'Forcefield' technology controls computers Minority Report-style

Researchers at Bristol University have developed a new system that simulates the feel of objects in mid-air using nothing but sound.
The “UltraHaptic” system uses an array of ultrasonic transducers – a grid of small piezoelectric speakers that produce waves of ultrasound, the same as those used to scan babies in the womb – which align to produce an invisible layer of ultrasonic vibrations in the air above a display. This creates a small tactile sensation on the surface of human skin.

Facebook unveils global Internet access initiative

NEW YORK CITY: Facebook and other technology giants launched an initiative Wednesday designed to give the whole world access to the Internet.

The project is entitled Internet.org and its goal is to extend Internet access to five billion people by cutting the cost of smart phone-based Internet services in developing countries.

"Everything Facebook has done has been about giving all people around the world the power to connect," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said.

Facebook lets users showcase posts on other websites

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Wednesday began letting people share social network posts at blogs or other spots on the Internet.

An Embedded Posts feature being tested out at CNN, Huffington Post, Bleacher Report, PEOPLE and Mashable websites lets Facebook members broadcast posts in real-time to broader online audiences.

"We are beginning to roll out Embedded Posts to make it possible for people to bring the most compelling, timely public posts from Facebook to the rest of the Web," Facebook software engineers Dave Capra and Ray He said in a blog post.

PC, Tablet, Phone Shipments to Hit 2.4 Billion in 2013

New York: Research firm Gartner says it expects worldwide PC, tablet and mobile phone shipments to reach 2.4 billion units this year, up 9 per cent from 2012.

Gartner Inc said Thursday that device shipments should continue to grow, hitting more than 2.9 billion in 2017.

 But the mix of devices is shifting away from PCs.

Gartner expects desktop and notebook PC shipments to continue