Tech | Conversatori

Amanda Hicok on 09/17/2025

Quantum Computing for the Rest of Us

Quantum computing is not just for scientists; it’s a technology that could transform industries from medicine to finance. Using principles like superposition and entanglement, quantum computers solve problems classical machines cannot. While still in early stages, cloud platforms and educational resources make it accessible to curious individuals, offering a glimpse into a future where computation is radically reimagined. Anita Fors (Chalmers), Quantum-computer-Chalmers 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 09/10/2025

Environmental Costs of AI Models

AI models may appear immaterial, but their training and operation consume enormous amounts of energy, water, and hardware resources, leaving a significant environmental footprint. From carbon emissions to rare earth mining, the ecological costs of artificial intelligence are deeply tied to global inequalities and unsustainable practices. The challenge ahead lies in reconciling the promise of AI with the urgent need for environmental responsibility. Artificial intelligence is often described as immaterial—lines of code, floating in the cloud, conjuring predictions, poems, or portraits with a few keystrokes. Yet, the truth is far from weightless. Every large AI model is rooted in an immense material infrastructure: sprawling data centers, server racks, and energy-hungry GPUs that crunch and train on oceans of data. This invisible scaffolding comes at a significant ecological cost, one that is only beginning to be reckoned with as AI becomes central to our daily lives.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 09/03/2025

Room-Temperature Superconductors Changing Energy

Superconductors, which allow electricity to flow without resistance, have long required extreme cooling, limiting their practical use. Recent breakthroughs suggest room-temperature superconductivity is possible, though often under impractically high pressures. The discovery promises profound effects on energy, transportation, computing, and medicine, while also offering new hope for combating climate change. Though challenges remain, the rise of room-temperature superconductors could usher in one of the most transformative technological eras in history. For over a century, superconductors have held a mystique that feels closer to science fiction than everyday physics. First discovered in 1911, superconductors are materials that can conduct electricity with absolutely no resistance—no wasted energy, no heat loss, just pure, frictionless current. The catch? They only worked under extreme conditions, often cooled to near absolute zero. This made them more a laboratory curiosity than a…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 09/01/2025

New Haptic Skins for Virtual Touch

Haptic skins are flexible, wearable devices that recreate the sensation of touch in virtual environments. Built from stretchable electronics and soft robotics, they have applications in gaming, medicine, and emotional connection, potentially transforming how people interact across distance. While challenges like comfort, cost, and ethics remain, their promise is enormous. By making digital worlds tangible, haptic skins could redefine the role of touch in technology and human connection. For decades, science fiction promised us virtual reality worlds where we could not only see and hear but also touch the impossible. Until recently, VR remained largely a visual and auditory experience. But the rise of haptic skins—flexible, wearable devices that mimic the sensation of touch—signals a turning point. No longer confined to controllers or gloves, these paper-thin materials promise to blur the boundary between the physical and the digital.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/22/2025

Solar Paint: Turning Walls into Power Plants

Solar paint is an emerging technology that transforms ordinary walls and surfaces into energy generators by mimicking the function of solar panels with special light-absorbing compounds. While current prototypes are less efficient and durable than traditional panels, the potential lies in their affordability, versatility, and seamless integration into architecture. From urban apartments to rural villages, solar paint could democratize renewable energy and accelerate decentralized power production. Even if it never fully replaces panels, its contribution to a patchwork of sustainable technologies may reshape how we think about both energy and the built environment. For centuries, walls have served a purely passive role—keeping the elements out, holding structures up, and giving painters and graffiti artists a canvas. But what if those very walls could hum quietly with the work of power plants? Solar paint, a developing frontier in renewable energy, promises just that: surfaces that…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/22/2025

Brain-to-Text Interfaces are Here

Brain-to-text interfaces are emerging as a revolutionary leap in communication, translating neural activity directly into written words. These devices hold life-changing promise for people with paralysis or speech impairments, while also opening new possibilities in education, creative work, and productivity. Yet the technology raises thorny ethical and cultural questions around privacy, workplace surveillance, and the very nature of language. As with past communication revolutions, its impact will be shaped not only by innovation but by the choices we make about how—and why—we use it. In the long arc of human communication, the leap from quill to keyboard was revolutionary. But today, the newest frontier isn’t about faster fingers—it’s about bypassing them altogether. Brain-to-text interfaces, once the stuff of science fiction, have now entered the laboratory and, increasingly, the marketplace. These devices promise a world where thought itself becomes a written sentence,…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/20/2025

Leveling Up IRL

Gamification has transformed self-improvement into a quest-like industry, turning daily habits into achievements, streaks, and levels. While this can make routines more engaging, it often traps people in endless cycles of guilt and consumerism, with apps and industries profiting from our drive to “level up.” The metaphor of life as a game can be motivating, but it risks oversimplifying complex experiences and shifting control of our goals to outside forces. Ultimately, gamification is only healthy when we remember that we can choose which quests are worth playing—and which ones we can simply abandon. Somewhere between checking off a to-do list and chasing a dragon in World of Warcraft, our daily lives have started to look suspiciously like quests. Fitness apps reward us with badges for running a mile. Productivity tools let us “level up” by completing streaks. Even financial apps nudge us along with colorful progress bars, encouraging us to treat paying off debt like…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/20/2025

When Robots Make Art

When robots make art, we are no longer just spectators—we are the hidden brushstrokes, the training data behind the machine’s creations. These works carry no intention of their own, forcing us to project meaning onto artifacts stitched together from our collective cultural past. In this uneasy exchange, we discover that the line between creator and audience has blurred, leaving us both haunted and reflected in the art of the machine. When robots make art, we face an uncanny moment of reflection: is the work meant for us, or are we simply feeding the machines that made it? For centuries, the artist’s hand was the marker of authenticity—brushstrokes, fingerprints, or idiosyncratic flaws became proof of human presence. Now, algorithms trained on oceans of data can mimic those gestures with uncanny precision, generating paintings, poems, and symphonies that feel eerily alive. The result forces us to rethink not only what art is, but also who—or what—it is for.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/16/2025

The Era of Bespoke Bionics

Bespoke bionics are shifting prosthetics from standardized medical devices into personalized works of engineering and art. By blending AI, 3D printing, and design, they allow users to express identity while regaining function—sometimes even enhancing it. The movement challenges old notions of normalcy and disability, reframing prosthetics as symbols of creativity, individuality, and possibility. In this future, technology doesn’t just restore—it redefines what it means to be human. Sebastiaan ter Burg from Utrecht, The Netherlands, Tilly Lockey at the SingularityU The Netherlands Summit 2016 (29653981075), CC BY 2.0

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/12/2025

Beneath the Waves the Internet Cools

Underwater data centers, like Microsoft’s Project Natick, aim to use the ocean’s natural cooling to reduce energy consumption, improve server reliability, and cut latency for coastal populations. While early tests show promising results in efficiency and durability, questions remain about environmental impact and large-scale feasibility. If successful, they could become a sustainable, offshore backbone of the internet, quietly running beneath the waves. DariaSamuel, Kolos, le plus grand data center du monde , CC BY-SA 4.0

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/08/2025

VR Fitness Worlds

VR fitness worlds merge the immersive thrill of gaming with full-body exercise, transforming home workouts into high-energy adventures. By keeping players mentally engaged and socially connected, they make fitness feel more like play than labor. While challenges like headset comfort and cost remain, advancing technology is rapidly smoothing the path. These virtual arenas may not replace gyms, but they’re redefining how—and why—we move. Once upon a time, the phrase “home workout” conjured up images of dusty yoga mats, squeaky resistance bands, and aerobics instructors cheerfully bouncing on VHS tapes. Today, that same phrase might mean strapping on a virtual reality headset, gripping motion controllers, and stepping into a neon-lit arena where your heart rate soars as you slash holographic enemies or sprint through alien landscapes. VR fitness worlds have turned the humble living room into a high-intensity playground, merging gaming’s immersive thrill with the discipline of

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/08/2025

Micro-Drones the Size of Mosquitoes

Mosquito-sized micro-drones represent a major leap in drone miniaturization, capable of stealthy surveillance, environmental monitoring, and even potential medical applications. Their small size allows for unprecedented access to delicate environments, but also raises concerns about privacy and misuse. Engineers face challenges in power supply, navigation, and control, but advances in AI and materials science are making them increasingly viable. The technology’s dual-use nature means its future will depend heavily on how regulations keep pace with innovation. The latest frontier in drone technology is shrinking to a scale that would have once been considered science fiction. Micro-drones, no larger than a common mosquito, are emerging from research labs into potential real-world applications. These insect-sized devices are often lighter than a paperclip, powered by tiny actuators or micro-rotors, and equipped with sensors that rival those in much larger drones. Engineers are…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 08/06/2025

The Everyday Tech Holding Up Our World I

From undersea internet cables to sensor-filled trash cans, modern life runs on a web of invisible technology most people never see. These hidden systems quietly optimize cities, enable instant payments, and even guide hospital logistics. But with invisibility comes risk—both in system failure and ethical oversight. Appreciating the unseen tech around us means recognizing just how deeply it's woven into the rhythms of our everyday lives. Stealth Communications, Stealth Fiber Crew installing fiber cable underneath the streets of Manhattan, CC BY-SA 3.0

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 07/21/2025

What Happens to Your Data After You Die

Our digital lives don't end when we do. From ghost accounts and legal gray zones to AI memorials and digital wills, the fate of your data after death is both eerie and urgent. Companies benefit, algorithms continue learning, and our memories persist—sometimes uncomfortably—online. Planning your digital afterlife might be the most modern form of legacy there is. The 21st century has brought us many conveniences—instant messaging, cloud backups, facial recognition. But it’s also brought us an existential quandary fit for Black Mirror: What happens to your data after you die? Your emails, Instagram selfies, Google search history, unread Slack messages, and even your biometric data—do they pass into the digital ether? Or do they haunt the internet forever, spectral remnants of your online self?

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 07/21/2025

What Is Algorithmic Bias? When Data Discriminates

Algorithmic bias occurs when computer systems produce unfair outcomes due to flawed data or design choices, often harming already marginalized communities. It can manifest in areas like policing, hiring, and healthcare, reinforcing societal inequalities under the guise of neutrality. Without transparency and oversight, these systems risk becoming black boxes of discrimination. Fixing the issue requires intentional, ethical design and inclusive collaboration across disciplines. In an era dominated by algorithms—from social media feeds to credit scoring systems—the promise of objectivity and efficiency has never been more alluring. Yet lurking beneath the surface is a growing concern: algorithmic bias. This term refers to the systematic and repeatable errors in computer systems that create unfair outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups. Far from being neutral, algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate and even amplify existing human prejudices, hidden within the data they are…

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 07/13/2025

Moore's Law and Shrinking Technology

Moore’s Law, the prediction that computing power would double every two years, revolutionized technology by setting the pace for exponential growth in hardware and digital innovation. Though not a physical law, it became a guiding principle for engineers and a cultural expectation for consumers. As physical and economic limits slow this trend, its spirit continues in cloud computing, AI, and emerging technologies. Ultimately, Moore’s Law symbolizes the human drive to outpace boundaries—technological and otherwise—shaping not just our devices, but our sense of progress itself. We have moved! Please visit /highwaysengland, HA0478-006 (6011470974), CC BY 2.0

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 05/29/2025

Techno-Optimism vs. Techno-Doom

The modern world is torn between techno-optimists, who believe technology will save us, and techno-doomers, who warn it will undo us. These competing ideologies influence everything from public policy to personal habits. While each side offers insight, a balanced, critical optimism may serve us best. Technology is neither savior nor saboteur—what matters is how we wield it. In the grand theater of the 21st century, two rival philosophies dominate the tech discourse like dueling opera divas. One sings a hymn of salvation, praising the algorithmic ascent of humanity into an age of boundless possibility. The other snarls an elegy, warning of an irreversible spiral into surveillance, soullessness, and the seductive tyranny of convenience. These are the poles of techno-optimism and techno-doom, and depending on who’s speaking, your phone is either a Promethean torch or Pandora’s box.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 04/19/2025

Smart Cities and Urban Tech are Transforming the Way We Live

Smart cities use data, AI, and connected technology to improve urban living—from traffic flow and energy use to waste management and public safety. As cities adopt innovations like IoT sensors and smart grids, they become more efficient, sustainable, and responsive to residents’ needs. However, questions around equity, privacy, and accessibility remain crucial. Ultimately, smart cities aim not just to be high-tech, but to create healthier, more livable communities for all. In the heart of every bustling metropolis lies a growing promise: the smart city. As urban populations swell and climate challenges intensify, city planners and tech innovators are teaming up to reimagine how cities can run cleaner, safer, and more efficiently. From AI-powered traffic systems to app-connected waste bins, “smart cities” aren’t science fiction—they’re already here, and they’re changing the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 04/19/2025

Navigating a New Era of Deepfakes

Deepfakes use AI to create convincing videos or audio imitating real people, while media copycats generate imitation journalism and plagiarized content that mimics credible sources. Together, they pose a serious threat to public trust, enabling misinformation and creating confusion about what’s authentic. While efforts to detect and regulate these technologies are underway, the article emphasizes the growing need for media literacy and critical thinking in an age where perception can be easily manipulated. In the digital age, truth is no longer just about facts — it’s about perception. With the rise of deepfakes and media copycats, our ability to distinguish between real and fabricated content is becoming dangerously blurred. These technologies are not just reshaping how we consume media; they’re rewriting the rules of trust, identity, and authenticity.

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 04/19/2025

Know Simulation Theory

What if everything around you—your memories, your body, your entire life—was nothing more than a digital illusion? It’s a concept that’s captured the imaginations of philosophers, physicists, and sci-fi fans alike. Simulation theory, the provocative hypothesis that our reality is an artificial construct, suggests that we might be living in an advanced computer simulation created by beings far more intelligent than us. It’s a mind-bending idea that raises profound questions: If this is a simulation, who built it? And is God, perhaps, a computer programmer?

Amanda Hicok

Amanda Hicok on 04/05/2025

How-To Hack Streaming Algorithms

Hacking algorithms proactively through clicks and likes can craft media tailored to your desired interests. Streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube have revolutionized the way we consume media, but beneath their sleek interfaces lie powerful recommendation algorithms that shape our viewing and listening habits. While these algorithms are designed to predict what you’ll enjoy based on past interactions, they also contain hidden quirks or "easter eggs," that can be manipulated to fine-tune your media experience. Understanding these can help you break out of algorithmic echo chambers and discover content that truly aligns with your tastes.

Amanda Hicok