Twitter and Facebook were used by millions in the New York area to stay connected during Superstorm Sandy. But online disaster communication and preparedness isn't limited to social networking sites. Many entrepreneurs are trying to build platforms to stay informed during crises -- platforms that could be used outside of a disaster to market products.

A new app from the Presidential Inauguration Committee seems like a handy tool for people visiting Washington, D.C. to watch President Obama take his second (public) Oath of Office. But critics say the app is data-mining for political purposes.

Fancy educational toys don't give rich kids an advantage over poor kids when it comes to brain development.

In a digital twist on the age-old practice of paying people to do odd jobs for you, new smartphone apps like TaskRabbit and Postmates allow you to hire your own personal assistants -- to say, clean your home, buy your groceries or run errands.