WeeklyTech #28

Kids and Technology

My wife and I have two young sons. Our oldest is nearly three years old and has recently developed a deep love for cars, trucks, trains, and construction vehicles.

Not only does he love to play his toys vehicles and pretend he’s a racecar driver or construction worker, but he also loves to watch shows on TV and online about these vehicles.

We’ve always tried to be cautious about what he watches and for how long. While we don’t have strict guidelines for screen time in our home, we don’t allow much more than a show or two a day.

Just recently, my wife and I were sitting with him watching some YouTube toy vehicle videos and made a disturbing discovery. One of these videos show a male action figure screaming and drowning in a puddle. Another had weirdly inappropriate commercials running throughout the video.


Interesting technology stories

The Display of the Future Might Be in Your Contact LensWired

As my eyes flitted around the room, I moved through a virtual interface only visible to me—scrolling through a calendar, looking up commute times home, and even controlling music playback.

The Secretive Company That Might End Privacy as We Know ItThe New York Times

Until recently, Hoan Ton-That’s greatest hits included an obscure iPhone game and an app that let people put Donald Trump’s distinctive yellow hair on their own photos.

Robot priests can bless you, advise you, and even perform your funeralVox

Designed to look like Kannon, the Buddhist deity of mercy, the $1 million machine is an attempt to reignite people’s passion for their faith in a country where religious affiliation is on the decline.

A New Law for Gig Workers Reaches Beyond Ride-Hail Drivers Wired

Wilson is among the many Californians unexpectedly swept up in an effort to improve conditions for workers at gig-economy companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Postmates.