Scientists have developed a revolutionary device that lets paralyzed people use their thoughts to perform tasks they never thought they'd be able to do again. A brain-computer interface, called BrainGate, has demonstrated how it can help paraplegics in the past, but new research shows that the device can be hooked up to a basic tablet to send text messages, show the weather forecast and even play a digital piano. Volunteers with severe paralysis had to have a chip the size of a baby aspirin implanted into their brains in order to use the tablet. Participants have a'baby aspirin'-sized chip implanted into their brain's motor cortex. The motor cortex is a part of the brain that is responsible for the planning, control and execution of involuntary movements.

One of the world's oldest and most popular toys is getting a face-lift. Israel-based startup Particula has unveiled its spin on the Rubik's cube, dubbed the GoCube, that can connect to your phone and enables users to play against other people. It marks a major step up from when the original Rubik's cube, developed by Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik, was first released in 1974. Since then, over 350 million Rubik's cubes have been sold worldwide. Israel-based startup Particula has unveiled its spin on the Rubik's cube, dubbed the GoCube (pictured), that can connect to your phone and enables users to play against other people The GoCube syncs up with smartphones and tablets using a Bluetooth connection, giving users access to the Battle feature, which lets them'play friends (or enemies) across the world, according to Particula.

A child safety warning has been issued over'smart' toys that can be hacked via their Bluetooth connections. The security loophole means that it is possible for strangers to connect to the toys and talk to children without their parents' knowledge. Consumer group Which? said an investigation found'worrying security failures' with the I-Que Intelligent Robot, Furby Connect, Toy-fi Teddy, and CloudPets cuddly toy. It has written to retailers asking them to stop selling the toys ahead of Christmas until the security problems have been resolved. A child safety warning has been issued over'smart' toys that can be hacked via their Bluetooth connections.

Bluetooth technology is one of the most convenient ways to sync audio to IoT devices, however, in the past, the audio quality hasn't always been up to par. Early Bluetooth connections had latency issues, poor noise reduction and low quality audio playback. But with newer Bluetooth products on the market, we're seeing vast improvements in these areas, which could make this technology the go-to choice for IoT device manufacturers and audiophiles. With clearer voice recognition, extended antennas, reduced latency and less aggressive compression, Bluetooth audio quality is better than ever. Streamlined Voice Control and Recognition Today's most advanced IoT devices use voice recognition to control key features--in fact, more than 50 percent of households in the United States use voice recognition to control at least one of their devices.

Prosthetics of the future will not be limited to helping people with disabilities, if a bizarre creation by a young artist is anything to go by. The Third Thumb aims to extend the abilities of anyone who wears it, providing finer control when handling objects. The device could help its wearer to carry more, keep a tighter grip on their smartphone, or even play complex chords on the guitar. The human thumb has a dynamic range of movement, including its characteristic opposable directional ability, which the Third Thumb seeks to recreate. It uses two motors to create tension in a cable system, similar to a bike's brakes, to pull the thumb towards the fingers.