As credit card surcharges and minimum purchase amounts gradually disappear, contactless payments are becoming more practical for small purchases. As wearables strive to become more fashionable, Bankwest in Australia has launched a Halo smart ring which lets you simply wave your hand to pay for things at the counter. Waterproof to 50 metres, the ring doesn't require charging and isn't dependent on a linked smartphone, meaning there's no danger of a flat battery leaving you in the lurch. www.smh.com.au/technology/innovation/tap-and-go-smart-ring-makes-contactless-payments-fashionable-20180128-p4yyz3.html

LogicInk UV is a temporary stick-on tattoo that visually records your accumulated exposure to UV radiation from the sun, alerting you of your daily recommended limit based on your skin group. This patent-pending invention helps you reduce premature aging of the skin and helps prevent health risks associated with overexposure to the sun. www.logic.ink/

You will soon be able to walk through Sydney Airport's international terminal to your waiting plane after only showing your passport once. That is the goal of a trial of biometric testing due to start in May with Qantas passengers. Biometric processing has the potential to revolutionise the journey through the airport to planes. http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/your-face-will-be-your-passport-sydney-airport-to-trial-biometrics-20180221-p4z14p.html

Well done to Harris Farm Markets for banning plastic bags in their stores and selling alternatives for you to BYO. If you forget to bring a bag your goods are packed in a quality paper bag.

The World Press Photo 2017 exhibition showcases the winners of the 60th World Press Photo Awards, which honours the photographs that have best captured the state of the world in the past year.?In total, 152 photographs were selected from 80,408 images made by 5,034 photographers from 126 different countries. This photo, in the nature category, shows a keeper in a panda suit keeping a young panda away from human contact as part of training before being released into the wild in the Sichuan Basin, China. China?s efforts to eliminate poaching and to protect the panda?s habitat have played a large role in increasing numbers. www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo/2017/nature/ami-vitale

Uber is launching flying cars in 2020. The company announced an on-demand fully electric vertical takeoff and landing flying car service. The Uber app will have an "UberAir" option to select that is straight out of The Jetsons.