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Review: Anki’s Vector is an always-on robot companion for the whole family

Dec21
by on December 21, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, artificial intelligence, Plugged, robots


The AI-powered robot in my home just figured out how to bypass the barrier I built to stop it. It’s only a matter of seconds before it’s upon me. Luckily for me, the robot in question is a Vector unit from Anki. The only real threat it poses is to my deadlines. I turned Vector off yesterday so I could focus on some work, this is no small feat because it’s an “always on” robot. Don’t tell anyone, I’m not proud, but I couldn’t figure out a “power down until I tell you to come back on” method, so I…

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7 industry leaders explain how to punch failure in the throat

Dec21
by on December 21, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, TNW Answers


You’re not special — everybody fails. The importance lies in how you react to failure, and learning to bounce back after you’re fired, you lose a client, or your high tech sex toy company idea gets shot down. TNW Answers is our live Q&A platform where we and our readers can interview leaders and disrupters from across the STEM industries. This year, we’ve had 30 TNW Answers sessions, hosted by leaders, disruptors, and expert panels from fields including cryptocurrency, beauty tech, cannabis, space exploration, new media art, and much much more. For this article we’ve pulled together some of the things…

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Hate Christmas? Here’s a scientific survival guide for the Scrooges

Dec21
by on December 21, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, syndication


Two years ago, I came into work on December 1 to find a bag on my desk labelled “Karen’s Christmas Intervention”. It contained many Christmas themed gifts and challenges – such as watching a Christmas DVD and going to a carol service. These were all designed to help me find something to like about Christmas. I tried everything – after all, someone had made a big effort. But while I enjoyed completing each challenge, it didn’t change my values. I remain a Grinch. In many parts of the world, we are expected to love Christmas and embrace all things about…

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Make 2019 the year your child learns to code with these 6 toys and kits

Dec21
by on December 21, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Design & Dev, Plugged


Perhaps the best gift you can get your child in 2019 is a quality computer science education. Depending on where you live, tech jobs are bountiful, and they can open the door to a world of travel, opportunity, and lifelong learning. But this doesn’t have to be boring. It’s not like we’re stuck in 1998, and your offspring has to learn C++ from a densely-written SAMS manual written by some bloke who looks a bit like Hagrid. Learning to code has never been easier and more accessible — and most of all, it can be riotous fun. Below are six…

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