- Toothbrushes, BristleBots And the Nature of Intelligence
Fix a vibrating motor to the head of a toothbrush and you have an automaton that can demonstrate surprisingly complex behaviour, say Harvard physicists
- Rats Communicate Through Brain Chips
Researchers show that animals can collaborate via a brain-to-brain interface.
Pairs of rats can communicate through brain chips and collaborate to perform a task, report researchers in today’s Scientific Reports. Brain activity recorded in one rat was translated into a pattern of electrical pulses that were then transmitted to another rat that had been trained to push a particular lever in response to one of two patterns of electrical stimulation in its brain. The rats also worked together, say the researchers. If the second rat chose the wrong lever, then the first rat would change its brain function and behavior in the next trial so that the receiving rodent was more likely to get it right, claim the scientists.
- Smartphone Makers: Don’t Leave the Elderly Behind
They may not make up the sexiest market segment. But don’t forget Grandma and Grandpa!
AllThingsD reports that Fujitsu is pitching an Android phone it’s calling the Stylistic, aimed at the “mature consumer” (read: old folks). Technology for the elderly may not be the sexiest topic, and seniors in general may not be the coolest demographic, but technology companies should be doing more of this. There may or may not be a business case for laving R&D on seniors, but if nothing else, it’s the right thing to do, and could inspire a kind of generational trickle-down brand loyalty to the sons, daughters, and grandkids who would buy these products.
- A Password You Wear on Your Wrist
Mobile security startup PassBan offers smartphone owners a slew of authentication options—including one you can wear.
A mobile security startup called PassBan thinks the best way to keep mobile devices secure is to allow people to choose from a bevy of different authentication options—including one that you wear on your wrist.
- Mobile Traffic, Connections, and Network Speeds—Oh My!
The latest Mobile Operator Industry report contains some interesting stats highlighting the explosive growth of the mobile Web.
The GSMA, which is a mobile operator industry group, released a beefy report this week on the state of the mobile economy that is nicely designed and, more importantly, chock-full of interesting tidbits.
- Protecting Power Grids from Hackers Is a Huge Challenge
Securing critical infrastructure needs to go far beyond the measures in President Obama’s recent executive order.
Yesterday, the president’s cybersecurity coördinator, Michael Daniel, appeared in San Francisco at the world’s largest security conference, RSA, to explain how the president’s cybersecurity executive order—intended to help U.S. critical infrastructure to withstand computer attacks—will operate. The order, announced by President Obama earlier this month, will create voluntary security standards for power utilities and other infrastructure companies and allow them to receive classified government information about security threats.
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