Computer America

Ben Crossman
  • 2.3 (3)
  • Technology
  • Updated Biweekly

Computer America is the nation's longest running talk show on Computers and Technology, spanning 25+ years of industry guests and analysis.

  1. 4d ago

    AI Cancer Screening, Stroke-Predicting Chips, and Real-Time Stroke Monitoring w/ Ralph Bond

    Show Notes – October 2, 2026: All Medical Tech Special Main Stories Story 1: New imaging combines light and sound to watch brain oxygen supply in real time Source: MedicalXpress.com (Story by Gaby Clark)Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-imaging-combines-brain-oxygen-real.htmlResearch Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75603-7Story 2: Mini 'arteries-on-a-chip' could help predict a person's risk of stroke Source: LiveScience.com (Story by Victoria Atkinson)Link: https://www.livescience.com/health/heart-circulation/mini-arteries-on-a-chip-could-help-predict-a-persons-risk-of-strokeStory 3: Vara receives CE mark for first autonomous breast cancer screening Source: MedTechDive.com (Story by Elise Reuter)Link: https://www.medtechdive.com/news/vara-receives-ce-mark-for-first-autonomous-breast-cancer-screening/829696/Story 4: Ukrainian and US developers are building AI tools for wounded troops when there is no medic nearby Source: Business Insider (Story by Kelsey Baker)Link: https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-aim-to-help-troops-treat-wounds-2026-9Honorable MentionsStory: New Brain-Inspired AI Chip Solves Motor Control Tasks Using 10,000x Fewer Calculations Source: The Science Times (Story by Glanze Patrick)Link: https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/62364/20260813/new-brain-inspired-ai-chip-solves-motor-control-tasks-using-10000x-fewer-calculations.htmStory: China's New Solar Breakthrough Makes Desalinated Water Cheaper Than Bottled Source: BGR (Story by Noelle Corbett)Link: https://www.bgr.com/2222172/china-solar-breakthrough-desalinate-water-cheaper/Story: Princeton startup raises $16M to scale brine-based lithium production Source: Interesting Engineering (Story by Maria Mocerino)Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/princeton-startup-raises-16m-to-scale-brine-based-lithium-production

  2. Sep 18

    Stratospheric Telecom, Sound-Powered Micro-Robots, and Blender-Made Graphene w/ Ralph Bond

    US stratospheric craft flies 9,300 miles to Japan in world-first sky data network Aamir Khollam Interesting Engineering via MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/us-stratospheric-craft-flies-9300-miles-to-japan-in-world-first-sky-data-network-test/ar-AA2bwVb1 Scientists build tiny robots without motors that can fly using sound waves alone Olivia Maule LiveScience.com https://www.livescience.com/technology/robotics/scientists-build-tiny-robots-without-motors-that-can-fly-using-sound-waves-alone The 'wonder material' graphene can be made using a kitchen blender, a mobile phone and a newspaper Conor Boland Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-material-graphene-kitchen-blender-mobile.html These Hearing Aids Will Tune in to Your Brain Shruthi Raghavendra IEEE Spectrum https://spectrum.ieee.org/hearing-aids-biosignals Making trains and airplanes recyclable - Empa and Elantas develop a sandwich material for aircraft and train interiors combining lightweight performance, fire protection and end-of-life component recovery Ann Ettlin Empa.ch https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/brandschutz-fuer-flugzeug-und-zug-dank-recycelbarem-faserverbundwerkstoff Researchers develop electronic skin for prosthetics to sense temperature and pressure Tina Hilding Washington State University https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2026/08/20/researchers-develop-electronic-skin-for-prosthetics-to-sense-temperature-and-pressure/ Unprecedented: Scientists Have Built Miniature Brains That Experience the Passage of Time Ivan Farkas ScienceAlert.com https://www.sciencealert.com/unprecedented-scientists-have-built-miniature-brains-that-experience-the-passage-of-time Heartbeats power a battery-free pacemaker designed to last a lifetime Gaby Clark MedicalXpress.com https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-heartbeats-power-battery-free-pacemaker.html

  3. Sep 13

    Transformers 40th Anniversary, Apple iPhone Duo, and LG TV LAN Scanning w/ Calcopia.com

    Calcopia.com. Nathan Evans, Managing Editor. Calcopia is your place for unique and interesting analyses on the best of gaming, movies, tech, books, a regularly updated Podcast, and original content you won’t find anywhere else. 100 percent independent and agenda-free, our diverse editorial staff is committed to keeping things interesting and always entertaining. A veritable cornucopia of editorial excellence, if you will. Topics: Remembering September 11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks Apple unveils iPhone Duo https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-unveils-iphone-duo LG TV shown scanning LAN for third-party phones and other devices https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/lg-tv-shown-capable-of-tracking-user-activity-even-when-offline Google brings Gemini for desktop app to Windows Google brings Gemini for desktop app to Windows Nintendo Offers Rare Discounts For American Customers—Thanks To Tariff Refunds https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/09/10/nintendo-offers-rare-discounts-for-american-customers-thanks-to-tariff-refunds-company-says Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Screenings to Feature New Optimus Prime: Awakening Short https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2026/9/1/transformers-the-movie-optimus-prime-awakening-short

  4. Sep 13

    Biological Data Center, Gold E-Waste Recovery, and Smartphone Blindness Navigation w/ Ralph Bond

    World-First Biological Data Center Uses 16 Million Living Human Neurons to Process Data Georgina Jedikovska [via Interesting Engineering] Technocracy.com https://www.technocracy.news/world-first-biological-data-center-uses-16-million-living-human-neurons-to-process-data/ Scientists built an electrically controlled molecular ‘clamp’ that recovered 89% of the gold from electronic waste, using 100 times fewer separation chemicals while turning old phones into a more practical urban mine Adrian Villellas Earth.com https://www.earth.com/science/electrically-controlled-molecular-clamp-gold-waste-recovery/ Harvard engineers develop smartphone app to aid navigation for people with blindness News-Medical.net https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260824/Harvard-engineers-develop-smartphone-app-to-aid-navigation-for-people-with-blindness.aspx First patient in live AI-assisted sight-saving brain surgery [world-first procedure] NHS University College London Hospitals https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/first-patient-live-ai-assisted-sight-saving-brain-surgery Noninvasive AI-based system translates brain signals into written text Lisa Lock TechXplore.com https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-noninvasive-ai-based-brain-written.html JetZero Develops World's First Blended Wing Jet with 5,000 Nautical Miles Range and 50% Fuel Savings Georgina Jedikovska via Interesting Engineering RobotToday.com https://robottoday.com/industry-briefing/jetzero-develops-world-s-first-blended-wing-jet-with-5-000-nm-range-and-50-fuel-savings/9174 Electrocatalytic method could purify wastewater by converting pollutants into recoverable polymers Robert Egan Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-08-electrocatalytic-method-purify-wastewater-pollutants.html New recyclable yarn is as stretchy as spandex and could help tackle fashion's plastic waste problem Olivia Maule LiveScience.com https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/new-recyclable-yarn-is-as-stretchy-as-spandex-and-could-help-tackle-fashions-plastic-waste-problem

  5. Sep 4

    Mimic Robotics AI Audi Factory, Ocean Mineral Mining, Fuel-Free Space Thrusters w/ Ralph Bond

    Show Notes 4 September 2026 Mimic Robotics introduces ‘frontier video-action models’ to the factory floor at AudiStory by David EdwardsRobotics & Automation News https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2026/07/29/mimic-robotics-introduces-frontier-video-action-models-to-the-factory-floor-at-audi/103705/ The Ocean is Teeming with Critical Minerals: Here’s How We Could Get ThemStory by JoAnna WendelPacific Northwest National Laboratory https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/ocean-teeming-critical-news-heres-how-we-could-get-them Acceleration without fuel: Revolutionary superconducting device harnesses Earth's magnetic field to move a spacecraftStory by Tereza PultarovaSpace.com https://www.space.com/technology/acceleration-without-fuel-revolutionary-superconducting-thruster-harnesses-earths-magnetic-field-in-1st-orbital-test Endless Supply of Cancer-Fighting Immune Cells Unlocked by USC ScientistsStory by Cristy LytalSciTechDaily.com https://scitechdaily.com/endless-supply-of-cancer-fighting-immune-cells-unlocked-by-usc-scientists/ This glaze-inspired ceramic coating repairs its own cracks inside superheated jet enginesStory by Munis RazaInteresting Engineering via MSN.com https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/this-glaze-inspired-ceramic-coating-repairs-its-own-cracks-inside-superheated-jet-engines/ar-AA2a1Kmt?ocid=BingNewsSerp Goodbye, cavities? New gel could regrow tooth enamelStory from University of NottinghamScienceDaily.com https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260717033046.htm Strange 'magnetoelastic' tent generates electricity from wind, body movement and sound to power small devicesStory by Alan BradleyLiveScience.com https://www.livescience.com/technology/new-magnetoelastic-tent-generates-electricity-from-wind-body-movement-and-sound-to-power-small-devices 3 teens win global prize for tamarind-seed powder that pulls microplastics from waterStory by Morgan TaylorThe Cool Down on MSN.com https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/3-teens-win-global-prize-for-tamarind-seed-powder-that-pulls-microplastics-from-water/ar-AA29DIh1

  6. Aug 21

    Wind-Power Cargo Ship, Superhot Geothermal, AI Lab, and mRNA Cancer Vaccine w/ Ralph Bond

    Oceanbird Wing Sail InstallationSource: Interesting Engineeringhttps://interestingengineering.com/videos/giant-150-foot-wing-just-set-sail-on-a-754-foot-cargo-ship-and-it-runs-on-windhttps://www.theoceanbird.com/press-releases/oceanbird-completes-installationQuaise Energy Superhot Geothermal PlantSource: ESG Today / Fast Companyhttps://www.esgtoday.com/quaise-energy-raises-134-million-to-build-first-ever-superhot-geothermal-power-plant/https://www.fastcompany.com/91572753/this-houston-geothermal-startup-is-betting-it-can-beat-fossil-fuels-on-costhttps://quaiseprojectobsidian.com/AI-Driven Optical TweezersSource: Phys.org / Naturehttps://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-driven-optical-tweezers-hundreds.htmlhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-026-03129-3Moderna and Merck Melanoma Vaccine TrialSource: Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/merck-moderna-say-melanoma-skin-cancer-vaccine-meets-goals-large-trial-2026-08-19/Solar-Powered Plastic RecyclingSource: University of Cambridge / Naturehttps://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-demonstrate-solar-powered-plastic-recycling-at-real-world-scalehttps://www.nature.com/articles/s44286-026-00406-yCopper Drug for Alzheimer's TreatmentSource: Monash University / ACS Chemical Neurosciencehttps://www.monash.edu/news/articles/copper-drug-restores-memory-and-clears-toxic-alzheimers-proteins

    Wind-Power Cargo Ship, Superhot Geothermal, AI Lab, and mRNA Cancer Vaccine w/ Ralph Bond

  7. Aug 7

    Daily Top Tech Picks w/ Calcopia!

    Calcopia is your place for unique and interesting analyses on the best of gaming, movies, tech, books, a regularly updated Podcast, and original content you won’t find anywhere else. 100 percent independent and agenda-free, our diverse editorial staff is committed to keeping things interesting and always entertaining. A veritable cornucopia of editorial excellence, if you will.  https://calcopia.com/the-state-of-gaming-july-2026-valves-steam-machine-disc-free-playstation-xbox-backwards-compatibility/ https://calcopia.com/gaming-historian-kurt-kalata-talks-pc-engine-box-art/ https://www.samsung.com/us/brand-new-day/ https://www.engadget.com/2230202/bmw-is-forcing-a-weird-spider-man-ad-onto-its-dashboard-displays/ https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/06/celebrate-30-years-of-quake-with-a-brand-new-episode-available-today/ https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/grand-theft-auto-6-extended-first-look https://www.engadget.com/2232108/openai-s-ring-shaped-smart-speaker-will-reportedly-cost-between-300-and-400/

  8. Aug 7

    Bidirectional Pixels, AI-Guided Movement, and Water-Harvesting Jackets w/ Ralph Bond

    Show Notes Researchers invent 'new type of pixel' that could create displays that double as cameras — and the internet's first thought is 'what could go wrong?'Source: TechRadar.comStory by David Nield https://www.techradar.com/computing/computing-components/researchers-invent-new-type-of-pixel-that-could-create-displays-that-double-as-cameras-and-the-internets-first-thought-is-what-could-go-wrong ·What if AI could move your hand? Students build a wearable device using AI and electric pulsesSource: Newswav.com https://newswav.com/article/what-if-ai-could-move-your-hand-students-build-a-wearable-device-using-ai-a-A2605_J9DkHA ·This Jacket Pulls Drinking Water from Thin Air - The advance in fabric technology comes alongside a new benchmark for atmospheric water harvestingSource: University of Texas at Austin website https://news.utexas.edu/2026/06/11/this-jacket-pulls-drinking-water-from-thin-air/ ·Lab-Grown Retinal Cells Show Promise for New Eye Therapies - Critical cells that line retinal blood vessels grown from stem cells restore retinal function in mouse models and form retinal tissue in a lab for future disease studiesSource: Duke University Pratt School of EngineeringStory by Ken Kingery https://pratt.duke.edu/news/lab-grown-retinal-cells/ ·Cambridge experts find utterly simple fix for longer lasting EV batteries. Just put some pressure on it - Scientists found a way to make EV batteries last longer without reinventing the batterySource: Digitaltrends.comStory by Vikhyaat Vivek https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/cambrige-experts-find-utterly-simple-fix-for-longer-lasting-ev-batteries-just-put-some-pressure-on-it/ ·How Biology Inspired a Former Surgeon to Rethink RoboticsSource: Forbes MagazineStory by Dr. Jonathan Reichental https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanreichental/2026/06/22/how-biology-inspired-a-former-surgeon-to-rethink-robotics/ ·MIT’s 6 mW chip lets tiny drones see and map their surroundings in real time - New MIT chip enables tiny drones and robots to create detailed 3D maps while using minimal powerSource: Interesting EngineeringStory by Neetika Walter https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/mit-gleanmer-chip-real-time-3d-mapping ·Magnetic muscle implants help amputees feel coordinated prosthetic hand movementsSource: PsyPost on MSN.com https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/robotics/magnetic-muscle-implants-help-amputees-feel-coordinated-prosthetic-hand-movements/ar-AA26KxAn

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Ratings & Reviews

2.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Computer America is the nation's longest running talk show on Computers and Technology, spanning 25+ years of industry guests and analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Crossman
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    677
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Computer America
  • Show Website
    Computer America

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