NPR Topics: Digital Life

NPR Topics: Digital Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1049&ft=1&f=1049 NPR's stories on information technology, computing, and the internet. Download podcasts and subscribe to RSS feeds. Listen to audio online. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Digital Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1049&ft=1&f=1049 yes U.S., Internet's Inventor, Lags In Web Access Despite being the country that invented the Internet, America lags far behind nations like Japan and South Korea in broadband speed and access. Guy Raz checks in with Thomas Bleha, author of the book <em>Overtaken on the Information Superhighway,</em> to find out why. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120652957&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120652957&ft=1&f=1049 Despite being the country that invented the Internet, America lags far behind nations like Japan and South Korea in broadband speed and access. Guy Raz checks in with Thomas Bleha, author of the book <em>Overtaken on the Information Superhighway,</em> to find out why. 225 no Despite being the country that invented the Internet, America lags far behind nations like Japan and South Korea in broadband speed and access. Guy Raz checks in with Thomas Bleha, author of the book Overtaken on the Information Superhighway, to find out why.

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]]> The 'Wild And Wooly' World Of Bulletin Boards These days, if you want to find a fling, a friend or a cheap used sofa, you might check Craigslist. But decades before Craig Newmark posted his first list, computer users all over the country were connecting through electronic bulletin boards. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:36:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120649723&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120649723&ft=1&f=1049 These days, if you want to find a fling, a friend or a cheap used sofa, you might check Craigslist. But decades before Craig Newmark posted his first list, computer users all over the country were connecting through electronic bulletin boards. 298 no These days, if you want to find a fling, a friend or a cheap used sofa, you might check Craigslist. But decades before Craig Newmark posted his first list, computer users all over the country were connecting through electronic bulletin boards.

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]]> Tracking A 'Missing' Man By Virtual Bread Crumbs Evan Ratliff eschewed his identity and picked up a new one, challenging <em>Wired</em> readers to find him in 30 days in a contest sponsored by the magazine. Lured by a cash prize, readers mobilized online in a mad dash to locate Ratliff — who got a little too cocksure for his own good. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120580855&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120580855&ft=1&f=1049 Evan Ratliff eschewed his identity and picked up a new one, challenging <em>Wired</em> readers to find him in 30 days in a contest sponsored by the magazine. Lured by a cash prize, readers mobilized online in a mad dash to locate Ratliff — who got a little too cocksure for his own good. 257 no Evan Ratliff eschewed his identity and picked up a new one, challenging Wired readers to find him in 30 days in a contest sponsored by the magazine. Lured by a cash prize, readers mobilized online in a mad dash to locate Ratliff — who got a little too cocksure for his own good.

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]]> Listeners Reject, Accept New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience shares personal stories in reaction to controversial new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608136&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608136&ft=1&f=1049 Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience shares personal stories in reaction to controversial new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram. 256 no Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience shares personal stories in reaction to controversial new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram.

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]]> 'Googled': From Brainchild To Behemoth How much do you know about the company that knows so much about you? In <em>Googled: The End of the World as We Know It,</em> Ken Auletta chronicles the growth of Google, from the brainchild of two computer science graduate students, toiling in a California garage, to the multi-billion dollar, multi-nation corporation it is today. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120576406&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120576406&ft=1&f=1049 How much do you know about the company that knows so much about you? In <em>Googled: The End of the World as We Know It,</em> Ken Auletta chronicles the growth of Google, from the brainchild of two computer science graduate students, toiling in a California garage, to the multi-billion dollar, multi-nation corporation it is today. 1819 no How much do you know about the company that knows so much about you? In Googled: The End of the World as We Know It, Ken Auletta chronicles the growth of Google, from the brainchild of two computer science graduate students, toiling in a California garage, to the multi-billion dollar, multi-nation corporation it is today.

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]]> Was Internet Complicit In Fort Hood Shooting? From what is publicly known about Maj. Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 in a rampage at Fort Hood, he had no accomplice — unless you count the Internet in which he communed, exchanging sinister thoughts with an extremist cleric. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545573&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545573&ft=1&f=1049 From what is publicly known about Maj. Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 in a rampage at Fort Hood, he had no accomplice — unless you count the Internet in which he communed, exchanging sinister thoughts with an extremist cleric. 169 no From what is publicly known about Maj. Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 in a rampage at Fort Hood, he had no accomplice — unless you count the Internet in which he communed, exchanging sinister thoughts with an extremist cleric.

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]]> Watching TV On Your Computer Omar Gallaga, technology culture for the Austin American-Statesman, explores the latest technology options for watching television on your computer and vice versa. Gallaga says there is more aggregation of television content on the Internet in the form of search engines and new Web sites. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470633&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470633&ft=1&f=1049 Omar Gallaga, technology culture for the Austin American-Statesman, explores the latest technology options for watching television on your computer and vice versa. Gallaga says there is more aggregation of television content on the Internet in the form of search engines and new Web sites. 272 no Omar Gallaga, technology culture for the Austin American-Statesman, explores the latest technology options for watching television on your computer and vice versa. Gallaga says there is more aggregation of television content on the Internet in the form of search engines and new Web sites.

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]]> Can IPhone App Interpret A Baby's Cry? A new iPhone application, called Cry Translator, claims that it can help parents interpret the many subtleties in their babies' cries — from hungry to tired to needs a diaper change. Melissa Block puts the app to the test with the help of <em>All Things Considered</em> producer — and new mom — Melissa Gray. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470639&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470639&ft=1&f=1049 A new iPhone application, called Cry Translator, claims that it can help parents interpret the many subtleties in their babies' cries — from hungry to tired to needs a diaper change. Melissa Block puts the app to the test with the help of <em>All Things Considered</em> producer — and new mom — Melissa Gray. 197 no A new iPhone application, called Cry Translator, claims that it can help parents interpret the many subtleties in their babies' cries — from hungry to tired to needs a diaper change. Melissa Block puts the app to the test with the help of All Things Considered producer — and new mom — Melissa Gray.

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]]> Patients Turn To Online Community For Help Healing Many people already use the Internet to search for health information, but more Americans are using social-networking sites to talk to each other about their health. And many patients find it empowering to be able to share and learn from others who are going through the same thing. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120381580&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120381580&ft=1&f=1049 Many people already use the Internet to search for health information, but more Americans are using social-networking sites to talk to each other about their health. And many patients find it empowering to be able to share and learn from others who are going through the same thing. 261 no Many people already use the Internet to search for health information, but more Americans are using social-networking sites to talk to each other about their health. And many patients find it empowering to be able to share and learn from others who are going through the same thing.

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]]> The Man Who Made You Put Away Your Pen When was the last time you actually set pen to paper and mailed off a personal letter to someone? It's probably been awhile — and the man responsible is Ray Tomlinson. In 1971, Tomlinson changed the way the world communicated when he invented e-mail. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120364591&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120364591&ft=1&f=1049 When was the last time you actually set pen to paper and mailed off a personal letter to someone? It's probably been awhile — and the man responsible is Ray Tomlinson. In 1971, Tomlinson changed the way the world communicated when he invented e-mail. 243 no When was the last time you actually set pen to paper and mailed off a personal letter to someone? It's probably been awhile — and the man responsible is Ray Tomlinson. In 1971, Tomlinson changed the way the world communicated when he invented e-mail.

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]]> Scared Of Planet Nibiru? NASA Would Like To Help According to numerous sources on the Internet, three years from now a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This and other apocalyptic myths have NASA stepping up to soothe our fears. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:40:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120436493&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120436493&ft=1&f=1049 According to numerous sources on the Internet, three years from now a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This and other apocalyptic myths have NASA stepping up to soothe our fears. 251 no According to numerous sources on the Internet, three years from now a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This and other apocalyptic myths have NASA stepping up to soothe our fears.

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]]> Facebook's 'Farmville' Gets Users To Pay For Play More than 63 million people play the Facebook game called "Farmville" every month, and some even shell out real money to get ahead in the virtual reality. Host Scott Simon speaks to Dean Takahashi, who writes about gaming for the technology news blog VentureBeat, about why the game is so popular. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:48:08 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416321&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416321&ft=1&f=1049 More than 63 million people play the Facebook game called "Farmville" every month, and some even shell out real money to get ahead in the virtual reality. Host Scott Simon speaks to Dean Takahashi, who writes about gaming for the technology news blog VentureBeat, about why the game is so popular. 179 no More than 63 million people play the Facebook game called "Farmville" every month, and some even shell out real money to get ahead in the virtual reality. Host Scott Simon speaks to Dean Takahashi, who writes about gaming for the technology news blog VentureBeat, about why the game is so popular.

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]]> Clone That Smile, Digitally Researchers have figured out how to track the facial expressions of one person and map those movements onto a digital image of another person's face in real time. The result is something like a digital video puppet, which psychologists say may reveal something about human nature. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387133&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387133&ft=1&f=1049 Researchers have figured out how to track the facial expressions of one person and map those movements onto a digital image of another person's face in real time. The result is something like a digital video puppet, which psychologists say may reveal something about human nature. 261 no Researchers have figured out how to track the facial expressions of one person and map those movements onto a digital image of another person's face in real time. The result is something like a digital video puppet, which psychologists say may reveal something about human nature.

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]]> Vision Groups Want Colleges To Stop Buying Kindle Amazon's Kindle is taking some knocks from the National Federation for the Blind. The electronic reader can read books aloud, but the federation says that function is difficult to turn on when you can't see. Now, two universities say they won't buy more Kindles for their students unless Amazon comes up with a fix. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120340625&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120340625&ft=1&f=1049 Amazon's Kindle is taking some knocks from the National Federation for the Blind. The electronic reader can read books aloud, but the federation says that function is difficult to turn on when you can't see. Now, two universities say they won't buy more Kindles for their students unless Amazon comes up with a fix. 92 no Amazon's Kindle is taking some knocks from the National Federation for the Blind. The electronic reader can read books aloud, but the federation says that function is difficult to turn on when you can't see. Now, two universities say they won't buy more Kindles for their students unless Amazon comes up with a fix.

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]]> Cleveland Murders, Obama's Presidency Stir Listeners Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience reacts to the gruesome discovery in the home of a man in Cleveland. Also, a recent commentary by Martin exploring whether President Obama is sexist when it comes to his penchant for sports prompted listeners to weigh in with their two-cents. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120270759&ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120270759&ft=1&f=1049 Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience reacts to the gruesome discovery in the home of a man in Cleveland. Also, a recent commentary by Martin exploring whether President Obama is sexist when it comes to his penchant for sports prompted listeners to weigh in with their two-cents. 229 no Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience reacts to the gruesome discovery in the home of a man in Cleveland. Also, a recent commentary by Martin exploring whether President Obama is sexist when it comes to his penchant for sports prompted listeners to weigh in with their two-cents.

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