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 […]
Technology Still Can’t Predict When Earthquakes Hit
Posted April 4th, 2014 at 2:42 pm (UTC-5)
These days, we can predict just about anything – from foreseeing political trends, forecasting the weather fairly accurately to tracking asteroids that might swing near the Earth. But for all of our technological savvy, we can’t predict when an earthquake like the one that just rocked Chile might occur. “We will probably not be able […]
Tech Sightings, April 1, 2014
Posted April 1st, 2014 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
Women, Impeded By Social Norms, Still Don’t Get IT Non-profit organization Catalyst says only 14.6 percent of executive officer positions in Fortune 500 companies last year were held by women. This number hasn’t budged much in four years; and the same is true at startup companies and social media firms. But the problem might actually […]
Income Governs Internet, Mobile Use in Developing World
Posted March 21st, 2014 at 2:07 pm (UTC-5)
Young, educated people around the world are more likely to embrace Internet and mobile technology. If you missed our recent post, the young and educated go online at higher rates than other age groups and people without a college degree. They are more likely to engage in social media interactions and more likely to own […]
Tech Sightings, March 20, 2014
Posted March 20th, 2014 at 2:21 pm (UTC-5)
How a 3-D Printed Arm Gave Hope to Boy Maimed in Sudan Bomb Blast In Sudan’s Nuba mountains, Dr. Tom Catena is treating thousands of people who lost limbs in the country’s bloody conflict. Many of his patients are children. One is a 12-year-old boy who lost his arms in an aerial attack. While surgery […]
Tech Sightings, March 18, 2014
Posted March 18th, 2014 at 2:18 pm (UTC-5)
The African Version of Amazon Will Emerge From Nigeria Not to be outdone by Amazon, African companies in East Africa are also experimenting with a drone initiative that uses large cargo robots in a race around Mount Kenya to deliver and collect payloads. That initiative faces many challenges, though, and the future “African Amazons” are […]
Digital Pen Helps Africa Fight Livestock Disease
Posted February 21st, 2014 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
It began in southern Africa in 2007, when Philip Fong, FAO‘s Regional Data and Information Officer in Nairobi, Kenya turned to technology to help African countries cope with livestock diseases. What he found was that existing disease information and surveillance systems were inadequate. Officers in the field were unable to get their collected data to […]
Tech Sightings, February 18, 2014
Posted February 18th, 2014 at 4:12 pm (UTC-5)
Africa: Toilets, Trash and Social Status – the Top 10 Emergency Hygiene Challenges A 2013 survey features the most urgent needs in emergency water, sanitation and hygiene promotion services in Africa presented by more than 900 beneficiaries. Food Tech Startup Gobbles Up $23 million in Funding Up to $30 million has been invested in Hampton […]