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

All Tech Considered

Tech, Culture and Connection

Innovation

Monday

Like Magic: The Tech That Goes Into Making Money Harder To Fake

The redesigned U.S. $100 bills that went into circulation in 2013 incorporate technology that features several visual illusions, all designed to foil counterfeiters. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Innovation

Like Magic: The Tech That Goes Into Making Money Harder To Fake

Imagine the Founding Fathers walking across the bills in your wallet. Like something out of Harry Potter, increasingly complex animation technology is being developed for use in paper currency.

Like Magic: The Tech That Goes Into Making Money Harder To Fake

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Sunday

Winter Is Coming. What If Roads And Runways Could De-Ice Themselves?

Chris Tuan tested conductive concrete on a 150-foot bridge near Lincoln, Neb., where he says it successfully de-iced the surface. University of Nebraska-Lincoln University Communications hide caption

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University of Nebraska-Lincoln University Communications

Innovation

Winter Is Coming. What If Roads And Runways Could De-Ice Themselves?

WHYY

Researchers are looking for alternatives to salt or harmful chemicals, including using concrete that can safely conduct electricity and heat road surfaces to keep them clear of ice and snow.

Monday

A man uses his mobile phone near an Apple store logo in Beijing. The latest iPhone is expected to include facial recognition as an unlocking feature but do away with the home button.

A man uses his mobile phone near an Apple store logo in Beijing. The latest iPhone is expected to include facial recognition as an unlocking feature but do away with the home button. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP

All Tech Considered

On iPhone's 10th Anniversary, Apple Has A Go At A Big Redesign

Among the devices Apple is expected to launch Tuesday is an iPhone potentially priced at around $1,000. It's expected to include facial recognition and do away with the home button.

On iPhone's 10th Anniversary, Apple Has A Go At A Big Redesign

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Monday

Bikes May Have To Talk To Self-Driving Cars For Safety's Sake

Anthony Rowe, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, wants bikes to feed information to nearby cars to avoid collisions. His bike is fitted with an array of precise instruments and a battery hidden in the water bottle. Margaret J. Krauss/WESA hide caption

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Margaret J. Krauss/WESA

Innovation

Bikes May Have To Talk To Self-Driving Cars For Safety's Sake

WESA

Autonomous vehicles have gotten pretty good at detecting other cars and pedestrians. But "seeing" bikes and predicting what they'll do is still a challenge. The answer may lie in bikes themselves.

Bikes May Have To Talk To Self-Driving Cars For Safety's Sake

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Tuesday

Tight On Wall Space, SFMOMA Will Text Its Art To You Instead

Museums only have so much wall space, which means the vast majority of their collections are sitting in storage. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has a creative solution to the problem — the museum is texting its artwork to anyone who asks. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Innovation

Tight On Wall Space, SFMOMA Will Text Its Art To You Instead

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art can only display a fraction of its collection at any given time. Now, you can text a word or emoji and the museum will send back a corresponding work of art.

Tight On Wall Space, SFMOMA Will Text Its Art To You Instead

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Friday

Computer Scientists Demonstrate The Potential For Faking Video
Supasorn Suwajanakorn via YouTube/Screenshot by NPR

Innovation

Computer Scientists Demonstrate The Potential For Faking Video

Fake news articles may just be the tip of the iceberg. New research — which manipulates footage of former President Obama — shows it's possible to create fake news videos too.

Computer Scientists Demonstrate The Potential For Faking Video

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Wednesday

Too Convenient? A Mobile Supermarket That Comes To You

A prototype Moby Mart is being tested in Shanghai. Per Cromwell, the project's lead designer, says four to six additional mobile supermarkets are planned in the coming year. Moby Mart hide caption

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Moby Mart

Innovation

Too Convenient? A Mobile Supermarket That Comes To You

The Moby Mart concept is being tested in China. A 7-Eleven meets driverless tractor-trailer, the store could be summoned by an app and staffed by a holographic clerk. Are we entering WALL-E world?

Thursday

All-Girls Teen Engineering Team Creates A Solar-Powered Tent For Homeless People

A DIYgirls team from San Fernando Senior High School created a device that uses solar power to sanitize a tent using antibacterial UV lights. Courtesy of DIYGirls hide caption

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Courtesy of DIYGirls

Innovation

All-Girls Teen Engineering Team Creates A Solar-Powered Tent For Homeless People

Twelve high school girls coded, soldered and sewed a tent that uses solar power to charge electronic devices, provide light and sanitize itself. The team recently presented their creation at MIT.

All-Girls Teen Engineering Team Creates A Solar-Powered Tent For Homeless People

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Monday

Notaries Are Starting To Put Down The Stamp And Pick Up A Webcam

Notarize is one of the apps and websites that connect people to a notary who can notarize documents remotely. Courtesy of Notarize hide caption

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Courtesy of Notarize

Innovation

Notaries Are Starting To Put Down The Stamp And Pick Up A Webcam

KERA News

Technology and new laws are taking notarizations digital, adding them to the list of things you can do on your phone or computer. However, America's 4 million notaries are split on the idea.

Notaries Are Starting To Put Down The Stamp And Pick Up A Webcam

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Monday

Inventor Thomas Edison stands in his chemistry lab in West Orange, N.J., in 1904.

Inventor Thomas Edison stands in his chemistry lab in West Orange, N.J., in 1904. Thomas Edison National Historical Park/National Park Service hide caption

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Thomas Edison National Historical Park/National Park Service

All Tech Considered

Before Silicon Valley, New Jersey Reigned As Nation's Center Of Innovation

Silicon Valley is known as the nation's tech hub, but decades ago New Jersey had that distinction. The state was once home to Thomas Edison's lab and Bell Labs, the home of Nobel laureates.

Before Silicon Valley, New Jersey Reigned As Nation's Center Of Innovation

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Monday

Flipbooks Help Prisoners Stay Connected To Their Loved Ones

Artist and flipbooked.com founder Liza Tudor thumbs through "1st Steps," a flipbook of Nicole Garrens' son Zander's first steps. Tudor sent the flipbook to Garrens' husband, Roy, who's currently incarcerated in Texas. Noel Black for NPR hide caption

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Noel Black for NPR

Innovation

Flipbooks Help Prisoners Stay Connected To Their Loved Ones

For people in prison, rules limiting access to technology make seeing video of their kids' first steps difficult. But a Colorado woman is using a 19th century solution for this 21st century problem.

Flipbooks Help Prisoners Stay Connected To Their Loved Ones

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For Video Soundtracks, Computers Are The New Composers
AcidLabs/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Innovation

For Video Soundtracks, Computers Are The New Composers

In some cases, the job of composer might be going the way of typewriter repairman and bowling pinsetter as software creates music more cheaply and quickly than humans. Can you hear the difference?

For Video Soundtracks, Computers Are The New Composers

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Monday

At The Dawn Of Recorded Sound, No One Cared

David Giovannoni uses a reproduction of Scott's phonautograph. Giovannoni is part of the team that recovered the audio from Scott's recordings. Art Silverman/NPR hide caption

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Art Silverman/NPR

Innovation

At The Dawn Of Recorded Sound, No One Cared

In the late 19th century, French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville patented the earliest known sound recording device. But his accomplishments were only recognized recently.

At The Dawn Of Recorded Sound, No One Cared

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At 94, Lithium-Ion Pioneer Eyes A New Longer-Lasting Battery

John Goodenough's work led to the lithium-ion battery, now found in everything from phones to electric cars. He and fellow researchers at the University of Texas, Austin say they've come up with a faster-charging alternative. Gabriel Cristóver Pérez/KUT hide caption

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Gabriel Cristóver Pérez/KUT

Innovation

At 94, Lithium-Ion Pioneer Eyes A New Longer-Lasting Battery

KUT News

In 1980, John Goodenough's work led to the lithium-ion battery, now found in everything from phones to electric cars. He and fellow researchers say they've come up with a faster-charging alternative.

At 94, Lithium-Ion Pioneer Eyes A New Longer-Lasting Battery

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Saturday

In Google's Vision Of The Future, Computing Is Immersive

Dan Howley tries out the Google Daydream View virtual-reality headset and controller on Oct. 4, 2016, following a product event in San Francisco. This week, Google announced plans for stand-alone VR goggles that won't need to be attached to a PC or smartphone. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

Innovation

In Google's Vision Of The Future, Computing Is Immersive

Point your camera at a flower and your phone identifies it. Walk into a store and your phone leads you to the item you're looking for. It's part of a future world blurring the virtual and the real.