If the Industrial Revolution was about extending the power of human muscle with inventions like the Steam Engine, th

1. If the Industrial Revolution was about extending the power of human muscle with inventions like the Steam Engine, then … the computer revolution is about extending the power of the human mind. … and algorithms are the key. Algorithms: The Ever-Growing, All-Knowing Way Of The Future by Laura Sydell. NPR: All Things Considered. May 14, 2012.

2. Teaching High School • Computer SciencE • As if the Rest of the World Existed: • Applied CS • across the Secondary • STEM, Humanities and • Arts Curriculum

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOxOgm5jQ4

10. LOW OVERALL ENROLLMENTS Jan Cuny, who administers CE21 funding at NSF, has repeatedly said that high school is the crucial piece in boosting enrollment numbers: "Without the HS piece, anything we do for middle school will be lost " and "anything we do at the college level will be insufficient." Result of a survey polling 836 calculus and pre-calc high school students "showed that High School students are severely lacking in experience with computing, particularly in formal classroom experience. The vast majority of students had no concept of what a Computer Science major entails. The top reasons for not choosing a CS major for both male and female [students] were the lack of desire to sit in front of a computer all day, and the fact that they had already chosen another major. The number one reason to choose a CS major for men was their interest in computer games, and for women was their desire to use it in another field." Carter, L., Why Students with an Apparent Aptitude for Computer Science Don’t Choose to Major in Computer Science. SIGCSE ’06, March 1–5, 2006, Houston, Texas.

11. COOL NEW APPROACHES America’s youth perceive Computer Science to be difficult, tedious, boring, irrelevant and asocial. Unfortunately, many traditional introductory Computer Science classes and textbooks do little to improve that image. In contrast, CONTEXTUALIZED APPROACHES to teaching introductory Computer Science are very attractive. Instead of writing a leap year program, students can learn about conditional statements by programming a robot to follow a light, or by creating an animation to tell a story, or even by modifying a picture of the college president so that she is wearing a neon orange jacket instead of a navy blue one. The arguments in favor of contextualized approaches to attract non-Computer-Science-majors to our classes are very persuasive. But what about students who then choose to major or minor in Computer Science? Of course we want to offer them interesting and engaging first courses in Computer Science, and indeed this may help with our efforts to attract more students to our programs. But what happens in subsequent semesters? Kay, Jennifer (Rowan Univ, NJ), Contextualized Approaches to Introductory Computer Science: The Key to Making Computer Science Relevant or Simply Bait and Switch? SIGCSE’11, March 9–12, 2011, Dallas, Texas, USA .

12. Low Overall Enrollments “Cool” contextualized approaches (media, Alice, Scratch) may be having limited success or showing promise at the post-secondary level, but they don’t seem to be doing much for high school enrollment numbers. These are good tools, but they may need to be used differently. A reasonable tactic might be to somehow “hitch our wagon” to the academic subjects that students already flock to, and whose value they already UNDERSTAND. Number of US Students taking AP Exams (by Subject) 12x fewer students took the CS exam than took Calculus AB. It’s safe to say that courses with the least student participation lack BROAD APPEAL as academic subjects, i.e. they have an image / P.R. problem.

13. COOL NEW APPROACHES Attempting to address the problems of low enrollments and low participation rates by females and URMs, CS educators and policy makers determined that CS education needs to begin in earnest as early as middle school. Using such innovative programming environments as Robotics, Alice, Processing and Scratch, and a range of curricula from simple to sophisticated, educators have sought to introduce students at all K-12 levels to "computational thinking". One major deficiency, though, is a COHERENT CONTEXT for this material. Though this was a problem before the introduction of these tools, students after such courses are still left with little to no idea how they can use the concepts they’ve learned in REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS andCONTEXTS. No matter how engaged students may be, if the contexts for the problems they work on are short, game-related or make-believe, the message teachers send is that CS has no real world applications of any consequence or value beyond entertainment, self-expression or theory. Such curricula tend to trivialize CS in pursuit of a perceived trade-off for a rise in engagement at the expense of real world connections (and rigor).

14. COOL NEW APPROACHES Such curricula typically focus exclusively on concepts that have traditionally been part and parcel of lower level college CS courses for the last two or three decades – for all intents and purposes unchanged Additionally, they do nothing to counter the popular misconception pigeonholing CS as a field whose principal applications are limited to Gaming, Social Media, the Internet and Mobile Devices. During those same decades, however, the applications of CS have expanded to encompass a hugely diverse range of academic, scientific, commercial and social fields. K-12 CS educators have failed to incorporate or even reference these CONNECTIONS in their curricula in any serious or comprehensive way. An apt comparison might be teaching the fingerings of a musical instrument using only practice exercises, with no attempt to play real music compositions, even simplified ones. By not staying current vis-à-vis the reach of CS across academic fields, educators have acquiesced in a curriculum that is by default TRUNCATED.

15. INTERDISCIPLINARY A review of recent literature regarding interdisciplinary approaches to teaching CS found the following programs at the college level: Bioinformatics / Computational Biology: 157 undergraduate programs [majors/minors] in North America Mathematical Biology: Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems (Truman State Univ) Design of Intelligent Spacecraft (UNCC) Music (Univ of Massachusetts, Lowell / Computing and Music Committee of SIGCSE 2010) Computational Linguistics(NACLO, Univ of Michigan, CMU) Mathematics : math games, graph theory, heuristics (Kingsborough Community College of the City Univ of New York) Computational Journalism (College of New Jersey)

16. UNCC offered "a highly interdisciplinary course to students during the Spring 2007 semester: DESIGN OF INTELLIGENT SPACECRAFT. The course integrates concepts from mathematics, physics, engineering and computer science for the purpose of educating 4th year undergraduate and introductory masters-level students on the design of intelligent spacecraft. Course content is divided into two pedagogically separate parts": The historical development of physical models, including mathematical models for celestial mechanics and thermodynamics. Application of these models for creating intelligent spacecraft, i.e., applications of these models to pattern recognition, computer vision, and image processing. Willis, A; Conrad, J.M. Design Of Intelligent Spacecraft: An Interdisciplinary Engineering Education Course. Proceedings of the 2008 ASEE Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2008.

17. DESIGN OF INTELLIGENT SPACECRAFT (cont) Part 1. Specific classical topics include celestial mechanics and thermodynamics which are introduced using excerpts from original works of the scientists that defined and revolutionized our understandings of these fields. Some scientists considered are Aristotle, Tycho, Kepler, Newton, Euler, Bernoulli, Fourier and other scientists relevant to course topics. Historical content is complemented with discussion on contemporary space missions relevant to the discussion topic. For example, historical discussions on the discoveries of Cassini or Galileo includes discussions on the recent Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. Further, these discussions include mission spacecraft type, its relevant design considerations and mission objectives. Discussion of mission objectives serve to highlight current boundaries of scientific knowledge and how specific space missions seek to understand topics at these boundaries.

18. DESIGN OF INTELLIGENT SPACECRAFT (cont) Part 2. Students implemented programs relevant to spacecraft design. Programs included physical simulations of celestial mechanics, thermodynamics, and signal processing programs for image manipulation and signal compression. Project topics reinforce topics covered in Part 1 of the course. Results for physical simulations are compared against theoretically perfect results for thermodynamic simulations and established gold-standards from NASA’s HORIZONS system in the case of celestial mechanics. Applications of these mathematical models in electrical engineering lead to signal processing projects which motivate subsequent course topics on communication, image processing and image compression. This paper includes successes, failures and lessons learned in teaching a course with such diverse content and analyzes how well the mixture of history / engineering was received by the students.

19. NACLO (North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad) includes problems in both TRADITIONAL LINGUISTICS and COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS. "The traditional problems are in the style of the International Linguistics Olympiad (ILO) and include deciphering texts in lesser-known languages (such as Aymara from Bolivia, Hmong from Cambodia, and Huishu from India), as well as number, kinship, and calendar systems. We have collaborated closely with colleagues in linguistics departments to collect original problems in this genre.""The computational linguistics problems are the most innovative component of the contest ... So far, we have included problems in Parsing, Optical Character Recognition, Text Summarization, Information Answering, Spelling Correction, Lexical Acquisition, Speech ProcessingandFinite State Automata." Radev, D.; Levin, L. Engaging High School Students in Interdisciplinary Studies: Expanding the Pipeline. Computing Research News, Vol. 21/No. 4, September 2009.

20. COMPUTATIONAL JOURNALISM COMPUTATIONAL JOURNALISM is emerging as a discipline in its own right, gaining traction in higher education. For example, Georgia Tech offers a course on computational journalism and Columbia University recently announced a new dual Master of Science program in Computer Science and Journalism. At Duke University, researchers and professors at the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy are examining computational journalism, and journalists and computer scientists are working together to create software tools intended to help reporters move more quickly to produce in-depth, authoritative stories. The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University is offering scholarships to lure programmers and web developers to their journalism master’s degree program. Pulimood, S.M.; Shaw, D.; Lounsberry, E. Gumshoe: A Model for Undergraduate Computational Journalism Education. SIGCSE’11, March 9–12, 2011, Dallas, Texas, USA.

21. COMPUTATIONAL JOURNALISM Initially, an Excel spreadsheet was created that listed demographic data for each person arrested for violating 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 6106, carrying a firearm without a license, in a sample period of January-February 2006. … 613 defendants were tracked… Using Pennsylvania’s online court dockets, the journalism students painstakingly created and populated several more columns of data, for example felony charges like murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, rape, etc. while in possession of a firearm that, under Pennsylvania law, theoretically should result in a convicted gun offender receiving a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years. The goal of the project was defined as developing a CAR (Computer-Assisted Reporting) system to store, manage, track, and query data on gun crime in the Philadelphia region. The project wanted to answer the questions: What happens to defendants arrested for gun-related crimes? How many people serve prison time for committing violent felonies with guns? Are cases regularly being dismissed or bargained down?

22. COMPUTATIONAL JOURNALISM However, as the data grew, effective data management and analysis became more challenging… It was clear that a well-designed database system would go a long way in helping to analyze the data and find meaningful patterns and information. Moreover, it would eliminate data redundancy, improve data integrity, improve data accessibility, and enforce data consistency. The students in the project spent time analyzing a number of data querying and organization methodologies to determine which would be most effective for the CAR system. Based on 859 dockets in a two month sample, the data and results of the analysis were presented to The Inquirer, which in December 2009 published a four-part series that documented the widespread failure of violent-crime prosecutions in the Philadelphia court system. Taking a broad look at the crimes of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, the newspaper revealed a dysfunctional system in which defendants had a better than 50-50 chance of walking free, with dismissal or withdrawal of all charges. The series showed that Philadelphia had the nation’s lowest felony conviction rate even as law-enforcement authorities struggled with crime rates above the national average.

23. MUSIC: "Now more than ever, we musicians find ourselves in an age where technologically almost anything is possible. It is therefore crucial that we understand what makes computers function and acquire a strong working knowledge of programs and the coding behind them. Interdisciplinary collaboration helps cultivate new and exciting innovations that can bring about the revitalization of CS education for which Performamatics was conceived. Using music as a hook, we can create innovative live performances and interesting visuals in conjunction with “musical live coding” to tap the imagination of people who might never have considered CS as a possible major. People (like myself) tend to be intimidated by the mystifying technical jargon. However, with more exposure to interesting multi-disciplinary projects, students can start thinking computationally and actively using that new way of thinking in a hands-on way without even realizing they are doing so." Ruthmann, A.; Heines, J.M.; Greher, G.R.; Laidler, P.; Saulters, C. Teaching Computational Thinking through Musical Live Coding in Scratch. SIGCSE’10, March 10-3, 2010, Milwaukee, WI

24. PEDAGOGY In CS Education, new student software tools appear at a relatively fast clip, e.g. Processing, Alice, Scratch, BYOB/Snap, but little collective thought is focused on how best to use these tools. In high school educational settings, these tools are primarily used to engage students using story-telling or games, and lesson content is often shallow. Moreover, curricula fail to explore and fully exploit in new ways the possibilities that these tools offer. The strength of Alice and BYOB, and Processing is their ability to visually model problems and clarify the algorithms used for their solution. For example, using Alice, students can build a simplified replica of the solar system (and contemplate calculating the trajectory of a space mission to Mars); they can use Processing to construct biologically important molecules to elucidate disease or drug mechanisms. That is, they can use these IDEs to build on ACADEMIC knowledge they already have. Curricula centered around tasks such as skaters performing pirouettes around holes in the ice tend to trivialize CS in pursuit of a perceived trade-off for engagement at the expense of real-world connections and rigor (though this instructor found students quickly losing patience with make-believe scenarios).

25. PEDAGOGY An alternative to a CS-concepts-first curriculum is one whose units revolve around a CENTRAL PROBLEM which students solve over a period of several weeks using whatever CS tools are needed. In mathematics, IMP1 (Interactive Mathematics Program), created with the support of NSF in the 1990s, is such a curriculum. IMP is a 4-year program of problem-based mathematics that replaces the traditional Algebra I-Geometry-Algebra II/Trigonometry-Precalculussequence. "IMP units are generally structured around a complex central problem. Although each unit has a specific mathematical focus, other topics are brought in as needed to solve the central problem, rather than narrowly restricting the mathematical content. Ideas that are developed in one unit are usually revisited and deepened in one or more later units." For example, although the real-world application is a stretch, the complex problem posited by IMP’s High Dive (Year 3) unit has students calculate at what point a circus performer on a turning Ferris wheel should dive so as to land in a tub of water on a moving cart. 1http://www.mathimp.org/general_info/intro.html http://www.mathimp.org/curriculum/AppendixA.html (Unit Summary)

26. IMP: Interactive Mathematics Program • The HIGH DIVE problem. Students extend right-triangle trigonometric functions to the circular functions, learn about the graphs of the sine and cosine functions, studypolar coordinates, inverse trigonometric functions, and the Pythagorean identity, and study the physics of falling objects.

27. Guidelines for Interdisciplinary Problem-Based CS Units 1. Software Engineering Approach. Computer Science’s natural relationship to other disciplines is Software Engineering, a field which uses programming and CS concepts, along with expert knowledge of specific target topics, to model and solve societal problems and needs. The vast majority of topic areas lie outside the field of CS proper. 2. A Multi-Week Central Problem. Each unit lasts several weeks and revolves around solving a central problem in the target topic area. A software solution evolves in a scaffolded way, utilizing whatever CS concepts and control structures may be required. Various strategies are attempted at each step in a problem’s solution, and students examine the advantages and disadvantages. 3. Modeled After Real Applications. One way instructors can foster connections is by having students create small scale versions of engaging and complex real world applications. With little imagination, students should be able to envision logical extensions of their projects to the already existing and more complex programs from which student exercises were inspired.

28. Guidelines for Interdisciplinary Problem-Based CS Curricula 4. Interdisciplinary Knowledge Provides Context. To solve a unit’s central problem, students will need to become familiar with relevant concepts in geometry, trigonometry, biology, physics and so forth. This reflects typical considerations that software engineers encounter in their day-to-day work, i.e. programmers must not only be proficient in their own field, but must have knowledge of the specific non-CS systems they are modeling in order to write accurate, robust and logically organized programs. Pedagogically, this gives students multiple CONTEXTS for recalling and integrating what they learn. 5. Social / Historical Context. Units also place the central problem within a SOCIAL or HISTORICAL CONTEXT. This provides students an explanation why solving the central problem is important in the first place. These so-called back-stories may utilize Literature, Theatre, History, Social Studies, Economics, Film and Art in making those connections. This is NOT done in a tokenistic way. This part of the unit may take up to several days and in some cases more than a week of class time. Students are assessed on this material in a serious way, such as writing an essay in response to a choice of several prompts. 6. Connections to Other Academic Fields. Units should make CREDIBLE con-nections to topics students have already studied in other ACADEMIC courses.

29. Units written (1st draft) and taught (2011) 1 1. Around the World in 24 Days (Geography).Relativity of Time Perception when Circumnavigating the Globe Excerpts from Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. 2. Joshua at Giv’on, Commanding the Sun to Stand Still: Galileo's Revolution (Astronomy).Modeling the Copernican and Ptolemeic Planetary Systems to illustrate the phases of Venus and retrograde planetary motion (using Alice). The Inquisition and Galileo's Recanting of the Copernican Model. Bertolt Brecht's play Life of Galileo. 3. The Right to Vote (History).Optical Scan Technology and Voting Machines.  Democracy in the context of both the women's suffrage movement and the contested 2000 Florida Presidential election (Bush vs Gore). Films: Recount and Iron-Jawed Angels. 4. The Discovery of the DNA Double Helix (Biology / Biophysics / History of Science) Computer Graphics and Molecular Modeling Software as applied to the Hydrogen Bonding of bases between the two anti-parallel strands of a DNA molecule.  Using this structural model to explain point mutations.  History of the complex interactions/clashes between the discoverers of the structure of DNA: Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, Frances Crick and James Watson. BBC Film: Life Story / Double Helix. 1Moodle Course: http://dmhsport.mdl.gnomio.com/course/view.php?id=2 Click on the Login as a guest button. Enrollment Key: portnoffBYOB

30. Units in the planning stages 5. Computer Science Ethics: IBM's Strategic Contribution to the Efficiency of Nazi Germany's Final Solution(History) Before the invention of computers, PUNCH CARD TECHNOLOGY was used to solve database-related problems.  The sorting and tallying algorithms used by Hollerith machines to process these cards were precursors of methods used for present-day databases.  IBM and its German subsidiary were active participants in the processing of census data used to identify, transport and exterminate the Disabled, Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals and Communists throughout Europe from 1933 through 1945. Excerpts from the book: IBM and the Holocaust. Films: Diary of Anne Frank, A Film Unfinished. 6. Evolution and Social Reaction (Evolution, Genetics, Bioinformatics).Using Genomic Databases to Align DNA/Protein sequences from related species and Build Phylogenetic (Evolutionary) Trees. Play: Inherit the Wind. 7. The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple (Environmental Science)Predator-Prey Population Simulation Software, and the unintended consequences of human activity, such as overfishing. • 8. On the Road (Geometry / Math) GPS and Routing Programs - A GPS program based upon triangulation of satellite data, equations for calculating longitude and latitude on a sphere, and a geographic database. • - A routing program using Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm (like MapQuest). 9. Music (Electronic Music and Music Visualization Software) Simulations of Music Animation Machine and/or Synthesia. Case Study: Wendy Carlos: Electronically Synthesized Music

31. IBM’s Role in the Holocaust IBM and the Holocaust http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/

32. Bioinformatics Resources Teacher Seminar on Bioinformatics:  Computer Science in a Biological Context Location: Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA (85 miles west of Philadelphia) Dates: Last Week in June, 2½ Day Workshop, Application, Stipend Contact: Prof. Ellie Rice (erice@fandm.edu) http://www.fandm.edu/bioinformatics/high-school-teacher-opportunities Databases, Online Resources NCBI: National Center for Biotechnology Informationhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ ENSEMBL (west): Joint project of Welcome Trust Sanger Institute & EMBL-EBI http://uswest.ensembl.org/index.html PDB: Protein Data Bank http://www.pdb.org/pdb Bioinformatics Activity Bank http://teachingbioinformatics.fandm.edu/ The Clinic for Special Children, Strasburg, PA Studying and Treating Genetic Diseases of the Old Amish & Mennonite Communities http://www.clinicforspecialchildren.org Through My Window – Remarks at the 125th Year Celebration of Children’s Hospital of Boston: http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/22042890/334253992/name/Holmes+Morton+Through+My+Window.pdf

33. Books on Bioinformatics Bioinformatics for Dummies Authors: Jean-Michel Claverie Ph.D., Cedric Notredame Ph.D.http://www.dummies.com/extras/bioinformatics_fd/ An Introduction to Bioinformatics Algorithms Authors: Neil C. Jones & Pavel A. Pevzner http://bix.ucsd.edu/bioalgorithms/ Exploring Bioinformatics: A Project-Based Approach Authors: Caroline St. Clair & Jonathan E. Visick http://biology.jbpub.com/bioinformatics/

34. AdvertisingAugmented reality ads that virtually bring products to life.A digital fashion show with customizable models that match the consumer's clothing size and body type.Video billboards that let advertisers change their messages daily. CS Careers (www.dotdiva.org) Archaeology & Anthropology Software that helps archaeologists determine the age of ancient Mayan jewelry. An online oral history project that collects songs and stories from Native American cultures. A 3-D virtual museum of religious objects from indigenous communities around the world.

35. Art & Art HistoryA database to preserve images of fragile paintings and sculpture.A virtual tour of an ancient Greek or Chinese temple.A 3-D drawing and painting program that lets an artist simulate mixed media. Astronomy & Space Exploration Powerful telescopes that offer high resolution imaging of our earliest galaxies. Sophisticated explorer robots that collect samples on other planets. A GPS-enabled sky chart app to easily locate stars, planets, and constellations. Business High-definition videoconferencing that makes it feel as if everyone is in the same room. A cloud computing platform that hosts a company's technology infrastructure, saving huge amounts of time and money. A data visualizer that transforms dull spreadsheets into interactive graphics.

36. CommunicationsA communications device with voice synthesis and a touch screen that enables speech-impaired stroke patients to carry on conversations.Software that allows military and government agencies to instantly share classified data about potential terrorist attacks. Computer Graphics & Media A 3-D simulation of the rise in sea levels around the world from global warming. Crowd flow models to ensure the safety of cars and pedestrians during parades, concerts, and sporting events. Cooking Internet-enabled refrigerators and cabinets that monitor your food supplies and organize your shopping list based on the recipes you select. A digital cookbook that guides you from the beginning of a recipe to the end, and includes a question-and-answer capability. A sensor that lines the bottom of a cake pan and notifies you when your cake is done to perfection.

37. DisabilitiesA program that helps people with physical disabilities create art, even though they may no longer be able to hold a paintbrush.A computer chip that enables people who are paralyzed to move their limbs.GPS systems for people who are blind. Education Interactive whiteboards that are even more interactive. Software for medical schools that features 3-D virtual patients. Digital research labs that link international scientists virtually, allowing them to collaborate on pressing global issues. Engineering Software that can predict the durability of bridges during earthquakes. A "smart" wheelchair with a GPS navigator for severely handicapped people. Solar design software that analyzes the type of solar panels that would work the best in a green building.

38. EnvironmentSoftware that can monitor the spread of pollution through the Great Lakes.Wireless sensors that can track endangered polar bears in the Arctic.Environmental forecasting that allows scientists to collect and analyze climate change data from every corner of the world. Fashion & Design A shopping app that helps you choose styles—and then recommends matching accessories, and where to buy them. A home design program that records a room's parameters and helps the user redesign realistically and within budget. Film, TV & Theatre A digital set design program that lets you add virtual actors to the set and visualize how all the elements interact. Internet TV that lets you talk to your friends, browse web sites, and update social media, all while watching the program of your choice.

39. Forensics & Detective WorkA DNA scanner that can instantly sift through the files of crime suspects.A mobile forensics lab for on-the-spot analysis of evidence at crime scenes.Software that can create a 3-D visualization of blood spatter based on the type of weapon used and the proposed orientation of the murderer and victim. Gaming Video games that rely more on a teen's brainpower than finger dexterity. Games that speak to the interests and experiences of girls and women. Computer games designed to address the social and educational needs of autistic children. Health & Fitness A wearable device that calculates how many calories a person burns each day. Interactive simulations that demonstrate yoga sequences—and modify the poses according to one's level of experience. A pharmaceutical app that helps you identify thousands of drug interactions and potential side effects.

40. Human RightsA secure database to record human rights abuses that shields the identity of victims or witnesses.Online petition software that can instantly collect signatures about urgent causes.A mobile toolkit that allows human rights workers to discreetly video and document abuses in remote or dangerous areas. Humanitarian & Disaster Relief Proximity-location devices to keep relief workers and separated families connected during disasters. A camera phone microscope that can diagnose diseases in remote areas without access to hospitals. Internet Technology A single interface that gathers and streams together all the social media we use. A personalized search engine so accurate it seems to be reading our minds.

41. JournalismA mobile device that lets reporters research and fact-check stories as they write them, without having to open a separate search engine.A real-time news feed that provides updates in five, ten, or twenty- minute intervals for news-hungry readers.A recording device that picks up an interviewee's voice even when there's lots of ambient noise—and provides a highly accurate transcription. Languages Audio language translators that sound like a native speaker instead of a robot. A smart recorder that translates your question into another language, and then translates the response of a native speaker into English. A wearable computer for people who are deaf that translates American Sign Language. Law A web portal with a database of pro bono lawyers and other legal services for low-income people. A mobile app that puts all state and federal laws at a lawyer's fingertips. An online small claims court site that helps people prepare, file, and serve a claim quickly and cheaply.

42. LiteratureE-readers that hold an entire library of books.Children's e-books with animated illustrations.A cyber bookstore that's "device neutral," and lets users download content to any smart phone. Math Software that analyzes DNA sequencing in plant and animal genomes. Global climate models to predict how Earth's climate is changing. A data mining tool that measures poverty and income inequality around the world. Medicine Video-conferencing allowing for a real-time consultation among doctors in different parts of the world. A smartphone-based fetal monitor for rural areas. Music A cloud computing storage platform for your entire music collection, so you can play anything anytime from any device. On-line guitar instructor that lets you know when you’re out of tune or if your rhythm is off.

43. PoliticsA news app that collects and organizes articles and videos about the political issues you care about.A mobile tool allowing urban dwellers to report potholes, trash, and other local annoyances directly to city hall.Virtual political communities that mobilize people to meet and organize in real life. Poverty & Social Justice A program that identifies available shelter space for the homeless within a city. A web-based tool to monitor the safety of blood supplies in developing countries. Psychology A phone app that helps people deal with stress and reinforces basic cognitive therapy techniques. Brain imaging software that helps analyze schizophrenia. An interactive program that teaches psychologists how to have effective conversations with their patients for short-term therapy. Public Safety An airline accident simulator that can pinpoint a plane crash and help rescue people faster. An early emergency warning system in your car that can anticipate a collision.

44. Robotics & Artificial IntelligenceSecurity systems with face, speech, and handwriting recognition.A robot than can perform brain surgery while a patient is in an MRI machine, making impossible operations possible. Science Software that evaluates the genetic make-up of individuals with predispositions to disease. Simulations that can predict the strength, velocity, & path of a tornado. Undersea vehicles that are capable of exploring the depths of the ocean floor. SocialNetworking Group texting that's easy and fast, so you can form new groups instantly. A charity network that lets you team up with others to support a cause. Sports An app that offers real-time updating on scoring, stats, and other info for baseball. A wearable monitor that provides verbal feedback on your skiing technique. A marathon app that provides you with a customizable training program, records your progress, and gives you a daily pep talk.