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Welcome to Ars UNITE, our week-long virtual conference on the ways that innovation brings unusual pairings together. Today, a look at the slow roll to autonomous cars. Join us this afternoon (3pm ET) for a live discussion on the topic with article author Jonathan Gitlin and his expert guests; your comments and questions are welcome.

Self-driving AI cars have been a staple in popular culture for some time—any child of the 1980s will fondly remember both the Autobots and Knight Rider’s KITT—but consider them to be science fiction no longer. Within the next five years, you’ll be able to buy a car that can drive itself (and you) down the highway, although transforming into a Decepticon-battling robot or crime-fighter may take a while longer. As one might expect, the journey to fully automated self-driving cars will be one of degrees.

Here in the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created five categories of autonomous cars. The most basic of these are level zero, which might include your vehicle if it doesn’t have a system like electronic stability control. Fully autonomous cars, which can complete their journeys with no human control beyond choosing the destination, are categorized as level four. While level fours are still some way off, level three autonomous cars, which will be able to self-drive under certain conditions (say, an HOV lane during rush hour), are much closer than one might think.

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Zambian President Michael Sata dies in a UK hospital, becoming the second president of the country to die in office.

Thousands of migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea to get into Europe, and some need saving from dangerous vessels.

Designer Lauren Bowker is working on a textile that can respond to brain patterns.

Tens of thousands of people in Hungary have taken part in a peaceful march against the government's plans to tax the internet - the second demonstration in three days.

Version:next-20141029 (linux-next) Released:2014-10-29

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the industry group that oversees the development of the specs used on the Web, today announced that the fifth major version of the hypertext markup language specification, HTML5, was today given Recommendation status, W3C's terminology for a final, complete spec.

The last version of HTML was 4.01, released in December 1999, making it almost fifteen years between updates. That's a long time to wait. The story of HTML5's development was a messy affair. After HTML 4.01, W3C embarked on XHTML, an update to HTML that incorporated various XML features such as stricter validation of Web pages and which was intended to make HTML "modular," broken down into a range of sub-specifications.

XHTML wasn't particularly compatible with the real world, however—Web pages that are, per the specs, broken are abundant, and under XHTML rules, browsers should refuse to display such pages entirely—and many in the Web community felt that W3C had lost its way and was irrelevant to the needs of real Web developers.

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We have been doing round-ups of various input devices fit for HTPC purposes. Some of the vendors have started shipping with Bluetooth instead of using a proprietary communication mechanism over 2.4 GHz RF. The advantage of Bluetooth is its versatility and presence in almost all modern mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). These don't support a full-size USB host port for plugging in the USB RF receiver dongles. Utilizing Bluetooth enables these input devices to communicate with the rising crop of mobile devices as well as interface with traditional PCs. Communication with PCs can be enabled by using either an inbuilt card - common in most notebooks which integrate Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities in a single mPCIe card - or, an explicit Bluetooth dongle.

Logitech recently introduced an innovative Bluetooth keyboard, the K480. While traditional Bluetooth keyboards have aimed to differentiate with aesthetics, in-built rechargeable batteries and support for multiple devices at the $100+ price points, Logitech's K480 aims to bring in a set of 'sweet-spot' features for $50.

Gallery: Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard

The salient features of the K480 include:

• Support for up to three different Bluetooth devices, with easy switching between device profiles with a rotary dial on the top left corner
• Recess to allow placement of smartphones / tablets in a position suitable for viewing while typing on the keyboard
• Keyboard support for both Mac and Windows / Android ecosystems
• Explicit power on/off switch for conserving battery life

After extensive use, we found that the keyboard fulfills most of its promises. It is cross-platform and does support pairing to multiple devices. The sequence of steps to get the device paired is outlined pictorially in the top half - This ensures that even the tablet-only non-tech savvy consumers can get up and running quickly with the unit. There is no need for a dongle, and as long as the target device has Bluetooth capabilities, the keyboard is good to go. Range is not an issue due to the use-case (mobile devices in close proximity). The unit feels quite solid, and is heavy (in order to ensure stability when heavy tablets are placed in the recess). The function keys are multiplexed with some multimedia / mobile specific buttons (such as single keypress to home). In addition, on Android devices, an app can be installed to provide additional keyboard layouts.

In terms of key feel and the typing experience, it has to be said that the keyboard is suitable for usage in bursts (again, the typical smartphone / tablet usage), and not prolonged typing. The shape of the keys, as well as the keypress feedback, seem to have been decided more with the looks and aesthetics in mind, rather than the typing experience. Fortunately, there is nothing to complain about the keyboard layout itself (from the viewpoint of Windows and Android systems, at least). Other than that, it would have been nice to have an adjustable tilt option for ergonomic considerations.

var kblist_devtype = new Array("Keyboard Only","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Optical Mouse (2-button with scrollwheel / middle button)"); var kblist_dim = new Array("11.77\" x 7.68\" x 0.79\"","11.75\" x 8.25\" x 0.8\"","13.94\" x 5.35\" x 0.94\"","14.125\" x 6.5\" x 1.5\"","13.6\" x 6.3\" x 1.8\"","12.125\" x 8.75\" x 0.625\"","15\" x 6.1\" x 1.6\"","18\" x 6.5\" x 0.9\"","11.75\" x 8.25\" x 0.8\"","14\" x 4.3\" x 0.2\" (K) ; 3\" x 4.6\" x 1.5\" (M)"); var kblist_wt = new Array("1.81 lbs / 820 g","1.25 lbs / 550 g","0.79 lbs / 360 g","1.26 lbs / 572 g","1.20 lbs / 544 g","1.4 lbs / 646 g","1.5 lbs / 680 g","1.875 lbs / 851 g","1.25 lbs / 550 g","0.77 lbs / 350 g (K) ; 0.18 lbs / 82 g (M)"); var kblist_power = new Array("2x AAA","2x AAA","2x AA","2x AA","2x AA","2x AAA","2x AAA","2x AAA","2x AAA","2x AAA (K) ; 2x AAA (M)"); var kblist_comm = new Array("Bluetooth","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","Bluetooth","2.4 GHz RF"); var kblist_psaver = new Array("Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch","Auto Sleep","Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switches on both Keyboard and Mouse"); var kblist_keyscount = new Array("79 (with multiplexed multimedia and mobile-specific keys)","87","79 + 4 media hot keys","78 + 8 media hot keys","81 + 14 media hot keys","88 + 8 media / Internet hot keys","87 + 7 Internet hot keys + 7 multimedia hot keys","104 (with multiplexed multimedia keys)","87","103 (with multiplexed Internet and multimedia hot keys)"); var kblist_tpaddim = new Array("N/A","3.5\"","3.5\"","N/A","N/A","3\"","N/A","2.7\"","3.5\"","N/A"); var kblist_usbstor = new Array("N/A","Yes","Yes","No","No","Yes","Yes","Yes","Yes","No"); var kblist_bklight = new Array("No","No","No","No","No","No","No","No","No","No"); var kblist_keylayoutscore = new Array("8/10","7/10","8/10","6/10","5/10","6/10","7/10","9/10","7/10","7/10"); var kblist_ergonomicscore = new Array("8/10","8/10","6/10","7/10","7/10","7/10","7/10","8/10","8/10","7/10"); var kblist_bqualityscore = new Array("9/10","8/10","7/10","9/10","7/10","7/10","8/10","8/10","8/10","8/10 (K) ; 6/10 (M)"); var kblist_price = new Array("$49.99","$89.99","$39.99","$49.95","$59.99","$69.99","$69.99","$79.99","$89.99","$39.99"); var kblist_warranty = new Array("1 year","1 year","3 years","3 years","3 years","3 years","1 year","1 year","1 year","1 year"); HTPC & Mobile Keyboards Bench Aspect Logitech K480 Logitech K480Adesso WKB-4000UBLogitech K400IOGEAR GKM561RSIIG JK-WR0412-S1SIIG JK-WR0312-S1Adesso WKB-3000UAdesso WKB-4400UBAdesso WKB-4000BBAdesso WKB-1200 Device Type Keyboard Only Keyboard Only Dimensions 11.77" x 7.68" x 0.79" 11.77" x 7.68" x 0.79" Weight 1.81 lbs / 820 g 1.81 lbs / 820 g Power Source 2x AAA 2x AAA Communication Bluetooth Bluetooth Power Saver Explicit On/Off Switch Explicit On/Off Switch Keys Count 79 (with multiplexed multimedia and mobile-specific keys) 79 (with multiplexed multimedia and mobile-specific keys) Touchpad Dimensions (Diagonal) N/A N/A USB Receiver Storage Compartment N/A N/A Backlight No No Keyboard Layout 8/10 8/10 Ergonomics 8/10 8/10 Build Quality 9/10 9/10 MSRP (USD) $49.99 $49.99 Warranty 1 year 1 year

In terms of future improvements at this price point, it would be nice to have a trackball (in case of an unchanged form factor) or a trackpad. This would enable standalone usage with a PC (similar to the Adesso Bluetooth Keyboard WKB-4000BB). The Bluetooth keyboard market for mobile devices is heavily commoditized. So, it is refreshing to see Logitech integrating some nifty and interesting features in the K480 to make it stand out in the crowd.

Louisiana is slowly disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico as its fragile wetlands are eroded by rising sea levels. BBC Pop Up talks to two families surviving on a remote island under threat.

(Almost) all the news that's fit to print. SugarString

The tech press has competition from Verizon Wireless.

Verizon's wireless subsidiary is bankrolling a tech site called SugarString. It looks kind of like a regular news site at first glance, but scroll to the bottom and you'll see the words, "Presented by Verizon," followed by this disclaimer: "These articles were written by authors contracted by Verizon Wireless. The views expressed on SugarString may not necessarily reflect those of Verizon Wireless."

The site has headlines such as "Why The Future Of Anonymous Browsing Lies In Hardware," "Drag Queen Lady Bunny Speaks on Controversial Facebook Policy," and "Just How Terrible Is Hungary’s Proposed Internet Tax?"

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Richard Taylor checks out PetCube, a product that wants to let you interact with your pet while you are away from home, using your phone.

TV-over-Internet company Aereo, shut down this summer by a Supreme Court decision, may still pull victory from the jaws of defeat. As was rumored last month, the FCC may be its savior.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler published a blog post today saying that Aereo, and other "linear channels" of online programming, should be allowed to negotiate for programming just like cable companies. Just like satellite companies needed regulatory change in order to be allowed to compete in 1992, Internet video providers should be able to negotiate on the same terms, he wrote.

While Wheeler writes that "Aereo visited the commission to make exactly this point," he emphasizes that this isn't a rule that would be for just one company. Dish, Sony, Verizon, and DirecTV have all showed interest in offering preprogrammed content online, he noted; CBS and HBO, which recently announced it would offer online-only service, may well join in. Wheeler wrote, in part:

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Officials in charge of securing the EU's borders are meeting in Brussels to consider how best to deal with the surge in migrants trying to reach Europe.

The only battle to be fought in the Far East during World War One had a profound and lasting impact on Chinese-Japanese relations.

Turkey's prime minister explains why Turkish ground troops have not been deployed to fight Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

A professional espionage group has targeted a variety of Eastern European governments and security organizations with attacks aimed at stealing political and state secrets, security firm FireEye stated in a report released on Tuesday.

The group, dubbed APT28 by the company, has targeted high-level officials in Eastern European countries such as Georgia, and security organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While Russian and Ukrainian cybercriminal groups are known to conduct massive campaigns aimed at stealing money and financial information, APT28 focuses solely on political information and state secrets, according to FireEye.

The report argues that the group is closely tied to Russia and likely part of Moscow’s intelligence apparatus.

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A lava flow from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island is now drawing close to homes.

An Antares rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station on an Orbital Sciences mission exploded during launch at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Tuesday evening.

The livestream of the event showed the rocket launch failing seconds after liftoff, leading to a dramatic explosion.

"The Orbital Sciences team is executing its contingency procedures, securing the site and data, including all telemetry from the Antares launch vehicle and Cygnus spacecraft," NASA stated on its website. "Before launch the Orbital team was not tracking any issues."

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An unmanned cargo rocket has exploded seconds after lifting off from a commercial launch pad in Virginia.

An unmanned cargo rocket has exploded seconds after lifting off from a commercial launch pad in Virginia.