Posts By: David Firth

Electric car takeoff just waiting for inevitable price war

Posted by & filed under Consumer Technology, Emerging Technologies.

After driving a couple of electric cars, I find it easy to see why General Motors and Ford have both announced this week that they are joining the race to make battery-powered vehicles mainstream.  The cars I tested weren’t fancy Teslas.  They were working horse models, namely the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf, and it was clear that… Read more »

‘We’re all feeling Puerto Rico’s pain’: Tweets and social posts from disasters change how we help

Posted by & filed under Amazon, Ethical Issues, FaceBook.

Social media bombards us with news of natural disasters, and with that comes a risk of desensitization, as these increasingly frequent disasters become blurs of information in our feeds. But the technologies we rely on, on a daily basis, are also turning out to be critical tools for those trying to help — even from… Read more »

Chinese firm beats Apple in race to open India stores

Posted by & filed under Apple.

Apple has been trying to open stores in India for years, but a Chinese rival has got there first. The Indian government gave Oppo, one of China’s top smartphone makers, approval this week to establish retail outlets in the country. The decision is a boost for the company in one of the world’s hottest smartphone markets…. Read more »

Facebook invests $1 billion in Virginia, U.S.A.

Posted by & filed under FaceBook, Green Tech, IT Infrastructure.

Facebook (FB, Tech30) plans to invest $1 billion in the state in all. The company is putting $750 million into construction and $250 million to multiple solar facilities that will power the data center, McAuliffe said. “Working with companies like Facebook and many others, we are advancing Virginia’s position as a global leader in the technology economy,” McAuliffe… Read more »

Google Clips camera: creepy or fun?

Posted by & filed under Artificial intelligence, Google.

Google has revealed a small camera that uses artificial intelligence to recognise individuals, and decides when to record short videos by itself. Source: BBC Technology News Date: October 4th, 2017 Link to video: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-41504748/google-clips-camera-creepy-or-fun Discussion 1) Creepy or fun?  And what decides the difference? 2) How might you build a business around this technology?      

To reel in Amazon’s new HQ, Halifax baits hook with lobsters, beer and startups

Posted by & filed under Amazon.

Halifax may be one of the smallest cities vying for Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters, but what it lacks in heft it makes up for with lobsters, beer and a new generation of startups, according to its mayor.  The city of 403,000 on Canada’s east coast has traditionally relied on fishing and shipbuilding but has been expanding into technology, attracting… Read more »

‘I’m sorry to hear that’: Why training Siri to be a therapist won’t be easy

Posted by & filed under Apple, Artificial intelligence, Ethical Issues.

We already turn to our smartphones for help with all sorts of tasks, such as checking the weather or getting directions. But could the next role for your hand-held device be as your therapist? Apple plans to make Siri, its digital assistant, better at responding to people’s mental-health issues — an ambition that has raised serious ethical… Read more »

Google’s Search Changes May Not Level Playing Field

Posted by & filed under Civil Liberties, Ethical Issues, Google, IT and Politics, IT and the law.

GOOGLE WILL ALLOW rivals to bid on coveted advertising spots that it previously reserved for itself at the top of product search results in Europe, but there are widespread doubts that the move will create meaningful competition. Source: Wired Magazine Date: September 28th, 2017 Link: https://www.wired.com/story/googles-search-changes-wont-really-level-playing-field/ Discussion 1) “Google’s plan to auction space at the top of search results… Read more »

The long wait for a Persian iPhone keyboard

Posted by & filed under App Economy, Apple.

For years Persian speakers used the Arabic keyboard on the iPhone, which was not really ideal for writing quickly or accurately in Persian.  Android devices as well as Apple computers have Persian keyboards, but until this week the option wasn’t available on Apple phones or iPads. Source: BBC Technology News Date: September 28th, 2017 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41355541 Discussion 1)… Read more »