Stories by: Lamont Wood

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The wild, wacky world of webcams grows up -- kinda 22 September, 2008 08:51

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.
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Forgotten history: the true origins of the PC 11 August, 2008 07:39

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.
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Blind users still struggle with computing obstacles 17 April, 2008 08:27

Put your graphical user interface to this test: Adjust the contrast on your display until the screen is completely black.
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3-D printing: The next big thing? 13 March, 2008 09:33

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.
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The LAN turns 30, but will it reach 40? 01 February, 2008 09:20

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.
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If the application fits, wear it 02 January, 2008 07:44

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.
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Review: Using powerline adapters for home networking 05 October, 2007 12:27

How simple is it to network your home via existing power lines?
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Powerline adapters: Home networking without rewiring 05 October, 2007 12:02

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.
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Emergency! When a message has to get through 10 September, 2007 12:06

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.
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Fiber to the home: 'It's insanely better' 13 October, 2006 09:35

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).
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SMB - Technology for rescuing stolen laptops emerges 14 August, 2006 08:15

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.