【推荐1】The one thing everyone loves to hate when it comes to the Internet—the user password—is under fire now. Actually, it’s been under fire for a long time.

In an ideal world, people would use a long string composed of completely random characters, numbers and symbols. Furthermore, a unique password would be used for every site or application the user uses. Unfortunately, the more complex the passwords become, the more people are likely to forget them. The longer the passwords are, the more easily forgotten they are. Therefore, people use the same password for every service or application. It is a no-no and extremely defeats the purpose of a password.

Google is trying to kill off the user password, at least on Android devices by introducing the Trust API, which does what simple passwords cannot. It gives developers a framework for securing their applications using a number of security system and metrics (衡量标准) on the device. A Trust Score will be generated based on the metrics the device gathers and will allow or deny access to applications based on whether or not your Trust Score is high enough.

The Trust Score will be generated based on metrics like your device location, face scanning and fingerprint, and the things like your typing speed or the way you speak. Taken one at a time, these metrics are not secure. But taken together, these metrics will help define the real “you”.

Passwords have been around since the dawn of computing and although the security of systems has been improved, they haven9t done much to improve the usability of systems. Google appears to have the best of both worlds—a highly secure system that end users won^ even notice. Maybe that never-ending conflict between security and convenience will be able to take a break once the trust system comes out.

【推荐3】Wild Track is an organization that aims to protect endangered animals like rhinos. They use a computer program that runs photos of animal track through an algorithm (演算法).Then the program makes the same observations as a tracker would, allowing scientists to know where individual animals go. However, the program itself needs “training”.

It starts with collecting good photos of prints from endangered animals in captivity   ( 圈养）.As people send in photos of tracks from animals in the wild, the FIT program can compare it to tracks from animals it “knows”. As the program becomes more accurate, Wild Track hopes it will become a major tool for monitoring any endangered species.

Anyone can help Wild Track by taking images of tracks and sending them to a partner organization called naturalist.org. The only tool you need is a digital camera or cellphone. After finding a clear track, place one ruler along the bottom of the footprint and another along the left side. Below the footprint, place a note containing your exact name and the date. Holding the camera or cellphone directly above the track, take a photo showing the footprint, rulers and note. Later, visit naturalist.org and follow the instructions on the site to send your photo.

Wild Track needs photos of footprints made not only by animals in captivity but also those living in the wild. In wild places, you should take care not to disturb animals in their natural environment. If you intend to photograph in a wild area that is unknown to you, then you should not go there alone. Instead, go with someone who is familiar with the region and experienced at tracking.

【推荐1】A ROBOT companion for older people aims to promote activity and deal with loneliness by urging them to take part in digital and physical activities.

The ElliQ robot, made by Israel-based start-up Intuition Robotics, will be published at the Design Museum in London this week. ElliQ is a small desktop device that consists of a domed (拱形的) “body” and a separate detachable (可拆卸的) screen.

Created in collaboration with Swiss designer Yves Behar, the robot is able to encourage a degree of social engagement. Similar to home assistants like the Amazon Echo, people can simply talk to it, and there are visual clues that could be particularly helpful for those with hearing difficulties.

A key purpose of ElliQ is to act as an easy platform to access existing services such as social media, and messaging programs. For example, the device could alert the users that their grandchild has posted a new photo on Facebook, show it to them on the screen.

ElliQ can recommend activities voluntarily. It might ask if you’re interested in watching a video, for instance, or suggest a walk. It can also act as reminder to take medication.

Having a robot constantly offer suggestions could obviously get annoying, so the device uses machine learning to tailor these suggestions to individual preferences. If a suggestion is met with a positive response once, ElliQ might try it again. If not, it might change for a different tack.

【推荐3】The Walt Disney Company has built a room that can wirelessly power and charge any devices inside. Wireless charging usually only works when a device is touching a power source. But researchers say they have found a way to provide wireless power and charging capability to large areas.

A scientific team from Disney Research recently demonstrated the technology. Alanson Sample is the lead researcher at Disney Research. He explained the goal of the project in a video. “What we really want is a three-dimensional charging experience where you walk into your living room or office and your cellphone is charged simply by walking in.”

The process uses magnetic fields to send power to specially designed receivers.

Researchers built a 54-cubic-meter room in which the walls, floor and ceiling were covered with metal panels. They placed a long metal pipe in the middle of the room. Electrical currents travel up and down this pole about 1.3 million times per second. These currents also move through the ceiling, walls and floor, before flowing again up the pole. Small devices inside the pole set the level of electromagnetic waves. These waves continuously move around the room to send power to receiving devices. The Disney researchers said repeated experiments led to successful wireless power transfers to many devices running at the same time.

One of the concerns of electric fields is that they can be harmful to humans. But associate research scientist Matt Chabalko said the level of power being produced inside the room is not dangerous. “Our simulations show that we can transmit 1.9 kilowatts of power while meeting federal safety guidelines. This means it’s completely safe for people to occupy this space for any amount of time.”

The experiments also showed that furniture inside the room was not damaged and did not block the wireless energy. One of Disney’s likely uses for wireless power will be to create areas at its parks where visitors can charge their devices.

【推荐1】They may have text, email, Facebook and Twitter, but young people are still lonelier than any other age group. The Loneliness in New Zealand report, published by Statistics New Zealand, shows under 30s are more likely to feel lonely than older people because loneliness decreases with age.Loneliness and poor mental health were strongly related across all ages. Young people were not as likely to feel lonely because of financial hardship, but among older people, lack of money was a significant influence on loneliness. Women were more likely to feel lonely than men.

Philip Walker, spokesman for the General Social Survey, said because it was relatively new it was hard to know whether loneliness among young people was a new trend. But overseas research has found that levels of loneliness in youth today are growing.

Walker said the finding needed more exploration, including looking at the role of technology and social media. “It could be that people's expectations of connection have gone up, so we expect increased levels of connection.” he said. “While technology like cell phones could help young people stay connected, on the other hand for those who do get bullied, especially bullied online, it's quite isolating. A lot of the time potentially it is a big contributor to loneliness.”

Figures from online dating website Find Someone also confirmed more young people were looking for love. Manager Rick Davies, said younger dating hopefuls were the fastest growing group on the site.

Mr. Davies noted that since the report data was collected in 2010 there had been huge growth in smart phones, which meant people were online even more. He believed online tools, such as Skype, could help people stay connected. “People can keep in touch with a wide range of friends from all over the world much more easily now. It's like you're sitting in your living room having a chat with them.”

Bemardine Reid, operations committee chairwoman for Samaritans, which operates a free helpline, said many of their calls came from people who were lonely. “It might be that they've got some problem, just like all the things people would normally talk to a friend about, but people who are alone lack those normal contacts.” The Statistics New Zealand report also showed people who didn't have face-to-face contact with family and friends were more likely to feel lonely, as were those who lived alone.