Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a handheld laser target locator that enables soldiers to identify target locations while on foot, in daylight or at night, and in obscured-visibility conditions such as fog and smoke.

The Story: “These modules will enable soldiers to determine target coordinates quickly, safely, and accurately,” said Dan Murray, Laser Target Locator Modules (LTLM) program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire. “The system provides a much-needed capability in a single, lightweight package. Removing weight from soldiers’ packs makes their jobs easier and enables them to complete missions faster …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a referendum on the long-held belief about all species, including humans, that we are, by nature selfish, when in fact researchers have found that in order to preserve mankind and enable ourselves to thrive, we need to help one another.

The Story: In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.
In contrast to “every man for himself” interpretations of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a way to take a two-dimensional crime scene photo and reconstruct it into three-dimensions, therefore making it a more effective tool for investigators.

The Story: Two researchers from the University of Salamanca in Spain have developed a procedure to enable forensic police to extract metric data from crime scenes using just a single photograph. Their proposal, published this month in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, makes it possible to reconstruct a crime scene in 3D.

“We have studied an unprecedented and original line of research in the field of …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a free online tool that enables a user to sketch out a fender-bender so that you’ve got something tangible to show an insurance company and/or claims adjuster.

The Story: Accidents happen. And insurance companies get involved. Invariably, they need to retrace the incident, but with AccidentSketch.com, the process is one step easier, because you are the one quickly and easily sketching out exactly what happened by simply logging onto the site and using the site’s tools to recreate what happened. The program is free, it’s easy and …

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 night vision monocular that works just as well in daylight (with no risk to its digital components) as it does at night. In particular, it revolutionizes the green on green vision of the past and enables the viewer to see things in the vastly better contrast of black and white.

The Story: Unlike traditional night vision, the Sightmark Wraith DVS-14T Digital night vision monocular can be used for both daytime and nighttime operation without any damage to the internal components of the device. The Wraith allows crisp, …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It gives anyone the ability to easily get to all of their important documents and records 24/7 through the web – which means it can be accessed from anywhere in the world. There are built in storage and sharing tools to help you manage your life digitally. From medical records to birth certificates to insurance documents to family photos, no one needs to worry that during an emergency or natural disaster, they cannot get critical information, or that something will be destroyed and lost forever.
The Story: Delphi Digital’s …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s what IBM calls ”Security-on-a-Stick” and it protects online banking consumers from even the most sophisticated hacker attacks, regardless of any viruses or other attacks on computers.
The Story: Resembling a memory stick with an integrated display, a prototype USB device developed at IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) Zurich Research Lab brings a new level of security to online banking for consumers. Pilot devices are ready and available to banks for trials.
The Zone Trusted Information Channel (ZTIC) plugs into the USB port of any computer and creates a direct, secure channel …

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a safe, controlled way to help sufferers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder re-enact their traumas with a specially-trained psychologist who can incrementally help the patient overcome this debilitating disorder, as seen in the video link below. CAUTION: though this is an animated movie, it is still graphic and might be disturbing for some viewers. Keep in mind this is a successful teaching tool.
The Story: Scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) Institute for Creative Technologies are converting content from a game designed to teach soldiers about …

Why it’s Breakthrough: This future technology is a security device that reads the veins inside the finger, since conventional biometric readers only scan the surface of the skin.
The Story: Sony Corporation has developed a finger vein authentication technology called “mofiria.” The user-friendly technology offers quick response and high accuracy and comes in a compact size for mounting on mobile devices such as a personal computer or mobile phone.
With the increase of networked products and services, a user-friendly interface for personal authentication and higher security of personal information is in great …