This week, we saw 2 big tech stories about customizing our lives, from a high-tech video game controller to a controversial "steroid Olympics" that just lost millions of dollars.
These stories matter to you because they show how tech companies are trying to push boundaries, whether you want to play games better or improve your physical health.
First, a company called Genki launched a highly adjustable video game controller called the Manta. It is currently on Kickstarter, which is a website where people help fund new products. Early buyers can get it for $189, but it will eventually cost $279. The controller has a built-in 2.9-inch screen powered by a microcontroller, which is a tiny computer chip. This screen lets players change how the buttons feel and react. It also features special triggers that can be set to 3 different depths, making it easier to press buttons quickly during fast-paced games.
At the same time, a telehealth company—a business that sells health treatments online—tried to customize the human body. The company, called Enhanced Group, hosted the "Enhanced Games" in Las Vegas. This was a sports event where athletes were encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs that are normally banned. But the event was a major financial failure. The company just reported a loss of nearly $62 million, mostly because of the games. Despite this loss, the wider trend of biohacking, which means using technology and supplements to improve your body, is still booming in Silicon Valley.
These 2 updates show that while customizing your video game controller is relatively simple, trying to rewrite the rules of human sports is much more difficult and expensive.
