60-Second Tech: Recent Episodes
Scientific American
Researchers revealed their latest prototype contact lenses that magnify vision almost three times with the wink of an eye. Larry Greenemeier reports
Users of the K-cup coffee company’s products have counterattacked against its efforts to restrict the brands that their new machines can brew. Larry Greenemeier reports
Law enforcement agencies have handheld radar that can “see” through walls via RF signals, raising Fourth Amendment concerns. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers have made a secure, waterproof wireless keyboard that gets charged by the action of your fingertips as you type. Larry Greenemeier reports
SpaceX’s Elon Musk and fellow tech mogel Greg Wyler both have plans for low Earth orbit satellite networks that could fill in many of the world's current gaps in Internet coverage. Larry Greenemeier reports
Carmakers are working on ways to let drivers interact with their cars using presumably safer hand gestures and eye movement in addition to voice controls and touch screens. Larry Greenemeier reports
The social media behemoth buys voice-recognition start-up Wit.ai to prepare for the impending Internet of Things. Larry Greenemeier reports
British students made a wrist monitor that senses if you nod off and sends a signal to your DVR to record whatever you were watching. Future such devices could control additional household functions. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apple got a patent for a system to adjust your falling device in flight to minimize the damage on landing. Larry Greenemeier reports
IBM scientists in India developed an experimental power supply from reusable lithium ion cells salvaged from three-year-old laptop battery packs. Larry Greenemeier reports
New York City public schools are missing hundreds and possibly thousands of computers, due to poor record keeping, theft, corruption or some combo. Larry Greenemeier reports
Training rescue robots to land safely from falls like cats could give them nine lives in the field. Larry Greenemeier reports
Yondr’s locking gadget-case aims to keep digital distractions down during live performances. Larry Greenemeier reports
Law enforcement agencies and retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy balk at Apple's operating system and payment app privacy efforts. Larry Greenemeier reports
Twitter and M.I.T. have teamed up to launch the Laboratory for Social Machines to analyze the impact of social media messages on society. Larry Greenemeier reports
Drivers in a simulator reacted slowly to sudden traffic emergencies regardless of whether they were thumbing texts into smartphones or dictating them to Google Glass. Larry Greenemeier reports
More than a million volunteer users of the smarthphone app Carat have helped researchers identify those apps that really suck battery power in both the Android operating system and Apple's iOS. Larry Greenemeier reports
Mini-jet backpack for runners could help military personnel and others get home faster. Larry Greenemeier reports
A future smart bike helmet can track the rider's motion, determine if a crash was likely and call for help if the rider is incapacitated. Larry Greenemeier reports
The rumor mill surrounding the company's latest is in high gear, with possibly a wearable device and smartphone wallet capabilities to be announced next week. Larry Greenemeier reports
Software start-ups getting big bucks to write code that can identify, find and link logos and brands in the billions of images posted daily. Larry Greenemeier reports
Hydraulic-powered, mind-controlled support suits aren’t just for superheroes. Soon you might have to wear one to work. Larry Greenemeier reports
The Internet-connected headset is drawing interest in the medical community as a video consultation tool. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Moth eyes absorb almost all incident light, thus reducing reflection that predators would notice. Researchers have now used the moth eye structure as the basis of a highly efficient solar absorbing cell. Larry Greenemeier reports
A multicat feeder system incorporates facial recognition so that owners can tell if individual cats are eating too much or too little. Larry Greenemeier reports
Some users are modifying electronic cigarettes to produce stronger flavors, more impressive vapor clouds and to deliver even more nicotine. Larry Greenemeier reports
Machine-learning researchers are developing software that automatically searches through long videos to create edited summaries, or personalized trailers. Larry Greenemeier reports
Tech companies are offering an ever-increasing number of health monitoring and promoting apps, to keep you in shape and interesting in buying more gadgets. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft is allegedly adding Kinect-for-Xbox–like gesture recognition to the next generation of Nokia’s Lumia smartphone. Larry Greenemeier reports
Don't bet all your chips on crypto coins yet, but Apple's app acceptance makes things interesting. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers at Munich's Technical University had subjects control flight simulators with brainwaves via an EEG interface. Larry Greenemeier reports
The social network hopes to fill in the info blanks for its low-profile members by having their friends supply the details. Larry Greenemeier reports
A European Union court ruling endorses the right to be forgotten online. The U.S. is less forgiving. Larry Greenemeier reports
Sony's new process lets them store more than 185 terabytes of data on a single tape cartridge. Larry Greenemeier reports
The Lytro Illum camera system allows refocusing of a photo after it's taken. It's faster guts and more professional design make the camera more attractive—and pricier—than its predecessor. Larry Greenemeier reports
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether Aereo can keep streaming live broadcast TV to mobile gadgets and other devices. Larry Greenemeier reports
A custom-designed video game that frustrated players left them at least as aggressive after playing as did other games famous for their violence. Larry Greenemeier reports
Baseball's expanded review system excludes ball and strike calls, which a study finds to be biased in favor of star players, especially late in games. Larry Greenemeier reports
The era of antisocial networking has begun with the development of apps such as Cloak, which identifies locations of your contacts so you don't have to see them. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers are developing adapters that let smartphones take high-quality images of the eye that could be used to remotely screen patients for eye conditions or disease. Larry Greenemeier reports
A consortium including Facebook and Qualcomm wants to launch solar-powered atmospheric satellite drones that can carry equipment for relaying wireless networks in remote areas that currently have no Internet connections. Larry Greenemeier reports
Competitions like the Firearms Challenge could give guns that use radio-frequency tags, biometrics and other tech a push into the mainstream. Larry Greenemeier reports
California wants to be the first state to mandate antitheft features on mobile devices, but carriers fear lost insurance revenue. Larry Greenemeier reports
Paramount Pictures is the first of what will be many studios to release major motion pictures in all-digital, forcing small movie houses to upgrade their technology. Larry Greenemeier reports
A new smartphone for youngsters is being marketed for its ability for parents to set parental filters and strict guidelines for use. Larry Greenemeier reports
Using data about when you drive, the times of your starts and stops, and your speed, insurance companies may be able to also tell where you go, even without GPS. Larry Greenemeier reports
Photos that include people now produce images clear enough to make a positive ID of any individuals whose faces are reflected in the corneas of the people in the picture. Larry Greenemeier reports
In a study of user behavior, Facebook determined that about 70 percent of people about to post an item engage in some form of self-editing or self-censorship. Larry Greenemeier reports.
The year brought numerous revelations about government surveillance on ordinary citizens. Do we care? Larry Greenemeier reports.
Just because your smartphone can bring up your position on a map does not mean that a call to 911 automatically shows responders where you are. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Snapchat, a time-limited message-sharing app, has allegedly turned down billion-dollar offers from Facebook and Google. Larry Greenemeier reports.
A Harris poll finds that many Americans wondery how smartwatches and smartglasses would fit into the average person's life. Larry Greenemeier reports.
A group of e-mail users have filed suit claiming that Google's scans of Gmails for commercial data gathering purposes is in fact wiretapping. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Researchers see light-emitting diodes as the Internet gateway for tomorrow's wireless gadgets. Larry Greenemeier reports
With implicit identification aka implicit authentication, your smartphone would shut down after recognizing it was lost or stolen based on how the new user was fiddling with its functions. Larry Greenemeier reports.
A small backpack worn by a dog emitted vibrations and tones to remotely guide the canine from one point to point, with no handler present. Larry Greenemeier reports
Wireless signals create a 3-D map of a room and can monitor any unusual movement, such as a fall or unusual period of quiescence. Larry Greenemeier reports.
EDLs contain a RFID chip and let you rapidly reenter the U.S. at a land border without needing a passport. Proponents in California want to alleviate congestion at the Mexico border. Opponents worry about privacy. Larry Greenemeier reports
A survey of professors finds that most see online courses as inferior to in-class lessons--but those who have taught online are more open to their potential. Larry Greenemeier reports.
A service available for Apple users allows you to have a replacement key made based on a digital picture of the original. Larry Greenemeier reports.
New software identifies doctored images by finding inconsistent shadows, even with complex shapes and uneven surfaces. Larry Greenemeier reports.
An accelerometer-based oral sensory system embedded in a tooth could identify various oral habits based on dental movement. Larry Greenemeier reports
Paper-thin sensor networks might someday give machines the ability to feel their surroundings. Larry Greenemeier reports
DOGTV, featuring programming to entertain stay-at-home dogs, debuts nationally August 1 on DirecTV. Larry Greenemeier reports
An electromagnetic rail gun would use magnetic fields created by electrical currents to accelerate a sliding metal conductor along two rails. Larry Greenemeier reports
A small group of people with mid- to late-stage dementia appeared happier and less anxious after spending time with a robotic animal programmed to respond to touch and sound. Larry Greenemeier reports
The outdated 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act considers e-mail "abandoned" and searchable if it's stored for more than 180 days on a server. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers combine an iPhone with optical filters to create a handheld analyzer for toxins, bacteria and other items of public health importance. Larry Greenemeier reports
An industry report says there is no good technological reason for Amazon and Apple to restrict readers to their formats. Larry Greenemeier reports
Consumers were victims of nearly 290,000 online frauds and lost more than $525 million in 2012, up 8 percent from 2011. Larry Greenemeier reports
One in six high school students report being victimized via e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, Web sites or texting. Larry Greenemeier reports
The recent AP Twitter account hack looks like an example of a successful spear phishing attack, in which a targeted e-mail duped the news agency's employees. Larry Greenemeier reports
Google's Inactive Account Manager allows you to arrange for the deletion of your data upon your demise. Larry Greenemeier reports
Various HP products will soon be controllable by hand gestures. Larry Greenemeier reports
A study tracking Google searches about mental health issues showed substantial decreases in summer versus winter, implying a lessening of symptoms during the longer, warmer days. Larry Greenemeier reports
Amazon's X-Ray allows viewers watching certain movies or TV shows on certain devices to touch the screen for instant actor identification. Larry Greenemeier reports
Even before any Google Glass augmented-reality headsets are available to the public, West Virginia is considering a bill to ban drivers from wearing any head-mounted display. Larry Greenemeier reports
Federal researchers find that most green laser pointers and half of red ones are stronger than safety standards permit, creating an eye hazard. Larry Greenemeier reports
Google's new Talking Shoe keeps the wearer connected, but advertisers are likely to run down this as a two-way street. Larry Greenemeier reports
Samsung's next product is expected to have a display that senses eye movement and can scroll accordingly. Larry Greenemeier reports
Some Android smartphones and tablets measure atmospheric pressure. More could provide forecasters with important info in areas with few official weather stations. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apple's latest iPhone ranked behind four different 4G Android handsets in a recent customer satisfaction survey. Larry Greenemeier reports
Despite digital certificate services from major companies like Google, MasterCard and Visa, digital wallets other than PayPal have not penetrated consumer consciousness. Larry Greenemeier reports
Web users--except those in North Korea itself, where Internet use is restricted--now have a view of the secretive kingdom's landmarks, infrastructure and prison camps. Larry Greenemeier reports
More than 200 million phablets (smart phone-tablets) will be sold in 2015, twice as many as last year. Larry Greenemeier reports
Sensors on this smart fork lead to a vibration if you're eating too fast. Larry Greenemeier reports
Twitter and ratings agency Nielsen have come up a way to quantify social media buzz for TV programs. Larry Greenemeier reports
An algorithm can evaluate tweets within the overall Twitter flow to assess their veracity. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers found no proof that ultrasonic devices sold to repel these pesky blood suckers could deliver on that promise. Larry Greenemeier reports
A project called the "Human Face of Big Data" asks smart-phone users worldwide what they think about beliefs, rituals and hopes. Larry Greenemeier reports
Force sensors in headgear could signal whether a hit is strong enough to cause concern should the player receive a second serious blow. Larry Greenemeier reports
Iceland's parliament will vote on whether to replace its 68-year-old constitution with a version that takes into account suggestions from Twitter, Facebook and Web site comments. Larry Greenemeier reports
Drivers in the post-Sandy New York metropolitan area have a few high-tech ways to shorten the odds on long gas lines. Larry Greenemeier reports
Bone-conduction headphones send good vibrations directly to the cochlea without blocking the ears, thereby also allowing ambient sounds. Larry Greenemeier reports
A Pew Internet & American Life Project poll shows both Republican and Democrat voters are turning to their mobile phones for election information. Larry Greenemeier reports
American Idol judge Simon Cowell and pop star Will.i.am are rumored to be searching for the next great tech entrepreneur. Larry Greenemeier reports
Checking out a new old flame on Facebook may make it easier to cope in some ways, but harder in others. Larry Greenemeier reports
Police may create phony Facebook accounts to root out criminals, but schools and businesses may be restrained from poking into the accounts of students and employees. Larry Greenemeier reports
One court case found that wi-fi sniffing was okay, whereas a different case judged it to be illegal. Larry Greenemeier reports
People with autism were kept on task at work with an iPod Touch featuring various checklist and prompting apps. Larry Greenemeier reports
A factory reset may not be enough to wipe the data from a smart phone you're planning to recycle. Larry Greenemeier reports
Honda is about to launch a robot to mow your lawn much like the Roomba vacuums your floors. Larry Greenemeier reports
As a nod to the entertainment industry, Google is threatening to give poor search-result rankings to sites accused of violating copyright claims. Larry Greenemeier reports
After people were fired for a Facebook "like," a court ruled that a "like" is not protected free speech. Facebook and the ACLU disagree. Larry Greenemeier reports
The number of gadget-distracted walkers injured seriously enough to be treated at emergency rooms has quadrupled in the past seven years. Larry Greenemeier reports
YouTube recently introduced a tool that lets you automatically blur faces in footage you upload to the Web. Larry Greenemeier reports
Reversing a recent decision, Apple will conform to Electronic Products Environmental Asset Tool standards, or EPEAT, after all. Larry Greenemeier reports
In 2011 law enforcement agencies made more than 1.3 million requests for customer cell phone records. Larry Greenemeier reports
An experimental electronic plastic's liquid-metal interior keeps electrical connections intact even after the plastic stretches to more than four times normal size. Larry Greenemeier reports
Facebook surreptitiously modified user profiles to replace their original e-mail addresses with @facebook.com addresses. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft is not calling its new Surface PC a tablet, but in most meaningful ways it is. Larry Greenemeier reports
Many of the alleged Twitter followers for some companies are bots created by marketers to make the company look more popular. Larry Greenemeier reports
Ava the Avatar is a virtual assistant coming to the three major New York City area airports for a tryout. Larry Greenemeier reports
Are Facebook's moves toward producing a smart phone smart or phony? Larry Greenemeier reports
A study of 600 iPhone users found that people are more likely to provide honest and accurate information via text messages than voice interviews. Larry Greenemeier reports
The vast majority of mobile device users get only free or cheap apps. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft hopes its SoundWave will let you interact with your PC using hand gestures in midair rather than on a keyboard. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft and Barnes & Noble are teaming up to make a run at the e-reader market leaders. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apple bought a license for a liquid metal alloy in 2010, and the speculation now is that the next iPhone may incorporate the strong, flexible product in its body. Larry Greenemeier reports
Avatar director James Cameron's effects company created a virtual Shakur using physical characteristics and movements captured from previously recorded performances. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft's Windows Phone needs more apps, for which Microsoft--unlike Apple or Google--is paying developers. Larry Greenemeier reports
Terrafugia's Transition two-seat "roadable aircraft" comes to the New York International Auto Show after a maiden flight. Larry Greenemeier reports
Tata Motors hopes to release its compressed-air car in India by August. Larry Greenemeier reports
The aviation industry lacks conclusive proof that gadgets do (or don't) interfere with instruments. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers are developing small, energy-efficient and luminous three-color laser light sources into smart phones that will enable the projection of screen images onto flat surfaces. Larry Greenemeier reports
Data centers powered by biogas and solar energy could make Apple's Cloud cleaner. Larry Greenemeier reports
Microsoft's test version of its new Skype for Windows Phone app lets you call Skype contacts over 3G, 4G and wi-fi networks. Larry Greenemeier reports
Google is developing a smart phone and heads-up display worn over the ears like a pair of specs. Larry Greenemeier reports
The earSmart source separation system makes many mobile phone calls easier to understand in noisy situations. Larry Greenemeier reports
Ads could hit Facebook mobile apps as soon as March. Will users mind on the small screen? Larry Greenemeier reports
A quantum encryption technique out of Los Alamos National Laboratory could provide smart phone security. Larry Greenemeier reports
A hydrogen fuel mini cell and a kinetic energy harvester are two new smart phone chargers debuting in 2012. Larry Greenemeier reports
Digital health care apps, especially via smart phones, are offering users unprecedented control over their health behaviors. Larry Greenemeier reports
A start-up called Codecademy is teaching JavaScript online for free, with 300,000 takers so far. Michael Moyer reports
With tablets all the rage, non-Apple computer manufacturers are banking on the latest small-laptop style: ultrabooks. Larry Greenemeier reports
IBM predicts biometrics will replace most password use in the next five years. Larry Greenemeier reports
For the first time, the Super Bowl will stream live on February 5--on the Web sites of both the NFL and NBC. Larry Greenemeier reports
Citing accident and injury stats, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended a nationwide ban on the use of communications devices while driving. Larry Greenemeier reports
Cloud-based systems allow a single purchase to stream on a variety of devices. But it looks like Apple and the Keystone system will duke it out with everyone else and Ultraviolet. Larry Greenemeier reports
As gaming tech closes in on the ability to tell players' expressions, can lip-reading artificial intelligence be far behind? Larry Greenemeier reports
Apps now can tell you when Snoopy will float by at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade or the best way to deep-fry your turkey. Larry Greenemeier reports
The Kinecthesia belt has sensors and a series of motors that send vibrations to the wearer to indicate the position of obstacles. Larry Greenemeier reports
Siri, the new iPhone 4S personal assistant, is a step closer to a keyboard-free future. Larry Greenemeier reports
Better insulation for high-voltage cables could keep them dry during deluges and cut transmission loss. Larry Greenemeier reports
Subjects using a new software package were able to control the movement of a virtual helicopter through an obstacle course using their thoughts alone. Larry Greenemeier reports
M.I.T. professor Ely Sachs gave up his faculty position to go all-in on a company that he believes can make solar energy competitive with coal via smart photovoltaic manufacturing. Larry Greenemeier reports
A new Georgia Tech Information Security Center report cites search engines, mobile phones and personal information as prime targets for hackers. Larry Greenemeier reports
Efforts to develop an indoor version of GPS use smart phones and existing wi-fi. Larry Greenemeier reports
IBM and 3M have come up with an adhesive that will allow them to stack up to 100 semiconductors onto a single microchip. Larry Greenemeier reports
Researchers have developed a way to put smart phones almost to sleep to stretch battery life but keep the phones alert for incoming info. Rose Eveleth reports
A clever way to send and receive both sides of a smart phone conversation on a single frequency could double wireless network capacity. Larry Greenemeier reports
Nobel laureates added metallic nanostructures to graphene to vastly boost its photodetector qualities. Larry Greenemeier reports
An array of buoys that track vessel movement off the coast of New Jersey is being powered by ocean waves. Larry Greenemeier reports
Sandia National Labs demonstrates its improved mine rescue robot. Larry Greenemeier reports
Brewster Kahle, who has pioneered efforts to digitize written information, wants to save a hard copy of every book. Larry Greenemeier reports
On the fourth anniversary of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge collapse, scientists and engineers are working to make bridges smarter
Diana Nyad, veteran open-water distance swimmer, plans to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys while being protected by an electronic device called Shark Shield. Larry Greenemeier reports
The newest electronic tellers come with built-in lie detectors, rely on biometric security and let you trade cash for gold. Larry Greenemeier reports
A survey of children around the world found out what the kids would most like their technology to be able to do next. Larry Greenemeier reports
Parents use social networks to gain intel on their kids' friends and on those kids' parents. Larry Greenemeier reports