Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
January 2022
From ACM TechNews
Algorithm Helps Robots Avoid Obstacles in Their Path
An algorithm developed by researchers at the University of South Australia aims to help robots avoid humans and other obstacles in their path.
From ACM News
When Mind Melds With Machine, Who's in Control?
Brain-computer interfaces are getting better all the time—and they're about to land us in a philosophical quagmire.
From ACM News
Europol Ordered to Delete Data Concerning Individuals with No Criminal Link
The EU police agency has been accused of hoovering up data indiscriminately to create tools and algorithms.
From ACM News
Smart Guns Reportedly Coming to U.S. Stores This Year
After years of research and development, at least two major smart gun makers claim they are on track to release a commercial product this year.
From ACM TechNews
Robot Tractors May Be Heading to a Farm Near You
U.S. farm equipment manufacturer John Deere and French agricultural robot startup Naio unveiled new technologies at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
From ACM TechNews
Everybody into the Metaverse! VR Beckons Big Tech
Many believe mainstream use of the metaverse will be realized only when cumbersome augmented reality headsets tare replaced by lightweight eyeglass-like alternatives.
From ACM News
Measuring Trust in AI
Researchers find public trust in AI varies greatly depending on the application.
From ACM News
Artificially Altered Material Could Accelerate Neuromorphic Device Development
By adjusting vacancies and substitutions in a material through a process called doping, researchers can enable previously impossible applications.
From ACM News
RISC Chip Innovators Receive 2022 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering
Today, virtually every person with a portable computing device benefits from the RISC chip due to its low-power feature, which yields a much longer battery life.
From ACM TechNews
System Recognizes Hand Gestures to Expand Computer Input on a Keyboard
A new system developed by researchers at Canada's University of Waterloo responds to users' hand gestures as computer commands.
From ACM TechNews
Self-Driving Racecars Zip Into History at CES
Self-driving racecars sped around an oval track at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas during the high-speed Indy Autonomous Challenge.
From ACM TechNews
Sweden's Psychological Defense Agency to Fight Fake News, Foreign Interference
Sweden on Jan. 1 created the Swedish Psychological Defense Agency to fight the spread of disinformation campaigns.
From ACM TechNews
The End of Car Keys, Passwords, Fumbling with Phones at Checkout
Ultra-wideband technology could revolutionize interaction with devices, if privacy and other issues can be addressed.
From ACM TechNews
France Opens Access to Quantum Computing to Researchers, Startups
The French government has launched a program to make quantum computers and supercomputers available to researchers and French and EU startup companies.
From ACM News
Microsoft Hit by Defections as Tech Giants Battle for Talent to Build the Metaverse
Around 100 people on the team developing Microsoft's HoloLens augmented-reality headsets have left, mostly to Facebook parent Meta.
From ACM News
Buying Influence: How China Manipulates Facebook and Twitter
Inside a Chinese propaganda campaign.
From ACM News
German Factory Fire Could Worsen Global Chip Shortage
ASML is the sole provider of the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used by TSMC, Samsung and other chip makers.
From ACM TechNews
Predicting the Future of COVID
A new analytical tool developed by a research team led by biologists at Boston College uses quantum mechanical modeling to predict future mutations of SARS-CoV-2.
From ACM TechNews
A License to Print Houses
Three-dimensionally-printed homes are starting to catch on.
From ACM TechNews
Navigational Apps for the Blind Could Have Broader Appeal
New apps designed specifically for blind and low-vision people could also have mainstream appeal.
From ACM TechNews
Top Programming Languages: Coding Favorite Tops List Again
Python has topped software testing outfit Tiobe's programming language list for the second year in a row, as it was awarded the title of programming language of the year.
From ACM TechNews
Journals Adopt AI to Spot Duplicated Images in Manuscripts
At least four publishers are using artificial intelligence to vet manuscripts for duplicate images.
From ACM TechNews
Honeypot Experiment Reveals What Hackers Want From IoT Devices
A honeypot experiment has clarified hackers' goals in targeting Internet of Things devices.
From ACM TechNews
The Qubit Supercharged: Researchers Introduce the Qutrit
Rigetti Computing has announced a new development in quantum computing, unlocking a third quantum state, called qutrits.
From ACM News
The Battle to Prevent Another January 6 Features a New Weapon: The Algorithm
A year after the attack on the Capitol, data scientists say artificial intelligence can help forecast insurrection — with some big concerns.
From ACM TechNews
Singapore Engineers Build Robotic Fingers with Delicate Grip
National University of Singapore engineers have constructed a robotic hand that can grasp various objects using three-dimensionally-printed fingers.
From ACM TechNews
Are Apple AirTags Being Used to Track People, Steal Cars?
Concerns are mounting as Apple's location-tracking AirTag devices are being found on people's cars and in their belongings, giving rise to fears of stalking.
From ACM TechNews
Autonomous Trucker TuSimple Logs First No-Human Road Test
Autonomous technology developer TuSimple said its self-driving unmanned semitruck completed an 80-mile trip in Arizona on public roads without human intervention.
From ACM TechNews
AI-Powered Robots Replace Recycling Center Workers in Finland
A new recycling facility near Helsinki, Finland, can process as much as 120,000 metric tons of construction waste per year with the help of robots.
From ACM News
Reimagining AI
How values-driven artificial intelligence can reshape the way we communicate.