Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
December 2019
From ACM News
Why The Rise of the App Has Put Thousands of People in the Hospital
People are being distracted by apps on their phones, and getting injured as a result.
From ACM TechNews
Tech Aims to Predict Problems on Power Lines Before Disaster
A new diagnostic tool designed to detect power line problems is being used by utilities to address those problems before they become disasters.
From ACM TechNews
Can We Identify Invasive Species Before They Invade?
Researchers have developed models for predicting patterns of damage by invasive insects that attack North American trees.
From ACM TechNews
Water Animation Gets Easier, Thanks to BYU Professors
A new technique permits the rapid resizing of fluid animations without the need to remodel entire animation sequences.
From ACM TechNews
Cellphone Detection Cameras Rolled Out in Australia
Australia's state of New South Wales has started using high-definition detection cameras to identify drivers illegally using cellphones while driving.
From ACM News
50 Years Later, We Still Don't Grasp the Mother of All Demos
Doug Engelbart didn't just want to show off new technology. He wanted to demonstrate a system for improving humanity.
From ACM TechNews
3D Scanner Could Increase Accuracy of Surgery
Researchers have invented a scanner to capture full-field three-dimensional surface-shape data in real time by facilitating three-dimensional capabilities at each camera pixel.
From ACM TechNews
Producing Glass with a 3D Printer
Researchers employed three-dimensional printing to manufacture complex and porous glass objects using an ultraviolet-light-cured resin.
From ACM TechNews
Scientists Spot Undersea Fault Using Fiber-Optic Cables
Scientists discovered a new underwater fault five miles off Monterey Bay, CA, through the use of infrared laser pulses fired along an idle fiber-optic cable.
From ACM TechNews
Electro-Optical Device Provides Solution to Faster, More Energy-Efficient Computing Memories, Processors
Researchers have developed a nanoscale device that is programmable with either photons or electrons.
From ACM News
Can You Hear Me Now?
Columbia University researchers achieve a meeting of minds on Artificial Intelligence-assisted hearing technology.
From ACM TechNews
Carpentry Compiler Helps Woodworkers Design Objects They Can Actually Make
Researchers developed a digital tool that generates fabrication instructions and solves problems with techniques from programming languages when users design woodworking projects.
From ACM TechNews
Most Brazilians Believe Companies Don't Protect Their Personal Data
Among the findings of a Harris Poll survey of 11,000 consumers in 11 countries was that nearly all Brazilians feel companies are not adequately protecting their personal data.
From ACM TechNews
New Streaming Technology Will Change Computer Gaming
Researchers have developed a streaming technology that will allow a VR headsets to display computer games in extremely high quality.
From ACM TechNews
Toward More Efficient Computing, With Magnetic Waves
A new circuit design enables computing using magnetic waves, rather than electricity.
From ACM TechNews
That Smart TV You Just Bought May Be Spying on You, FBI Warns
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning consumers that televisions that offer Internet streaming and facial recognition capabilities may be vulnerable to intrusion.
From ACM TechNews
Soft Skin-Like Robots You Can Put in Your Pocket
Researchers at the University of Bristol in the U.K. have developed stretchable skin-like robots that can be rolled up and fit in a pocket.
From ACM TechNews
Attackers Using WhatsApp MP4 Video Files Vulnerability Can Remotely Execute Code
Facebook has reported a vulnerability in WhatsApp messaging software that allows malefactors to conduct denial-of-service or remote code execution attacks.
From ACM TechNews
AI Moves Into Healthcare
Artificial intelligence's diffusion into medicine is at a nascent stage, but researchers expect further proliferation.
From ACM News
Bug Bounties: Big Business
Companies are learning that bug bounty programs are just one aspect of good security protocols.
From ACM TechNews
China Issues Rules to Clamp Down on Deepfake Technologies
China has issued rules banning online video and audio providers from generating, distributing, and broadcasting fake news as it cracks down on deepfake technologies.
From ACM TechNews
Research Reveals Dirty Tricks of Online Shopping
Researchers have found dark patterns, or deceptive practices employed by user interface designs, frequently used on shopping websites of popular online retailers.
From ACM TechNews
Screening Technique Finds 142 Malicious Apps in Apple's App Store
Researchers have developed a method of detecting malicious apps that sneak through Apple's App Store screening process and onto some users’ phones.
From ACM TechNews
Turn Any Object Into a Robot Using This Program and a 3D Printer
Researchers created a program to render household items into hand-activated robots using a three-dimensional (3D) printer.
From ACM TechNews
Mozilla Doubles Payouts as It Tries to Attract Software Vulnerability Hunters
Mozilla has increased payouts for its bug bounty program while adding new websites and services to the list in order to draw more interest from bug hunters.
From ACM TechNews
Can a Stealth T-Shirt Foil Digital Spies?
Researchers have designed stealth apparel that renders the wearer invisible to spying computers.
From Communications of the ACM
Malevolent Machine Learning
AI attacks throw light on the nature of deep learning.
From Communications of the ACM
Robots Aim to Boost Astronaut Efficiency
A multitude of robotic assistants for astronauts and rovers are in development to make space exploration more resource-efficient.
From Communications of the ACM
Regulating Information Technology
Why isn't IT regulated, when it can have such substantial impacts on people's lives?