TechStuff

The Japanese electronics company Panasonic is more than a century old. In this episode, we learn of its founding in 1918, how the company survived World War II, and how its founder positioned his company to enter the global marketplace in the 1950s. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are storm chasers? What kind of equipment do storm chasers use? What useful information have storm chasers gathered? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next Mars rover scheduled for launch is the Perseverance, which NASA hopes will be able to uncover signs that life once existed on Mars. It also will carry a helicopter-like drone. We learn about the rover, its instruments and why flying on Mars is tricky. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the world struggles with the chaotic realities of COVID-19, cybercriminals are pouncing. In this episode of Tech Stuff, Jonathan Strickland chats with Wendi Whitmore, VP of IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence, and Allison Ritter, Program Leader, IBM Security Command Center, about how they are helping businesses stay prepared and resilient within a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are robots and automated systems going to replace human workers? And if so, what then? The fear about automation has a long history and it's not an irrational fear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is plasma and how do we use it? Why are plasma weapons so popular in science fiction? Are plasma weapons realistic? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to our civil liberties when an algorithm is used by law enforcement to make an arrest? Even more concerning, what happens when that facial recognition technology is racially biased? As we enter an age of ubiquitous surveillance, it’s minorities - especially people of color - who are disproportionately affected. The ACLU has recently filed a complaint on behalf of a Black man who was wrongfully arrested due to faulty police facial recognition tech. It’s the first case in the US, but it’s unlikely to be the last because, according to the ACLU - the tech often can’t tell Black people apart. The organization that has been fighting for civil rights protections for over 100 years, is now calling on lawmakers nationwide to stop law enforcement use of facial recognition technology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started off as an incredible project that promised to bring science fiction into science fact. But years later, the company Magic Leap struggles to stay afloat. What happened? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How well does the film treat science and technology in Independence Day? What are the big goofs committed in the movie? How realistic is the plan to defeat the aliens? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do the theories of special relativity and general relativity apply to satellites? Why is the speed of light constant, but time and distance are not? We get all Einstein up in here! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do satellite communications work? What's the difference between megahertz and megabits? We learn about the tech of communication satellites. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did WikiLeaks get started? What is the purpose of WikiLeaks? What are some of the controversies WikiLeaks has been in? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan looks back on some of the biggest tech stories since TechStuff first launched. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our continuing exploration of stage and film lighting, we learn how technology would shape how our entertainment is created and presented and what the heck a gaffer is. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Mars One project? Why is it a one-way ticket to Mars? What are the qualifications for Mars One? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the stage to the silver screen, we look at how lighting has played an intrinsic role in shaping our perception of entertainment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the conclusion of this two-part series about electronic voting machines, Ben Bowlin joins the show to talk about all the challenges that come along with trying to modernize the democratic process. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are superconductors? What is electrical resistance? How can superconductors levitate? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an election year in the United States, which means it's a good time to revisit this 2016 episode about electronic voting machines. Ben Bowlin joins the show to talk about the tech and challenges associated with electronic voting. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a web spider? You don't have to leave a message and we'll call you back, we'll explain in this episode what web spiders are and how they work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the company change after the departure of Trip Hawkins? What were some of the other companies EA acquired? Why did EA win the Worst Company of the Year twice? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for another critical thinking episode! We are flooded with information and not all of it is reliable. Let's talk about developing the skills to think critically and separate the good data from the bad. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did green screen technology come from? How does it work? From the dawn of cinema to the latest Zoom meeting, we take a look at the tech that lets us combine different images into a single film or video. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is the founder of Electronic Arts? What was the company's philosophy about making games? Why did the founder leave the company? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are lots of different kinds of steel. In this episode, we demystify steel, talk about the different classifications and what makes them different from one another. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes iron different from steel? How are they made? In this episode, we explore the history of iron and steel. It's heavy metal! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do batteries work? What are the different types of batteries? Why has battery improvement been so slow? Join Lauren and Jonathan to learn more about the science behind batteries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the word nanotechnology really mean? And how did it evolve? From ancient glassmaking to the tech of sci fi, we look at nanotechnology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Packard Bell's lifespan was 1926 to 1968. Or maybe 1933 to 1974. Or maybe 1986 to 2000. What is up with this company? We investigate the Packard Bell Story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How powerful is the 3D-printed gun designed by Cody Wilson? Why is the gun so controversial? Is a plastic gun really undetectable? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is a modem and what does it do? We trace the development of the modem and how it plays a key part in computer networks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are redox flow batteries? How are they similar to other types of energy storage technologies like traditional batteries and fuel cells? Will we ever see them in wide deployment? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are fitness trackers? What sort of sensors does a typical tracker contain? Do fitness trackers really help you lose weight or get fit? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a trumpet sound different from a guitar? How do flutes work? In this episode, we look at how musical instruments actually create their respective, distinctive sounds. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people into a new lifestyle and raised many challenges. Among those are how do we pursue learning from home? How can technology help us when we can't leave the house? Kristin Wisnewski and Grace Suh join the show to talk about initiatives designed to help students learn in our new remote reality. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musical instruments are a particularly cool type of technology. How do musical instruments take advantage of fundamental laws of physics? We explore the nature of sound and music in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nanotechnology is the science of building incredibly tiny machines. As manufacturing techniques improve, more nanotechnology may find its way to the market. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lead developer of the Android operating system launched a new phone company in 2015 called Essential Products. In 2019, that company folded. What happened? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The web conferencing service Zoom was already successful before the era of isolation really kicked it into a new gear. Learn about where it came from, how it works and the controversies the company now faces. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do automotive transmissions do? How does power get from an engine to a car’s wheels? Why do manual transmission vehicles have a clutch? Learn more about transmissions with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Chinese company is marketing heat-sensing glasses as a possible way to screen people for COVID-19. How does thermal imaging work, and is this a good approach? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is technology playing a role in the search for an effective treatment for COVID-19? Dave Turek of IBM joins the podcast to talk about how high performance computing can help speed up the process. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did the WhatsApp messaging service come from, how did it get so popular, and why did Facebook spend so much money to acquire it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does the DMCA exist? What is safe harbor? What does the DMCA have to do with boats? Tune in to learn more with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did IBM define computer graphics standards for the PC? What's the difference between the different standards? And why did the company get out of the graphics game? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we're not likely to ever see something as sophisticated as Iron Man's suit, there are a number of robotic exoskeleton designs that have made the rounds. In this episode, we look at some of those designs, how they were developed and what they are meant to do. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Wikipedia get started? What was the predecessor to Wikipedia? What are the pros and cons of Wikipedia? Learn more about Wikipedia with Jonathan and Lauren Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took a lot of time and experimentation for the clamshell laptop to become standard. Today, most laptops follow that style. But companies have made big changes in other features. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cameron Clayton, the General Manager of IBM Cloud Ecosystem and of The Weather Company, an IBM business, joins the show to talk about how artificial intelligence and cloud computing provide the horsepower needed to provide localized tracking tools for the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the very first 55-pound portable computer to establishing the clamshell form factor, we take a look at the history of the laptop computer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.