DIGITAL LIFE

Why are data centers increasing temperatures in neighborhoods?

The rapid growth of data centers is driving localized artificial heat waves. A landmark study published in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities has revealed that such facilities can raise ambient air temperatures in nearby neighborhoods by up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius), increasing the risks of urban heat islands.

In said study, researchers from Arizona State University investigated the thermal footprint of two large-scale operations in the tech hub cities of Mesa and Chandler, Arizona. The researchers attached high-precision, rapid-response air temperature sensors to vehicles, driving them through surrounding communities from June through October. By tracking real-time geographic and atmospheric conditions, the team discovered that data centers act as immense thermal engines. A single facility can generate more waste heat than the electrical consumption of 40,000 households combined.

This localized warming stems from how these data centers stay cool, whereby they utilize expansive air-cooled condenser arrays that continuously exhaust plumes of hot air that can be 14° to 25° F warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. Prevailing winds then carry this thermal pollution beyond the facilities' property lines, creating a downstream heat wake extending up to a third of a mile into residential zones. Across the monitoring period, downwind areas experienced average temperature increases between 1.3° and 1.6° F, with peak anomalies hitting the 4-degree mark.

Unwittingly, this artificial temperature increase also causes neighborhood residents to crank their home A/C units up. which then exhaust even more waste heat into the streets, while driving up overall electricity demand. This extra electricity consumption forces power grids to work harder, often increasing regional emissions and further straining energy infrastructure. For desert communities already grappling with severe public health risks from extreme weather, this localized effect could become a compounding feedback loop.

David Sailor, lead author of the study notes that these initial measurements likely represent a conservative estimate, too. The atmospheric footprint could vary drastically depending on seasonal weather shifts, and ongoing, non-peer-reviewed research suggests that under certain conditions, a data center’s heat island effect might ripple outward to a six-mile radius. As tech giants continue aggressively expanding infrastructure to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital storage, the findings highlight an urgent need for urban planners to rethink zoning laws. 

“Heat islands”...The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence guzzle huge amounts of energy but they also have another alarming impact, according to new research. They are creating “heat islands,” warming the land around them by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, and making life hotter for more than 340 million people.

There are still big gaps in our understanding of the impacts of data centers, even as they boom in number, said Andrea Marinoni, associate professor with the Earth Observation group at the University of Cambridge, and an author of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Marinoni and his colleagues decided to dig into one under-researched impact: the heat they release through their energy-intensive processes, including computation and powering cooling systems.

To do this, they looked at temperature data over the last 20 years from remote sensors and mapped it against the locations of AI “hyperscalers” — vast data centers that house thousands of servers and can stretch over a million square feet, which have mostly been built within the last decade.

They focused on more than 6,000 data centers located away from highly dense urban areas, as surface temperatures around these were less likely to have been affected by other factors, such as manufacturing or the heating of homes. The researchers also filtered out seasonal impacts, global warming trends and other influences.

They found surface temperatures increased by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit after a data center started operations. In extreme cases, nearby temperatures increase by up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

These increases were consistent across the globe, the researchers found. In Mexico’s Bajio region, for example, which has become a data center hub, the study found unexplained temperature rises of around 3.6 degrees over the last 20 years. A similar situation was seen in Aragon, Spain, a European center for hyperscale AI data centers, which recorded a temperature increase of 3.6 degrees which was not replicated in neighboring provinces.

Strikingly, the impacts weren’t limited to a data center’s immediate surroundings; temperature increases affected areas up to 6.2 miles away, the research found, affecting more than 340 million people.

The findings are particularly alarming, the scientists say, because AI data centers are set to boom over the next few years, and these temperature rises come as planet-warming pollution is already making heat waves more extreme around the world.

The planned scale up of data centers “could have dramatic impacts on society” in terms of the environment, people’s welfare and the economy, Marinoni said.

Deborah Andrews, emeritus professor of design for sustainability and circularity at London South Bank University, who was not involved in the research, said there are plenty of concerns over the impacts of data centers but this was the first paper she’d seen focusing on the heat they produce.

“The ‘rush for AI-gold’ appears to be overriding good practice and systemic thinking,” she said, “and is developing far more rapidly than any broader, more sustainable systems.”

Other experts say more research is needed to verify the results. The study provides “some interesting figures” but the effects reported “seem very high,” said Ralph Hintemann, a senior researcher at the Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability. “As far as climate change is concerned, the emissions generated by power generation for data centres remain the more alarming aspect,” he added.

Marinoni wants the research to spark more discussion about how to reduce AI’s impacts. “There still might be time to consider the possibility of a different path … without affecting the demand of AI and its ability to provide progress for mankind,” he added.

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TECH

First iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max screen protectors reveal taller displays

The first screen protectors for the iPhone 18 Pro series, featuring a significantly smaller, off-center Dynamic Island cutout and a taller, narrower aspect ratio hint at potential design changes that might (literally) push the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to new dimensions ahead of their official September launch.

Following the leaked iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max cases we showed you earlier, we get our first look at what are believed to be screen protectors for Apple's 2026 flagships.

There are two notable design elements. The first is the much smaller selfie camera cutout, which is in line with long-standing rumors of a 25-35% smaller Dynamic Island. The smaller hole you see in the protective glass is perhaps specifically there for the selfie camera.

However, the second notable difference compared to the design of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max appears to be a slightly taller, narrower aspect ratio, a design change that hasn't been mentioned in previous leaks. Of course, unofficial images should always be taken with a dose of skepticism, but it would be quite interesting to see Apple adopt a taller display for the iPhone 18 Pro series.

A taller aspect ratio for for the regular iPhones would be in contrast with the super-wide cover screen of the foldable iPhone Ultra, but perhaps that is the whole point? If the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max end up with taller/narrower panels, this could bring their diagonal measurements to at least 6.4-inches for the 18 Pro and 7-inches for the 18 Pro Max model.

There’s only one way to find out if Apple is indeed going to break the 7-inch display barrier, and this is to wait for the official announcement of the iPhone 18 Pro series in September. Or further leaks. Stay tuned!

iPhone 17 series display sizes

iPhone 17: 6.3-inch

iPhone Air: 6.5-inch

iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch

iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch

The iPhone 18 lineup is shaping up to be one of Apple's most consequential in years, and also one of its most complicated. The Pro and Pro Max models are expected to arrive in September 2026, joined for the first time by Apple's long-rumored foldable device, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra and expected to start above $2,000.

The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air, meanwhile, are reportedly being pushed to spring 2027, a significant departure from the all-in-one-fall-event model Apple has followed for years. If you've been waiting to upgrade to a standard iPhone, that shift changes the calculus considerably.

Previously, the iPhone 17 series impressed us with its surprisingly feature-packed base model, the incredibly slender iPhone Air, the boldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and the entry-level iPhone 17E. We're hoping the iPhone 18 lineup will surprise us, too. 

The company is only a year or so away from the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's launch. While the company sells more phones in the US than rival Android phones, Apple is consistently behind Samsung in global sales and just ahead of Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi. A lot is at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, including building interest in a possible foldable device, such as the rumored iPhone Fold.

Already, some of the hottest rumors include Dynamic Island shrinking, along with the possibility that the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro will have the same RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Also, word is that Apple could split the launch of its iPhone 18 lineup, with the premium models coming out this year and more entry-level models releasing next year. Here's a look at all the rumors and leaks we've uncovered about the potential iPhone 18 series.

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TECH

New semiconductor building blocks make power converters smaller, more affordable

Semiconductors are essential components of modern technology, serving as the foundation for countless electronic devices. As a result, the development and manufacturing of semiconductors have become a highly competitive field, with tech companies vying for leadership in this crucial sector.

Moreover, the significance of semiconductors has sparked widespread interest in trading and investing in the companies involved in their production, with individuals seeking exposure on the price fluctuations of these companies' stocks.

Electricity is part of virtually everything we do in modern society. From our energy grids to our smartphones and even our vehicles, electricity is what makes it all run. In a world where demand for electricity is higher than ever (and rapidly growing), energy efficiency is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Whether environmentalists who want to protect the planet or businesspeople looking to cut expenses, finding new ways to improve the efficiency of our systems and generate renewable energy is a key focus for all.

Sometimes these big developments come in small packages, and when it comes to electrical systems the components might be tiny but their impacts on efficiency can be big. That’s certainly the case with semiconductor devices, which are critical components in pretty much any electrical system you can think of, from those in your home that power your appliances to massive wind farms generating renewable energy.

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory incorporated gallium nitride semiconductors to create a high-efficiency power converter that is more compact, affordable, and efficient.

A power converter is a type of device that manages semiconductor switching and transforms current or voltage, so electricity flows smoothly and safely among equipment, power sources, and users.

Silicon semiconductors are the fundamental building blocks of conventional converters. Manufacturer ROHM Semiconductor provided the ORNL research team with gallium nitride semiconductors that enable switching 10 to 20 times faster than silicon while losing less energy in the process.

In response to growing energy industry interest in gallium nitride, ORNL built converters with these semiconductors in its Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C) and validated how the technology could fill performance gaps. GRID-C is a unique constellation of labs and test beds for pioneering research in grid systems integration, modeling, energy storage, analytics, and security.

ORNL researcher Rahul Biswash tests a converter built in the Grid Research Innovation and Development Center, or GRID-C, to measure the operating efficiency of incorporating a gallium nitride semiconductor. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The smaller, lighter ORNL converter can be more affordably delivered, installed, and maintained, and it enables a flexible facility footprint that is less expensive for large projects.

"In the future, these are meant to help in artificial intelligence data center applications, which need many systems with these exact requirements," said researcher Prasad Kandula. "Size and weight add up quickly when you are looking at four to eight converters for each server, with enterprise data centers using hundreds to thousands of servers."

Smaller energy-converting semiconductor components are vital because they drastically improve efficiency, reduce heat, and save space. By making these components—such as power converters and transistors—smaller and leveraging advanced materials like Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC), industries can cut energy waste and operate more sustainably.

In traditional circuits, logic devices that perform computation, like transistors, and memory devices that store data are built as separate components, forcing data to travel back and forth between them, which wastes energy.

This new electronics integration platform allows scientists to fabricate transistors and memory devices in one compact stack on a semiconductor chip. This eliminates much of that wasted energy while boosting the speed of computation.

Key to this advance is a newly developed material with unique properties and a more precise fabrication approach that reduces the number of defects in the material. This allows the researchers to make extremely tiny transistors with built-in memory that can perform faster than state-of-the-art devices while consuming less electricity than similar transistors.

By improving the energy efficiency of electronic devices, this new approach could help reduce the burgeoning electricity consumption of computation, especially for demanding applications like generative AI, deep learning, and computer vision tasks.

The main reasons why these smaller components are so important include:

Lower energy losses: Smaller components, especially those utilizing wide-bandgap materials, can switch currents on and off thousands of times per second. This minimizes heat generation and energy waste during power conversion.

Increased power density: Shrinking components allows engineers to pack more processing and conversion power into a much tighter space. For example, in large server and enterprise data centers, smaller power electronics enable more powerful infrastructure without requiring more floor space.

Improved system reliability: Smaller electronic hardware translates to shorter distances for electrons to travel, which inherently reduces power usage and prevents overheating. This decreases failure rates and extends the lifespan of the equipment.

Enhanced green energy Transition: Smaller, more effective semiconductors are critical for harvesting and converting power from renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines. They allow devices to handle high voltages and temperatures with minimal power loss, directly supporting net-zero emission goals.

Better portability and weight reduction: In sectors like the automotive industry, shrinking semiconductor modules is essential. Smaller parts reduce the overall weight and size of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations, directly impacting battery range and cost.

Provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory

 

HMD

Thunder Pro: HMD's entry-level phone arrives with a Unisoc T620 chip and a 6000 mAh battery

Starting with the design, as seen in the image above, HMD is expected to opt for a minimalist look, with the front reserved for a single 6.7” OLED display with symmetrical bezels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and FHD+ resolution. The camera, highlighted in a hole at the top of the screen, should have 50MP.

The rear, in turn, features only the brand logo on a matte background, with a slightly protruding camera module and two lenses accompanied by a central flash. The expectation is for a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) support and an 8MP ultrawide secondary sensor.

Regarding performance, despite bearing the “Pro” designation, the new model is expected to have a relatively simple set of specifications. The leaker points to a Unisoc T620 chip, accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. For the battery, we're talking about 6,000mAh. mAh capacity with support for 20W charging.

The device should also feature NFC support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two microphones, two speakers, and IP65 certification against dust and splashes of water.

HMD seems to be betting heavily on autonomy and multimedia experience, trying to captivate users who spend hours glued to the screen. The new smartphone should arrive equipped with a 6.67-inch OLED panel, guaranteeing vibrant colors and deep blacks, combined with FHD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate.

At the heart of this device, we will find a Unisoc T620 processor. It is, at the very least, a curious choice on the part of the manufacturer, since it is not the most common chip on the market, but it should be able to offer quite solid performance for everyday tasks, especially when supported by 8 GB of RAM.

So that you never run out of space for your photos or apps, the smartphone also has 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Powering all this will be a veritable beast of a 6000 mAh battery, although the charging speed is a modest 20 W, which ends up being its Achilles' heel.

Photography and technical details that make all the difference...When it comes to photography, the HMD Thunder Pro doesn't want to be left behind and bets on a camera setup designed to please even the most demanding users. The main rear sensor will have 50 MP and will feature optical image stabilization (OIS), a crucial detail to avoid those blurry photos at night or in motion.

Accompanying the main camera, there will be an 8 MP ultrawide lens to capture wider landscapes without much effort. But the real surprise may well be on the front of the smartphone, as the camera for selfies and video calls boasts an impressive 50 MP, promising top-notch image quality for your social networks.

As if that weren't enough, the manufacturer decided to include several highly sought-after features that are sometimes overlooked by the competition. Here's the complete list of specifications that leaked in the latest leak:

Screen: 6.67-inch OLED with FHD+ resolution and 90 Hz

Processor: Unisoc T620

RAM and storage: 8 GB + 256 GB (UFS 2.2)

Rear cameras: 50 MP (with OIS) + 8 MP (ultrawide)

Front camera: 50 MP

Battery: 6000 mAh with support for 20 W wired charging

Water resistance: IP65 certification (dust and splash protection)

Extras: NFC support, 3.5 mm headphone jack, two microphones and two stereo speakers

Now we just have to wait for official confirmation from HMD to know when this Thunder Pro will actually hit the market and, more importantly, at what price. One thing is certain: with this set of specifications, it has everything to be a strong competitor in its segment.

HMD Thunder Pro, a leaked mid-range smartphone from HMD Global:

-Design and camera: The device features a unique horizontal camera module with two rear sensors. The main camera has 50 MP with optical image stabilization (OIS), accompanied by an 8 MP ultrawide lens.

-Screen and performance: It is equipped with a 6.67-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is powered by the Unisoc T620 processor, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

-Battery and features: It stands out for its large 6,000 mAh battery with 20 W charging. It also includes features such as a 3.5 mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, and IP65 certification against dust and splashes of water.

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DIGITAL LIFE

Technology usually creates jobs for young, skilled workers. Will AI do the same?

At any given time, technology does two things to employment: It replaces traditional jobs, and it creates new lines of work. Machines replace farmers, but enable, say, aeronautical engineers to exist. So, if tech creates new jobs, who gets them? How well do they pay? How long do new jobs remain new, before they become just another common task any worker can do?

A new study of U.S. employment led by MIT labor economist David Autor sheds light on all these matters. In the postwar U.S., as Autor and his colleagues show in granular detail, new forms of work have tended to benefit college graduates under 30 more than anyone else.

"We had never before seen exactly who is doing new work," Autor says. "It's done more by young and educated people, in urban settings."

The study also contains a powerful large-scale insight: A lot of innovation-based new work is driven by demand. Government-backed expansion of research and manufacturing in the 1940s, in response to World War II, accounted for a huge amount of new work, and new forms of expertise.

"This says that wherever we make new investments, we end up getting new specializations," Autor says. "If you create a large-scale activity, there's always going to be an opportunity for new specialized knowledge that's relevant for it. We thought that was exciting to see."

The paper, "What Makes New Work Different from More Work?" is forthcoming in the Annual Review of Economics. The authors are Autor; Caroline Chin, a doctoral student in MIT's Department of Economics; Anna M. Salomons, a professor at Tilburg University's Department of Economics and Utrecht University's School of Economics; and Bryan Seegmiller Ph.D. '22, an assistant professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

And yes, learning about new work, and the kinds of workers who obtain it, might be relevant to the spread of artificial intelligence—although, in Autor's estimation, it is too soon to tell just how AI will affect the workplace.

"People are really worried that AI-based automation is going to erode specific tasks more rapidly," Autor observes. "Eroding tasks is not the same thing as eroding jobs, since many jobs involve a lot of tasks. But we're all saying: Where is the new work going to come from? It's so important, and we know little about it. We don't know what it will be, what it will look like, and who will be able to do it."

'If everyone is an expert, then no one is an expert'...The four co-authors also collaborated on a previous major study of new work, published in 2024, which found that about 6 out of 10 jobs in the U.S. from 1940 to 2018 were in new specialties that had only developed broadly since 1940. The new study extends that line of research by looking more precisely at who fills the new lines of work.

To do that, the researchers used U.S. Census Bureau data from 1940 through 1950, as well as the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2011 to 2023. In the first case, because Census Bureau records become wholly public after about 70 years, the scholars could examine individual-level data about occupations, salaries, and more, and could track the same workers as they changed jobs between the 1940 and 1950 Census enumerations.

Through a collaborative research arrangement with the U.S. Census Bureau, the authors also gained secure access to person-level ACS records. These data allowed them to analyze the earnings, education, and other demographic characteristics of workers in new occupational specialties—and to compare them with workers in longstanding ones.

New work, Autor observes, is always tied to new forms of expertise. At first, this expertise is scarce; over time, it may become more common. In any case, expertise is often linked to new forms of technology.

"It requires mastering some capability," Autor says. "What makes labor valuable is not simply the ability to do stuff, but specialized knowledge. And that often differentiates high-paid work from low-paid work." Moreover, he adds, "It has to be scarce. If everyone is an expert, then no one is an expert."

                             Credit: David Autor et al (2026)

By examining the census data, the scholars found that back in 1950, about 7% of employees had jobs in types of work that had emerged since 1930. More recently, about 18% of workers in the 2011–2023 period were in lines of work introduced since 1970. (That happens to be roughly the same portion of new jobs per decade, although Autor does not think this is a hard-and-fast trend.)

In these time periods, new work has emerged more often in urban areas, with people under 30 benefiting more than any other age category. Getting a job in a line of new work seems to have a lasting effect: People employed in new work in 1940 were 2.5 times as likely to be in new work in 1950, compared to the general population. College graduates were 2.9 percentage points more likely than high school graduates to be engaged in new work.

New work also has a wage premium, that is, better salaries on aggregate than in already-existing forms of work. Yet as the study shows, that wage premium also fades over time, as the particular expertise in many forms of new work becomes much more widely grasped.

"The scarcity value erodes," Autor says. "It becomes common knowledge. It itself gets automated. New work gets old."

After all, Autor points out, driving a car was once a scarce form of expertise. For that matter, so was being able to use word-processing programs such as WordPerfect or Microsoft Word, well into the 1990s. After a while, though, being able to handle word-processing tools became the most elementary part of using a computer.

Back to AI for a minute...Studying who gets new jobs led the scholars to striking conclusions about how new work is created. Examining county-level data from the World War II era, when the federal government was backing new manufacturing in public-private partnerships throughout the U.S., the study shows that counties with new factories had more new work, and that 85% to 90% of new work from 1940 to 1950 was technology-driven.

In this sense there was a great deal of demand-driven innovation at the time. Today, public discourse about innovation often focuses on the supply side, namely, the innovators and entrepreneurs trying to create new products. But the study shows that the demand side can significantly influence innovative activity.

"Technology is not like, 'Eureka!' where it just happens," Autor says. "Innovation is a purposive activity. And innovation is cumulative. If you get far enough, it will have its own momentum. But if you don't, it'll never get there."

Which brings us back to AI, the topic so many people are focused on in 2026. Will AI create good new jobs, or will it take work away? Well, it likely depends how we implement it, Autor thinks. Consider the massive health care sector, where there could be a lot of types of tech-driven new work, if people are interested in creating jobs.

"There are different ways we could use AI in health care," Autor says. "One is just to automate people's jobs away. The other is to allow people with different levels of expertise to do different tasks. I would say the latter is more socially beneficial. But it's not clear that is where the market will go."

On the other hand, maybe with government-driven demand in various forms, AI could get applied in ways that end up boosting health care-sector productivity, creating new jobs as a result.

"More than half the dollars in health care in the U.S. are public dollars," Autor observes. "We have a lot of leverage there, we can push things in that direction. There are different ways to use this."

Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

 

PHILIPS

Two-sided use: Philips unveils business monitor with dual displays for customer service and co-working

For reception areas, banks, healthcare facilities, service counters and open-plan offices: Philips has introduced a business monitor that can be viewed from both sides. Thanks to two integrated displays in a single screen, employees can directly present information to customers sitting on the opposite side of the monitor.

Philips has unveiled the Philips 24B2D5300, a new business monitor featuring a dual-display setup. The 23.8-inch screen is designed to open up new possibilities for customer-facing environments, co-working spaces and collaborative business workflows.

Both the front and rear side feature a 23.8-inch IPS panel with a Full HD resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 pixels. Philips also equips the monitor with a 120 Hz refresh rate — still relatively uncommon in the business segment, where many office displays continue to offer only 60 Hz.

According to Philips, this monitor is suitable for a variety of professional environments, including company receptions, bank counters, healthcare facilities, hotel check-in areas, and educational spaces such as libraries and universities. The monitor was even awarded the Red Dot Design Award 2025, whose jury specifically highlighted its compact design and how it optimizes workspace in a professional context.

On the technical side, both panels feature a maximum brightness level of 300 nits, a native contrast ratio of 1,500:1 (50,000,000:1 dynamic), and 110% sRGB color gamut reproduction. They also feature Flicker-free technology, a SoftBlue filter to reduce the emission of blue light that is harmful to the eyes, and eyesafe CERTIFIED 2.0 certification. Connectivity is ensured by the aforementioned USB-C connections, as well as two HDMI 1.4 ports.

As expected from a dual-display monitor, users can either mirror the content on both screens or extend the desktop across the two panels. The latter setup allows employees to keep sensitive company information hidden while moving relevant content directly onto the customer-facing display. This helps maintain data privacy while still enabling efficient communication with clients.

The concept makes the Philips 24B2D5300 suitable for a wide range of professional use cases, including reception desks, banks, healthcare facilities, service counters and other customer-facing environments. The monitor could also be useful in large office spaces, where two employees may work independently on opposite sides of the screen while still sharing a single PC when collaboration is needed.

However, the monitor does not include touchscreen functionality. A touch-enabled version could become a logical next step, especially for faster self-service and check-in processes where customers could directly interact with their side of the display.

The Philips 24B2D5300 has been available since May through specialist retailers in Germany and Austria at a price of €429.

 

mundophone

TECH

Building the future with robotic construction

On April 24, the Architectural Robotic Construction Lab ( ARC Lab) in The University of Texas at Arlington's College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs demonstrated its new large-scale 3D printing technology.

The construction industry, long dependent on manual labor and traditional methods, is now experiencing a significant transformation through the integration of robotics and automation. This change is motivated by the requirements to address labor shortage, high injuries, delayed projects and the need for higher efficiency, greater accuracy and cost savings. Robotics is accelerating the construction process and improving the quality of the result.

In construction, robotics is the use of automated tools to complete work that was done only by people before. You will be expected to do tasks such as bricklaying, pour concrete, conduct excavation, destroy buildings and assemble structures. Integrating robotics helps businesses handle more work, maintain safety on job sites and always deliver strong and consistent outcomes. Robotics is increasingly used by firms and innovators in construction to automate difficult and frequent tasks. Cemex Ventures states that robots are now being applied to oversight of vehicles and equipment for operations such as earthwork, moving materials, lifting loads, pouring concrete and cleaning construction areas. Besides, robots are making important contributions to disposing of waste, automated tasks and building factories outside cities. 

3D printing lets buildings be created layer by layer which saves both time and waste. Though construction robotics is still in its early stages, there is a great deal of potential. It is set to make the construction process more eco-friendly and advanced which will be a great improvement to the industry. Nevertheless, high first costs, fitting new robots with existing systems and having trained operators are still problems. These issues aside, construction is headed toward greater automation and robots will take on major roles.

The event marked a major step in the college's continued leadership in innovation and applied research. Among those attending the demonstration were UTA President Jennifer Cowley, CAPPA Dean Ming-Han Li and alumnus H. Ralph Hawkins, whose support helped make the lab's pioneering work possible.

Demonstrating the future of construction...During the demonstration, attendees saw the lab's advanced 3D-printing capabilities, which translate digital designs into full-scale concrete structures. The live demonstration highlighted the potential of robotic construction to improve efficiency, sustainability and design possibilities in the built environment.

"As we continue to invest in forward-thinking research and hands-on learning, ARC Lab exemplifies the kind of innovation that defines UTA's future," Dr. Cowley said. "Seeing this technology in action, and the collaboration behind it, reinforces CAPPA's commitment to preparing students to lead in rapidly evolving industries."

Shaping the next generation of designers...The ARC Lab has already become an integral part of UTA's architectural curriculum, embedding fabrication-aware design into both graduate and undergraduate studios. By enabling students to turn conceptual ideas into tangible 3D-printed structures, the lab bridges the gap between theory and practice, preparing students to lead in a rapidly transforming field.

"The ARC Lab represents how philanthropy, faculty talent and institutional vision come together to accelerate discovery," Dr. Li said. "This lab positions CAPPA at the forefront of architectural research and advanced fabrication, while creating powerful, hands-on learning opportunities for our students and meaningful external partnerships."

The demonstration not only celebrated a technological milestone but also highlighted the power of visionary philanthropy, cross-disciplinary collaboration and academic leadership. With continued support and momentum, the ARC Lab is poised to shape the future of architectural research and unlock new possibilities in construction innovation.

                        UTA architecture students utilize the college's new 3D printer. Credit: UTA Photo

A vision realized through philanthropy and leadership...The demonstration underscored the transformative impact of Hawkins' longstanding commitment to architecture education and research. His philanthropy led to the establishment of the H. Ralph Hawkins, FAIA, Chair; in 2023, UTA recruited Professor Shadi Nazarian as its inaugural holder. A cross-disciplinary scholar, Dr. Nazarian specializes in the development and optimization of construction materials and technologies.

Building on that momentum, CAPPA launched the ARC Lab in 2024 to advance research, innovation and the evolution of architectural practice.

Hawkins earned his undergraduate degree from UTA in 1973. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, he has played a key role in advancing the college's vision for innovation through practice. He also serves on CAPPA Dean's Advisory Council.

ARC Lab: A hub for innovation and collaboration...Now fully operational, the ARC Lab is a state-of-the-art research facility within CAPPA. Designed as a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, the lab brings together architecture, engineering, arts and sciences to advance cutting-edge research in large-scale additive manufacturing.

Its mission centers on shared access, experiential learning and industry engagement, equipping students with the technical and problem-solving skills needed in an evolving professional landscape. Its vision extends beyond campus, positioning the ARC Lab as a model for integrated design, applied research and innovation in construction technologies.

Building a culture of research and impact...For Nazarian, the ARC Lab represents more than a technological achievement; it is a platform for discovery and collaboration.

"As the inaugural Hawkins Chair, I had the goal of establishing the ARC Lab to cultivate a distinctive culture of research focused on materials innovation and emerging modes of additive construction," she said. "Through interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on exploration, the lab fosters breakthroughs that extend from campus to community to industry."

The vision has been brought to life by a dedicated team that includes Negar Ashrafi (adjunct assistant professor of architecture), Brad McCorkle (adjunct assistant professor of architecture), and graduate research assistant Shane Pellerin.

Provided by University of Texas at Arlington