# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A quick answer, bleak though it may be, would be found in flicking on an episode of Charlie Brooker's BlackMirror, which, like the silent, stilled screen of a dormant T.V, reflects our world warped and darkened, animating the distorted and disturbed.

The most common aspect of our predicted digital future seems to be the immersion of mind and tech, so it seems Charlie Brooker may not have been too far off, with much of his writing exploring the ethical issues surrounding the shift from smart phone to cyborg. This view is echoed by NPR Digital Strategist and Editor at NPR, Melody Kramer who writes:

"I'm pretty sure every time Apple's designers want to come up with a new product, they go into a room and watch Inspector Gadget...Gadget's real skill came from his endless collection of wearables...That's largely how I envision social media in the future. It will become part of the fabric of our clothes, part of the glasses we wear and the shoes we put on, and the gadgets we no longer see as gadgets but as part of our very selves. Social will measure, but sharing will become more passive in the process; it won't require any effort on our part to share any part of our lives. I say this knowing full well that to me this future is absolutely horrifying. It sounds more like an episode of "The Twilight Zone" than one of Inspector Gadget, and I really hope it doesn't come true. But as gadgets get smaller and we become more comfortable with quantifying more of ourselves, I suspect people like me will fade away, or at least be whispering..."

With the internet giving way to a new world of sociability and business, everyone is keen to know exactly how best to equip themselves to prosper in a digital future, rapidly evolving out of sight.

If we keep in mind that only one third of the world's population is currently online, the biggest problem social media looks to face is data management. Already there 46,296 YouTube videos viewed per second, 500 million tweets per day, 1.3 billion active Facebook users, and 60 million photos uploaded to Instagram. So with organisations, such as internet.org, that seek to connect the untapped two thirds of the globe, the research into the increase in data over the next few years, may itself, revolutionise the way we pass information. However, this data overload is not necessarily a problem, as explained by Director of Simply Measured Otis Kimzey who argues that:

"The most dramatic change by 2039 will not only be the amount of data that will be available to everyone but also the decision-making power of that data. We currently have thermostats that learn our preferences, watches that take our pulse, and Nike even knows how often and how fast we run, and this is just the beginning.
With this much data, personalized content will become the norm. I love unfiltered feeds, but in the future, when the depth of data available meets the ability to make decisions based off of that data, the result will be a very individualized and powerful experience. People will be able to get the content they want, at the time they want, from the people and brands they want, perhaps even on their projector watch or contact lens."

Born in the age of the dawning internet, we still view it as its own entity, and rightly so...technically. However, we can now see how deeply ingrained the internet has become in city life, it works behind the scenes leading us to take more notice of its absence than its presence. In generations to come, it will be the norm to be connected, so much so that the everyday person may not even question where it is that there connection comes from, or what it connects to. Much like electricity nowadays, of course a few school science lessons have explained the basics, but more and more we take for granted how are things are powered, pushing electricity behind the scenes, expected, and sometimes not appreciated. This is a school of thought demonstrated in the writing of Sarah Green, Harvard Business Review, Senior Associate Editor and Host of HBR Ideacast, who explains:

"My bet is that social will be less about standalone apps and websites and more about the "piping" of the Internet. In the future the Internet will operate more like electricity does today, as an unseen part of the infrastructure around us that we notice only when it's not present. This will put more pressure on advertisers, marketers, and big thinkers to spread their messages in a genuinely interesting and useful way, since they'll be less able to rely on interruptive display ads to get people's attention."

Going into the future our knowledge of the internet will snowball, leaving us an even broader arsenal of things to tinker with, sparking a paradigm shift from "what can the internet do?" to "What should we do with it?"

This question is already being answered on a global scale, by social commentators, scientists, and authors, however none know how the human race will react to such drastic changes, only time will tell. It's an interesting time to be living, on the precipice of global transformation. We will have the privilege of being a part of a generation who will die in world so absurdly different to the one we were born into, and we may even be the last to experience the beauty of both.

Contact us on , on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Does the Future Hold for Social Media?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
wallpaperhi.com A quick answer, bleak though it may be, would be found in flicking on an episode of Charlie Brooker's BlackMirror, which, like the silent, stilled screen of a dormant T.V, reflects our world warped and darkened, animating the distorted and disturbed.

# data[].attributes.headline
#Trashtag: The online challenge cleaning places up

# data[].attributes.subject
#Trashtag: The online challenge cleaning places up

# data[].attributes.headline
Today’s technology lets terrorists ‘become their own mass media,’ analyst says

# data[].attributes.subject
Today’s technology lets terrorists ‘become their own mass media,’ analyst says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the past, terrorists relied on mass media to propagate their messages but the internet has made it easier for them to spread their agenda, said Stewart, previously a special agent for the U.S. State Department who was involved in numerous terrorism investigations.

"One of the things that does need to be done is for people to shout out when they see things developing, and when they see these attacks coming down the pipe. A lot of people scoff at saying 'see something, say something' but it really works," he said, adding that there should be tools made available for people to report instances of radicalism on social media, chat rooms or even in real life.

"I think everybody shares a little bit of the responsibility."

Last Friday, a gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, and killed 50 people in what is said to be the country's worst ever peacetime mass killing. Dozens more were wounded, some of them critically. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the attack an act of terrorism.

The attacker left behind a lengthy document that stated he was a white nationalist who hates immigrants and was set off by attacks in Europe that were perpetrated by Muslims, the Associated Press reported. He was charged with murder on Saturday.

The shooter livestreamed the attacks on Facebook for 17 minutes using an app designed for extreme sports enthusiasts and copies of that video have reportedly been circulated around various social media platforms such as Twitter, Alphabet's YouTube and Facebook-owned Whatsapp and Instagram.

That led to many calling on social media giants to do more to crack down on online extremism.

Facebook reported in the first 24 hours since the shootings, that it had removed 1.5 million videos of the attack globally - 1.2 million of those were blocked during uploads. In a series of tweets, the social network said it is also removing all edited versions of the video that do not show graphic content.

Facebook tweet: In the first 24 hours we removed 1.5 million videos of the attack globally, of which over 1.2 million were blocked at upload...

The social network giant is reportedly building its own artificial intelligence chips that can help the company filter videos that violate its terms of services quicker.

For her part, Ardern said she plans to hold discussions with Facebook over the issue of livestreaming.
- The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Today's technology lets terrorists 'become their own mass media,' analyst says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the past, terrorists relied on mass media to propagate their messages but the internet has made it easier for them to spread their agenda, said Stewart, previously a special agent for the U.S. State Department who was involved in numerous terrorism investigations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ten years ago if someone would have said that over half of all adults in the United States would be using Facebook in order to learn about the news, no one would have believed them. Today, however, 62% of adults in the US report getting their news from social media, according to the Pew Research Center. Similarly, as technology continues to advance beyond social networking sites, it's poised to reshape the digital publishing industry and the way we consume our news in the coming decade.

With the rise of live streaming across all social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, it's no longer just a way for small channels to develop niche followings. Rather, it's becoming a new trend for engaging viewers and an avenue for news outlets to reach out to hundreds of thousands of people at a time.

With Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's huge investment into Facebook Live and rolling out of a dedicated space for live videos on the latest app, the market for live video will only get bigger as its over 1.5 billion users join the market of real-time feeds.

When the television first came out, audiences were stunned by the ability to witness scenes of war and combat for the first time on their screens. In more recent years, Twitter captivated the world by becoming a platform for citizens and activists in conflict zones to report incidents on the ground in real-time. In the future, virtual reality will take this one step further by combining both the concept of live streaming and immersive experiences into one.

With growing innovation in the field of virtual reality and the lowering prices of VR googles, including Google Cardboard, the possibilities of audience engagement are endless. Already, people were able to experience the Olympics from the comforts of their home using Samsung's VR goggles. Witnessing the news in similar ways is not too far off.
3. Data and Machine Learning
While not necessarily a "new" technology, data is only becoming bigger and more complex. We live in an era of information, in which more and more of what we own is collecting data on everything about us, from our recent messages to our exact location to how long we've been sitting in our chairs.

Ultimately, with the rise of so much data on our every interaction comes the ability to personalize content. As Piera Gelardi, the Creative Director of Refinery 29 states, "[w]e're already seeing increased personalization, more individual-to-individual communication, [and] more humanlike algorithms." As our ability to uncover insights from data increases over the next few years, the industry will be better able to capture trends and personalize content based on the user, creating a cohesive and powerful experience for the reader.

As technology continues to rapidly advance and change, it brings with it the promise of completely reshaping the way in which we consume content. With massive competition in the field of live streaming as well as the buy-in from Facebook, live streaming promises to become one of the major avenues for content distribution in the future. As more users seek out live and immersive experiences and as the technology continues to become cheaper, virtual reality goggles will allow consumers to understand the news in a completely different light. All of this comes with more and more data on users, which, if utilized correctly, can allow for better personalization.
This was originally posted on the Perpetual Change blog. Subscribe to get new posts directly in your inbox!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3 Future Technologies to Revolutionize Digital Publishing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ten years ago if someone would have said that over half of all adults in the United States would be using Facebook in order to learn about the news, no one would have believed them. Today, however, 62% of adults in the US report getting their news from social media, according to the Pew Research Center.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Future of digital journalism in question as BuzzFeed and HuffPost lay off 1,000

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Job losses follow sales or cuts at Mic, Refinery29 and elsewhere, but publishing as a whole had already shrunk sharply

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Instagram became the politicians' playground

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Free from viral abuse, Instagram has become our MPs' preferred platform to show off their human side

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Instagram bans 'graphic' self-harm images after Molly Russell's death

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media site announces action following criticism from British teenager's father

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36675260

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Alvin Toffler to address 'The Future of digital Media'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fox News reportedly killed Stormy Daniels story to help Trump win

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Diana Falzone 'had obtained proof' of alleged affair but was told: 'Rupert wants Donald Trump to win. So just let it go'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Donald K. Sherman
January 18, 2019
As the current shutdown of the federal government has passed the threshold for the longest in American history, many federal services remain on hold, leaving thousands of federal workers and the Americans that rely on them in dire financial straits. This human cost is real and is being felt in real time in communities across the country. Sadly, this shutdown is also imposing significant costs on democratic institutions that are less easily measured. Each day this shutdown persists leaves these institutions a little bit weaker and allows the Trump administration to operate with even less accountability.

Since the government shutdown began on December 22, 2018, many of the agencies and institutions that have provided a check on this administration's worst abuses remain hamstrung. For example, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is responsible for overseeing the entire executive branch ethics program and is a check on government officials who break ethics rules. In March 2017, OGE the White House to discipline Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway for violating federal regulations by endorsing Ivanka Trump's private business in a television interview from the White House. During the shutdown, OGE's operations are substantially limited to supporting the President's ability to nominate government officials and protecting the agency's information technology infrastructure and property.

The shutdown undermines OGE's ability to provide government-wide ethics guidance on significant issues facing government employees. For example, questions have arisen involving whether furloughed employees can use crowdfunding platforms such as gofundme.com to raise money to support their families basic needs like paying for rent or groceries, or whether they can volunteer to pick up trash at national parks. Agency Ethics Officials across the government who could address these questions may also be furloughed and prohibited by law from even responding.

OGE is not the only government watchdog whose work is threatened by the shutdown. In the first two years of the Trump Administration, ten administration officials, including then-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, have violated the by impermissibly using government resources for partisan politics. The agency responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act, the Office of Special Counse l, is currently closed "[d]ue to a lapse in appropriations." The agency's website advises that "[c]omplaints may still be filed, but most will not be addressed until OSC reopens." OSC currently has more than ten outstanding Hatch Act investigations following complaints from CREW, and those inquiries, and many others, may be on hold for further notice. The Federal Election Commission , whose mission includes "protect[ing] the integrity of the federal campaign finance process," is also "closed until it receives an appropriation to fund its operations." Many Offices of Inspector General (OIG), which investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies, are also by the . For example, despite numerous ethics scandals involving leadership at the Department of Interior, the agency's Inspector General complaint hotline "will not be monitored and will not accept voice messages."

The shutdown also presents a significant challenge to government transparency. One of the most curious discoveries of the shutdown has been that while the National Park Service (NPS) remains , NPS employees are on duty at the Old Post Office Building , the site of President Trump's hotel in Washington. Want to know how this decision was made? Good luck! During the shutdown, NPS and some other agencies are not accepting new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, so the public cannot request NPS documents explaining why rangers are working at Trump's hotel despite the shutdown. Even if potential wrongdoing by NPS is discovered, the shuttered Office of Inspector General might be unable to investigate.

Many agencies have stopped processing FOIAs, including one related to Acting Environmental Protection Administration Administrator Wheeler's conflicts of interests, which could have been relevant to his nomination hearing. Good government groups have also been fighting to receive the Department of Justice's (DOJ) legal opinions about the President's threats to declare a national emergency to fund his border wall, another potential affront to democracy. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's website, its operations are shuttered with a few limited exceptions. Agencies impacted by the shutdown have also stopped updating their websites with vital information.

The Trump administration has even used the shutdown as an excuse to undermine congressional oversight. DOJ delayed setting a date for Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to appear the House Judiciary Committee citing complications from the government shutdown as one of the reasons.

As the longest shutdown in American history persists, it is hard to ignore the consequences for millions of Americans employed by the federal government or who rely on critical government services. Less attention, however, has been paid to the devastating impact of the shutdown on ethics and accountability in government. For an administration that has habitually ignored ethics and transparency rules, this shutdown provides an opportunity to further erode key norms. While it is important to measure the cost of this shutdown in dollars and cents, we must not forget the untold costs to our democratic institutions as well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Trump Shutdown is an Ethics Problem Too - CREW

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Donald K. Sherman January 18, 2019As the current shutdown of the federal government has passed the threshold for the longest in American history, many federal services remain on hold, leaving thousands of federal workers and the Americans that rely on them in dire financial straits.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Technology doesn't police itself. New technologies require us to pay attention, voice our concerns constructively, and demand accountability when people are harmed.

For the seventh year in a row, I've released a list of ten technologies that people should be aware of in the hopes of giving non-experts a window into what's going on in labs around the world. The goal has always been to raise some of the ethical and policy issues that surround these technologies, not to scare anyone, but to drive home just how much the average American might be unaware of when it comes to what's coming down the pipeline or already in their homes, potentially doing harm.

Over the years, the list has touched on everything from healthcare innovations to biased algorithms and advanced military weaponry. And while there's been the occasional entry on head transplants and cyborg roaches, most of these issues will touch us all in some way. Our most challenging task will be to try to de-politicize as many of these discussions as possible so that we can truly talk things out. Of course, when it comes to implementing policy (or even suggesting that policy is the right way to approach an issue), politics creep right back in. Clearly, we've got a lot of work ahead of us before we can make headway, but that only means we better get on it as soon as possible.

In 2019, the list includes some technology you've definitely heard of (such as 5G) and some that will come as a surprise. If you'd like to see lists from previous years (as well as some further reading recommendations), you can go here. In the meantime, here are the 2019 entries for the Tech Top 10 List:

Pet cloning: For $25k-$50k, you can now clone your cat or dog. However, there are no guarantees you'll get a new pet that looks or acts like your old one, and the animal-lovers out there would do well to note that the host animals used to gestate clones have a pretty miserable life. Is it right to invest in this technology when there are so many animals in need of homes already out there?

DIY neurohacking: At-home neurostimulation devices have hit the market, but plans for making your own are all over the Internet. Customers hope that zapping their brains with a small electrical current will help improve everything from memory to attention, but we don't know the long-term effects of neurostimulation. Combine that with high hopes and a few extra zaps with the intention of superpowering your brain and you've got a recipe for potential disaster. Should there be some kind of oversight, or should we let people do whatever they want to their brains? What about parents who let their children use such a device in the hopes of boosting their grades?

Behavioral biometrics: Forget PINs and passwords. More institutions are now using hand-eye coordination, the angle at which you hold your device, finger pressure, hand tremors, navigation patterns, and other hand movements to judge whether you're really you when you log into an app. We all want to be protected from hackers, but we might also want to think about how this information is being collected, stored, and used. Do we have a right to know what our behavioral profiles look like? Will we have to sue companies to get the information?

5G: 5G is on its way, but it's not here yet, despite the false promises of companies like AT&T. With speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, 5G has the ability to change the world by enabling speed-of-thought communication. But 5G is also an enormous and expensive infrastructural undertaking and will require new regulatory frameworks. Devices will have to be replaced to take advantage of the new network, increasing the amount of electronic waste we produce. Rural areas that still have incredibly slow wifi will be further left in the dust as the digital divide deepens. And to top it off, it will require an enormous amount of energy to run, far more than we're able to produce through renewables. None of this will stop 5G from coming, but what should we be doing now to help prepare?

The datafication of children: Children don't have any right to privacy when it comes to their parents. That's why it's so alarming that parents are the biggest violators of their kids' privacy. Ultrasound photos on Facebook and live updates from the delivery room mean children now have digital footprints before they're even born. And because any data that can be hacked will, we've already seen children and their families extorted for money as a result. The FBI even recently warned that kids are at risk in school as well and hackers have already stolen academic and behavioral data from thousands of schools. What does this mean for your child's future, especially in an era when background checks are ubiquitous and all-knowing?

reate genetically modified insects that can deliver viruses to plants. The viruses deliver new genes to the plants in an effort to make them more resistant to climate change and human interference. But it's easy to argue that they can just as easily Insect Allies: DARPA's military research can always be counted on for a good scare. It's some of the strangest and most cutting-edge research in the world and while it's designed for national security, it often raises a lot of ethical issues. Their Insect Allies Project has been around for a while, but has recently received more attention. The goal is to c be used to decimate crops and wipe out the food supply of millions of people. Is this a biological weapon? Will it motivate other countries to develop the technology in defense?

use of interconnected sensors, a company called Sidewalk Labs (which is a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google) want to monitor traffic, pedestrians, weather, pollution, building occupancy, and sewage. But these sensors will track people and everything they do in an effort to create the smartest city possible, and that can't happen without the help of a lot of third-party entities that need access to this data. If Sidewalk Labs wants the support of Toronto's citizens, Sidewalk Labs: If you really want an example of how the public should comment on new innovations, look to Toronto where citizens are concerned about a new project designed to create a hyper-efficient city in an underutilized 12-acre area called Quayside. Through the they're going to have to answer some questions about where the data is going and how they plan to remediate any damage they cause to people or the environment.

Autonomous translation: Companies like Microsoft are currently trying to build AI that can perform real-time translations of human speech. But language is wildly complex and our slang and idioms make it difficult for a computer to get a good enough translation to trust it in tricky situations like military engagements. But translators aren't always available, so we have no choice but to keep working on the technology. Despite its inevitable march forward, it's worth thinking about whether you'd put your life in the hands of a translating computer.

harmaceutical companies recruit physicians to lead small studies on new drugs or devices and then publish the results. It's already a conflict of interest when the researchers get paid by the companies, but it becomes even more complicated when the doctors have a vested interest in insisting their study was successful and encourage other healthcare workers to try it with their patients. It's not good science, but Seeding trials: Of course, pharmaceutical companies and their affiliated researchers would never admit to participating in seeding trials, but they've become a common marketing ploy to get doctors familiar with new drugs and their potential off-label uses. P it's brilliant marketing.

The "Sarco" suicide machine: Let's not get this mixed up with the right-to-die movement going on around the world because the "Sarco" takes the issue to a whole new level. This machine was created and displayed this year by Australian euthanasia activist Philip Nitschke, who plans to revolutionize the way we die by selling the 3-D printing schematics to a suicide machine in 2019. While you can download and print it yourself, you'll have to take an online test to make sure you're fit to make the decision and then Nitschke will send you a passcode good to activate the machine for 24 hours. Upon activation, nitrogen will spill into the pod and knock you out before you die of asphyxiation. It's apparently painless and on offer to anyone over the age of 50, regardless of whether or not they're sick. Nitschke insists that anyone who has lived that long and wants to bow out of going on any longer deserves to make that decision for themselves. So, is this a dignified way to end a life without making things messy and traumatic for onlookers and rescue workers? Or a gimmick that encourages healthy people to end their lives?

While the issues above are interesting (and sometimes disturbing) to discuss, they're meant to bring up more important questions about what we even have the right to control (that is, if we even have the energy to try to control something so complex). It's easy to get fatigued by a long list of technologies that seem to be already spiraling out of control, but the point is not to overwhelm but empower.

If we can take just a moment to think about the ethical issues first, before things go sideways, we'll be one step closer to controlling our destinies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tech Ethics Issues We Should All Be Thinking About In 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology doesn't police itself. New technologies require us to pay attention, voice our concerns constructively, and demand accountability when people are harmed. For the seventh year in a row, I've released a list of ten technologies that people should be aware of in the hopes of giving non-experts a window into what's going on in labs around the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A federal appeals court has upheld AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner, dealing a blow to Trump administration lawyers who had tried to stop the deal.

The Trump administration sued to stop the deal back in 2017, arguing that having AT&T as a corporate parent would give Time Warner too much leverage in negotiations with other cable and satellite network providers. A trial judge, Richard Leon, rejected that argument last June, allowing the deal to officially close a few days later. Now his ruling has been upheld by the DC Circuit Appeals Court.

Media conglomerates like Time Warner engage in periodic negotiations with distributors like Comcast and AT&T. In these negotiations, each party threatens to end their relationship if they don't get favorable financial terms. But each party also has an incentive not to take too hard a line because failing to reach an agreement could mean a content blackout that's expensive for both sides.

Government lawyers argued that allowing AT&T to own Time Warner could upset the balance of the industry. That's because in many cases Time Warner will be negotiating with a phone, cable or satellite company that is a competitor of AT&T. In the event of a blackout, some customers would switch from an AT&T competitor to AT&T (or to DirecTV, the satellite television provider owned by AT&T). That means that Time Warner could afford to take a harder line in negotiations, ultimately earning higher licensing fees that could get passed on to consumers.

Unsurprisingly, AT&T's experts had a different point of view. They argued empirical data from previous mergers, including Comcast's 2011 merger with NBC, showed that mergers had no measurable impact on the prices of television content.

The government faced an uphill battle here because appeals courts apply a deferential standard when they're reviewing this kind of antitrust ruling. The DC Circuit said it would only overrule Judge Leon's ruling if they found that Leon had made a "clear error."

In its ruling, the DC Circuit held that the government had failed to make that case. "Evidence indicated that the industry has become dynamic in recent years with the emergence, for example, of Netflix and Hulu," the DC Circuit held. "In this evidentiary context, the government's objections that the district court misunderstood and misapplied economic principles and clearly erred in rejecting the quantitative model are unpersuasive."

The Trump administration could appeal its defeat to the Supreme Court, but it has not indicated whether it will do so.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Appeals court rejects government bid to reverse AT&T/Time Warner deal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A federal appeals court has upheld AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner, dealing a blow to Trump administration lawyers who had tried to stop the deal. The Trump administration sued to stop the deal back in 2017, arguing that having AT&T as a corporate parent would give Time Warner too much leverage in negotiations with other cable and satellite network providers.

# data[].attributes.body
Alter Ego developed by the MIT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
AlterEgo: Interfacing with devices through silent speech

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
From connected and addressable TV to augmented reality and esports, demand for personalized content hit an all-time peak in 2018. The media will continue to grow and innovate, as consumers seek more personalized and relevant content experiences.

Those who ultimately package and deliver this content will also evolve, opening up an increasingly deeper understanding of consumers.

This sentiment and the following three associated trends will define the 2019 media landscape:

1. Identity will eclipse the cookie

As the experience economy continues to provide free, specialized, app-based subscription services, consumers are becoming more comfortable sharing personal information in exchange for valuable, customized services.

What does this mean for brands and advertisers? The short answer is this: In 2019, identity will eclipse the cookie.

A greater availability and understanding of personally identifiable data is allowing marketers and media companies (in a privacy-compliant fashion) to connect the dots with consumers across every single touchpoint. That means smarter, more connected and personalized experiences from brands, content and experience providers.

No doubt there is likely to be more regulation, which may seem cumbersome. But in reality, it will, over time, improve the relationship between people, data and the companies that use it to create concierge services.

This wealth of identity-based information lessens the importance of and reliance on digital cookie measurement, making it highly likely businesses that once thrived on leveraging cookie data, but can't make the leap to identity, will struggle.

Look for the rise of companies that leverage identity vs. the cookie and a more personalized brand and services ecosystem benefiting from true personalization.

2. TV Keeps on Keepin' On

Much to the chagrin of many pundits, 2019 will not tell the story of TV's demise. It will remain a central character in a story of fast-evolving connected household entertainment.

Sure, there are some big, new players on the block. The decline in traditional-bundled TV subscriptions and ratings, along with the rise of new streaming over-the-top content providers - Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, skinny bundles, and "virtual MVPDs" - have challenged legacy ad-supported, linear TV business models.

But let's be clear. The most progressive legacy TV companies aren't sitting on their hands.

Unlike past legacy industry sectors that held on too long to old business models, they've been evolving their programming, distribution, data, advertising and subscription business models almost on pace with consumers' rapid adoption of new technologies and services.

Remember one thing - where you watch amazing content. On your TV, tablet and laptop - the best available screen at the time, but still largely inside the home. There are new and fast-growing players and new distribution models, both ad-supported and not, and we consume it across more screens.

But folks, it's all still TV.

The media industry often assumes the growth of something new must always result in something long-established being knocked off the pedestal. I see an expanded and ever-changing ecosystem that's created something more personalized, more relevant, and better in almost every way, for both consumers and marketers.

2019 is the year that everyone, including the media industry, embraces that.

3. From Unbundling to Rebundling

The power of multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) is their ability to bring quality content and choice to consumers at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, in this age of increasing personalization, what once was considered a value is now considered a tax.

That's given rise to the new "skinny bundle" (Sling, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, etc.), and the constantly evolving a-la-carte models available today.

At the same time, audiences are slimming down their cable bundles, adding more new-world streaming programmers to their personal lineup, which has placed the onus of aggregating and discovering content on us. With all the established and new streaming services popping up every month, the connected living room is lifting our monthly bills right back up.

In 2019 and beyond, what was old will become new again. A new-world type of "operator" will emerge that bundles together all the best of linear/live, streaming, subscription and ad-supported content.

Using Amazon Prime as the model, rather than free shipping, along with your content, some of them might just bundle in a free trip to Disney or Universal Park, a new iPhone or your monthly software or wireless service.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
identity will eclipse the cookie.that means smarter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
more connected and personalized experiences from brands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
content and experience providers. 01/16/2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3 Key Trends Expected To Impact The Media Landscape

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From connected and addressable TV to augmented reality and esports, demand for personalized content hit an all-time peak in 2018. The media will continue to grow and innovate, as consumers seek more personalized and relevant content experiences. Those who ultimately package and deliver this content will also evolve, opening up an increasingly deeper understanding of consumers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Disney is betting big on its 2019 streaming service called Disney+.

With Disney CEO Bob Iger calling the streaming service the company's "biggest priority" for 2019, the company is ending its streaming deal with Netflix so it can launch its own service as the exclusive streaming home for Disney movies, TV shows and other original programming.

Most of the programming planned for Disney+ leans into the company's franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. Captain Marvel, the Brie Larson superhero flick coming to theaters in March, will be the first of its films to stream on Disney+ rather than Netflix.

If you're feeling monthly fee fatigue, sorry, but that's the direction the entertainment business is headed. Netflix trots out original shows and movies on a near daily basis. CBS is pumping its CBS All Access service full of Star Trek shows and other original programs. (Editors' note: CBS is CNET's parent company.) NBCUniversal, HBO-owner WarnerMedia and are all building their own streaming services. Even DC Entertainment now has its DC Universe streaming service full of shows, movies and comics.

And then there's Hulu, which will be controlled by Disney after its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Once Disney+ launches, you'll need to remember to subscribe to Hulu too if you want Disney's edgier material, like four planned Marvel cartoons aimed at adults. Disney+ is where all the company's family-friendly content will live.

So is the 2019 Disney+ streaming service something worth paying for? The details that we know so far are below, but basically: If you love Star Wars or Marvel movies, you may find yourself considering yet another subscription before the year is out.

On Nov. 8, Disney announced a Star Wars prequel series based on and starring Diego Luna, who played Cassian Andor in the original movie. Disney also confirmed the service is developing a live-action Marvel series focused on Loki, a character from the Avengers, which will star Tom Hiddleston reprising the role. Also, the Marvel Defenders shows Netflix has cancelled -- like Daredevil and Luke Cage -- could be revived for Disney+.

What's the Disney streaming service?

Disney+ streaming service will be a competitor to video streaming services like Netflix. Customers will be able to subscribe with a still-unannounced monthly fee to get access to TV shows, movies and other content from the world of Disney.

Disney's other streaming services -- Hulu and sports-focused ESPN+--will run on the same tech platform so you can subscribe to them with the same password and credit card info. But Disney plans for all three to be individual subscriptions.

ESPN+ will, clearly, focus on sports. Hulu is expected to continue to stream content from three of the broadcast networks and its own original series, like The Handmaid's Tale and Castle Rock. Hulu will also be where Disney streams its more adult-oriented fare. It's where a new Marvel collection of grown-up animated series will stream, and it's like where Deadpool-like content will live once Disney takes over Fox.

Disney+ is supposed to include all of Disney's family-friendly fare. It'll have content from Disney proper, Marvel, Lucasfilm (so: Star Wars), Pixar and National Geographic.

When's the release date?

You'll be waiting even longer than for this. Disney says it's shooting for a release in late 2019.

The company is expected to reveal many of the specifics about Disney+ on April 11, when it'll hold an investor meeting to detail all its streaming plans, including a "first look" at Disney+ and some of the programming it's producing for it.

How much will it cost?

Disney hasn't yet announced pricing for its streaming service, but expect it to cost less than Netflix.

Iger said in November 2017 that his company's service price will reflect the "fact that it will have substantially less volume" but plans to make up for it with high-quality programming from across its entertainment empire. More than a year later, however, Iger said the company still hadn't decided what it'll charge.

How will this affect Disney stuff on Netflix?

Disney will mostly disappear from Netflix by late 2019.

Since 2016, Netflix has been the first place to watch Disney's movies with a subscription. That deal meant Netflix was the go-to place for the biggest US blockbusters of the last three years. The top two movies of 2017 and the top three movies of 2016 and 2018 were all from Disney, and Netflix has been the place to binge them all.

But Disney decided against renewing that Netflix deal as it plotted its own competitor. Starting with Disney's 2019 slate of movies, all those films are destined for Disney+. That means Captain Marvel, the first movie Disney is releasing theatrically in 2019, will be the first movie Netflix misses out on.

Netflix's Marvel Defenders shows are complicated, though. Netflix has put out five original series based on Defenders characters in partnership in with Disney. In 2018, Netflix canceled three of them: Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Kevin Mayer, the Disney executive in charge of Disney+, has said Disney+ could possibly revive the canceled shows. But the terms of their original deal could restrict Disney+ from any revivals until 2020, according to a report.

At the same time, Netflix still has subsequent seasons of other Defenders series -- Jessica Jones and The Punisher -- set to come out in 2019. So some of the Defenders gang is staying at Netflix for the time being.

Shows and movies: What will I be able to watch?

Disney plans to make Disney+ the catch-all for its family-friendly content, while Hulu -- which Disney will control after its takeover of 21st Century Fox -- will be its subscription for edgier, more adult-oriented fare. Disney+ will be the only place you can stream all of Disney's theatrically released movies starting with its 2019 slate. That includes content from the Disney brand itself, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic. In fact, it's organizing the service's app by those exact categories.

In addition to live-action shows and movies, animation is supposed to be "integral" to Disney+, Iger has said. Disney+ will have original behind-the-scenes documentaries, too. Out of the vast library of Disney's past catalog, Disney+ is supposed to offer "thousands of hours" of content, but we don't know yet exactly what will be included.

The company also has started to make deals for original programming that doesn't already fall into one of its established brands. In January, Disney+ ordered a 10-episode series called Diary of a Female President. The show follows a 12-year-old Cuban-American girl and the highs and lows of her middle-school life en route to becoming the US commander in chief.

Even though all of Disney's movies will stream exclusively on Disney+, the company doesn't plan to debut any of its big-budget motion pictures, like those in its Star Wars franchise, on the service. Unlike Netflix's so-called day-and-date approach, which releases most of its films on big screens and on its streaming service at the same time, Disney plans to let its tentpole movies run their course in theaters before making them available with a Disney+ digital subscription.

We do know the service will include shows and movies such as:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars new season (exclusive to this service).

Marvel movies, starting with 2019's Captain Marvel.

Star Wars films, starting with 2019's .

Pixar films, starting with 2019's Toy Story 4.

A live-action, big-budget Star Wars TV series called The Mandalorian, being developed by Jon Favreau.

A Star Wars Rogue One prequel TV series, starring Diego Luna.

A live-action Marvel series focused on Avengers character Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston.

Possible Marvel series that could star Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), according to Variety.

Possible Marvel series that would team up Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson, aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie), according to Slashfilm.

An animated series based on Pixar's Monsters Inc.

A 10-episode series, Diary of a Female President, about a 12-year-old Cuban-American girl.

A documentary about Walt Disney Imagineering.

A Timmy Failure film directed by Spotlight's Tom McCarthy.

A live-action Lady and the Tramp remake.

A Sword in the Stone remake.

Noelle, a movie starring Anna Kendrick.

Togo, a sled dog movie starring Willem Dafoe.

A Three Men and a Baby remake.

The Paper Magician film.

A Stargirl film.

A High School Musical series.

A possible Muppets series.

What shows and movies do you want to appear on Disney's streaming service? Pop them into the comments section and we'll keep updating this post with more information as it becomes available.

This piece was first published Aug. 27, 2018, and is updated as more news arrives.

Star Wars Episode 9 is on its way: Here's what we know about the final Skywalker film, from the cast to the release date and title.

Everything we know about Captain Marvel: Grab your pager and get ready to head back to the 1990s with the newest Marvel heroine.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Disney+ streaming service: Release date, price, shows and movies to expect

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Disney is betting big on its 2019 streaming service called Disney+. With Disney CEO Bob Iger calling the streaming service the company's "biggest priority" for 2019, the company is ending its streaming deal with Netflix so it can launch its own service as the exclusive streaming home for Disney movies, TV shows and other original programming.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Bavaria Film continues to move forward as a modern film and television group while looking back on a legacy that has shaped Germany's cinematic landscape.

Established in 1919 as Münchener Lichtspielkunst near Munich, Bavaria's history spans silent film and talking pictures, the onset of television and the modern digital era. Among the countless films that have shot at Bavaria's studios are such diverse works as Elia Kazan's 1953 thriller "Man on a Tightrope," Robert Wise's beloved "The Sound of Music" and Oliver Stone's eye-opening "Snowden."

Today one of Germany's main film and TV producers and a leading provider of studio services, Bavaria ranked fourth last year among the country's top producers in terms of production revenue. Fremantle's UFA was at No. 1 with €240 million ($273 million), followed by Constantin Film, Studio Hamburg and Bavaria with $176 million.

Bavaria, which generated total annual sales of some $285 million last year, is active in all aspects of content production and distribution. Despite its illustrious cinematic past, however, its attention in recent years has been squarely on television, where it boasts some of the country's most successful TV series.

That is changing, however. Bavaria is intensifying its feature film production activities. Last year the company appointed Markus Zimmer as CEO of Bavaria Film Production, the group's main feature film division. Zimmer, who spent two decades at Tele München Group as a producer and head of theatrical distribution before stepping down in 2016, will oversee development of in-house feature film productions, and serve as the contact for international producers who intend to shoot in Germany, or are looking for co-financing partners in the country. Zimmer fills a position left empty since the 2014 departure of Uschi Reich, Bavaria's former head of film production.

"We are working on a slate of diverse genres," says Achim Rohnke, Bavaria's group managing director. "Bavaria was very well positioned in family entertainment with Uschi Reich and we will certainly be there again. We are also looking at other genres with an eye towards commercial projects." Rohnke is retiring in March and Bavaria has appointed TV exec Iris Ostermaier as the next CFO.

On the TV front, the company has enjoyed massive success with World War II series " Das Boot," one of its most recent high-profile productions. Marking the first collaboration between Bavaria and Sky Deutschland, the ambitious miniseries is part of a rising tide of German TV productions driven in part by the arrival of subscription VOD players like Netflix, Amazon and Deutsche Telekom.

"The entry of Amazon and Netflix has created a resurgence in the industry after years of a staid, unchanging market," says Bavaria CEO Christian Franckenstein. "With Netflix and Amazon, the whole structure has been forced into movement. We have seen an immediate effect by gaining new clients. The indirect effect is much more noticeable for the industry. Sat.1 is producing series again; RTL and Vox, they are all sharpening their profiles via fictional content. For the production industry, it is a very noticeable effect. Overall demand is rising, the entire sector seems to be fully occupied. Even prices have begun to increase, however not sufficiently to cover cost increases."

Bavaria has traditionally worked closely with Germany's public networks as its shareholders include regional pubcasters WDR, SWR, MDR and BR, but it is embracing the new opportunities presented by the booming market. Bavaria partnered with Netflix, Austria's ORF and Satel Film on the upcoming "Freud," and with Amazon, Deutsche Telekom and France's Telfrance on the comedy series "Deutsch-Les-Landes," which will stream exclusively in Germany on the telco giant's Magenta TV platform. Last year it completed the series "Arctic Circle," an international co-production for Finnish outlets Elisa Viihde and YLE.

"We are meeting the demand for new content from all of the main platforms," says Franckenstein. "We are gaining experience just like we gained very positive experience with Sky. These are different types of clients. We come from the traditional area of commissioned productions and our crew is adjusting to the different demands of our new partners."

With the current trend toward high-quality series, the German government's recently increased federal film and TV production funding is likely to boost business. Franckenstein points out that in 2019, the industry will have access for the first time to $170 million in film and TV funding from the combined pots overseen by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

"It's a very good message for the TV industry. Everything is moving in the right direction," says Franckenstein.

Millions more in production coin are available from nine other federal and regional subsidies. Franckenstein notes that Germany's myriad funding options may pose a challenge to international producers.

"It's not always easy and we know that our foreign partners need reliability and transparency. Bavaria is very competent in this area and we are happy to help."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
German Giant Bavaria Looks Ahead to Changing Media Landscape

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Bavaria Film continues to move forward as a modern film and television group while looking back on a legacy that has shaped Germany's cinematic landscape. Established in 1919 as Münchener Lichtspielkunst near Munich, Bavaria's history spans silent film and talking pictures, the onset of television and the modern digital era.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Researchers believe they have identified the prime driver for a startling rise in the number of people who think the Earth is flat: Google's video-sharing site, YouTube.

Their suspicion was raised when they attended the world's largest gatherings of Flat Earthers at the movement's annual conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2017, and then in Denver, Colorado, last year.

Flat Earth rising: meet the people casting aside 2,500 years of science - video

Interviews with 30 attendees revealed a pattern in the stories people told about how they came to be convinced that the Earth was not a large round rock spinning through space but a large flat disc doing much the same thing.

Of the 30, all but one said they had not considered the Earth to be flat two years ago but changed their minds after watching videos promoting conspiracy theories on YouTube. "The only person who didn't say this was there with his daughter and his son-in-law and they had seen it on YouTube and told him about it," said Asheley Landrum, who led the research at Texas Tech University.

The interviews revealed that most had been watching videos about other conspiracies, with alternative takes on 9/11, the Sandy Hook school shooting and whether Nasa really went to the moon, when YouTube offered up Flat Earth videos for them to watch next.

Some said they watched the videos only in order to debunk them but soon found themselves won over by the material.

Landrum said one of the most popular Flat Earth videos, "200 proofs Earth is not a spinning ball" appears to be effective because it offers arguments that appeal to so many mindsets, from biblical literalists and conspiracy theorists to those of a more scientific bent.

One way or another, the interviewees found themselves believers and before long were asking "where is the curve?" and "why is the horizon always at eye level?"

The Flat Earth conference in Denver, Colorado, in November 2018. Photograph: Josiah Hesse/The Guardian

Landrum, who presented her results at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington DC, said she did not think YouTube was doing anything overtly wrong, but said that if the site wanted to help it could tweak its algorithm to show more accurate information.

"There's a lot of helpful information on YouTube but also a lot of misinformation," Landrum said. "Their algorithms make it easy to end up going down the rabbit hole, by presenting information to people who are going to be more susceptible to it."

"Believing the Earth is flat in of itself is not necessarily harmful, but it comes packaged with a distrust in institutions and authority more generally," she added. "We want people to be critical consumers of the information they are given, but there is a balance to be had."

Landrum called on scientists and others to create their own YouTube videos to combat the proliferation of conspiracy videos. "We don't want YouTube to be full of videos saying here are all these reasons the Earth is flat. We need other videos saying here's why those reasons aren't real and here's a bunch of ways you can research it for yourself."

But she conceded that some Flat Earthers may not be swayed by a scientists' words. When the US astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explained how small sections of large curved surfaces will always appear flat to the little creatures that crawl upon it, his message was seen by some Flat Earthers as patronising and dismissive, Landrum said.

"There's always going to be a small percentage of people who will reject anything that scientists put out there but maybe there's a group in the middle that won't," she added. "The only tool we have to battle misinformation is to try and overwhelm it with better information."

Google did not respond to a request for comment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Study blames YouTube for rise in number of Flat Earthers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Conspiracy theories shown on video-sharing site persuade people to doubt Earth is round

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The government is to outline new powers for the media regulator Ofcom to police social media.

It is supposed to make the companies protect users from content involving things like violence, terrorism, cyber-bullying and child abuse.

Companies will have to ensure that harmful content is removed quickly and take steps to prevent it appearing in the first place.

They had previously relied largely on self-governance. Sites such as YouTube and Facebook have their own rules about what is unacceptable and the way that users are expected to behave towards one another.

Self-governance

The video-sharing site owned by Google said that 8.8m videos were taken down between July and September 2019, with 93% of them automatically removed by machines, and two thirds of those clips not receiving a single view.

It also removed 3.3 million channels and 517 million comments.

Globally, YouTube employs 10,000 people in monitoring and removing content, as well as policy development.

Between July and September 2019 it took action on 30.3 million pieces of content of which it found 98.4% before any users flagged it.

If illegal content, such as "revenge pornography" or extremist material, is posted on a social media site, it has previously been the person who posted it, rather than the social media companies, who was most at risk of prosecution. But that may now change.

So if the UK has previously mainly relied on social media platforms governing themselves, what do other countries do?

Germany

Germany's NetzDG law came into effect at the beginning of 2018, applying to companies with more than two million registered users in the country.

They were forced to set up procedures to review complaints about content they were hosting, remove anything that was clearly illegal within 24 hours and publish updates every six months about how they were doing.

Individuals may be fined up to €5m ($5.6m; £4.4m) and companies up to €50m for failing to comply with these requirements.

The government issued its first fine under the new law to Facebook in July 2019. The company had to pay €2m (£1.7m) for under-reporting illegal activity on its platforms in Germany, although the company complained that the new law had lacked clarity.

European Union

The EU is considering a clampdown, specifically on terror videos.

The EU also introduced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which set rules on how companies, including social media platforms, store and use people's data.

Previous legislation only required the platforms to take down such content if it was pointed out to them.

Member states have until 2021 to implement the directive into their domestic law.

Australia

Australia passed the Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material Act in 2019, introducing criminal penalties for social media companies, possible jail sentences for tech executives for up to three years and financial penalties worth up to 10% of a company's global turnover.

In 2015, the Enhancing Online Safety Act created an eSafety Commissioner with the power to demand that social media companies take down harassing or abusive posts. In 2018, the powers were expanded to include revenge porn.

The eSafety Commissioner's office can issue companies with 48-hour "takedown notices", and fines of up to 525,000 Australian dollars (£285,000). But it can also fine individuals up to A$105,000 for posting the content.

The legislation was introduced after the death of Charlotte Dawson, a TV presenter and a judge on Australia's Next Top Model, who killed herself in 2014 following a campaign of cyber-bullying against her on Twitter. She had a long history of depression.

Russia

Russia's data laws from 2015 required social media companies to store any data about Russians on servers within the country.

China

Sites such as Twitter, Google and WhatsApp are blocked in China. Their services are provided instead by Chinese providers such as Weibo, Baidu and WeChat.

Chinese authorities have also had some success in restricting access to the virtual private networks that some users have employed to bypass the blocks on sites.

China has hundreds of thousands of cyber-police, who monitor social media platforms and screen messages that are deemed to be politically sensitive.

Some keywords are automatically censored outright, such as references to the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident.

New words that are seen as being sensitive are added to a long list of censored words and are either temporarily banned, or are filtered out from social platforms.

This piece was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated to reflect the Ofcom proposals and more recent statistics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social media: How do other governments regulate it?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the UK government announces its plans, what are its options for regulating the firms?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Becoming Human: Artificial Intelligence Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Communication is an essential part of the human experience. Being such an instrumental aspect of life, it's only natural that we expand upon it, making it more comfortable, more efficient, and give us the ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere on the globe. Technology has long been a driving factor behind making communication much more natural and far-reaching, such as the telephone and fax machines. However, more recent technologies are radically changing the way that we communicate with each other.

AI and related technologies  - IoT, machine learning, automation, etc. - have found their way into almost every industry, with benefits too valuable to be ignored. One such advantage is communication, which AI has refined, reformed, and otherwise revolutionized into a practical and accessible necessity of all aspects of life. How instrumental of a role has AI played in our human interaction?

AI Across Generations

When was the last time you sat down, wrote a handwritten letter, mailed it across the country, and waited for an answer letter back? Chances are that it's been a long time. Older forms of communication are quickly becoming outdated due to the enormous improvements AI and the IoT has brought to communicating with others. This connectivity has made communication faster, easier, and more convenient, prompting every generation to become more capable of mastering these new technologies to keep up with new forms of communication.

Older baby boomers are enjoying the ease in which they can email and post on social media while millennials and Gen Y are driving forces for these and new forms of communication. The newer generations are propelling these technologies even further as they are born into this technological era, and are therefore very tech savvy. Since they have all been brought up in the tech and digital world, it is effortless for them to grasp and adapt to AI and the IoT. Younger generations are able to talk and send pictures and video to their grandparents and vice versa. Furthermore, this communication is instant, allowing for more frequent connections - not just between family, but for all humans with an internet connection.

Trending AI Articles:

1. Machines Demonstrate Self-Awareness

2. Visual Music & Machine Learning Workshop for Kids

3. Part-of-Speech tagging tutorial with the Keras Deep Learning library

AI in The Workplace

Communication in the workplace is critical for any and all business operations. In many cases, AI has changed business communications to transform whole industries and the roles of employees within them. There are tools and apps with cross-platform compatibility, enabling fast and effective communication through all departments of a business. Employees can relay information between themselves, to customers, and to the general public often on a single device or, if need be, several different devices for on the go.

Many messenger tools include automation and bots that can assist in setting reminder alerts, scheduling, organizing tasks and priorities, and even setting automated responses for replying to emails. This automation cuts down time on repetitive and mundane duties and makes time for employees to focus on the more complicated matters. In this way, AI allows for the increased productivity and collaboration for business operations. AI and automation can be integrated into messaging tools, projects, and customer management programs, making just about any communication needs of a company much faster and easier.

AI Assisting Humanitarian Efforts

Whether it be a natural or man-made, disasters can cause significant panic and confusion. During these horrific times - school shootings, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions - people can get displaced and may require first aid, food, or other resources. In these hours of need, communication and guidance are paramount to console survivors and get them out of harm's way.

AI and its advancement of communication is showing to be extremely helpful to disaster relief accomplishments. Real-time mapping can be coordinated to show organizations where it is too dangerous to go, and where the ideal location would be to plan their relief efforts. Google People Finder was created to allow people to post and search for posts about a disaster and making it easier to alert and notify those not affected who may be able to help. Survivors can disclose their location or if they are injured or not for family members and emergency crews. Additionally, predictive analytics are being used to predict weather patterns to better forecast floods, fires, and earthquakes to warn people - minimizing human injuries and casualties in the event of a disaster.

If we were to take AI out of communication technologies, many aspects of life would fail. At this point, communication relies on AI and related technology and will only continue to do so. AI is being improved upon every day, and each improvement will bring a faster, more comfortable, or more efficient way of communication for humans to utilize.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Has AI Changed The Way Humans Communicate - Becoming Human: Artificial Intelligence Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Communication is an essential part of the human experience. Being such an instrumental aspect of life, it's only natural that we expand upon it, making it more comfortable, more efficient, and give us the ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere on the globe.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this article, we'll cover how technology has enhanced the quality of life for seniors lives in and out of the home. Technology's advancements have provided quicker ways to communicate through instant messaging apps and social media platforms. Seniors are able to keep in touch with loved ones, while caregivers have new avenues to check in on aging parents or patients.

Technology has also given us brand new devices in recent decades, like smartwatches, tablets, and voice assistant devices. With these devices, we can do things like transfer money instantly and make purchases for everything from clothes, food delivery, groceries, furniture, and more. Technology has changed how we entertain ourselves, meet each other, and consume all types of media. It's made fun advancements, but it's also made important advancements in safety when it comes to home security and medical devices.

Those struggling with hearing loss can now benefit from hearing aids, or TV Listening Devices that allow them to comfortably listen to their favorite programs with ease.

Especially for seniors, these devices are providing the freedom to age in place, to live independently, and to continue moving through everyday life with peace of mind. It opens up new opportunities by helping with safety, mobility and connectivity. Medical advancements have made it so you can stay proactive with conditions like diabetes and arthritis. With new medical alert devices, seniors can also get help at the push of a button and keep in touch with loved ones no matter where they are in the world.

Since there are so many new technologies to keep track of, it can seem overwhelming to adapt. However, all of these new technologies are designed to make your life easier. Even though it may not feel intuitive, learning how to use smart phones, smartwatches and voice assistants just takes a little bit of instruction and practice.

When it comes to the way we communicate overall, modern technology has had a powerful influence.

Digital technology has changed what people term as "media." The influence of new technology on media is apparent since a media company isn't necessarily a news platform anymore. A media company is now any company that helps pass information across the globe, including social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The amount of active web users globally is now near 3.2 billion people. That is almost half of the world's population. Every day, two million smartphones are sold around the world, and the amount of information we share shared on social media networks is phenomenal.

Social media isn't the only big statement digital technology has made. Neither is social media the only way technology has had an impact in everyone's life.

Before mobile technology, you had to search through a dictionary to understand the meaning of a word. Now you can look words up in a dictionary app or quickly search the Internet. Beyond words, you can search for practically anything on the Internet using search engines like Google and Bing.

There is no denying that the future of technology will continue to revolutionize our lives. In a few years, driverless cars may be the norm for everyone, and robots will be commonplace in factories. Future technology is sure to transform our lives in unbelievable ways, but here we highlight the many common ways technology is changing our lives today.

Technology Has Changed How We Communicate

How has technology helped communication? The advancement of technology has made communication unbelievably fast and convenient. It's incredible to look back and see how much easier communication has gotten over the years. Communication tools offer one of the most significant examples of how quickly technology has evolved.

In the past, writing a letter, sending faxes, or finding a wired telephone was the best way to communicate remotely with someone. To connect with someone in society today, you have many more efficient options at your fingertips. You can send them a message on social media, text them, video chat, email, or put a call through.

These new methods can help you keep in touch with loved ones, especially if you're aging in place or living alone. Video chat helps caregivers check on seniors who may not need continual check-ups in person. Social media is a great way to keep in touch in general, allowing you to see what your loved ones are doing through the photos and updates they post.

Social Media

Who hasn't heard of Facebook, Twitter, or Skype? They've become household names. Even if you don't use these platforms, they're a part of everyday life and not going away anytime soon. Regardless of your location, messages via social media get delivered on these platforms at the same rate and speed whether the recipient is right beside you or on the other side of the globe. You can also send voice messages through these platforms, and it is delivered in nanoseconds.

Messaging Apps

The way we use mobile phones has changed dramatically as well. In addition to social media platforms, there are numerous other applications specifically designed for communication. If social media isn't for you, WhatsApp and other messaging apps enable you to quickly message family and friends and even make calls over Wi-Fi.

You can email through your phone or send SMS text messages through your mobile provider, but many smartphones have their own messaging platforms built directly into the phone. On Apple iPhones, iMessage allows you communicate with anyone else who has an iPhone for free using WiFi or cellular data. iMessage has gotten increasingly sophisticated over the years. Sending photos, videos and emojis are just the basics with what you can do, and the platform has now expanded to include gaming, voice notes, and various app integrations to send information more quickly.

Messaging Apps can be a great option if you have friends in other countries or if you don't have a phone plan.

Within the last decade, medical emergency response systems have seen some impressive advancements, both in terms of technology and in safety measures that have made seniors feel safer than ever before. One of the earliest and most important advancements has been the introduction of mobile medical alert systems. These systems allow users the freedom to leave their homes and live their normal lives, while still having the peace of mind that emergency help is available in case of an emergency. Several devices, such as the Medical Guardian Mobile 2.0, allow users to set up a network of emergency contacts who can also view their whereabouts and be notified in case of an emergency.

Recent advancements in medical alert technology also include a built-in fall detection feature. With this feature, special sensors in your medical alert pendant automatically detect when a fall occurs and send an alert to your monitoring call center. With new GPS and cellular technology, the operator can then determine where you fell, regardless of whether you can communicate your whereabouts or know the address. This technology allows the operators to then send emergency medical assistance to you more quickly, thus providing a great sense of security for yourself and your loved ones.

Hearing Aids Improve Quality Of Life

The use of hearing aids allows people to maintain a happy, healthy life by reducing the strain caused by reduced hearing ability. According to a study facilitated by the Better Hearing Institute, eight out of 10 hearing aid users report being satisfied with the changes that their hearing aids have made in their lives. Hearing aids allow users to engage in common daily activities that would otherwise be far more difficult - or even impossible- such as talking, watching TV and listening to music. Hearing aids can also help you have a better quality of life by assisting you in:

Identifying speech and language in voices

Being alert to what's happening around you

Avoiding the need for assistance from others at all times

Having a sense of control over your life

Smartwatches

Communication has even evolved beyond mobile devices and personal computers. We can now send messages through tablets, voice assistants, smartwatches, and more. The smartwatch is a relatively new technology that captures almost all the capabilities of smartphones in a convenient touch-screen watch. You can receive notifications, track your activity, set alarms, and even call and text directly through these wearable devices.

Smartwatches can also serve as a way to communicate with emergency responders. Medical alert companies like MobileHelp and Medical Guardian have partnered with smartwatch developers or created proprietary technologies to provide seniors the safety of a medical alert right on their wrist. These watches include many of the same features as a typical smartwatch, such as activity tracking and personal messaging.

Even the makers of popular smartwatches on the market outside of the medical alert industry providing people the ability to communicate quickly in the case of an emergency. The Apple Watch Series 4 and its subsequent versions have built-in fall detection, which will automatically alert emergency assistance. In addition to its automatic response capabilities, Apple Watch technology also allows users to initiate an emergency call from any location worldwide manually. Apple's Medical ID Health app can provide emergency responders access to your medical conditions and designated emergency contacts.

Technology allows us to communicate instantly with people in our neighborhoods or around the globe. This innovation not only keeps us connected but can help us live safer and healthier lives.

Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Safe At Home

Updating your home is the first step toward aging in place comfortably. Professional home care services help seniors stay healthy at home.

Make Sure your Loved Ones are Safe at Home

Updating your home is the first step toward aging in place comfortably. Professional home care services help seniors stay healthy at home.

Find Caregivers

Technology Has Changed How We Pay Bills And Transfer Money

No more do you have to enter a bank to withdraw money or transfer it to someone. Many banks have already made transactions possible online and accessible to people everywhere. Companies like PayPal and Venmo have created platforms where people can send and receive money from any location using the Internet.

Paying bills has also become simplified thanks to technology. You can automatically schedule payments when they are due rather than having to remember to mail a check. With your cell phone and a banking app, you can manage all of your necessary bill payments online.

Setting up automated payments through a banking app is especially helpful for seniors who may have memory problems. Caregivers or loved ones can help set up recurring bill payments so there's never a question if a bill will be paid on time or not.

It's even simple to pay for things using only your smartphone. With Apple Pay and Google Wallet, you don't need to carry cash when you go shopping. These apps securely link your bank account to your mobile phone. The same machines you use to swipe your credit card at the store now allow mobile payments from your phone.

Keeping up with all of these innovations may seem like a hassle, but these technologies can simplify your life to help you worry about fewer things. With all of the payment capabilities available these days, you could leave home without your wallet and be just fine.

Technology Has Changed How We Watch TV

Technology has changed how we watch television today. Cable companies are continuously rolling out new features allowing viewers to pause and rewind live TV and record their favorite programs to watch later.

With your mobile devices, you can watch, or "stream" the tv shows you want, when you want, and how you want. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video all offer access to cable TV shows and original content for a low monthly price. Disney is also getting into the streaming game, with the recent announcement of their new streaming service Disney+. Streaming is just another way to watch your favorite shows, but it uses the Internet instead of cable. It can be a more cost-effective way to watch television. Unlike traditional cable tv packages, you don't have to pay for large cable bundles with channels you don't use. Streaming services offer movies and TV shows that are grouped by genre, making it easy to find your favorites.

With streaming, you can watch on the go - all you need is an Internet connection. Many of the streaming services we listed above have mobile applications that allow you to download content directly to your device. This option allows you to watch even if you go somewhere without Internet access.

More and more TVs these days are even designed for streaming. "Smart TVs" have Wi-Fi capability, which allows them to connect to streaming services using the Internet. Smart TVs will enable you to access more programs and even save money. With a Smart TV, you can access both streaming services and cable channels. To save money, you can also opt-out of cable altogether. It all depends on your budget and what you enjoy watching.

New TVs are also capable of displaying picture quality far beyond what you've experienced in the past. A standard definition TV displays 720 horizontal pixels. Today, it's more common for TVs to have 4k resolution, which is 4,000 horizontal pixels. That means TVs today show a picture with nearly 6x more definition than standard-definition TVs making for a much better viewing experience and can make your favorite shows and movies that much more enjoyable.

Seniors who suffer from hearing loss can benefit from using a TV Listening Device that provides superior sound quality, enhancing the overall TV viewing experience.

How Has Technology Changed Other Forms Of Entertainment?

Books

Paper books aren't going anywhere. However, e-reader devices have made reading easier when you're on the go. An e-reader device like a Kindle or Nook can hold thousands of books without taking up space in your home. It's a great way to have multiple options on hand if you're going on a trip or vacation.

Audio books are an especially great way to enjoy classic and new books alike. Though you're not reading, you're still able to consume a great story through an audiobook. For aging seniors, audio books are great when it becomes more challenging to read the small type in books.

Music

When it comes to music, technology has also helped consolidate the devices we use. We can access our music no matter where we are. In the same vein as books, vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and other physical albums will always have their place. They serve a unique purpose in enjoying music. However, just as it's possible to stream movies and TV shows, you can also stream your favorite songs and albums.

Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have made it possible to access millions of artists all at a monthly fee. While it isn't the same as owning your favorite album, streaming allows you the opportunity to listen to music easily. The number of devices with music streaming capabilities continues to grow. You can use your smartphone, computer, car, portable speakers, and even TVs to listen to your favorite songs.

Technology Has Changed How We Date

How has the Internet improved our lives? One way is through the ease of meeting new people.

With the proliferation of online dating sites, you can register on a website, find a match, and start to communicate at your own pace. Many people don't meet face to face until they decide there is a connection. This vetting helps you prioritize your time and protect your privacy while still getting to know someone new.

For better or worse, technology has also made it possible for you to find other people's personal information on the Internet through social media. You can gain access to the information you want to know about a particular person. Some people who aren't used to social media may view this as an unnecessary new part of life. However, it's helpful to get to know people and keep up with them through busy schedules. Especially for seniors, online dating is useful during a stage of life where it's typically more challenging to meet new people.

Online dating platforms have millions of registered users and have received lots of good reviews from every part of the world. Dating platforms have helped people connect with their matches in a way where neither party has to waste the other person's time. It is comfortable, straightforward, safe, and it works.

Technology Has Changed How We Live In and Outside of Our Homes

How Does The Internet Of Things Work With Home Devices?

All of the technology mentioned above has been made possible because of the Internet. New websites, platforms, and applications will continue to revolutionize the way we live our lives. However, the latest Internet technology isn't always accessible on screens, and it's called the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things allows everyday objects to be synced up to the Internet through Wi-Fi. This synching makes their usual functions accessible remotely and automated through data available on the world wide web. It may sound complicated, but it's the same technology we've been using for years, just now accessible through different objects.

The Internet of Things can help to significantly improve aging in place and at-home safety, especially for seniors living with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. IoT devices are designed to monitor health at home, aid with mobility, and provide continuous monitoring.

Some examples of objects that use IoT today include driverless cars, fitness trackers like Fitbit, thermostats, and doorbells. Objects that use IoT are also commonly referred to as smart objects (think of smart TVs).

We'll use the example of a smart thermostat to describe how it works. By connecting to the Internet, you're able to use a smart thermostat remotely through your computer or smartphone. These systems usually have their own applications that you can open and control no matter where you are. For example, what if you'd like to cool the house down while you're away? All you would have to do is open the smart thermostat app to tell it what to do.

Because these devices are so "smart," you usually don't need to do much when using them. The sensors on these thermostats are specifically designed to optimize your home for energy efficiency. Once you set your desired temperature, the thermostat can work on its own to keep your home at the best temperature. The thermostat won't waste energy by staying on longer than needed.

Using Technology For Shopping

When you're too busy or don't want to leave home, online shopping is an easy way to buy what you need. You're only a couple clicks away from getting the things you need thanks to the many options for online retail. There is no hassle and no need to make several trips to different stores.

If you aren't as mobile as you used to be, online shopping makes it so everything you need can be delivered directly to your doorstep. While we still encourage as much daily exercise as possible, it can be too hectic and even hazardous sometimes for seniors to be out running so many errands.

Your average yard sale is even now online. With websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, you can browse listings from people in your area. These are people who are looking to get rid of their used furniture, clothes, appliances, and more. Using these websites, you can view items based on what you need and your budget. Just like the technologies we listed above, these online marketplaces use secure payment methods that don't require cash.

Using Voice Assistants

If smart devices seem overwhelming to you, there may be an easy solution: voice assistants. These include Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. With a voice assistant, you can control all of the smart devices in your home and access the Internet by speaking voice commands. It's as easy to use as having a conversation.

When it comes to shopping, these devices allow you to create a shopping list out loud and then have it automatically transferred to your phone. This makes the whole process easier for seniors with mobility issues with writing or who would rather speak out loud than make a list on a phone. Many of these devices even integrate directly with online shops. With the Amazon Alexa, you can immediately make Amazon purchases without ever having to go online.

To make everything in your home easier to access, you can integrate your voice assistant with any smart device to make it accessible via your voice. If your home needs temperature adjusting or you want to turn some lights off, you can do it all through a series of simple voice commands.

They're also handy to have inside your home for one of the most basic uses of the Internet - finding information. All you need to do is ask your voice assistant a question, and it will give you an answer found online.

Most phones these days are also equipped with different versions of voice assistants. If you're hesitant about purchasing a unique voice assistant device, try testing out the software that lives on your phone. You can ask it to set reminders and alerts through your phone without having to search through settings. For seniors, voice recognition software can significantly improve the ability to live independently by making everyday tasks easier, aiding with medication reminders, and simply providing a more accessible, intuitive way to use technology.

Using Technology For Food Delivery

A lot of the technology we've already described helps make our lives easier by saving time and effort. Another example of this type of technology is food delivery. We all lead busy lives that could use some extra time. The ability to have things brought to your home is especially helpful for seniors or those with disabilities or sickness. One aspect of our lives that we often take for granted is the ability to head over to the grocery store.

Grocery Delivery

Food delivery can come in many different forms. Currently, many mobile apps allow you to order delivery from your favorite restaurants. We're not talking about your standard pizza delivery. These apps pay people just like you to pick up takeout almost anywhere. A few examples of these apps include Postmates, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.

Many of these same apps and others offer grocery delivery, such as Instacart and Shipt. A lot of grocery stores like Walmart, Target, and Kroger even offer delivery or pick-up options. The best grocery delivery plans for seniors are helpful if you love to cook but can't make it to the grocery store that often. It can also help if you find it difficult to leave the house but still want to make home-cooked meals.

Meal Kit Delivery

Lastly, you can also use subscription-based food delivery companies to get meals sent to your doorstep every week. These come in different forms. For example, companies like Blue Apron and HelloFresh deliver meal kits with all the ingredients for a set of recipes. It's like getting customized groceries delivered with step-by-step instructions. Meal kits can help seniors by cutting out a lot of the preparation needed to make a meal. You still might need to do a little additional cutting and preparing, but it won't be as intensive as going to the grocery store and starting from scratch.

Pre-Made Meal Delivery

If you don't cook, some companies that deliver pre-made meals. Some examples of these companies include Magic Kitchen, Silver Cuisine, and The Good Kitchen. While frozen tends to mean less nutritious, these companies have put a lot of time and research into developing delicious recipes. They still taste great after being reheated yet also contain the nutritional value for different needs, including vegetarians, people with diabetes, and seniors. These options remove the need for time-consuming grocery shopping and cooking.

For seniors, it's common to have particular nutritional needs as you age and start to live with deficiencies or conditions like diabetes. Senior meal delivery companies make it easy to stay healthy without sacrificing your mobility or personal time.

Using Technology In Transportation

Driverless Cars

Driverless cars have been in development for years, but this technology has yet to become commonplace. When it does, it will lead to fewer accidents on the road. It will also make transportation more accessible to everyone. People will be able to use cars even if they have disabilities or live in areas without public transportation. Driverless cars will use sensors to understand when to brake, speed up, turn, and park.

Though this technology still has yet to be perfected, we're already seeing examples of its early stages in most new cars today. Since the technology being used isn't completely driverless yet, it's called driver assist. Using cameras and sensors, this technology can help you park, detect blind spots, warn you if you're merging into another lane, and even automate the entire parking process - even parallel parking.

Ride Sharing

Until the development of technology for driverless cars is ready, people will still be using planes, trains, and regular automobiles to travel. Technology has made some of these options more accessible. One of the most popular types of apps used today is for ride sharing. Popular ride sharing apps companies like Lyft and Uber. The technology in their apps allows people to hail a ride from anywhere, just like a taxi cab. The best part about these apps is that the driver is trackable from a GPS map. Rides are also accessible nearly everywhere, even in areas where there usually aren't any taxis. The companies let everyday people with modern cars apply to become drivers. Once they pass a background test, they're eligible to start giving rides through the app.

Some people are hesitant to take rides from strangers. For your security, the apps have rating systems in place to ensure the drivers are doing their jobs well. The companies also continually update their security measures to make sure riders are safe.

Using The Gig Economy

Transportation apps like these are also an excellent way for seniors to make some extra money through the gig economy. What is the gig economy? When you're on the other side of the app as a driver, you can set your schedule to fit your lifestyle and take as many or as few rides as you'd like. Aside from money, taking on a gig job can help keep you active through using technology, communicating daily with customers, and getting out around your town.

Technology Has Changed How We Stay Safe

One of the best ways technology has changed our lives is in keeping us safer. Through technology, we're living longer than ever before. While there have been countless technology advances in hospitals and medicine, there are also new technologies we can use at home. These enhance our everyday lives with safety and protection.

IoT Safety Devices

For seniors or people with disabilities, IoT devices are some of the best technologies for keeping them safe at home. One great example is fall detection technology. Through wearables or floor and bed sensors, small devices are capable of knowing when someone falls. Once these sensors go off, caregivers are alerted through intercoms or mobile alerts.

Outside of IoT devices, simple medical alerts can keep the elderly or disabled safe. At its most basic level, a medical alert is usually a base station that comes with a wearable emergency button. The user presses the button when they need assistance, and a caregiver or loved one nearby is alerted to check on them.

Medical alert systems come as either monitored or non-monitored devices. A non-monitored device works as we described above, and a series of numbers are pre-programmed as emergency contacts. With non-monitored devices, you won't be put in touch with 911 responders unless your emergency contacts call them for you.

Companies like MobileHelp and Medical Guardian provide monitored medical alert systems. These companies provide the medical alert equipment while also hosting a staff of remote monitoring operators (either outsourced or in-house). Typically, you don't have to pay for the equipment, but the companies require a monthly fee to be able to provide the monitoring service.

Monitored alert devices are a huge benefit to older adults or seniors staying home by themselves. The devices allow help to be only the click of a button away should family members or caregivers be too far or unable to assist. The monitored devices also sometimes come with connectivity apps so that family caregivers can stay up to date with senior care. The apps will show when emergency buttons are pressed and can also provide activity monitoring through home or wristband sensors.

Home Security Systems

Smart security systems at home can also keep you safe from intruders. When these alarms go off, they can begin recording with a camera around your home and will also alert security professionals. These systems also connect to an app that you can access on your phone. You can view live footage of what's going on in your home or disable alarms remotely.

If you aren't interested in a full security system, you can also make a one-time purchase on a security camera or security doorbell like Ring Doorbell and Nest Camera. These require easy installation to your front door and work by providing direct notifications to your home when it senses someone's there. There's even an intercom built in so you can communicate with visitors and see them through the camera without having to open the door.

For seniors who live alone, these simple devices offer much-needed security and can be especially helpful for seniors who aren't always able to frequently get up and open the door.

How Technology Continues to Change

Technology is rapidly evolving to help seniors age in place as well as to help improve productivity and wellbeing for all. Some of the latest innovations for seniors include medical alert smartwatches, touch-screen systems, and wearable activity trackers.

Companies like MobileHelp and Medical Guardian offer smartwatch medical alerts for on-the-go safety and touch-screen alert systems to use in the home. These new technologies are designed to provide quick assistance and complete connectivity to keep seniors and their loved ones well-informed.

While these technologies are currently still reactive, innovations continually help them to be even more proactive. Some smartwatch companies have already incorporated ECGs into their products to monitor heart rate and detect abnormalities, which can help get people to the doctor well before it's too late.

Medical technology alone is beginning to give more and more patients hope with customizable medicine and new non-invasive procedures to help with diagnosis.

When it comes to technology designed for the greater good, we also see vast improvements and innovations. Although already used in factories and militaries, Robots are beginning to work more efficiently and human-like than ever before. Robots are being built to have impressive dexterity allowing them to move objects and themselves faster and smoother.

There are many more ways in which technology has changed the way we live. These are just some of the fundamental ways technology is influencing and transforming our world.

The revolutions that will surface in years to come will continue to make profound changes in our everyday lives. The continual changes can be hard to keep up with, especially for seniors. Luckily, there is a lot of new technology for seniors that is specifically designed to be helpful and easy to use. Rather than being overwhelmed, embrace technology to discover how it can enhance and become an essential part of your daily life. Learning how to become a tech-savvy senior can be done in as little as ten days. All you need is some persistence, help, and knowledge of the basics.

Was this Article Helpful ?

Yes No

2 Sources Cited

AgingInPlace.org keeps our resources free by working as an affiliate partner with some companies mentioned on our site. We may earn a commission when you click on certain product links.

Search

AgingInPlace is also on

AgingInPlace Is Trusted by:

2 Sources Cited

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Technology In Our Life Today And How It Has Changed - AgingInPlace.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Over the years, technology has revolutionized the world. Learn more about how technology has changed in our lives today and tips for keeping up

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It was bound to happen. When you work with the folks in the room who always want to be the first to take a risk, the first to play in a new sandbox, they're never going to be the ones to stay in their lanes. And when you talk to the first filmmakers who took the dive into making movies for virtual reality, it only stands to reason that they wouldn't stick with just VR forever.

"I think that VR movies were a stepping stone," says Edward Saatchi, whose company Fable is rebranding itself as a "virtual beings" company after launching as a VR film outfit just last year. "I think we should admit that VR movies are not going to replace cinema."

Evidence of this is all over this year's Sundance Film Festival. For years now, the Park City event has been a bellwether for the next trends in experimental filmmaking. Five years ago, Sundance's New Frontier program proved to be a launch pad for the VR filmmaking boom that was coming. In 2019, there are still a lot of virtual reality projects, many of them from longtime VR creators like Felix & Paul, but some, like Saatchi, are branching out and incorporating augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and connected devices into their interactive storytelling.

This is happening as traditional studios are just starting to get into the film-festival VR game. Disney, for example, brought a project called Cycles to Sundance this year-the studio's first-ever VR animated short. Three years ago, 20th Century Fox brought a VR experience based on The Martian. The list goes on and on. Meanwhile, VR films started getting the kind of seven-figure acquisition deals typically reserved for 2-D filmmakers who sold their movies to studios or cable outlets.

But as VR filmmaking got bigger, those who pioneered the form began looking at formats beyond those provided by VR headset manufacturers like Oculus, Samsung, and HTC. Part of it came from curiosity around new technologies like those coming from Magic Leap and Apple's ARKit. But the other part comes from changes in the marketplace, says Gabo Arora, cofounder of VR/AR/AI company Tomorrow Never Knows. In the boom years, lots of startups were getting into VR filmmaking, but cost, comfort, and complexity have limited the technology's consumer audience. (Turns out not everyone wants to strap a screen on their face!) So the innovators went looking for new platforms. It's a move that opens the on-ramp for new converts, and provides new ways to tell stories, but also means less folks are willing to invest time and money into something that's just VR.

"We're finally going into an experimental phase where people have to hustle and think about how new technologies can merge together," Arora says. "What's happening has kind of, in a Darwinian sense, purged the kind of get-rich-quick folks."

Anyone who has stepped away from VR as a storytelling platform, though, has turned to a different medium instead-or been replaced by someone who has. Shari Frilot, who has curated New Frontier since long before VR came on the scene, notes that this year "not only is there an expansion of VR, there's also AR and AI and all these formats that are coming into play. The Magic Leap platform really promises to be something very significant." These new projects, she adds, focus more on "biodigital" interaction, which she defines as things as common as using an app like Lyft to get a car in the real world to something like Mica, a mixed reality/AI hybrid from Magic Leap that in its Sundance description says "I contemplate my place in your world. Be my collaborator ... Join me at the beginning of my existence, to pull from the past and create the future." Creepy? Sure. But does it mean interactive filmmakers don't want you just sitting/standing around in some goggles? Yes.

"What's really reflected in the show this year is that the human body is integrated into the frame of the experience," Frilot says. "I was looking at the lineup and realized there was a physical body in every single one of these projects."

That's even true for the latest project from Oculus itself. The Under Presents, which debuted at Sundance, uses Oculus Quest to put users in an interactive theater experience where the characters in the VR space are actually being played by Quest-wearing actors from the New York-based theater collective Piehole. (The project will be made available later this year.) And Saatchi's company, Fable, is not only rebranding itself, but is doing so with the stated goal of "building the first virtual being"-and AI-enabled character "with whom you can build a two-way relationship" (think a Lil Miquela-meets-Alexa sort of entity who "lives" in your house via AR or some similar technology). That may not sound biodigital or corporeal, but without their humans to interact with, virtual beings don't really have anything to do.

This level of experimentation is what will bring on the next wave. The folks who did it the first time with VR will likely do it again with AR, AI, and other tech. Such is their nature. Chris Milk, who was among the first creators to bring VR to Sundance, notes that his early work was in interactive films and Arcade Fire's HTML5/Google Chrome-powered The Wilderness Downtown-and now, he says, experimental projects like that are reemerging.

"In the beginning, we were using physical installations, we were using interactive web-based experiences," Milk says. "As new technologies have come forth, you have that same group of artists-and new groups of artists-utilizing new technologies to build the early foundation of a complete new art form and new medium."

More Great WIRED Stories

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
At Sundance, Virtual Reality Filmmakers Are Evolving Beyond VR

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It was bound to happen. When you work with the folks in the room who always want to be the first to take a risk, the first to play in a new sandbox, they're never going to be the ones to stay in their lanes.