An idea that first saw light in 2015 is about to become reality. Back then, designer Janna Deeble, who grew up in Kenya, found out just how hard it is for people with disabilities to move around in remote regions with no roads, health care, or wheelchairs. His answer was SafariSeat, an all-terrain wheelchair that […]
Developing World’s SafariSeat Helps Disabled Navigate Rough Terrain
Spy Hacking Group Targets Asia; Elderly Find Refuge in Technology
Today’s Tech Sightings: Spy Hacking Group Targeting Asian Governments Spotted Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report says hackers have been spying on Asian governments since 2009. Dubbed PLATINUM, this particular hacking group has carried out a number of cyber espionage campaigns against government and private targets in Asia, according to Tim Rains, security editor of the […]
Red Cross Puts World’s Most Vulnerable Spots on the Map
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 […]
Facial Recognition; Cybersecurity; Java Legacies; Twitter Out Loud
Today’s Tech Sightings: Privacy Advocates Unsatisfied With Government Plans on Facial Recognition A large group of privacy advocates dropped out of talks with the U.S. government over disagreements on facial recognition safeguards. The group, backed by tech giants that include Google, Microsoft and Facebook, argues that users should have an opt-in feature for facial recognition […]
Privacy; North Korea; and the Spider Dress
Today’s Tech Sightings: Downing North Korea’s Internet Not Much of a Scalp North Korea lost its Internet connectivity for half a day Monday, though the reasons for the blackout remain unclear. But that is hardly a major loss for a country that barely has 1,000 Internet addresses, one Internet service provider and one connection to […]
Tech Sightings, September 25, 2014
The Man on a Quest to Open-Source Cancer Research His name is Isaac Yonemoto. He is a chemist; and he is experimenting with open source software to make cancer research available to the world. The goal of his patent-free project, funded by the bitcoin cryptocurrency, aims to revive work on an anti-cancer compound called 9-deoxysibiromycin, […]
Tech Sightings, September 16, 2014
A Walkway for Slowpokes Staring at Their Smartphones? Getting tired of being stuck behind people walking while perusing their cellphones? China has an answer for that. The city of Chongqing is introducing the world’s first pedestrian slow lane for mobile users. Sensors Let Alzheimer’s Patients Stay Home, Safely Families with Alzheimer patients can now feel […]