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The police drones of the future will probably look something like this

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Whether we like it or not, our society is currently undergoing a very important transformation thanks in no small part to the rapid technological advancements we keep hearing about on a daily basis. In order to be successful in the society of the future, one will likely have no choice but to adapt and embrace technology, along with any dangers it may bring. The future world I’m talking about will probably be focused even more on security than it is now, with cameras dotting every neighborhood and police drones patrolling the streets day and night. These increased security measures might not be welcomed by everyone, but one thing is for certain, as society evolves so will law enforcement technology.

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Police heavy drone concept art by Maciej Frolow

There has always been a love-hate relationship between the police and the general public, however, due to a number of recent and unfortunate incidents law enforcement officers are starting to look more and more like bullies instead of protectors in the eyes of many people. Given the current circumstances I think most would agree that it may not be such a bad idea to see a bunch of police drones patrolling the streets instead of a bunch of police cars. But what will these drones look like and when will they arrive? Well, some departments have already started using them, although they’re still very few and far between. As for their appearance, at the moment they don’t look much different compared to their standard counterparts, however, the police drones of the future might end up looking like they do belong in law enforcement.

A 3D artist by the name of Maciej Frolow has created several concept images which depict a futuristic police heavy drone that looks ripped straight out of a Robocop movie. Although Frolow designed the police drone with surveillance in mind, he also added a couple of non-lethal offensive measures, including a smoke or gas grenade launcher and pursuit lights. Given that the drone is able to fly, it would be much more efficient than a car (not to mention an officer on foot) at chasing down criminals and softening them up with a gas grenade before the cops show up for an easy arrest that doesn’t require the use of excessive force any longer. Additionally, police drones like this would also be much more effective at shutting down riots or violent protesters by deploying tear gas grenades and flying to safety before the people would have a chance to take it down.

A drone like this could actually be used in a vast number of ways depending on its equipment and should theoretically reduce the number of direct clashes between the police and the public, which are all too common nowadays I’m sorry to say. Admittedly, this is merely concept art, but drones are already highly sought after by many groups of people so it’s only a matter of time before police departments will also start to incorporate them and they may actually look a lot like Maciej Frolow thinks they will.

Although George has many hobbies, he likes nothing more than to play around with cameras and other photography equipment.

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Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

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PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

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A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

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