technology – Page 2

A little-known technology change will make video streaming cheaper and pave the way for higher quality

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO REELS

A little-known technology change will make video streaming cheaper and pave the way for higher quality

A new format for compressing video, called Versatile Video Coding (H.266/VVC), at first glance might not seem to be the most exciting or profound change to influence humanity. But in a world where 4.57 billion people identify as active internet users, 3.5 billion regularly use a smartphone, 80% of global internet traffic is compressed video data and 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, data is more than binary numbers. Data – and video specifically – is now part of humanity’s collective nervous system. A short summary of how the H.266 standards can improve the video streaming experience. COVID-19 has greatly increased internet usage around the world. It now has the dual purpose of keeping parents and kids connected for both work and school through video conferenc...

An argument for gene drive technology to genetically control insects like mosquitoes and locusts

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

An argument for gene drive technology to genetically control insects like mosquitoes and locusts

The fate of society rests in part on how humans navigate their complicated relationship with insects – trying to save “good” insects and control “bad” ones. Some insects, like mosquitoes, bite people and make them sick – remember Zika? Now the U.S. mosquito season is already in full swing, with over 10 cases of Dengue fever reported in the Florida Keys this year. Some insects, like bees, are pollinators that help produce our food. Others, like locusts, currently threaten crops in East Africa and Asia, preferring to eat our food instead. Insects have proven themselves extremely capable at evolving strategies to get around control methods, such as chemical insecticides and habitat modification, and current pest control technologies are simply not keeping up. We are both insect scientists. ...

Are we all OCD now, with obsessive hand-washing and technology addiction?

15Jun

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

Are we all OCD now, with obsessive hand-washing and technology addiction?

One of the hallmarks of obsessive-compulsive disorder is contamination fears and excessive hand-washing. Years ago, a patient with severe OCD came to my office wearing gloves and a mask and refused to sit on any of the “contaminated” chairs. Now, these same behaviors are accepted and even encouraged to keep everyone healthy. This new normal in the face of a deadly pandemic has permeated our culture and will continue to influence it. Many stores now prominently post rules mandating face masks and hand sanitizer use and limit the number of customers allowed inside at one time. Walkers and joggers politely cross the street to avoid proximity to each other. Only a few months ago, this type of behavior would have been considered excessive and certainly not healthy. So, where do doctors draw ...

How technology can combat the rising tide of fake science

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

How technology can combat the rising tide of fake science

Science gets a lot of respect these days. Unfortunately, it’s also getting a lot of competition from misinformation. Seven in 10 Americans think the benefits from science outweigh the harms, and nine in 10 think science and technology will create more opportunities for future generations. Scientists have made dramatic progress in understanding the universe and the mechanisms of biology, and advances in computation benefit all fields of science. On the other hand, Americans are surrounded by a rising tide of misinformation and fake science. Take climate change. Scientists are in almost complete agreement that people are the primary cause of global warming. Yet polls show that a third of the public disagrees with this conclusion. A crop circle in Switzerland. Jabberocky/Wikimedia Commons In...

Technology is remaking the theater experience

4Mar

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

CELEBRITY NEWS

Technology is remaking the theater experience

Media companies, using the latest technology, are reshaping the experience of going to the theater. When Comedian James Corden kicked off the Tony Awards this year, his opening number was a full-throated endorsement of the live theatrical experience. "It's live, we do it live, and every single moment's unrepeatable," the late-night TV host sang. "There is a visceral bliss you only get in a theater seeing people do this." Turns out he was not correct. These days, you can watch a Broadway musical from a subway train seat. You can get your stage fix at your local movie theater or hear a play while jogging. Theater just is not what it used to be. Media companies armed with the latest in technology like Fathom Events, Audible Inc and BroadwayHD are reshaping the exp...

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

VIDEO REELS

What are the dangers of facial recognition technology?

Civil liberties groups say privacy should not be traded for protection, but governments argue it ensures safety. Last week, San Francisco, California became the first major city in the United States to ban the use of facial recognition technology by police and government agencies . But authorities – and even some civil society groups – contend that the technology could help fight crime and should not be banned completely. However, civil liberties organisations say such systems, if adopted widely, would compromise privacy and disproportionately target marginalised communities. Such criticism has not prevented other governments in the world from promoting facial recognition networks in the name of security. Police departments across the UK have conducted st...