Just a few generations ago, it wasn’t common for most children under 18 to be connected to the digital world. That has changed drastically as 53 percent of children now own their first smartphone by the time they turn 11, according to NPR. By the time many children enter their teen years, 84 percent use smartphones.
Using robots and artificial intelligence in our homes was once thought of as science fiction. Yet, with self-driving cars and additional enhancements in smart home technology on the horizon, home robots may soon become ordinary.
Topics: Technology, home, artificial intelligence, robot
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the daily routines and lives of many, as most states have enacted shelter-in-place orders or restrictions on in-person non-essential activities, including school and work. More people are now confined to their homes most of the time. There is also increasing collective anxiety over when things will return to “normal” and whether the spread of the virus will personally impact ourselves or someone we know. Spending more time at home has increased the need to rely on the Internet, smartphone apps, streaming, and online-based means of entertainment and information exchanges.
Topics: internet, smartphone, apps, home
The sticker prices of modern flagship smartphones may be shocking, but when we take a look back at the history of cell phones’ retail prices, it reveals today’s costs may not be entirely out of line. When new or advanced technology is introduced, higher prices often compensate for the efforts and costs that went into developing that technology. Like the cell phones that were first introduced in the early 1980s, modern flagship phones integrate new technology to expand what a cell phone can accomplish.
Topics: cell phones, smartphone, wireless, price
Technically, a smart home is a residence containing one or more smart devices. While some prefer to use these devices to increase their home’s energy efficiency, others enjoy the conveniences of creating sophisticated entertainment rooms or automating routine chores. From smart speakers and vacuums to smart home lighting to locks and doorbells with built-in security cameras, homes and cities are becoming more “wired” to the internet.
Topics: wireless, apps, mobile, smart home
When online shopping began to take off with the internet, no one could have predicted the role mobile shopping would eventually play in online sales. While e-commerce sales make up 10.7 percent of all U.S. retail activity, m-commerce or mobile-commerce sales reached 41.2 billion dollars in the second quarter of 2019.
Speech recognition technology has been around since the late 18th Century with the invention of the Acoustic-Mechanical Speech Machine, according to Medium. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that what we know as modern speech recognition technology emerged. In 2008, Google introduced its voice search app for mobile devices. Apple followed suit in 2011 with the introduction of Siri.
Topics: Technology, wireless, voice assistant, Google
With the launch of Disney+ on Tuesday, November 12th, cord-cutters may be wondering if it is worth the cost of adding on another streaming service. The answer, of course, depends on content and budget. Disney+ is available by itself for just under $7 a month or $70 if you prepay for a year, according to Digital Trends. The streaming service is also available as part of a bundle that includes Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ for $12.99 per month, reports ABC 7 News in Los Angeles.
Topics: internet, entertainment, streaming, disney plus
Smart TVs are television sets that can connect to the internet and access entertainment options through aps, such as NetFlix, Disney+, HULU, Sling TV, etc. Do you currently own a smart TV or are you considering purchasing one soon? According to Leitchman Research, 32 percent of U.S. households owned at least one smart TV as of mid-2019, and this is expected to grow to over 50% by 2020.
Topics: Technology, streaming, smart TV
How exactly did the cable industry start losing ground and does it have a future? Even though 44% of American households still subscribe to cable, the number of households that have cut the cord so far is at 33 million, as reported by techjury. Price and content availability are the two top drivers among cord cutters and those thinking about cutting the cord.
Topics: tv, streaming, cord cutting