What if your room on a cruise ship were to unlock automatically as you approach, or if the wait staff could bring your favourite cocktail before you even ask? Carnival Corp., the operator of such cruise lines as Princess, Holland America and Carnival, wants to make that happen so it can get cozier with its… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Consumer Technology
Here’s What Happens to Tech in 2017
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 »
Acura’s Concept Cockpit Envisions the Age of Autonomy
The Acura Precision Cockpit fuses a sporty design with a next-gen touchpad-based interface and new Acura operating system. Source: Wired Magazine Date: December 6th, 2016 Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/acuras-concept-cockpit-envisions-age-autonomy/#slide-1 Discussion 1) “As much as people like touchscreens in their cars, because of the parallels to tablets and smartphones, it may not be the best strategy for cars,” says Acura product… Read more »
The All-American iPhone
Donald Trump says that if he becomes president, he will “get Apple to start making their computers and their iPhones on our land, not in China.” Bernie Sanders has also called for Apple to manufacture some devices in the U.S. instead of China. Neither could instantly make that happen. As Steve Jobs once told President… Read more »
WalkCar: Hands-on with Japan’s car-in-a-bag
A personal transporter that is light enough to carry in a shopping bag has been developed in Japan. Source: BBC Technology News Date: November 29th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38026010 Discussion 1) Many countries have banned this technology. Does this make sense? 2) How might a company like Nike or Amazon use this technology for themselves (that is, not to… Read more »
Deutsche Telekom fault affects 900,000 customers
Deutsche Telekom has confirmed up to 900,000 customers have had their broadband service cut off following a possible hack of its hardware. Internet access, phone connections and TV reception for those with a certain router have been affected. Source: BBC Technology News Date: November 29th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38130352 Discussion 1) Is there anything you could do if you… Read more »
Transport Canada proposing rigourous rules for recreational drone flyers
Transport Canada is proposing that anyone flying a drone bigger than a tiny toy should have to register their devices, pass a knowledge test and pay for liability insurance. The department is proposing that anyone operating a drone weighing more than 250 grams, including recreational users, should fall under more rigorous regulations expected to be introduced in 2017…. Read more »
Why hackers might be drawn to your smart light bulbs
The technology that can turn on the lights in your home with a simple swipe on your smartphone may seem really cool. Thing is, hackers could have their eye on the same thing. New research by Dalhousie University PhD student Colin O’Flynn and colleagues in Israel has found smart bulbs could be susceptible to infiltration — so… Read more »
Behold China’s Answer to Amazon Echo: The LingLong DingDong
THE AMAZON ECHO is remarkably useful. Alexa, the digital personal assistant within the cylindrical black gadget, plays music, helps with recipes, and orders stuff online. One thing it cannot do, however, is speak Chinese. The LingLong DingDong can. Source: Wired Magazine Date: November 23rd, 2016 Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/behold-chinas-answer-amazon-echo-linglong-dingdong/ Discussion 1) Why did Amazon not develop this device for the… Read more »
My Insane Adventure to Buy Snap’s New Spectacles
wiley-blog LATE LAST WEEK, a Minionesque vending machine mysteriously appeared in a parking lot near Snap’s original offices in Venice, California. It was named Snapbot, and it was there to sell Specs, the company’s goofy new picture-taking sunglasses, for $130 a pop to anyone who got there fast enough. After 24 hours, the machine disappeared…. Read more »
Leading Titles
Introduction to Information Systems, 3rd Canadian Binder Ready Version Update Edition
R. Kelly Rainer, Casey G. Cegielski, Ingrid Splettstoesser-Hogeterp, Cristobal Sanchez-Rodriguez
ISBN: 978-1-119-13385-8
August 2015, © 2016
CDN $98.95; CDN $114.95