All Technology
First LookIs technology more distracting than helpful on the road? New study says, yes.New cars today come with more built-in technology than ever before. Auto makers say it increases safety, but new studies show that the increasingly complicated systems are demanding more of the driver's attention and compromising safety.
First LookWith cyber crime on the rise, businesses look for insurance against hackersIt's common practice to insure a car or home against damage, so why not insure against hackers and viruses? Many businesses are now turning to cyber crime insurance to protect their sensitive information from potential threats.聽- How digital media fuels moral outrage 鈥� and what to do about itIf we don't want a handful of technology companies determining how the rest of us express morality in the public sphere, the economic model underpinning social media may have to change, researchers caution.
First LookGoogle gets closer to launching its own line of smart devicesGoogle acquires the HTC engineering team it needs to expand its offerings to consumers and more directly compete with Amazon and Apple.
Empathy games tread thin line between 'edutainment' and virtual voyeurismIn an era marked by ubiquitous technology, the idea of teaching empathy through video games holds a certain appeal. But can gaming really improve understanding?
First LookEuropean leaders ask social media companies to censor extremist speechBritish Prime Minister Theresa May wants to push social media companies to join the fight against extremist speech. Following a series of terror attacks, Ms. May is proposing rapid removal of extremist content to reduce the spread of the information.聽
First LookA new era of accountability: Facebook gets pulled into Russia investigationPoliticians and experts raise concerns over the social media giant's lack of accountability. The nature of the site has made it increasingly difficult to regulate and track ads, and many see this investigation as a turning point for Facebook's unprecedented power and influence.聽
First LookDriverless cars could help connect aging rural communities in JapanJapan looks to driverless public transportation for its growing elderly populations in isolated areas. If successful, the trial run started this month could launch a nationwide network of driverless cars.聽
Tech that opens eyes: How apps help connect the blind and seeing worldsSingle-purpose, assistive devices have given way to more accessible 鈥� and affordable 鈥� apps.聽Perhaps just as valuable is the glimpse into the capable lives of people with limited vision that apps like BlindWays offer.
Bridging the skills gap, one solar panel at a timeA municipal program in the US capital aims to equip youths from underserved communities with the skills to build a career while bringing the cost savings of rooftop solar to low-income residents.
Military space race? Why some say now's the time for an upgraded treaty.As US policymakers call for developing space-based military assets, some observers say the absence of updated agreements between spacefaring nations could lead to further militarization of the realm.
At slavery-era sites in Rio, app unearths an uneasy historyFor years, many Brazilians have argued that the country's story of slavery is buried out of sight 鈥撀爈iterally, in Rio de Janeiro, once home to the Americas' biggest slave port. The Museum of Yesterday, an augmented reality app, tries to put that history in users' hands.
First LookCars with advanced safety systems yielding lower crash ratesAutomated car safety systems such as blind spot warning and lane departure monitoring are helping to halt collisions, new studies find.
First LookMomentum is building for electric cars, but where will they recharge?Rising government fuel economy standards and climate concerns have spurred the production of electric cars. But a lack of affordable and standardized charging stations hinders their practical use.
First LookNew alliances signal strategic shift in autonomous car raceIn an effort to accelerate production of the first self-driving cars, major car manufacturers are beginning to negotiate mergers and partnerships with suppliers as well as tech companies.聽
First LookChinese chatbots go rogue on political mattersTwo online conversational robots using artificial intelligence (AI) appeared to defame their mother country and were quickly re-educated, though veering off-script isn鈥檛 a new phenomenon for AI chatbots. 聽
Robot communication: It's more than just talkAs robots start to spill out of factories and into more human spaces, researchers try to better equip both parties to understand each other.
First LookBritain asks tech and social media giants to censor militant contentSupporting Britain's effort to combat militant attacks, Home Secretary Amber Rudd will attend the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, which partners Google, Twitter, Microsoft, and Facebook.
In drought-stricken Somaliland, age-old challenges meet WhatsAppSix months ago, a handful of people in this self-declared republic had a novel idea: create a WhatsApp group to quickly connect donors with relatives' communities enduring drought. Now other sub-clans are using it as a model.
First LookAustralia to tourists: come drive your electric car along the Great Barrier ReefAustralia unveils plans to build a superhighway that supports electric cars and will stretch 1,118 miles alongside the endangered natural wonder.
