Stories by Mike Elgan

Trends in social, search, mobile, wearable and the Internet of things will alter our perception of reality. Change is in the air, says columnist Mike Elgan.

The future was supposed to be automated and computerised. But it turns out that automation is creating demand for the human element.

Passing laws to minimise accidents caused by distracted drivers is a good idea. But let's not dump advanced technology prematurely just because we assume it's a distraction, says Mike Elgan.

A thriving industry of paid-for user comments pollutes social networks with fake opinions. Let the reader beware.

The joys of mobile computing are not without a downside. A wide range of diseases, disorders and syndromes have emerged around our growing gadget habit.

Mike Elgan traveled over three continents in the past 18 months and has these tips for staying connected, keeping powered up and protecting your valuable gadgets from theft.

Phablets -- those smartphones almost as big a tablet -- are great, but it can be hard to get them out of a pocket or purse. Help is on the way in the form of tiny, phone-like devices that use Bluetooth to let you talk on the phone without holding a phablet up to your ear.

Silicon Valley Internet startups aren't always in the bits business. Sometimes there are atoms involved. Some of the most innovative new web- or mobile-based services have a physical aspect involving real-world goods, delivery or rental.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear and the Qualcomm Toq are not starting smartwatch revolution you've been waiting for, writes Mike Elgan. Not to worry though, a flood of devices are coming next year.

The tech industry has been promising apps that interrupt us with important contextual information for two years. So where are they?

In the future, phones, tablets and wearable computing gadgets won't come with chargers - they'll use inductive chargers built into desks, kitchen counters, bedside tables, cars and other surfaces.

Wearable computing gadgets aren't toys for lazy geeks or harbingers of a dystopian future. Here's why you're going to love wearable computing.

Companies are getting more aggressive about using your phone to track you and then send you location-based mobile ads. So what?

Columnist Mike Elgan tries out the new Google Glass eyewear and uses 'glogging,' a new social medium for sharing experiences that takes blogging to a new level.

Many of today's hottest products do something similar -- they get their value from the collective actions of users. Mike Elgan explains why crowdsourcing and all that user data is so successful and valuable.