The OPLIN 4Cast has been published weekly for over 16 years! In that time, we’ve likely covered almost every kind of emerging technology. However, we’ve…
The 4Cast is going on hiatus
Posted in 4cast
The OPLIN 4cast Posts
Holograms have been a part of the popular imagination for decades. The projection of Princess Leia by R2-D2 in the original Star Wars film in…
Of course, wifi is nearly ubiquitous now, and most people carry a device capable of using it in their pockets. But, have you ever stopped to wonder if there are advancements in wifi technology? Of course there are, and the big one we’re hearing about now is Wi-Fi 7.
s widely viewed as the most restrictive privacy legislation in the world, there are still many questions about how effective it really is and if it will improve with time.
You may say that you don’t care about privacy but, assuredly, you do. If you close the door when you go to the bathroom, you absolutely do care. Often, online, keeping the bathroom door closed isn’t even an option, and it’s making many people increasingly uncomfortable. As well it should.
We’ve been promised an end to passwords before, so I wouldn’t hold my breath. And of course our public computers won’t make this easy on anybody. Still, the fact that the major tech giants are all agreeing on something could be cause for celebration, right?
OPLIN 4Cast #801: Google still rules search…but does it have to?
Posted in 4cast, and Google Advanced Search
“Google” has long been a verb. “Let me google that” is probably even uttered more often than “let me search that.” There’s little doubt that the Google search engine has become a fundamental part of the information-seeking behaviors of many, and a significant culture. y good?
The emergence of the next version of the web reminds me strongly of its predecessor; web3 is also somewhat nebulous as a concept and generating a lot of interest and hype. A large number of seemingly-disparate innovations claim to be part of the new web, including the metaverse, NFTs, crypto, and a lot more. Personally, I think a lot of these developments are
OPLIN 4Cast #799: Are digital drugs a thing?
Posted in 4cast, and Binaural beats
I’ve admitted to being a TikTok addict publicly, and one of the types of content that TikTok’s algorithm will periodically pop up for me is that of digital sounds that allegedly “do something.” If I listen, I will purportedly relax, feel less stress or perhaps experience something else. I haven’t really paid much attention to these, and have usually just scrolled on by. But a recent news story has made me wonder if there’s something to these. Are “digital drugs” a thing? As it turns out…yes.
OPLIN 4Cast #798: Can the BeReal app change social media reality for the better?
Posted in Social Networks
The BeReal app is already gaining significant traction on college campuses and with GenZ. Will it shift the conversation around social media entirely?