Innovations in retail technology drew our attention in this week's Worldwide Wrap, from browsing via virtual reality to punishing overspending with electric shocks.
eBay opens VR department store
Etailer eBay has partnered with Australian retailer Myer to launch a virtual reality department store.
The store, which is downloaded in app form, aims to let users to browse products more realistically than they can via their 2D device screens.
Via: Mashable
Wristband could shock users when they overspend
British firm Intelligent Environments has introduced a platform that aims to train users out of overspending by giving them an electric shock when the funds in their account fall below an agreed-upon limit.
The platform can do so by linking a user's bank account to their Pavlok wristband, which can deliver a 255 volt electric shock.
Via: BBC News
Vibrating shoes guide tourists' steps
EasyJet airline's Sneakair smart shoes can guide users to their destination by vibrating to let them know when to turn right or left.
The innovation reportedly allows tourists to look up at the scenery around them, instead of down at a map or GPS system, when they are exploring a new city.
Via: Wired
Tiny RoboBee drone hangs out to save energy
Miniature drone RoboBee can latch onto the undersides of jutting surfaces, such as leaves, enabling it to save energy while capturing an aerial view.
The development could be valuable in surveying disaster zones, as reconnaissance drones' limited energy supply often restricts the amount of time they can stay in the air.
Via: The Guardian
Millions of LinkedIn IDs 'for sale'
A hacker is advertising over one hundred million sets of LinkedIn login details as up for sale.
The details were reportedly sourced from a breach four years ago, and are still effective because LinkedIn underestimated the scale of the breach and did not implement account resetting processes on a large enough scale.
Via: BBC News
US politician insists porn tabs were 'research'
Republican congressional candidate Mike Webb has been on the back foot since posting a screenshot to his Facebook page which inadvertently revealed pornography tabs he had open in his browser when the screenshot was taken.
Webb has released a 2 000-word statement claiming he was conducting an experiment to see whether malware embedded in pornography sites was being used to cyber-attack electoral candidates.
Via: The Guardian
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