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Innovation : All Tech Considered An exploration of interesting ideas that solve problems, introduce new experiences or even change our world.
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Innovation

Thursday

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

The Roxie Theater in San Francisco still has two 35 millimeter projectors, but the switch to digital is inevitable. Laura Sydell/NPR hide caption

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Laura Sydell/NPR

Innovation

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

Paramount became the first big studio to distribute a major film in the U.S. only in digital, and others will probably follow. Small cinemas are struggling to raise money for the transition. Despite resistance from some major directors, the end of film is almost upon us.

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

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Wednesday

Monday

You've Got Mail, And It Smells Like 18th Century Paris

The oPhone was on display at Wired's annual conference in London in October. Courtesy of Le Laboratoire hide caption

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Courtesy of Le Laboratoire

Innovation

You've Got Mail, And It Smells Like 18th Century Paris

The oPhone device (the "o" is for olfactory) will be able to send and receive whiffs of preprogrammed aromas remotely. Created by a Harvard professor, it's intended to add the sense of smell to the way we communicate.

You've Got Mail, And It Smells Like 18th Century Paris

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Friday

At 30, The Original Mac Is Still An Archetype Of Innovation

A 1984 Apple Macintosh Classic was on display at the Museum for Art and Industry in Hamburg, Germany, in 2011. Philipp Guelland/dapd hide caption

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Philipp Guelland/dapd

Innovation

At 30, The Original Mac Is Still An Archetype Of Innovation

In January 1984, Apple aired one of most iconic commercials in Super Bowl history — introducing the Macintosh computer. The marketing helped position Apple as a plucky upstart, and the machine fundamentally changed the way people interacted with computers.

At 30, The Original Mac Is Still An Archetype Of Innovation

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Thursday

Weekly Innovation: A Radiation Detector In Your Smartphone

Scientists tested their radiation detection app on four smartphones, concluding that it works well enough to be a useful warning system for first responders. Idaho National Laboratory hide caption

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Idaho National Laboratory

Science

Weekly Innovation: A Radiation Detector In Your Smartphone

Scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory created and tested an Android app that could allow your smartphone to detect gamma radiation. They say the technology could be used as radiation detectors by first responders.

Tuesday

Brain Games: Move Objects With Your Mind To Find Inner Calm?

Richard Warp uses an Emotiv headset paired with his invention, NeuroDisco, which translates brain electrical patterns into music. Josh Cassidy/KQED hide caption

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Josh Cassidy/KQED

Behavior

Brain Games: Move Objects With Your Mind To Find Inner Calm?

KQED

"Hands-free" is taking on a new meaning. Games hitting the market use EEGs so you can move a toy helicopter with your mind or play the brain like a musical instrument. It's the stuff of sci-fi movies, but potentially with an added health benefit.

Brain Games: Move Objects With Your Mind To Find Inner Calm?

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Thursday

By Tracking Sugar In Tears, Contact Lens Offers Hope For Diabetics

While years of research remain to see if such a system is medically viable, Google's development of a tiny, flexible wireless computer embedded in a soft contact lens is a first. Google hide caption

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Google

Innovation

By Tracking Sugar In Tears, Contact Lens Offers Hope For Diabetics

Despite the technical feat, researchers say that much basic research remains, and the relationship between glucose and tears is still unproven.

By Tracking Sugar In Tears, Contact Lens Offers Hope For Diabetics

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Wednesday

Thursday

How To Make Your Face (Digitally) Unforgettable

What makes a face more memorable? The exact features differ from face to face, but it helps when the face looks kind, trustworthy, slightly distinct and already familiar. Courtesy of MIT Researchers hide caption

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Courtesy of MIT Researchers

Innovation

How To Make Your Face (Digitally) Unforgettable

MIT researchers found that there are certain components of memorability that are universal. And they're trying to figure out how to apply those attributes to any portrait, using subtle changes to facial features.

Monday

Innovation

CES 2014: Toothbrush? Bed? Car? Put Some Internet On It

The Consumer Electronics Show is the tech industry's annual electronics showcase in Las Vegas, where companies are showing off their latest and greatest gadgets, like Internet-connected toothbrushes (ideal for hygiene-concerned helicopter parents) and cars that come equipped with a 4G cell connection.

CES 2014: Toothbrush? Bed? Car? Put Some Internet On It

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Wednesday

Banks Try To Save Big With 'ATMs Of The Future'

An ATM at a Chase lobby in New York is part of what company executives are touting as a "branch of the future" — a place where machines distribute exact change and count cash so tellers don't have to. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption

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Mary Altaffer/AP

Innovation

Banks Try To Save Big With 'ATMs Of The Future'

WFAE

An ATM that lets you video chat with a teller hundreds of miles away? It's part of an effort by the banking industry to cut costs: The more ATMs can do, the less banks have to spend on tellers and real estate. But in-person branches still remain the best way for banks to get new business.

Banks Try To Save Big With 'ATMs Of The Future'

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Monday

Can Robots Manage Your Money Better Than You? Startups Say Yes

Several Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are developing services that manage consumers' investment portfolios with algorithms rather than people. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Apps

Can Robots Manage Your Money Better Than You? Startups Say Yes

A handful of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs say it's time to turn your finances over to bots. Algorithms can monitor a person's financial behavior better than most advisers, they say, and aren't biased by commissions or complex fee structures.

Can Robots Manage Your Money Better Than You? Startups Say Yes

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Tuesday

Holiday Innovation: Tweet At Your Christmas Tree To Light It Up

Maker and Make magazine contributor Jeff Highsmith created this miniature Twitter-connected LED Christmas tree last year as part of the CheerLights project. Courtesy of Jeff Highsmith hide caption

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Courtesy of Jeff Highsmith

Innovation

Holiday Innovation: Tweet At Your Christmas Tree To Light It Up

You've heard a lot about the "Internet of things" — a network of smart devices that anticipate your needs. This one doesn't do anything particularly useful, but it does have the most holiday cheer.

Friday

Robot 'Olympics' Test Machines On Human Skills

Atlas, a humanoid robot, is competing against 16 other robots in a Pentagon-sponsored contest this weekend. Greg Allen/NPR hide caption

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Greg Allen/NPR

Innovation

Robot 'Olympics' Test Machines On Human Skills

Robots from around the world are competing in a Pentagon-sponsored robot "Olympics" this weekend. The challenge is to build a robot that can do human tasks and even go into disaster zones.

Robot 'Olympics' Test Machines On Human Skills

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Wednesday

Innovation Wish List: The Best Ideas You Sent In This Year

This pose is required when thinking innovative thoughts. Andreyuu/iStockphoto hide caption

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Andreyuu/iStockphoto

Innovation

Innovation Wish List: The Best Ideas You Sent In This Year

Along with submissions for our Weekly Innovation post, we've also received ideas for things that haven't been created yet, things that NPR readers want to see become a reality (like reversible tattoos or steering wheel fans). As we look ahead to 2014, here are our favorite ideas of the past year.