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Stories Tagged - Digital Downlow

Wearable tech is the latest trend to emerge this Halloween. Photo courtesy Digital Dudz.
News

Oct. 27, 2016 | Miles Durie

Halloween 2.0

Today's technology is downright frightening

A6Combine a new technology with the creative mind of a rocket scientist, throw in Halloween and the results are pretty amazing.

When Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, it didn't take long for Mark Rober, a one-time NASA engineer who helped put the Curiosity rover on Mars, to come up with a Halloween costume idea that incorporated it.

For Halloween 2011, Rober showed up to a party wearing a shirt with gaping "bloody" holes ripped into the front and back, and iPads attached to the inside, visible through the holes. By setting up a Facetime video link between the two, he created the illusion of being able to see through his body.

Gen Y expert Jason Dorsey says today’s ‘digital natives’ are more tech-dependent than ever. Supplied photo
News

Oct. 11, 2016 | Miles Durie

Tech savvy? Tech huh?

Over-reliance on gizmos could be younger generation's ultimate downfall

A6It's one of those "aha" moments: Speaking to a roomful of baby boomers, bestselling author Jason Dorsey asks the audience to finish the sentence: "Generation Y is tech-...."

"Savvy!" shouts most of the crowd.

Nope, not true, says Dorsey, an expert on Gen Y, or the Millennial generation — people who became adults in the 21st century.

Apple's HomeKit allows users to turn on the driveway lights, open the front door and change the thermostat through voice activization. Submitted photo.
News

Sept. 19, 2016 | Miles Durie

Speak now

Speech-recognition tech offers in-home potential. But beware

A6

As speech-recognition technology becomes increasingly reliable, it has the potential to become the interface of choice for just about every device we use.

On the surface, it makes sense. After all, people speak at an average of 150 words per minute, while most of us can barely type 40 on a good day.

But as convenient and novel as being able to talk to your computer, thermostat, lights and appliances might be, it comes with a few cautions.

The ballpark cost of buying and installing photovoltaic panels ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 per watt. Supplied photo
News

Sept. 07, 2016 | Miles Durie

Seeing the light

Solar has come a long way in Alberta, say experts

A6When we last saw headlines from Alberta's home solar energy sector, the news was a bit discouraging. But things have changed, and solar power is now looking like an increasingly bright idea.

Back in 2012, University of Alberta professor Andrew Leach analyzed the costs of Enmax's solar panel leasing program and publicized his finding that homeowners who participated would actually pay more for power than those who stayed with a conventional plan.

Enmax concurred, saying the program was aimed at people who had reasons other than economic ones for choosing solar power.

The Skydrop Smart Watering Sprinkler Controller monitors local weather in real time via Wi-Fi and delivers water only when and where needed.
News

Aug. 22, 2016 | Miles Durie

Summer tech

Cool backyard tools that turn up the heat this season

A6Ahh, summer in the city. What a great time to be a homeowner, right? Step out your door and survey your domain, listen to the birds, smell the flowers and greenery — then plan your evening barbecue.

But wait. There's a flipside to all that. Did you water the lawn and garden? Does it need mowing before you can enjoy it? Better get it done, because tonight you're going to have to hover over the grill to make sure your steaks are done to perfection, while your friends and family enjoy the results of your backyard labour.

Well, we all know technology can't solve every problem, but it can certainly help reduce the stress and time you devote to looking after your outdoor living space.

The Honeywell Lyric is described as a ‘home automation system designed for 
the new mobile generation.’ Photo courtesy photo courtesy Honeywell.
News

July 25, 2016 | Miles Durie

Sweet security

New-gen systems offer sophisticated safety

A6Randy Larkam sits at his desk in southeast Calgary looking at the sunny backyard of his vacation home in Arizona. The image on his computer screen is overlaid with several transparent tinted rectangles

As we watch, a caretaker enters the frame and checks the pool and surrounding patio.

"There she is," said Larkam. "Right on time, too."

The coloured areas on-screen show the motion detection fields of the cameras that monitor the yard. They can be adjusted in real time just by clicking and dragging.

This ain't your dad's burglar alarm.

Danny Wong of IT Strength said plugged-in connections are more 
reliable than Wi-Fi networks. Photo by Adrian Shellard/For CREB®Now
News

June 11, 2016 | Miles Durie

Hard wired

Making a case against Wi-Fi in today's homes

A6

It's a typical evening at home. Netflix is streaming on the big screen; the kids are downstairs playing on online game while blasting tunes from Spotify or Apple Music.

Mom is at her laptop catching up on some work through a VPN connection to her company's internal network, while dad's watching YouTube on his smartphone. Someone's probably checking Facebook, too.

And most, maybe all, of this is happening without a wired connection.

Wireless Internet is everywhere in our homes, but homeowners may rely in it more than they need to, say industry experts.

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