In his show-opening address at the recent 2016 CES (formerly the Consumer Electronics show) in Las Vegas, Ford CEO Mark Fields said that his company is keeping "one foot in the present, one foot in the future’s.” He might have been speaking for the auto industry in general, since straddling those extremes seems to have become today's situation normal. Some might say it has always been so in the auto business. What's different now, however, is that the focus isn't just the traditional three-to-five year span that typically defines the product cycle — it's …

The Apple Watch may soon be able to automatically adjust the volume of iPhone alerts based on the sounds the Watch picks up on its microphone, according to a patent application the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published Thursday. The patent application, first flagged by AppleInsider, explains that through the Watch's microphone, the wearable device can determine the level of sound in the wearer's environment and adjust the volume of iPhone alerts accordingly. For example, if a person were in a particularly loud train station, the Watch would communicate with the iPhone that the alert needs to be louder in order for the wearer …

The modern car is now 130 years old, a remarkable invention indeed. Ever since it first hit the roads back in 1900s, it has been evolving thanks to the fast-paced growth of technology. Car makers have been constantly working on making cars faster, safer, smarter and more fuel efficient. Today, while all the four aspects remain the key focus in auto technology, the newest addition is all about connecting cars and those who use them to the outside world in a smooth and safe manner.  A connected car is really one that has Internet access and local connectivity for additional …

To surf one of the many unauthorized watch “dealer” sites, better known as the “gray market,” is to find a horological bounty at bargain prices. Are you in the market for a Breguet “Classique Hora Mundi Automatic”? Jomashop.com is offering one for $54,995, 30% off the listed retail price of $78,900. Interested in a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in platinum? Prestigetime.com is selling one for 15% off at $70,125. At the same time, smart watches, once regarded by Switzerland as little more than a sideshow, have become a serious factor – particularly for those looking to spend under $1,500. According to the …

The future of autonomous, self-driving vehicles may lie in the technology of vehicle-to-vehicle communications, according to one expert. National Highway Traffic Safety Association administrator Mark Rosekind spoke at MIT on the realities of self-reliant vehicles, and said the ability for vehicles to communicate with one another in an instantaneous fashion is crucial to ensuring the safety of passengers.

The organisation representing the world's mobile operators, the GSMA, published its first Internet of Things security guidelines. Developed in association with and supported by the entire industry, the guidelines have been created to ensure best practice when it comes to cyberthreats, data protection and other potential security issues surrounding the emerging consumer technology. "As billions of devices become connected in the Internet of Things, offering innovative and interconnected new services, the possibility of potential vulnerabilities increases," said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. 

Miami International Airport (MIA) has introduced its mobile app, which has been developed by IT provider SITA and is intended for passengers and all airport users. Claimed to be the first airport app in the US to use the latest technologies, including Bluetooth beacons, it provides information to people, when and where they need it. The app, called 'Your Personal Travel Assistant', offers an easy-to-use interface and provides travellers personalised updates, directions and tips based on their requirements and location. "What this means is that anyone who uses Miami International Airport will find this app incredibly useful." 

Research by Accenture reveals that about 70 percent of the consumers surveyed pin point security issues as the reason behind their hesitance to use Internet of Things devices. Subsequently, the market expansion for traditional devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, TVs, and PCs have gone flat. The survey conducted across 28 countries including polls from 28,000 consumers indicated  that for nearly half (47percent) of respondents, security concerns and privacy risks ranked among the top three barriers to buying an IoT device and service. According to the report, “Security and privacy concerns have moved from being a nagging problem to a top barrier …

The BBC is pressing ahead with plans to utilise new facial codingtechnology – revealing viewers’ subconscious “emotional attachment” to programmes – after running successful trials. Developed by a British start-up, CrowdEmotion, the technology uses cameras to record individuals’ expressions and actions. Facial movements are recorded on a second-by-second basis and the results are divided into six possible emotions: sadness, puzzlement, happiness, fear, rejection and surprise.

A team of researchers at the University of South Australia have now created the prototype for a piece of wearable technology in the form of a contact lens that sounds more like science fiction than actual reality. The contact lenses have been created to be a wearable technology that is electrically conductive and that could potentially host tiny displays. The tech would make it possible for a wearer to receive health feedback, such as blood sugar levels, and would be able to take advantage of certain augmented reality displays that would be shown as an overlay on top of the actual visible …