and robots at Physical Intelligence in California
Chelsea Finn, co-founder of Physical Intelligence in San Francisco, tests robot arms that prepare sandwiches. Her team developed an AI model called pi-zero that allows robots to perform varied tasks, including folding laundry.
Another system, Hi Robot, translates spoken instructions into ordered tasks. Lucy Shi, a researcher at Stanford, highlights its flexibility, noting that the robot adapts when interrupted. For instance, if asked to add tomato to a sandwich mid-process, it can change course instantly.
Robotics research now aims at versatility and communication. Unlike traditional robots limited to repetitive jobs, these new models combine AI with adaptive movement.
Peter Cho and illness detection at Duke University
Peter Cho and Karnika Singh, biomedical engineers at Duke University, examined smartwatch data from COVID-19 patients. They found that heart rates rose 5–10 days before a positive test, and people reduced their steps about 5 days prior.
In another controlled study, volunteers infected with cold or flu viruses showed measurable changes before symptoms appeared. Smartwatch data even predicted severity of illness up to 12 hours before people felt sick.
Märt Vesinurm, a researcher at Aalto University in Finland, estimates that acting on such alerts could cut disease transmission by 40–65 percent. These findings suggest wearables could play a role in preventing future pandemics.
Additional sensor innovations include:
- Devices that analyze sweat to measure hydration
- Sensors detecting gases from skin to identify infections
Mohammad Malakooti and body-heat energy in Seattle
Mohammad Malakooti at the University of Washington developed a device that converts body heat into electricity. Using thermoelectric materials, it can power small devices such as LED lights. His prototype is soft, stretchable, and durable.
Mason Zadan at Carnegie Mellon University extended the concept to power wearable heart monitors. However, real-world conditions limit energy output. While the devices cannot yet charge smartphones or advanced glasses, combining multiple approaches such as motion-based electricity may one day reduce dependence on traditional batteries.
These five research areas hologram displays, 3-D fashion, household robots, illness detection wearables, and body-powered sensors illustrate how engineers in Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Finland are preparing technologies that could change everyday routines. Each invention is still in development, yet together they reveal a roadmap of innovations that may define the coming decades.
Source: Science News Explores, YouTube