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 News
The Search for E.T. Goes on Hold, for Now
A popular screen saver takes a break while its inventors try to digest data that may yet be hiding news of extraterrestrials.
From ACM News
Big Tech Could Emerge From Coronavirus Crisis Stronger Than Ever
Amazon is hiring aggressively to meet customer demand. Traffic has soared on Facebook and YouTube. And cloud computing has become essential to home workers.
From ACM TechNews
Abel Prize in Mathematics Shared by Two Trailblazers of Probability, Dynamics
Hillel Furstenberg of Israel's Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Yale University's Gregory Margulis share this year's Abel Prize in mathematics for trailblazing...
From ACM News
Abel Prize in Mathematics Shared by Trailblazers of Probability and Dynamics
Hillel Furstenberg, 84, and Gregory Margulis, 74, both retired professors, share the mathematics equivalent of a Nobel Prize.
From ACM News
Algorithms Learn Our Workplace Biases. Can They Help Us Unlearn Them?
With the help of intelligent machines, humans can be nudged to make choices that make workplaces fairer for everyone.
From ACM TechNews
Can YouTube Quiet Its Conspiracy Theorists?
While YouTube has reduced how often its algorithm recommends conspiracy theory-related videos, its progress in dealing with conspiracy theories has been uneven....
From ACM TechNews
In Coronavirus Fight, China Gives Citizens a Color Code, with Red Flags
To manage the coronavirus epidemic, China is requiring citizens to use software on their smartphones.
From ACM News
Cloud Computing Is Not the Energy Hog That Had Been Feared
The digital services churned out by the world's computer centers are multiplying, but their energy use is not, thanks to cloud computing, a new study says.
From ACM News
Should Robots Have a Face?
As automation comes to retail industries, companies are giving machines more humanlike features in order to make them liked, not feared.
From ACM TechNews
New Yorkers Face Training Gap for Tech Jobs, but Study Finds Hope
A study by the nonprofit research group Center for an Urban Future offers hope for New York City employees who lack the training to qualify for upcoming technology...
From ACM News
Katherine Johnson Dies at 101; Mathematician Broke Barriers at NASA
She was one of a group of black women mathematicians at NASA and its predecessor who were celebrated in the 2016 movie "Hidden Figures."
From ACM TechNews
A Growing Presence on the Farm: Robots
Agronomists are using new autonomous robots to help them breed better crops.
From ACM TechNews
Activate 'Bracelet of Silence' and Alexa Can't Eavesdrop
A prototype wearable device blocks microphones in the vicinity from eavesdropping on conversations.
From ACM News
New Mexico Sues Google Over Children’s Privacy Violations
The lawsuit says that Google, the top tech brand in public schools, used its educational products to spy on students.
From ACM TechNews
Ransomware Attacks Grow, Crippling Cities, Businesses
In recent years, ransomware attacks have crippled computer networks and extorted money to restore access to users.
From ACM TechNews
Britain to Create Regulator for Internet Content
The U.K. has introduced a plan to give the country's media regulator Ofcom new responsibilities for monitoring Internet content.
From ACM TechNews
Data Driving New Approaches to Transportation
Shifts in transportation highlight cities' need for data management to cope with traffic, digital platforms, and other trends.
From ACM TechNews
An Algorithm That Grants Freedom, or Takes It Away
Local authorities in the U.S. and Europe use predictive governance algorithms to assess people's risk of criminality, and base probation, jail time, and other decisions...
From ACM TechNews
Wearable Tech Tells Drowsy Truckers It's Time to Pull Over
Trucking companies are equipping drivers with wearable monitors that check for signs of fatigue, and notify them when it’s time to pull over and rest.
From ACM TechNews