Digital Life

Infomagical: WNYC's 'Note To Self' Tries To Make Information Overload Disappear

7:02pm February 08, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro checks in with Manoush Zomorodi of WNYC's podcast, "Note To Self," about their "infomagical" challenge. They're trying to mediate the problem of information overload and have some results to share.

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Sports

A Skeptical Review Of CBS' Super Bowl Online Streaming Success

5:37pm February 08, 2016

by NPR Staff

For the first time, CBS put the full Super Bowl, with ads, online and claimed record viewership. But StreamingMedia.com's Dan Rayburn says the decision to stream is getting too much hype.

Twitter Users Blast Reported Plan To Change Display Of Tweets

4:39pm February 08, 2016

by Laura Sydell

Many Twitter users responded angrily after a published report said the company is planning to change how tweets are displayed. The BuzzFeed article said Twitter will switch this week to a curated timeline, based on an algorithm that determines what people want to see. Tweets are currently displayed in reverse chronological order. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey says no such change is happening this week, but he didn't deny that it may happen.

About one-quarter of lower-income families with school-age children say a mobile device is their only way to access the Internet at home, according to a new study.

Education

How Limited Internet Access Can Subtract From Kids' Education

12:40am February 07, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Smartphones are often credited with helping bridge the "digital divide" between people who do and don't have Internet access at home. But is mobile Internet enough for a family with a kid in school?

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Some researchers say we're losing our critical thinking and memory skills by relying on search engines.

OK, Google, Where Did I Put My Thinking Cap?

4:37pm February 05, 2016

by Zhai Yun Tan

It can be too easy for students to Google an assignment before they stop to think about it. Some researchers say we're losing our critical thinking and memory skills by relying on the search bar.

Advertisers used to guard their commercials until they aired on TV. Now, advertisers harness the power of Internet virality and release ads before the big game.

WATCH: Super Bowl Ads Already Generating Buzz

6:22pm February 02, 2016

by Laura Wagner

The big game may be days away, but commercials featuring a Helen Mirren soliloquy, Pokemon, a Drake "Hotline Bling" spoof, Ryan Reynolds and, of course, puppies are already getting attention online.

National

Encryption May Hurt Surveillance, But Internet Of Things Could Open New Doors

4:43pm February 02, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Law enforcement and intelligence officials warn that encrypted communication makes investigation venues "go dark." A study sees other avenues for data collection through newly connected devices.

UmmaGawd (Tommy Tibajia), a pilot in the Drone Racing League, flies his quadcopter in an abandoned power plant in New York.

Sports

A Video Game IRL: Drone Racing League Aims To Be NASCAR In The Air

8:58am January 31, 2016

by NPR Staff

Goggles and onboard cameras put pilots and spectators in the cockpit as the drones race at high speeds through crazy courses. The Drone Racing League's first season kicks off next month in Miami.

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Facebook's policy change means individual users will no longer be able to arrange gun sales on the site. Licensed retailers will not be affected.

National

Facebook Announces Ban On Private Gun Sales

1:53pm January 30, 2016

The company, which has set limits on the arrangement of private gun sales since 2014, will now prohibit posts about such sales on Facebook and Instagram. Licensed dealers will not be affected.

After knee surgery, David Larson, 66, of Huntington Beach, Calif., experienced pain in a calf muscle. His answer to an automated email from the doctor led to the diagnosis and treatment of a potentially dangerous blood clot.

Health & Safety

The Doctor's Computer Will Email You Now

5:47pm January 29, 2016

by Barbara Feder Ostrov

Though it may sound like an oxymoron, "automating empathy" is becoming a catchphrase in health care. The goal is to help doctors engage with patients cheaply and with minimal effort. Does it work?