speculations

The best use for AI eye contact tech is making movie stars look straight at the camera

https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/26/23572459/ai-eye-contact-tech-nvidia-movie-edit-clips The streets were quiet. She wasn’t bothered. Then tracker was keeping an eye on her – benevolent surveillance she called it. If she thought about it, she didn’t like trading data for simple public safety but… well she didn’t think about it. But speaking of surveillance that did bother her, well she really didn’t … [Read more…]

Consumer advocacy groups want Walmart’s Roblox game audited for ‘stealth marketing’ to kids

https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/24/consumer-advocacy-groups-want-walmarts-roblox-game-audited-for-stealth-marketing-to-kids/ They’ll never find out, there’s two of me. The parents are pleased I have what they call a “Saturday job” with a “good company”. It’s a mixture of testing stuff and just hanging out and looking interested. Occasionally they get some of us in to hear our ideas and then we end up testing … [Read more…]

How you can tear down the ‘paper ceiling’ and uncover new talent

https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/how-look-past-backgrounds-and-pedigrees-find-untapped-talent/2464071 The diversity algorithm spat out its teams for the week. She looked at the message, decoding the coloured key. Her blue had become slightly more purple as her child had started school. A touch more green after she’d picked up the guitar again. She’d always be in the blues of course – She was … [Read more…]

Smart office chair recognises what position you are sitting in

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2354589-smart-office-chair-recognises-what-position-you-are-sitting-in/ It’s improved my game. Deffo. Just look at my scores. Talk to my mates – they’ll tell you! They’re not pleased. It’s more comfy obviously so I can play longer which probably helps. The headrest moves with me. The leg support reacts as I lean in, you know, when we first open that door? … [Read more…]

Researchers develop wireless, ultrathin ‘Skin VR’ to provide a vivid, ‘personalized’ touch experience in the virtual world

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221215104536.htm The package was as beautiful as she expected. The historic logo embossed deep into what can only be described as premium cardboard: soft and weighty. Opening was more than ‘unboxing’. It was sensual. She took her time. She couldn’t believe this was all free – to some at least. She pulled back the tissue … [Read more…]

Portable smart projector serves up LG’s smart TV entertainment

https://newatlas.com/home-entertainment/cinebeam-portable-smart-projector-lg-pf510q/ Some of us were planning on throwing blood – well it would look like blood! Some were going for oil. I was going for a slogan. Big, in neon colours. One former graffiti artist had a more creative plan. Mine was just witty. I knew one of us was planning on using baked beans … [Read more…]

‘I get a lemonade for every 1,000 hits!’ The rise of the child podcast superstars

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/20/i-get-a-lemonade-for-every-1000-hits-the-rise-of-the-child-podcast-superstars I admit, we do it. Outside the school gate, family gatherings, at dinner parties. We should probably play it a bit cooler but, heh… We’re proud parents. Who wouldn’t be? His results speak for themselves. A scholarship is almost guaranteed. Not every kid is getting those scores. I admit I do occasionally take some … [Read more…]

The crash boom: the wonders of embracing creative risk

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/crash-boom-wonders-embracing-creative-risk/1810530 He wasn’t looking forward to it. He’d worked hard all year. Done the job. Clients had been happy. Targets had been met. He’d hadn’t kept his head down. He hadn’t been invisible. He’d played his part in the team and team meetings. He’d contributed ideas, some of which had played their part in winning … [Read more…]

Apple reportedly shelved its plans to release AR glasses any time soon

https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/17/23560097/apple-ar-vr-glasses-headset-rumor-mixed-reality It was crowded. Real-world and virtually crowded. People jostled around the stage and logos and offers collided in peripheral vision: conversations and flirtations fuelled by streams of live data scrolling in front of eyes that momentarily glazed over. There were new trends in frames and lenses, as every night. They’d come full circle now: … [Read more…]

UK online harm bill to include prosecution of tech bosses

https://www.ft.com/content/c77cf855-c727-4ee6-8a52-76459e553fc6 Look, it’s a complex thing. We put in place all the safeguards, protocols and systems we can but we can’t control everything. Butterfly effects. Complex adaptive systems. Unforeseen consequences. I can’t be everywhere at once. I depend on other bits of the system to work. I can only do what I can do. It’s … [Read more…]