Fatal bushfires in Australia have had scientists calling for virtual reality systems that would let people “experience” the conflagrations and react more rationally in the face of their soaring flames and booming noise. Now the University of Nevada, Reno, has developed such a system, called VRFire, which lets users wearing position trackers and surrounded by video screens explore 3D bush terrain with realistic visuals and the sound of spreading wildfires (http://tinyurl.com/36lumm).
A gadget that shrieks if a driver begins to doze at the wheel has been developed by Revex of Japan. The firm’s $10 Drowse Prevention Alarm is built…
