Technology

Google is releasing an open source harassment filter for journalists

Published

3 years ago

March 8, 2022

Google is releasing an open source harassment filter for journalists

Google’s Jigsaw unit is releasing the code for an open supply anti-harassment software known as Harassment Supervisor. The software, supposed for journalists and different public figures, employs Jigsaw’s Perspective API to let customers type by means of doubtlessly abusive feedback on social media platforms beginning with Twitter. It’s debuting as supply code for builders to construct on, then being launched as a practical utility for Thomson Reuters Basis journalists in June.

Harassment Supervisor can at the moment work with Twitter’s API to mix moderation choices — like hiding tweet replies and muting or blocking accounts — with a bulk filtering and reporting system. Perspective checks messages’ language for ranges of “toxicity” primarily based on parts like threats, insults, and profanity. It types messages into queues on a dashboard, the place customers can deal with them in batches somewhat than individually by means of Twitter’s default moderation instruments. They will select to blur the textual content of the messages whereas they’re doing it, in order that they don’t must learn every one, and so they can seek for key phrases along with utilizing the robotically generated queues.

Google

Harassment Supervisor additionally lets customers obtain a standalone report containing abusive messages; this creates a paper path for his or her employer or, within the case of unlawful content material like direct threats, legislation enforcement. For now, nonetheless, there’s not a standalone utility that customers can obtain. As an alternative, builders can freely construct apps that incorporate its performance and providers utilizing it will likely be launched by companions just like the Thomson Reuters Basis.

Jigsaw introduced Harassment Supervisor on Worldwide Girls’s Day, and it framed the software as significantly related to feminine journalists who face gender-based abuse, highlighting enter from “journalists and activists with giant Twitter presences” in addition to nonprofits just like the Worldwide Girls’s Media Basis and the Committee To Defend Journalists. In a Medium put up, the crew says it’s hoping builders can tailor it for different at-risk social media customers. “Our hope is that this know-how gives a useful resource for people who find themselves dealing with harassment on-line, particularly feminine journalists, activists, politicians and different public figures, who cope with disproportionately excessive toxicity on-line,” the put up reads.

A screenshot of the reporting option in Jigsaw’s Harassment Manager

Google has harnessed Perspective for automated moderation earlier than. In 2019 it launched a browser extension known as Tune that permit social media customers keep away from seeing messages with a excessive likelihood of being poisonous, and it’s been utilized by many commenting platforms (together with Vox Media’s Coral) to complement human moderation. However as we famous across the launch of Perspective and Tune, the language evaluation mannequin has traditionally been removed from good. It generally misclassifies satirical content material or fails to detect abusive messages, and Jigsaw-style AI can inadvertently affiliate phrases like “blind” or “deaf” — which aren’t essentially unfavourable — with toxicity. Jigsaw itself has additionally been criticized for a poisonous office tradition, though Google has disputed the claims.

In contrast to AI-powered moderation on providers like Twitter and Instagram, nonetheless, Harassment Supervisor isn’t a platform-side moderation characteristic. It’s apparently a sorting software for serving to handle the generally overwhelming scale of social media suggestions, one thing that could possibly be related for individuals far exterior the realm of journalism — even when they will’t use it for now.

Technology

Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service approved for areas hit by Hurricane Helene

Published

6 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service approved for areas hit by Hurricane Helene

The satellites have already been enabled and started broadcasting emergency alerts to cell phones on all networks in North Carolina. In addition, we may test basic texting (SMS) capabilities for most cell phones on the T-Mobile network in North Carolina.

SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation has not been fully deployed, so all services will be delivered on a best-effort basis.

Technology

A flying shopping cart could make your future grocery runs that much easier

Published

6 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

A flying shopping cart could make your future grocery runs that much easier

Can you imagine cruising through the grocery store without ever dealing with a wonky wheel or struggling to turn corners with those conventional grocery carts?

That scenario might soon become a reality, thanks to an innovative new invention called the Palletrone.

This flying shopping cart could someday revolutionize the way we shop and move cargo around.

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Flying shopping cart (SeoulTech)

JUST WHEN YOU’VE SEEN IT ALL … FLYING FRUIT-PICKING ROBOTS TAKE FLIGHT

What is the Palletrone?

The Palletrone is essentially a multi-rotor drone enclosed in a protective cage, creating a hovering platform that users can push around at chest height. Developed by researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, this aerial cart features a spacious flat surface for easy loading, a rear-mounted handle similar to traditional shopping carts and advanced flight control systems that keep the platform stable.

Flying shopping cart (SeoulTech)

IT’S A BIRD. IT’S A PLANE. NO, IT’S A FLYING JETSKI

How does it work?

Using the Palletrone is surprisingly intuitive. The operator simply grips the handle and applies force in the desired direction. The cart’s smart systems translate those movements into flight trajectories while maintaining a level platform. A porous enclosure protects users from the spinning rotors while still allowing enough airflow for stable flight. The Palletrone can even tackle stairs with ease, making it far more versatile than wheeled carts.

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Flying shopping cart (SeoulTech)

THE WORLD’S FIRST ELECTRIC FLYING CRAFT IS SET FOR LIFT OFF

Current limitations

While the Palletrone shows incredible promise, it does have some drawbacks in its current form. One significant issue is the noise generated by the drone motors, which can be distracting in quieter environments. Additionally, its carrying capacity is limited to about 6½ pounds, which may not be sufficient for larger grocery trips or heavy office supplies. The restricted flight time due to battery life also poses challenges for extended use.

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Flying shopping cart (SeoulTech)

Future applications

Beyond grocery shopping, the Palletrone has potential uses in various fields, such as logistics and warehousing, where it could streamline operations by transporting goods more efficiently. It could also serve as an office supply transporter or even as a flying camera platform for filmmakers seeking flexible shooting angles. The research team is exploring the possibility of developing in-flight recharging systems to extend Palletrone’s operational time.

Flyin shopping cart (SeoulTech)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While there are still hurdles to overcome, the potential benefits for the Palletrone are are immense. Imagine effortlessly gliding through stores or easily moving items up flights of stairs without breaking a sweat. As technology continues to improve, we may soon see flying carts become a common sight in our daily lives.

What potential challenges or concerns do you foresee with the widespread adoption of flying carts like the Palletrone in public spaces? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Trailers of the week: Nosferatu, The Franchise, and Squid Game 2

Published

13 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

Trailers of the week: Nosferatu, The Franchise, and Squid Game 2

Can you feel it? There’s a slight chill in the air, the Sun is retiring earlier, and the leaves are beginning to change (at least in my Midwestern city). We’re wading right into the time of year when everyone starts posting the vampire Kermit the Frog meme to show how ready they are for Halloween. I’m even starting to eye that Shudder re-subscribe button.

October has its own vibe at the cinema, and theatrical releases this month include Operation Blood Hunt, a movie about 1944 special forces fighting werewolves in the Pacific theater, and Seven Cemeteries, a Danny Trejo-starring film about a guy who hires a witch to resurrect his posse to save a woman’s ranch. And let’s not forget Rumours, which I’m very excited for.

So I’ve got a couple of this week’s scary movie trailers for you to check out below, along with two streaming series. Enjoy!

1922’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror was a Dracula movie in all but name. So much so that Bram Stoker’s heirs got a court order to have the movie’s copies destroyed, yet some copies survived. Now, over 100 years after its release, Nosferatu is getting a remake starring Bill Skarsgård as the vampire Count Orlok, AKA Nosferatu. Lily Rose-Depp and Willem Dafoe also star.

The newest trailer does a great job setting up the atmosphere of terror that the townsfolk feel toward Count Orlok, but Focus Features isn’t showing us Orlok himself quite yet. Nosferatu hits theaters on December 25th.

Companion

I don’t know what the heck is going on with Warner Bros.’ Companion. The teaser for this Drew Hancock-directed movie starts with a head fake, making you think it’s a love story. Then it quickly devolves into what looks like a thriller about a woman (Sophie Thatcher) being held captive by a man (Jack Quaid).

I think that’s a head fake, too. There’s a bizarre moment, at the end of the trailer, where Thatcher’s character holds an unshaking hand over a candle until her arm catches fire. She’s crying, so she clearly feels pain, but the movie’s classification — it’s a sci-fi thriller — makes me wonder what’s going on underneath.

I hoped that by texting the number in the description on the trailer’s YouTube page I would glean a little more. It involves a questionnaire to “Find Your Companion today” that includes a request for a selfie. I got this at the end:

This is a lie; I love magicians.

Image: New Line Cinema

That didn’t answer any questions for me, but at least I’ll be getting marketing texts now. Anyway, Companion hits theaters on January 10th next year.

Three years after the first hit season of Squid Game ended and spawned a reality show spinoff, the Netflix show is returning with its second season on December 26th. A new teaser this week showed Gong Yoo’s Salesman preparing for work (and probably to do some slapping). It ends with him talking directly to the camera as he asks “Sir, would you like to play a game with me?”

The Franchise, HBO’s new series following the making of a fictional comic book-style movie, looks like a delightful takedown of Hollywood’s ongoing superhero obsession. It’s written by Jon Brown, who also wrote Succession, and stars Himesh Patel and Lolly Adefope as Daniel and Dag, two production workers on the film. Daniel Brühl is in there too — a bit of fun casting, given his role as Zemo in multiple Marvel productions. The Franchise begins streaming tonight at 10PM ET on Max.