Type-C connections are becoming the standard for USB portals and are already introduced in the Apple MacBook, Google's Chromebook Pixel 2 and Dell computers like the XPS 12. More PC and laptop models will follow and Trust anticipated on this trend by developing a whole range of products that are fitted for Type-C connections.

The chaos in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq has led to a well documented influx of refugees throughout Europe. Many of these refugees have had to endure extremely traumatic journeys in order to simply arrive at the refugee camps that are spread across the continent – with many in dire need of food, shelter and medical attention.

Developments in the rapidly evolving wireless charging market are improving the technology’s speed and efficiency, but a confusing standards situation is still holding things back, writes Sally Ward-Foxton.

January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, will offer attendees a glimpse at the immediate digital future. So, what will be the key focus areas at next year’s event?

There were further warning signs concerning cyber security today after the Wall Street Journal announced that a 2013 attack on computers controlling the Bowman Avenue dam in Rye, New York, was perpetrated by Iranian hackers.

California ‘s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV’s) insistence that driverless cars must have a fully licensed driver behind the wheel has left Google perplexed. DMV’s draft regulations released this week state that truly driverless cars would be ‘initially excluded’ from operation.

Reducing power consumption is a major challenge facing the IoT. Steve Rogerson looks at the techniques being employed. Some extremely large figures have been bandied around for the number of devices that will eventually make up the Internet-of-Things as research companies try to outdo each other in their predictions.   

The Angel Sensor M1 device from Angel Sensor is now available with support for the Lua programming language. Angel Sensor claims that this makes it the first tracker device capable of executing code independently and eliminating the need for wearables to communicate with mobile devices.

We’ve all experienced the rather annoying and frustrating scenario of nodding off in front of the television, therefore missing the end of the movie or football match. Some of us may even remember being rudely awakened in the wee hours of the morning by the dulcet tones of the national anthem signalling the end of the night’s programming.

Astronomers wanting more accurate measurements of distant black holes will use robots to tackle the tedious task of monitoring black hole neighbor clouds’ glow. The technique, known as reverberation mapping, has been in astronomers’ toolkits for decades, but it required much labor and telescope time.

Having witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, the market for small satellites now offers a great deal of potential - particularly for small and mid-sized companies. Start-ups like Skybox, Planet-Labs and UrtheCast are already grabbing headlines with satellite fleets, investment deals and corporate acquisitions.

While it’s not nearly that advanced yet, 3D technology is making strides in surgery, medicine and pharmacology. See how 3D printing is paving the way for future breakthroughs and helping patients now.

Blackberry has announced that it will cease to operate in Pakistan at the end of this year, following the government’s intention to monitor every message and email sent from its phones. According to Blackberry COO Marty Beard, this would have meant compromising the privacy of its users.

The dust has now settled following Black Friday and, although primarily an opportunity to pick up some pre-Christmas bargains, the day also served as a useful indication of what retailers are trying to shift. Consumer electronics such as TVs and laptops are products that annually see prices being slashed, but this year saw another sector where the public could pick up some significant deals - namely wearables.

The organiser of the electric car championship, Formula E, has announced that it will introduce a driverless championship in 2016, with the aim of creating a competitive shop window for the driverless systems being developed by many large industrial automotive and technology players as well as top tech universities.

A new method of delivering data, called Li-fi, uses the visible spectrum rather than radio waves and can be a hundred times faster than wi-fi, reaching speeds of up to 1Gbps. The Li-fi only requires a standard light bulb, such as LED, an internet connection and a photo detector. The technology is expected to reach the market within the next three or four years.

For those of a certain generation the name Spencer will conjure up images of clumsy incompetence. Whether it be roller skating underneath a London bus or clinging to a car door teetering on the edge of Beachy Head, Frank Spencer, the hapless hero of the 1970s sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’, caused chaos wherever he went – no matter how honourable his intentions.

Scientists at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, have developed a graphene-based microphone nearly 32 times more sensitive than microphones of standard nickel-based construction.

Raspberry Pi Zero is slower than the full-size version (though faster than the original Raspberry Pi) and has fewer ports, but its main selling point is that it is cheap and tiny. The Zero, manufactured in Wales, will sell for £4. And subscribers of the Magpi, a Raspberry Pi magazine, will find a Zero attached to the cover of the magazine - the first time that a computer has been a free giveaway.

Following success in the French market, HDSN (Home Detection Sensor Network) has announced the launch of e-sylife, a smart home monitoring solution, in the UK. e-sylife is an interactive all-in-one solution that allows users to remotely monitor key parameters of their environments (homes, shops, offices etc.) and be alerted in real time - helping them address security, pollution and energy consumption concerns.