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![Plano-based Motor Engineering Manufacturing North America has received a newly granted patent for a chair that moves in sync with on-screen action. The system uses actuators made with shape-memory materials to shift the seat in response to video games, movies, or other visual content—mimicking motion for a more immersive experience. The patent was invented by Brian J. Pinkelman, Ryohei Tsuruta, and Michael Paul Rowe of Pinckney. [Composite illustration: Sources, USPTO Patent #12383066, Fig. 9; DI Studio]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Patents-091725-Toyota-970-940x436.jpg)
Plano-based Motor Engineering Manufacturing North America has received a newly granted patent for a chair that moves in sync with on-screen action. The system uses actuators made with shape-memory materials to shift the seat in response to video games, movies, or other visual content—mimicking motion for a more immersive experience. The patent was invented by Brian J. Pinkelman, Ryohei Tsuruta, and Michael Paul Rowe of Pinckney. [Composite illustration: Sources, USPTO Patent #12383066, Fig. 9; DI Studio]
Patented: Toyota’s Shape Memory Chair That Moves with Visual Content and More North Texas Inventive Activity
by Dallas Innovates | Staff Report | Sep 17, 2025
Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 8 for patent activity out of 250 metros for the week of August 12 with a total of 151 patents granted.
by Lance Murray |
Sep 16, 2025
An August exercise called FIRE SWARM 2 was held west of the Texas Motor Speedway within AllianceTexas, with drones and helicopters filling the skies to battle a simulated wildfire. What really made the operation hot? Unlike traditional operations, each aircraft was directed by advanced, fully autonomous technologies.
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by Quincy Preston and Lance Murray |
Sep 16, 2025
Led by a James Beard Award–winning chef, the 20-course experience will unfold inside a 9,500-square-foot warehouse, with projection-mapped dining rooms and just 26 seats per seating. It’s all part of what the founders call a love letter to Dallas.
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by Quincy Preston and Lance Murray |
Sep 16, 2025
The latest addition is former Wingstop exec Melissa Cash, now CMO of the Plano-based brand. Under President Catherine Tan-Gillespie, KFC is building a powerhouse team to drive its “Kentucky Fried Comeback Plan.”
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AT&T Chief Data Officer Andy Markus and the company's new AI "digital receptionist." [Photos: LinkedIn, AT&T]
Personal Call Screening: AT&T Is Testing an AI ‘Digital Receptionist’ With Select North Texas Customers
by David Seeley | Sep 16, 2025
Now being tested by a handful of customers in North Texas, AT&T's new AI "digital receptionist" answers calls with a "natural, responsive" human-like voice. Powered by multiple LLMs, it hangs up on robocallers, patches urgent calls straight through, and provides a live transcript so customers can "pick up" a call at any time.
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by Quincy Preston and Lance Murray |
Sep 16, 2025
Amid what its CEO calls “remarkable growth,” North American Rail Solutions has named a new COO for American Track, its turnkey rail infrastructure subsidiary.
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by Manoj Balraj, Co-founder & President, Experion Technologies |
Sep 16, 2025
Dallas is aging faster than ever, with seniors facing rising challenges of isolation, health, and care. Technology, when designed with empathy, can bridge these gaps - connecting families, empowering caregivers, and enabling prevention. By building tools with empathy, we can transform elder care from survival to peace of mind and joy.
sponsored by Experion Technologies
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by Quincy Preston and Lance Murray |
Sep 15, 2025
“We closed the first volume of our story—25 years in the making.” That’s how CEO Tom Spackman described Gigabit Fiber’s majority stake sale to Blue Owl, marking a new phase of growth as AI and cloud drive demand for hyperscale connectivity.
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The tower at Pegasus Park [Image: Pegasus Park]
Life Sciences Construction Co. CleanSpace Expands to Dallas’ Pegasus Park With Cleanroom Showroom
by Lance Murray | Sep 15, 2025
CleanSpace unveiled a groundbreaking 5,000-square-foot cleanroom showroom, a first-of-its-kind facility that CleanSpace said redefines how companies accelerate their path from concept to commercialization.
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by Dallas Regional Chamber |
Sep 15, 2025
AI seem overwhelming? Just go to office hours.
sponsored by The Organization
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by Quincy Preston |
Sep 12, 2025
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington joins 30 metro areas driving two-thirds of the country's AI job market.
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by Quincy Preston |
Sep 12, 2025
The utility acquired 121 acres north of Waxahachie to support future operations as the region continues to grow. Oncor says the land will be used to stage equipment and support personnel.
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Upbound Group Chief. Growth Officer Rebecca Wooters [Photo: LinkedIn]
Upbound Group Hires Former Signet Jewelers Exec as Chief Growth Officer
by Lance Murray | Sep 11, 2025
Rebecca Wooters brings more than 30 years of executive leadership in digital transformation, product innovation, technology, and customer engagement to Plano-based Upbound, the parent company of Rent-A-Center and Acima.
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by Lance Murray |
Sep 11, 2025
Addison said it will invest $40 million in infrastructure and two public garages, leveraging more than $200 million in private development. The mixed-use project from Dallas' Quadrant Investment Properties will link Addison Circle to DART’s Silver Line and DFW International Airport.
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by Glenn Hunter |
Sep 11, 2025
LinkedIn's chief economist and representatives of the Texas Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq explained why the Dallas-Fort Worth economy keeps 'cruising ahead' at the Dallas Regional Chamber's inaugural Tomorrow Summit. Plus: Why AI skills are becoming 'table stakes' for job seekers and what it takes to make Dallas a global financial center.
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by Lance Murray |
Sep 10, 2025
Technology has been a driving force behind Thryv's evolution into a half-billion-dollar enterprise, and the company said that as it sets its sights on reaching the $1 billion milestone, the addition of Sean Wechter marks a strategic step forward.
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