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

Wednesday October 29, 2014

The Wiper Wave, attached to your car's rear wiper, promises to take a bit of the tension out of the rough commute. Tyler Fishbone hide caption

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Tyler Fishbone

Weekly Innovation: Friendly Roadways Just A Wave Away

October 29, 2014 • Ever wish you could thank someone for letting you cut in while stuck in traffic? This simple hand symbol attached to your car's rear wiper promises to take a bit of the tension out of a rough commute.

Monday October 27, 2014

I've Got The Ingredients. What Should I Cook? Ask IBM's Watson

IBM's Watson supercomputer is most famous for winning at Jeopardy! Now it's been called in to come up with recipe ideas. Bob Goldberg/AP/IBM hide caption

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Bob Goldberg/AP/IBM

I've Got The Ingredients. What Should I Cook? Ask IBM's Watson

October 27, 2014 • IBM's supercomputer has crushed Jeopardy! Now chefs are using Watson to come up with new kinds of recipes that work around dietary restrictions and other limitations.

I've Got The Ingredients. What Should I Cook? Ask IBM's Watson

Listen · 5:17 5:17

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Wednesday October 22, 2014

Weekly Innovation: An Umbrella For The Modern Age

Justin Nagelberg uses the Sa umbrella in New York City. By replacing the metal skeleton with two canopies, the design is lighter and has more headroom. Courtesy of Justin Nagelberg hide caption

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Courtesy of Justin Nagelberg

Innovation

Weekly Innovation: An Umbrella For The Modern Age

October 22, 2014 • The developers of the Sa say it's almost impossible to blow inside out. Based on origami, the umbrella's design replaces the metal skeleton with two canopies that expand and retract in unison.

Wednesday October 15, 2014

Jr., a consumer robot in development, could soon be an extra set of eyes and ears in your home. Roambotics hide caption

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Roambotics

Innovation

Weekly Innovation: Your New Pet Robot

Ozy.com

October 15, 2014 • Jr., a consumer robot in development, could soon be an extra set of eyes and ears in your home. Each Jr. adapts uniquely to its owner. But if you ignore it, Jr. may start avoiding you.

Thursday October 9, 2014

Weekly Innovation: This Drone Fits In Your Pocket

The AeriCam Anura pocket-sized drone has foldable propellers so you can take it on the go. The company plans to put the drone on Kickstarter by mid-October. aericam.com hide caption

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aericam.com

Innovation

Weekly Innovation: This Drone Fits In Your Pocket

October 9, 2014 • The AeriCam Anura pocket-sized quadcopter has a built-in camera and is one of the newest drones designed for personal use. But even as drones get smaller, safety and privacy concerns aren't shrinking.

Tuesday October 7, 2014

LED Lights Shine In Nobel Prize; Now How About Your Home?

iStockphoto

Innovation

LED Lights Shine In Nobel Prize; Now How About Your Home?

October 7, 2014 • The time has never been better to invest in LED lighting, with the price of LED bulbs — which use the Nobel-winning blue LEDs — now below $10 each.

LED Lights Shine In Nobel Prize; Now How About Your Home?

Listen · 3:17 3:17

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Monday October 6, 2014

How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is

In the early days, Walter Isaacson says, computers were "big ol' things with vacuum tubes" that took up entire rooms. For example, the electric analog computer named ANACOM (shown here in 1950 at Caltech) weighed 6,000 pounds and filled 13 cabinets. AP hide caption

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Innovation

How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is

Fresh Air

October 6, 2014 • In The Innovators, Walter Isaacson explains that Pentagon officials wanted a system the Russians couldn't attack, and 1984 made the public wary of new technology's Big Brother potential.

How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is

Listen · 38:09 38:09

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Thursday October 2, 2014

The Cycling Desk: Work Out And Charge Your Phone During A Trip

The WeBike cycling desk can be found at airports and train stations across in Western Europe. WeWatt hide caption

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WeWatt

Innovation

The Cycling Desk: Work Out And Charge Your Phone During A Trip

October 2, 2014 • Stationary bikes that power your gadgets as you pedal are this week's innovation pick. They've already appeared in railway stations and airports in Europe and may be for sale later this year.

Thursday September 25, 2014

Innovation: A Mason Jar Radio With One Station Only

The Public Radio can be programmed to one station and one station only. Courtesy of Zach Dunham hide caption

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Courtesy of Zach Dunham

Innovation

Innovation: A Mason Jar Radio With One Station Only

September 25, 2014 • In a world full of choices, this radio gives you only one. And its creators call it The Public Radio, so it's not surprising they want you to pick a public radio station to program it.

Wednesday September 10, 2014

Weekly Innovation: A Hair Blowout That Comes To You

Hair stylists are making house calls. All you have to do is supply a power outlet. Courtesy of Blowdry Taxi hide caption

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Courtesy of Blowdry Taxi

Innovation

Weekly Innovation: A Hair Blowout That Comes To You

September 10, 2014 • Yes, you're busy. Now you can get a salon style, without the salon. Following a trend of on-demand everything, there's an app and service for updos and blowouts that come to you.

Tuesday September 9, 2014

Size Matters: Why Apple Is Expected To Unveil A Bigger iPhone

The Samsung Galaxy Mega (from left), Samsung Galaxy S4 and Apple iPhone 5 are shown. Apple is expected to announce larger models of its smartphone on Tuesday. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

Innovation

Size Matters: Why Apple Is Expected To Unveil A Bigger iPhone

September 9, 2014 • Pushed by rivals like Samsung, Apple is likely to announce bigger iPhones on Tuesday. Users of bigger-screen devices say they prefer their larger images and the ability to see multiple apps together.

Size Matters: Why Apple Is Expected To Unveil A Bigger iPhone

Listen · 3:39 3:39

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