Carlo Orlando

It appears telepathy, or speaking to one another with our minds, could soon become a reality. Possessing the ability to control certain machines via brain activity is not entirely new. In recent years, specialists have been able to help amputee ... patients overcome their disabilities using bionic limbs moved by specific thoughts. But up until now, such innovations have come following invasive surgeries that involve, above all else, penetrating the skull. And while the possibilities for such advancements are seemingly endless, those without life-altering disabilities are not readily willing to ... (view more)

Twitter enthusiasts need not worry about what will become of their social network accounts after they have died. A new service promises to continue sending out tweets on behalf of the deceased long after they have crossed over to the other side. The ... application, which is called 'LivesOn,' studies your current online behavior, analyzes the tweets you post, and altogether learns your social network personality. All information (including your likes and hobbies) is collected and automated tweets are then generated through a personalized LivesOn feed. The service even has a quirky, albeit catchy ... (view more)

We recently received this question about pinning items to the Windows 8 desktop: "Dear Infopackets team, Last week, when complaining about having to sift through an extensive list of my preferred websites under the "Favorites" tab in Windows 8's ... Internet Explorer, one of my co-workers suggested that I start pinning these sites to my desktop. I went home to do some more research and stumbled upon a website called "Pinterest." Yes, I can upload my favorite websites, but it looks like everyone will be able to see my list if I decide to go this route. I really don't want to make this a ... (view more)

Security analysts are warning that a new iOS 6.1 hack could allow someone to bypass the security of an iPhone 5 and covertly spy on a user's private messages and conversations. The majority of Apple iPhone owners currently have some kind of password ... lock screen protecting their device. However, a YouTube video (aptly named "How to Bypass iPhone 5 Passcode on iOS 6.1") provides step-by-step instructions for getting around this security wall. Once a device has been compromised, hackers have complete access to the emails, photos, etc. stored on the phone. When attempting to delve deeper into the ... (view more)

Each day, millions of images and messages are sent through social media platforms. Now, those who have regretted transmitting personal information in this fashion will be relieved to find that a popular new app is making significant strides in ... changing the way people share private data on social networking sites. Snapchat doesn't store data -- including messages and photos -- for years on end. Instead, this information is wiped out, permanently, at a time set by the sending / posting user. It's a simple concept, but early indications reveal that Snapchat is becoming a popular alternative to ... (view more)

New reports indicate that the rate at which consumers are flocking to mobile computing devices -- including smartphones and tablet computers -- could threaten the PC market. According to recent consumer polls, people are increasingly using mobile ... devices for their Internet browsing. More specifically, 27 per cent of tablet owners admit to using their PCs far less for online browsing, while 20 per cent said that their PCs are being used less often for accessing Facebook. Furthermore, 27 per cent of smartphone owners claimed they use their PCs far less regularly for both Internet access and ... (view more)

Vancouver General Hospital is testing a new, super-efficient robotic machine capable of ridding small- and medium-sized rooms of bacteria. Called Tru-D SmartUVC, the device uses powerful ultraviolet light to sanitize an enclosed area. It measures ... 1.65 meters tall and has long bulbs running vertically up a round, clear shaft (it resembles an illuminated R2D2). When the machine is activated, a mechanical voice gives a 15-second countdown. While this is happening, Tru-D measures reflections from the ultraviolet light to determine the size of its surroundings and calculates how much exposure will ... (view more)

Dell is reportedly preparing to release one of the smallest computers in the world. It's possible the device, which Dell calls "Project Ophelia," could prompt other PC manufacturers to build tiny, portable computers like it. Project Ophelia is a ... full-functioning computer that measures just 3.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. All in all, it's not much bigger than a USB flash drive. Device Powered by PC Monitor, TV Project Ophelia is powered by the USB port of a larger screen, such as a PC monitor or high-definition television. Dell suggests that the best way to run the device is ... (view more)

European researchers have made it possible to store coded data in the form of DNA, officially creating the most compact form of digital storage ever in existence. UK-based EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) recently announced the ... successful storage of encoded data in DNA format. The files include an MP3 of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, a .jpeg photo, and several other text files. Millions of Data Stored in a Cup of DNA The innovative encoding method makes it possible to store over 100 million hours of high-definition video in just a cup of DNA. Among its ... (view more)

A 30-year-old Michigan man who died in a shootout with police reportedly used Facebook to say goodbye to his friends and family moments before he was killed. While being pursued by police, Eric Ramsey, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, took out his mobile ... phone and updated his Facebook timeline, saying: "Well folkes (sic) im about to get shot. Peace." Suspect Launches Vicious Crime Spree Ramsey had good reason to believe he was close to the end of his life. He had started his last night by abducting a female Central Michigan University student, taking the woman back to his house and assaulting her. ... (view more)