Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s hardware that stands between your computer and every virus and cyber attack out there in the world, protecting your data from the evil that otherwise lurks.

The Story: At a time of increasing national concern over cyber attacks on government agencies and corporations, a small privately-funded Virginia engineering research firm has created a breakthrough technology for blocking cyber attacks that experts say is foolproof.
The firm, InZero Systems of Herndon, has been successfully demonstrating its new computer-protection technology to the Pentagon and other federal agencies, as well as …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s an artificial leg with a microprocessor built into the knee, giving users – for the first time – comfort when walking, rather than just functionality.

The Story: Several wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are testing out something that will not only help them, but others who will follow in their footsteps.

And everyone seems to like the strides they’re making.
The X2 microprocessor knee, the result of a medical research project, is being used by some amputees at Walter Reed’s Military Advanced Training Center.

With …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s an artificial robotic hand with built-in sensors that can actually enable the user to “feel” objects and sensations.

The Story: Motorized prosthetic hands are not brand new, though they’re still breakthrough. However, the next step in this evolution is focused on creating a hand that gives the user unprecedented sensory feedback, according to researchers of the SmartHand Project, a collaboration between researchers from across Europe.
Fredrik Sebelius, of Lund University, in Sweden, says the SmartHand actually addresses this notion of the “phantom hand.” Sebelius says: ”If you push the skin on …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a mobile handheld device for people with reading-based disabilities, such as Dyslexia or Low-Vision, or for those who are blind.

The Story: Intel Corporation announced the unveiling of the Intel® Reader, a mobile handheld device designed to increase independence for people who have trouble reading standard print. The Intel Reader can assist the estimated 55 million people in the U.S. who have dyslexia or other specific learning disabilities, or have vision problems such as low-vision or blindness, which makes reading printed words difficult or impossible.

The Intel Reader, …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a software program that instantly studies malicious code and automatically fixes and patches a hacker’s attack – all without the need for any human intervention whatsoever.

The Story: A team of computer science researchers at MIT, headed by Martin Rinard, have developed new software that automatically patches errors in deployed software in a matter of minutes.

The software is called ClearView and is designed to apply patches whenever it detects that something has gone wrong with the program. ClearView operates by monitoring a program’s normal behavior and establishing a …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a fingernail-sized computer chip that can hold 1 terabyte, 1 trillion bytes of data, or 50 times the capacity of today’s best silicon-based chip technologies.

The Story: Engineers from North Carolina State University have unveiled what they call a nanostructured Ni-MgO system that can store more data than any one chip ever has by far. Plus, with its miniscule size, the implications are impressive. As it is, the chip can hold up to 20 high-definition DVDs or 250 million pages of text, “far exceeding the storage capacities of …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s the first-ever downloadable software solution for lost or stolen cell phones and laptops.

The Story: Nairobe, Kenya is a beautiful, thriving place to live and work. And because it is not only the largest city in all of East Africa, it is also home to an influx of valuable technology. Technology, however, that is more and more coveted by thieves. That’s why East African Data Handlers Limited introduced Ujanja, a cost-effective Lost Mobile Tracking system that enables missing cell phones and/or laptops to be quickly recovered, regardless of …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a new computer system that enables vehicles to recognize their drivers’ normal behavior and alerts drivers when unusual behavior occurs so as to avoid accidents.

The Story: Scientists from six European countries have collaborated to develop the DRIVSCO system, which constantly monitors driver behavior and learns what is “normal” beyond what is universally understood to be safe driving. Then, the system instantly responds to anomalies, for example, those often caused by inattention or poor visibility, and signals an alarm giving drivers sufficient time to react and correct …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s affordable, high-definition videoconferencing software that offers live, real-time collaboration for instant face-to-face meetings with no subscription fees.

The Story: HP SkyRoom is based on breakthrough video and image communication technology developed in HP Labs, the company’s central research arm. Elements of this technology were used by NASA’s Mars rovers to transfer high-resolution images back to Earth. HP SkyRoom is the only videoconferencing tool to offer real-time collaboration for up to four people over a standard business network for $149 – less than the cost of round-trip airfare from San …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a wired or wireless Internet-connected set-top box that allows users to play all their digital media – music, videos, content, etc. – right on the biggest and best screens in the house: your TV(s).

The Story: NETGEAR has just unveiled an Internet-connected set-top box, the Digital Entertainer Live (EVA2000), is an easy-to-use and affordable Internet set-top box that enables viewers to play their digital media collections, YouTube videos and a wide range of other Internet content on big-screen TVs. Rather than having to watch downloaded movies and …