ScienceDaily: Computers & Math News

Optimizing optimization algorithms: Getting best results when approximating solutions to complex engineering problems Posted: 21 Jan 2015 12:55 PM PST Optimization algorithms, which try to find the minimum values of mathematical functions, are everywhere in engineering. Among other things, they're used to evaluate design tradeoffs, to assess control systems, and to find patterns in data. Scientists have come up with a way to generate a sequence of simplified functions that guarantees the best approximation that the method can offer.

Graphene brings quantum effects to electronic circuits Posted: 21 Jan 2015 10:07 AM PST Scientists have revealed a superfluid phase in ultra-low temperature 2D materials, creating the potential for electronic devices which dissipate very little energy.

Humorous complaining: Funny online reviews get lots of attention but do they get results? Posted: 21 Jan 2015 09:14 AM PST Unless you're just looking to entertain your fellow online shoppers, you may want to think twice about writing that funny Amazon or Yelp review. According to a new study, humorous complaints get a lot more attention from other consumers but may not be taken seriously by businesses.

Twitter can predict rates of coronary heart disease, according to research Posted: 21 Jan 2015 08:49 AM PST Twitter has broken news stories, launched and ended careers, started social movements and toppled governments, all by being an easy, direct and immediate way for people to share what's on their minds. Researchers have now shown that the social media platform has another use: Twitter can serve as a dashboard indicator of a community's psychological well being and can predict rates of heart disease.

Teen girls report less sexual victimization after virtual reality assertiveness training Posted: 21 Jan 2015 08:49 AM PST Teen girls were less likely to report being sexually victimized after learning to assertively resist unwanted sexual overtures and practicing resistance in a realistic virtual environment, a new study finds. 'My Voice, My Choice' teaches girls to stand up for themselves, and that coercive behavior is never okay. The findings suggest that learning resistance skills with virtual simulations can reduce risk of sexual victimization, said the lead researcher.

Smart keyboard cleans and powers itself, and can tell who you are Posted: 21 Jan 2015 07:32 AM PST In a novel twist in cybersecurity, scientists have developed a self-cleaning, self-powered smart keyboard that can identify computer users by the way they type. The device could help prevent unauthorized users from gaining direct access to computers.

Electroluminescent light sheets: Printable luminous particles enable cost-effective, large and curved luminous surfaces Posted: 21 Jan 2015 05:45 AM PST Researchers have now developed a new method that enables electroluminescence on large, curved surfaces in a cost-effective way: in this case, the light-emitting layer and all other components are produced by means of wet-chemical, printable methods.

New conductive coatings for flexible touchscreens Posted: 21 Jan 2015 05:36 AM PST Mobile phones and smart phones still haven‘t been adapted to the carrying habits of their users. That much is clear to anyone who has tried sitting down with a mobile phone in their back pocket: the displays of the innumerable phones and pods are rigid and do not yield to the anatomical forms adopted by the people carrying them. By now it is no longer any secret that the big players in the industry are working on flexible displays.