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AI Just Became More Human

AI Just Became More Human

News September 14, 2016

The first really great “bad” computer voice had to be Joshua from War Games (1983). Before that, actors dubbing voice over spouted nasally, monotone lines (“Danger, Will Robinson!”) to make audiences believe they were programmed, but Joshua had all the right pieces: sometimes monotone, sometimes the slightest of inflections,... Read more
Where Are The Digital Textbooks?
Only a handful of years ago, digital publishing proponents touted the benefits of digital textbooks and their ability to replace the outdated dead tree model of educational publishing. Costs were reportedly going to drop exponentially, schools were going to save money in licensing, and the short life span of... Read more
Digital Classrooms: Is This Really Education?
If you need a little excitement in your life, walk into any faculty lounge or meeting room and announce that you think self-paced software is the wave of the future for education. You’re sure to find yourself swarmed by a mob of lesson planning critics who argue that technology... Read more
Microsoft Create Free Online Courses With EdX
Microsoft is partnering with EdX to create online educational courses for software developers. EdX has recently announced on Tuesday of this week that the online courses would be the latest addition to their curriculum of interactive and massive open online courses (MOOC) programs. According to a recent release, Microsoft... Read more
UK Schoolchildren To Receive A Free Computer
In order to address a future skills shortage, the BBC is taking part in an initiative to give away a million free computers to students that are starting secondary school. Reports state that a skills shortage of some 1.4 million will occur over the next five years. The UK-wide Make... Read more
Makerbot Starter Lab: 3D Printing for Schools and Businesses
MakerBot has announced Startup Lab, a 3D printing initiative, which will allow schools to get involved with 3D printing. The new program will provide an education centre with everything they could need to start creating 3D printed items. The kit includes a printer, parts and materials, and a workshop that... Read more
Coke Is Adding Free Wi-Fi To Some Vending Machines
People in South Africa will soon be able to get more than just a refreshing bottle of Coke at the Coke machine. Coca-Cola has announced that they will be offering free Wi-Fi at some of their vending machines around South Africa. As of right now, their plan is to... Read more
Technology Helps Students Break Free From The Classroom
In the United States, educational experiments are in progress, which allows students to spend more time out of the classroom.  A key aspect of these experiments include mobile devices that redefine the old Victorian model of teaching, increasing performance in students by making learning fun!  Imagine that!  On top... Read more
Reading Rainbow On The Web
Just take a look…its in a book…its Reading Rainbow!  Remember back in the day when you waited for that song to begin.  You knew it was time to go on an adventure!  Reading Rainbow first hit the television in 1983 and sadly finished in 2006!  LeVar Burton’s vision was... Read more
University Researchers Print 3D Speakers
There have been numerous reports in the media regarding really useful and clever designs and applications for 3D printing.  So it was only a matter of time before the use of 3D printing stretched into the music world. Researchers at Cornell University in New York have successfully designed and... Read more
Udacity Creates Online Degree Program For Data Science
A new $37 million White House initiative designed to encourage data science work at American universities has kick-started some companies to assist in their goal of helping more people to get educated. One of these companies is education startup, Udacity and they have respond well, with a data science initiative of their... Read more
MakerBot 3D Printer Crowdfunding Effort For US Schools
Brooklyn based 3D printing company MakerBot this week launched a new initiative to put a desktop 3D printer in every school in the US, but it wants some assistance in doing so.  The company is calling out to teachers and donors to help make the goal a reality through a... Read more
Do Not Track Kids Act Introduced in US
Is it morally right to track and analyse the internet history of children under 16 years of age?  An American bill called the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2013 is planning to protect children under the age of 16.  It will extend federal anti-tracking protections under the Children’s... Read more
Can Texting Improve Education?
British researchers are to conduct studies to test whether pupils’ texting, using the Internet or using iPad‘s can help improve their exam results.  The University of Bristol and Harvard University have been awarded a ÂŁ3.5 million grant to investigate the effects of digital technology on the grades of disadvantaged... Read more
Wishbone: Education Crowdfunded
Wishbone allowed Eighty kids got to attend academic summer camps and after-school programs this year.  Now, the education crowdfunding platform has begun to allow children in need in the NYC and the Bay Area to apply for assistance. The non-profit startup has spent the last year increasing its fundraising... Read more
Microsoft Patent Allows Parents To Remote Lock Kids Phones
A new patent application filed by Microsoft would give parents ultimate, absolute control over their children’s smartphones and tablets.  Indeed, Big Brother is watching…but in a kind and loving way.  As the mobile market expands, so does the amount of people with devices. More and more children are getting... Read more
Cbeebies Playtime App Launched
The BBC has launched, at no cost may I add, an iOS and Android app for its CBeebies channel, aimed at preschoolers, with mini-games which are based on four of its popular shows.  The BBC CBeebies Playtime app is available for iOS, Android and the Kindle Fire in the UK.  On the iOS platform it joins the... Read more
Twitter University
School is back, no kids really it is! Well for social media development students it is anyway.  Everybody’s favourite micro-blogging website recently announced the opening of Twitter University.  The program is designed for engineers to get world-class technical training and gain the abilities to teach the skills which they... Read more