Scott Imbrie vividly remembers the first time he used a robotic arm to shake someone’s hand and felt the robotic limb as if it were his own. “I still get goosebumps when I think about that initial contact,” he says. “It’s just unexplainable.” The moment came courtesy of a brain implant: an array of electrodes that let him control a robotic arm and receive tactile sensations back to the brain.
Getting there took decades. In 1985, Imbrie had woken up in the hospital after a car accident with a broken neck and a doctor telling him he’d never use his hands or legs again. His response was an expletive, he says—and a decision. “I’m not going to allow someone to tell me what I can and can’t do.” With the determination of a head-strong 22-year-old, Imbrie gradually regained the ability to walk and some limited arm movement. Aware of how unusual his recovery was, the Illinois-native wanted to help others in similar situations and began looking for research projects related to spinal cord injuries. For decades, though, he wasn’t the right fit, until in 2020 he was finally accepted into a University of Chicago trial.
Scott Imbrie has shaken hands with a robotic arm controlled by a brain implant. The electrodes record neural signals that enable him to move the device and receive tactile feedback. Top: 60 Minutes/CBS News; Bottom: University of Chicago
Imbrie is part of a rarefied group: More people have gone to space than have received advanced brain-computer interfaces (BCI) like his. But a growing number of companies are now attempting to move the devices out of neuroscience labs and into mainstream medical care, where they could help millions of people with paralysis and other neurological conditions. Some companies even hope that BCIs will eventually become a consumer technology.
None of that will be possible without people like Imbrie. He’s a member of the BCI Pioneers Coalition, an advocacy group founded in 2018 by Ian Burkhart, the first quadriplegic to regain hand movement using a brain implant.
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That life-changing experience convinced Burkhart that BCIs will make the leap from lab to real world only if users help shape the technology by sharing their perspectives on what works, what doesn’t, and how the devices fit into daily life. The coalition aims to ensure that companies, clinicians, and regulators hear directly from trial participants.
Ian Burkhart founded the BCI Pioneers Coalition to ensure that companies developing brain implants hear directly from the people using them. Left: Andrew Spear/Redux; Right: Ian Burkhart
The group also serves as a peer-support network for trial participants. That’s crucial, because despite the steady drumbeat of miraculous results from BCI trials, receiving a brain implant comes with significant risks. Surgical complications, such as bleeding or infection in the brain, are possible. Even more concerning is the potential psychological toll if the implant fails to work as expected or if life-changing improvements are eventually withdrawn.
Researchers spell this out upfront, and many are put off, says John Downey, an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Chicago and the lead on Imbrie’s clinical trial. “I would say, the number of people I talk to about doing it is probably 10 to 20 times the number of people that actually end up doing it,” he says.
What Happens in a BCI Trial?
BCI pioneers arrive at their unique status via a number of paths, including spinal cord injuries, stroke-induced paralysis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The implants they receive come from Blackrock Neurotech, Neuralink, Synchron, and other companies, and are being tested for restoring limb function, controlling computers and robotic arms, and even restoring speech.
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Many of the implants record signals from the motor cortex—the part of the brain that controls voluntary movements—to move external devices. Some others target the somatosensory cortex, which processes sensory signals from the body, including touch, pain, temperature, and limb position, to re-create tactile sensation.
Ease of use depends heavily on the application. Restoring function to a user’s own limbs or controlling robotic arms involves the most difficult learning curve. In early sessions, participants watch a virtual arm reach for objects while they imagine or attempt the same movement. Researchers record related brain signals and use them to train “decoder” software, which translates neural activity into control signals for a robotic arm or stimulation patterns for the user’s nerves or muscles.
Paralyzed in a 2010 swimming accident, Burkhart took part in a trial conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute and Ohio State University from 2014 to 2021. His implant recorded signals from his motor cortex as he attempted to move his hand, and the system relayed those commands to electrodes in his arm that stimulated the muscles controlling his fingers.
Ian Burkhart, who is paralyzed from the chest down, received a brain implant that routed neural signals through a computer to his paralyzed muscles, enabling him to play a video game. Battelle
Getting the system to work seamlessly took time, says Burkhart, and initially required intense concentration. Eventually, he could shift his focus from each individual finger movement to the overall task, allowing him to swipe a credit card, pour from a bottle, and even play Guitar Hero.
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Training a decoder is also not a one-and-done process. Systems must be regularly recalibrated to account for “neural drift”—the gradual shift in a person’s neural activity patterns over time. For complex tasks like robotic arm control, researchers may have to essentially train an entirely new decoder before each session, which can take up to an hour.
Austin Beggin says that testing a BCI is hard work, but he adds that moments like petting his dog make it all worth it. Daniel Lozada/The New York Times/Redux
Even after the system is ready, using the device can be taxing, says Austin Beggin, who was paralyzed in a swimming accident in 2015 and now participates in a Case Western Reserve University trial aimed at restoring hand movement. “The mental work of just trying to do something like shaking hands or feeding yourself is 100-fold versus you guys that don’t even think about it,” he says.
It’s also a serious time commitment. Beggin travels more than 2 hours from his home in Lima, Ohio, to Cleveland for two weeks every month to take part in experiments. All the equipment is set up in the house he stays in, and he typically works with the researchers for 3 to 4 hours a day. The majority of the experiments are not actually task-focused, he says, and instead are aimed at adjusting the control software or better understanding his neural responses to different stimuli.
But the BCI users say the hard work is worth it. Beyond the hope of restoring lost function, many feel a strong moral obligation to advance a technology that could help others. Beggin compares the pioneers to the early astronauts who laid the groundwork for the lunar landings. “We’re some of the first astronauts just to get shot up for a couple of hours and come back down to earth,” he says.
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The Emotional Impact of BCIs
Speak to BCI early adopters and a pattern emerges: The biggest benefits are often more emotional than practical. Using a robotic arm to feed oneself or control a computer is clearly useful, but many pioneers say the most meaningful moments are the ones the experiment wasn’t even trying to produce. Beggin counts shaking his parents’ hands for the first time since his injury and stroking his pet dachshund as among his favorite moments. “That stuff is absolutely incredible,” he says.
Neuralink participant Alex Conley, who broke his neck in a car accident in 2021, uses his implant to control both a robotic arm and computers, enabling him to open doors, feed himself, and handle a smartphone. But he says the biggest boost has come from using computer-aided design software.
A former mechanic, Conley began using the software within days of receiving his implant to design parts that could be fabricated on a 3D printer. He has designed everything from replacement parts for his uncle’s power tools to bumpers for his brother-in-law’s truck. “I was a very big problem solver before my accident, I was able to fix people’s things,” he says. “This gives me that same little burst of joy.”
BCI user Nathan Copeland used a robotic arm to get a fist bump from then-President Barack Obama in 2016. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
The outside world often underestimates those little wins, says Nathan Copeland, who holds the record for the longest functional brain implant. After breaking his neck in a car accident in 2004, he joined a University of Pittsburgh BCI trial in 2015 and has since used the device to control both computers and a robotic arm.
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After he uploaded a video to Reddit of himself playing Final Fantasy XIV, one commenter criticized him for not using his device for more practical tasks. Copeland says people don’t understand that those lighthearted activities also matter. “A lot of tasks that people think are mundane or frivolous are probably the tasks that have the most impact on someone that can’t do them,” he says. “Agency and freedom of expression, I think, are the things that impact a person’s life the most.”
Nathan Copeland plays Final Fantasy XIV using his brain implant to control the game character.
When Brain Implants Become Life-Changing
This perspective resonates with Neuralink’s first user, Noland Arbaugh—paralyzed from the neck down after a swimming accident in 2016. After receiving his implant in January 2024, he was able to control a cursor within minutes of the device being switched on. A few days later, the engineers let him play the video game Civilisation VI, and the technology’s potential suddenly felt real. “I played it for 8 hours or 12 hours straight,” he says. “It made me feel so independent and so free.”
Before receiving his Neuralink implant, Noland Arbaugh used mouth-operated devices to control a computer. He says the BCI is more reliable and enables him to do many more things on his own. Rebecca Noble/The New York Times/Redux
But the technology is also providing more practical benefits. Before his implant, Arbaugh relied on a mouth-held typing stick and a mouth-controlled joystick called a quadstick, which uses sip-or-puff sensors to issue commands. But the fiddliness of this equipment required constant caregiver support. The Neuralink implant has dramatically increased the number of things he can do independently. He says he finds great value in not needing his family “to come in and help me 100 times a day.”
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For Casey Harrell, the technology has been even more transformative. Diagnosed with ALS in 2020, the climate activist had just welcomed a baby daughter and was in the midst of a major campaign, pressuring a financial firm to divest from companies that had poor environmental records.
Casey Harrell was able to communicate again within 30 minutes of his BCI being switched on. The device translates his neural signals quickly enough for him to hold conversations. Ian Bates/The New York Times/Redux
“Every morning we’d wake up and there’d be a new thing he couldn’t do, a new part of his body that didn’t work,” says his wife, Levana Saxon. Most alarming was his rapid loss of speech, which, among other things, left him unable to indicate when he was in pain. Then a relative alerted him to a clinical trial at the University of California, Davis, using BCIs to restore speech. He immediately signed up.
The device, implanted in July 2023, records from the brain region that controls muscles involved in talking and translates these signals into instructions for a voice synthesizer. Within 30 minutes of it being switched on, Harrell could communicate again. “I was absolutely overwhelmed with the thought of how this would impact my life and allow me to talk to my family and friends and better interact with my daughter,” he says. “It just was so overwhelming that I began to cry.”
While earlier assistive technology limited him to short, direct commands, Harrell says the BCI is fast enough that he can hold a proper conversation, and he’s been able to resume work part-time.
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What’s Holding BCI Technology Back?
BCI technology still has limits. Most trial participants using Blackrock Neurotech implants can operate their devices only in the lab because the systems rely on wired connections and racks of computer hardware. Some users, including Copeland and Harrell, have had the equipment installed at home, but they still can’t leave the house with it. “That would be a big unlock if I was able to do so,” says Harrell.
The academic nature of many trials creates additional constraints. Pressure to publish and secure funding pushes researchers to demonstrate peak performance on narrow tasks rather than build more versatile and reliable systems, says Mariska Vansteensel, who runs BCI studies at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. She says that investigating the technology’s limits or repeating an experiment in new patients is “less rewarded in terms of funding.”
In a clinical trial, Scott Imbrie uses a BCI to control a robotic arm, using signals from his motor cortex to make it move a block. University of Chicago
One of Imbrie’s biggest frustrations is the rapid turnover in experiments. Just as he begins to get proficient at one task, he’s asked to switch to the next task. Study designs also mean that much of the users’ time is spent on mundane tasks required to fine-tune the system.
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Perhaps the biggest issue is that trials are often time-limited. That’s partly because scar tissue from the body’s immune response to the implant can gradually degrade signal quality. But constraints on funding and researcher availability can also make it impossible for users to keep using their BCIs after their trials end, even when the technology is still functional.
Ian Burkhart’s BCI enables him to grasp objects, pour from a bottle, and swipe a credit card.
Burkhart has firsthand experience. His trial was extended, but the implant was eventually removed after he got an infection. He always knew the trial would end, but it was nonetheless challenging. “It was a little bit of a tease where I got to see the capability of the restoration of function,” he says. “Now I’m just back to where I was.”
The Push to Commercialize BCIs
Progress is being made in transitioning the technology from experimental research devices to fully-fledged medical products that could help users in their everyday lives. Most academic BCI research has relied on Blackrock Neurotech’s Utah Arrays, which typically feature 96 needlelike electrodes that penetrate the brain’s surface. The implant is connected to a skull-mounted pedestal that’s wired to external hardware. But some of the newer devices are sleeker and less invasive.
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Neuralink’s implant houses its electronics and rechargeable battery in a coin-size unit connected to flexible electrode threads inserted into the brain by a robotic “sewing machine.” The implant, which is roughly the size of a quarter or a euro, is mounted in a hole cut into the skull and charges and transfers data wirelessly. Synchron takes a different approach, threading a stent-like implant through blood vessels into the motor cortex. This “stentrode” connects by wire to a unit in the chest that powers the implant and transmits data wirelessly.
Rodney Gorham can use his Synchron implant to control not just a computer, but also smart devices in his home like an air conditioner, fan, and smart speaker. Rodney Decker
Neuralink’s decoder runs on a laptop, while Synchron deploys a smartphone-size signal processing unit as a wireless bridge to the user’s devices, which allows them to use their implants at home and on the move. The companies have also developed adaptive decoders that use machine learning to adjust to neural drift on the fly, reducing the need for recalibration.
Making these devices truly user-friendly will require technology that can interpret user context, says Kurt Haggstrom, Synchron’s chief commercial officer—including mood, attention levels, and environmental factors like background noise and location. This approach will require AI that analyzes neural signals alongside other data streams such as audio and visual input.
Last year, Synchron took a first step by pairing its implant with an Apple Vision Pro headset. When trial participant Rodney Gorham looked at devices such as a fan, a smart speaker, and an air conditioner, the headset overlaid a menu that enabled him to adjust the device’s settings using his implant.
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Rodney Gorham uses his Synchron implant to turn on music, feed his dog, and more. Synchron BCI
Another way to reduce cognitive load is to detect high-order signals of intent in neural data rather than low-level motor commands, says Florian Solzbacher, cofounder and chief scientific officer of Blackrock Neurotech. For instance, rather than manually navigating to an email app and typing, the user could simply think about sending an email and the system would then open it with content already prepopulated, he says.
Durability may prove a thornier problem to solve, UChicago’s Downey says. Current implants last around a decade—well short of a lifelong solution. And with limited real estate in the brain, replacement is only possible once or twice, he says.
Rapid technological progress also raises difficult decisions about whether to get a BCI implant now or wait for a more advanced device. This was a major concern for Gorham’s wife, Caroline. “I was hesitant. I didn’t want him to go on the trial but maybe a future one,” she says. “It was my fear of missing out on future upgrades.”
This kind of talk inspires mixed feelings in users. The hype brings visibility and funding, says Beggin, but could divert attention from medical users’ needs. Copeland worries that consumer branding could strip the devices of insurance coverage and that rising demand may make it harder to access qualified surgeons.
Noland Arbaugh, the first recipient of Neuralink’s BCI, says that using the implant to control a computer made him feel independent and free. Steve Craft/Guardian/eyevine/Redux
There are also concerns about how data collected by BCI companies will be handled if the devices go mainstream. As a trial participant, Arbaugh says he’s comfortable signing away his data rights to advance the technology, but he thinks stronger legal protections will be needed in the future. “Does that data still belong to Neuralink? Does it belong to each person? And can that data be sold?” he asks.
Blackrock’s Solzbacher says the company remains focused on the medical applications of the technology. But he also believes it is building a “universal interface to any kind of a computerized system” that may have broader applications in the future. And he says the company owes it to users not to limit them to a bare-bones assistive technology. “Why would somebody who’s got a medical condition want to get less than something that somebody who’s able-bodied would possibly also take?” says Solzbacher.
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The ever-optimistic Imbrie heartily agrees. Medical devices are invariably expensive, he says, but targeting consumer applications could push companies to keep devices simple and affordable while continuing to add features. “I truly believe that making it a consumer-available product will just enhance the product’s capabilities for the medical field,” he says.
Imbrie is on a mission to refocus the conversation around BCIs on the positives. While concerns about risks are valid, he worries that the alarming language often used to describe brain implants discourages people from volunteering for trials that could help them.
“I remember laying there in the bed and not being able to move,” he says, “and it was really dehumanizing having to ask someone to do everything for you. As humans, we want to be independent.”
Betteridge’s law applies, but with help and guidance by a human who knows his stuff, [Ready Z80] was able to get a functioning game of Wordle out of the French-named LLM, which is more than we expected. It’s not like the folks at Anthropic spent much time making sure 40-year-old opcodes were well represented in their training data, after all.
For hardware, [Ready Z80] is working with the TEC-1G single-board-computer, which is a retrocomputer inspired by the TEC-1 whose design was published by Australian hobbyist magazine “Talking Electronics” back in the 1980s. Claude actually seemed to know what that was, and that it only had a hex keypad — though when [Ready Z80] was quick to correct it and let the LLM know he’s using a QWERTY keyboard add-on, Claude declared it was confident in its ability to write the code.
As usual for a LLM, Claude was overconfident and tossed out some nonexistent instructions. Though admittedly, it didn’t persist in that after being corrected. It’s notable that [Ready Z80] doesn’t prompt it with “Give me an implementation of Wordle in Z80 assembly for the TEC-1G” but goes through step-by-step, explaining exactly what he wants each section of the code to do. As [Dan Maloney] reported three years ago, it’s a bit like working with a summer intern.
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In the end, they get a working game, but that was never in question. [Ready Z80] reveals over the course of the video he has the chops to have written it himself. Did using Claude make that go faster? Based on studies we’ve seen, it probably felt like it, even if it may have actually slowed him down.
Matrix Recruitment’s Breda Dooley finds that in a competitive space, candidates can’t fall foul to common faux pas.
Looking for a new job can be stressful, as you aim to progress your career and find a role that suits both your lifestyle and your ambitions. With that in mind, it is critical that you put your best foot forward, as even the smallest mistake during the interview and hiring process could be the deciding factor on whether or not that dream job becomes yours.
Candidates are making avoidable errors, finds Breda Dooley, the head of recruitment at Matrix Recruitment Group. With mistakes ranging from generic CVs to costly blunders during virtual interviews, she noted that hiring managers often cite small errors as the reason a candidate missed out on an opportunity in an increasingly competitive job market.
Explaining that candidates should always be prepared, professional and show genuine interest in the role, Dooley highlighted the areas in which mistakes are often made and offered advice as to how applicants can avoid an unnecessary blunder.
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Virtual interview blunders
We are firmly in the post-Covid era, with many of the rules and regulations brought in during the pandemic having long been disregarded. One element that has stuck around, however, is the virtual interview, as many roles exist now in a hybrid or remote capacity.
Yet despite the prevalence of online workplace engagement, Dooley finds that job applicants in 2026 are continuing to make avoidable mistakes: for example, poor camera positioning, a failure to test internet connection prior to the interview and taking the call in an environment with distracting background noise. Body language, too, should be controlled, in much the same way that you would regulate your face and emotions in an in-person setting.
Dooley said, “Virtual interviews require the same level of preparation as face-to-face meetings. Your setup, body language and focus all influence the impression you leave.”
Down the garden path
The manner in which you choose to deliver your answers is also of importance, as too little or too much information could result in a negative interviewing experience for the employer and the loss of an opportunity for the applicant.
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That is to say, you should make a concerted effort not to overly rehearse your answers – generic, overly memorised responses can sound stilted and unnatural. Answers should be pre-prepared to a degree, but not so well crafted that they come across as being scripted or lacking authenticity.
Dooley said, “Interviews should still feel like a conversation. Candidates should focus on sharing genuine examples that show how they approach challenges or delivered results. It’s really important to give real-life examples and scenarios with clear facts; this will stick out in an interview and showcase your skills.”
The opposite is true as well, finds Dooley, as unfocused or excessively detailed answers can show an inability to structure a coherent response to a question.
“Don’t ramble. Clear and concise answers that focus on relevant examples tend to leave a stronger impression on interview panels.”
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Finish strong
First impressions can last – however, it is possible that a recruiter will ignore a poor start if you pick yourself up and finish strong. A failure to connect with the place offering the job, or asking anything about the work at hand, though, can certainly leave the employer feeling as though you wouldn’t be a good fit.
In asking additional questions once the conversation has come to a natural halt, you can show that you are genuinely curious about the organisation, that you want to engage further and that you understand the importance of communicating queries or concerns.
“Candidates should use the opportunity to learn more about the role, the team and the company culture. The fundamentals haven’t changed – preparation, clarity and professionalism remain the factors that set strong candidates apart,” said Dooley.
In addition to showcasing your suitability for the role, asking questions also enables the applicant to fully assess whether or not the working environment is one in which they would be happy to work. Just make sure that the questions are in line with your current status as an applicant, and don’t unintentionally cross a professional boundary.
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So there you have it – the common mistakes many job applicants in 2026 are still making. Make sure you aren’t among them.
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Fully electric vehicles are becoming more and more prevalent, but some people still prefer hybrids over EVs. Hybrids combine the best aspects of both full-electric motors and gasoline-fueled engines, and as such, they offer decent power output, reduced emissions, and impressive fuel efficiency. They’re also generally quieter, and they remove the charging hassle and fear of running out of power that comes with a full EV.
Hybrids depend on a battery pack to power the electric motor. These batteries often come with generous warranties, with major automotive brands like Ford and BMW offering eight-year warranties. However, even though there are measures you can take to ensure your hybrid’s battery lasts as long as it’s supposed to, it will still degrade and fail over time. When this happens, you’ll probably experience some of the most common problems that affect lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride batteries, like overheating and reduced battery capacity.
Given that most hybrid battery repairs or replacements can cost thousands of dollars, understanding these problems is vital for current owners and potential buyers alike. As an owner, it can help you detect and troubleshoot small issues that might worsen into something serious, and if you’re a buyer, you’ll be able to decide if the hybrid car is worth investing in. With that said, here’s a look at common problems you’ll find with hybrid batteries and how you can avoid them.
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Your battery drains too fast
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One thing to keep in mind about all types of batteries is that they are susceptible to battery drain, especially as they age. Your high-voltage hybrid battery pack is no different. In an ideal scenario, a hybrid battery should last about eight to ten years, and you should not experience persistent battery drain during this period. However, if your pack is relatively new, and you notice telltale signs of a dying battery, such as a noticeable drop in your average MPG or reduced performance, that’s cause for concern. Your aging battery cells are probably losing efficiency, and it’s best that you visit a pro for inspection and repair.
Apart from age, there are many reasons why your car’s battery is draining so fast. Factors such as exposure to extreme temperatures and frequent deep discharges can all lead to premature battery drain. The battery will also start to lose capacity if you leave your vehicle untouched for months or engage in bad driving habits, say, pushing the engine too hard for too long. To avoid putting your hybrid battery at risk of premature draining, experts recommend parking your car in a shaded area. You’ll also want to drive your car regularly — not short drives, as they can also shorten the lifespan of both the 12-volt and high-voltage batteries. Don’t forget to commit to proactive maintenance as it’s key to a long hybrid life.
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Your battery overheats
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Another common and dangerous problem you may encounter with hybrid batteries is overheating. It’s quite normal for batteries to generate a little heat when in use due to chemical reactions. When it starts to heat up excessively, however, you’ll want to take caution; an overheating hybrid battery can present some serious issues. It can reduce your battery’s lifespan by increasing wear and damaging battery cells and also impact your car’s performance and fuel efficiency.
Overheating is one of the warning signs that your hybrid battery needs to be replaced. You can always tell your battery is dangerously overheated if it’s hot to the touch or if a battery warning light pops up on the dashboard. There are several reasons why your hybrid battery will overheat. Think of being exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, pushing your car too hard to gain speed instantaneously, and faulty electronic connections.
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You can keep all these from happening by avoiding common mistakes that ruin car batteries. Mechanics also warn against depleting or deep-discharging your high-voltage battery pack. It’s also wise that you practice proper maintenance. Blocked air intakes, dirty filters, and faulty fans are known culprits for overheating hybrid batteries. Aside from this, be on the lookout for software updates that could entail battery management improvements.
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Dead cells or faulty battery modules
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A hybrid battery is not just one big battery. It’s a pack composed of multiple individual modules with low-voltage battery cells, organized to deliver a given voltage level required for efficient operation. Considering that they’re connected to work together, if one module fails, either due to manufacturing defects or physical damage, the whole system will be affected, too.
When this happens, you’ll probably miss everything that makes your hybrid SUV or truck worth driving — think of tremendous fuel savings and impressive driving range. In addition to a decline in fuel efficiency and performance, error codes may appear on your dashboard, your car may feel sluggish during acceleration, and strange noises may appear. To avoid this, keep up with routine battery checks, avoid deep discharges, and minimize how you use your hybrid battery.
If you notice any of these signs, experts recommend you visit your garage for diagnostic scans immediately. Left unchecked, the issue can spread to other cells, leading to total battery failure, which, as we mentioned, is quite expensive to replace. Also, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you might be tempted to swap faulty modules with new ones. Before you go ahead with your plan, you’ll want to think twice. If done incorrectly, it may result in repeated battery failures and, worse still, a short circuit that could lead to a “thermal event.”
There is a currently ongoing debate in the neuropsychology world about how we relate to the tools that we use. The theory of “tool embodiment” says that when we use some tools frequently enough, our brain recognizes them similarly to how it recognizes our own hands, for instance. There is evidence and counter-evidence from experiments with prosthetics, trash-grabber arms, and rubber dummy arms, just to name a few. It’s fair to say the jury is still out.
All I know is that today my trackball broke, and using a normal gaming mouse to edit the podcast was torture. It would be an exaggeration to say that I felt like I’d lost a hand, but I have so much motor memory apparently built up in my use of the trackball that switching over to another tool to undertake the exact same series of hundreds of small audio edits – mostly compensating for the audio delay across continents, but also silencing coughs and background noises – took an extra hour.
Anyone who has switched from one keyboard to another, or heck even from emacs to vim, knows what I experienced. My body just knows how to flick my wrist to make the cursor on the screen move over to the beginning of that “umm”. It’s not like I don’t conceptually know how to use a mouse either, and it does exactly the same job. But the mouse wasn’t my tool for this application. And saying that out loud makes it almost sound like I’m bordering on embodying my trackball.
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I probably should have taken the trackball apart and replaced the bad tact switch on the left-click – that would have taken maybe twenty minutes – but I completely underestimated how integral the tool had become to the work. Anyway, as I write this, tomorrow is Saturday and I’ll have time to fix it. But today, I learned something pretty neat about myself in the process, even if I don’t think my single datapoint is going to rock the academic psych world.
Now that we’re past March, Prime Video has plenty of new, must-see movies for us to stream this April. One of the platform’s biggest new originals is Chris Hemsworth’s thrilling action movie, Crime 101.
The Prime Video vault is also loaded with hit films from the past year, including Sinners, Novocaine, and The Naked Gun. Explore this guide for some of our top Prime Video recommendations.
One of the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now is also one that most people slept on in theaters. Crime 101 bombed at the box office despite having the cast, the script, and the direction to be a genuine crowd-pleaser.
Chris Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, a methodical jewel thief whose precision heists along LA’s 101 Freeway have left the LAPD baffled. Mark Ruffalo is the detective slowly connecting the dots, and Halle Berry is an insurance broker drawn into the orbit of both men. Directed by Bart Layton and based on Don Winslow’s novella, this is a twisty thriller that earns every comparison to Heat.
From producer David Leitch (John Wick, The Fall Guy), Pretty Lethal revolves around five ballerinas who get stranded in the forest when their bus crashes on the way to a dance competition. They find shelter in a nearby inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a veteran ballet dancer.
However, when Devora springs a sinister trap on them, this young ballet team must draw on all their training to escape and survive this dance of death.
For those waiting for more Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Prime Video may have the solution for you. Produced by the Russo Brothers (Avengers: Doomsday), The Bluff follows former pirate Ercell Bodden (Chopra Jonas), whose perfect life is thrown into chaos when the vengeful Captain Connor (Urban) appears at her doorstep.
Though she tried to bury her past as the dreaded “Bloody Mary,” Ercell is forced to fight once again to protect her family from Connor and his crew.
Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (Blue Beetle), The Wrecking Crew follows estranged half-brothers Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) when they reunite in Hawaii following their father’s murder in a supposed hit-and-run. Jonny and James then set off to find the truth, uncovering heavy secrets about each other and their father’s killer along the way.
Despite the odds and their opposing personalities, Jonny and James come together to rampage against their enemies, triggering an all-out war with the Yakuza. All this makes The Wrecking Crew an explosive, hysterical adventure that fans of Lethal Weapon should enjoy.
Set in the 1930s, director Ryan Coogler’s Sinnersfollows gangster brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) as they return home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to open a juke joint. For their opening night, they have their preacher-boy cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), sing the blues for their guests, harnessing magic that lets him conjure spirits from the past and future.
Unfortunately, Sammie’s music also attracts the ancient vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who just happened to end up in town after fleeing from a group of Choctaw hunters. Remmick crashes the party, turning the guests into undead bloodsuckers, culminating in an epic, brutal showdown between humans and vampires.
Action star Liam Neeson is the new Frank Drebin at Police Squad. The Naked Gun follows Lt. Drebin Jr. as he investigates the death of a man linked to sinister tech mogul Richard Cane (Danny Huston). Teaming up with the deceased’s sister, crime novelist Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), Drebin tries to uncover the truth behind this strange death.
Though Drebin inherits his father’s brand of buffoonery, he discovers Cane’s plot to wipe out humanity using a literal plot device. While Police Squad’s future is at risk because of Drebin’s slip-up, he must step up to save the world from destruction and honor his father’s legacy.
Novocaine follows mild-mannered bank executive Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), who was born with a disorder that makes him unable to feel pain. After meeting Sherry (Amber Midthunder), the girl of his dreams, things finally seem to be looking up for Nathan as she helps him break out of his shell.
However, things turn bad when a group of robbers attacks his bank and takes Sherry hostage. Compelled to save Sherry, Nathan pursues the robbers, using his insensitivity to pain to fight his way through the streets of San Diego to reach his true love.
Outer Banks’ Madelyn Cline and Riverdale’s KJ Apa play two young lovers on a European excursion in The Map That Leads to You. While on a train with her two best friends, Heather (Cline) meets the handsome Jack (Apa). The two hit it off and embark on a journey to visit a list of places Jack’s grandfather wrote about in a journal.
As their time together comes to an end, Heather and Jack must decide whether their connection can survive while they are separated halfway across the world.
Among the top movies streaming on Prime, American Fiction stands apart as one of the sharpest and most surprisingly moving films in recent years. Jeffrey Wright plays Monk, a Black novelist whose serious literary work earns critical respect but zero sales. In a moment of frustration and grief, he writes a deliberately absurd, over-the-top parody of what publishers think Black stories should sound like, and the book becomes a runaway bestseller.
Cord Jefferson’s feature debut is both a biting social satire and a genuinely tender family drama running underneath it. Wright and Sterling K. Brown both earned Oscar nominations for their work here, and Jefferson was awarded the Best Adapted Screenplay for this movie.
Long after its defeat by Ellen Ripley, the Alien franchise’s first Xenomorph is found and experimented on by the crew of the Romulus space station. Eventually, a group of teenagers from a nearby colony searches through Romulus, ruined and infested with Xenomorphs, while on their journey to a new planet.
In true Alien fashion, Romulus sees one of the teens implanted with a baby Xenomorph, and the adult creature starts picking off members of the group. This makes for a good old-fashioned space slasher filled with thrilling action and unforgettable horror.
The Menu is easily one of the most rewatchable films in the entire Prime Video library. Ralph Fiennes plays Chef Slowik, a culinary genius who invites a selected group of wealthy guests to his exclusive island restaurant for a multi-course tasting menu. What unfolds is a darkly comic horror thriller that takes increasingly sharp aim at wealth, pretension, and the performance of taste.
Anya Taylor-Joy is the one guest who refuses to play along, and the tension between her and Fiennes is the beating heart of the film. It is wickedly funny, visually stunning, and has one of the most satisfying endings in recent memory.
Written and directed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, this adult comedy tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), who wished for his stuffed bear (MacFarlane) to come to life as a child. Though Jon and Ted became best pals, they grew up to be childish adults who spend their days doing drugs and watching Flash Gordon together.
Jon tries to mature and hold a job for his girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis). However, Ted keeps pulling him back into their usual shenanigans, which threatens to tear these “thunder buddies” apart for good.
Long before Stranger Things came out, director J.J. Abrams gave us this blockbuster homage to ’80s horror and sci-fi. Set in the year 1979, Super 8 follows small-town teenager Joe (Joel Courtney) and his friends as they try to make a short zombie movie.
While filming one of their scenes, a pickup truck drives into a speeding train carrying some otherworldly creature. Pretty soon, people, pets, and machines all over town disappear. As the U.S. military hunts for this deadly entity, Joel and his friends must team up to uncover the truth and save their town.
When New York needed its finest, the city got the other guys instead. This hilarious cop comedy shows hot-headed Detective Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) reluctantly teaming up with mild-mannered Detective Gamble (Will Ferrell) out in the field.
While investigating a minor crime, the duo discovers a much larger criminal conspiracy. Seeing an opportunity to prove themselves as police officers, they try to set aside their differences and solve the case. But with these two guys, that’s easier said than done.
This iconic comedy film shows the members of Monty Python recreating the legend of King Arthur in the Middle Ages. The story follows Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his Knights of the Round Table, who are tasked by God to search for the Holy Grail.
Riding on their invisible horses with their clacking coconuts, Arthur and his warriors encounter such fearsome and bizarre foes as the French Taunter (John Cleese), the Knights Who Say “Ni,” and the killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. The film also features some hysterical moments, such as Arthur’s duel with the Black Knight, his encounter with two anarcho-syndicalist peasants, and the catchy musical number at Camelot.
Directed by John Sturges (1960’s The Magnificent Seven), The Great Escape follows a group of Allied POWs as they try to break out of a Nazi prison camp during World War II. American Captain Hilts (Steve McQueen) repeatedly tries and fails to escape captivity, getting locked up alone in the “cooler” as a result.
Meanwhile, his Allied inmates band together to dig their way out through a series of tunnels beneath the prison. Even though they make it out of the camp, escape does not mean freedom, as they must race to evade capture by the Nazis once more in one of the most iconic war films ever.
The Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams represent the first of the trio of Ardennes Classic and the point at which the cycling season moves from the cobbles to the hills, where the climbers traditionally dominate. Tadej Pogacar is absent in the men’s race, but Mattias Skjelmose returns to defend his title.
The Dane delivered arguably the biggest upset of last season in winning a sprint finish against Pogacar to become one of the few riders to beat the great Slovenian in 2025. Pogacar won’t be lining up this year – neither will other Big Three member Wout van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel – and nor will Tom Pidcock after his crash in the Volta a Catalunya, but there will still be a stacked men’s field.
Remco Evenepoel, also edged out by Skjelmose on the line 12 months ago, will again be among the favorites, while Irishman Ben Healey seems to have targeted this race all season and may go hard up the Ardennes climbs before the finish in Berg en Terblijt.
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That’s where the women’s race also finishes – it starts in Maastricht, like the men – and the defending champion Mischa Bredewold is again back to defend her crown. Competition will come from Demi Vollering, the European champion and recent Tour of Flanders winner.
Read on for everything you need to know to watch 2026 Amstel Gold Race live streams from anywhere in the world.
Can I watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 for free?
Yes! There are numerous countries that have free-to-air coverage of the 2026 Amstel Gold Race cycling.
We recommend the SBS On Demandonline platform in Australia, which also has free English language coverage of the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
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Travelling abroad and set to miss one of the races? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. Surfshark is our top pick of the options.
Use a VPN to watch any Amstel Gold Race 2026 stream
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How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in the US
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in the US will find the 2026 Amstel Gold Race live stream on FloBikes.
A subscription to FloBikes will set you back US$155.88 for the year or US$39.99 on a monthly basis.
If you’re out of the US but still want to watch any of the races, then don’t forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.
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How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in the UK
Cycling fans in the UK can watch the Amstel Gold Race 2026, and the majority of UCI World Tour events, on TNT Sports.
To access this you’ll either need to add it to your TV package, or you can take out a standalone subscription via HBO Max, which launched on March 26 in the UK. The best value streaming package is £25.99 a month for a 12-term term. Previous Discovery+ subscribers will be transferred over automatically.
If you’re traveling overseas, don’t worry, as you can use Surfshark to watch your usual service from abroad.
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How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in Canada can watch Amstel Gold Race 2026, and most UCI World Tour events, on FloBikes.
A subscription will set you back CAN$215.88 for the year or CAN$49.99 on a monthly basis.
Not at home? Use Surfshark or another VPN service to make your device think you’re still in Canada.
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How to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams in Australia
As mentioned above, Australian cycling fans are in luck as they have one of the widest ranges of English-language free-to-air content. That is thanks to coverage being provided by the online platform, SBS On Demand .
SBS has the rights to the Tour of Flanders 2026, plus Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Roubaix, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Eschborn-Frankfurt and Paris-Tours, as well as many more.
Outside of Australia? Use a VPN to watch coverage of the Amstel Gold Race 2026.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Last May Duolingo’s stock peaked at $529.05. But while the learning app passed $1 billion in revenue in 2025 and 50 million daily active users, today its stock price has dropped more than 81%, to $100.51.
And there’s been other changes, reports Entrepreneur:
In April 2025, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn made headlines after writing a memo calling the company “AI-first.” In the memo, von Ahn announced that the language-learning platform would track employees’ AI use in performance reviews. Now, a year later, von Ahn is backtracking and rethinking how he measures employee performance. He told the Silicon Valley Girlpodcast earlier this month that Duolingo no longer considers AI use in performance reviews.
The change arose after employees started to ask, “Do you just want us to use AI for AI’s sake?” von Ahn explained. “We said no, look — the most important thing in your performance is that you are doing whatever your job is as well as possible. A lot of times, AI can help you with that, but if it can’t, I’m not going to force you to do that,” von Ahn said on the podcast. He felt as though the company was “trying to push something that in some cases did not fit” instead of “being held accountable for the actual outcome.” The CEO is, however, still sticking to other “constructive constraints” he introduced in the April 2025 memo, including stopping contractor hiring in cases where AI can assume their workload…
Von Ahn also mentioned that a few months ago, Duolingo had a day dedicated to vibe coding, or prompting AI to create an app without manually writing a single line of code. Every single person at the company, from engineers to human resources professionals, had to vibe code an app. Vibe coding has made an impact at the company. One of Duolingo’s latest offerings, a course teaching users how to play chess, arose when two people vibe-coded the first prototype of it, the CEO said. Neither of them knew how to play chess or program, but they managed to use AI to create the whole chess curriculum and a prototype of the app in about six months last year. Now chess is Duolingo’s fastest-growing course, according to von Ahn. “At this point, we have seven million daily active users that are learning chess,” the CEO said on the podcast.
Longtime venture capitalist Ron Conway said Friday that he was “recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.”
In a post on X, Conway wrote that he “will be stepping back from some of my usual activities,” but he will “continue to support” founders backed by his firm SV Angel: “With a more focused and balanced schedule, I can prioritize treatments while helping SV Angel founders at inflection points like we always do!”
Conway also said SV Angel will be “unchanged,” as his son Topher Conway “has made all of our investment decisions for the better part of the last decade.” And he noted that another son, Ronny Conway, joined as a managing partner in 2024.
“They bring experience from nearly every major technology cycle in Silicon Valley and are now focused on partnering with founders building the future of AI,” Conway said.
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He added that he’s not revealing “the specific type of cancer” in his diagnosis, because he doesn’t want “speculation” about the prognosis, but he said he remains “optimistic.”
“I am fortunate to have the best/amazing team of UCSF doctors in San Francisco, and as you know, I never back down from a fight,” Conway said.
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
InnoCN GA27S1Q: 30-second review
On paper, the GA27S1Q is a remarkably well-specified monitor at a price that seriously undercuts the established names. Whether InnoCN can deliver on those specifications in the real world is what I set out to establish in this review, and spoiler alert, it largely hits its marks.
This design was originally pitched as a gaming platform, but it’s impossible for businesses to ignore a 27-inch QD-OLED panel running at 280Hz with an ergonomically adjustable chassis and a $400 price tag.
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Especially as that cost puts it some distance below the usual asking price for this class of display from the likes of LG, Samsung, and Asus.
The headline numbers are certainly striking. A 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 0.03ms GtG response time, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, dual DisplayPort 1.4, a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and coverage claimed at 98% DCI-P3 all look very good on paper. The panel supports a 48 to 280Hz adaptive sync range, covers AMD FreeSync and is G-Sync compatible, and includes VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.
Where OLED always gives with one hand and takes with the other is brightness. The GA27S1Q is rated at 250 nits typical in SDR, which is a long way south of the figures that premium IPS and Mini-LED panels advertise. Therefore, this isn’t the screen for a brightly lit office, but it would work fine in a darker environment.
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The design carries over the approach seen on other recent InnoCN monitors, with a flat panel, a three-sided frameless bezel, and a stand that offers height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and 90-degree pivot. RGB lighting sits on the rear cover, which can be switched off for those who would rather not have a light show behind their desk.
What the GA27S1Q offers for the business user is a highly affordable 27-inch panel with decent colour accuracy, low power consumption and sufficient input flexibility, all at a significant price reduction over branded options.
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It might not be 4K or have enough nits of brightness for a premium HDR experience, but it ticks enough other boxes that it’s worthy of consideration for our best business monitors on value alone.
The GA27S1Q launched in late January 2026 with a price of $549.99. At that level, it sits in very interesting territory, undercutting well-known 27-inch QD-OLED competitors by a meaningful margin.
InnoCN ships to the US, the UK, Canada, and EU countries directly, with free shipping included and a 30-day return window. A 12-month warranty covers manufacturing defects, with lifetime technical support promised beyond that.
UK and European pricing in local currencies had not been formally confirmed at the time of writing. The direct site prices in USD and the company’s existing shipping infrastructure to this region suggest the GA27S1Q should be accessible to UK buyers, though it may need to be ordered directly from the InnoCN website rather than through a local retailer.
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InnoCN GA27S1Q: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Specification
Detail
Model
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GA27S1Q (also known as 2780s)
Panel size
27 inches (flat)
Panel type
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QD-OLED
Resolution
2560 × 1440 (QHD / 1440p)
Aspect ratio
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16:9
Pixel density
108.8 PPI
Refresh rate
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280Hz (adaptive sync range 48–280Hz)
Response time
0.03ms GtG
Brightness (typical)
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250 nits (SDR) / 200 nits minimum
Contrast ratio
1,500,000:1
Colour depth
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10-bit (1.07 billion colours)
Colour coverage
98% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB, 78% BT.2020
Colour accuracy
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Delta E < 2 (factory claimed)
Viewing angles
178° horizontal / 178° vertical
HDR
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VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400
Surface treatment
Non-glare (matte)
Bezel
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Three-sided frameless
Connectivity
2× HDMI 2.1, 2× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× 3.5mm audio out
Adaptive sync
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AMD FreeSync, G-Sync compatible
Speakers
2W × 2
Stand adjustment
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Tilt -5° to +20°, swivel ±22.5°, pivot 90°, height 120mm
VESA mount
100 × 100mm
RGB lighting
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Yes (rear cover)
Power supply
External adapter (DC 19V, 4.74A)
Power consumption
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65W typical / 100W max
Dimensions (with stand)
611.1 × 513.5 × 221mm
Weight
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5.7kg
Scaler
MT9802QDQTBX
Special features
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Low blue light, flicker-free, PIP/PBP, anti-burn-in, Game Plus
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Thin and elegant
Power brick
Lacks a USB hub
The GA27S1Q follows a design language that InnoCN has been refining across its recent monitor range. The flat panel sits behind a three-sided frameless bezel, with only a thin chin visible at the bottom of the screen. The overall silhouette is clean and modern, without chasing the aggressive gamer aesthetic that dominates the other side of this market.
The stand is a genuine highlight at this price point. It offers 120mm of height adjustment, plus or minus 22.5 degrees of swivel, a tilt range from minus 5 to plus 20 degrees, and a full 90-degree pivot for portrait mode. There isn’t an orientation sensor, so if you switch, you will need to make some changes on the computer to output in portrait mode.
While hardly a business requirement, RGB lighting is present on the rear panel, but this can be switched off entirely via the OSD for those who prefer a calmer desk. VESA mounting is supported at the standard 100 x 100mm pattern, which means swapping to an arm is straightforward.
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Connectivity is two HDMI 2.1 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, and a single 3.5mm audio out. The dual HDMI 2.1 ports are useful for anyone running both a high-end PC and a console, with both capable of supporting 1440p at high refresh rates without an adapter.
The omission of a USB hub is notable at this price level, and the external power brick, rather than an integrated PSU, adds a small amount of cable-management friction, though this is common across OLED-class panels to better manage heat.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The OSD is navigated via a rear-mounted joystick, a far superior experience to the guess-the-button game that some monitors still embrace. However, you don’t need to use this at all, since a downloadable app is available which provides all the functionality of the OSD from the desktop.
Overall, this is a well-considered design that shows off how thin the QLED panel can make a monitor. It’s lightweight, enabling it to be easily moved around, and the OSD provides a wide range of configuration options for those who like to calibrate their screens.
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There are some caveats to do with HDR and how that locks many features down, which I’ll talk about later, but there isn’t much about the GA27S1Q that makes it immediately identifiable as a low-cost option.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Performance
Under 250 nits
100% sRGB
99% AdobeRGB
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Colour Gamut
Percentage
sRGB
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100%
AdobeRGB
99%
P3
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98%
NTSC
96%
Rec2020
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85%
Gamma
2.2
Brightness/Contrast
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Maximum Brightness
232.6
Maximum Contrast
N/A
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These numbers show what OLED can offer, and it’s jolly impressive for anyone who works with colour on a regular basis. Those who get one of these and want to show off can send it into HDR mode and run some YouTube HDR demonstrations, and the colours are zinging.
However, it’s not perfect, and the brightness limitations of this panel keep it from being ideal for HDR video work, as under 250 nits just isn’t enough to surpass HDR 400 ratings.
For HDR video work, at least HDR 1000 is needed, and this display can’t hit those notes.
But it’s evidence from the AdobeRGB 99% score that for less demanding colour work and photo editing, the GA27S1Q is more than up to the task.
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One issue I need to make readers aware of is that this monitor doesn’t come with an excess of documentation. And, when I initially tried to test it using my Datacolor Spyder Pro calibrator, I found that all the optional modes were locked from modification.
While InnoCN didn’t mention this in the paperwork, I eventually discovered that when HDR mode is active on this display, you cannot adjust brightness, contrast, or select any other specific mode. Once HDR is deactivated, it’s fully customisable again.
What’s important to understand is that the primary limitation of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology in terms of lifespan is the gradual and uneven degradation of the organic materials used to output light.
Unlike LCDs, which use a separate backlight, OLED pixels are self-emissive; each pixel generates its own light and wears out individually based on how much it is used. In OLED, this eventually causes pixels to wear out, which can cause retained images to burn into the panel and uneven wear, with blue pixels displaying more than red and green.
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On paper, an OLED panel could last 10-20 years, but realistically, “real-world” usable life often ranges between 3 to 6 years for high-intensity use cases like computer monitors.
In an attempt to mitigate these issues and give this design the best chance of valuable use, the OSD contains a full spectrum of tricks and options to extend the lifespan of the panel.
These include pixel shifting, the dimming of static icons and the taskbar, boundary detection, and even a care mode. This level of detail is often missing on laptops with OLED displays, so it’s good to see that InnoCN included them here. Though some documentation to explain what all these features do would also be helpful.
The only other issue I have to report is that, for whatever reason, I couldn’t test the contrast ratio, which might have been due to the extreme nature of the contrast ramp on this display.
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The quoted contrast is 1.5M:1, which is insane.
Overall, the performance of this OLED panel is the same level as I would expect from a branded monitor, and its only noticeable weakness is brightness. But, using typically around 65W, that lower brightness level does translate into a reduced power consumption.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
InnoCN GA27S1Q: Final verdict
On specifications alone, the GA27S1Q makes a highly persuasive case. InnoCN has packaged a QD-OLED panel, a proper ergonomic stand, dual HDMI 2.1, and a 280Hz refresh rate at a price that sits noticeably below comparable offerings from established display brands. The 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage and factory Delta E less than 2 calibration suggest this should look excellent out of the box.
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The practical caveats apply to the technology rather than to this specific panel. SDR brightness is modest by LCD standards, HDR True Black 400 is a step below the True Black 500 rating seen on some rivals, and there is no USB hub for peripherals. Those are known trade-offs with QD-OLED gaming monitors at this price level, and buyers who are aware of them going in will almost certainly find that the visual quality compensates for some of these issues.
For those looking at this display on the site and seeing the word ‘gaming’ and thinking this isn’t for business are missing the bigger picture, quite literally. This is almost the perfect display for creatives working with colour, as well as for anyone working in animation or game development.
I’m sure you can get exactly the same panel repackaged in black with a business brand logo on it, and pay at least twice the price for that. This is easily the best monitor I’ve experienced from InnoCN, and I’m excited to see what they do next.
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Scott Imbrie has shaken hands with a robotic arm controlled by a brain implant. The electrodes record neural signals that enable him to move the device and receive 
Ian Burkhart founded the 
Ian Burkhart, who is paralyzed from the chest down, received a brain implant that routed neural signals through a computer to his paralyzed muscles, enabling him to play a video game. Battelle
Austin Beggin says that testing a BCI is hard work, but he adds that moments like petting his dog make it all worth it. Daniel Lozada/The New York Times/Redux
BCI user Nathan Copeland used a robotic arm to get a fist bump from then-President 
Before receiving his Neuralink implant, Noland Arbaugh used mouth-operated devices to control a computer. He says the BCI is more reliable and enables him to do many more things on his own. Rebecca Noble/The New York Times/Redux
Casey Harrell was able to communicate again within 30 minutes of his BCI being switched on. The device translates his neural signals quickly enough for him to hold conversations. Ian Bates/The New York Times/Redux
Rodney Gorham can use his 
Noland Arbaugh, the first recipient of Neuralink’s BCI, says that using the implant to control a computer made him feel independent and free. Steve Craft/Guardian/eyevine/Redux
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