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This week: Foldables + more stories

This week: Foldables + more stories

Brett Bouchard
September 21, 2024

Wise Tech - Technology news for non-tech humans!

1. Foldables Are Nearly Good Enough to be Your Next Phone

I like how foldables can expand to give me extra screen space.

What’s the tech?
Foldable smartphones are devices that can fold in half, offering a flexible design with larger screens while still being portable.

How is it used?
When folded, these smartphones fit easily in your pocket. When opened, they give you a large display, almost like a tablet, perfect for watching videos or multitasking. Manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and Motorola have improved their durability and performance, making foldable phones a real competitor to regular smartphones.

Why it’s news now?
At first, foldables were too expensive, fragile, and less functional. But today, they’ve become more affordable and sturdy, closing the gap with traditional smartphones. As prices continue to drop, foldable phones are becoming a more appealing option for everyday users.

2. AI Teddy Bear Tells Bedtime Stories

What’s the tech?
An AI-powered teddy bear is a smart toy that can create and read personalized bedtime stories for children. AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to a computer's ability to think and learn in ways that seem like human intelligence.

How is it used?
Parents can input their child’s preferences, and the bear generates unique stories based on those prompts. You can choose themes, adjust the story’s length, and even set the complexity depending on your child's age. It makes bedtime more engaging and interactive.

Why it’s news now?
This technology adds a modern twist to storytelling, giving kids a personalized experience. However, there are questions about how much technology should influence traditional childhood activities like reading. It sparks an important conversation about balancing screen-free moments with tech-based entertainment.

3. Explosive Pagers: Israel’s High-Tech Warfare

What’s the tech?
Pagers, once used for simple communication, were allegedly turned into weapons by Israel in a covert operation against Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon. A pager (a small device that alerts someone to a message) was modified to contain explosives.

How is it used?
Israel reportedly created a fake company to distribute the pagers, which exploded when used by Hezbollah members. This action disrupted the group's communication network.

Why it’s news now?
This operation highlights the evolving tactics used in modern warfare, where even basic technology like pagers can be weaponized. The incident also raises ethical and legal questions about such tactics in international conflict.

Bonus Topic: New Life for Three Mile Island?

What does it do?
Three Mile Island is a nuclear power plant that gained notoriety after a partial meltdown in 1979. Nuclear power (energy created by splitting atoms) is a carbon-neutral energy source, meaning it doesn’t release harmful gases into the environment.

How is it used?
There are talks about reopening the plant to help power Microsoft’s data centers, which store massive amounts of digital information. To do this, the plant would need safety upgrades and modern equipment.

Why it’s popular now?
With rising demand for clean energy and digital infrastructure, nuclear power is being reconsidered as a way to meet energy needs while reducing carbon emissions. Though controversial, reopening Three Mile Island would give it a second life in the clean energy debate.

Conversation starter:
“Did you know that Three Mile Island, once famous for a nuclear accident, might be reopened to help power data centers? It’s interesting how old technology is being revisited for modern solutions.”