Technology

A new report suggests that in-car tech systems intended to simplify the navigation of media and communications platforms may create more problems than they solve. According to the report, which originated in the United Kingdom, more than seven in ... ten people find the systems distract them from driving. The publisher of the report, the UK-based publication 'Which?,' says it asked 1,000 of its members to report on their in-car technology. About one in four said they owned cars with advanced systems such as satellite navigation, touchscreen displays, and steering wheel-based control buttons. ... (view more)

At most major automotive shows, the "star" attraction tends to be a really hot, really expensive sports car, or more recently an incredibly fuel-efficient hybrid. But at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, what's stealing the spotlight is a ... flying car. Early glimpses of the "Transition ," a unique flying car from Massachusetts-based Terrafugia, were first seen back in 2010. At that time, the fledgling firm hoped it could start selling its ground-breaking dual-use vehicle by the end of 2011. That timeline never quite panned out. But Terrafugia and its Transition flying ... (view more)

The push to create smarter surveillance systems recently produced a major leap forward: A Japanese company has unveiled a new security system that can identify one particular face in a crowd in just one second flat. At the 2012 Security Show Expo in ... Tokyo, Hitachi revealed an exciting new security system that can scan a myriad of faces and compare them against 36 million records in a security database, and find all the matches in time to make use of the information. Using facial recognition to process surveillance footage is an established concept. In the United Kingdom, Scotland Yard has ... (view more)

Research In Motion (RIM), based in Waterloo, Canada, has decided it will no longer target its Blackberry and related products at ordinary consumers. Instead, it will concentrate solely on the business market. A big reason is no doubt that the ... company lost $125 million in just the last three months of 2011. Thorsten Heins, the company's recently hired chief executive officer, said "We believe that BlackBerry cannot succeed if we tried to be everybody's darling and all things to all people." (Source: usatoday.com ) Apple iPhone Popularity Too Much for RIM, BlackBerry RIM first made its name ... (view more)

PayPal has unwrapped a new device that allows anyone with a smartphone to accept credit card payments. Unlike some other systems, "PayPal Here" doesn't require any special chips be installed in the phone itself. The idea is to tackle two existing ... problems for merchants who want to take credit and debit card payments: First, card payments usually require the merchant to have a device with telephone connectivity, to allow instant bank verification of the customer's identity and account. Second, taking such payments often entails hefty fees from the card-issuing bank, the merchant's ... (view more)

A recent study has found that some smartphone applications unnecessarily waste battery life. The worst offenders appear to be free games that make money for their developers by bombarding gamers with advertising. Most free apps fall into one of ... three categories: Promotional tools or pieces of larger information campaigns. Trial or demo versions of apps that charge for their "full" version. Advertising-supported apps that normally display advertising as they operate. Excessive App Power Use: Researchers Identify Causes Apps in the third category -- ad supported -- have attracted the ... (view more)

Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel have successfully created man-made, biodegradable transistors derived from proteins found in a mixture of blood, milk and mucus. Mixed together, the concoction is able to self-assemble into a ... semi-conducting film. This could revolutionize the tech industry by helping manufacturers produce devices that are both more flexible and biodegradable. According to the science behind the substances, the different proteins contain unique properties that combine to make a better transistor. The oxygen storing ability of blood, for example, helps mix chemicals ... (view more)

A new video game allows players to shoot at three-dimensional asteroids with weapons controlled only by their eyeballs. Importantly, the technology behind this game could be used for other purposes, too. The game is an update to Asteroids, an Atari ... classic. However, the new version is available only as an old-school standalone arcade cabinet, rather than as software for computers or games consoles. This is necessary because the "eye control" technology requires specialized equipment to accomplish its eyeball tracking. However, PC manufacturer Lenovo has already tried installing the ... (view more)

A new generation of Volvo electric vehicles will allow users to recharge from any power outlet and pay for it through their home electricity bills. Among other advantages, this new system will make it easier to take advantage of off-peak discounts. ... The new billing system, called Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure, or ELVIIS, is the work of Volvo and mobile electronics firm Ericsson. Unlike some older electric vehicles, newer models can recharge from any power outlet, even those at home. Charging is controlled from a touchscreen built into the vehicle, or through a smartphone or ... (view more)

Two Japanese scientists have designed a device that can disorient a talking person powerfully enough to make them stop. The technique is based on the "echo" feedback we sometimes get when using a telephone. Kazutaka Kurihara and Koji Tsukada created ... the SpeechJammer while investigating the characteristics of speech control. They were particularly interested in "problem" scenarios where loud talkers annoyed unwilling listeners, and where conversations hit a snag because both speakers continued to talk at the same time. For example, if somebody is speaking in a way that ... (view more)