Emerging Tech

How the Justice Department is Permitted to Use Counter-Drone Technology

The guidance enables the agency and its subcomponents to intercept, damage or destroy threatening drones in some cases. 

Modernization

Accenture Federal Wins $96M Task Order to Modernize and Automate VA Services

Through human-centered design, federal employees and other users will weigh in on what works, along the way.

Policy

Lawmakers Want the Next COVID-19 Relief Package to Support Suicide Prevention

Dozens of officials want the government to establish “9-8-8” as the new “9-1-1” for mental health crises.

Emerging Tech

Above-Average Hurricane Season Could Further Challenge Government's Pandemic Response

Technology may be key in ensuring the government responds to disasters on multiple fronts, a retired U.S. Army General said.

Emerging Tech

Republican Lawmakers Propose Bill to Support Government COVID-19 Research Effort

The COVID Research Act includes several authorizations, including $50 million to the Energy Department.

Emerging Tech

Supercomputing System Fighting COVID-19 Gets Upgrade

AMD made the contribution to nearly double the system’s performance capabilities.

Emerging Tech

NASA Engineers Rapidly Create Ventilator Tailored to Treat COVID-19 Patients

The new device is under Food and Drug Administration review for emergency-use authorization.

Artificial Intelligence

Defense is Embracing Robotic Process Automation But It’s Not Yet Scaling It

Bot security and varying cloud infrastructure could make it tough for the Pentagon to spread RPA tools. 

Artificial Intelligence

Critical Update: How the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Plans to Run ‘Better, Cheaper, Faster’ Tech

Chief Information Officer Jamie Holcombe and his team are stabilizing and modernizing IT to help meet growing demands in a changing marketplace.

Policy

Bill Proposes $2 Billion to Help Students Get Online During the Pandemic

The legislation would mandate the Federal Communications Commission to distribute funds for Wi-Fi hotspots and other devices for internet connectivity.

Artificial Intelligence

DARPA Wants Tech That Can Trick Computer Vision

Neural networks can adapt and learn to identify and classify objects but they can also be stumped by cleverly placed pixels. 

Emerging Tech

Forget Travel Vouchers, Airlines Should Give Customers Cash Back, Senators Say

A group of senators estimates airlines are holding about $10 billion from customers whose travel plans changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Modernization

VA to Distribute Thousands of Facebook Portals to Vets and Caregivers in Isolation

The devices will be distributed in pairs to connect qualifying veterans and caregivers during the pandemic.

Emerging Tech

Medical Consortium Aims to Create Network of Virtual Critical Care Wards

The group seeks to support patients in need of critical care in hospitals and other ad-hoc locations using cloud-based communication technology.

Emerging Tech

OSTP, NIST Team Up to Fine-Tune Search Engines for COVID-19 Research

Researchers are using the present health crisis to help improve search systems and enable clinicians to find better answers quicker.