Today’s Tech Sightings: Elon Musk Takes On Saving the World From Artificial Intelligence Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk, along with several tech heavyweights, just founded a non-profit, billion-dollar outfit called OpenAI to research artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that benefits humanity. Musk had expressed concern that artificial intelligence could take over the world. Ready […]
CyArk Gives World Heritage Digital Second Life
Posted December 11th, 2015 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
Caught in the crossfire of war and extremism, many of the world’s ancient monuments, particularly in Iraq and Syria, are being destroyed. But one California-based non-profit is on a mission to digitally preserve as many of these sites as possible in the coming year. “We’ve seen a real increase in the … intentional destruction of […]
Smart Tech Can Fight Gun Violence; Non-Verbal Autistic Users Get New App
Posted December 10th, 2015 at 11:57 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Smart Tech Offers Ways to Reduce Gun Violence Writer Preston Gralla argues that technology might hold the key to helping save some lives from the vicious cycle of gun violence in the United States, so long as gun fanatics can be reigned in. He suggests introducing smart-gun technology with fingerprint readers that […]
VTech Under Fire; Apple’s Awkward Battery Case Raises Eyebrows
Posted December 8th, 2015 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: VTech Slammed for ‘Unforgivable’ Security Lapse Toy maker VTech is in the crosshairs following the November hack attack that compromised account data for more than six million kids in the company’s app store. Some experts claim a lot of the stolen information was available online for a while before it was taken […]
Why Virtual Whyville Still Inspires
Posted December 4th, 2015 at 10:47 am (UTC-5)
Virtual worlds have been immersing people in fantastical, computer-simulated environments for years – using only avatars. One of the oldest is Whyville, the first learning and game-based virtual world for children. I am now 27 years old and am a qualified lawyer and accountant who is a director of a large wholesale company … in Australia, […]
Dropbox Malware Found; Google Denies Deception in Tracking Kids
Posted December 3rd, 2015 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: New Malware Found Hidden Inside Dropbox Account Researchers at U.S.-based security firm FireEye have discovered a new malware in Hong Kong that hides its Command and Control server in Dropbox accounts. The hackers, called ‘admin@338,’ are thought to have ties to the Chinese government. The malware targets media organizations and creates a […]
Microsoft, Apple Share Holiday Cheer; Is Google Tracking Kids?
Posted December 2nd, 2015 at 12:06 pm (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Microsoft Employees Serenade Apple Employees for ‘Peace on Earth’ Tech rivals Apple and Microsoft have been at each other’s throats for decades. But as the season of giving approaches, Microsoft’s Manhattan store employees took a special message to their old friends at a nearby Apple store in New York. Google Accused of […]
Wireless-tracking Chip; Kids, Parents’ Info Hacked in VTech Products
Posted December 1st, 2015 at 12:03 pm (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Former BlackBerry Execs Create Wireless-Tracking Chip Developed by Cognitive Systems Corp., the chip, called R10, can pick up and analyze wireless radio signals from various devices, including routers and television remote controls. Built on top of that is Amera, a wireless tracking technology that can sense motion by detecting changes in wireless […]
Nigerians Take to Mobile for Better Media Content
Posted November 27th, 2015 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
As Nigeria’s mobile penetration continues to grow, more Nigerians are turning to smartphones and other mobile devices to get their choice of videos, entertainment and news, anytime, anywhere. Nigerians love their videos, particularly music videos. But only one-third of their viewing time is spent on television screens. More often, they prefer to watch videos on […]