The force is strong with this one…. I was never very skilled with an Etch a Sketch. And it’s not just my complete lack of artistic ability – my hands are steady as a coffee junkie (small wonder I didn’t become a doctor). But this guy is good – very, very good. Using nothing more […]
Lego releases female in STEM career … and she’s no “Lady Scientist”
It seems the Danish toy brick conglomerate has finally accepted the fact that womenfolk inhabit the STEM fields. Earlier this month, Lego released the company’s first female scientist, Professor C. Bodin – and she’s not clad in “girly” clothing or given the patronizing title of “Lady Scientist.” In fact, if it weren’t for her purple […]
“Smart Diapers” perform high-tech urinalysis
Parents will try anything to ensure their baby’s health – even if that means scanning their infant’s backside with their smartphone. At least that’s the idea behind Pixie Scientific’s “Smart Diaper” concept, which transmits health data via QR codes. Yes, that’s right. The same technology that pesters shoppers, subway patrons, and journalists can now check […]
How I learned to stop worrying and love “killer robots”
Stars and Stripes recently ran an article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with the provocative title “Militaries’ growing use of ground robots raises ethics concerns.” It rehashes old concerns about “killer robots” — lack of accountability, ethical responsibility — but its thesis is a fear of modern technology. This irrational fear assigns higher moral standards to robots […]
DoD cancels “participation trophy” for drone pilots
The DoD has finally backed down. And I applaud their decision. Following months of negative feedback, the DoD has officially scuttled the Distinguished Warfare Medal. The DWM — intended for drone operators — would’ve ranked ahead of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart (two combat decorations) in the order of precedence. Needless to say, this didn’t […]
Obsolete Industries Won’t Drive Economic Growth
An article in the Associated Press, “Big Data and cloud computing empower smart machines to do human work, take human jobs” (part of a three-part series), bemoans the loss of jobs to technology – a highly dubious assertion that crops up every generation like a broken record. And like the damaged piece of vinyl, this […]
Full steam ahead for the Navy’s controversial “Great Green Fleet”
The Navy has embarked on an ambitious green energy program, which could cost upwards of $2 billion per year. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus must convince a skeptical Congress, Senate, and public that investing in pricey alternative fuels — in the midst of the worst recession in decades — will reap dividends. Two weeks ago, the U.S.S. […]
The first “Code of Conduct” for UAVs
A trade group has written the first “Code of Conduct” related to unmanned aerial vehicles. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), which boasts more than 7,000 members across 60 countries, released its treatise in response to growing privacy concerns toward domestic UAV usage. The Global War on Terror entails a very acute form […]
What happened to transflective displays?
The most notable feature of this year’s SID Display Week was what wasn’t there: transflective displays. Sure, they were somewhere, tucked away in a corner or hidden in plain sight. But no one was talking about them anymore. Their conspicuous absence was underscored by their ubiquitous presence at the last two Display Weeks. So why […]
Spending bill temporarily averts incandescent ban
The omnibus spending bill passed Thursday includes a provision that temporarily lifts the incandescent light bulb ban. Republicans managed to insert language into the 1,200 page bill that prevents funds from being used to implement the first phase of the ban, which was scheduled to commence on January 1st. The incandescent light bulb will be […]
