Digital technology is radically transforming education for millions of students. But is this transformation for the better? This CNN editorial argues that the benefits of technology in education outweigh the costs. What do you think?
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_kovacs_tracking_the_trackers.html
If you think you’re covering your tracks as you explore the web, think again. This TED talk shows how we’re being tracked and suggests what we might need to do about it.
npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/06/06/154430791/ipv6-a-new-internet-expands-the-web-by-trillions-of-addresses
You probably didn’t notice, but the Internet just got bigger. A behind-the-scene change dramatically increases the number of possible Internet addresses, making it possible for all kinds of devices to stake out a space on the net. This NPR story explains the change and what it means to you.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/06/04/154284798/do-these-pants-make-me-look-body-scans-for-a-better-fit
We’ve grown accustomed to the idea of computer body scans in hospitals and airports. But are you ready to be scanned in the dressing room of a clothing store? Or in your home for an online retail purchase? If scan-for-size technology catches on, digital devices may be taking your body measurements to ensure that the clothes you buy fit perfectly. This NPR story has the details.
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/153701673/the-internet-a-series-of-tubes-and-then-some
The Internet isn’t just a software cloud. Andrew Blum’s book, Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet, reveals the nuts and bolts of the physical Internet. In this Fresh Air interview, he talks about the hardware network that makes our Internet experience possible.
Computers generally sense human movements by seeing or feeling it. But this Microsoft research project suggests that your devices may soon be able to hear your gestures through ultrasonic waves.
mashable.com/2012/05/07/gesture-control-system-sound/
If you believe that the Internet should be accessible to everyone, iPavement may make you happy. This new technology promises to bring us a step closer to universal access by putting a wireless network underfoot.
good.is/post/ipavement-puts-a-world-of-knowledge-beneath-your-feet
wired.com/design/2012/04/10-things-3d-printers-can-do-now/?pid=171
It’s easy to imagine a future filled with 3D printers doing all kinds of fantastic things. But 3D printers are already being put to work in all kinds of fascinating applications. You’ll probably be surprised by many of the pictures in this Wired photo essay.
npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/04/19/150905465/to-read-all-those-web-privacy-policies-just-take-a-month-off-work
Did you ever wonder about those privacy policies you’re required to accept before using popular web sites? This NPR story sheds a little light on those Internet annoyances.
Categories
Will Your Glasses Be Smarter than You?
Project Glass
The brave new world of augmented reality may be closer than you think. If it becomes a popular product, Google’s Project Glass may make touch-screen smart phones seem positively old-fashioned. This Huffington Post article describes this intriguing wearable technology, and the video gives you a sense of what it might feel like to spend time behind the lenses of smart glasses.