Reason to get tech savvy: the grandkids
Retirees Kristi Appelhans, 68, and her husband, Tony, 69, live in Idaho Falls, Idaho — about 2,000 miles from their daughter Kira’s family in Staten Island, N.Y. Although they visit every few months, they have found that the best way to stay connected to their grandson, Oliver, 5, is through video chats using Skype and FaceTime. “Once Oliver got big enough to see us, around age... READ MORE
Don’t suffer computer problems alone
The only thing worse than having computer, Internet or other technology problems is suffering them alone. But take heart: local organizations called “user groups” let you meet friendly people to help you cope with — and even enjoy — technology. Though it’s easy to think that buying a computer is as simple as selecting a microwave oven, groups offer assistance for this tricky... READ MORE
Learning to cope with low vision together
After Baltimore resident Ruth Hoffman was diagnosed with macular degeneration, she heard from a friend about a free low-vision support group that meets twice a month at the Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center. “I found out the program was sponsored by Jewish Community Services (JCS), a good organization, and I decided to attend,” said Hoffman. “It’s a very informal group, mostly... READ MORE
Two startups want to check your memory
Have access to an iPad or the web? Take a brain “selfie.” This spring a San Francisco startup is looking for about 900 people to take an online test that will provide a snapshot of their current cognitive status. The one-hour game, taken via iPad, isn’t exactly a test, said study director Shenly Glenn, CEO of Miro Health. “It’s more of a series of interactive... READ MORE
Virtual credit card numbers cut fraud risk
Worried about your credit card number falling prey to online breaches or fraud? “EMV chips gave us protection against the cloning of credit cards, but a lot of credit card fraud has moved online,” said Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and author of The Debt Escape Plan. A few card issuers have a solution: virtual credit card numbers. These randomly generated numbers are linked to... READ MORE
Home items get ‘smarter,’ like it or not
One day, finding an oven that just cooks food may be as tough as buying a TV that merely lets you change channels. Internet-connected “smarts” are creeping into cars, refrigerators, thermostats, toys and just about everything else in your home. In January, CES 2019 (the gadget show in Las Vegas) showcased many of these products, including an oven that coordinates your recipes and a... READ MORE
How to keep your data safe in the cloud
You probably got the memo ages ago that you need to back up your computer’s files religiously. Otherwise, they could disappear into the void should your computer’s hard drive implode or your machine fall victim to hackers. Today, much of what you do on your computer, tablet and smartphone — from accessing email to streaming music and movies — relies on “the cloud” (referring... READ MORE
Robots may put U.S. workers’ jobs at risk
Robots aren’t replacing everyone, but a quarter of U.S. jobs will be severely disrupted as artificial intelligence accelerates the automation of existing work, according to a new Brookings Institution report. Last month’s report from the Washington think tank says roughly 36 million Americans hold jobs with “high exposure” to automation — meaning at least 70 percent of their... READ MORE
Grocery robots coming to Giant
A robot named Marty is rolling into nearly 500 grocery stores to help employees. Badger Technologies CEO Tim Rowland said its camera-equipped robots stop after detecting a potential spill. Then, humans working in a control center in the Philippines review the imagery before triggering a cleanup message over the loudspeaker. Rowland says 25 robots are now operating at certain Giant,... READ MORE
New service offers free local TV stations
The Internet’s abundance of video — on YouTube, Netflix, etc. — has pushed millions to cancel cable TV and diminished the appeal of live television. Some people (the young) barely watch TV, except for special circumstances like the Super Bowl or the Oscars. But many are still dedicated to the nightly news and as much NFL football as they can get. If you have canceled cable, and... READ MORE
Technology 2024
