The tragic shootings in Dallas ended dramatically with the unprecedented use of a robotic device to kill Micah Xavier Johnson, a suspect involved in the incident. Although far from sophisticated, the improvised use of a bomb-disposal unit in this way raises an important question: how far should society go in permitting the use of lethal robotics and drones by the police?

There is a wonderful turning point in the movie ‘Fresh’ (1994) when 12-year-old Michael, surrounded by violence, drug dealers and ghetto enforcers, applies his father’s chess lessons to eliminating the forces that oppose him. Games are more than mere pastimes; they are frameworks for thinking. That is also why they make great teaching tools for humans and machines alike.

When Tim Cook introduced the Apple Watch, many hoped it might do for wearable computers what the iPhone did for smartphones. And yet, great design aside — our ever expanding armoury of smart watches, smart rings, augmented eyewear, wireless earbuds, connected bracelets and fitness trackers — all seem to scream for a more elegant solution. We have hit Peak Tech, while somehow missing peak productivity along the way.