Technology

From Guns To Chocolate: The Possibilities Of 3-D Printing

5:10pm February 21, 2013

From creating human ears, to gun parts and even bars of chocolate, 3-D printing has opened seemingly limitless possibilities for the field of manufacturing. The technology's potential also raises a variety questions, including copyright and regulatory issues.

Queue Listen Now

Science
Arts

Art Meets Geek at Toni Dove's Studio

7:14am February 21, 2013

"This is geek central," says artist Toni Dove of her New York City studio. Dove employs an infrared motion-sensing interface, voice recognition software, 3-D mechanical projection screens, video puppets and lots of other tech to bring her mixed media productions to life. Science Friday stopped by for a sneak peak of her newest piece, "Lucid Possession."

Queue Listen Now

Aereo allows users to connect to a distant antenna — a tiny device that acts like an old set of rabbit ears — and watch broadcast TV channels on their computer, tablet or smartphone. Currently the service is available only in New York City, and it's e

Arts
Economy

Amid Lawsuits, Aereo Brings Broadcast TV To The Internet

5:52am February 21, 2013

by NPR Staff

Backed by broadcasting powerhouse Barry Diller, a new service picks up broadcast TV signals and makes them available over the Web — and the TV networks don't like that one bit. Currently available only in New York City, Aereo is planning to expand ... if it makes it through the legal challenges.

Queue Listen Now

New York City rules will soon permit yellow cab drivers to accept rides through smartphone apps.

In New York, Taxi Apps Raise Objections From Competitors

9:56am February 20, 2013

by Alex Goldmark

Following the lead of cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., New York wants to permit passengers to use smartphone apps to find a yellow cab. But the prospect of change has prompted a lawsuit from private car services, whose passengers already use smartphones to hail drivers.

Queue Listen Now

Law Change Makes It Harder To Unlock Cellphones

9:41am February 20, 2013

by Laura Sydell

A copyright ruling from the Library of Congress covers whether people may buy a phone from one carrier and then use it with another. A recent change makes it illegal to unlock a phone, or untie it from the original carrier, without permission. But some people are petitioning the White House to undo that change.

Queue Listen Now

A 3-D printed bust of Yoda is one of the more popular digital designs shared on Thingiverse.

National

As 3-D Printing Becomes More Accessible, Copyright Questions Arise

4:13pm February 19, 2013

by Steve Henn

A 3-D printer allows people to easily create Yoda busts, Tintin's rocket ship — and even NPR action figures. But as this technology gets cheaper, the budding industry could face the same intellectual property battles that upended the music business a decade ago.

Queue Listen Now

Older Tech Workers Oppose Overhauling H-1B Visas

3:45pm February 19, 2013

by Martin Kaste

Overhauling immigration is complicated and controversial. There's been a proposed increase in H-1B visas. Those are the visas that allow companies to bring in skilled foreign workers for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Social Media And Work: Is It Ever OK To Complain Online?

2:52pm February 19, 2013

Many employees lost their jobs in recent years after posting negative comments about work on social media sites. A recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board may give workers more freedom to talk and complain about work on social media.

Queue Listen Now

Cyberbullying Law Shields Teachers From Student Tormentors

12:33pm February 19, 2013

by Lisa Miller

There's a new cyberbullying law in North Carolina — but it's not for students who torment other students. It's one of the first of its kind that punishes students who target teachers online. Teachers groups and free speech organizations are split on what the law hopes to accomplish.

Queue Listen Now

Cell phone communication can be hacked, tapped or otherwise tampered with. A new app aims to change that.

Want To Keep Your Messages Private? There's An App For That

8:46pm February 17, 2013

by NPR Staff

For a fee, Silent Circle erases messages from both the receiver and the sender's phones. The app's creators got the idea after hearing an all-too-familiar story: A friend of theirs inadvertently read a text meant for someone else.

Queue Listen Now