Communications of the ACM
An edited collection of advanced computing news from Communications of the ACM, ACM TechNews, other ACM resources, and news sites around the Web.
From ACM TechNews
Virginia Seeks Larger Pipeline of CS Degrees
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam unveiled plans to help public universities produce 31,000 additional degree-holders in computer science and related disciplines over...
From ACM TechNews
Parents are Concerned with School Apps Tracking Students from Classroom to Bathroom
Parents and students are grappling with the privacy implications of software increasingly used by U.S. schools, including apps that monitor students' movements—even...
From ACM TechNews
Tired of Long Lines? Canadian Grocery Chain Debuts Smart Carts with Self-Checkout
Nova Scotia, Canada-based grocery chain Sobeys has launched a pilot program using intelligent shopping carts that scan and weigh items, and allowing customers to...
From ACM News
A Face-scanning Algorithm Increasingly Decides Whether You Deserve the Job
HireVue claims it uses artificial intelligence to decide who's best for a job. Outside experts call it 'profoundly disturbing.'
From ACM TechNews
It's Never Been Easier to Avoid Walking. A Cargo-Carrying Robot Might Change That
Boston-based robotics firm Piaggio Fast Forward will soon deploy a bipedal wheeled robot that hauls owners' belongings as it follows behind them.
From ACM TechNews
Autonomous Shuttles in Northern Virginia Suburb Show Why Future of Robot Cars Might Be Slow
Two companies have partnered on an autonomous shuttle service to transport commuters between a Metro station and locations in Reston, VA.
From ACM TechNews
Caltech's Latest Creation: A Hovering, Bird-Like Robot That Could Someday Explore Mars
California Institute of Technology researchers have developed a robot drone that can traverse rough terrain.
From ACM TechNews
Lawmakers Warn About Threat of Political Deepfakes by Creating One
Two U.S. congressmen created an artificial intelligence-doctored political video to demonstrate the threat such disinformation presents.
From ACM TechNews
How State Election Officials Are Contributing to Weak Security in 2020
A study by cybersecurity company NormShield found U.S. state election offices are failing to implement digital safeguards, increasing the 2020 elections' susceptibility...
From ACM TechNews
An AI First: Voice-Mimicking Software Reportedly Used in a Major Theft
A French insurance company said one of its clients had been victimized by thieves using voice-mimicking software to imitate a company executive and dupe an employee...
From ACM TechNews
Hurricane Forecasters Turn to New Tools to Predict When Storms Will Rapidly Intensify
Scientists with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to gain a better understanding of what happens within a hurricane during periods...
From ACM TechNews
People Do Grammar Bad. Google's AI is Hear Too Help.
Google has launched an artificial intelligence-powered tool that automatically detects grammar mistakes while messages are being composed in Gmail, and auto-corrects...
From ACM TechNews
The Quantum Revolution Is Coming, and Chinese Scientists Are at the Forefront
China's advantage in the quantum technology field is worrisome to some scientists and officials in the U.S., and Beijing's ongoing investment in the technology...
From ACM TechNews
Hackers Told to Break into U.S. Voting Machines Didn't Have Much Trouble
Hackers at this year's Def Con hacker conference successfully exploited weaknesses in U.S. voting systems, demonstrating that many machines could be hijacked and...
From ACM TechNews
Ever Wonder How Much Tech Workers Get Paid in Your Town? This Map Might Have the Answer.
While San Jose and San Francisco remain the top U.S. cities in terms of salaries for technology professionals in 2019, smaller metro areas are becoming mini tech...
From ACM TechNews
Knight Foundation Invests $50 Million in Research on Tech's Impact on Democracy
The nonprofit John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will spend $50 million to fund research at 11 universities on how social media and technology impacts democracy...
From ACM TechNews
Baseball's Robot mpires Are Here. You Might Not Notice the Difference.
The Atlantic League was the first U.S. professional baseball league to use a "robot" umpire, at its recent All-Star Game.
From ACM News
Major League Baseball 'Robot mp' Calls 1st Professional Baseball Game with 1 Hitch, No Controversy
A computer in the press box communicated to the umpire whether each pitch was in or out of the strike zone, and the umpire relayed the calls to the field as usual...
From ACM TechNews
FBI, ICE Find State Driver's License Photos a Gold Mine for Facial-Recognition Searches
U.S. federal investigators using facial-recognition technology to search millions of Americans' state driver's license photos, without their knowledge or permission...
From ACM TechNews