Accessibility links
Laura Sydell
Stories By

Laura Sydell

Monday

Technology

Online-Monitoring Programs Popular with Parents

Tracking technologies that let parents know what their children are doing online are starting to find their way into family life. Parents say they are trying to protect their kids, but it could be at the expense of trust. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Online-Monitoring Programs Popular with Parents

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4245775/4245776" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Technology

PC Users Warned of Unwanted Gifts from Hackers

Computer security experts are advising people who receive PCs as holiday gifts to protect he machines from viruses before opening e-mail. Several viruses now circulating come in innocuous-seeming e-mails with holiday-themed subject lines. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

PC Users Warned of Unwanted Gifts from Hackers

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4242215/4242216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

World

Study Finds Army Faced Tech Hurdles in Iraq

For the Bush administration, the Iraq war was supposed to showcase high-tech developments for the U.S. military. But a study from the Rand Corporation commissioned for the Army reveals that much of the technology touted during the invasion did not work as planned. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Study Finds Army Faced Tech Hurdles in Iraq

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4231882/4231883" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Technology

Asimo and The Future of Robots

The consumer robot Asimo can follow directions, walk up stairs, and even hula. His creators at Honda say a commercial version could soon be available to assist the elderly and the handicapped. But critics scoff at the notion that robots will be practical or cost-effective any time in the near future. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Asimo and The Future of Robots

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4224835/4224836" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday

Technology

Stressed-Out Game Designers Sue Software Maker

Those amazing video games that some people spend months playing take even longer to create. Now, overworked programmers have filed a lawsuit against their employers, citing extreme job stress and health problems. Laura Sydell reports.

Stressed-Out Game Designers Sue Software Maker

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4206253/4206254" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Monday

National

Nonprofit Develops Hi-Tech Weapons

When you think of out-sourcing, you probably don't think of nonprofits and weapon systems. But the CIA is funding a non-profit company that is developing top-secret technological programs. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Nonprofit Develops Hi-Tech Weapons

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4169961/4169962" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Monday

Your Money

Investment Firm Aims to Simplify Retirement Accounts

For some people, the biggest roadblock to saving for retirement is inertia. A new kind of investment firm helps simplify the 401k process. Their clients are people enrolled in company-sponsored retirement plans who don't want to bother with the details. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Investment Firm Aims to Simplify Retirement Accounts

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4136179/4136180" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Business

Presidential Endorsements Tricky for CEOs

Though Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs have publicly endorsed candidates for president, many CEOs shy away from such public declarations. Political endorsements can give business leaders powerful connections on Capitol Hill, but also risk alienating customers. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Presidential Endorsements Tricky for CEOs

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4113627/4113628" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Sunday

Friday

Business

Small Businesses Face Difficult Health Care Choices

Small business owners have grappled with rising healthcare costs for their employees. Some have laid off workers. Others refuse to fill vacated positions, which forcing other workers to pick up the slack. President Bush and Sen. Kerry have offered different plans to tackle the problem of increased healthcare premiums. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Small Businesses Face Difficult Health Care Choices

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4076501/4076502" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday

Monday

Business

Pirated Scooters Hurt U.S. Sales

Overseas counterfeiting and pirating are hurting sales of a family-owned American company that makes popular gas-powered scooters. The Department of Commerce estimates that U.S. businesses lose about $250 billion every year to counterfeit and pirated goods. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Pirated Scooters Hurt U.S. Sales

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4059375/4059376" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Law

Low-Cost Legal Services

Some are calling it "the H&R Block" of law offices: the national chain "We the People" helps customers with legal filings -- from bankruptcy to wills. But the one thing they can't offer is legal advice. Some lawyers are skeptical about the quality of the low-cost service, and are fighting the competition in -- where else? -- court. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Low-Cost Legal Services

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4056263/4056264" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">