But, with the advent of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing and self-isolation, many people are just now becoming acquainted with working from home. As expected, some aspects can be more challenging than others.
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #690: As more people telecommute, more challenges arise
Now, in 2020, not having a mobile-friendly website is practically unthinkable, especially since more than half of site visitors are looking at the web via their cell phones. But Google is taking things to their inevitably conclusion: its webcrawlers are now indexing by mobile-first.
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #689: Google’s “mobile first” strategy isn’t new, but now it’s final
The 4Cast should be about trends and currents in technology that are relevant to public library services. COVID-19, the current coronavirus strain dominating the headlines and our social media feeds, is not a technology story, but it’s practically all the tech journalists are talking about.
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #688: Is coronavirus a technology story?
Posted in 4cast, and Advertising
If you’re like me, you probably rarely think about advertisements, other than to possibly figure out how to avoid them. But ads are everywhere, of course, and the entities that create and pay for them are constantly working to make sure that we see even more of them. To this end, companies are trying a variety of new tactics, many including new uses of technology
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #687: Will new tech help advertisers grab our attention?
In libraries, we take pains to clear patron session data off of our computers. But are the auto dealerships and rental agencies as cautious? Turns out there’s no way to be sure that previous drivers of your rental car (or owners of your new used car) have deleted the apps and accounts that gave them access to the car’s data. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of problems that come when your car is part of the Internet of Things.
While Netflix didn’t win big at the Oscars this year, it still has been making headlines. The streaming service has known for some time that the streaming wars would eventually heat up, and some recent news make it evident that Netflix is ready for the competition.
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #685: Netflix has competition now, but it isn’t chillin’
January 28 was Data Privacy Day, and Facebook took the occasion to announce that it was putting its “Clear History” function, now rechristened Off-Facebook Activity Tool, into general release. Not a cure-all, but certainly a step in the right direction. Good thing we only have to think about data privacy on one day a year, right?
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #684: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Facebook
Regardless of whether the WhatsApp messages are to blame, “the biggest takeaway from this,” writes Sheera Frenkel of the New York Times, “is that anyone, anywhere, can be hacked if the person carrying out the attack has enough time, money and patience.”
We’ve certainly covered facial recognition before, but it’s only in the past week or so that we’ve seen this intense, consistent level of news, development and controversy.
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #682: It’s official: facial recognition is out of control
It’s that time of year, when more people spend time in clinics and doctors’ offices, as cold and flu season gets underway. Many of us…
Read MoreOPLIN 4Cast #681: Will healthcare tech take giant steps in 2020?
