News: engineering firm Arup has produced prototype 3D-printed steel construction joints that could be used to create more efficient structures. More about Arup unveils its first 3D-printed structural steel building components
News: US technology firm Honeywell has released a minimal smart thermostat that learns household routines, a rival to Nest's similar connected home product. More about Honeywell joins connected-home market with Lyric smart thermostat
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: London designer Keiichi Matsuda explains how augmented reality could transform the way we navigate the city in the first of our video interviews with designers participating in our Dezeen and MINI Frontiers exhibition. More about Augmented reality road markings and signage "could be applied as a digital layer"
Designers Ami Drach and Dov Ganchrow have created a range of 3D-printed handles to give the ancient multipurpose hand-axe a series of specific functions (+ slideshow). More about Ami Drach and Dov Ganchrow recreate Stone Age tools with 3D-printed handles
News: the latest attempt to shift the "nerdwear" reputation of Google Glass is a collection of headsets by Diane von Furstenberg that look more like traditional eyewear. More about Google enlists Diane von Furstenberg to turn Glass headsets into fashion accessories
A London exhibition of animated gifs allowed visitors to view artworks via a custom-designed app on a smart phone or tablet using augmented reality. More about 15Folds presents augmented reality exhibition of animated gif art
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in the second part of our interview with Rachel Armstrong, the senior University of Greenwich lecturer explains how a synthetic "limestone-like" support structure could be grown underneath Venice to prevent the city's foundations being eroded. More about Growing a "giant artificial reef" could stop Venice sinking
News: tech giant Apple has bought Dr Dre's Beats headphone company for $3 billion in the same week that details emerged of a project that will turn users' iPhones into remote control devices for their homes. More about Apple buys Beats and plans home- control system to rival Nest
News: British car brand Jaguar Land Rover is working with researchers at MIT to develop technology for its vehicles, including controls operated by tracking where the driver is looking (+ slideshow). More about Land Rover developing sight-activated controls for future vehicles
News: every electrical device in the home will be linked to the internet within a decade, according to the CEO of connected home products brand Nest (+ interview). More about Within ten years "everything will have data in it", says Nest CEO
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: developing "living architecture" could help humanity survive, claims senior University of Greenwich lecturer Rachel Armstrong, who is investigating how we could grow a city in space. More about "Growing a city from the bottom up" could save the human race
Spain and Switzerland-based studio Kawamura Ganjavian launched a Kickstarter campaign this week to fund a flexible glowing lamp (+ slideshow). More about Kawamura Ganjavian designs Kangaroo Light for the bottom of your bag
Battery-farmed chickens could be tricked into thinking they are roaming free if dressed in virtual reality headsets designed as a tongue-in-cheek proposal by US company Second Livestock (+ interview). More about Virtual reality headsets create "pastoral" illusion for battery-farmed chickens
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: scanning people's brains to learn about their preferences "opens up new possibilities" for designers, according to Merel Bekking, who has designed a range of "perfect" products based on data from MRI scans.
More about Brain scanning could be used to design "scientifically perfect" products
News: data collected via Google Glass could soon be used to deliver advertising tailored to the wearer's taste, mood, and location, according to Tony Gaitatzis, a leading figure in the wearable technology sector. More about Brain-scanning devices will revolutionise advertising, says wearable tech chief
Wearable technology is no longer just for people, as San Francisco agency New Deal Design has designed an activity-tracking device for canine companions. More about Whistle wearable technology for dogs lets owners monitor pet activity
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: computer scientist Hiroshi Ishii claims MIT Media Lab's Transform project consisting of thousands of physical, motorised "pixels" should be considered a completely new creative medium. More about MIT Media Lab's shape-shifting table top is "equivalent to the invention of painting"
News: a man has been arrested in Japan for possessing 3D-printed handguns, after five devices were found during a police raid on his house. More about Man arrested for owning 3D-printed gun
3D-printing guru Janne Kyttanen has designed a kit of clothes and accessories that can be printed in one go from a single computer file, removing the need for travellers to pack a bag for their holiday (+ slideshow). More about Janne Kyttanen 3D-prints essential travel items with Lost Luggage kit
The Canada-based creators of the Vanhawks Valour claim to have designed the "first smart, connected bicycle", which gives riders directions as well as alerts to prevent them cycling into dangerous situations. More about "Smart" bicycle by Vanhawks gives directions with flashing lights and vibrating safety alerts