Disruptor

Microsoft launches undersea, free-cooling data center

Underwater data centers like Microsoft's Project Natick offer the benefit of free water cooling, plus they bring the ultimate in edge computing.

06/21/18

Data freshness, not speed, most important for IoT

IoT is creating wireless network innovation. But it isn’t just about low latency and reliability promises. Data freshness and better security are getting attention, too.

06/12/18

Opinion

For IoT, alternative location services are better than GPS

Sensor-to-sensor and other alternative location-awareness services will consume less power and will be faster and cheaper than traditional GPS services.

06/05/18

Blockchain, service-centric networking key to IoT success

IoT needs monetization, security, and a strong edge network. Researchers say they have the solution — Blockcloud — blockchain along with a service name addressing system.

05/31/18

Opinion

Magnetic smart fabrics will store data in clothes

University of Washington researchers have found a new use for conductive thread that could allow you to store data in clothing.

05/17/18

Opinion

Solar power costs half what coal costs

One megawatt-hour of solar-produced electricity in North America currently costs $50, compared to $102 for coal-originating power, according to new analysis.

05/10/18

Opinion

Mobile data usage overtakes Wi-Fi, and CBRS threatens

Wi-Fi could be in for a rough ride. It’s getting hit by cellular data, plus a new chunk of data-friendly spectrum: the Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).

05/03/18

To improve network throughput, scrap the ones-and-zeros system

A Dutch researcher has proposed radical new methods for transporting data along existing fiber that will increase throughput at low cost.

04/27/18

New solar panel creates power from rain, as well as sunlight

Data centers located in poor weather climates may be able to harness the power of sun and rain using a hybrid panel developed by scientists at Soochow University.

04/18/18

DNA data storage closer to becoming reality

DNA could replace hard drives, tape and other storage mediums one day. It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds, and significant progress is being made, including new, zero-error individual-file data retrieval.

04/12/18

Lasers could power computers wirelessly

A thin beam of invisible laser light has been used to safely charge a smartphone across a room. The experiment by researchers at the Univeristy of Washington lends credence to the futuristic idea that one day all computers could...

04/04/18

To understand big data, convert it to sound

The sonification of big data will help people better understand and analyze big data, as well as detect anomalies in the data, say researchers at Virginia Tech.

03/27/18

Opinion

Li-Fi gets office-install at Philips lighting

Philips says it’s now supplying integrated Li-Fi modems in its regular office lights.

03/21/18

Future wireless networks will have no capacity limits

Calculations that suggest there will be caps on the amount of data that wireless networks can transmit are wrong, according to researchers at Linköping University.

03/15/18