Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

All posts by Aida Akl

Tech Sightings, May 8, 2014

Posted May 8th, 2014 at 2:29 pm (UTC-5)
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 Mobile Internet Shakes up Stodgy China Industries China is witnessing a sea of change triggered by consumers shifting their Internet surfing to tablets and smartphones. Around 81 percent of China’s 618 million Internet users go online wirelessly; and the country’s tech companies are scrambling to meet the need with mobile-friendly services. Amazon, Netflix, Tech Giants […]

Tech Sightings, May 7, 2014

Posted May 7th, 2014 at 2:28 pm (UTC-5)
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Google Unveils Free Classroom Tool for Educators Goggle’s new “Classroom” tool integrates Google Docs, Drive, and Gmail and makes teachers’ use of IT and online communications in the classroom more streamlined and simplified. How Technology is Set to Transform India’s Fragmented Education System India has no overall technology policy for schools and Internet penetration is […]

Tech Sightings, May 6, 2014

Posted May 6th, 2014 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
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 IBM Sees Big Opportunity in Sequencing Microbes Not all microbes are bad. Researchers from around the world are gathering in San Jose, California for a two-day symposium to discuss sequencing microbes found just about anywhere. The goal is to better understand good and bad microbes and extend the study of “microbiomes” beyond the field of […]

New Technologies Bolster Autism Therapies

Posted May 2nd, 2014 at 2:21 pm (UTC-5)
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Technology is a work in progress. It might not have all the answers to humanity’s problems, but it can go a long way toward alleviating some of them. Such is the case with the autism spectrum disorder, a group of brain development disorders characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction and repetitive behavior that has […]

Tech Sightings, May 1, 2014

Posted May 1st, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Google Moves to Kill off URL in New Version of Chrome The URL field is missing from the address bar in the latest version of Google’s Chrome browser. In its place is Google’s search box. The company is currently testing the change with the next incarnation of its browser, Chrome 36. Wonder-Material Graphene Could Be […]

Tech Sightings, April 30, 2014

Posted April 30th, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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‘Dark Wallet’ Is About to Make Bitcoin Money Laundering Easier Government regulators’ worst fears are about to come true. After spending the past year trying to prevent cryptocurrency from becoming money launderers’ currency of choice, a group of coders announced a new product called Dark Wallet, a bitcoin application that protects users’ identities and could […]

Tech Sightings, April 29, 2014

Posted April 29th, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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New Restrictions From China Cause Bitcoin’s Price to Drop Again The People’s Bank of China reportedly warned financial institutions to restrict access to bitcoin exchanges. Following the news, yesterday’s international bitcoin price dropped by around $40 in a few hours. Future Agricultures, University of Sussex Launch Online African Farmer Game African Farmer is a free, open […]

Wearable Devices Raise Privacy Concerns

Posted April 25th, 2014 at 2:36 pm (UTC-5)
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Wearable devices such as Fitbit or Google Glass are raising concerns over their data recording features. And while some are finding a niche in sports, health and other professional sectors, privacy advocates say there are serious implications associated with many of these devices that should have been taken into account during their development. “Some of […]

Tech Sightings, April 24, 2014

Posted April 24th, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Big Tech Companies Offer Millions to Help With Heartbleed Crisis Amazon.com, Cisco Systems, Facebook, Google, IBM, Intel Corp and Microsoft are among the world’s biggest technology companies that have agreed to donate millions of dollars to set up a group to fund improvements in open source programs like OpenSSL, the software whose “Heartbleed” vulnerability has […]

Tech Sightings, April 23, 2014

Posted April 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Games for Change 2014: How Gaming Can Change Everything Teaming up with the Tribeca Film Festival, this year’s Games for Change Festival aims to expand the discussion about using games for social change, including their impact on education and their potential use for therapy. How China and Russia are Trying to Undermine the Internet, Again […]