All Technology
- Why the US will soon require registration for recreational drones
Pilots are reporting more than 100 'close encounters of the drone kind' per month, as the unmanned vehicles fly near commercial aircraft and into restricted airspace. The government hopes that registration will push drone owners to fly more safely.
- Facebook now warns of government hack, but it won’t tell you how it knows
The social media giant has developed a system where it can tell users about possible scrutiny by government agencies, with a catch.
- How Microsoft plans to prevent car crashes before they happen
Microsoft plans to use software to predict where collisions between cars, cyclists, and pedestrians are most likely to occur. The software would use predictive analysis to suggest tweaks to stoplight timing and crosswalk placement to stop accidents from ever happening in the first place.
- Why are so many people suddenly coming out on Facebook?
In a new report by Facebook, the social media giant claims there are more LGBT users than ever before.
- What happens when you mix a robot and a cat? Scientists want to find out
Even the most advanced robots can fall over easily, and so researchers at the 2015 DARPA challenge tried to help robots fall more gracefully by studying how cats fall.
- Can social media change the way lawmakers connect with constituents?
A report released on Wednesday found that as few as 30 comments on a legislator's social media post could prompt action from many members of Congress and their staff. The speed and immediacy of social media may be changing the way lawmakers interact with citizens in their districts, researchers say.
- MIT’s shapeshifting 'Kinetic Blocks' can learn from humans
Kinetic Blocks, an invention from MIT's Tangible Media Group, is a grid of pixels that can manipulate objects to create or disassemble structures. Kinetic Blocks can even watch a human build a structure, then replicate that structure on its own.
- First LookComputer glitch halts Homeland Security checks at five US airports
The disruption lasted about 90 minutes on Wednesday and there have been no indications the glitch was malicious in nature, officials said.
- To make robots more graceful, scientists shove them to the ground, repeatedly
Scientists at Georgia Tech created an algorithm that allows robots to minimize the amount of damage they suffer in a fall. The team leader, Karen Liu, says that one day hardware advances will allow robots to land on their feet the way cats do.
- How smartphone videos are changing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
A video showing a violent confrontation between Israeli police and a Palestinian woman that ended in her hospitalization for gunshot wounds have inflamed tensions on both sides, as Israel ramps up its government surveillance on Palestinian activists to curb what it says are "lone wolf" terrorist attacks.
- Why one Utah lawmaker is calling Edward Snowden a 'traitor'
At a security conference on Tuesday, Rep. Chris Stewart, a Republican, argued that a $1.7 billion NSA data center near Salt Lake City doesn't focus on bulk data collection and had harsh words for the former NSA contractor.
- Apple faces $862 million lawsuit against Univ. of Wisconsin
Apple Inc. might be facing up to $862 million in damages after a U.S. jury found on Tuesday it had been using chip technology owned by a branch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's licensing team without permission.
- Facebook's big conundrum: How to express reactions other than 'like'
Instead of a 'dislike' button, Facebook is launching a set of six emoji to help you react appropriately to less-than-happy news. Facebook is testing love, laughter, excitement, sadness, shock, and anger emoji in Ireland and Spain.
- First LookWhy Apple may have to shell out $862 million
A jury on Tuesday found that the company used patented technology without permission, setting up a battle over whether the tech giant should pay damages to the patent holder.
- First LookWhy Facebook is revamping its 'On This Day' feature
The social media site is introducing filters that allow users to block posts from particular friends or certain dates in response to concerns from users that the site was accidentally pulling up unpleasant memories.
- How Google's neural network will improve YouTube
Researchers from Google unveiled software that analyzes videos using a machine learning technology called a neural network that some argue could lead to truly artificial intelligence.
- Three NASA technologies that could make a Mars colony possible
A permanent settlement on Mars may not be far from reality thanks to these prototype technologies from NASA.
- Why is Twitter laying off 1 in 12 employees?
Brand-new Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has announced that he will cut up to 336 positions.
- How electronic voting could improve voters' trust
Countries like Brazil, India and Namibia have embraced the technology over traditional paper ballots, but questions about who should control the voting process and whether it should go online are still up for debate, panelists said at an event in Washington, DC on Friday.
- White House agrees not to read your emails – kind of
The White House will not force tech companies to provide blanket back-door access to encrypted data, but law enforcement and intelligence agencies can still access emails and other private data with a warrant.