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Digital Planet: Breaking the Code

Factual: Science & Nature

Assembling the network

12/11/2013

Breaking the Code

BBC World Service - Digital Planet, Breaking the Code

Is your information safe? Professor Matthew Green explains the weaknesses in encryption

How easy is it to break the code of encrypted information? Plus, understanding neuroscience by remote control of cockroaches, and touch screen technology that does not need touch.

How safe is your encrypted information?  Researchers have decided to test reliability – starting with the open source software TrueCrypt. They have raised $50,000 to conduct an audit of the TrueCrypt software to make sure it has no NSA back doors. After TrueCrypt they will move onto others. Professor Matthew Green from Johns Hopkins University discusses the need for such a test.

Robo Cockroaches
The company, Backyard Brains, have put together a controversial tool kit to help students better understand neuroscience. The company provides kits that will allow school children to implant sensors into cockroaches after drilling a tiny hole in their backs. The sensors can then allow the cockroaches’ movement to be remote controlled. Click talks to Greg Gage about the practicalities and ethics of devising a system to remote control insects.

Ultra Haptics
Researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK have devised a system to make touch screens more sensitive, using ultrasound waves to produce haptic feedback. With this technology you do not even need to touch the screen. Project supervisor Sriram Subramanian, explains how digital devices can be controlled by letting your hands hover over the virtual knobs.  

(Photo credit: Racks of assembled network points © AFP/Getty Images)

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