TechStuff

A year ago, we talked about electric scooters and how they rapidly spread to several major cities with dockless sharing programs. What's the grumpy old man podcaster got to say about this? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the Large Hadron Collider do? How large is it? What is the LHC looking for? Listen in and get the scoop on the Large Hadron Collider with Chris and Jonathan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a brain-computer interface and how does it work? Why is Elon Musk interested in them? And is Facebook really going to read your mind? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, television manufacturers were pushing 3D features on TV sets. By 2017, all major companies had stopped trying. What happened with 3D TV? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did journalist Mat Honan get hacked? What is social engineering? How can you protect yourself against hackers? In this episode, Chris and Jonathan examine how criminals can access your data -- and how to protect your information from hackers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can thank geniuses for the development of stuff like radios, television and electricity. But what about the pocket fisherman? We explore the lighter side of invention. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After introducing the 707, Boeing began to manufacture many more commercial jets. Some would become iconic in the aviation industry. And the 737 MAX would end up creating a huge problem for the company. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are people using bicycles to create new machines for developing countries? What are MediKits? Why is e-waste recycling such a dangerous job? Join Jonathan and Chris as they look at the ways in which innovators across the world repurpose old tech. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World War II led to many contracts between Boeing and the United States military. In this continuation of the Boeing story, we learn about the aircraft Boeing designed and its first jet-propelled aircraft. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The aircraft manufacturer Boeing has been around for more than 100 years. In this episode, we look at the origins of the company at the dawn of the Age of Aviation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you bored by the usual musical instruments? Would you like to turn an Atari 2600 into a guitar, or translate shadows into sound? If so, then you may be a budding music hacker. Join Jonathan and Chris as they explore the wide world of music hacks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In July 2019, an appeals court upheld a ruling that says President Trump can't block people on Twitter because it's a violation of the First Amendment. We look at the tricky, complicated issue of the freedom of speech in the digital age. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hear a lot of stories about problems with supply chains, but what actually is a supply chain and why is it so complicated? John Bermudez of TraceLink joins the show to talk about it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is steampunk? What are the traits of the steampunk aesthetic? Who are some famous steampunk artists? Join Chris and Jonathan as they take a closer look at steampunk. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June, 2019, the Libra Association published a white paper about an upcoming digital currency called Libra, with Facebook playing an important role. What makes Libra special? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From dialing a phone to making a mix tape, our language is filled with phrases spawned from obsolete tech. We take a look at some listener favorites. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has ink jet technology been used to dispense medication? How could a 3-D printer create medicine? In what other ways have printers been used to create medical treatments? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the history of the touch screen? What are the different ways inventors have designed to make the technology work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a question the gaming industry has been asking for a while, fueled partly by some dramatic disagreements within the Entertainment Software Association. Is the E3 trade show still relevant or is it a waste of time and money? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does the Microsoft Kinect work? What's Microsoft's position on hacking the Kinect? What are some of the most creative hacks? Join Jonathan and Chris as they break down the astonishing potential of the Kinect. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June, 2019, the OSIRIS-REx satellite entered an orbit less than 2,500 feet above the asteroid Bennu. In a few years, we might be mining asteroids. How will we do it, and why? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From its founding in the 90s as a site to demystify the universe to the complicated, present-day structure, we look at Jonathan's employer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the Emergency Broadcast System? What did it have to do with the Cold War? How is the Emergency Alert System different from the old EBS? Listen in as Chris and Jonathan explain the origin of the EBS and the EAS. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no doubt that iTunes changed the fortunes of Apple. So why did the company announce in 2019 that it was discontinuing the venerable program? We learn about how feature creep and a changing marketplace spelled the end of iTunes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple first unveiled iTunes in 2001, setting it and the company on an incredible journey. In this episode, we learn how iTunes came to be up to the debut of the iTunes Music Store in 2003. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who was Dennis Ritchie? Why did Ritchie create the C programming language? What is the story of Ritchie’s involvement with UNIX? In this episode, Jonathan and Chris delve into the life and work of Dennis Ritchie. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picking up where we left off, this episode about AMD looks at its more recent history and how it has played a role in tech. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Stephen asked that I cover AMD a long time ago, and so this is the start of that company's history. We explore the founding of the company through its early years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a solid state drive? How are they different from magnetic storage devices? How do SSDs erase data? Join Jonathan and Chris as they break down the nuts-and-bolts of solid state drives. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virtual machines open up a lot of options for information infrastructure. Where did the idea come from and how did it evolve over time? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oz and Karah from Sleepwalkers join the show to talk about how different parts of the world are looking at developing, regulating and legislating artificial intelligence. From the US to the EU to China, we look at very different approaches and what they might mean for our future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a supercomputer? What was the first supercomputer? How fast is the fastest supercomputer? In this episode, Chris and Jonathan add up the facts about the world's fastest, most powerful computers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oz and Karah of the Sleepwalkers podcast join the show to talk about artificial intelligence, the challenges we face and some of the misconceptions around the terminology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the physics behind flight? We demystify the concept of lift and explain how many sources get the explanation wrong. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do pain rays work? What is the Portal Denial System? How does the Taser shotgun shell work? Join Jonathan and Chris as they introduce you to a new world of excruciating -- but, theoretically -- non-lethal pain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the YouTube adpocalypse and why did it happen? Is another on the way? And where do creators turn to when their careers are at stake? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is technology addictive? In this episode, we look at how some psychological studies in the mid 20th century would form the foundation for app design. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does Web advertising compare to traditional advertising? What do the terms CPM, CPA and CPC mean? How do affiliate programs work? Join Chris and Jonathan as they explore the nuts and bolts of online advertising. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On May 9, 2019, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times calling for the US government to break up Facebook into three smaller companies. What's the story behind this and is Hughes right? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A black box in tech is something that hides how it works away from view or understanding, and it can cause big problems. This episode is about critical thinking and unrealistic expectations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the earliest slot machines work? How do modern slot machines use random number generators? Where are you more likely to find slot machines that pay out frequently? Listen in as Chris and Jonathan explain the science behind slot machines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the difference between a Gaffer and the Best Boy? What do all the roles on a movie set actually mean? We look at the tech and terminology of film sets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Google, there were half a dozen search engines to choose from. What happened to them? How did Google pass them by to become a multibillion dollar company? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why would we want to mine asteroids? How might we manage the mining operation? What is Planetary Resource's plan? Join Chris and Jonathan as they explore mining asteroids. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, Alphabet company Wing received FAA approval for Air Carrier status. What does that mean? And what are the regulations about drones? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital files would become the biggest disruption to the entertainment industry since the dawn of recorded media. From piracy to a shift away from personal ownership, we look at how the mp3 and other digital file formats have changed the world of entertainment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a Domain Name Server work? What are rogue Domain Name Servers? How can you tell if you have the DNSChanger malware? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When companies settled on the DVD standard, they avoided a format war. But the high-definition market wasn't going to be so lucky. Sony and Toshiba faced off to see whose format would win out in the end. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The compact disc was a big hit for the music industry. Cheap to produce with a high profit margin, the CD promised to deliver high fidelity sound to an eager audience. Here's the story of how the CD hit the big time. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Google Drive? How does cloud storage work? How does Google Drive compare to other online storage properties? Listen in as Chris and Jonathan take you behind the wheel of Google Drive in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.