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01A speech interface faces the test of everyday use02A soft suit tackles the moment between sitting and walking03Engineering a transparent replacement: the corneal material challenge04A voice in real time: the next challenge for speech interfaces05Can an AI listener follow the conversation you are in?06Bioretec and the idea of a metal implant that does not stay

Semnal / Image register

Image sources and permissions

We prioritise relevant photography and published research imagery with explicit reuse terms. Context photographs illustrate an activity or material; they do not document the featured experiment, demonstrate effectiveness or imply endorsement.

Real photographs of older women are used as everyday context, not as evidence of a diagnosis, trial participation or a device recommendation. We do not infer a model's exact age or nationality from appearance.

Fifteen original AI-assisted cover illustrations are used once each: six fictional mature-woman scenes and nine conceptual technology studies. Six of the technology studies were created for this revision with OpenAI imagegen. Their origin is identified in captions and alt text. They are not photographs of actual people, products or research results. Card badges retain the publication name, Semnal.

Pexels photography is used under the Pexels License, with photographer attribution. Responsive display may frame these photographs differently. Published figures and images carrying no-derivatives restrictions are displayed in full. No generative retouching was applied to research or stock photography.

MIT News images retained in this edition carry noncommercial restrictions. Their use must be reassessed before commercial reuse. Silence about copyright is not permission. Original diagrams are explanatory, not measured data.

Review all 48 covers · Editorial standards

Cover-by-cover credits

  1. A soft sheet that reads its own shape

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  2. Choosing one voice in a crowded room

    Context photograph of a laptop microphone array. It is not the University of Washington research headset. Array of microphones built into a laptop Context photograph; not the featured study or product unless explicitly identified.

    Credit: Zvsmedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. The surgical connection behind a more responsive prosthetic leg

    Figure 1: the neuroprosthetic interface and bionic leg used in the original study. See the paper for the complete figure caption.

    Credit: Song, Hsieh, Yeon et al. · CC BY 4.0

  4. ONWARD and the case for stimulation outside the skin

    Conceptual diagram: Stimulation → Rehabilitation → Function. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  5. A speech interface faces the test of everyday use

    Context photograph about digital communication. The model is not the participant in the speech-interface study and is not shown using a brain interface. Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Kampus Production · Pexels License

  6. When light becomes an electrical signal inside the eye

    Context image: an optical coherence tomography scan of a retina. It does not show the PRIMA implant or a result from the trial. Optical Coherence Tomography cross sectional scan of retina. Right eye, 53 year old male. Context photograph; not the featured study or product unless explicitly identified.

    Credit: Bobjgalindo · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Approved, cleared, registered: three different claims

    Context still life of laboratory equipment. It does not indicate FDA approval, certification or an inspection. Photo: Tara Winstead / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Tara Winstead · Pexels License

  8. A robotic ankle that learns the person wearing it

    AI-generated editorial illustration of imagined technology; not a photograph of the device or material discussed, and not research evidence.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  9. A soft suit tackles the moment between sitting and walking

    Context photograph of everyday movement. The model is not a participant in the exosuit study and is not wearing the research device. Photo: Anastasia Shuraeva / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Anastasia Shuraeva · Pexels License

  10. Engineering a transparent replacement: the corneal material challenge

    Figure 1 from the linked original research article. Read the full caption and methods at the source. Original research figure; unaltered apart from responsive image encoding.

    Credit: Rafat et al. · CC BY 4.0

  11. How a cochlear implant turns sound into a neural signal

    This is a first-generation behind-the-ear cochlear implant processor, made by Advanced Bionics circa 2002. It is worn on the ear and sends data by radio to the cochlear implant hardware embedded in the user's skull. Context photograph; not the featured study or product unless explicitly identified.

    Credit: MikeCore9918 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  12. Cionic puts sensing and stimulation into clothing

    Conceptual diagram: Sense movement → Time stimulation → Measure change. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  13. A voice in real time: the next challenge for speech interfaces

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  14. Who decides when a brain interface speaks?

    AI-generated editorial illustration of imagined technology; not a photograph of the device or material discussed, and not research evidence.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  15. A thin fabric takes on unwanted sound

    Context photograph of ordinary fabric. It is not the MIT sound-suppressing textile and does not demonstrate acoustic performance. Photo: Vero Lova / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Vero Lova · Pexels License

  16. How to read a trial record before reading the headline

    Context photograph about reading and evaluating information. The model is not a trial participant or a medical adviser. Photo: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Pavel Danilyuk · Pexels License

  17. Were women included—and were their results examined?

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  18. A listening bubble built around distance

    Context photograph of headphones. These are not the University of Washington sound-bubble prototype. Photo: Adrian Regeci / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Adrian Regeci · Pexels License

  19. Age is more than a line in a study table

    Figure 2 from the linked original research article. Read the full caption and methods at the source. Original research figure; unaltered apart from responsive image encoding.

    Credit: Zhang et al. · CC BY 4.0

  20. Why a US announcement does not establish European access

    Context photograph of laboratory work. It does not depict a regulator, a clinical trial or a CE-mark assessment. Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: cottonbro studio · Pexels License

  21. Science Corporation and the work beyond a retinal chip

    Context OCT image of a healthy macula. It is not the PRIMA device, a study participant or a treatment outcome. Source image shown in full; see the original file for acquisition details.

    Credit: Wies6014 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  22. Strong enough is only the beginning for artificial cartilage

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined translucent gel surfaces meeting across a fluid interface. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  23. What counts as a meaningful improvement?

    Context photograph of everyday digital activity. The model is not a study participant or an endorser of a device. Photo: Los Muertos Crew / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Los Muertos Crew · Pexels License

  24. An image description is an interpretation, not eyesight

    Context photograph of a Canon optical sensor. It is not a photograph or screenshot of Microsoft Seeing AI. Canon LS502NA Integrated optical sensor Context photograph; not the featured study or product unless explicitly identified.

    Credit: Mister rf · CC BY-SA 4.0

  25. Embroidered sensors turn a glove into a touch interface

    Published research figure showing an embroidered haptic glove, its construction and demonstrations. Source figure shown in full; consult the linked publication for its complete legend.

    Credit: Luo et al. · CC BY 4.0

  26. Brain stimulation that listens before it responds

    Context photograph illustrating electronic control. This circuit board is not an implanted DBS device or the hardware used in the study. Photo: Sergei Starostin / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Sergei Starostin · Pexels License

  27. The two jobs of an ankle-assisting exosuit

    Conceptual diagram: Foot clearance → Push-off → Rehabilitation. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  28. Neurosoft asks how soft a brain interface should be

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined flexible electrode-like mesh draped over a curved surface. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  29. A digital bridge between the brain and spinal cord

    Published research figure showing the brain–spine interface and its components. Source figure shown in full; consult the linked publication for its complete legend.

    Credit: Lorach et al. · CC BY 4.0

  30. When a software update becomes a hearing device

    Context photograph of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. It is not an AirPods product or the FDA-authorised software discussed here. Top view for behind-the-ear hearing aid Context photograph; not the featured study or product unless explicitly identified.

    Credit: Bastique · CC BY 4.0

  31. What it takes for an artificial skin to sense more than pressure

    Published research illustration of a modular electronic-skin sensing architecture. Source figure shown in full; consult the linked publication for its complete legend.

    Credit: Shang, Xu, Liang et al. · CC BY 4.0

  32. CorNeat and the interface between an implant and the eye

    AI-generated editorial illustration of imagined technology; not a photograph of the device or material discussed, and not research evidence.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  33. Your gaze as a control signal

    Context photograph about computer access. It does not demonstrate Apple eye tracking or identify the model as a user of assistive technology. Photo: Ivan S / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Ivan S · Pexels License

  34. The fabric that turns vibration into a signal

    Research photograph supplied by MIT News. Greg Hren. Actual research photograph. Noncommercial use only; no creative alteration.

    Credit: Greg Hren · CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

  35. Why a robotic glove does not need a rigid hand

    Conceptual diagram: Intention → Soft assistance → Release. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  36. Synchron is taking a different route to the brain

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined metallic lattice inside a translucent glass tube. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  37. Wearable assistance that adapts to the arm

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  38. Why clearer sound is harder than louder sound

    Context photograph of a conventional hearing aid. It is not an experimental AI listening system. Hearing aid, photo taken in Sweden

    Credit: Jonas Bergsten · Public domain

  39. Can a sensor recover after the material is damaged?

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined flexible circuit ribbon with a symbolic repaired gap. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  40. An implant for balance—and a difficult hearing trade-off

    Conceptual diagram: Head motion → Stimulation → Balance signal. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  41. Can an AI listener follow the conversation you are in?

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  42. The missing return path: giving a robotic hand a sense of touch

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined metallic fingertip touching a ribbed glass sphere. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  43. What changes when rehabilitation leaves the laboratory?

    Conceptual diagram: Fit device → Remote support → Practice. Not a device photograph, anatomical model or measured result. Original explanatory vector diagram

    Credit: Semnal · Original Semnal diagram

  44. Bioretec and the idea of a metal implant that does not stay

    AI-generated editorial concept. Imagined metallic screw transitioning into a symbolic trail of particles. It is not a photograph of the company’s product, an anatomical model or a measured research result.

    Credit: Semnal · Original AI-assisted illustration

  45. Lifeward: why the intended user matters as much as the robot

    AI-generated editorial illustration of a fictional mature woman; not a study participant, company employee or product user. No health outcome is depicted.

    Credit: Semnal / AI illustration · Editorial concept — see image policy

  46. What assistive AI learns when users shape the interface

    Context photograph about access to printed information. It does not depict Google Lookout, a product test or a diagnosis. Photo: Anna Shvets / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Anna Shvets · Pexels License

  47. Turning muscle intention into a powered knee movement

    Context photograph of prosthetic support. It is not the MIT research knee, its surgical interface or its study participant. Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Kampus Production · Pexels License

  48. The device label is the start of an access question

    Context photograph of laboratory materials. It does not depict a UK conformity assessment, authorised treatment or device test. Photo: Ivan S / Pexels. No endorsement implied.

    Credit: Ivan S · Pexels License

Research and context image archive

Original permissions for figures and context photographs retained within the articles, including images moved from covers into the body. Sources checked during first-edition preparation on November 4, 2026.