Joann Pan

The future, according to movies and books, looks like this: homes with multi-touch interfaces, voice-activated devices, interactive buildings and driverless cars. By 2020, tech-enhanced homes and buildings will be possible. However, experts predict average consumers ...

Discovering a new food allergy or waking up with the shakes is scary. But, being able to call or text doctors at night, on weekends and remotely, changes everything. New mobile health apps are springing up to save the day -- connecting doctors on standby with patient...

When Google+ heavyweights such as Los Angeles-based actor Wil Wheaton, with more than 1.3 million followers, were overwhelmed with Google+ Events spam, they didn't keep quiet about it. Google+ power users took to their walls to say they were unhappy with the new s...

As an old proverb goes, politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax -- it softens us. Being respectful to fellow straphangers and travelers can make trips more pleasant for everyone and in the case of tech etiquette, a little can make a big difference. Mo...

Parkinson's is a neurological disease that spreads quickly and is difficult to diagnose. About 6 million people worldwide are affected by the incurable disease. A sophisticated test to diagnose Parkinson's in patients early would lead to better treatment and an event...

The Spice Girls are back. The girls reunited in London on Tuesday to announce an upcoming West End musical based on their music: Viva Forever! The last time we properly saw the British girl group phenomenon was in 2008 for their reunion tour. In respon...

Argentinean independent publishers Eterna Cadencia released an anthology of new Latin authors using special ink that disappears once it comes in contact with sun and air, completely disappearing within two months time after opening the book. "The Book That Can't ...

Owners of the iPod nano can now slap an old-school book cover on their miniature devices. Futuristic gadgets are popular, but traditional book aesthetics still rule. Even the latest Microsoft Surface tablet's keyboard case was made to look and feel like a book. P...

Summer camp is a place for belly flops, friendship bracelets, tug-of-war battles and the great outdoors. Some camp leaders believe there's no room for cellphones. Today's wired teens are asked to honor the age-old "no cellphone" policy at summer camps. The question i...

The Spark of Genius Series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. Each post highlights a unique feature of a startup. If you'd like your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. Name: PhilterIt Quick Pitch: PhilterIt is a web platform th...

Today's American teenagers are digital natives -- connected to the Internet since youth. About 75% of 13 to 17-year-olds have personal social networking accounts. Since 2008, there has been a huge spike in teenage connectivity; only 59% of teens were on social media ...

SmartLabs Technology company Insteon has figured out how to get us out of the worst predicament ever -- lying comfortably in bed, on the edge of sleep and realizing the light is still on. Insteon's first dimmable app-controlled light bulb lets home dwellers turn l...

World travelers are changing their technology-totting ways, an Intel survey says. Today, more travelers are carrying their laptops, smartphones and devices with them to the airport despite hefty security and baggage fees. About 44% of the Intel-commissioned survey...

Words With Friends and Draw Something -- two Zynga games that have dominated iOS and Android mobile gaming markets are coming to the Windows 8 Phone platform. Microsoft announced the new operating system at the Windows Phone Summit on Wednesday in San Francisco. ...

Today Microsoft kicks off its Windows Phone developer conference in San Francisco, and we're live on the scene for the keynote. It starts at 9 a.m. PT (12:00 p.m. ET), and it's rumored there are big things on tap. The world is anticipating the next major upgrade t...

What's the future of retail, and how far away is it? Turns out that in the next couple of years, customers will be able to try on clothes and products at home with no shipping required. Technology will allow shoppers to virtually wear garments -- smelling, hearing an...

If you want to go out this weekend, chances are you'll sifting through various venues' online schedules, restaurant review pages and an online map or two between now and then. But a new, beautifully designed site called Timista wants you to skip this work. All Tim...

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. Name: Tripping Quick Pitch: Tripping is a global network...

Switching quickly from Spotify to email to Facebook can be a telltale sign of depression. A recent study extensively correlates specific web habits, such as jumping between different applications, with depression. The study by Missouri University of Science and T...

Sitting is one of the worst positions for the body to maintain. After just 20 minutes hunched over in a chair, blood pools in the legs and immense pressure builds on the spine. Now, imagine the effects of sedentary workdays long term. For employees at startups and...