The World consistently brings you up to date with the latest news in global technology. Clark Boyd is The World's technology correspondent.
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On this week’s podcast, one of the world’s oldest bibles finds a new home online. Also, technology updates on the post-election violence in Iran, and the violence in western China. And we’ll end with a story of global online musical cooperation. Rock on.
On this week’s Tech Podcast, we have an in-depth discussion with Ken Banks of Kiwanja and FrontlineSMS. Ken’s helping folks around the world use cell phones for all sorts of amazing things. Also, updates on Twitter in Iran and Green Dam, Youth Escort software in China. Listen
Since Clark Boyd has deemed it fit to swan off around the country with his college buddies this week, it falls to me to fill his ample shoes. Really, the man’s feet are huge. Three stories today: the first is a look at an impressive piece of engineering – a cooker that its makers claim reduces carbon emissions by a staggering degree. Listen
It’s all Iran this week, folks. Violence and protests have flaired in Iran following last week’s disputed elections. The government moved quickly to shut down the flow of information out of, and into, the country. But Twitter and other social media tools are keeping that flow of information going. In fact, it’s not merely a flow, but a flood. For this week’s Technology Podcast,we’ll take an in-depth look at how vital social media tools have become in Iran in the wake of the elections. Listen
Chinese officials will now require that every PC sold in the country have Internet filtering software installed on it. The software is called Green Dam Youth Escort, and cyber-security experts are already noting it may be open to hacking. Meanwhile, rights groups are calling foul. Listen
This week, we go to the Swat Valley in Pakistan to hear how a group of ICT emergency responders are helping UN workers deliver vital aid to those in need. Also, Iran’s presidential election goes online, and President Obama announces a major push to improve America’s cybersecurity. We’ll also talk about using bananas as a low-tech fuel source. Listen
This week, putting wind power to work in the Antarctic. Also, an online movement is created after an Iranian blogger dies in prison. Then, take a break from tech with Sherlock Holmes, and a new graphic novel about a French photographer’s journey into war-torn Afghanistan. Listen
This week, MIT’s SixthSense human-computer interface aims to the web, well, wherever you want it. Also, the European Union puts some financial hurt on chip-maker Intel. Persian bloggers weigh in on the release of journalist Roxana Saberi. And Google Oceans goes deep. Listen
On this week’s Technology Podcast, we hear about some wireless technologies that could improve lives across the globe. Check out the cell phone that’s been modded into a microscope! We also take an in-depth look at Britain’s DNA database, and the political ruckus that it’s causing. You sent your swine flu questions in, so we take 15 minutes and try to answer some of them. And we finish with another competition — Airbus wants to fly more efficiently, and is asking for help. The finalists include one team that wants to fly gaggles of planes in an inverted “V” formation…like geese. Listen
This week, we get positively bookish. We’ll hear the latest on with Google’s Book Search project, which wants to, well, scan and make available just about every book on the planet. But Google’s not the only dog in that hunt. UNESCO has launched what it calls the World Digital Library, and it’s got a lot more than just books. Then, we take an in-depth look at all manner of e-books and e-readers. Is paper doomed? Also, we hear about a piece of internet filtering circumvention technology called Psiphon. And Yahoo puts webcams on some purple bikes and lets them loose in the world. Listen
First, we look at the Swedish court ruling against the founders of The Pirate Bay. We have an explainer and analysis on that. Also, how is Barack Obama’s embrace of new technologies during the campaign playing out now that his administration is in power? It’s a mixed report card. And we end with a segment on robots. They’re already helping soldiers dispose of improvised explosive devices, and helping ordinary folks vacuum the floors. What’s next for ‘bots? Listen
