Today’s Tech Sightings:
A woman plays the augmented reality mobile game ‘Pokemon GO’ by Nintendo, as a visitor uses an automated teller machine (ATM) in central Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia, July 20, 2016. (Reuters)
Games Will Reshape Cities
As the Pokemon GO craze continues unabated, many countries are restricting and zoning urban areas to prevent players from meandering into government sites and other sensitive areas to hunt Pokemon characters. Writer Geoff Manaugh argues that once this game is forgotten, new augmented reality games that place a virtual layer on top of real locations will show up and might change the urban landscape. He wonders how cities will then deal with virtual sites and inhabitants as they interact with real life locations.
Open Gaming Alliance, Unity Team Up to Create Women’s Speaker Bureau
WISER – Women in Software and Entertainment Representation – is a new women’s speaking bureau intended to foster more women speakers in the gaming industry, thanks to a partnership between the Open Gaming Alliance and Unity Technologies. At the moment, women make up about 22 percent of the game industry. Some industry leaders would like to increase the number.
Adblock Plus Responds Angrily to Facebook’s Plan to Circumvent Ad Blockers
It’s no secret Facebook makes tons of money out of personalized advertisements – those tailored for users based on their internet browsing habits, whether they share them willingly or not. Facebook is now taking action, though, to combat ad-blockers by bypassing the privacy and security settings many people have in place. In response, Adblock Plus described Facebook’s move as ‘anti-user’ and one that could backfire for the company and its advertisers.
More:
- Twitter Not Shutting Down, Despite Rumors
- Twitter Found Not Liable for IS Activity on Its Service
- Russia Fines Google $6.75 Million Over Android Mobile Dominance
- NASA’s 3-D Food Printer Will Make Pizza at Amusement Parks
- Disable WPAD Now or Have Your Accounts and Private Data Compromised
- This Linux Flaw Could Open You up to Attack
- Snapchat Under Fire for ‘Yellowface’ Filter
- Taiwan Police Take Aim at Pokemon Gamers Driven to Distraction
- Augmented Reality Games Like Pokémon Go Need a Code of Ethics—Now
- Philippines President Targets Online Gaming
- Gates, Bezos, Zuckerberg Top Forbes Richest in Tech List
