Archive for the 'Technology' Category
Digital Cash Replacement from Royal Canadian Mint in the Works
April 30th, 2013Via: The Star: The Royal Canadian Mint has been pushing forward with its “MintChip” prototype, a digital cash replacement aimed at transactions under $10, since it surfaced a year ago. The Crown corporation is factoring in developer feedback, hiring a product manager and consulting with the financial sector. “I would look on it very much […]
DoJ Granted Immunity to Companies Participating in NSA Surveillance Programs
April 29th, 2013ISP = Internet Surveillance Provider. Via: Cnet: Justice Department agreed to issue “2511 letters” immunizing AT&T and other companies participating in a cybersecurity program from criminal prosecution under the Wiretap Act, according to new documents obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Senior Obama administration officials have secretly authorized the interception of communications carried on […]
Top End Microchips Made by Just Four Companies
April 29th, 2013Via: Quartz: Making advanced microchips has always been hard. But it’s now so difficult that the number of companies with the knowledge and cash to do it is about to shrink to precisely four. The factories in which microchips are made, called fabs, can cost billions of dollars. They’re like rocket launch sites or nuclear […]
Post 9/11 Domestic Security Spending Exceeds Cost of New Deal
April 28th, 2013Via: CNN / Fortune: Video surveillance is already big business. In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, expect it to get even bigger. … In response to security concerns after 9/11, Americans witnessed the growth of a massive domestic security apparatus, fueled by federal largesse. According to Tomdispatch’s Mattea Kramer and Chris Heilman, post-9/11 […]
DARPA Developing Alternative to GPS; Doesn’t Depend on Satellites
April 25th, 2013Via: AFP: To that end, researchers at DARPA and the University of Michigan have created a new system that works without satellites to determine position, time and direction, all contained within a eight-cubic-millimeter chip. The tiny chip holds three gyroscopes, three accelerometers and an atomic clock, which, together, work as an autonomous navigation system. DARPA […]
Israel Airport Security ‘Allowed to Read Tourists’ Email’
April 25th, 2013If you think this is good, why not go for the bonus round: Israel Cloned Travelers’ Passports to Carry Out Assassination. Via: AFP: Israeli security officials at Ben Gurion airport are legally allowed to demand access to tourists’ email accounts and deny them entry if they refuse, the country’s top legal official said on Wednesday. […]
IBM Robotic Coworker Will Help Engineers Fix Broken Systems
April 25th, 2013Via: Network World: When it comes to fixing broken systems, especially in remote locations, engineers could soon turn to a new mobile robotic system IBM is developing that could help them more easily find the broken equipment, offer up information about the system and provide real-time visual support from supervising experts. The mobile maintenance, repair […]
‘After Boston, Lawmakers See Case for Use of Drones to Kill Americans’
April 24th, 2013Via: U.S. News and World Report: In the aftermath of the Boston bombing standoff that ended last Friday, lawmakers have changed their tune on whether a drone should ever be used to target an American citizen on U.S. soil. The use of drones to kill American citizens is not “inherently illegal,” as long as that […]
Hackers Compromise AP Twitter Account
April 23rd, 2013Via: AP: Hackers have compromised the main Twitter account of The Associated Press, sending out an erroneous tweet about an attack at the White House. The tweet, which said that there had been two explosions at the White House and President Barack Obama was injured, came after hackers made repeated attempts to steal the passwords […]
Toddlers Becoming So Addicted to iPads They Require Therapy
April 22nd, 2013£16,000 for a 28-day “digital detox” program?! That’s ridiculous! But in a world where toddlers are being zombified with smartphones and tablets, who’s to say what’s ridiculous and what isn’t anymore… Anyway, here’s a alternative treatment plan. 1) Get candles, flashlights and books ready. If you normally cook with electricity, get a propane stove. 2) […]
