With the tap of a single finger, computer users soon may be drawn deeper into the virtual world using a new device developed in the University at Buffalo’s Virtual Reality Lab.

At 0.5mm thick, the sensor layer can recognize touch and gestures through up to 1.6mm of plastic, making it far more durable and optically clear than traditional multi-layer touchscreens. And above and beyond those touchscreens it can recognize one or two finger contact, a finger used on its side, or even different body parts; a phone call to Onyx can be answered by simply holding it to your cheek, messages sent by swiping them off the screen with the whole finger.

Participants suck on lollipops embedded with sensors to control robotic babies in a race during a Design Expo at Yahoo in Sunnyvale on Monday.

It looks almost like any other shopping cart, except sensors allow it to follow the shopper around the supermarket and slow down when needed so items can be placed in it, and it never crashes into anyone’s heels.

Guide dogs may soon be out of a job thanks to a high-tech set of glasses and shoes invented by scientists to help blind people navigate the trickiest of terrain.