Hackers steal 5.6M fingerprint files: What can criminals do with the data?

fingerprint

Cybercriminals stealing our biometric information is very unsettling. Passwords, credit cards and even Social Security numbers can be changed to guard against identify theft and fraud. Fingerprints, however, cannot. At least, not permanently. Perhaps the only silver lining to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s announcement last week that criminals had stolen 5.6 million fingerprint files, up from the 1.1 million files originally reported missing, is that it would be extremely difficult to use such biometric data to commit fraud or theft.

Continue reading… “Hackers steal 5.6M fingerprint files: What can criminals do with the data?”

A cost-effective battery that stores surplus wind and solar power a step closer to reality

flowbattery

A home battery that is cheap, durable, safe and as big as you like that could store solar or wind power is closer to reality. Harvard University researchers report that they have tested a “flow battery” that uses cheap and abundant chemical elements, can be operated with plastic components, will not catch fire and can operate at 99 percent efficiency.

Continue reading… “A cost-effective battery that stores surplus wind and solar power a step closer to reality”

Hitachi can predict where and when crimes will occur by monitoring everything from the weather to Twitter

hitachi-visualization-suite-45-predictive-crime-analyticsdc

In the  2002 Steven Spielberg movie, Minority Report, Chief John Anderton (played by Tom Cruise) says, “No doubt the precogs have already seen this.” In the movie Cruise plays the head of Washington, D.C.’s experimental “Precrime” crime-prediction department. The movie is based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 short story (which is also now a new Fox TV series).

Continue reading… “Hitachi can predict where and when crimes will occur by monitoring everything from the weather to Twitter”

Virtual digital assistants have potential to positively impact employees

virtual-assistant

Business-oriented virtual digital assistants (VDA’s) have the potential to help relieve employees from mundane and time-consuming tasks. Digital assistants have the ability to positively impact lives using what market intelligence firm Tractica describes as “the fusion of speech recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and artificial intelligence (AI) and hold the potential to have a transformative impact on user interfaces in the mobile, automotive, connected home, and enterprise domains, among others.”

Continue reading… “Virtual digital assistants have potential to positively impact employees”

Soon every doctor’s bag will contain a 3D printer

3D4MD

3D4MD

Disruptive technology in the medical profession provides a much cheaper and more comfortable way of providing care. There have been articles about what we can print out in 3D today from equipment and casts to biomaterials and drugs. The 3D4MD team just demonstrated a perfect example of how such a technology can deliver care in regions where the lack of resources is an everyday problem.

Continue reading… “Soon every doctor’s bag will contain a 3D printer”

German Rheinmetall showcases new sea-based anti-drone laser system

gatlinglaser

German defense contractor Rheinmetall Defense Electronics showcased a new sea-based anti-drone laser system at the Defense and Security Equipment Industry in London,. The system, according to Chinese web site qq.com, features not one but four high energy lasers (HEL) mounted on turret, making it look like some kind of laser gun.

Continue reading… “German Rheinmetall showcases new sea-based anti-drone laser system”