Coin-operated parking meters are dying
Parking meters have joined the digital age thanks to app support and online payments. According to USA Today, major cities like Portland, Oregon have…
Author: The Smart Reader Staff
Briefs and quick reads selected and edited by The Smart Reader's editorial team.
Studies: Smart phones drain the brain
As phones get smarter, people get dumber; at least that is what recent studies conclude. Smart phones make people less capable of focusing, learning, and…
Real-time translation possible with earbuds
No longer confined to the realm of Star Trek, real-time language translation has arrived in the mainstream with new wireless earbuds. According to…
Malls embrace pop-up stores, local flair
It is no secret that the American mall is facing a crisis. Rising competition from online retailers has put pressure on the stores that typically set up…
Shopping malls selling more fun
Arcades once brought foot traffic into malls and entertainment is, once again, becoming important in retailing. Alongside movie theaters, malls are…
Finding and using a small-business mentor
As a small-business owner, learning how to create and manage a successful business can be an overwhelming task. One way to help mitigate those challenges…
The return of the Polaroid
Camera phones have incredible quality but you don’t get the photos instantly on paper. To get that, you have to go retro. Polaroid and its 1977 OneStep,…
Drones might be the next medical transporter
From breathtaking videos to Amazon deliveries, people have been finding more and more uses for drones. Because they are small, unmanned, and able to cover…
Smart Textiles: Even your shirt will be online
Clothing usually revolves around either extreme utility or fashion and the recent introduction of smart textiles hopes to help improve both of those…
Bringing water to rural Africa
A British startup is attempting to do what billions of dollars and dozens of donors have not: Bring a reliable source of water to rural sub-saharan…