Today’s Tech Sightings:
How #BlackLivesMatter Uses Social Media to Fight the Power
#BlackLivesMatter is a Twitter hashtag created in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed young African American Trayvon Martin in Florida. The hashtag has since become a rallying cry for millions of people looking for change.
Jailed Activist’s 3-D Models Could Save Syria’s History
Online activists are planning to release a batch of files from the Palmyra Project – an online archive of 3-D models of the ancient Syrian city based on photographs taken by Bassel Khartabil, an activist who is currently locked away in one of the Syrian regime’s jails. The idea is to bring attention to the Palmyra Project and push for Khartabil’s release.
Facebook Targets Minority Parents to Improve Tech Diversity
Facebook Wednesday launched a new website in English and Spanish to help minority students interested in learning about programming. The site also helps families eager to get their kids interested in technology.
As Threat of Foreign Hackers Grows, US Firms Are Slow to React
New research from cybersecurity companies Ponemon Institute and CounterTack that surveyed people who work in the IT sector found that 75 percent of those polled were unprepared for a cyberattack or are unable to deflect one. Only half said they were preparing for such a scenario.
Twitter Opens Up Polls to Everyone
Twitter’s poll feature is now available to iOS and Android mobile users. The service allows users to embed two-question polls into their tweets and keep them open for a full day. Results are secret, and when the poll expires, all those who participated will be notified.
Microsoft’s Rule-Breaking Vision of a Future With Countless Devices
In today’s gadget-obsessed world, consumers are lured by digital devices of all sizes and capabilities. And in the race to be the first to get your attention – and wallet – a do-everything Microsoft is betting that the future is a landscape of multiple devices that could lead to dominance or unearth new niches looking for a player.
What ‘Back to the Future II’ Got Right (and Wrong) About October 21, 2015
According to the movie Back to the Future II, today is the future. That means all of the technology introduced in the movie was ahead of its time, so to speak. Here’s a look at what technology it got right – and wrong.
