The visual impaired population is getting more support from AI to help them ‘see’ the world around them. The already very successful human-powered app Be My Eyes (we’ve covered it before) has launched Be My AI, an automated tool that can help in certain circumstances. Using an AI trained to
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Susan on the Soapbox: The $334 Billion Assumption or Why Smith’s APP is a Non-Starter
Well that inspires confidence. When LifeWorks respectfully submitted its report to the Smith government outlining how Alberta could move from CPP to an Alberta Pension Plan, the executive summary was signed by someone who preferred to remain anonymous, hence their signature was “Redacted to protect privacy.” Perhaps Anonymous was
Continue readingThings Are Good: iNaturalist Goes Its Own Way
Way back in 2011 we took at a new app that helps to identify the world around, back then it was to help the California redwoods. That app is iNaturalist and it’s had a great decade plus of identifying all sorts of plants and animals. The app, which has a
Continue readingThings Are Good: Use This App to Avoid Shady Companies
Too many companies say they care about an important issue, sponsor events, and then turn around and fund organizations (or politicians) that actively fight the important issue. This behaviour by corporations is unethical and wrong. One person got so sick of companies claiming to be in favour of issues only
Continue readingThings Are Good: Try These Ethical Alternatives to Popular Apps
Large tech companies find ways to make money off of your data without you knowing about it, they might even be sharing personal information about you with governments or advertisers. If that makes you uncomfortable (I hope it does) then you should consider looking for alternatives to mainstream software services
Continue readingThings Are Good: More People can Help the Blind: Be My Eyes Now on Android
Be My Eyes is an app designed to help people with low vision to get help from thousands of people around the world. It works by connecting people with vision problems to those with good vision. For example, a blind person might need to know which object is red so
Continue readingThings Are Good: eBird App is Helping us Understand Birds
eBird is a mobile app that has been around for a few years and used around the world. As a result the app has been used to collect a rich dataset of bird sightings which provides enough data for researchers to have a very accurate understanding of some bird species.
Continue readingThings Are Good: Amnesty International’s Guide to Safe Messaging
Thanks to the bravery of whistleblowers we know that the Five Eyes are monitoring all internet chatter regardless of who’s talking. This is a big concern for people who care about freedom and rights to have personal communication. As a result, Amnesty International put together a review of messaging apps
Continue readingThings Are Good: Stop The Traffik App
Human trafficking is a real problem throughout the globe and sadly it isn’t showing signs of slowing down. An organization, Stop the Traffik, is focused on ending human trafficking and has launched an app to help in that process. The charity has a good history of stopping trafficking (see their
Continue readingcartoon life: A fast scribble review of the new stiff tip on Pencil by 53
Surprise surprise. Pencil with new stiffer tips showed up as promised. Below are some scribbles comparing used, new and old. Filed under: App, art, drawing, iPad Tagged: firm tip, madeWithPaper, Pencil by 53
Continue readingcartoon life: We’re #4 Canadian Travel app
The Heart of London climbs to the top: We’re #4, We’re #4! You’re in for it now that I have another app posted… yes.. a plethora of daily reports about how it’s doing in the stores and its further development! Yesterday it was ranked Number 4 in Canadian Travel in the Apple Store. That’s pretty […]
Continue readingThings Are Good: A Virtual Companion for a Safe Walk Home
At the schools I teach at they each have a volunteer run service to help people walk home who are worried for their safety. When one graduates from these schools they are on their own. Seeing that this how walk-safe programs work a bunch of students have created an app
Continue readingThings Are Good: Get Informed with Pollenize Canada
Pollenize for iOS and Android can help you navigate the upcoming Canadian election. I’ve checked out the app and it’s a really great way to see where the parties stand on popular issues. I recommend Pollenize if you’re looking for an easy way to understand the election. Pollenize is free
Continue readingThings Are Good: Helsinki Wants to Send Cars to Purgatory
The Helsinki bus station theory will change you life and now the Finnish government wants to change people’s lives by making cars pointless. In the coming decades they will make use of data and various transportations to make owning a car a pointless exercise in futility. In many urban centres
Continue readingThings Are Good: Think Dirty on Your Mobile to Shop Clean
Think Dirty is an app for your mobile phone (iOS only) designed to help people understand the ingredients in products. It’s focused on cosmetics products as a starting point for how to avoid cancer causing chemicals. Think Dirty™ app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients
Continue readingcartoon life: Paper is very very nice, but…
Paper by 53 is very very nice, but people have been listening. Sketches, flipink… Hmmm… Knockoffs? I really don’t know what is fair anymore. Neither off these would be anything without Paper trailblazing. But both answer elegantly what Paper didn’t answer for a year, and somethings it still doesn’t do.
Continue readingThings Are Good: Use Buycott to Support Companies Which do Good
Most people are familiar with the concept of a boycott to punish companies who do negative things by not buying their goods or services. The opposite of that is a new app called Buycott which helps you buy from companies who you ideologically support. I’ve been using the app for
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