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Need a hug? Brian Mullen at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst may have the answer. He has invented an inflatable vest that fits inside the lining of a jacket and delivers a “portable hug” to children with autism. Deep pressure touch stimulation, as the therapy is known, seems to ease these children’s anxiety, and Mullen’s device provides it without drawing attention to the wearer.

Now you can convince would-be burglars you are tucked up at home watching TV when you are actually sunning yourself on the beach. FakeTV, by Xenso of Malaysia, projects TV-like light patterns of flickering, fading,…

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