All over the world people who have been harmed by the conventional money systems are devising alternative currencies, challenging the centralised monetary policy approach.
Kui Xie, The Ohio State University and Nicole Luthy, The Ohio State University
Textbooks were once a major piece of educational infrastructure. But as digital content expands, a new kind of ‘textbook’ is improving the quality of K-12 instruction.
Müge Ozman, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School and Cédric Gossart, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School
Digital social innovations are often associated with positive meanings, like openness and collaboration. But to better define the concept, it’s essential to disentangle it from its positive aura.
Carlo Ratti, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Physical exercise was once primarily an open-air activity, until gym training and monitoring took hold. Digital devices and augmented reality now offer the freedom to head out into the city again.
E-book sales are falling, even though many said they would “kill” print books. Computers and television were also supposed to spell the book’s demise. At one point, people even feared the phonograph.
The human psyche loves a challenge as well as a pat on the back for achievement. Pervasive computing taps into these drives to ‘gamify’ aspects of life that are typically not games or even much fun.
Apple’s move into the streaming market has a headstart of up to 100 million subscribers but will still need sustained support to get more of us to pay for online music.
Many people fear technology is making us dumber, and they have great reservations about children using smartphones or computers. But technology ought to be embraced, particularly by kids.