The lack of diversity in Silicon Valley’s mostly white, mostly male workforce has attracted a lot of scrutiny and criticism in recent months. But even if criticism is warranted, the problem originates elsewhere – in early education. That realization has driven several tech companies to action. Among them is Google, whose $50 million Made with […]
Black Girls Code Adds Color to Tech Scene – Q&A with Kimberly Bryant
Tech Sightings, June 26, 2014
What Developers Need To Know About Android L Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android L, which is available to developers as a preview version, could be the biggest Android update ever. The new release changes the way Android operates in fundamental ways that developers working with the Android OS will probably want to know. New […]
Tech Sightings, June 25, 2014
Intel Introduces ‘Jimmy,’ First Member of a Family of 3D-Printed Robot Kits ‘Jimmy,’ the first member of a family of robot kits for 3D printers developed by Intel, is due for release in September. The chipmaker hopes that enthusiasts will be willing to develop more functionality for the robots to carry out various daily activities. […]
Tech Sightings, June 24, 2014
Nineteen Year-Old Dies After Abuse in Chinese ‘Internet Rehab’ In China, where Internet addiction is now categorized as a mental illness, a 19-year-old student recently died at a so-called Internet-addiction recovery camp in Henan province. The girl was allegedly struck and kicked repeatedly. An autopsy showed she died from skull injuries and brain damage. ‘Bionic […]
Africa’s Solar-Powered Internet Schools Bridge Digital Divide
Looking to the skies, Google and Facebook are harnessing solar energy to launch fleets of balloons, drones and satellites to connect the world to the Internet. But another tech company has taken a different path, using the sun’s ubiquitous – and free – energy to power new opportunities in health and education in Africa. As […]
Tech Sightings, June 19, 2014
Five World Cup Innovations You Might Have Missed You think you know everything about World Cup technologies? Think again! $50 million Google Coding Initiative Targets Girls Made with Code is a $50 million Google initiative that aims to attract more girls to coding and show that coding in today’s high-tech world is vital. China Cuts […]
Tech Sightings, June 18, 2014
Report: Neither iOS Nor Android Inherently More Secure Than the Other Apple might have an edge over Android in mobile app security, but a report by Marble Security found that companies face data breach risks regardless of the platform if they let their employees bring in their own devices. A ‘Bionic Pancreas’ Might Transform How […]
Tech Sightings, June 17, 2014
Apple Opens Applications for $100 million Program to Boost Tech in Schools Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is soliciting applications for its part of a White House initiative to improve connectivity and technology in schools. The initiative aims to get 95 percent of American students on high-speed networks by 2019. Cyberprotesters Target Brazil’s Digital Government Infrastructure […]
‘Rocketdog’ Gives Stroke Survivors a Helping Hand
Some games seem to revel in violence – a point that might add to the quiver of detractors complaining about violent video games. That said, all games are not violent; and there are those among them whose only purpose is to improve people’s lives. Rocketdog is one of those games. “You’re like this cute little dog,” […]
Tech Sightings, June 12, 2014
Wearable Technology Sets Trend at Mobile Asia Expo San-Francisco-based Fitbit is launching its products in China this month as the popularity of its wearable health technologies continues to surge. South African Entrepreneurs Create Solar-Powered Android Tablet The Millbug Vuya is a solar-powered tablet developed by South African entrepreneurs Sabelo Sibanda and Thulisile Volwana. Using the latest […]