Baxter: The Blue-Collar Robot
Rethink Robotics’ new creation is easy to interact with, but the innovations behind the robot show just how hard it is to get along with people.
Computing
Temporary Social Media
Messages that quickly self-destruct could enhance the privacy of online communication and make people feel freer to be spontaneous.
Big Data from Cheap Phones
Collecting and analyzing information from simple cell phones can provide surprising insights into how people move about and behave—and even help us understand the spread of diseases.
Additive Manufacturing
GE, the world’s largest manufacturer, is on the verge of using 3-D printing to make jet parts.
Friendly Machines
Making human-friendly robots is a pressing challenge and a big opportunity.
Data Sources
Mobile phones are great sources of data—but we must be careful about privacy.
Deep Learning
With massive amounts of computational power, machines can now recognize objects and translate speech in real time. Artificial intelligence is finally getting smart.
Smart Watches
The designers of the Pebble watch realized that a mobile phone is more useful if you don’t have to take it out of your pocket.
The Enduring Technology of Coal
Despite the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the burning of coal has only been accelerating.
Ads on Google Glass Will Never Work
An ad delivered straight to the eyeball feels like a violation.
