Norway Leads the Charge: Electric Cars Overtake Petrol Vehicles on the Roads

Norway now has more electric cars than gasoline-powered vehicles on the roads. Government incentives, such as tax breaks and free parking, have accelerated EV adoption. Nine out of every ten new cars sold in Norway are electric.

Credit: AFP

Norway has become the first country in which electric cars outnumber gasoline-powered vehicles on its roads, marking a significant milestone in sustainable transportation. This accomplishment demonstrates the Nordic countries' commitment to green energy and their ambitious goal of eliminating the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2025.

According to recent data from the Norwegian Road Federation, 754,303 of the 2.8 million private cars registered in Norway are now all-electric, compared to 753,905 petrol vehicles. This shift towards electric mobility is especially noteworthy given Norway's position as one of the world's largest oil exporters.

The Norwegian government has implemented a number of incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs). These include tax breaks and other benefits, which are primarily funded by the country's substantial oil and gas revenues. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, worth more than $1.7 trillion, has played an important role in promoting these green initiatives.

One of the most significant incentives is the exemption of electric vehicle purchasers from sales tax. In addition, EV owners receive benefits such as free parking in many areas and exemption from city tolls. The country has also made significant investments in charging infrastructure, with numerous free chargers located in every town and city. Oslo alone has 2,000 free charging points.

The current sales figures show that Norway's EV strategy is working, with nine out of every ten new cars sold in the country being electric. This rapid adoption rate has been years in the making, with environmental activists even enlisting the help of Norway's biggest pop group, A-ha, in the early days of the EV revolution to encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Despite this impressive progress, there is more work to be done. Diesel models continue to be the most popular, accounting for just under one million vehicles, despite rapid sales declines. Given current trends, the Norwegian government's goal of becoming the first country to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2025 appears to be within reach.

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• Norway now has more electric cars than petrol-driven vehicles on its roads

• Government incentives, including tax breaks and free parking, have boosted EV adoption

• Nine out of ten new cars sold in Norway are electric

Source: BBC

Snap Unveils Next-Generation AR Spectacles, Doubling Down on Wearable Tech

Snap unveils fifth-generation Spectacles with new Snap OS operating system. New Spectacles feature improved field of vision and adaptive tinting. Initially available to developers for $99 per month.

Credit: Reuters

Snap, the company behind the popular messaging app Snapchat, has unveiled its latest foray into augmented reality (AR) with the fifth generation of its Spectacles glasses. The announcement, made during the company's annual partner summit, signals Snap's continued commitment to wearable technology and its vision for the future of AR.

The new Spectacles boast significant upgrades from previous iterations, powered by a proprietary operating system called Snap OS. This new interface responds to both hand gestures and voice commands, demonstrating a more intuitive user experience. Evan Spiegel, Snap's CEO, highlighted the operating system's enhanced ability to understand the wearer's surroundings, allowing for more seamless integration of AR effects.

"There has to be really compelling experiences", Spiegel said in an interview. "By working really closely with developers and just continuously improving our platform, I think we're going to get to a place where there are a lot of compelling lenses for people to try with Spectacles".

The most recent version of Spectacles has a wider field of vision and adaptive lenses that automatically tint in sunlight. These enhancements are intended to improve the overall user experience and make the glasses more suitable for everyday use. However, Snap is taking a cautious approach to consumer adoption, initially making the Spectacles available only to developers for a $99. monthly subscription.

This strategy demonstrates Snap's focus on developing a robust ecosystem of AR applications prior to a wider consumer release. The company believes that by cultivating a developer community, it can create a diverse range of compelling augmented reality experiences that will drive future user adoption.

The new Snap OS also supports more complex multi-user AR interactions. For example, two Spectacles users in the same room could play a game of virtual chess with the board rendered in their shared space. This feature hints at AR's potential to transform social interactions and gaming experiences.

Snap also announced a significant redesign of its Snapchat app in conjunction with the Spectacles launch. The update reduces the app's structure from five sections to three. This move is consistent with Snap's recent efforts to streamline user interactions with advertisements, with the goal of improving platform results for advertisers.

Despite these innovations, Snap faces challenges in the highly competitive digital advertising industry. The company's stock has fallen 40% this year, reflecting competition from larger platforms with larger user bases. Spiegel, on the other hand, remains optimistic about Snap's position in the emerging augmented reality market.

"Unlike in digital advertising, where we were a late entrant in a market with established, scaled players, we are a leader in the market for this new type of glasses", Spiegel stated in a recent letter to staff.

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• Snap unveils fifth-generation Spectacles with new Snap OS operating system

• New Spectacles feature improved field of vision and adaptive tinting

• Initially available to developers for $99 per month

Source: REUTERS

Neuralink's 'Blindsight' Implant Earns FDA Breakthrough Device Status

Neuralink's 'Blindsight' implant has received FDA breakthrough device designation. The device aims to restore vision even in those who lack eyes or optic nerves. Neuralink is also testing an implant that will allow paralysed patients to control digital devices.

Credit: Reuters

Elon Musk's brain-chip startup Neuralink has made a significant breakthrough in its quest to restore vision to the blind. The company announced on Tuesday that its experimental implant, known as 'Blindsight,' has received the coveted 'breakthrough device' designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This prestigious designation is reserved for medical devices that demonstrate promise in treating life-threatening conditions, and it is intended to expedite the development and review process. The announcement represents a significant step forward for Neuralink's ambitious vision restoration project.

Musk, known for his bold claims, stated on social media platform X that the Blindsight device "will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see". While this assertion has yet to be proven, it highlights the potential impact of the technology if successful.

Neuralink, founded in 2016 by Musk and a team of engineers, is developing brain-computer interface technology that has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of neurological conditions. The company's primary focus has been on creating a brain chip implant that can be surgically implanted into the skull.

The ultimate goal of this technology goes beyond vision restoration. Neuralink aims to help disabled patients regain their ability to move and communicate independently. The implant consists of a chip that processes and transmits neural signals, potentially allowing users to control digital devices with their thoughts alone.

In addition to the Blindsight project, Neuralink is currently testing an implant designed to assist paralysed patients. This separate study, which aims to enrol three patients, is expected to last several years and will assess the device's ability to control digital devices using neural signals.

The company has already made significant progress in this regard. Earlier this year, Neuralink successfully implanted its device in a second patient, who has since used it to play video games and learn 3D object design. This demonstrates that the technology has real-world applications beyond medical treatments.

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• Neuralink's 'Blindsight' implant receives FDA breakthrough device designation

• The device aims to restore vision, even for those without eyes or optic nerves

• Neuralink is also testing an implant to help paralysed patients control digital devices

Source: REUTERS