Chủ Nhật, 4 tháng 9, 2016
The Williams' residence in suburban Melbourne is home to three dogs and five humans. Life is often chaotic as each member of the household negotiates for space and attention. It's one of many Australian homes where animals are an integral part of family and domesticity. Over the past few months, parents Andrew and John tell us, the dogs have been misbehaving, damaging furniture and belongings while people are at work and school. Andrew has approached the situation by installing webcams and purchasing a pet wearable device called "Whistle" for his dog Tigger, a German short-haired pointer who he rightly suspects is the main culprit. Whistle, according to its website, "marries GPS tracking and pet wellness in one band." Attached to Tigger's collar, it connects to a smartphone app that allows Andrew to track and evaluate Tigger's exercise, play and rest in real time. Whistle is part of a burgeoning pet wearable market that is "revolutionalising pet health and wellbeing," according to one pundit. While at work, Andrew can now keep a "friendly" eye on Tigger. He has developed a solution to the dogs' misbehavior that involves locking certain rooms and providing particular play spaces to reflect Tigger's daily rhythms. Who doesn't want to get to know their dog better? Image: Getty Images Our observations of the Williams family are part of a multi-city research project into domestic practices around digital media, mobile media and games. When we first began our research, we presumed we would focus on human practices and perceptions. But animals kept getting in the way. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with nearly five million households including one or more pets. As our work progressed, it became clear that humans and their pets are entangled in various forms of intimacy and kinship, often in digitally mediated ways. We have observed (or heard tales of) cats playing with iPads and keyboards, of dogs watching television or participating in video calls. One of our Perth participants Anna describes how she frequently Skypes with her Blue Heeler Abby (with her partner's help) when she's away on work trips. Abby will paw the laptop in anticipation of the evening call when Anna is absent; she gets excited, wags her tail, "talks" and presses her nose against the screen. It is quite well known that some dogs "see" screens while some don't, Anna says, as she shows us the many YouTube videos people have uploaded of their skyping dogs. As the size of technology shrinks, wearable devices have become hugely popular, from iPods to fitbits. Spurred by the Quantified Self (QS) movement (the use of self-tracking apps and wearables to monitor biometrics and improve daily functioning) and gamification, global shipments of wearable devices are expected to reach 110 million annually by the end of 2016. Pet wearables are now worth A$2.62 billion (US$1.99 billion) a year of this global market and the Australian market is tipped to grow. "I see you, human." Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto Pet wearable devices enable surveillance and tracking through devices such as Pod 2, Buddy, WÜF and Nuzzle; monitoring of heart-rate and sleep patterns (Inupathy, PetPace) and may feature geofencing capability and virtual boundary alert systems that let owners know when their pet wanders too far (eg DogTelligent). Pet owners can "gamify" their pet's exercise with a reward system and leaderboard that ranks their results compared to other pets. They can download an augmented reality app that sees through obstacles such as furniture to locate their pet. Or they can record and vicariously experience their pet’s perspective and movement remotely via wearable cameras. As we explored Andrew's problem-solving strategies further, it became clear that he had gleaned a complex sense of Tigger's character and behaviour in the home when humans were at work. Andrew explained that particular rooms, couches and beds had different associations for Tigger (for example, he would retreat to the main bedroom when anxious). Through tracking Tigger, he said, he had gained a deeper sense of his pet's moods. Pet wearables and monitoring systems are also implicated in an ethics of care and surveillance. They originate from a genealogy of care that engages paradoxical notions of constraint and guardianship. Indeed, our relationship with domestic animals is often fraught with ambiguity; pets are both nature and culture, instinctual and social, controlled yet nurtured, at the same time possessions and companions. Our kinship with domestic animals is deeply informed by what we might call "careful surveillance," either within the domestic sphere as we observed in the Williams household, or away from home. For instance another study participant, Paul, and his beagle Millie often go for walks together. But Paul told us he worried about Millie wandering off, and so had avoided going for walks at night. Then he purchased a Halo Belt for Millie, which lit up at night. It meant he could always find her in the dark and lessen the chance of her scaring other people in the park, such as night joggers. The term "careful surveillance" refers to our emotional bond with domestic animals, our protective concern and love for our pets. But surveillance must also be a "careful" practice, in terms of its effects upon both human and animal. As we increasingly involve our pets in the gamification and quantification of everyday life — assisted by new technologies — we should reflect on the relationship between concern and control. This article originally published at The Conversation here
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 6, 2016
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
Thứ Hai, 27 tháng 6, 2016
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
A lot has changed since 2013. Three years ago, it was hard to image the tech and tech-habits that are now normal today. These innovations have become intrinsic parts of our lives today and have changed so much – from the way we pay for groceries to the way we stay fit. We decided to take a short trip down memory lane and compile the 10 most exciting tech advances that have not only revolutionised our lifestyles, but have also allowed us to live fuller lives. A perfect example of when tech meets fashion, the smart watches can do anything its developers decree. It can connect to your phone and display mobile notifications, flashing up anything from texts to messaging apps, social account notifications to calendar reminders. These watches even allow owners to make calls and reply to messages using only their voice. And back in 2013, who would have thought that a watch could help you stay fit by tracking your heart rate and steps, standing time and daily activity, and reminding you to stand up regularly? Virtual reality devices are so much more than funny-looking goggles. While they were initially marketed purely as a gaming device, but in their short time in our consciousness they have already offered a lot of practical uses. VR headsets are being used for making the virtual experience feel so real that you forget the computer, headgear and accessories and act exactly as we would in the real world. Three years ago, nobody could imagine standing on Mars while wearing some intricate goggles in your kitchen. You can take virtual tours of the dream home you’ve been eyeing to buy, defend a goal for your favourite professional football team, and even help yourself overcome anxiety over public speaking. Mobile wallets are getting more and more popular among the youth in the India. Digital payments are moving beyond recharges – they can now pay for everything from online food delivery to cab rides to even booking a new home. In 2013, this may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but it has become a new normal these days. The most popular social media network among teenagers, Snapchat allows users to send photo messages that automatically delete themselves shortly after being viewed. The app has kept itself fresh and interesting by expanding features such as more video and picture filters, Stories, as well as the popular face-swapping feature. It has also engaged users with the platform's Discover channels, which feature content from well-known publishers like Mashable, and debuting live coverage at widely watched TV events. Selfie was merely a buzzword in 2013, but it went on to become a cultural phenomenon within a year. These unique photos have exploded in popularity among a wide variety of people, such as business leaders, A-list celebrities and even the President of the United States. One product that has made this photo technique even more attainable is the selfie stick, which enables you to position your smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles. Even though in the short time they've been around they have annoyed many people, selfie-specific products aren't going anywhere. In fact, selfie drones, aka "dronies," are poised to become the next big thing. Facebook introduced a new and immersive way for sharing compelling stories by bringing the viewer inside a different world through 360 photos and videos. A 360 video allows audience to choose exactly which angle they want to see a visual. So, if you’re watching a 360 video on your laptop/ PC, you need to drag it with your cursor. On mobile devices, you can drag it using your finger – or even just by turning your device. If you want to share a 360 photo, simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. Your friends will be able to experience the moments in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from trekking to a hilltop, to wandering through a heritage site, to attending a wedding. Over the years, download speeds have gotten faster and faster, and the ultimate in speed these days is 4G technology. The fact that 4G is relatively new to India hasn’t affected its popularity. 4G not only boosts your upload and download speeds, but also minimises your buffering time even while streaming HD videos. After all it is five times faster than existing 3G services. You used to need a hefty amount of money to pull off these kind of things. Luckily, now we have Dubsmash, an app that lets you seamlessly mouth words to famous quotes and lyrics from movies or songs. This typically results in hilarious videos and provides endless hours of entertainment. You can actually choose your favourite excerpts from popular TV shows, cult movies, popular chart hits, musicals, and even operas, and star in them. You can then share the ‘dub’ via social media networks. Bots are simple artificial intelligence software that can converse with you to answer questions or simply natter to you in an extremely lifelike way. Most of us have used chatbots; we just don’t know them. If you have ever asked Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana for a movie show time, you have conversed unknowingly with a bot. Facebook recently made its own bot news when it announced that companies will eventually be able to build and release their own chatbots into Messenger to interact with customers. Bots are meant to make people's lives easier, but there’s still much to be learned about harnessing the technology and applying it. And we're pretty excited about the possibilities. Remember how most of us dreaded the idea of having a post-paid connection till about a few years ago? Receiving a bill that was way too expensive because the plan offered ‘benefits’ that were actually of no use to you was a major setback. Thankfully, now there are ways of paying for only what you need in a post-paid plan. For example, consider Airtel’s MyPlan, which ensures you get the flexibility to opt for benefits that you need as against a pre-set benefits that you may never even use. So if you’re someone primarily using mobile apps like WhatsApp or Hike for texting, there's not point to having hundreds of free SMS in the plan. Why not have the options of trading the free SMS of the existing plan for talk time or Internet data? While we couldn't have imagined this kind of freedom three years ago, we're glad that this advancement exists now. If there are things in this list you haven’t tried before, go ahead and try them. We hope they make your life easier and smarter.1. Tracking fitness with a watch
2. Experiencing something without actually being there
3. Paying without having cash or cards
4. Sending photo messages that automatically delete themselves
5. Being in a picture that you took yourself
6. Choosing the angle you want to watch an online video from
7. Downloading videos at a lightning speed
8. Creating your own movie scenes and music videos with your phone
9. Chatting with computers through written or spoken text
10. Being able to pay your mobile bill only for the services you used
Thứ Tư, 22 tháng 6, 2016
Thứ Hai, 20 tháng 6, 2016
Picture a mural transforming before your eyes. You would assume it must be digital, a projected image, but you look closely and see that it’s not. It’s a painting that is being changed by air. That’s what you can expect to see if you head to The Container Yard in the arts district of Downtown Los Angeles for the Degrees of Perfect exhibition, presented by Lennox, on June 24, 2016. It’s an idea so new that at first it felt impossible. Even those who have been involved since its inception are amazed to see it come to fruition. We spoke to some of the collaborators on the project to find out more about how this first-of-its-kind exhibition came to be. What does perfect feel like for you? It’s not the same for everyone. But, in reflecting on the question, the team involved with the project noticed one important similarity across their unique visions of perfect: balance. For Fluke, president at ASHOP CREW and the lead creative producer on the project, perfect is a balance that allows for creative productivity. He describes it as “having the perfect environment and the perfect elements around you in order to be creative and to be able to express yourself…. It’s the perfect lighting, the perfect sound.” “It’s the air that is the perfect temperature; it’s not too hot and not too cold,” answered Kyle Mitchell, associate creative director at GSD&M. “It’s a world where all these things come together to create something brand new.” With this in mind, the team set out to create something that would communicate the Degrees of Perfect idea. To do this, the creative team looked to two seemingly opposite worlds and worked to bring them together in harmony. “It’s a balance between engineering and the piece of art,” Fluke explains. “We have two completely separate universes that come together to create something unique and present it in the format of an exhibition.” The team had a lofty vision for that exhibition: paintings that used air as a medium. At first, the idea felt almost too lofty. “One of the biggest challenges for me was the fact that this was just a huge theory. The idea of having a color-changing art piece, forget having a color-changing mural, it was just a big theory that Kyle and me were kicking around.” Any traces of doubt were erased as the dedicated team of specialists got to work, solving one puzzle at a time. The paint, designed to react to changing temperatures, was the first part and, surprisingly, the easiest. “It’s super simple. The paint itself is designed to disappear at a certain temperature, and it’s programmed in laboratories. It’s really designed that way chemically. The problem is that it’s not a precise science, so it changes at different temperatures.” Fluke explains. Image: LENNOX In order for this paint to detect the temperature change two things had to be engineered: a heat-detecting canvas and a unique HVAC system. “First I asked Fluke what temperatures he needed, that was the most important thing.” Alain Savard, Founder and Owner of Climatisation – premier Lennox dealer, explains, “I took those two temperatures, and we calculated how much time it is going to take to make the panel react.” From there, the team tested numerous frames and canvases—small at first, then progressively larger. “We put aluminum in the front and really good insulation in the front’ Alain explains. “We played with it a lot. I don’t know how many [we made].” Creating the perfect air was the next challenge. Lennox systems are designed to do exactly this, so the team knew it was possible, but the project called for a completely unique HVAC system. “The genius behind this,” Fluke explains, “was that Alain was able to give us a closed circuit, so we’re not wasting any energy. We’re actually recycling the same air over and over again, which is something I had not thought of. That’s where his expertise really came into place, he said, ‘We can’t waste this hot air or cold air; let’s recycle it.’" With the paint, canvas and perfect air in order, the team set out to find artists who were up to the challenge. Image: LENNOX “One of the things that was remarkable was to see the reactions that the [artists] were having when we expressed to them that they were able to add an extra layer to their work.” Fluke tells us. “[As artists] we’re essentially telling a story, visually, and one of the main challenges of the visual artist, as a painter, as a muralist, is that you’re trying to tell a story, you’re trying to share an emotion, but you only have one layer.” He continues, “There hasn’t been a traditional painting form where you can add a second layer, an animation, so we essentially gave the artist’s 50% more opportunity to express themselves.” Fluke explains. That said, ASHOP CREW and Lennox wanted the crème de la crème: the people who could master this new medium of thermal art and use that second layer to help creatively communicate the Degrees of Perfect idea. “We chose very talented people from different areas. We have artists from Montreal, Toronto and a local from L.A.” Fluke explained. “The one thing they have in common is that they’re street artists, they know one surface to a certain extent, which is murals. They’ve all painted live scale murals and they’ve done so much work in the public eye. We wanted to give them an opportunity to take something they’re already doing and bring it to another level, another degree.” With the air and the thermal art sorted, there was just one final layer: sound. The team chose recording artist and producer Toro y Moi and starRo to DJ on the night. Not only is Toro y Moi extremely talented and enthusiastic about the project, he is a graphic designer, artist and illustrator himself, so he has a deep understanding of the work that’s gone into the project. On Friday, June 24, at 8:00 p.m., the results of this incredible project will be showcased at The Container Yard in Downtown L.A. If you’re in the area, register with DoLA to see this sure-to-be incredible exhibition. For more, follow along with the hashtag #lennoxartproject and here: @Lennox on Facebook And stay tuned to Mashable and Lennox® for more!Ideation: Degrees of Perfect
The science
The art
The result
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@LennoxAir on Twitter
Thứ Sáu, 17 tháng 6, 2016
LONDON — I'm sitting in a packed theatre on the opening night of a sellout production. It's a night I've been looking forward to for months, but right now I'm more interested in my phone. While everyone around me chatters excitedly before the play starts, I'm silently staring at Instagram, but it's not what you think. I tap the word "following" at the top of my notifications tab and I'm taken to a page that tells me what my friends have liked. And, more specifically, what my ex-boyfriend has liked. My heart's in my mouth as my eyes flit about the screen, trying to take everything in. Just a few words on a screen have confirmed what I've been dreading: that my ex has moved on. Image: rachel thompson / liz pierson / mashable Seconds later, the curtain rises, the lights dim and the play begins; but my thoughts are elsewhere. For the next three and a half hours, I'm oblivious to the scene in front of me. My mind is playing out the story of my ex and his new girlfriend as I blink back tears. Instagram's notifications section is usually a pretty innocuous feature. When set to "you," it tells you who's liked your photos, who's commented and who's followed you. If you flip to the "following" tab, you can find out what the people you're following have liked. Image: rachel thompson / liz pierson / mashable Image: rachel thompson / liz pierson / mashable Most of the time, this feature is pretty uneventful. It will mostly tell you which of your cousins has liked a dozen cat photos, or which of your friends is most obsessed with avocados. But, this feature that can also offer some revealing insights into what your lover, your ex-lover or your love interest is getting up to. In the throes of a painful breakup, I decided to check the "following" section of Instagram to see if I could gain any kind of insight into what my ex was getting up to. I — like so many other people during breakups — wanted to know if he was as sad as I was; if he was carrying on regardless; or if he had moved on completely. I checked periodically at first, and then the urge became greater. I kept seeing the same name appearing over and over next to his. A name I'd never heard him mention before when talking about friends or family. The more often her name appeared in the "following" section, the more frequent my visits to that feed became. Instagram notifications can spell disaster when you're going through a distressing breakup. Image: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images Each time I saw her name, the blood would rush to my face, my heart rate would quicken, and a feeling of sickening jealousy came over me. I hated what I saw, but I told myself I needed to see it. That final visit to the feed as I sat in the crowded theatre told me that my ex had commented on the girl in question's selfie with a kissing emoji. A further few clicks showed me more comments, more likes, and more emoji that had been passed between the two. Although I believed this information would help me, research suggests that it could have made my breakup worse than it needed to be. Researchers labelled this type of behaviour “interpersonal electronic surveillance,” a.k.a. social media stalking. I had before me what looked like the beginnings of a budding relationship. In a recent study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, researchers labelled this type of behaviour “interpersonal electronic surveillance,” a.k.a. social media stalking. Researchers explored the impact of "online surveillance after relationship termination" and found that seeing exes flirting over social media actually makes it harder for people to get over their relationships. Dating and relationship expert James Preece says that repeatedly checking your Instagram following tab isn't just a breakup thing; people in healthy relationships do it too. "The problem with this is that it can really feed paranoia. Even if you are in a great relationship, if you like the wrong type of Instagram post then it can raise alarm bells. [Your partner] will wonder what you are up to and what your motivations might be," Preece told Mashable. Preece says that if your partner keeps liking certain people's posts, then you shouldn't be afraid to question their actions. But — he says — there could be a completely innocent explanation behind it. "If you are experiencing a breakup then it's even harder. You'll watch every single like and get more and more jealous. The best thing to do during a breakup is to take a break from social media," Preece continued. Student Kylie Hill from North Carolina thinks that incessant checking of Instagram's "following" notifications can be harmful for relationships, but it also helped her discover a boyfriend's cheating. "I used to check it all the time just to see what my boyfriend was doing," Hill told Mashable. "One time I was dating someone and I found out he had another girlfriend just by the pictures the was liking [on Instagram] so I went on the girl's page and saw that they had been dating for a while," Hill continued. She's not the only person to have unearthed a partner's secret through this feature. Ishita Ranjan — a marketing manager from London — found out that her boyfriend was in a relationship with someone else by checking the following tab. "It made me feel sick to my stomach." "He told me he'd been to a wildlife park with a friend. Then I noticed on Instagram's following page that a friend had liked a photo of a girl at the same wildlife park," Ranjan told Mashable. When Ranjan clicked on her profile, she saw that the two had been to the wildlife park together. It took a further 30 seconds to realise that they were in fact in a relationship. "It made me feel sick to my stomach," Ranjan continued. Instagram became Ranjan's source for finding out what her boyfriend wasn't telling her. "I trusted Instagram more than him," she continued. Whether you're in the middle of a breakup, or you're worried about what your partner is getting up to, Instagram notifications can offer an insight that might be otherwise unavailable to you. "I trusted Instagram more than him." In my experience, the "following" tab made my breakup even more painful than it needed to be, but it also told me what I needed to know: That I too should be moving on. The moment I got confirmation of his moving on, I knew that things between us were 100% over, and I was free to continue with my life. Nonetheless, it's an experience I don't wish to repeat, and since that breakup I've refrained from looking at that section of the app. Yes, this app could confirm a partner's cheating, but it's important to remember that Instagram 'likes' are often be totally meaningless. In short, use this feature sparingly: It can be a deal-breaker or a disaster. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.You
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