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EU will force electric cars to emit a noise below 20 km/h on July 1

Jun06
by on June 6, 2019 at 10:13 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Cars


Starting July 1, all electric vehicles with four or more wheels in the EU will be required to emit noise of at least 56 decibels if the car is going 20 km/h or slower, the New Atlas reports. This makes a ton of sense as electric cars don’t make any of the engine noises we’ve grown accustomed to from standard Earth-killing gasoline cars. Making sure pedestrians can hear cars coming could increase the safety of visually impaired individuals, as well those of us who have the bad habit of walking into traffic while looking at their phones. The EU legislation…

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This keyboard app spell-checks gender bias to challenge how we talk to girls

Jun06
by on June 6, 2019 at 10:11 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web


Language is not gender-neutral, and it’s time to identify and challenge the societal structure that systematically stops all women from thriving — one of these structures is gendered language and the patriarchal ideas built into it. One project hoping to change perceptions around everyday, gender-biased language is the Samsung-backed app created by Plan International Finland, Sheboard. The tool that aims to dissolve gender-related stereotypes by making us reflect on the language we use towards girls and women. It spell-checks gender bias and replaces stereotypical words and phrases with empowering autocorrect suggestions.Gendered language is limiting for both sexes. Girls, though, lose…

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New details about Facebook’s cryptocurrency make it sound even worse

Jun06
by on June 6, 2019 at 9:00 am
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Given its history of managing our data, it shouldn’t take much to convince you that Facebook managing our money is probably a terrible idea. That said, it seems the social media giant is actually aware of that particular challenge. Facebook plans to relinquish control of its upcoming cryptocurrency GlobalCoin to external companies, The Information reports. It will officially unveil its digital currency later this month. The social media giant has been courting financial institutions and other tech companies to form an independent foundation to govern the digital asset. Before you think this is going to create some kind of democratic…

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YouTube clumsily tries to rectify its confusing anti-harassment policies (again)

Jun06
by on June 6, 2019 at 7:57 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google


Facing immense pressure, YouTube has said it will reexamine its harassment policies and update them. The company said it will do so in “consultation with experts, creators, journalists and those who have, themselves, been victims of harassment.” The Google-owned social video platform came under fresh criticism for not doing enough to curb harassment and abusive language, and failing to protect LGBTQ users in its community. Last week, a Vox journalist named Carlos Maza shared a viral Twitter thread about how he had been at the receiving end of harassment and homophobic slurs at the hands of Stephen Crowder, a popular…

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Robert Downey Jr. launches a coalition to clean up the earth using AI and robots

Jun06
by on June 6, 2019 at 7:37 am
Posted In: Around the Web, world


Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man may have met his end in the Marvel cinematic universe, but the movie star wants to keep doing things that one might associate with his on-screen persona, genius billionaire Tony Stark. The actor announced that he’s launching a collaborative effort to clean up the earth by making use of AI and robotics. Speaking at Amazon’s re:MARS conference in Las Vegas, the actor recounted an insight he’d heard from scientists that inspired this mission: using robotics and nanotechnology, we could clean up the planet significantly in the next 10 years. Downey Jr.’s vision will take the…

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