"Toward Human-Centered Technology" How to make technology that works for humans
Plus, a look at an important threat to our personal security being decided this week.
Hello Digital Void Community!
This Week’s Virtual Salon: “Toward Human-Centered Technology” with BEACON Founder Joe Toscano
We’re looking forward to seeing you this Wednesday at our next Virtual Salon, Toward Human-Centered Technology with BEACON Founder and author of “Automating Humanity” Joe Toscano.
What are ways to make people more aware of how their data is being used? What kinds of legislation and policy are being developed in order to help make technological systems more transparent? How do we make technology work for us, instead of us working for tech? Check out his TEDx talk here and join us live tomorrow evening.
📅 Wednesday, May 13
🕖 7:00 PM ET / 4 PM PT
🎟️Free registration now available - Reserve your spot now 👇
Click here to register for the livestream.
▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive live alerts about our Virtual Salons
Distributed Blackness
Dr. Andre Brock, Jr, author of Distributed Blackness, joined the Digital Void Salon Series last week to discuss how issues of race and ethnicity are inextricable from and formative of contemporary digital culture in the United States. Further, he looks at how digital media have reconfigured the meanings and performances of African American identity.
You can watch the archived livestream here and listen to the archived audio on the Digital Void Podcast.
A new threat to personal privacy 🔒
Senate GOP majority leader Mitch McConnell is working to expand the power of the United States Attorney General through a vote to renew and expand the PATRIOT Act.
Under McConnell’s proposal, the FBI would be allowed to collect the web history of any United States citizen without a warrant.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said that Barr, who has been deeply involved in investigations of interest to Trump, could authorize an investigation into a political rival, which could then unlock the internet-spying powers McConnell wants to grant the FBI.
“Under the McConnell amendment, Barr gets to look through the web browsing history of any American—including journalists, politicians, and political rivals—without a warrant, just by saying it is relevant to an investigation,” said Wyden, who has been trying to ban warrantless surveillance on such records.
Read more from Spencer Ackerman of Daily Beast.
What’s Happening This Week?
Join FUTURES Podcast for a livestream discussion this Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 PM ET with quantum physicist Jim Al-Khalili in conversation with host Luke Robert Mason. Free tickets are available now.
How can we increase our emotional intelligence in technology and ourselves? All Tech is Human will host CEO & Co-Founder of Affectiva Rana el Kaliouby and Tech Emotionographer Pamela Pavliscak for a livestream discussion this Friday, May 15, at 12 PM ET. Free registration is now available.
- Josh and Jamie