Digital Life

Arts

As TV Streaming Rises, So Does Internet Piracy

4:30pm December 30, 2015

TV viewers are streaming their favorite shows more than ever. They are also stealing them more than ever. Why is this happening? NPR's Audie Cornish talks to Paul Tassi who covers technology and the Internet for Forbes to find out.

Musician David Lowery of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker says Spotify streamed his songs without his permission.

Music & Culture

Spotify Faces Class Action For Copyright Infringement

8:35pm December 29, 2015

The lawsuit alleges that the streaming music service fails to properly compensate artists for the right to reproduce or distribute recordings. It's the latest in the ongoing debate over streaming.

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Developing a universal translator means teaching a computer to think like a human.

Science

Machines, Lost In Translation: The Dream Of Universal Understanding

2:14pm December 24, 2015

by Anne Li

Will there ever be a universal translator? Scientists have pursued one for decades (and some say we're close) but the challenge is as tremendous as teaching a computer to think like a human.

Young student raps in front of a chalkboard in class

Hip-Hop Vocab: The Lexicon Is In The Lyrics

4:34pm December 23, 2015

by Joe Palca

College student Austin Martin has created a website that uses rap lyrics to teach vocabulary to middle and high school students.

How Did We Do On 2015 Tech Predictions? 'Still Waiting'

10:29am December 22, 2015

by NPR Staff

Last year, our tech reporters looked ahead to developments dealing with anticipatory computing, data breaches and Apple. Now as 2015 ends, they consider what has changed.

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National

U.S. Prepares To Relinquish Oversight Of Internet To International Body

6:45pm December 21, 2015

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Fadi Chehade, CEO of ICANN, an organization created by the U.S. that determines how the Internet is organized. ICANN is set to turn over leadership to an international body.

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National

Digital Culture Critic Abandons 'Fake On The Internet' Column

6:43pm December 21, 2015

NPR's Ari Shapiro interviews Caitlin Dewey, the digital culture critic for the Washington Post, about why she ended her "What Was Fake On The Internet This Week" column.

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While the days of sharing mixed tapes and audio cassettes may be long gone, exchanging playlists doesn't have to be.

Economy

Need A Last-Minute Gift? Don't Want To Buy Stuff? All Tech Has Ideas

10:56am December 21, 2015

Sometimes, they say, the best things in life aren't things. In that spirit, we've come up with a few ideas of last-minute presents for your plugged-in friends and family that don't involve shopping.

"Our main conclusion was really that there is something about punctuation that seems to be used and understood in a different way than text messages," professor Celia Klin says.

Science

You Should Watch The Way You Punctuate Your Text Messages — Period

5:14am December 21, 2015

by NPR Staff

These days, every character counts — nowhere more than at the end of your text messages. Researchers have found that punctuating a text with a period can make it seem as if you're being insincere.

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Privacy Advocates Sound Alarm On Cybersecurity Provision In Spending Bill

6:44pm December 17, 2015

by Brian Naylor

One of the provisions attached to the $1.1 trillion spending bill allows companies to share their customers' data with other companies and the government. Backers of the measure say it will help fight cyber attacks. But privacy advocates argue it will give the government easy access to Americans' personal information and does little to stop cyber crimes.

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