Today’s Tech Sightings:
Netflix, DreamWorks Have Videos to Help Parents Get Kids in Bed Sooner
Netflix and DreamWorks Animation have teamed up to give Mom and Dad an upper hand when kids often want to watch ”one more show,” before retiring, Netflix now has three new 5 Minute Favorites based on the animated series Dinotrux — each one hopefully long enough to pacify the young ones and satisfy parents.
TV Networks Open Labs to Read the Minds of Viewers
TV networks have tried for years to find out what viewers think, what they like and don’t, mostly using consumer surveys. With the help of biometric technologies, Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal and Viacom are each opening labs where they will study TV viewers in mock living rooms filled with infrared cameras tracking — such things as eye movements and facial reactions made while hooked up to skin sensors and heart monitors. The new biometric data avoids questions, tapping straight into physical response.
Microsoft’s Virtual Assistant Cortana Arrives for iOS, Sort of
Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana, is widely available across Microsoft and Google’s Android OS, and is now making its way, in a limited fashion, for iOS owners. For now, there’s no deep integration between Cortana and iOS, so at this point you can’t for example, say “Hey, Cortana” to activate the feature.
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