WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show: Tech Tuesday Podcast

From self-driving cars that come pick you up to computers that respond to your brain waves instead of your fingers, futuristic technology may not be as far off as you think. In the spirit of the new year, Tech Tuesday explores predictions for what inventions are looming in 2013 and beyond.

Popular photo sharing networks like Instagram now boast tens of millions of users and an endless treasure trove of images. They are also becoming a bigger part of how modern news events like inaugurations, elections and natural disasters are documented. But such networks have also sparked questions about who holds rights to the images, the degree that they've been doctored, and how they affect those who take photos professionally.

Anyone with a gripe or a cause can go to a website, create an online petition, and — if it gets enough electronic signatures — maybe even get a response from the president. Kojo examines the growing popularity of online petitions with leaders of Change.org, SignOn.org and MDPetitions.com, and explores their ability to influence the national discourse.

Many technologists believe advances in 3-D printing will revolutionize manufacturing. With the right software, in-home printers can already produce unique homewares, machine parts and architectural models. In the future, these devices could re-wire and democratize the global manufacturing economy. We explore the future of 3-D printing and possible intellectual property battles looming on Capitol Hill.

The rapid expansion of wireless technology keeps the Internet at our fingertips everywhere we go. Even corners of Antarctica and the deep wilderness are now coming onto the grid. Kojo explores how the expanding reach of the Internet is affecting our experiences offline and whether it's still possible to completely unplug.

The rapid expansion of wireless technology keeps the Internet at our fingertips everywhere we go. Even corners of Antarctica and the deep wilderness are now coming onto the grid. Kojo explores how the expanding reach of the Internet is affecting our experiences offline and whether it's still possible to completely unplug.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services controls a vast trove of information about the American health system, covering everything from clinical trials and drug recalls to health insurance programs. HHS Chief Technology Officer Bryan Sivak is also the department's "Entrepreneur in Residence," in charge of "liberating" public health data and making it available to developers, journalists and patients. He joins Tech Tuesday to discuss the future of government data and the health apps of tomorrow.

Brick and mortar retailers fret over "showrooming:" tech-savvy consumers using their smartphones to find the best holiday deals after or while checking out products in person. Facebook banks on "social shopping." Nintendo introduces "asymetric play," a new video game system with a unique user interface. The Computer Guys and Gal are back to explore the new buzzwords of the tech holiday season, and the latest headlines from the digital world.

Think the contents of your Gmail account are private? Think again. The scandal that brought down former CIA Director David Petraeus is shedding new light on the privacy of personal email accounts. Investigators apparently uncovered Petraeus' extramarital affair when they traced a string of threatening emails from a Gmail account, and subsequently rooted around the inboxes of some of the most powerful people in Washington. Tech Tuesday examines the laws that govern online privacy.

With Black Friday morphing into Black Thursday, there's hardly time to swallow your pumpkin pie before you race out to start your holiday shopping. Tech Tuesday looks at the season's hottest tech gadgets for the youngsters and less-young on your list, and shares some tips on what to think about before you buy.

Popular college professors routinely lecture to hundreds of students at a time. But with the advent of online learning platforms, some academics today teach classes to tens of thousands of attentive students from around the world. Tech Tuesday examines "Massive Open Online Courses" — or MOOCs — and explores how these free online classes could change the economics of higher education and the nature of teaching.

Many technologists believe advances in 3-D printing will revolutionize manufacturing. With the right software, in-home printers can already produce unique homewares, machine parts and architectural models. In the future, these devices could re-wire and democratize the global manufacturing economy. We explore the future of 3-D printing and possible intellectual property battles looming on Capitol Hill.

The candidates have made their pitches, now the people will decide: Who will win the battle for tablet computer supremacy? Will Windows 8 prove to be a revelation or a train wreck? The Computer Guys and Gal discuss the latest developments in consumer tech. Plus, after Superstorm Sandy plunges websites and virtual marketplaces into darkness, we explore how news and Tweets echoed around the Web.

As Hurricane Sandy barreled toward the Eastern Seaboard, storm trackers relied on a steady stream of data from U.S. government satellites to predict the storm's path. But that infrastructure is aging rapidly, and many observers worry the U.S.. will face more than a year without crucial satellite coverage. Tech Tuesday explores the science — and politics — behind polar satellites.

Hype rules in the tech world. Startups and industry giants tend to talk up their latest products and platforms as game changers while legitimately disruptive trends tend to lurk beneath the surface. We talk with journalist and author Alexis Madrigal about the challenge of putting tech stories in context.