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FT editor Roula Khalaf selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Go Cousteau style
Underwater scooters (or diver propulsion vehicles, or DPVs) pull volunteer humans through the water by mechanical means, either to give them a speed boost, to conserve their energy, or to free up their hands for other tasks (most notably, filming). Until recently, these gadgets were either bulky, professional-grade contraptions or lightweight, fun-sized models that tend to run out of battery after a few minutes. That all changed with Lefeet’s S1 Pro, a unit released in 2021 that successfully split the difference between the two. Matthias Lebo, an underwater cinematographer based in Switzerland, described it as “revolutionary.” “It really felt like I was using a big underwater scooter but with a very small footprint,” he says.
The P1, its just-released successor, is more powerful but even more compact: the “standard” version, which comes with a 100Wh battery, measures just over 30cm long. The battery and two controller handles easily attach to the aluminium body, and then it’s simply a matter of choosing your speed level (from one to four with the standard model) and hanging on. The larger XR model (equipped with a 160Wh battery) adds a fifth “hurricane” level that propels you to around 10km/h – this, according to Lebo, is “probably about three times faster than you could ever go flapping”. But speed level one is perfectly capable of dragging you (plus drysuit) through salt water.
Any modern Jacques Cousteau will appreciate the rail for attaching an action camera like a GoPro, and because you’re actually being towed rather than being moved around by fins, videos are much smoother. “It usually takes a lot of practice and training to not introduce vibrations into the footage,” says Lebo, noting that you can also attach the P1 to your tank, or your leg, or even use two in tandem. “If I want to film a wreck that’s 35m deep, this makes it much easier for me,” he says. “I’ll conserve air, I’ll arrive more relaxed, and I can use that air to concentrate on filming.” The batteries are airline-approved and travel-friendly, opening up a whole world of assisted diving.
Isn’t it bionic?
In the same way that electric bikes assist with pedalling, a new generation of exoskeleton can take some of the strain off when it comes to walking, hiking and running. The X1’s Velcro belt wraps around your waist, with its two arms extending to your thighs and secured with clips just above your knees. Its motors can be set to “Assist” (which the manufacturer claims can make you feel 38kg lighter) or, for those who like to push themselves, “Resistance”, which makes you work much harder to cover the same distance. Putting “Assist” through its paces in a 125m sprint, YouTuber and outdoor adventurer Stephen J Reid clocked 27 seconds without the X1, 22 seconds with it. Bionic, but not demonic.
Flash drive
Simulation games like Forza Motorsport and EA F1 The F1 Edition series aims to replicate the racing experience, but that authenticity is tarnished if you’re playing while sitting in an office chair. Playseat began tackling this theme back in 1998, when founder Fernando Smit ripped a seat out of a car to create his first prototype; today, its Intelligence racing cockpit is F1-like enough to be used by drivers including Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. This new F1 Edition adds official livery, an improved monocoque design, and an adjustable stand for a monitor. It’s effectively a shell that peripherals (pedals, steering wheel, etc.) bolt onto, and boasts compatibility with everything on the market.
Ground control…
As a short-sighted man with a fear of flying, I was never destined to become a pilot. First-person view drones like the Avata 2, however, offer a pilot’s perspective, with crystal-clear images from the “cockpit” beamed directly to you via a mixed-reality headset as you fly. Adjustable diopters and a pair of included corrective lenses sorted out my short-sightedness, while my nervousness was eased by a slow-paced beginner mode, a wonderfully simple point-and-click steering mechanism, and a buddy at my side to watch (a legal requirement in the UK). Expert pilots use DJI’s Remote Controller 3 (£139) to do a barrel roll at up to 42mph; I was delighted just hovering, hovering, and watching.
Ride on them, cowboy
Cowboy is known for its comfortable e-bikes designed for urban cycling, but this is a more robust and powerful proposition designed to take you into the countryside and beyond. It has bigger tyres, robust pedals, a very powerful removable battery (up to 120km of range) and is the first Cowboy to have suspension (both in the fork and seat). Riding around the Inner Circle in Regent’s Park, I felt like I was riding a fixie, with no gear changes or power levels – the bike multiplied my effort intuitively and seamlessly. For turn-by-turn navigation, you simply hook your smartphone to the bike’s stem (using a standard quad lock) and the Cowboy app does the rest, in partnership with Google Maps.