Maps of the world

Geographical Information Systems is revolutionising the present and portend a happier future. Or so we hope in the maps of our minds.

Fingering the keyboard

Indian scientists are developing computers that can understand and respond to the spoken wordIndian scientists are developing computers that can …

Ants take the shortest route to success

An Israeli mathematician offers proof of how ants, without a bird's eye view of their terrain, are still able to follow a straight route to food

Learning Sanskrit on computers

A software programme project that will be a boon to those who want to learn Sanskrit is threatened by a lack of funds.

The magic eye

Sounds almost like a sci-fi movie, but there is light in the dark for those who have lost their eyesight. A high-tech curing device is on the anvil

On your palms

Better customer service, more convenience for the salesperson and on-the-spot deals are now possible with the help of palmtop computers

Archaeology goes hi-tech

Scholars need not touch ancient finds to study and store them, as computers take over the arduous task

Flying gamble

Computers have played second fiddle to analogue techniques in safety-critical systems and though airlines are switching to fly-by-wire technology,…

Passwords passe

Even for adroit forgers, goings will become hard as a new fingerprint recognition system may replace passwords in the near future

Gateway to success

THE ROAD AHEAD Bill Gates (with Nathan Myhrvold and Peter Rinearson) . Viking(UK), Viking Penguin (USA) . Price US $26.25

Quantum answer

Computing and trying to ensure that the system is errorless is an endless process, but the solution might be near

The discovery machine

Ultra-smart software is outdoing humans, making scientific discoveries and helping drivers cope with bad driving

Website review: http://www.inequality.org

The global divide in income, health and wealth has only widened further in this era of unregulated capitalism. And there are no signs of it being …

Website review: http://www.yaw.nhm.ac.uk/nhm/index.html

This web site is the brainchild of UK scientists, who have hit upon an effective method to counter the controversy surrounding the names of the …

Memory miracle

Colour chase

A software with a glad eye for colour makes image retrieval simpler

Heavenly computers

Computers assist astronomers in classifying galaxies

WITHERED MODELS

Monumental screening

The history of Humayun's Tomb has been captured on a software programme

Language no bar

Good news for diplomats. This new machine will give them respite from interpreters

New one on the block

The much loved video cassette recorder is going down into the technological dustbin

Flashing facts

A new class of molecules could open a range of possibilities for storage of data on holograms

A light database

Don't take it seriously

A hint from cars