archive
To Get Out The Vote, Evangelicals Try Data Mining
February 27, 2012 The company United In Purpose is going through personal data — from magazine subscriptions to NASCAR ticket purchases — to identify unregistered Christian conservatives and sign them up. UIP hopes to sway the 2012 elections by signing up 5 million new voters.
Where Eye Care Is A Luxury, Technology Offers Access
February 6, 2012 Entrepreneurs and researchers are looking for ways to bring the cost of eye care down in the developing world. One group is working on technology that turns a smartphone into an eye exam machine, while another has developed glasses with liquid lenses that change prescriptions with the help of a pump.
Tutors Teach Seniors New High-Tech Tricks
January 2, 2012 Seniors who aren't tech savvy can find themselves increasingly isolated, even from their families, as more and more communication moves to the digital realm. Across the country, a number of programs are enlisting high school or college students to train seniors on Facebook, Skype and smartphones.
Warmth In Winter: Smart Windows To Let Heat In
November 28, 2011 KQEDWindows treated with an insulating film are twice as efficient as regular double-pane windows, since they block heat from entering a building. That's useful on warm days, but inefficient when it's cold. One lab is researching a new coating that could be turned on and off with an electrical current.
With The Flick Of A Switch, It's Crystal Clear To Hear
November 25, 2011 For people with hearing loss, trying to hear in noisy places like airports and theaters, can be tough. But advocates are spreading word of not-so-new technology that allows sound from loudspeakers to be transmitted directly to hearing aids, cutting through the background noise.
Wis. Business Hopes To Help Break The CD Habit
October 10, 2011 WPRMurfie will burn your old discs to a digital file, recycle the cases and even resell the album online. It's part eBay, part iTunes, the company says.
Few Consumers Are Cracking The QR Code
September 26, 2011 The pixelated images meant to be scanned on a smartphone to take the user to a website may be too involved for too little reward, branding consultants say. Though the codes are more prevalent, only 6 percent of mobile subscribers in the U.S. scan them, and a newer technology may soon overtake it.
Comcast Offers Digital Lifeline To Disconnected
September 12, 2011 The cable giant now offers Internet access to low-income families for $9.95 per month. Stipulated by its merger with NBCUniversal, the effort is meant to help children access resources they need for school. But families need more than cheap Internet access to bridge the digital divide, experts say.
For Software Developers, A Bounty Of Opportunity
September 5, 2011 WBURUnlike most other industries, the tech sector is experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. Growing demand for software is fueling a bidding war for developers and programmers, in particular, which means high salaries and other perks.
Need A Parking Space? Look In Your Hand
August 29, 2011 San Francisco is testing a smartphone app that shows drivers the locations of available parking spaces and how much the space will cost. Under this new system, parking meter prices are adjusted higher in areas with high demand.
Air Force Eyes Micromachine Bugs That Can Spy
August 16, 2011 Researchers at the Air Force Institute of Technology are working on micro air vehicles — tiny flying machines designed to look like birds and insects that are remotely piloted. The Air Force aims to use these micromachines to gather intelligence or even deliver weaponry.
Hunting For A Password That Only You Will Know
July 25, 2011 A random combination of letters and numbers may no longer be enough to protect your identity. But while experts are researching alternatives, passwords with multiple layers of security will have to do.
All Tech Considered
e-Geaux: Social Networking Without The Social Or The Networking
July 18, 2011 Make your Facebook friends think you care without the time commitment of leaving a meaningful birthday message or bothering to read their ranting comments.
Smartphones Making It Harder To Call It Quits
July 4, 2011 For some, smartphones have become digital leashes to the office. They can log on and check in at work from just about anywhere. And while this is good for employers, it's making it harder for employees to disconnect and relax — even when they're on vacation.
Geocaching: 21st-Century Treasure Hunting
July 4, 2011 MPBNThe sport that took off in 2000, after the government lifted restrictions on access to satellite signals used by the U.S. military, now has millions of participants worldwide. One avid geocacher in Maine says he doesn't think he's obsessed, but says his wife might disagree.
