Accessibility links
Laura Sydell
Stories By

Laura Sydell

Thursday

Media

Tech Billionare Peter Thiel Comes Forward In War Against 'Gawker'

Billionaire Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel revealed he was a backer of Hulk Hogan's successful invasion of privacy lawsuit against Gawker.

Tech Billionare Peter Thiel Comes Forward In War Against 'Gawker'

Listen · 3:53
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/479635817/479635818" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Tuesday

Too Much Technology Can Spoil Your Warhol Experience

Two people hold electronic devices while looking over a sculpture by George Segal with the Living Wall in the background at the newly expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Eric Risberg/AP

All Tech Considered

Too Much Technology Can Spoil Your Warhol Experience

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has reopened after a three-year closure. Like a growing number of museums, it hopes new tech doesn't get in the way of looking at the art.

Too Much Technology Can Spoil Your Warhol Experience

Listen · 4:20
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/478270516/478356234" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Art & Design

Revamped San Francisco Museum Merges Modern Art With Interactive Tech

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art re-opened this weekend with groundbreaking interactive technology meant to enhance the experience of looking at art. But can there be too much tech in a museum?

Revamped San Francisco Museum Merges Modern Art With Interactive Tech

Listen · 4:20
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/478272660/478272661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Monday

Biotech's Theranos Offers A Cautionary Tale For Silicon Valley

Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, speaks at the Fortune Global Forum in San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2015. Jeff Chiu/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Jeff Chiu/AP

All Tech Considered

Biotech's Theranos Offers A Cautionary Tale For Silicon Valley

The blood-testing startup led by Elizabeth Holmes soared on hype and celebrity boosters. Now it's under federal scrutiny. It could show that Silicon Valley's success model doesn't work in biotech.

Biotech's Theranos Offers A Cautionary Tale For Silicon Valley

Listen · 4:07
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/475972922/476498777" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Beyond Streaming: How Will Future Fans Discover Prince's Music?

Prince performs at the Grand Palais in Paris on Oct. 11, 2009. Whoever ends up running his estate will face some tough decisions about how to handle his musical legacy. Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Beyond Streaming: How Will Future Fans Discover Prince's Music?

Whoever ends up running his estate will face some tough decisions about how to handle his musical legacy. What happens to the music in his vault? Will future concertgoers see him as a hologram?

Beyond Streaming: How Will Future Fans Discover Prince's Music?

Listen · 4:43
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/475733949/475773325" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Business

Do You Yahoo? Despite Dismal Reputation, Many People Still Do

Yahoo goes on the block Monday. The tech company will accept bids for its Internet businesses, properties estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Despite its reputation as a digital dinosaur, Yahoo is the third most trafficked site on the web. NPR looks at users who have stuck with Yahoo.

Do You Yahoo? Despite Dismal Reputation, Many People Still Do

Listen · 4:03
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/474725621/474725622" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

For Sale: One Used Internet Company Called Yahoo
Noah Berger/Bloomberg/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

For Sale: One Used Internet Company Called Yahoo

Potential buyers are due to submit bids for Yahoo's core Internet business on Monday. Yahoo may be the number three search engine, but it's struggled to attract investors and keep up with competitors.

For Sale: One Used Internet Company Called Yahoo

Listen · 3:49
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/474411832/474639445" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Can Silly Patents Help Fight Frivolous Lawsuits?

A hammock-canoe drawing, U.S. Patent No. 299,951, is displayed in a June 1884 publication of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. Critics of the patent system say it's too easy for people to save a slew of semi-realistic ideas, then sue when a firm separately tries to make something similar. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bloomberg via Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Can Silly Patents Help Fight Frivolous Lawsuits?

Critics of the patent system say it's too easy for people to save a slew of semi-realistic ideas, then sue when a firm separately tries to make something similar. A new website fights fire with fire.

Monday

Law

Department Of Justice Says It No Longer Needs Apple's Help To Unlock iPhone

The Justice Department has asked a federal court to vacate its order that Apple write software to help the FBI access data in the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone.

Department Of Justice Says It No Longer Needs Apple's Help To Unlock iPhone

Listen · 4:19
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/472196477/472207092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Oculus Rift Launch Makes A Splash. Will It Lead A Wave Of VR Tech?

An attendant wearing an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset demonstrates a glove with a Yamaha Corp. rubber-like sensor at the Wearable Expo in Tokyo, on Jan. 13. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bloomberg via Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Oculus Rift Launch Makes A Splash. Will It Lead A Wave Of VR Tech?

After four years of hype, the Oculus Rift hits the market Monday. It's just one of several virtual reality systems — but not all the VR gadgets are up to snuff.

Oculus Rift Launch Makes A Splash. Will It Lead A Wave Of VR Tech?

Listen · 3:29
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/472176250/472176253" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Technology

Digital Pioneer Andrew Grove Led Intel's Shift From Chips To Microprocessors

Andrew Grove, the former CEO of Intel, has died. During 40 years at the company, he helped it become the most powerful chipmaker in the world.

Digital Pioneer Andrew Grove Led Intel's Shift From Chips To Microprocessors

Listen · 3:50
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/471389537/471389538" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Technology

Virtual Reality Vs. Augmented Reality: Should We Believe The Hype?

At tech conferences and in media reports, word is that Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are coming. But many people don't know what they are or what the difference is — and why they should care. NPR explains the difference and the hype.

Virtual Reality Vs. Augmented Reality: Should We Believe The Hype?

Listen · 4:04
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/471008239/471008240" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Can Computer Programs Be Racist And Sexist?
Guido Rosa/Getty Images/Ikon Images

All Tech Considered

Can Computer Programs Be Racist And Sexist?

When people write computer programs, their biases can creep into code. Computer experts say it's important to talk about the problem because if humans don't fix it, computers won't do so themselves.

Can Computer Programs Be Racist And Sexist?

Listen · 4:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/470422089/470447092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">