Technology

NPR Topics: Technology

Latest technology news and breakthroughs in technology, science, and industry. Download the NPR Technology podcast and Technology RSS feed.

FCC Spreads The Word On Digital TV Switchover In February, people who use an antenna to get television signals will have to begin using conversion boxes to watch their favorite programs. The Federal Communications Commission will start an 80-city tour this week to talk about the changes. Obama's Text Message Experiment The Obama camp promised to deliver news of the Democratic candidate's vice presidential choice by text message and e-mail. It didn't quite go according to plan. We examine what went wrong and right during this new media experiment. Hollywood and Technology We look at how Hollywood became a driving force in the invention of new technologies — from Technicolor to the rise of digital special effects — and how new ideas and technologies, such as the Internet, are still shaping the movie industry today. Chemistry News Roundup We bring you a roundup of research being presented at this week's American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia. Nano Heating Developers have created flexible sheets of 'nanoantennas' that could aid in getting energy from solar energy or from other heat sources. The sheets could harvest up to 80 percent of the infrared light that falls upon them and the researchers say the material could cost just pennies a yard. No Economic Slowdown For Reusable Bags Despite the slow U.S. economy, consumers are putting their cash into all things green. New York-based Eco-Bags makes reusable shopping bags. Sales doubled last year; they're set to do so again this year. One small company is profiting from America's growing distaste for the plastic bag. Computing In The Cloud: Who Owns Your Files? Cloud computing — whereby users work and store information on the Internet — is becoming more and more popular. But what happens if you get locked out of your Flickr account? Why eBay Wants To Be Amazon EBay may soon be giving up the gavel as the world's biggest online auction site. The company is announcing a major overhaul that would make it easier for merchants to sell items for a fixed price. We examine the company's shift to a business model that emphasizes buying over bidding. 'Marketplace' Report: Fun Gadgets In Rough Times Rather than going out in the evenings, Americans appear to be spending time and money on new gadgets. The U.S. government says consumer electronic sales were up 4.8 percent in July. Clockwatcher Explains Phelps' Win Michael Phelps won his record-tying seventh gold medal by a fraction of a fingernail, just 0.01 second. Even when you study the photos and the video, it's tough to tell who came in first. Christophe Berthaud, the director of Olympic timekeeping for Omega, the official timekeeper at the games, explains the system used to time swimmers. Guerrilla Ad Campaign Pushes Boundaries Troy Hitch talks about You Suck at Photoshop, a hit series of Web videos created to explore viral marketing concepts. Hitch is the creative director for the agency Big Fat Brain. The People Behind Your Electronic Toothbrush iPhones, electric toothbrushes, antilock brakes — all of these are products of mechatronics, a growing field which combines physics, computer science and mechanical engineering. We meet students training in this difficult discipline, as they play with robotic mice. Allowing Components to Self Assemble Nanoscale Patterns Using a technique known as self assembly, researchers have found a way to create high-quality repeating patterns with features just ten nanometers across. IRS Taxes Personal Calls On Work Cell Phones If you're among the people who make personal calls on a company mobile phone, the Internal Revenue Service may want to talk with you. The IRS considers such cell phone calls to be a taxable extension of your compensation package. Web Security Words Help Digitize Old Books Every day, millions of people are asked to retype sequences of squiggly letters so Web sites can verify they're not automated spammers. A scientist has figured out how to harness that manpower to digitize old books.