insert_link Opinion Pieces Teens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance right Social media can be both dangerous and a lifeline for teens. The Good Brigade/DigitalVision via Getty Images Afsaneh Razi, Drexel University Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems to be harmful, including content related to suicide and eating disorders. The move comes as federal and state governments have increased pressure on […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 25
insert_link Environment Can bioplastics help shape a more sustainable future? Mike DiGirolamo holding a boomerang produced by the ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocompositses. Image by Nicolas Rakotopare for Mongabay. By Abhishyant Kidangoor, Mike DiGirolamo via Mongabay As the world struggles to contain plastic pollution, eco-friendly alternatives to plastics have garnered attention in recent years. One example: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a naturally occurring bio-based polymer, have been touted as a potential solution. Biotechnology startups have enthusiastically embraced the functional and economic […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 19
insert_link Science & Technology MyWhoosh to transform UCI Cycling Esports World Championships with in-person final MyWhoosh and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) will deliver the fourth edition of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, hosting an in-person, live final on 26 October in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In August 2023, the UCI announced that MyWhoosh would be the exclusive platform and organiser of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships for the next three years (2024-2026). MyWhoosh is set to redefine the event, introducing a […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 16
insert_link Opinion Pieces Customer experience, efficiency to drive growth of Africa’s telco sector this year by Louis Avenant, Senior Project Manager at Itemate Solutions Africa's vibrant telco sector is set for a bumper year in 2024 as it expands operations and broadens service offerings to meet the needs of an increasingly digital-savvy customer base. Industry projections estimate the Africa telco sector will grow by $2.24-billion between 2020 and 2024, with longer-term growth expected to be powered by the rollout of high-speed 5G connectivity and a growing […] todayJanuary 30, 2024 23
insert_link Lifestyle Spending too much time online? Try these helpful tips to improve your digital wellness Impacts of excessive use of digital technologies range from physical problems to emotional concerns. (Shutterstock) Bindiya Dutt, University of Stavanger and Mary Lynn Young, University of British Columbia Using digital platforms is increasingly the only option to manage our daily lives, from filling out forms at the doctor’s office or government offices to ordering food, booking a cab, paying taxes, banking, shopping or dating. Often, people are coerced into using […] todayJanuary 30, 2024 22
insert_link Africa UNDP’s New $1 Billion Fund Could Boost Africa’s Tech Startups Globally At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, left, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda helped launch the United Nations Development Program’s investment fund directed at tech startups in Africa. Called Timbuktoo, it could cushion the bearish state of venture capital globally. WEF2024 By Damilola Banjo via PassBlue Venture capital funding is shrinking globally, but experts are optimistic that a new $1 billion investment […] todayJanuary 30, 2024 30
insert_link Science & Technology Why are so many robots white? This little guy is very cute − and very white. Jiuguang Wang/Flickr, CC BY-SA Mark Paterson, University of Pittsburgh Problems of racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence algorithms and the data used to train large language models like ChatGPT have drawn the attention of researchers and generated headlines. But these problems also arise in social robots, which have physical bodies modeled on nonthreatening versions of humans or animals and […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 16
insert_link Science & Technology In the market for a car? Soon you’ll be able to buy a Hyundai on Amazon − and only a Hyundai Hyundai and Amazon announced a big partnership in November 2023. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Vivek Astvansh, McGill University This is the year you can finally buy a car on Amazon. Well, one kind. Eventually. On Nov. 16, 2023, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Amazon and Hyundai made a big announcement: Starting sometime in 2024, a new pilot program would let shoppers not only browse Hyundai cars on Amazon.com but pay […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 44
insert_link Lifestyle Responsible, human-centred approach – key to using GenAI in education By Shakeel Jhazbhay, General Manager, Digital Business Solutions at DatacentrixIn the ever-evolving realm of educational technology, Generative AI (GenAI) is emerging as a transformative force poised to reshape the education sector. However, exploring the benefits and drawbacks of GenAI is crucial for a comprehensive grasp of its suitable applications and potential impact. In retrospect: the use of technology in education over time In order to gain context around the use […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 22