Millions of mobile users are coming online across the developing world. And yet, in many places, internet service remains slow and data can be expensive. The FireChat app is working to solve this problem. Users can create small, peer-to-peer networks within 200 feet of each other, and the more individuals on the network, the better it becomes.
While traditional cell networks are slowed down and interrupted by overuse, FireChat's performance increases as more people use it. The app is particularly valuable to protesters during demonstrations where a traditional cell network could be crippled by large crowds or restricted by the government. Similarly, first responders have tested it in disaster zones and have found it to produce excellent results in relaying critical messages when cell towers become overloaded. FireChat believes peer-to-peer networks could provide fast and free access to those who need it the most.
Up Next
A tiny origami-inspired robot assists surgeons in a mock surgery.
A new smart pill can be programmed to collect gut microbiome samples from anywhere along the GI tract — overcoming a major research problem.
By feeding an AI a diet of books, news articles, and religious texts, researchers were able to create a “moral machine” reflecting the ethics of a society.
On May 27, a SpaceX Crew Dragon will ferry two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Crew Program.
From the "cobots" that could steal your job to the cuter, emotional robots already living in our homes, this series provides an in-depth look at what’s to come in the not-too-distant future of robotic technology.
A future of eating meat without ethical or environmental implications is more real than ever before. While plant-based alternatives are growing in popularity, the real black horse with game-changing potential seems to be actual meat… grown in science labs. The question at this point is not whether this approach is viable or scalable, but simply: will people want to eat it?
Water is in short supply in much of the world — but what if we use seawater? It’s been a dream for years, but now technology is making it possible. This new seawater greenhouse uses a clever cardboard design to distill fresh water from salt water cheaply and efficiently. It’s helping grow crops in Somaliland, and could help stop the water crisis in Africa and other parts of the world that are susceptible to drought. The...
A new kind of radar could direct drone traffic safely around city skies.
Charlie Shrem went from multi-millionaire to having almost nothing. Shrem was a Bitcoin pioneer. And it paid off big time. Until he was sent to jail for allowing a customer to resell bitcoin on Silk Road. Now, he’s out and wants to convince the world that Bitcoin is the future of finance.