January 2018

Net Neutrality:

In case you missed it, Net Neutrality was repealed in December by the FCC’s 3-2 vote. The New York Times gives a good overview of why and how it may affect you.  If you’re unsure what Net Neutrality is, Burger King put together an interesting ad that was reported on by The Verge and worth a watch. This is also a topic being discussed in the Senate, as reported by the Washington Post and some states have sued to keep it as reported by Reuters. This topic is constantly changing so keep your eye out for it when you’re reading the news.

Libraries and Small Town News:

As the news landscape continues to shift, some communities are finding themselves without a source of local news. Cue the public library. One librarian in New Hampshire is now also producing a weekly newspaper for their community. Read all about it from The Atlantic.

AI in the Library:

The University of Rhode Island is creating an Artificial Intelligence Lab in the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons located on their main campus with the goal of increasing access to this technology. The lab is set to open in the fall and you can read more about it from Inside Higher Ed.

Strava Heat Map:

Do you know what data your fitness app is gathering and sharing? Reports of military base locations being revealed by Strava (essentially a social network for athletes) in the heat maps they create with user data has sparked concern. Read more about it from Wired. If you use Strava and want to opt out of these maps The Verge has a guide for you.

Facebook and Local News:

Have you noticed more local info on Facebook? That’s not an accident. Facebook is adjusting how it prioritizes information in your news feed. Read more about it from TechCrunch.

CES Overview:

What do huge TVs, smart homes, super thin laptops, and robots have in common? Those are some of the themes from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in January. You can get a more detailed overview of the tech presented with links to additional information from CNet.

February/March 2016

Apple Updates

Apple announced some updates toward the end of March that included a new 4 inch iPhone, a smaller iPad Pro and an update to iOS among other items. You can check out all of their announcements from The Next Web.

Amazon Expands Dash Button

Remember the Dash Buttons mentioned a year ago?It seems they’ve been working out well as Amazon has greatly expanded the variety of products you can now order with just the touch of a button. You can learn more about the button expansion for Tech Crunch.

Smartphone Controlled Robot

The company Sphero has created robots which you can control with your smartphone. For the Star Wars fans there is a BB8 version, however you also have other options. Read more about it from BGR.

Nintendo, SF Public Library and Game Design

Nintendo recently worked with the San Francisco Public Library on an event that helps kids learn about game design using the Nintendo game Super Mario Maker. Read all about the program from The Verge.

Smart Water Pitcher

Do you forget to replace your water pitcher filters? Now you won’t! A new Brita water pitcher has been added to the internet of things and automatically orders new water filters when the filter needs to be replaced. Read more about it from The Next Web.

3D Printed Maps for the blind

The Hasso Plattner Institute has created Linespace a “tactile display system for blind users.” It works by combining voice commands with a camera tracking system and 3D printer extruder. You can read more about it from Make and you can watch it in action below!