Recent Technology News from NPR
August 17, 2009
NPR keeps us up to date, not only on technology, but upon the social implications of technological advances.
The interpretive value of these reports sets them apart from many other news services in the field, many of which are excellent.
New Web Site Lets Patients Rate Their Doctors
August 14, 2009 One problem with health care is that it can be hard to gauge what works. The nonprofit Web site Patient Central surveys people about their experiences with doctors. Physicians at the bottom of the list say a single disgruntled patient can skew the result.
Being Smart About Protecting Your Mobile Devices
Smart phones and their expanding array of functions are becoming more indispensable all the time. The devices are more immune to viruses than traditional computers, but users still need to be careful to protect the wealth of data the phones contain.
To Avoid Bird Strikes, Just Tell The Birds To Move
August 16, 2009 When US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in January after hitting geese, it turned the spotlight on so-called bird strikes — a longstanding problem of aircraft colliding with birds in flight. Airports try a lot of tricks to keep birds away, but now some researchers are shining light on a possible solution.
Taking The Great American Road Trip, Google-Style
August 16, 2009 Two buddies wanted to embark on the timeless American tradition of a cross-country road trip, but these days even the cheapest ways of traveling have become a bit of a luxury. That's not stopping them from seeing the country — though they're not leaving home to do it.
Teach Naked: Dean Urges Tech-Free Classes
August 16, 2009 Jose Bowen of SMU urges profs to strip the technology from their lecture halls and engage in discussions. But he wants teachers to use podcasts and online games to help students learn outside class.
A major bottom line for this blogger is that these are exciting times when everything is changing at a rate so fast that I am easily left behind. I depend on my friends on Twitter, Facebook, in the blogsphere, and at news organizations such as NPR to digest the latest developments and (a) alert me to them for further reading or (b) distill them for me so that I can at least have a working knowledge.
It might not be the end of the world to be left behind, but I am not really willing to let that happen to me as yet.