Scientific AmericanTechnology
Scientific AmericanTechnology
Scientific AmericanTechnology
Scientific AmericanTechnology

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  • Contact Lens Binoculars Are in Sight
    Researchers revealed their latest prototype contact lenses that magnify vision almost three times with the wink of an eye. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Keurig Coffee Drinkers Hack Back
    Users of the K-cup coffee company’s products have counterattacked against its efforts to restrict the brands that their new machines can brew. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Radar Makes All Houses Glass
    Law enforcement agencies have handheld radar that can “see” through walls via RF signals, raising Fourth Amendment concerns. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Smart Keyboard Gets a Charge out of You
    Researchers have made a secure, waterproof wireless keyboard that gets charged by the action of your fingertips as you type. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Rival Space Internets Vie for Sky Pie
    SpaceX’s Elon Musk and fellow tech mogel Greg Wyler both have plans for low Earth orbit satellite networks that could fill in many of the world's current gaps in Internet coverage. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Gestures and Eye Movements Will Control Cars
    Carmakers are working on ways to let drivers interact with their cars using presumably safer hand gestures and eye movement in addition to voice controls and touch screens. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Facebook Puts Its Money Where Your Mouth Is
    The social media behemoth buys voice-recognition start-up Wit.ai to prepare for the impending Internet of Things. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Teen Inventors Connect DVR to Your Zzzs
    British students made a wrist monitor that senses if you nod off and sends a signal to your DVR to record whatever you were watching. Future such devices could control additional household functions. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Future Smartphone Could Fall Smartly, Too
    Apple got a patent for a system to adjust your falling device in flight to minimize the damage on landing. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Recycled Laptop Batteries Bring Light to Power Poor
    IBM scientists in India developed an experimental power supply from reusable lithium ion cells salvaged from three-year-old laptop battery packs. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • NYC School Computers Are MIA
    New York City public schools are missing hundreds and possibly thousands of computers, due to poor record keeping, theft, corruption or some combo. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Cats Teach Robots to Land on Feet
    Training rescue robots to land safely from falls like cats could give them nine lives in the field. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Solar Roadways Take Baby Steps
    Dutch cyclists can now pedal a path paved with solar panels. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Smartphone Case Furthers Unplug Movement
    Yondr’s locking gadget-case aims to keep digital distractions down during live performances. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Apple Pay Perturbs Prying Personal Prospectors
    Law enforcement agencies and retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy balk at Apple's operating system and payment app privacy efforts. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Tapping the Twitterverse for Meaning
    Twitter and M.I.T. have teamed up to launch the Laboratory for Social Machines to analyze the impact of social media messages on society. Larry Greenemeier reports
  • Drivers While Voice Texting Are Still Distracted
    Drivers in a simulator reacted slowly to sudden traffic emergencies regardless of whether they were thumbing texts into smartphones or dictating them to Google Glass. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • App IDs Other Battery-Eater Apps
    More than a million volunteer users of the smarthphone app Carat have helped researchers identify those apps that really suck battery power in both the Android operating system and Apple's iOS. Larry Greenemeier reports  
  • Jet Pack Keeps You Grounded, but Faster
    Mini-jet backpack for runners could help military personnel and others get home faster. Larry Greenemeier reports
  • Bike Helmet Meets Black Box
    A future smart bike helmet can track the rider's motion, determine if a crash was likely and call for help if the rider is incapacitated. Larry Greenemeier reports