In many ways, 2015 saw the demise of cybersecurity as hackers violated website after website, taking security breaches to new levels and compromising the personal data of millions of users around the world. The year also witnessed the steady advance of robotics and artificial intelligence, frequently giving shape to the idea that the future might […]
How NORAD Tracks Santa
Posted December 25th, 2015 at 11:18 am (UTC-5)
Millions of people tracked Santa’s travels around the globe this Christmas, thanks to NORAD Tracks Santa, a non-profit program that provides updates on his whereabouts with a bit of imagination, some tech wizardry, and a lot of heart. It all starts in early April, when NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – assembles […]
Modular Devices Coming, But Don’t Hold Your Breath
Posted December 18th, 2015 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
When desktops ruled, upgrading individual computer parts instead of buying a new machine was probably the closest users ever got to having a modular PC with interchangeable parts. But in today’s mobile-driven, disposable-tech world, the only way to upgrade a smartphone is to buy a new one. “We’ve created an environment where it’s just so […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Sub-Saharan Africa Increasingly Going Mobile
Posted November 20th, 2015 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to reach 100 percent mobile penetration by 2021, with smartphone subscriptions accounting for nearly 95 percent of the region’s mobile data traffic. The region will see “a significant shift to mobile broadband” in the next few years as more people look to mobile devices for Internet content and data-intensive apps, said […]
These Mobile Apps Help With Epilepsy, Depression, Autism
Posted November 6th, 2015 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
Mobile apps are increasingly delving deeper into daily life, extending a helping hand to users with anything from fitness trackers and nutrition data to tools that monitor a host of disorders. Among the latter are these three apps that focus on helping people suffering from epilepsy, depression and Autism. EpiWatch is a new mobile app […]