Stories by Lamont Wood

Gamification goes mainstream

Increased sales, increased participation, increased engagement. It doesn't sound like a game, but those are some of the goals, and reported achievements, of the new field of "gamification."

Future world: Today, the Internet - tomorrow, the Internet of Things?

Embedded in the heel of his shoe was an early example of the Internet of Things -- but Andrew Duncan didn't know it at the time.

3D chips: The next electronics revolution

To accomplish anything in the suburbs, you need to get in your car and drive to another address. Downtown, in a skyscraper, you just use an elevator.

Got cyber insurance?

Heartland Payment Systems figured it was in pretty good shape when it took out a $30 million cyber insurance policy. Unfortunately, the credit card transaction processor was the victim of a massive data breach in early 2009 that resulted in losses estimated at $145 million. The insurance company did pay Heartland the $30 million, but the company was on the hook for the remaining $115 million.

The wild, wacky world of webcams grows up -- kinda

A decade ago, it was a clever novelty: a webcam pointed at an office water cooler. The first one is still online, at www.coolercam.com, broadcasting a fresh picture every 10 seconds.

Forgotten history: the true origins of the PC

This year marks an almost forgotten 40th anniversary: the conception of the device that ultimately became the PC. And no, it did not happen in California.

Blind users still struggle with computing obstacles

Put your graphical user interface to this test: Adjust the contrast on your display until the screen is completely black.

3-D printing: The next big thing?

Heading a start-up after leaving his position as head of Microsoft Game Studios, Ed Fries thought that he might be able to sell 10,000 units of his product -- personalized online game figurines -- the first year.

The LAN turns 30, but will it reach 40?

LAN technology recently passed a milestone -- it's been around for 30 years, some of them tumultuous. But while the LAN seems ubiquitous now, there are those who think its future may be more troubled than its past.

If the application fits, wear it

When Randy McConnell equipped warehouse workers at Smith Drug Co. with wearable computers, production increased by 20%. "And our error rate went down to nothing," says the IT director at the US-based drug wholesaler.

Review: Using powerline adapters for home networking

How simple is it to network your home via existing power lines?

Powerline adapters: Home networking without rewiring

The concrete and plaster in his Rathdrum, Idaho, house blocks Wi-Fi signals. But computer consultant Marc Schoenberg found a way to network the six devices in his house without stringing Ethernet cables: He uses powerline adapters.

Emergency! When a message has to get through

Let's say that a major bridge in your city has collapsed at the height of rush hour, claiming an unknown number of victims. You'd like to communicate with your staff, both to ascertain their well-being and to tell them what to do tomorrow.

Fiber to the home: 'It's insanely better'

Some call it fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the premises (FTTP) or fiber to the node (FTTN) or fiber to the curb (FTTC) or fiber to wherever (FTTX).

SMB - Technology for rescuing stolen laptops emerges

Perhaps you followed the dramatic headlines in May as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs came to grips with the fact that it had lost a laptop (since recovered) with personal information on 26.5 million veterans, exposing them to identity theft.