You might not give much thought to the hashtag – that little # symbol you sprinkle between your daily tweets and online messages. But what started as a tool to classify topics and relevant conversations has now become a rallying cry for sociopolitical action. “We look at the hashtag as kind of a symbol that […]
Mobile Payments Gaining Ground, But Hold on to Your Wallet
Posted October 23rd, 2015 at 12:03 pm (UTC-5)
Mobile payment systems like Apple Pay are gaining users, but security concerns might mean you’ll have to hang onto your credit cards and cash for the time being. While mobile payments still make up only a small fraction of online transactions, their use is growing quickly. That presents a moving target in terms of assessing […]
Laser-Beaming the Internet of the Future
Posted October 15th, 2015 at 4:20 pm (UTC-5)
Several tech companies are looking at laser or a combination of radio and laser technologies to take Internet connectivity the next level. Spearheading the effort are Google and Facebook. Google, which is deploying helium balloons in the stratosphere to provide Internet connectivity in remote areas as part of Project Loon, wants to use radio or […]
Mobile Learning Plugs China’s Education Gap
Posted October 2nd, 2015 at 3:39 pm (UTC-5)
A new Chinese government pilot program is taking aim at the education gap between the country’s urban and rural communities with help from Microsoft Office365 Education and digital classroom platform, Mobiliya Edvelop. Spearheaded by the China Development Research Foundation, a government think tank, the three-year program is being tested in eight participating schools in Qinghai and Guizhou […]
Red Cross Puts World’s Most Vulnerable Spots on the Map
Posted September 25th, 2015 at 1:32 pm (UTC-5)
The American Red Cross is stitching thousands of crowdsourced photos into OpenStreetMap to get a better view of the world’s most vulnerable communities and assess their needs as part of its Missing Maps project. Founded by the Red Cross, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team and Doctors Without Borders, the Missing Maps project plots out vulnerable sites in developing […]
Here’s How Tech Can Help Europe’s Refugees
Posted September 18th, 2015 at 1:46 pm (UTC-5)
Moving images of refugees trying to make their way to Europe – including the disturbing photo of a drowned child – spurred some in the online technology community to action. While the refugees’ most basic needs remain crucial, technology can fill communication gaps and provide much-needed mobile support. Taking up the banner, Google, which pledged […]
‘Girls Make Games’ Redraws Gender Lines
Posted September 11th, 2015 at 3:41 pm (UTC-5)
Aided by top industry players like Microsoft, Intel, Google Play, and Humble Bundle, a San Jose, California company is pushing gender boundaries in computer gaming to open the door for a future generation of women developers. LearnDistrict, an educational company that started as a husband and wife team looking to use fun computer games to […]
Hacker Business Booming as Security Experts Struggle to Keep Pace
Posted August 28th, 2015 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
Sophisticated hackers are taking advantage of a regulation vacuum and a shortage of cybersecurity experts to turn stolen data into a lucrative business, with little fear of being caught. “For $200, you can set up a business,” said Al Berman, President of New York’s Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI). Hackers used to flex their muscles […]