An Interview with Author L.S. King
By Tamara Wilhite
S. King is the author of both the “Sword’s Edge” science fiction / fantasy series and the “Deuces Wild” space opera series. She’s also a martial artist and mother to four homeschooled children.
Methods for Getting Around Facial Recognition Systems
By Tamara Wilhite
Facial recognition systems threaten our privacy. They can track where you go and add that information to the massive amount of information already saved about each of us. Big Brother is watching you and enabled by AI. And when it makes a mistake reading your face, you could end up with criminal charges far worse than when the toll tag system misreads your license plate. Here are several methods for fooling and interfering with facial recognition systems.
11 Risks of Self-Driving Cars Most Don’t Consider
By Tamara Wilhite
Self-driving cars are upheld as a shining solution to so many problems. Drunk driving doesn’t matter if the car drives the drunk home. Teens can take rides anywhere at any time. Older adults can still access transportation even as vision and reflexes deteriorate. However, there are risks introduced by self-driving cars many fail to consider. Here is a short list of concerns beyond your insurance rate spiking because you’re braking so hard…
How Hollywood Could Be Keeping the Alien Threat at Bay
By Tamara Wilhite
Humans’ historical documentaries on how various things were discovered will be considered true-life horror biopics to aliens. Then again, this will explain how we developed so quickly. Our fictional broadcasts of us hacking into alien computers, turning random items into superweapons and so forth, if understood, may make aliens think we’re more advanced or dangerous than we really are.
Humans may be left alone because our geniuses are so dangerously unpredictable. Our prank shows and reality shows like Mythbusters may be what are saving us from alien invasion. We take pleasure in exploding stuff and use it as educational content for our children? Let’s leave that planet alone.
The Invisible Wall Proposal: Why The First Failed, Why It Will Fail Again, and What Works Instead
By Tamara Wilhite
During President George W. Bush’s term, a trial version of a “smart” border wall was built along the U.S. border by Raytheon. This idea resurfaced in the 2017 and 2018 discussions about putting in a smart border wall along the U.S. border instead of the classic, solid walls Trump supporters have called for.
The concept was simple. Build a network of open pylons loaded with sensors. The sensors will detect humans while still allowing animals to freely pass. It won’t look as ugly, informs us when drug runners and illegal aliens enter, and yet permits those with legal authority to cross like locals and law enforcement to cross at any point.
Which Technologies Are Most and Least Likely to Change Manufacturing?
By Tamara Wilhite
Whether you’re watching Shark Tank or reading a crowdfunding campaign, the term “revolutionary” gets tossed around quite a bit. I like Peter Drucker’s definition of revolutionary: the true revolution is when technology or processes from a totally different sector overturn a market, such as genetics upending medicine or the internet altering everything from social interactions to looking up information.
There are four technologies often cited as certain to dramatically alter manufacturing: the Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence and 3D printing.
5 Pros, 7 Cons, and 2 Questions For Information Appliances
By Tamara Wilhite
Pros: * If you would have trouble typing something, whether due to a disability like Parkinson’s or simply busy at that home, you can still make queries or place orders.
* Visually impaired? Access to information and services is readily available to you.
* You get directions in a readily understood manner without taking your eyes off the road or the cook pot.
The Ethics of Sex Bots
By Tamara Wilhite
Let’s be honest – when the world’s first sexbot brothels are opening in Europe, we need to discuss the ethics of it…
The Growing Hidden Market for Information Appliances
By Tamara Wilhite
Bringing in information appliances like Alexa and Siri costs you your privacy. They’ll monitor and record everything you say, parsing it for key terms to be used in advertising. However, I can’t say they aren’t for everyone. I’m going to ignore those who want to live in a networked home because it feels like the future has arrived and focus on those that are the best (or worst) case scenario.
