As Group Messaging is all the rage these days, it’ll be interesting to see how the world’s biggest social network, Facebook, is going to implement it. The new Facebook Messages-service makes it even easier to communicate and archive your communications on the social network, but its group messaging functions are severly lacking. And while I’m being picky, I’m not overly impressed with Facebook’s mobile chat function either. In fact, while Chat does work in the current iPhone app it makes me weep a little on the inside when it doesn’t alert me of new messages when I leave the app or doesn’t even load them when I know they’re there....

A new study has discovered a vulnerability in Twitter’s trending algorithm that makes the platformsusceptibleto astroturfing attacks. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) found that the social network doesn’t consider whether a tweet has been deleted when determining which keywords should trend. As a result, attackers can artificially push topics up the list of Twitter trends and then remove evidence of the manipulation. The researchers call this new form of attack “ephemeral astroturfing:”...

How high-end cameras and algorithms are making escooters safer UK trials Trials of the new solution are currently underway in the UK city of Northampton, and the first phase will see local Voi staff fit scooters with the technology, so they can learn their environment. Once this phase is complete, the technology will be integrated into Voi’s e-scooters for public use in the city. Northampton’s e-scooter trial is part of a UK-wide government-led initiative to test the effectiveness of e-scooters in UK cities....

How humane is the UK’s plan to introduce robot companions in care homes? Tactile connection The preference for stuffed animals is, I think, important, because it also connects to the sensory experience of loneliness. Cuddly toys can be hugged and even temporarily moulded by the shape and temperature of the human body. Robots cannot. There is a limit to the sense of connection and embodied comfort that can come from robotic caregivers, or pets....

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. Do not perform similar activities without explicit permission. On April 30th, 2021, I rickrolled my high school district. Not just my school but the entirety of Township High School District 214. It’s the second-largest high school district in Illinois, consisting of 6 different schools with over 11,000 enrolled students. This story isn’t one of those typical rickrolls where students sneak Rick Astley into presentations, talent shows, or Zoom calls....