The “Sextech” Patent Has Finally Expired

Since 1998, a patent on “teledildonics”—the connection of sexual-stimulant devices to computers, phones, or tablets has stunted innovation in the sector. The patent strictly protected the—arguably overly broad—idea behind the “method and device for interactive virtual control of sexual aids using digital computer networks.” The owners of the patent, in the eyes of analysts and competitors, seemed to own it solely to troll smaller companies …

How Lava Lamps Are Helping in the Fight Against Hackers

One timestamped relic is now helping a web security firm fend off the most skilled hackers: lava lamps. Believe it or not, the shapeshifting novelty invented in 1963 is experiencing another renaissance. Cloudflare is filming a lava lamp—along with a pendulum in London and a Geiger counter in Singapore—and then using the shots to randomly generate pixels for a “super-powered cryptographic key.” The reason for …

Getty Images Develops AI to Help Newsrooms

As newsrooms churn out stories quicker than ever, photo editors are tasked with putting in the final touches without much hesitation. To meet the content standards of modern audiences, and the pace of the content creators, Getty Images is developing an Artificial Intelligence that will present the most applicable images by simply scanning the text–no longer are strenuous searches required. When the AI finishes its …