Don’t be a phubber
Are you guilty of “phubbing” (phone + snubbing)—the modern act of paying more attention to your phone than the person you’re with? In a Baylor University study, 46 per cent of those in relationships said they have been phubbed on a date and 22 per cent had ended up fighting because of it. Considering the average Canadian spends nine hours a day consuming digital media (according to a recent eMarketer report), the dating data isn’t really a surprise. So, the next time you’re trying to make a lasting impression, put your cell phone away and tune in.
Source: baylor.edu
Goodbye, Keyboard?
At Google’s 2017 developer conference, the company revealed how it envisions its users’ future interaction with the search engine. Google Lens—an artificial intelligence-driven visual search app—intends to reinvent the electronic wheel by turning your smartphone’s camera into a search engine. Presented with a picture of a restaurant, Google Lens can conjure its hours, menu and, if required, make a reservation. A picture isn’t quite worth a thousand words as yet, though, as Google Lens’ accuracy is dependent on a rise in picture-taking.
Source: wired.com
Cubetto Robot Kit
A wooden cube on wheels, the Cubetto robot makes coding accessible to children with disabilities. Designed with a screen-free interface, Cubetto is controlled by placing chunky, tactile blocks on a board to set directions and actions. Once programmed, a press of a large button (easily spotted and that chimes when hit) will send Cubetto off on its journey across a customizable map. The combination of language-free coding, the absence of a mouse or touchscreen, and the presence of lights and sound cues for each of Cubetto’s actions makes the robot particularly usable for children with vision loss.
Source: primotoys.com
Finding the full picture
Canada’s treatment of diversity on television has improved, says a survey report prepared for the country’s television regulator, but that’s not to say it’s perfect. There are still those that feel underrepresented; in particular, there is a sense that few television shows depict Indigenous people and those with disabilities. Moreover, while Indigenous people tend to be perceived as negatively stereotyped, the report found that portrayals of people with disabilities, while no more visible, were altogether more generous. Plans to alter Canada’s broadcast regulations to better accord with the findings of the survey are to be revealed by Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly before the end of this year.
Source: timescolonist.com
Lower and slower
The glycemic index (GI) is a scale from one to 100 that ranks carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates with a low GI value (55 or less) are more slowly digested, absorbed and metabolized, and cause a lower and slower rise in blood glucose and therefore insulin levels. Eating foods with a low GI value can help to:
• control your cholesterol levels
• control your appetite
• lower your risk of developing heart disease
• lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Foods with low GI values include plain yoghurt, asparagus, tomatoes and peanuts.
Source: diabetes.ca
