Posts Categorized: App Economy

Look who isn’t talking: Why Canadians are being left behind in the voice-activated tech wars

Posted by & filed under Amazon, App Economy, Intelligent Assistants, Internet of Things.

“Alexa, why can’t I buy you in Canada?”  That’s the question many early technology adopters here would like to ask one of the hottest gadgets in the U.S. Source: Toronto Star Date: January 26th, 2017 Link: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/01/23/look-who-isnt-talking-why-canadians-are-being-left-behind-in-the-voice-activated-tech-wars.html Discussion 1) “One potential sticking point is language. Alexa used to be English-only, but in September 2016, the company launched the… Read more »

How BlaBlaCar created a global transport network

Posted by & filed under App Economy.

A rail strike is a strange time to realise that your start-up is going to be a success but that was the moment that the founders of BlaBlaCar knew that their company was going to take off.  BlaBlaCar is the French online ride-sharing company that pairs people travelling between cities with drivers who have empty… Read more »

Sextech as a necessity?

Posted by & filed under App Economy, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Entertainment, Ethical Issues.

Note: the video in this article contains graphic language.  Viewer discretion is advised. Entrepreneur Cindy Gallop is hellbent on bringing “sextech” out of the fringes.  You’re probably thinking: Does the world really need more connected vibrators or smart kegel trainers?  But Gallop defines “sextech” as any technology venture designed to innovate and enhance human sexuality…. Read more »

Can your voice reveal whether you have an illness?

Posted by & filed under App Economy, Consumer Technology, Emerging Technologies, healthcare.

Our voices are amazing things.  We can use them to sing, shout and whisper sweet nothings. We can use them to activate gadgets and prove who we are to banks.  And now researchers believe they can also reveal whether we’re getting ill. Source: BBC Technology News Date: January 17th, 2017 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38637257 Discussion 1) What are some of… Read more »

Meet the Airbnb police

Posted by & filed under App Economy.

The second-floor apartment was a beautiful and spacious, smartly appointed two bedroom in San Francisco’s posh Pacific Heights neighborhood. It was pricey, about $400 a night on Airbnb, and came with an unexpected caveat.  Along with a complimentary bottle of California wine, renters were greeted with a handwritten note warning them to lie if they… Read more »

Here’s What Happens to Tech in 2017

Posted by & filed under App Economy, Consumer Technology, Emerging Technologies, Internet of Things.

A Thousand Tech IPOs Will Bloom – 2016 was a dismal year for IPOs—the slowest IPO market we’ve had since the recession. But that’s likely to change in 2017.  The Internet of Things Will Die – Last September, some malware took control of millions of internet-connected devices, including security cameras and DVRs, and launched an attack that… Read more »

Could your unused space make you money?

Posted by & filed under App Economy.

When he split up with his girlfriend, Anthony Paine needed to store his stuff somewhere fast.  As he shut the door of their flat for the final time, the irony struck him that there must be lots of people with space to spare nearby, if only he could connect with them.  So he and his… Read more »