Today’s Tech Sightings:
FILE – Swiss social psychologist Bertolt Mayer views ‘Rex’ – a two-meter-tall artificial human, at the Science Museum in central London, Feb. 5, 2013. (Reuters)
Building the Bionic Man
It’s no longer science fiction. Replaceable body parts are already here. Now Swiss psychologist Bertolt Meyer, who has a prosthetic arm, is working to create a robot modeled after himself. The robot, Rex, is made of various prosthetic parts, has a circulatory system and a clunky body. Rex works, explores and already has some fans. Writer Chandra Steele says Rex will not be replacing humans just yet, however, and only serves only as a model for what is to come.
Black Lawmakers Call on Facebook to Stop Letting Ads Exclude Racial Groups
The U.S. Congressional Black Caucus has urged Facebook to stop allowing advertisers to exclude racial and ethnic groups from their housing ads. The lawmakers say the practice violates federal anti-discrimination housing laws. Facebook responded with an email saying it is trying to better understand the concerns of both sides, but that “multicultural marketing is a common practice in the ad industry and helps brands reach audiences with more relevant advertising.”
It’s Time to Address The Cybersecurity Gender Gap Before It’s Too Late
Women are underrepresented in technology and the sciences in general all over the world. Focusing on cybersecurity, writer Todd Thibodeaux points out that only 10 percent of IT security workers are women. He argues that the gender deficit will continue to undermine cybersecurity unless more women are recruited to help offset shortages in the IT sector.
More:
- MIT Makes Breakthrough in Morality-proofing Artificial Intelligence
- As Rule 41 Deadline Looms, ‘Expansion’ of FBI Hacking Powers Looks Likely
- Windows Zero-day Exploited by Same Group Behind DNC Hack
- Microsoft to Fix Windows Flaw Reportedly Exploited by Hackers Linked to Russia
- More-powerful IoT Botnet Infects 3,500 Devices in 5 Days
- Could Britain’s ‘Smart Cities’ Be Outsmarted by Hackers?
- Facebook Blocks Insurance Company’s Plan to Base Premiums on User Posts
- How Pixar Saved Steve Jobs and Apple
- Microsoft Has Stopped Selling Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.1
