This week in the world of tech world, The Chancellor introduced plans to create a "Google Tax" in the UK and details relating to the Sony Pictures hack continued to emerge.
There've been plenty of interesting stories from around the web and IT Pro takes a look at the best of the rest:
Science
- Pizza Hut hasteamed up with Tobii Technology to create a menu that can predict what you want by tracking your eye movements. It claims to have a 98 per cent accuracy no less.
- A "haptic hologram" machine, which uses sound waves to project 3D virtual objects, is set to add immersive touch, sight and sound to the virtual reality experience. The technology could be used by surgeons, and in museums to allow visitors to handle artifacts without touching the originals.
- Professor Stephen Hawking, appeared at an event to demonstrate an upgrade to his communication technology thanks to Intel. He also warned of the potential for artificial intelligence to usher in the end of humanity.
- The controversial 23andMe test, which determines details about a person's health risks based on their DNA, has come to the UK. Tests will be regulated to make sure they meet minimum MHRA standards.
- HIV is reportedly evolving to become "less infectious," a team at the University of Oxford have discovered, and could eventually become "almost harmless."
- NASA's unmanned Orion deep space capsule has launched from Florida today, despite earlier delays due to "weather and technical issues".
- A study has revealed that electric eels are able to immobilise and control the muscles of prey via their electric organs, making it easier to catch them.
Film
Director Sam Mendes announced details of the next James Bond film, dubbed Spectre, at an event at Pinewood Studios this week. The film shares its name with HP's Ultrabook range - so we expect to see some product placement there...
Steve Jobs movie watch
There's a lack of news this week, but with Danny Dyer suggesting that he can play both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who, why not cast the hardman as Steve Jobs?
Imagine him addressing attendees at a keynote: "I got one more proper pukka thing for ya, geezers..."
- It looks like 2015 is going to be a nostalgia filled year. Terminator: Genisys is the latest reboot to have a trailer released. It willstar Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith and of course Arnold Schwarzenegger.Come on, you knew he'd be back...
- A bevy of superhero line-ups have been confirmed this week, including Benedict Cumberbatch as Marvel's Doctor Strange, Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones on Netflix and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool for FOX.
Not to be outdone, DC has hired Hollywood heavyweights Will Smith and Tom Hardy along with Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne to bring theSuicide Squadto the big screen in 2016.
- Tech biopics The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything have both been hits at the US box office, reports Deadline. The former grossed over $482K in four theatres over Thanksgiving weekend the second best debut per theatre of 2014. Watch a short video from producers of the film below:
- Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) and Eddie Redmayne (A Theory of Everything) both spoke to Deadline about taking on the roles of Alan Turing and Stephen Hawking, respectively.
On the box TV and Streaming
- The third season ofHouse of Cardswill hit Netflix in 27 February 2015, so start booking your time off work to binge-watch it on the sofa.
- UK-based Digital TV Research has estimated that Netflix's paying subscribers outside of the US could hit more than 17 million by the end of 2014, reports THR.
- ABC News launched the first daily news programme made for social media this week Facecast: The One Thing, which will be posted to World News Tonight's Facebook page.
- Idris Elba will star in a six-part docu-series for the Discovery Channel in 2015,which will see the actor "push his body, mind and engineering know-how to the limit" as he engages in some extreme racing across more than 220 locations worldwide.
Gaming
- The BBC launched a children's coding tool, Make It: Technobabble, which has been designed to encourage children to develop basic programming skills through creating their own computer games.
- Disney has revealed its own Imagicademy,' which is a collection of mobile gaming apps that will teach kids about various subjects including maths, creative arts, science, languages and social skills.
- PC video gaming platform Steam is launching a streaming aspect that lets others watch as gamers play online, reports BBC News. This puts the service in direct competition with Amazon's Twitch.
