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    Shelby Boamah

    Shelby Boamah

  • Meta, Apple are investing in tech that can decode your thoughts

    AI can now decode your brain activity—a fancy way of saying mind reading. Big tech companies like Meta (META) are backing research into this field, including products that can decode thoughts without requiring surgery. The big question: what does our world look like if big tech companies can read your mind? Tech companies are building off neurotech advancements in the medical world. Meta is backing a team of neuroscientists whose research uncovered nonsurgical ways to detect brain activity and speech to interpret your thoughts. In 2022, Apple (AAPL) also filed a patent for AirPods that uses EEG technology to measure biosignals and electrical activity of a user's brain. Noninvasive mind reading can be revolutionary in medicine for patients - it can also be used by big tech for consumer-facing products that put privacy at risk. Neurorights advocates believe our thoughts are the last piece of data we have left to ourselves. That’s why they are now fighting for legislation that would safeguard our mental privacy while tech companies continue funding brain-scanning research. If you’re going to future-proof your portfolio, you need to know what’s NEXT in the business of neurotechnology. In this series, Yahoo Finance will feature stories that give a glimpse at the future, and show how companies are making big moves today that will matter tomorrow. For more on our NEXT series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday.

  • AI wearables that can make the physically impossible a reality

    For decades, companies and researchers have been exploring implantable devices that can make the physically impossible a reality. These devices have been game-changers for people like Rodney, a patient based in Australia who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS gradually inhibits all movement, including your ability to communicate. Rodney was able to communicate with me by using the Stentrode device: a tiny electrode that converts brain signals into physical actions. In other words, the device reads his mind, by allowing him to type without ever moving his hands. The Stentrode was developed by Synchron, a neurotech company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. And it’s only the beginning. Tech companies like Meta (META) are building off neurotech advancements in the medical world, which could lead to more consumer facing neurotech products in the future. If you’re going to future-proof your portfolio, you need to know what’s NEXT in the business of neurotechnology. In this series, Yahoo Finance will feature stories that give a glimpse at the future, and show how companies are making big moves today that will matter tomorrow. For more on our NEXT series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday.

  • From heel to toe: How the iconic New Balance 990 is made

    Before a New Balance 990 is formed into a complete sneaker, it begins its life as two-dimensional sheets of leather and fabric that get passed from one shoemaker to the next. From the patterns of the upper to the chunkiness of the sole, the 990s are recognizable even before the gray “N” logo is stitched on. While the look of the shoe has evolved since its inception in 1982, the craftsmanship has remained the same. Yahoo Finance gets a behind-the-scenes look at New Balance’s 115-year-old factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where 29 shoemakers stitch and design the 990v6. The shoemaking process is divided into five departments: cut, pre-fit, computer stitch, hand stitch, and assembly. In each of the 50 to 60 steps, precision is crucial, with quality checks throughout the process. The end result: an iconic shoe that is literally pieced together from start to finish in the US.Watch the video above to learn how the 990v6 is made.

  • How New Balance puts its next 'it' shoe through the paces

    The race to create the top-performing – but also most stylish – pair of sneakers goes on. Retailers have been adopting the latest design trends, investing in athlete partnerships, and turning to social media to keep up. But staying relevant in a competitive, multi-billion-dollar market can be challenging. How is the industry pushing for innovation? Research labs. A science that analyzes an athlete’s qualitative and quantitative data, to be more specific. Yahoo Finance’s Brad Smith jumps into his athletic gear and laces up at the New Balance Sports Research Lab where researchers are, quite literally, running tests on him in a quest to find his best-performing shoe, following in the footsteps of marathon record-holder Emily Sisson.For more on our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's Note: This article was written by Cindy Mizaku.

  • New Balance CEO Joe Preston’s strategy for the next ‘it’ shoe

    Joe Preston, CEO and President of New Balance, isn't resting on the brand's laurels and the success from the multi-year highs of demand for retro kicks. To take New Balance to the next level and compete with Nike (NKE) and Adidas (ADDYY), Preston is betting it all on innovative materials. Under Preston's leadership, New Balance has already outpaced Nike, Adidas, and Puma (PUM.DE) when it comes to revenue growth, with a 23% increase from 2022 to 2023. Preston, a New Balance veteran, began his career at the brand in 1995 and took the helm in 2018. For nearly thirty years, he's seen the company evolve from the maker of the “dad shoe” to everyone’s shoe. It has put him in a unique position to both understand the consumer’s wants and lead the brand's next evolution. "They're looking for new. They're looking for fresh. They're looking for authenticity. Those are all elements that we're trying to deliver and present to them," says Preston. Yahoo Finance got a rare look at New Balance's operation, from research all the way through to manufacturing, to see how Preston’s strategy of combining innovative technology, materials, and design are all part of his bid to create the next big "it" performance shoe. Lead This Way is an interview series that features frank conversations with today’s leaders. The series gives consumers and investors an inside look into the innovative thinking and diverse life experiences of some of the biggest players in business to find out how they lead through change and how they define success for themselves and their organizations. For more on our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's Note: This article was written by Shelby Boamah.