Internet connectivity has become a way of life, so much so that its loss has deprived many survivors of the August 24 earthquake in Amatrice, Italy of their lifeline to the world. But a team of IT volunteers is on the ground to help fill the gap. The Internet has become “so ubiquitous” that, for […]
Tech Volunteers Build Internet Lifeline for Amatrice’s Survivors
Connecting the World; Flash Malware; Apple; Twitter
Today’s Tech Sightings: Ericsson CEO Explains How He’s Going to Connect the World to the Internet In an interview with Re/Code, Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg spoke about what is needed to connect the world to the Internet as hardware prices drop and mobile phones become more accessible. 4.2 Billion People Are Still Offline The world […]
Reinventing Desktop PCs; New GPS; Rombertik; Smart Luggage
Today’s Tech Sightings: A Desktop Computer for Developing Countries? Mobile devices are prevalent in developing countries, particularly in remote areas with poor infrastructure and regions where power supplies are unpredictable. But the CEO of Endless Computers, Matt Dalio, has come up with a $169 desktop PC for emerging markets, equipped with app-based software and hardware […]
UAVs Aid Nepal; ‘Renaissance’ Games; Microsoft Embraces Android, iOS
Today’s Tech Sightings: Drones Help Nepal Earthquake Relief Effort As the death toll from Nepal’s massive earthquake surpassed 5,000, experts from Ontario-based GlobalMedic are using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to map disaster areas. The survey helps provide a better picture of needs on the ground and identify flooded areas, blocked roads, damaged infrastructure and population movements. […]
Reaching Out to Nepal; Robots Rising; the Tweeting Pope; WordPress Woes
Today’s Tech Sightings: Earthquake Rocks Internet in Nepal The devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday claimed more than 4,000 lives and affected more than eight million people. It also took a toll on Internet connectivity. While international links survived, the same cannot be said for connectivity on the ground in areas where underground fiber […]
Who Says the Internet is Bad for Morality?
The Internet has changed people’s lives in many ways over the years, particularly in developing countries. In addition to those who see it in a positive light, a recent Pew Research Center survey found many others who view the Internet as a negative influence on morality – depending of course on how you define morality. […]
Silicon Valley Diversity; S. Korea Lifts Browser Rule; Can Tech Save Failing Aircraft?
Today’s Tech Sightings: Can Technology Steer a Plane Away From Disaster? The Germanwings Flight 9525 that was deliberately slammed into the French Alps last week, killing 150 people, has ignited renewed calls among aviation experts to develop and deploy software that can control an aircraft and automatically steer it to safety if it loses altitude. […]
Ebola Internet Access; Internet in Space; League of Legends Trojan
Tech Firms Extend Internet Access to Help Ebola Treatment in Africa San Francisco-based non-profit, Inveneo, has launched a three-month initiative to connect 100 West African locations to the Internet to help fight the spread of Ebola. The group teamed up with Facebook’s data-science team to determine how to deploy its equipment in Sierra Leone, Guinea […]
Lizard Squad; Mt. Gox; Twitter; Killer Tech
Today’s Tech Sightings: Activist plans to Air Drop ‘The Interview’ into North Korea South Korean activist Park Sang-hak reportedly plans to carpet bomb North Korea with DVD and USB copies of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s “The Interview.” But South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo notes that a North Korean three-star general and a dozen other officials have […]