These UK companies are creating technologies to make ageing more pleasant November 11, 2015 A handful of companies in London and the South East have been awarded backing to turn their healthcare inventions into reality. As part of the first ever MedTechSouthEast competition, 10 firms have been selected for their innovative designs to help elderly people stay independent for longer – a crucial development in an ageing society. The [...]
Fintech revolution: Visa and Bank of America file the most fintech patents November 11, 2015 There’s a fintech revolution going on – but who’s at the forefront of it? New patent figures reveal that Visa has filed by far the most fintech patents, soaring 20 per cent ahead of its nearest rival, Bank of America. Data from Aistemos and Relecura shows which companies hold the most patents, providing an overview of [...]
Think you’re not being tracked online? Our browsing habits are captured and leaked by nine out of 10 major websites November 11, 2015 Chances are, your internet browsing habits are well known among many companies – some of which you probably haven't even heard of. New research published today in the International Journal of Communication shows 88 per cent of mainstream websites track your data and pass it on to third parties. While the information they leak is [...]
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos becomes the fourth richest person in the world, overtaking Carlos Slim November 11, 2015 Important news for billionaire watchers: last night Amazon founder Jeff Bezos became the fourth-richest person in the world, after a rally in the online retailer caused him to breeze past Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim. Amazon shares finished yesterday 0.64 per cent up, at $4.19. According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, that pushes his fortune up to $58.2bn [...]
Telco giants Vodafone, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin and BT reignite broadband battle November 11, 2015 The war of words between the UK’s biggest telecoms giants reached new heights yesterday, as the clock ticks down on Ofcom’s probe into the broadband market and decision on whether to carve out Openreach from BT. With Ofcom due to reveal its verdict in January, Vodafone’s boss accused BT of trying to “re-monopolise” the sector, prompting [...]
US charges hackers who made millions after targeting financial services giants in biggest ever cyber-attack November 10, 2015 Cyber criminals have taken it up a gear. The US has charged three men accused of a major hacking scheme that targeted mainly financial services giants such as JPMorgan and generated hundreds of millions of dollars. "By any measure, the data breaches at these firms were breathtaking in scope and in size," and signal a "brave new world [...]
Hardly any of us actually believe artificial intelligence will take our jobs November 10, 2015 When it comes to robots stealing jobs, it seems we consider ourselves immune – we have the "it couldn't possibly happen to me" mentality. Research from Rocket Fuel shows that just nine per cent of Britons believe artificial intelligence will negatively impact their job, with the majority expecting it to either have no impact. 10 per cent [...]
Game of Drones: remote controlled, hovering robot minions are cheaper than ever November 10, 2015 Drones! They’re not just for extrajudicial killings any more. On the contrary, the latest flock of these floating, flying hoverbots has recently hit the affordable mainstream, allowing pretty much anybody to flood the sky with their own personal army of whirring plastic tyrants. To give them their proper – and slightly less terrifying – name, [...]
After 30 years, Sony finally kills off Betamax November 10, 2015 Apple vs Android may be the big battle of the digital era – but not so long ago, it was all about the showdown between video and Betamax. And after 30 long years, Sony has finally admitted defeat, with the announcement it will kill off the Betamax. In a statement today, Sony said it will [...]
Good news for runners: Having powerful legs means you have a powerful brain November 10, 2015 The more powerful your legs are, the healthier your brain is likely to be, according to new research from King's College London. On average, people with stronger, quicker legs tend to maintain healthy brains for longer, which means runners and cyclists can give themselves a pat on the back. The researchers studied the relationship between [...]