Digital Life

Health & Safety

Big Data Not A Cure-All In Medicine

6:31pm January 05, 2015

by Amy Standen

Big data is a trendy term for the ever-expanding cloud of information that's online and increasingly searchable. Some researchers say it could change the way medical research is done and the way individual doctors make medical decisions. Others say big data raises too many big questions — especially when it comes to medicine.

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Sleeping Near A Smartphone Can Disturb A Child's Rest

4:17pm January 05, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Lots of children have smartphones tucked under the pillow or on the nightstand. That may be enough to compromise sleep and make children feel less rested, a study finds.

World News

2014 Hashtags: #MuslimApologies Grew Out Of Both Anger And Whimsy

4:38pm January 04, 2015

Maha Hilal helped launch #MuslimApologies partly as a rebuttal to the more earnest hashtag, #NotInOurName. She tells Audie Cornish how it reflects a divisive conversation in the Muslim community.

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Stephen Hawking Gets A Voice Upgrade

2:58pm January 04, 2015

The theoretical physicist has been using the same communication system for more than 20 years, until now. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Horst Haussecker of Intel about the new and faster technology.

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World News

YY Changes Its Tune After Karaoke Is A Hit

5:44pm January 02, 2015

by Zoe Chace

Chinese social network site YY originally allowed customers to watch other people play video games, but users realized that the site had more potential. It could be a place to perform virtual karaoke.

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The Best Of The Internet In 2014

11:11am January 02, 2015

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro talks to Sean Rameswaram, host of the weekly pop culture podcast, Sideshow, about his top picks for the best of the Internet in 2014.

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10 Final Thoughts Of The Protojournalist

3:02pm December 31, 2014

by Linton Weeks

As the sun sets on The Protojournalist storytelling project, I reflect on the question: What have I done?

A video about the Apple Watch is shown during an Apple special event in Cupertino, Calif.

National

The 2014 Tech Trends We'll Still Be Talking About Next Year

6:35pm December 29, 2014

by Elise Hu

Apple is ending an influential 2014 but faces another big test ahead. And we revisit the mega-hacks of the year and look to a more voice-controlled future.

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Startup Better Finance is offering lease-to-own programs for high-end smartphones. But some customers say that retail stores, such as MetroPCS, aren't always clear about the lease terms up front.

What You Need To Know About Subprime Lending For Smartphones

6:29pm December 29, 2014

by Aarti Shahani

A new startup focuses on offering loans for the purchase of top-of-the-line smartphones. But what seem like deals come with hefty markups.

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Online Sellers Pop Up In Real Life, For A Limited Time Only

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Elise Hu

One-click shopping is changing the ways people shop and retailers sell their wares. But some online retailers are opening physical stores — some of which last as short as a day.

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