Connected cows: An actually useful example of the Internet of Things (seriously) March 6, 2017 Just when you'd lost faith in the Internet of Things (IoT) and its pointless devices such as connected vases, toothbrushes and, um, egg holders, which make you scream "but why?" to the world, along comes something that might restore your faith. And it's not just because it's cute. Farming is where you'll find an actually [...]
Fintech funding trends in 2017 March 6, 2017 An Innovate Finance report recently suggested that venture capital investments into the UK FinTech sector have dropped by a third over the past year, potentially making way for a new type of investor in town. FinTech has typically attracted the most investment and limelight compared to other areas of digital innovation. Yet the funding landscape [...]
IBM is commercialising quantum computing to solve mind-boggling problems March 6, 2017 IBM has revealed its ambitions to bring the power of quantum computing to the business world. The tech firm is making available its IBM Q quantum systems to firms wanting to analyse and explore data that's too complicated for standard computing. Read more: The organisations of tomorrow – and the technologies already building them “Classical computers [...]
No, YouTube.TV isn’t going to replace broadcast television. It’s New Coke March 6, 2017 I recently learned that in Scottish dialect the word “tube” is quite the insult – an idiot – and that when YouTube was first launched, many got the wrong end of the stick. “It’s on you tube!” could quite easily be interpreted as an invitation to fight. 12 years later and as far as established [...]
Uber drivers will transport non-emergency patients around in tie-up with social care start-up Cera March 6, 2017 Uber drivers will be trained to transport non-emergency patients around, according to social care start-up Cera, which has partnered with the ride-hailing app. The partnership will also enable Cera's London-based carers to use Uber to get to the people they are caring for as quickly as possible. It forms part of an aim to "bring greater independence and [...]
Monzo and Revolut cardholders can’t use their cards and might not for the rest of the day due to supplier issues March 6, 2017 Monzo cardholders are unable to use the digital challenger bank to make payments or send money and might not be able to for the rest of the day. In a notification sent to customers, the startup said there have been issues since just before 10 am on Sunday morning due to one of its suppliers [...]
Buck up: UK tech sector not doing enough to attract female talent, according to research by PwC March 6, 2017 The UK's tech sector isn't doing enough to attract female talent, according to research by PwC. Only a quarter of female students in the UK (27 per cent) would consider a career in technology, compared to 62 per cent of males, PwC's survey of 2,000 A level and university students has found. Only three per cent of females [...]
More than half a dozen fintech firms hit by outage March 5, 2017 More than half a dozen fintech startups were knocked offline on Sunday by issues with the card processing firm they use, leaving customers unable to make card payments. Digital challenger bank Monzo and Revolut, which offers real-time interbank rate exchange when travelling abroad as well as a full bank account, alerted customers early on Sunday [...]
Facebook Messenger is testing a dislike reaction button (astonished face!) March 5, 2017 Facebook is playing around with what might just be the most demanded feature ever on the social network – a dislike button. It's not quite a thumbs up to a thumbs down yet, but the tech giant's messaging service is hosting tests of a new dislike reaction, joining others such as love, angry and sad. [...]
Uber used a secret technology called Greyball to hide from regulators and avoid being shut down March 4, 2017 The blows just keep coming for Uber. It's now been revealed that for years the ride-hailing app has deceived regulators in areas where its services were resisted or banned by authorities by using a secret technology. Greyball, a programme that uses data from the Uber app and other technologies, was created to protect the firm from "violations [...]