Security

Chip Versus Strip: Examining The New Debit Cards

by Tech Light

Recently, financial institutions across Canada began mass-producing new debit cards, and sending them to their customers. Each new card contained something previous generations hadn't- a debit chip. Now, instead of swiping the strip on one's card, most businesses will have the customer insert it into a chip reader.

But why the change?

When Prepared Is Too Prepared: Survival Airbag For Hikers

by Chris Weiss

Hiking can be dangerous, but is it really dangerous enough to justify buying and wearing a personal airbag? We think not.

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Color Changing Plants May Serve As Chemical Agent Warnings

Potted plants - they may someday save lives through chemical detection

by Doug Bonderud

At Colorado State University, Dr. Judy Medford and her team are developing ways for plants to visually signal when there is a biological contaminant present.

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KidZui Browser Makes The Internet Safer For Young Web Surfers

by Kim Patterson

Parents of young web-surfers may want to look into using the KidZui browser. It is made specifically for children to use and allows kids to look up millions of things, all per-approved by the KidZui panel which includes parents and teachers.

Mine Detector Lets The Boom Go Off At A Distance

Land mine - dangerous even at a distance.

by Doug Bonderud

In Sweden, a pair of Colombian researchers have developed a way to remotely detonate land mines that is not only reliable but that is done at such a distance to keep the operator safe.

Fingerprinted Chips Mean Theives Can't Get Their Greasy Hands On Them

by Doug Bonderud

New from German research firm Fraunhofer is the announcement that they have developed a "fingerprinted" electronic chip that cannot be copied by digital thieves.

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Airbags Move Out Of Cars And Onto...Skiers?

by Chris Weiss

An airbag technology developed in motorcycle racing is being adapted to ski racing. In the future, ski racers may enjoy greater impact protection thanks to a piece of airbag clothing.

Air Laser Uses Hot Spots To Return Dangerous Environmental Info

by Doug Bonderud

Laser detection has long been a way for military units to determine if something hazardous - be it emissions or explosives - lie ahead. Now, a new "air laser" developed by Princeton University may make this process not only more accurate but safer as well.

Social Media's Whistleblowing In The Wind To Become Decentralized

by Ron Callari

Ever since WikiLeaks came under global scrutiny, whistleblowing has taken a somewhat negative turn. Daniel Domscheit-Berg who had a falling out with its founder, Julian Assange believes its due to whistleblowers not having control over the secrets they want to spill. To remedy the situation, he and his team are building OpenLeaks, a new platform that will allow sources to choose specifically who they want to submit documents to anonymously.

Social Media Goes Dark In Egypt Amidst Protests

by Ron Callari

Unfortunately the news coming out of Egypt is all too familiar to countries like the U.S. that have watched other totalitarian governments censor social media, particularly during country-wide protests. However, during the 2009 Iranian Election protests, citizens were still able to access their hand-held devices and connect to global social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. This is not the case in Egypt where mobile phone texting, Blackberry messaging and the Internet were silenced by the government.

3 Gadgets To Keep Your Dog Safe & Your Car Clean!

by Lady Bee

How often would you like to just pop your dog in the car and go? But, if you're like me, you don't have enough protection in your four-wheeled vehicle to keep your four-legged darling safe and your car clean! Well, Kurgo's come out with with a few gadgets that you might want to look into. Here are my three favorites....

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New Smart Fence Bars The Way For Bad Guys

by Doug Bonderud

From the USC Viterbi School of Engineering comes a new security system called Smart Fence that uses multiple detection platforms in order to differentiate between help and harm.

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Is Social Media Stocks An End-Run Around The Securities Exchange Commission?

by Ron Callari

Social media stock that you can purchase before a social network goes public has become the hot ticket in social media circles. In my post, "Social Media Stock Market Don't Need No Stinkin' IPOs," I noted several financial vehicles that sell these types of stocks direct to pubic, while they are still private companies. However none have caught as much flack as the Goldman-Sachs-Facebook deal.

Cute Bear Boot Clip Corrals Footloose Winter Footwear

by China.new

Keep tall boots from flopping, folding over and going astray with this cute Rilakkuma character clip. Not only will you avoid unsightly boot creases, you'll be able to pick out your boots from the crowd.

China's New J-20 Stealth Fighter Quietly Makes First Flight

by China.new

When China's homegrown J-20 stealth fighter took to the air on its first test flight, it let the world know – albeit quietly – that China's air force won't take an ejection seat to anyone.

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Social Media's Dark Side Casts Long Shadow Beyond Tucson Shopping Mall

Social Media's Dark Side Casts Long Shadows Beyond Tucson Shopping Mall

by Ron Callari

Much has been written in an attempt to make some sense out of the shootings involving U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona and the subsequent deaths of her aid, a judge and four others. Suspected shooter Jared Lee Loughner's social media footprints are being examined for clues as to his motives. But perhaps we are following the wrong trail of evidence. Political extremists who are effective in radicalizing certain segments of society are also using social networks to rally support for their causes.

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Social Media Under The Gavel When WikiLeaks' Twitter DMs Were Demanded

Social Media Under The Gavel When WikiLeaks' Twitter DMs Are Demanded

by Ron Callari

Once again the popular microblogging site of Twitter is caught at the vortex of a political maelstrom where human rights are at issue. Differing from the Iranian election protests of 2009, this time the U.S. is appearing to be the heavy-handed oppressor. On December 14, the government's Department of Justice issued a court order to Twitter to the attention of its "Trust & Safety" department.

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Acoustic Cloak Hides Objects In Plain Sound

Submarines - new cloaking technology may make them sneakier

by Doug Bonderud

Professor Nicholas Fang of the University of Illinois has created an acoustic cloak that hides objects from standard sonar waves - and it fits in the palm of his hand.

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Spy Glasses Allow You To Read Invisible Messages

by John P. Barker

Want to look really good while reading a speech off of a blank sheet of paper? These glasses will allow you to do just that...

Skype To Join China's Internet Graveyard Of Facebook, Flickr, YouTube & Google?

by Ron Callari

The Great Firewall of China is alive and well as companies like Google have been forced to relocate its operations to Hong Kong, and movers and shakers like Mark Zuckerberg while allowed to tour the country - is saddled with his social network being sequestered in "404 Not Found Territory" on China's Internet. But what about Skype - the Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) provider? Surely, China's Big Brother doesn't want to censor phone calls, as well?

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