Computers can be programmed with rules to use information [information: data with context or meaning ] to make simple decisions. This is knowledge [knowledge: the ability to understand information and, to then form judgements, opinions, make predictions and decisions based on that understanding ] that has been passed on from the programmer. A simple example of this is a spreadsheet [spreadsheet: A spreadsheet is made up of cells, rows and columns. Each cell holds a piece of numeric (numbers) or alphanumeric (text) data. Cells can also contain formulae to calculate their contents.

September's emissions scandal rocked Volkswagen - but it's not the only issue the German car giant has. Alongside other German manufacturers, it faces a major challenge from the digital revolution sweeping through the world of manufacturing, writes Sean Williams. Max Vilimpoc, a Berlin-based software engineer, worked as a contractor for VW until this year. What he saw there, while working on a raft of digital products, shocked him. VW, he says, approaches the design of digital products the same way it would design a car part or engine component.

Scientists in Bristol are developing robots to provide care and companionship for elderly people. It is an attempt to address the issue of who will care for Britain's increasingly ageing population. In the last 25 years the number of people aged 85 or over has more than doubled. The work is being carried out by the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. With social care budgets under pressure, governments across the world are searching for cheaper solutions to provide care.

A robotic arm that combines a suction cup, a "two-fingered" gripper and a 3D depth-sensing camera has won Amazon's latest warehouse bot competition. Team Delft's machine triumphed over its rivals at both of the two tasks. One involved selecting products from a container, picking them up and putting them on a shelf. The other was doing the actions in reverse. Amazon already uses robots to move goods about its buildings but relies on humans to stock its shelves.

Amazon has published an online guide explaining how to access its virtual assistant Alexa via a Raspberry Pi. The technique presents a lower-cost alternative to buying one of its Echo devices - which are not yet available outside of the US - and an incentive to gain computer skills. The walkthrough includes access to the necessary app data and certificates in order to link the budget computer up to the tech giant's servers. The Raspberry Pi pocket-sized computer was designed by a British charity to encourage children and others to learn how to write computer programs. More than eight million units have been sold or given away.

Apple has purchased the company behind motion-capture technology used in the latest Star Wars film. Faceshift, a Zurich based start-up, specialises in software that allows 3D animated characters to mimic the facial expressions of an actor. Apple has now bought the company, though it is not known how much the deal cost the tech giant. It is also unclear what Apple's plans are for the company following its acquisition. A spokesman said: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Google's self-driving cars are programmed to exceed speed limits by up to 10mph (16km/h), according to the project's lead software engineer. Dmitri Dolgov told Reuters that when surrounding vehicles were breaking the speed limit, going more slowly could actually present a danger, and the Google car would accelerate to keep up. Google's driverless prototypes have been widely tested on roads in the US. The UK will allow driverless cars on public roads from 2015. Google first announced its driverless car division in 2010, and has been testing its technology in modified cars built by other manufacturers.

Robots may hold the key to preventing an industrial crisis in a country whose geography makes many key jobs undesirable. I knew Australia was big, but it didn't really hit me till I stood on a viewing platform hanging over a valley in the Blue Mountains. As I watched the land fall away below me, giving way to a valley of forest that stretched to the horizon, I could feel thousands of miles of silence sucking me in like a vacuum. Part of Australia's beauty is also its problem. Its untamed, uninhabited interior contains rich pickings, but there are few who want to go and get them.

A super-intelligent robotic "brain" that can learn new skills by browsing millions of web pages has been developed by US researchers. Robo Brain is designed to acquire a vast range of skills and knowledge from publicly available information sources such as YouTube. The information it learns can then be accessed by robots around the world, helping them to perform everyday tasks. A similar project is already being developed in Europe. RoboEarth, described as a world wide web for robots, was demonstrated by researchers at Eindhoven University in the Netherlands in January.

Honda's Asimo robot has grown up - with its latest upgrade giving it enhanced intelligence, added dexterity and the ability to run 5.6mph (9km/h). The first Asimo was created in 2000, and is seen as one of the leading attempts at creating a humanoid. The latest version is able to change its actions depending on what happens around it - such as moving out of a person's way. The 4ft (130cm)-tall robot is also able to do complex sign language. Asimo - which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility - is eventually intended to help people in various situations of need, such as the elderly, or those in disaster zones.