When he was a child, Ian «The Gadget Guru» Ellery always wanted to be Iron Man. He joined us on this week's show to talk about one piece of technology that can make that dream come true: 
Basel launches pilot project for 4-day week; Humans use brain to communicate with machines; Training course for Zurich dog owners now mandatory
News for 25 March 2025
A pilot project for a four-day workweek with full pay will be conducted in Basel, despite a strong opposition from conservative council members. The proposal calls for a three-year experiment that would encourage companies with up to 250 employees to voluntarily test a four-day workweek with full pay.
The canton should provide these companies with financial support and conduct an evaluation of the experiences. The proposal met with some resistance, particularly from conservative groups, which pointed out that if this practice becomes widespread, the skilled-labour shortage will worsen. Left-wing parties, on the other hand, view a reduction in working hours as an opportunity to improve employees' work-life balance.
******
Humans can learn to share their thoughts with machines. In a new study, researchers from the University of Geneva showed that brain-machine interfaces can read the thoughts of specially trained people better than those of untrained people. The researchers hope that this will enable a new form of communication for people who can no longer speak after a stroke, for example, as the University of Geneva announced on Monday.
The researchers attached electrodes to the scalp of 15 volunteers, in order to detect and record voltage fluctuations in the brain. The brain activity was analysed in real time. The participants received visual feedback on a screen that showed how well the system had understood the syllables. The clearer their perception, the more a display filled up.
Despite individual differences, volunteers became significantly better at communicating with the machine. In contrast, a control group with irregular visual feedback showed no comparable progress. According to the university, this research emphasises the previously underestimated importance of training when using brain-machine interfaces.
******
Starting in June, all Zurich dog owners must attend a training course, the local government announced. All first-time dog owners will now be required to complete a two-hour theory course, and all dog owners, old and new, will also have to attend a six-hour practical course.
The new rule extends to all breeds, regardless of size. That is an important point because until now, only owners of "large and bulky" dogs were required to attend a course, not owners of Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, and other small breeds.