Computer & Information Technology

22 Nov 23

Zoom Fatigue is Real, According to Brain Scans

Computer & Information Technology

Since the pandemic began in 2020, Zoom video teleconferences have become a new normal for many people’s working life. Now a study finds that these virtual meetings exhaust the brain more than face-to-face communication.Lockdowns due to COVID-19 led to skyrocketing adoption of Zoom, Skype and other videoconferencing tools as substitutes…

19 Nov 23

Spinal Stimulator’s Gentle Zaps Help Treat Parkinson’s

Computer & Information Technology

Marc Gauthier was 36 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. At the age of 44, Marc, who lives in Pessac, France, was treated with a deep brain stimulator device that helps to control tremors in his arms. As he grew older, the disease made it difficult for…

15 Nov 23

Better Machine-Learning Models With Quantum Computers

Computer & Information Technology

Researchers at the quantum-computing company Terra Quantum have demonstrated improved training of machine-learning models by using a new method that combines the best features of classical and quantum computers. These results are a promising sign for the young field of quantum machine learning, which is slow to get off the…

13 Nov 23

Imperfect Clocks Limit Quantum Computers

Computer & Information Technology

The quantum computers that IBM, Google, Amazon and others are developing face daunting challenges on the road to practical applications. Now it turns out they may face a fundamental limit to large-scale performance—the imperfect nature of all clocks.Quantum computing can theoretically find answers to problems that classical computing would take…

10 Nov 23

Organic Electronics Mimic Retinal Neurons

Computer & Information Technology

Finding ways to interface electronics with our biology could help treat neurodegenerative diseases, improve prosthetics, and even lead to novel computing technologies. A chip made from organic electronics that can imitate the way the retina works brings that goal a step closer, its creators say. Hooking conventional electronics up to…

09 Nov 23

Grown-up Arm Chips Look to Dethrone x86 in Laptops

Computer & Information Technology

Qualcomm is again coming for laptops—and this time, it means business. At the company’s October 2023 Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X Elite, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) with a custom Arm architecture designed specifically for laptop PCs. The new chip is far from Qualcomm’s first attempt to upset the PC’s…

08 Nov 23

Public AI Training Datasets Are Rife With Licensing Errors

Computer & Information Technology

Large language models feed on big data from publicly available training sets, but most of the sets are of doubtful legal status.The scope of the problem has been demonstrated by the newly launched Data Provenance Initiative, which brings together a multi-institutional team of machine-learning and legal experts led by researchers…

07 Nov 23

Will Their Bionic Eyes Be Obsolete and Unsupported Too?

Computer & Information Technology

Pixium Vision SA, a Paris-based company that was developing high-tech retinal implants to treat certain visual conditions, is headed into receivership while it hunts for a buyer.Pixium’s PRIMA system, currently implanted in 47 users in Europe and the U.S., comprises a tiny implant in the retina, connected to a pair…

03 Nov 23

This Pulsing DNA Nanomotor Can Power Molecular Machines

Computer & Information Technology

Taking advantage of DNA’s ability to store information, researchers have over the past decade been working on data storage systems and digital logic circuits built on the biological molecule. DNA’s complex physical structure has also led to the exciting technique of DNA origami, with which researchers have made tiny nanoscale…

02 Nov 23

Magnetic Gel Can Help Wounds Heal Faster

Computer & Information Technology

Researchers have developed a magnetic gel that can help diabetic wounds heal roughly three times as fast as they would with a conventional wound dressing. The magnetic gel, in combination with an external device to generate a dynamic magnetic field gives the skin cells around the wound a gentle workout.In…