Digital Smarts Blog

Google and Apple are working on eliminating the need for passwords with smartphone-based solutions. Unlike passwords that can be stolen, smartphones have built-in security features that are difficult to duplicate — and hackers can’t sell copies of them. Google has been testing a "Sign in with your phone" initiative, and engineers are working on programs that analyze users' behavioral patterns to create better security measures. Apple has built a Touch ID fingerprint reader into its latest iPhones and now apps are using that technology to eliminate passwords as well. But don’t throw away that paper where you keep all of your passwords anytime soon. Experts say it will be a while before your passwords are entirely replaced by your smartphone.

Google and Apple are working on eliminating the need for passwords with smartphone-based solutions. Unlike passwords that can be stolen, smartphones have built-in security features that are difficult to duplicate — and hackers can’t sell copies of them. Google has been testing a "Sign in with your phone" initiative, and engineers are working on programs that analyze users' behavioral patterns to create better security measures. Apple has built a Touch ID fingerprint reader into its latest iPhones and now apps are using that technology to eliminate passwords as well. But don’t throw away that paper where you keep all of your passwords anytime soon. Experts say it will be a while before your passwords are entirely replaced by your smartphone.

Struggling to understand the Snapchat user at your house? The app has become increasingly popular with teens, and despite its reputation as a sexting and bullying enabler, many kids use it to communicate their every mood and thought. Recently a BuzzFeed writer decided to let his 13-year old sister tutor him on how to use Snapchat and his piece on the subject is an eye-opening look into the app and how kids use it.

Struggling to understand the Snapchat user at your house? The app has become increasingly popular with teens, and despite its reputation as a sexting and bullying enabler, many kids use it to communicate their every mood and thought. Recently a BuzzFeed writer decided to let his 13-year old sister tutor him on how to use Snapchat and his piece on the subject is an eye-opening look into the app and how kids use it.

Some professors at the University of California at Berkeley are critical of new software and hardware systems that track patterns of Internet usage and other digital traffic in an effort to block cyberattacks, calling the systems a violation of academic freedom. The professors are also concerned about the lack of transparency over how the data is used, and are asking administrators to halt the practice. The resolution of this issue could have implications on school campuses everywhere as administrators deal with monitoring students’ digital traffic.

Some professors at the University of California at Berkeley are critical of new software and hardware systems that track patterns of Internet usage and other digital traffic in an effort to block cyberattacks, calling the systems a violation of academic freedom. The professors are also concerned about the lack of transparency over how the data is used, and are asking administrators to halt the practice. The resolution of this issue could have implications on school campuses everywhere as administrators deal with monitoring students’ digital traffic.

A Canadian study has found that many fitness trackers – except the Apple Watch -- emit a unique Bluetooth identifier that allows them to be tracked by outside parties including shopping malls and retail stores who use the information to recognize and profile customers. Researchers said some companion apps used with trackers can also leak logins and transmit activity information in a way that could allow personal information to be compromised or falsified.

Getting those citations correct in a research paper or project can be a lot of work. Some word processors come equipped with programs to generate the citations for you, but you may still come across an out of the ordinary source that even with the program can’t be figured out. Enter Easy Bib, the free online citation generator. There are 59 different options to choose from for that “unusual” source, as well as research guides to help with parenthetical citations and other citation situations your children may have never encountered before.

A Canadian study has found that many fitness trackers – except the Apple Watch -- emit a unique Bluetooth identifier that allows them to be tracked by outside parties including shopping malls and retail stores who use the information to recognize and profile customers. Researchers said some companion apps used with trackers can also leak logins and transmit activity information in a way that could allow personal information to be compromised or falsified.

Getting those citations correct in a research paper or project can be a lot of work. Some word processors come equipped with programs to generate the citations for you, but you may still come across an out of the ordinary source that even with the program can’t be figured out. Enter Easy Bib, the free online citation generator. There are 59 different options to choose from for that “unusual” source, as well as research guides to help with parenthetical citations and other citation situations your children may have never encountered before.

Amazon has announced the launch of a new “pro” math website -- http://www.withmathican.org/ -- that will include free math resources for educators and parents. The effort seeks to change the way students think about math. Instead of saying they are not good at math, company officials are hoping students develop a growth mindset, embracing challenges and focusing on learning.

A new survey has been released from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop (the creators of Sesame Street) about technology and learning in low-income families. The study finds that while basic Internet access is nearly universal, even among low- and moderate-income U.S. families, many of those families are “under-connected.” The study shows many families are getting by with only a single Internet-connected computer or, quite often, with mobile-only Internet access through a smartphone or two. Researchers say this gap can not only hurt kids’ ability to be successful in school, but also hurt adults’ ability to use the Internet to find a job, get medical information or apply for an affordable home loan — “the kinds of things that help families get by and the kinds of things that help families get ahead,” said Vikki Katz, a co-author of the study.

A new survey has been released from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop (the creators of Sesame Street) about technology and learning in low-income families. The study finds that while basic Internet access is nearly universal, even among low- and moderate-income U.S. families, many of those families are “under-connected.” The study shows many families are getting by with only a single Internet-connected computer or, quite often, with mobile-only Internet access through a smartphone or two. Researchers say this gap can not only hurt kids’ ability to be successful in school, but also hurt adults’ ability to use the Internet to find a job, get medical information or apply for an affordable home loan — “the kinds of things that help families get by and the kinds of things that help families get ahead,” said Vikki Katz, a co-author of the study.

Amazon has announced the launch of a new “pro” math website -- http://www.withmathican.org/ -- that will include free math resources for educators and parents. The effort seeks to change the way students think about math. Instead of saying they are not good at math, company officials are hoping students develop a growth mindset, embracing challenges and focusing on learning.

You may remember from back in your school days the snazzy science and social studies non-fiction magazine called Kids Discover. Each issue would take up one topic, anything from Presidents to Earthquakes and everything in between, written in a highly readable style and jam packed with graphics and photographs. The magazine has now gone digital and kids can browse an amazing set of resources and spectacular graphics that can be used for school reports and projects. There is a free version or a home subscription that costs $4 a month.

You may remember from back in your school days the snazzy science and social studies non-fiction magazine called Kids Discover. Each issue would take up one topic, anything from Presidents to Earthquakes and everything in between, written in a highly readable style and jam packed with graphics and photographs. The magazine has now gone digital and kids can browse an amazing set of resources and spectacular graphics that can be used for school reports and projects. There is a free version or a home subscription that costs $4 a month.

Texting is great for conveying quick messages and thoughts, but two new studies have found that face-to-face interaction is still the best way to express emotional support and to help preteens and teens learn to read body language and other unspoken cues in communication. As one of the researchers put it "There's nothing wrong with using technology, but all things should be put in balance: Keep the technology in balance with the rest of your life, the other things you do." Good advice for any age.

Are your kids looking for some tools to bring their book report presentations into the 21^st century? Three free tools that can add interest are Powtoon, Moovly, and Explee. All three are online animation creators and are perfect for telling stories and creating quick videos and other multimedia content for presentations.

Texting is great for conveying quick messages and thoughts, but two new studies have found that face-to-face interaction is still the best way to express emotional support and to help preteens and teens learn to read body language and other unspoken cues in communication. As one of the researchers put it "There's nothing wrong with using technology, but all things should be put in balance: Keep the technology in balance with the rest of your life, the other things you do." Good advice for any age.

Are your kids looking for some tools to bring their book report presentations into the 21^st century? Three free tools that can add interest are Powtoon, Moovly, and Explee. All three are online animation creators and are perfect for telling stories and creating quick videos and other multimedia content for presentations.