60-Second Tech

By Scientific American

What's 60-Second Tech about?

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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60-Second Tech episodes:

02.19.2015
Contact Lens Binoculars Are in Sight
Researchers revealed their latest prototype contact lenses that magnify vision almost three times with the wink of an eye. Larry Greenemeier reports
02.13.2015
Keurig Coffee Drinkers Hack Back
Users of the K-cup coffee company’s products have counterattacked against its efforts to restrict the brands that their new machines can brew. Larry Greenemeier reports
02.05.2015
Radar Makes All Houses Glass
Law enforcement agencies have handheld radar that can “see” through walls via RF signals, raising Fourth Amendment concerns. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.30.2015
Smart Keyboard Gets a Charge out of You
Researchers have made a secure, waterproof wireless keyboard that gets charged by the action of your fingertips as you type. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.24.2015
Rival Space Internets Vie for Sky Pie
SpaceX’s Elon Musk and fellow tech mogel Greg Wyler both have plans for low Earth orbit satellite networks that could fill in many of the world's current gaps in Internet coverage. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.16.2015
Gestures and Eye Movements Will Control Cars
Carmakers are working on ways to let drivers interact with their cars using presumably safer hand gestures and eye movement in addition to voice controls and touch screens. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.12.2015
Facebook Puts Its Money Where Your Mouth Is
The social media behemoth buys voice-recognition start-up Wit.ai to prepare for the impending Internet of Things. Larry Greenemeier reports
12.24.2014
Teen Inventors Connect DVR to Your Zzzs
British students made a wrist monitor that senses if you nod off and sends a signal to your DVR to record whatever you were watching. Future such devices could control additional household functions. Larry Greenemeier reports
12.19.2014
Future Smartphone Could Fall Smartly, Too
Apple got a patent for a system to adjust your falling device in flight to minimize the damage on landing. Larry Greenemeier reports
12.11.2014
Recycled Laptop Batteries Bring Light to Power Poor
IBM scientists in India developed an experimental power supply from reusable lithium ion cells salvaged from three-year-old laptop battery packs. Larry Greenemeier reports
12.08.2014
NYC School Computers Are MIA
New York City public schools are missing hundreds and possibly thousands of computers, due to poor record keeping, theft, corruption or some combo. Larry Greenemeier reports
11.21.2014
Cats Teach Robots to Land on Feet
Training rescue robots to land safely from falls like cats could give them nine lives in the field. Larry Greenemeier reports
11.18.2014
Solar Roadways Take Baby Steps
Dutch cyclists can now pedal a path paved with solar panels. Larry Greenemeier reports
11.06.2014
Smartphone Case Furthers Unplug Movement
Yondr’s locking gadget-case aims to keep digital distractions down during live performances. Larry Greenemeier reports
10.28.2014
Apple Pay Perturbs Prying Personal Prospectors
Law enforcement agencies and retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy balk at Apple's operating system and payment app privacy efforts. Larry Greenemeier reports
10.10.2014
Tapping the Twitterverse for Meaning
Twitter and M.I.T. have teamed up to launch the Laboratory for Social Machines to analyze the impact of social media messages on society. Larry Greenemeier reports
10.02.2014
Drivers While Voice Texting Are Still Distracted
Drivers in a simulator reacted slowly to sudden traffic emergencies regardless of whether they were thumbing texts into smartphones or dictating them to Google Glass. Larry Greenemeier reports
09.29.2014
App IDs Other Battery-Eater Apps
More than a million volunteer users of the smarthphone app Carat have helped researchers identify those apps that really suck battery power in both the Android operating system and Apple's iOS. Larry Greenemeier reports
09.19.2014
Jet Pack Keeps You Grounded, but Faster
Mini-jet backpack for runners could help military personnel and others get home faster. Larry Greenemeier reports
09.12.2014
Bike Helmet Meets Black Box
A future smart bike helmet can track the rider's motion, determine if a crash was likely and call for help if the rider is incapacitated. Larry Greenemeier reports
09.05.2014
Apple Expected to Set Its Sights on Wearables, Mobile Payments
The rumor mill surrounding the company's latest is in high gear, with possibly a wearable device and smartphone wallet capabilities to be announced next week. Larry Greenemeier reports
08.24.2014
We're All Hawking Products Now
Software start-ups getting big bucks to write code that can identify, find and link logos and brands in the billions of images posted daily. Larry Greenemeier reports
08.17.2014
Robotic Exoskeletons Giving (and Gaining) Support
Hydraulic-powered, mind-controlled support suits aren’t just for superheroes. Soon you might have to wear one to work. Larry Greenemeier reports
08.03.2014
Medical Workers Page Google Glass
The Internet-connected headset is drawing interest in the medical community as a video consultation tool. Larry Greenemeier reports.
07.25.2014
Moth Eyes Inspire Different Solar Cell
Moth eyes absorb almost all incident light, thus reducing reflection that predators would notice. Researchers have now used the moth eye structure as the basis of a highly efficient solar absorbing cell. Larry Greenemeier reports
07.18.2014
Feline Facial Recognition Overcomes Kitty Overconsumption
A multicat feeder system incorporates facial recognition so that owners can tell if individual cats are eating too much or too little. Larry Greenemeier reports
07.10.2014
Hacked E-Cigs May Get around Regulations
Some users are modifying electronic cigarettes to produce stronger flavors, more impressive vapor clouds and to deliver even more nicotine. Larry Greenemeier reports
06.27.2014
Software Finds Best Parts of Boring Video
Machine-learning researchers are developing software that automatically searches through long videos to create edited summaries, or personalized trailers. Larry Greenemeier reports
06.20.2014
Apple, Google Say "Drop That Doughnut!"
Tech companies are offering an ever-increasing number of health monitoring and promoting apps, to keep you in shape and interesting in buying more gadgets. Larry Greenemeier reports
06.15.2014
Microsoft Bets on Gestures to Buoy Windows Phones
Microsoft is allegedly adding Kinect-for-Xbox–like gesture recognition to the next generation of Nokia’s Lumia smartphone. Larry Greenemeier reports
06.06.2014
Cyber Currencies Get Boost from High-Profile Endorsements
Don't bet all your chips on crypto coins yet, but Apple's app acceptance makes things interesting. Larry Greenemeier reports
05.29.2014
Thought-Controlled Flight Reaches the Runway
Researchers at Munich's Technical University had subjects control flight simulators with brainwaves via an EEG interface. Larry Greenemeier reports
05.22.2014
Facebook Encourages Yentas to Share Info about Friends
The social network hopes to fill in the info blanks for its low-profile members by having their friends supply the details. Larry Greenemeier reports
05.16.2014
The Internet Gets Amnesia—in Europe at Least
A European Union court ruling endorses the right to be forgotten online. The U.S. is less forgiving. Larry Greenemeier reports
05.12.2014
Tape Data Storage Makes a Comeback
Sony's new process lets them store more than 185 terabytes of data on a single tape cartridge. Larry Greenemeier reports
04.25.2014
Lytro Camera Refocuses on Upscale Audience
The Lytro Illum camera system allows refocusing of a photo after it's taken. It's faster guts and more professional design make the camera more attractive—and pricier—than its predecessor. Larry Greenemeier reports
04.18.2014
Broadcast TV Streamer Aereo Fights for Legal Life
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether Aereo can keep streaming live broadcast TV to mobile gadgets and other devices. Larry Greenemeier reports
04.10.2014
Being Bad at Video Games Ups Aggression
A custom-designed video game that frustrated players left them at least as aggressive after playing as did other games famous for their violence. Larry Greenemeier reports
04.07.2014
Umpires Show Bias for Stars and Strikes
Baseball's expanded review system excludes ball and strike calls, which a study finds to be biased in favor of star players, especially late in games. Larry Greenemeier reports
03.28.2014
Greatest Invention in Human History Helps You Avoid Certain People
The era of antisocial networking has begun with the development of apps such as Cloak, which identifies locations of your contacts so you don't have to see them. Larry Greenemeier reports
03.14.2014
Eye-Catching Adapter Makes Smartphone Ophthalmic Screener
Researchers are developing adapters that let smartphones take high-quality images of the eye that could be used to remotely screen patients for eye conditions or disease. Larry Greenemeier reports
03.11.2014
Facebook Plans Remote Coverage via Drones
A consortium including Facebook and Qualcomm wants to launch solar-powered atmospheric satellite drones that can carry equipment for relaying wireless networks in remote areas that currently have no Internet connections. Larry Greenemeier reports
03.02.2014
Contest Takes Aim at Smart Guns
Competitions like the Firearms Challenge could give guns that use radio-frequency tags, biometrics and other tech a push into the mainstream. Larry Greenemeier reports
02.20.2014
Mobile Device Thieves Face Off against Kill Switch
California wants to be the first state to mandate antitheft features on mobile devices, but carriers fear lost insurance revenue. Larry Greenemeier reports
02.10.2014
Digital Flicks Invade Art House Cinemas
Paramount Pictures is the first of what will be many studios to release major motion pictures in all-digital, forcing small movie houses to upgrade their technology. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.31.2014
Kid Smartphone Gives Parents More Control
A new smartphone for youngsters is being marketed for its ability for parents to set parental filters and strict guidelines for use. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.24.2014
Your Driving Data Can Reveal Your Routes
Using data about when you drive, the times of your starts and stops, and your speed, insurance companies may be able to also tell where you go, even without GPS. Larry Greenemeier reports
01.06.2014
Eye Reflections Could Catch Crooks
Photos that include people now produce images clear enough to make a positive ID of any individuals whose faces are reflected in the corneas of the people in the picture. Larry Greenemeier reports
12.20.2013
Big Majority of Facebook Posters Self-Censor
In a study of user behavior, Facebook determined that about 70 percent of people about to post an item engage in some form of self-editing or self-censorship. Larry Greenemeier reports.
12.12.2013
Whistleblowers, Courts Reveal Surveillance Secrets
The year brought numerous revelations about government surveillance on ordinary citizens. Do we care? Larry Greenemeier reports.

What's 60-Second Tech about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

60-Second Tech episodes:

Contact Lens Binoculars Are in Sight

Keurig Coffee Drinkers Hack Back

Radar Makes All Houses Glass

Smart Keyboard Gets a Charge out of You

Rival Space Internets Vie for Sky Pie

Gestures and Eye Movements Will Control Cars

Facebook Puts Its Money Where Your Mouth Is

Teen Inventors Connect DVR to Your Zzzs

Future Smartphone Could Fall Smartly, Too

Recycled Laptop Batteries Bring Light to Power Poor

NYC School Computers Are MIA

Cats Teach Robots to Land on Feet

Solar Roadways Take Baby Steps

Smartphone Case Furthers Unplug Movement

Apple Pay Perturbs Prying Personal Prospectors

Tapping the Twitterverse for Meaning

Drivers While Voice Texting Are Still Distracted

App IDs Other Battery-Eater Apps

Jet Pack Keeps You Grounded, but Faster

Bike Helmet Meets Black Box

Apple Expected to Set Its Sights on Wearables, Mobile Payments

We're All Hawking Products Now

Robotic Exoskeletons Giving (and Gaining) Support

Medical Workers Page Google Glass

Moth Eyes Inspire Different Solar Cell

Feline Facial Recognition Overcomes Kitty Overconsumption

Hacked E-Cigs May Get around Regulations

Software Finds Best Parts of Boring Video

Apple, Google Say "Drop That Doughnut!"

Microsoft Bets on Gestures to Buoy Windows Phones

Cyber Currencies Get Boost from High-Profile Endorsements

Thought-Controlled Flight Reaches the Runway

Facebook Encourages Yentas to Share Info about Friends

The Internet Gets Amnesia—in Europe at Least

Tape Data Storage Makes a Comeback

Lytro Camera Refocuses on Upscale Audience

Broadcast TV Streamer Aereo Fights for Legal Life

Being Bad at Video Games Ups Aggression

Umpires Show Bias for Stars and Strikes

Greatest Invention in Human History Helps You Avoid Certain People

Eye-Catching Adapter Makes Smartphone Ophthalmic Screener

Facebook Plans Remote Coverage via Drones

Contest Takes Aim at Smart Guns

Mobile Device Thieves Face Off against Kill Switch

Digital Flicks Invade Art House Cinemas

Kid Smartphone Gives Parents More Control

Your Driving Data Can Reveal Your Routes

Eye Reflections Could Catch Crooks

Big Majority of Facebook Posters Self-Censor

Whistleblowers, Courts Reveal Surveillance Secrets