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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

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Innovation

Thursday

Friday

Self-Driving Cars Could Ease Our Commutes, But That'll Take A While

Pilot models of self-driving cars for Uber are displayed in Pittsburgh. Autonomous vehicles are expected to cut traffic jams, but not before enough human drivers are off the road. AFP/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Innovation

Self-Driving Cars Could Ease Our Commutes, But That'll Take A While

One of the promises of autonomous vehicles is that they'll reduce traffic jams. Self-driving cars will bring many changes, but traffic flows won't improve until enough human drivers are off the roads.

Self-Driving Cars Could Ease Our Commutes, But That'll Take A While

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Monday

Can Virtual Reality Make You More Empathetic?

A Syrian woman and her child sit in their refugee living space in Lebanon. They are featured in Four Walls, a virtual reality presentation by the International Rescue Committee. YouVisit Studios hide caption

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YouVisit Studios

Innovation

Can Virtual Reality Make You More Empathetic?

Charities are using virtual reality to immerse people in the plight of refugees and others who need help. Researchers are studying whether it's more effective than other media. And there are skeptics.

Can Virtual Reality Make You More Empathetic?

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Thursday

Monday

As more people turn to laser displays for holiday house decorations, aviation authorities warn not to shine them into the sky.

As more people turn to laser displays for holiday house decorations, aviation authorities warn not to shine them into the sky. TeleBrands hide caption

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TeleBrands

All Tech Considered

For Christmas Thrills Without The Spills, More Decorators Turn To Lasers

It's a new way to deck the house for the holidays. Laser lights project decorations without a need of a ladder, but Christmas light purists say they don't compare to the old-fashioned bulbs.

For Christmas Thrills Without The Spills, More Decorators Turn To Lasers

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Sunday

Behold A Robot Hand With A Soft Touch

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a soft robotic hand with a touch delicate enough to sort tomatoes and find the ripest one. Huichan Zhao/Organic Robotics Lab, Cornell University hide caption

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Huichan Zhao/Organic Robotics Lab, Cornell University

Innovation

Behold A Robot Hand With A Soft Touch

Using light-conductive materials, researchers have built a robot hand that can sense shapes and textures. Soft robotics holds promise for better prosthetics or machines with a more "human" touch.

Monday

Turn On, Tune In, Transcribe: U.N. Develops Radio-Listening Tool

People listen to the radio as the results of the presidential elections are announced in Kireka, Uganda, in February. Many rural Ugandans don't have Internet access, and the radio is a central source of news — and platform for citizens' opinions. Isaac Kasamani/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Isaac Kasamani/AFP/Getty Images

Innovation

Turn On, Tune In, Transcribe: U.N. Develops Radio-Listening Tool

In rural Uganda, "radio is everything," as one journalist puts it. So the U.N., hoping to hear more rural voices, used a tiny amount of data to build speech recognition software for new languages.

Monday

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

Quid found 228,912 English-language stories in the news and on the blogs about Clinton's health between Sept. 12 and Oct. 12. Quid hide caption

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Quid

Innovation

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

We pitted two political pundits against an algorithm to compete at predicting the biggest issues to arise over a month in the presidential election. Now we find out who won.

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

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Thursday

For The Long Haul, Self-Driving Trucks May Pave The Way Before Cars

Otto developed technology to allow big-rig trucks to drive themselves. Uber, another transportation company working on self-driving technology, acquired Otto in August. Tony Avelar/AP hide caption

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Tony Avelar/AP

Innovation

For The Long Haul, Self-Driving Trucks May Pave The Way Before Cars

Despite being self-driving, big rigs will still need truckers to ride along and take control of in case of emergency situations. But some say they may be the last generation to do their jobs.

For The Long Haul, Self-Driving Trucks May Pave The Way Before Cars

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Tuesday

When Phones Went Mobile: Revisiting NPR's 1983 Story On 'Cellular'

The original caption to this 1989 photo read, "Cellular phones are being offered by many car manufacturers as optional equipment for drivers who can't bear to be out of touch, even on the road." Richard Sheinwald/AP hide caption

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Richard Sheinwald/AP

Innovation

When Phones Went Mobile: Revisiting NPR's 1983 Story On 'Cellular'

The report titled "Cellular Phones Are Completely Mobile" features a man who was "among the first 1,500 customers to use a new mobile phone system called cellular."

When Phones Went Mobile: Revisiting NPR's 1983 Story On 'Cellular'

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Monday

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

Quid, a data analytics firm, uses proprietary software to search, visualize and analyze text. Quid hide caption

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Quid

Innovation

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

How well can a computer program predict which controversies around Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are likely to re-emerge in the coming weeks? Two human pundits agree to compete against the machine.

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

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Thursday

Music, Spies And Exact Change: The Strange History Of Electronic Tolls

Tollbooth cashier Henry Gregorio collects change from drivers at the New Rochelle Toll Plaza on I-95. Gregorio has worked in a tollbooth since 1980. Tollbooths are gradually being replaced by E-ZPass technology. Stephen Nessen/WNYC hide caption

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Stephen Nessen/WNYC

Innovation

Music, Spies And Exact Change: The Strange History Of Electronic Tolls

WNYC

The surprising history of electronic toll collection can be traced back to the theremin and a Russian spy program. It's still in use, even as tollbooths are being eliminated.

Music, Spies And Exact Change: The Strange History Of Electronic Tolls

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Wednesday

What It's Like To Ride In A (Nearly) Self-Driving Uber

A self-driving car leaves Uber's newest riverside hub in Pittsburgh. Company officials say the Rust Belt city is perfect for beta testing, citing diverse topography, frequent weather maladies, near-constant construction and hundreds of bridges and tunnels. Megan Harris/WESA hide caption

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Megan Harris/WESA

Innovation

What It's Like To Ride In A (Nearly) Self-Driving Uber

WESA

Uber is deploying a fleet of self-driving cars Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Employees will be in the front seats, but they will try to let technology do the driving. We went for a ride.

What It's Like To Ride In A (Nearly) Self-Driving Uber

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Monday

QWERTY Traveled From Typewriter To iPhone, But Alternative Keyboards Do Exist

An early version of the QWERTY keyboard appears on this late 1870s typewriter. Science & Society Picture Library/Getty Images hide caption

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Science & Society Picture Library/Getty Images

Innovation

QWERTY Traveled From Typewriter To iPhone, But Alternative Keyboards Do Exist

The QWERTY keyboard layout has been around since the 19th century. Aren't there other arrangements better fit for the computer age? They vary from radical changes to slight alterations.

QWERTY Traveled From Typewriter To iPhone, But Alternative Keyboards Do Exist

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Wednesday