Today’s Tech Sightings:
New Tech Creates Buttons, Shapes in Mid-Air
UltraHaptics, a British company, has come up with technology that uses sound waves to project sensations of tactile, three-dimensional shapes through the air and to the user. So for example, air pressure changes are perceived as suspended, tangible interfaces. That could potentially mean a person can recreate buttons and consoles wherever needed for remote control or a whole range of other possibilities.
How Facebook Designs for Disabled Users
Facebook is releasing an “accessibility toolkit” that outlines its policies on disability and making the service accessible to all. The company’s Empathy Lab focuses on understanding accessibility needs and designing mobile and desktop components for people with disabilities in mind.
Apple’s Trade-in Program Meets Lukewarm Response in China
Apple’s recycling program, launched in 18 retail shops in China, lets customers trade in old devices to upgrade to more recent products. But according to consumers, Apple is only paying about $240 for iPhone 5 returns – and less for older models. That’s about 1,500 yuan. To put things in perspective, the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, and iPhone 5s cost 6,088 yuan ($973), 5,288 yuan ($846) and 4,488 yuan ($718), respectively.
Google Cracks Down on Ad-Injecting Chrome Extensions
Following a study done in collaboration between Google and the University of California, Berkeley, Google disabled up to 192 Chrome browser extensions that surreptitiously injected rogue ads into websites visited by users. For the uninitiated, some of these ad installers can be deadly for your computer; and removing them can be a real nightmare.
Facebook Rejects Report it Breaches EU Privacy Laws
Facebook has rejected a report from the University of Leuven’s Center of Interdisciplinary Law and ICT in Belgium that claimed Facebook’s privacy policy violates European Union laws. The social media giant said the authors never contacted Facebook to seek clarifications or solicit comment. The report claimed Facebook’s information-gathering for commercial gain has been expanded to include smartphone tracking.
It’s April Fools’ Day on the Internet – and Google is Flipping Out
If you haven’t visited com.google yet, it’s the tech giant’s wacky, April Fools’ Day statement, so to speak. Com.google basically presents visitors with the real Google site in reverse, as in mirror mode.
The Best of Tech’s April Fools’ Gags
And if you’re looking for more tech gags this April Fools’ Day, there’s a whole bunch of them out there. Tread carefully.
One response to “Creating Shapes in Mid-Air; Apple in China; April Fools’ Gags”
Now technology is wonderful. It goes in hand,pocket ,watch and so on connecting people to the information highway.It has caused a lot of changes in the general life.So much information,knowledge,data &c are floating around.It is fantastic.Virtually,technology has made me feel as if the earth is a single village.Could the scope have been used properly,the earth would have been a much better human habitation.