Locked Out? There's an App for That
A service available for Apple users allows you to have a replacement key made based on a digital picture of the original. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Aug 23, 2013•1 min
60-Second Tech
Scientific American Online associate tech editor Larry Greenemeier provides a weekly minute commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of technology
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Episodes
Fancy Figuring Ferrets Out Fake Photos
New software identifies doctored images by finding inconsistent shadows, even with complex shapes and uneven surfaces. Larry Greenemeier reports.
Aug 20, 2013•1 min
Tooth Sensor Watches Your Mouth
An accelerometer-based oral sensory system embedded in a tooth could identify various oral habits based on dental movement. Larry Greenemeier reports
Aug 05, 2013•1 min
Electronic Skin Could Bring Touchy Robots
Paper-thin sensor networks might someday give machines the ability to feel their surroundings. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jul 30, 2013•1 min
New TV Channel Gives Dogs Pause
DOGTV, featuring programming to entertain stay-at-home dogs, debuts nationally August 1 on DirecTV. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jul 17, 2013•1 min
Navy Aims for Electromagnetic Guns
An electromagnetic rail gun would use magnetic fields created by electrical currents to accelerate a sliding metal conductor along two rails. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jul 11, 2013•1 min
Robotic Companion Animal Comforts Dementia Sufferers
A small group of people with mid- to late-stage dementia appeared happier and less anxious after spending time with a robotic animal programmed to respond to touch and sound. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jun 27, 2013•1 min
6-Month-Old E-Mails Easy Pickings for Police
The outdated 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act considers e-mail "abandoned" and searchable if it's stored for more than 180 days on a server. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jun 06, 2013•1 min
Safe Water? Ask the Smartphone
Researchers combine an iPhone with optical filters to create a handheld analyzer for toxins, bacteria and other items of public health importance. Larry Greenemeier reports
May 30, 2013•1 min
E-Tailers Want Amazon and Apple to Set Readers Free
An industry report says there is no good technological reason for Amazon and Apple to restrict readers to their formats. Larry Greenemeier reports
May 24, 2013•1 min
Grifters Increase Their Internet Attacks
Consumers were victims of nearly 290,000 online frauds and lost more than $525 million in 2012, up 8 percent from 2011. Larry Greenemeier reports
May 16, 2013•1 min
Bullies Turn Cyberspace Sour
One in six high school students report being victimized via e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, Web sites or texting. Larry Greenemeier reports
May 11, 2013•1 min
Spear Phishers Want Your Info
The recent AP Twitter account hack looks like an example of a successful spear phishing attack, in which a targeted e-mail duped the news agency's employees. Larry Greenemeier reports
May 02, 2013•1 min
Plan Your Digital Death
Google's Inactive Account Manager allows you to arrange for the deletion of your data upon your demise. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apr 26, 2013•1 min
Controlling Some Devices Will Be a Snap
Various HP products will soon be controllable by hand gestures. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apr 21, 2013•1 min
Mental Health-Related Google Searches Decline in Summer
A study tracking Google searches about mental health issues showed substantial decreases in summer versus winter, implying a lessening of symptoms during the longer, warmer days. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apr 13, 2013•1 min
Amazon X-Ray Aims to End Unidentified Actor Angst
Amazon's X-Ray allows viewers watching certain movies or TV shows on certain devices to touch the screen for instant actor identification. Larry Greenemeier reports
Apr 07, 2013•1 min
State Seeks to Ban DUI (of Google Glass)
Even before any Google Glass augmented-reality headsets are available to the public, West Virginia is considering a bill to ban drivers from wearing any head-mounted display. Larry Greenemeier reports
Mar 29, 2013•1 min
Most Laser Pointers Are Too Strong
Federal researchers find that most green laser pointers and half of red ones are stronger than safety standards permit, creating an eye hazard. Larry Greenemeier reports
Mar 24, 2013•1 min
Shoe Puts Mouth in Foot
Google's new Talking Shoe keeps the wearer connected, but advertisers are likely to run down this as a two-way street. Larry Greenemeier reports
Mar 17, 2013•2 min
The Eyes Have IT Scrolling
Samsung's next product is expected to have a display that senses eye movement and can scroll accordingly. Larry Greenemeier reports
Mar 07, 2013•1 min
Smartphone Barometers Create Weather Station Network
Some Android smartphones and tablets measure atmospheric pressure. More could provide forecasters with important info in areas with few official weather stations. Larry Greenemeier reports
Feb 21, 2013•1 min
Other Smartphones Pass iPhone Satisfaction Ratings
Apple's latest iPhone ranked behind four different 4G Android handsets in a recent customer satisfaction survey. Larry Greenemeier reports
Feb 14, 2013•1 min
PayPal's Peers Perplex Potential Purchasers
Despite digital certificate services from major companies like Google, MasterCard and Visa, digital wallets other than PayPal have not penetrated consumer consciousness. Larry Greenemeier reports
Feb 08, 2013•1 min
Google Maps North Korea
Web users--except those in North Korea itself, where Internet use is restricted--now have a view of the secretive kingdom's landmarks, infrastructure and prison camps. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jan 31, 2013•1 min
In-Between-Size Phablets Attract Consumers
More than 200 million phablets (smart phone-tablets) will be sold in 2015, twice as many as last year. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jan 25, 2013•1 min
HAPIfork Monitors Eating Speed
Sensors on this smart fork lead to a vibration if you're eating too fast. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jan 17, 2013•1 min
Nielsen and Twitter Team to Track TV
Twitter and ratings agency Nielsen have come up a way to quantify social media buzz for TV programs. Larry Greenemeier reports
Jan 03, 2013•1 min
Tool Tells True Tweets from Fakes
An algorithm can evaluate tweets within the overall Twitter flow to assess their veracity. Larry Greenemeier reports
Dec 21, 2012•1 min
Bedbugs Ignore Alleged Ultrasonic Annoyers
Researchers found no proof that ultrasonic devices sold to repel these pesky blood suckers could deliver on that promise. Larry Greenemeier reports
Dec 17, 2012•1 min
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