news

Parents' cellphone use can have a direct impact on their preteens' mental health, according to a study. The effects include increased hyperactivity and inattention. There have been numerous studies of the effects of screen time on children. But kids aren't the only ones using cellphones; parents are just as likely to be seen glued to their devices at the park, at a restaurant and at home.

University of Waterloo engineers are turning to augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) to better understand - and maintain - the physical reality of Canada's critical infrastructure.

A Western study could help farmers get out of a potential jam by using artificial intelligence (AI) and passive camera monitoring to enhance strawberry cultivation. In a paper published in the international journal Foods , Western engineers describe a new machine-learning approach that yields the highest-ever precision and accuracy rates for ripeness and disease detection in strawberries of any previous attempts.

The University of Waterloo has long been renowned for entrepreneurship and innovation and for providing co-operative education (co-op) and work-integrated learning at scale with impact. Dr. Margaret Dalziel and Nada Basir, both professors at the Conrad School of Business and Entrepreneurship, conducted a study into the mechanisms behind this success, revealing that co-op plays a pivotal role in shaping the ventures of student entrepreneurs.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have designed an energy-efficient device that produces drinking water from seawater using an evaporation process driven largely by the sun. Desalination is critical for many coastal and island nations to provide access to fresh water, given water scarcity concerns due to rapid population growth and increasing global water consumption.

Imagine a coat that captures solar energy to keep you cozy on a chilly winter walk, or a shirt that can monitor your heart rate and temperature. Picture clothing athletes can wear to track their performance without the need for bulky battery packs. University of Waterloo researchers have developed a smart fabric with these remarkable capabilities.

For symptoms like a runny nose and a cough, some might think it's a common cold. It doesn't warrant a doctor's visit, so they turn to Google and WebMD for additional reassurance. Now, with advancements in AI, some might be tempted to switch from "Dr. Google" to "Dr. ChatGPT," but can OpenAI's AI-powered chatbot provide accurate medical advice? Researchers from Western University set out to answer that question and explore whether ChatGPT is capable of becoming a reliable resource in health care and medical education.

If you scroll through the average student's digital textbook or reading, you will probably see multi-coloured streaks scattered everywhere. However, new research reveals that excessive highlighting may do more harm than good. Researchers at Waterloo excel at creating new technologies, investigating human-technology interactions, and exploring how to mitigate harm.

A McGill-led research team has developed the first real-time, on-site technology capable of detecting and deciphering nanoplastics from all'other particles in water, a capacity akin to being able to find a needle in a haystack within milliseconds. Microplastic pieces are between 1 micrometre and 5 millimetres, roughly equivalent to a grain of rice.

Two-thirds of people surveyed think that artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT have some degree of consciousness and can have subjective experiences such as feelings and memories, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT often display a conversational style when outputting content.

Researchers develop a painless patch for continuous health monitoring. Researchers at two Ontario universities have developed a pain-free, wearable sensor that can continuously monitor levels of blood sugar, lactates and other critical health indicators for weeks at a time, sending results to a smartphone or other device.

New research shows need for 'design mindset' to include marginalized communities in the digital economy Whether it's a financial tracking app, a watch that monitors your health, or earphones that translate languages instantly, technology has revolutionized the human experience. Yet not everyone has equal access to these advantages.

University of Waterloo researchers have invented a digital medical imaging system that significantly improves the cancer detection process to deliver immediate results and enable swift, effective treatment for all types of cancer. The Photon Absorption Remote Sensing (PARS) system, an innovative, built-from-scratch technology, is faster than traditional cancer-detection methods and aims to deliver a diagnosis in minutes - enabling prompt surgical intervention.

A team of researchers has developed "mini-pathways" to save children suffering from acute liver failure by avoiding liver transplantation. Massimiliano Paganelli , pediatric hepatologist and Director of the Tissue Engineering and Hepatic Cell Therapy Laboratory at CHU Sainte-Justine, is well acquainted with the reality of young people and adults suffering from liver failure, as he regularly sees them in clinic.

Environment Please turn off the lights when exiting the room, society thanks you Living in society means we are under the influence of others. This power can impact our behaviors and actions, which can result in both positive and negative results. For Mohamed Yousuf, the power of influence formed an integral part of his graduate studies research.

Global Futures Research into remote snowpacks unveils insights into climate change, water resource management and the future of our planet A research team led by Dr. Richard Kelly, a professor in Geography and Environmental Management at Waterloo, uses a novel radar-based technology to provide more insight into snowpacks and their implications for climate change, water resource management and hazard prediction.

McGill study finds ability to solve food puzzles is the only predictor of innovation, brain size in wild birds When certain species of wild birds and primates discover new ways of finding food in the wild, it can serve to measure their flexibility and intelligence.

Researchers partner with industry to advance innovation in decarbonization By Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering In the quest to reach zero emissions by 2050, Waterloo engineering researcher Dr. Xianguo Li and Dr. Samaneh Shahgaldi from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) are working with industry partners to develop more efficient, durable, cost-effective fuel cells.

Local company aims to improve people's cognitive wellness with smart glasses By Charlotte Danby Faculty of Engineering Waterloo-based deep tech startup AdHawk Microsystems recently launched MindLink Air (TM), everyday glasses that can read its wearer's eye health and cognitive state using research-grade, camera-free eye-tracking technology.

Researchers improve the trustworthiness of medical imaging diagnoses with innovative three-stage system powered by AI An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Waterloo has developed a more trustworthy method to diagnose diseases such as COVID-19, pneumonia, and melanoma using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.