Christian Science Monitor | Innovation

Parents' struggle with screen time won't be ending any time soon

Across the United States parents continue to wrestle with how to find a balance between letting kids develop interests and limiting a dependence on technology, a new survey shows. One idea gaining momentum: waiting until eighth grade to give a child a smartphone.

How 'net neutrality' became a political rallying point

Before there was "net neutrality" there was "end-to-end principle," the idea of letting end consumers control the internet and its content rather than a central authority. Under the Trump administration, this engineering maxim has become a hot-button issue.

At ninth Web Summit, women in tech call for equal treatment

At one of the tech sector's largest global conferences, women leaders said more needed to be done to promote equality in an industry riddled with sexism. Last week, thousands of Google employees walked out to protest discriminatory practices in the workplace.

Only a quarter of emergency call centers accept text messages to 911

During mass shootings and domestic incidents, a phone call to 911 could put someone in further danger. Advocates stress the importance of text-to-911 services, yet most emergency call centers don't have the infrastructure to support them.

Under pressure from Musk, SpaceX hustles to launch satellites

Elon Musk has been lauded for his visionary approach in the field of space exploration but signs of internal strife – from manager firings, to a difficult work environment, to a slew of unfulfilled job postings – suggest the SpaceX CEO is trying to do too much too fast.

In the 'war room,' Facebook ramps up fight against false information

Two years ago, Facebook shrugged off assertions that the 2016 election was influenced by fictional news stories on its site. But as Congress pays more attention, the social media giant has begun to take these threats more seriously.

Why does Wikipedia (mostly) work?

In an era of misinformation, the free online encyclopedia remains largely above the fray.

A laser revolution: How lidar is changing the way we see the world

Some breakthroughs seem to revolutionize our world overnight. Others, like laser mapping technology, take more of a slow build approach, inching into ubiquity while we're looking the other way.

Aid programs use the same data tracking technology as bitcoin

The World Food Program has implemented blockchain technology to track aid for refugees and prevent fraud. The technology, best known for supporting virtual currencies, allows for detailed tracking information that is stored in a network of hundreds of devices.

Think computers are less biased than people? Think again.

Artificial intelligence is often billed as the answer to biased decisionmaking. But as long as people write that code, humans will have to wrestle with their own biases.

Social media giants now face legal action from violating children's privacy

New Mexico is bringing charges against Google and Twitter, alleging they collect the data of children illegally. This is the latest salvo in many as the public develops a growing demand for more corporate responsibility from tech giants.

Women-founded start-ups aim to tackle safety issues through tech

A wearable gadget called Athena enables women to easily call for help when they feel threatened. The gadget's creator, Yasmine Mustafa, hopes to protect women from violence and sexual assault – but others see the device as ineffective in getting to the root of the problem.

A brighter future: Solar power charges rural education in Uganda

Globally, some 14 percent of people lack access to electricity. Electrifying entire nations can be difficult where infrastructure is lacking. In Uganda, rural residents are making their own light, thanks to solar power.

Cars become the next monthly subscription trend

Both start-ups and established car manufactures are beginning to offer monthly subscriptions that include insurance, maintenance, and frequent vehicle changes.

Were there ever 'good old days' when it comes to kids and technology?

Today, anxieties about technology seem particularly acute, but they are not without precedent. Adults have worried about the effects of new technology and entertainment on children since the start of last century from radio and television to rock 'n' roll and comic books.

Trump accuses Google of bias, White House hints at investigation

President Trump accused Google of hiding "fair media" coverage of his administration. The company maintains its search results are generated by several factors: the number of links to the page, personal browsing history, and the popularity and respectability of sites.

Spare some change? Helping the poor in a cashless society

People are carrying less cash, which means that those of us who want to give to panhandlers are increasingly coming up empty. A nonprofit in Cambridge, England, has developed a mobile payment solution.

Happy cow, happy life: Robots relieve dairy farmers of a round-the-clock task

Robots are often considered a threat to workers. But for dairy farmers, robots can not only relieve the no-days-off pressure and a labor shortage, they’re helping younger people consider staying on the farm.

As Japan's farmers age, drones help with heavy lifting

Rural communities in Japan are facing a labor shortage as farmers age and young people move to urban areas. The drones, which fly over fields quickly performing tasks strenuous to farmers, may be one part of how farms in the aging rural heartland can adapt.

Internet cop on patrol: Microsoft aggressively fights fraud and hacks

Microsoft is unique among tech companies with its approach that uses US courts to fight computer fraud, acting more like a government detective than a global software giant.