Google Unveils ‘Smart Contact Lens’ 

Google has said it is testing a “smart contact lens” that can help measure glucose levels in tears. It uses a “tiny” wireless chip and a “miniaturised” glucose sensor embedded between two layers of lens material. The firm said it is also working on integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed certain thresholds. But it added that “a lot more work” needed to be done to get the technology ready for everyday use. 

 

 

Tiny Lenses That’ll Turn Your Phone into a Pro-Level Shooter

Moment, a newly formed company is launching a Kickstarter funding to bring a telephoto and wide-angle lens to the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy lines. The lenses use a thin piece of metal (it’s less than half a millimeter) that adheres to the back of your phone. That plate acts as a mount for the lenses. The wide-angle (roughly equivalent to 18mm) and telephoto lens (roughly equivalent to 60mm) attach via a bayonet mount. According to Moment, the optics are fabricated using the same high-precision equipment and factory used for 4K cameras. The end result, according to Moment, is no distortion at the edges of images and minimal chromatic aberration in a tiny, pocketable package.

 

 

US Intelligence Installs Spy Software on Thousands of Computers

The US intelligence agency has covertly installed software on nearly 100,000 computers worldwide, allowing it to spy on them, and recruit them for possible cyber attacks, a news report said lastTuesday. Most were installed by the National Security Agency via network connections, but the agency has devised a way of reaching unconnected computers by means of radio waves, the New York Times reported, citing NSA documents, computer experts and officials. 

 

 

Global PC Shipments Suffered Worst Decline in 2013

Marking one of the worst years for the global PC industry, shipments fell by 10 per cent last year as hand-held devices such as smartphones and tablets grabbed consumers’ attention, research firms Gartner and IDC said. PCs — which include desktops, notebooks and laptops — shipment levels in 2013 were similar to that achieved in 2009. According to Gartner’s preliminary data, worldwide PC shipments declined by 10 per cent to 315.96 million units in 2013 from 351.05 million units in 2012. 

 

 

Apps Tries to Help You Keep New Year’s Resolutions

Keeping New Year’s resolutions can be difficult but new apps aim to help people get organized, track progress and stay focused to reach their goals. People aiming to improve their health can turn to fitness trackers such as MotionX-24/7 for the iPhone. The app tracks metrics such as steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality and duration and heart rate. Users can set daily activity and sleep goals and receive reminders to get active if they are idle for too long. Other activity tracker apps include Argus, free for the iPhone, and Moves, which sells for 99 cents and is available on iPhone and Android.