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
Security Robots Expand Across U.S., with Few Tangible Results
Concrete proof that security robots reduce crime is lacking, despite wider deployment by U.S. government agencies and the private sector.
From ACM TechNews
Want a Vaccination Appointment? It Helps to Know a Python Programmer
A boutique online community of computer programmers has emerged to help family and friends gain a competitive advantage in securing vaccination appointments.
From ACM TechNews
With Election Cybersecurity Experts in Short Supply, Some States Call In the National Guard
Some U.S. states are asking the National Guard to dispatch cybersecurity experts to fortify their voting systems ahead of the general election in November.
From ACM TechNews
Facial Recognition's 'Dirty Little Secret': Millions of Online Photos Scraped Without Consent
Legal experts warn people's online photos are being used without permission to power facial-recognition technology that could eventually be used for surveillance...
From ACM News
CIA Prepping For Possible Cyber Strike Against Russia
The Obama administration is contemplating an unprecedented cyber covert action against Russia in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the American presidential...
From ACM News
Scientists Aspire to Nature's Genius With 'biomimetic' Research
Engineers and researchers looking for the next big thing are turning more than ever to their own back yards for inspiration.
From ACM Opinion
Cyber Spy High: Meet the Nsa's Hacker Recruiter
The National Security Agency has a recruiting problem.
From ACM News
Monkey Thoughts Move Virtual Arms—human-Machine Mind-Meld Next?
Rhesus monkeys in a lab are using their brains to move two arms of a virtual primate on a screen, moving researchers one step closer towards outfitting paralyzed...
From ACM News
Tor Trouble: Anonymizing Service Faces Vulnerability Claims
Tor, a service that helps cautious Internet users stay anonymous online, is facing increased scrutiny and potentially new attacks as the global debate on surveillance...
From ACM News
'running Battle': How Google Hopes to Beat Countries Cracking Down on Internet Freedom
Google hopes a little browser tool will help change the world.
From ACM News
Virtual Reality Gaming Is Nearly Here; We Just Need the Right Controller
Video games have long promised to offer their players "immersive experiences," but full-blown virtual reality—the holodeck or the matrix—was still a fantasy.
From ACM News
Your Phone Is Blabbing Your Location to Anyone Who Will Listen
Everywhere you go, your phone is sending out signals that can be assembled to form a picture of your movements.
From ACM News
One Year Later, Nasa Looks Back at Curiosity Rover's Scariest Moment
For the Curiosity rover, it's just another day on Mars—but back on Earth, Tuesday was a day to look back at the $2.5 billion mission's first year, including a moment...
From ACM News
Government Can Grab Cell Phone Location Records Without Warrant, Appeals Court Says
In a major victory for the Justice Department over privacy advocates, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that government agencies can collect records showing...
From ACM News
Google Says It Can Guess Movie Box Office Hauls—with 94% Accuracy
Google released a research paper this week showing that the frequency of a movie being searched for on Google and YouTube is a surprisingly accurate indicator of...
From ACM Careers
Hack a Virus, Win a Prize: Scientist Recognized For 'useful' Germ Modding
The inventor of a viral technology behind tomorrow's electric car batteries, flexible touchscreen computers, and non-invasive cancer screening was awarded a $500...
From ACM News
Xbox? More Like Xbody: Future Game Consoles Will Get nder Your Skin
Imagine playing through a level of the popular zombie shooter "Left 4 Dead" on a system that tracks your heart rate, eye movements, even how clammy your skin is...
From ACM News
Dawn of the Bot? New Era Nears, Experts Say
Science fiction is quickly taking a back seat to science fact. Just look at a new report by the country's leading roboticists.
From ACM Careers
In the Virtual Cockpit: What It Takes to Fly a Drone
Drone pilots escape the physical demands and dangers of a traditional cockpit. There's no g-force pinning them to their seats, no uncomfortable pressure suit to...
From ACM News
Tech-Savvy Public Plays Key Role in Hunt For Bombing Suspects
Since the bombs went off in Boston's Copley Square on Monday, the FBI and Boston Police Department have been enlisting the public's help with what may be the world's...12