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  • Artificial Intelligence: Fact vs Fiction

    Artificial Intelligence: Fact vs Fiction

    One of the most misunderstood terms in computer science is “artificial intelligence”. While many people are familiar with the term artificial intelligence, or its shortened form, AI, they might have a picture of AI in their mind that doesn’t reflect the reality. Sci-fi movies paint a picture of an AI as simply a human-like intelligence that lives in a computer. That’s not entirely accurately.

    Today we’re looking a bit more closely at real artificial intelligence initiatives, how they differ from pop culture depictions of AI, and some of the ethical and philosophical questions raised by artificial intelligence technology.

    What is Artificial Intelligence?

    In simple terms, artificial intelligence refers to intelligence being displayed by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. In the popular conception of an artificial intelligence, the term refers to machines that can mimic natural intelligence features such as problem solving, learning and innovation.

    Within the scientific community, there is an ongoing effect known as the “AI effect.” This observation states that any functionality once thought to be “artificial intelligence” that becomes achievable by current-day machines is no longer dubbed AI. For instance, tasks such as understanding human speech, playing games like chess and Go and decrypting written language were all once reserved for “artificial intelligence,” though they are now common computer programs.

    In short, as Tesler’s Theorem jokes, “AI is whatever hasn’t been done yet.”

    Types of AI

    There are three main types of artificial intelligence. These include analytical, human-inspired and, finally, humanized AI. Analytical AI is the simplest, and encompasses things like learning, problem-solving and understanding representations of the world around them. Human-inspired AI are more complex and would involve the understanding and emulation of human emotion. Essentially, these would be “emotionally intelligent” AI.

    Finally, humanized AI would most closely resemble the sci-fi incarnation of a human-like intelligence that can think, reason, emote and feel in all the same ways as a human being. Humanized AI, in theory, would be fully self-aware, cognizant, and, essential, would have all of the elements that make natural intelligence aware of their place in the world. This form of AI carries serious philosophical and ethical implications.

    Ethics and Philosophy

    Humanized AI raises a serious question: is a sufficiently intelligent computer program, one that shows evidence of self-awareness, a person? Should society extend human rights and legal protections to artificial intelligences? How should we react should the artificial intelligence prove hostile, or hold values contrary to those of its creator?

    Even deeper than these questions, there are serious philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness. We know we are conscious, or, at least, each individual can know that they are conscious. However, it’s difficult to distinguish a sufficiently well-programmed piece of software from a truly self-aware machine intelligence. How can we know that the program in question is actually experiencing consciousness, not just emulating the signifiers of consciousness we programmed into it?

    Reality vs Expectation

    The difference in the reality of artificial intelligence and the expectations of them have led to a number of miscommunications between researchers and their funding. Companies and universities funding AI research often expect fully-aware, sentient AI to leap fully-formed from the researchers’ computers, while the researchers are simply making iterative probes into the nature of machine learning and intelligence.

    In the short-term, it’s unclear if any of the software we currently have could be defined as “artificial intelligence,” due to the AI effect reclassifying innovations as simple machine processes, not intelligence. In the long-term, we will have a number of decisions to make regarding the future of artificial intelligence, how we as a species deal with machine intelligence, and what rights we extend to apparently self-aware programs.


  • Best Employee Time Tracking Software: Smarter Business Solutions

    Best Employee Time Tracking Software: Smarter Business Solutions

    Every business needs the right tools in order to succeed. Chief among these tools are employee management tools. When your employees clock in, when they leave: these are critical data points you have to have great tracking of. Time tracking software is how you generate payroll, and how you accurately keep up with billable hours, time management and project durations.

    When you get employee time tracking software, you need the best. It needs to be reliable, easy to use and easier to read. No one wants to have to decipher crazy tables and illegible data points in order to try to generate payroll. Today we’re looking at a few of the best employee tracking software solutions on the market to help you narrow it down to the best options. Run your business like a pro with these smart time tracking solutions.

    Beebole

    Don’t let the odd name fool you: Beebole is a great app for businesses of any size. Whether you have only 10 employees or 1,000, Beebole can help you to manage your team’s time. Of course, it can track basic time sheets, but it’s also great for coordinating project time management as well as budget monitoring.

    Beebole offers budget tracking, configurable time reports, one-click timers and a lot more. It’s incredibly simple and easy-to-use, but it’s also highly modular and can be configured to do pretty much whatever you need it to. To add to how easy it is to use, it’s also got a mobile app that works on all mobile devices, and can even be used when offline. Beebole only costs $6 per month, and there are even discounts for large groups.

    Scoro

    Scoro is a very popular time sheet program capable of handling tons of functions for your business. The basic time-tracking is there, of course, keeping up with billable hours employee in and out times and project durations. This information is presented in a clear and easy-to-read format, and can be used to help coordinate team efforts on project. This is a stellar tool for people who need their teams to work consistently on time-sensitive projects.

    Scoro is a lot more than just time-tracking, though. It also offers billing automation, quoting and invoicing, time and work reports, CRM and a lot more. It can probably replace three or four different tools you’re already using for these tasks, likely saving you a ton of money. Scoro costs only $26 per month per user, and you can try it out for 14 days for free.

    Harvest

    Harvest is a favorite time-tracking app of hundreds of businesses. It’s one of the best-known time tracking software solutions, and for good reason: it’s a very focused time tracker for businesses of small or medium size. It’s not like the other software suites on this list, though: it’s not a team collaboration tool, it’s primary function is as a time tracker. This single-mindedness makes it incredibly straightforward: it has one job, and it does that job quite well.

    Harvest is available in both free and paid plans. The paid version starts at $12 per month per user. The app supports real-time tracking of time spent on the job, generates estimates of invoices based on collected data, and can even integrate data from across a wide variety of time-tracking tools. In short, there’s a lot of very useful features under the hood of this deceptively simple time-tracking app. Whether you’re running a small business and just need an inexpensive solution for your time-tracking or you’re running a medium-sized business and need an efficient and focused time-tracker, Harvest can fill these roles for you.


  • Best Ways to Market Your Business Online

    Best Ways to Market Your Business Online

    We’re far from the days when taking out an ad in the local newspaper and hoping word of mouth was enough to keep your business afloat. Whether you’re a small business owner who is new to the game or you’ve owned a medium business for decades, online marketing is an important aspect of success. If you’re wondering what you can do to market your business online, you’ve come to the right place.

    How to Market Your Business Online

    Social Media

    It’s time for your company to have a dedicated social media presence. There’s no two ways about this: either your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts are on point or you’re leaving money on the table. There’s nothing you can do to buy the kind of buzz, engagement and word of mouth that a good social media manager can afford you.

    If you don’t have a social media manager, that’s a role you need filled as soon as possible. A young and tech-savvy employee with a penchant for engaging with people on social media could be promoted to such a position, or you could look outside the company to hire such a person.

    Local Listings

    There are three major online local listings you should be represented on. Firstly, and most importantly, there’s Google Places. You want to show up on Google searches, and you want to be included in online listings, so you need to be registered on Google Places. This is doubly important if your business is a retailer or a restaurant.

    The other online listings are Yahoo! Local and Bing’s online listing. All three of these online listing services are free, and they’re a great way to get your business out there. Consider getting your online presence up and running through these services.

    Blogs

    Another great way to build your online presence is through a blog. This is something your social media manager can take on, as well, or you could hire a professional writer for this position. In either case, a blog is a great way to engage customers and endear people to your brand.

    Things that a blog could cover are quite varied and could depend on your business’s specifics. For instance, if your business is a restaurant, your blog could cover recipes, specials, events and news relating to the restaurant. Whatever makes your business tick, that’s what you should blog about.

    Search Engine Optimization

    Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a process of making your website’s pages easier to find in search engine results. This involves using specific keywords and repeating the keywords in headers, titles and meta descriptions. A web developer, site designer or some similar type of professional would be ideal to tap in this sort of marketing push.

    Consider hiring a freelance web designer to make sure your business has a webpage that is ideal for search engine optimization. They’ll be able to go in and make your site look great, and make it more searchable on sites like Google.

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing allows you to email your customers directly when they’re on a mailing list. You could email them news about new offers and deals, or coupons for hot new items. You could also email them to keep them abreast of news relating to your business, potentially increasing customer engagement with your brand.

    In short, there are a number of ways you can leverage the internet to make your business more recognizable and to increase your business’s performance. Really, the biggest mistake you could make is ignoring your online presence. There’s money to be made: you only need to capitalize on online marketing so you can make it!


  • HP Spectre x360: A Capable Two-in-One, or Overpriced Computer?

    HP Spectre x360: A Capable Two-in-One, or Overpriced Computer?

    HP’s popular Spectre series of two-in-one laptops has seen a huge uptick in features and usefulness with the recent 2019 model. Sporting a gorgeous 13-inch display and three different viewing modes, there’s a lot to love about the newest Spectre. The question remains: is it worth the hefty price tag, or are there better deals for your money?

    HP Spectre x360 Review

    Design

    This is a stylish, sleek and all-around classy device. The all-metal encasing is very eye-catching, and the gem-cut corners add an air of elegance that you don’t often find on laptops. This would look right at home on a professional’s desk, in a coffee shop or in a lecture hall. In fact, it might look a little too fancy in shabbier surroundings!

    Features

    As a two-in-one, this is a highly portable device. It barely weighs three pounds, so it’s easy to toss it into a bad and take it on the go with you. The touch screen is responsive and looks great, though it’s a little hard to see in the sun.

    The Spectre x360 also sports three distinct viewing modes, making it a flexible and easy-to-use device. Whether you need to be productive, want to kick back and watch videos or just need a tablet for some fun games, the Spectre can accommodate.

    The most impressive aspect of the Spectre, however, is the huge battery life. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time far from any charging ports, this is the laptop for you.

    Pricing

    It’s worth noting that the 2019 13-inch Spectre x360 also touts a premium price tag. The two-in-one starts at $1,150 for just the basic model, while additional storage space or a better CPU can run you a few hundred more.

    That said, even the base version of the laptop comes with a nice leather sleeve for the device, as well as an active tablet pen for drawing and taking notes. All in all, if you’re looking for a powerful, sleek and long-lasting two-in-one, the Spectre x360 is the computer for you.

  • Microsoft Build 2019: Biggest Headlines

    Microsoft Build 2019: Biggest Headlines

    Microsoft’s Build summit is a yearly developer’s conference held to unveil new features in Microsoft’s various initiatives. This year’s headlights weren’t focused on Xbox or Windows, the way one might expect. Instead, Microsoft focused on their Azure platform, deep-learning algorithms, mixed reality and all things artificial intelligence.

    Here are the biggest headlines from Microsoft Build 2019.

    Microsoft Build 2019

    AI is Here to Stay

    Microsoft is driving full-speed ahead with artificial intelligence. While the company is best-known for its Windows operating system, they’ve been focusing ever more and more on their artificial intelligence projects. Namely, Azure, their deep-learning software, has been a huge focus at the last few Build events.

    Initiatives like Azure Cognitive are focused on understanding audio and visual data, while voice recognition is another huge push for the company. The keywords here were machine learning and data interpretation. For the most part, it appears that Microsoft is focused on offering services for businesses, using machine learning to parse huge amounts of data.

    Microsoft’s in with Blockchain

    Microsoft announced their recent involvement with cryptocurrency at Build 2019. They unveiled the JP Morgan Ethereum ledger platform, Quorum, which was built using Microsoft Azure. However, blockchain tech is about more than just crypto. Microsoft announced they’d be using blockchain technology to help businesses form trustworthy ledgers built on the infallible nature of the chains.

    Mixed Reality

    Mixed Reality, or augmented reality, is a type of VR that allows for virtual constructs to be displayed alongside real-world objects. The most obvious applications, of course, are for video games. However, other uses for mixed reality could include virtual presentations of 3D blueprints, making it an ideal tech jump for drafters and designers.

    Linux for Windows

    The only big Windows news at the Build conference this year will likely be completely overlooked by the average user. The Windows Subsystem for Linux functionality was recently added in a Windows 10 update, which is a big deal for developers, thanks to Linux’s dev-friendly architecture. However, it’s unlikely that the average Windows user will have any need to mess around with Linux.

  • What to Expect at Google’s 2019 I/O Conference

    What to Expect at Google’s 2019 I/O Conference

    Google’s annual developer summit, the I/O conference, is here Every Spring, Google summons a host of developers to Mountain View, where the company shows off the newest upcoming stuff coming in the next year. What can we expect to see the company show off this year?

    Google’s 2019 I/O Developer Conference

    Stadia News

    Google’s banking big on their Stadia game-streaming service. The game-changing game-delivery service still has a number of question marks circling around it. Will it be subscription based, or will you buy games as normal? How will Google make sure the games on their platform stay stable over weaker internet connections? Will the service allow for cross-platform play with PC and console gamers?

    We expect all these questions and more will be at least touched on, if not answered, during the conference. The biggest question still surrounding the service, of course, is when it will release. Given that we’ve heard it will be available before the end of the year, we’re guessing a Q4 2019 release.

    Google Pixel 3a

    The more budget-friendly Google Pixel, the Pixel 3a, is more than likely the best phone in is $400 price range. The camera is stellar and the build quality is solid for a phone of its price. Expect to see lots of hype and support for the Pixel 3a during Google’s developers conference.

    Android Q

    There are a few big questions looming over Android Q, none the least of which being what dessert food that starts with Q can Google use for the OS. The newest Android OS has been in beta-test mode since mid-March, so we can expect more thorough details on the system and what new features it brings during the conference.

    Namely, features like “bubbles,” an upcoming feature that will allow you to interact with other apps without leaving the app you’re currently in. Other new features are rumored to include share-sheets to allow for easier information sharing, as well as settings panels accessible from within apps. In general, expect lots of small quality of life tweaks.

    Most importantly, Google has promised Android Q will have an updated focus on privacy. The OS will limit what kind of things apps can do in the background, what information apps can transfer about the phone they’re on and more.

  • Alex Jones, Milo Yiannoupolis, Others, Banned from Facebook, Instagram

    Alex Jones, Milo Yiannoupolis, Others, Banned from Facebook, Instagram

    Controversial right-wing personalities like Alex Jones were banned from Facebook and Instagram on Friday. The figures also included Milo Yiannoupolis and Laura Loomer, avowed far-right commentators who are well-known for their combative and confrontational personalities. The bans also extend to Facebook-owned photo-sharing app, Instagram.

    Far-Right Bans Laid Down by Facebook, Instagram

    Facebook’s Reasoning

    The reasoning behind the banning, as stated by Facebook, was that the people in question violated their terms of service and community guidelines. As Facebook puts it, Alex Jones and the other figures represent dangerous ideologies and as such banned them. For comparison, the platform also banned Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, as well as numerous other figures from all sides of the political spectrum.

    “We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology,” went a Facebook statement following the bans. “The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today.”

    Facebook noted that part of the reasoning behind the banning of Jones included his show hosting Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys and known “white nationalist”. This move highlights Facebook’s increasing attempts to take responsibility for the voices of hate on their platform.

    Outcry

    There was some outcry regarding the banning on Facebook and Twitter among various far-right groups. Many complained that the move violated the First Amendment rights of the banned individuals, including notable Twitter personalities. However, this is a misunderstanding of the First Amendment, which protects speech from censorship by the government.

    As neither Facebook nor Instagram are governmental agencies, their moves have no interaction with the Bill of Rights. Oddly, their moves to ban people from their platforms on the basis of violating terms of service line up neatly with normal Conservative values that include lack of government oversight into private industry.

  • Emulation, ROMs and the Future of Video Games

    Emulation, ROMs and the Future of Video Games

    Emulation, the process of writing code that plays video games outside of their originally intended hardware, is of somewhat murky legality. It’s quite popular among video game enthusiasts to download emulators and ROMs, or the raw code that makes up a video game. However, the legality and morality of such emulation is still a contentious topic in the industry. Let’s unpack it.

    Morality, Legality, and “Ownership”

    What’s Legal?

    Officially speaking, emulators and ROMs aren’t illegal. Downloading ROMs of games you don’t own, however, could be considered illegal file sharing. Making ROM backups of games you do own isn’t an issue, though, as it’s your property. What about downloading games you do own, but don’t have the equipment to back up? There’s no clear legal answer to these questions.

    What’s Right?

    Moreover, many emulation enthusiasts have noted that their hobby isn’t hurting anyone. If a company isn’t selling a certain older game anymore, someone downloading a ROM of it isn’t cutting into anyone’s bottom line. This issue comes up often with Nintendo, as the Big N is often hesitant to release their older games in an easy-to-acquire manner.

    Nintendo holds that, since their games are their property and theirs alone, it’s up to them how they distribute it. Someone making a ROM of a game they own and then distributing it over the internet steps on Nintendo’s rights, in their view. Whether or not they are actively selling a game is their call, and someone trying to bypass them could hurt future sales of a rerelease or remaster.

    Preservation

    Preservation of older eras of gaming is a big part of emulation. Many emulation enthusiasts have noted that, without their work, many games would simply be lost to history. Some games exist in only certain regions in some configurations, while others were simply distributed in small numbers and are very hard to find.

    Modern gaming presents many concerns in this field. As physical media becomes less popular and companies push their digital sales, many emulators worry that large corporations will hold the keys to gaming history. If a game is only released digitally, it’s impossible to make a backup of it. What happens when the company that released it decides they don’t want to host it on their servers anymore?

    Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

    The always-online nature of modern gaming means that ten or twenty years from now, gaming experiences you once had will simply be a thing of the past. For a modern example, look at games like Halo 2 and World of Warcraft. Halo 2’s revolutionary multiplayer was unavailable for years after the servers shut down before being recreated in the Master Chief Collections.

    Likewise, the always-updating World of Warcraft bears little resemblance to its launch build. Demand for the “vanilla” version of the game has become so high that published Blizzard is now working on a “Classic WoW” release that promises to be largely the same experience that gamers once had in 2004.

    What this means for the future of gaming, however, is that the companies that own these games will be the ones to make these calls. If a company has no desire to make a prior version of their game available, that’s the end of the conversation. No one can bust out a prior build on a disc or cartridge like with the prior generation of games.

    In short, the modern gaming landscape is shaping up to be more disposable, more temporary and more ephemeral than any era that’s gone before. What have we gained by giving up the older methods of distribution? Convenience and always-updating experiences. What have we lost?

    Potentially, we may have lost the ability to track the history of this very medium we love.

  • Avengers Endgame Has Leaked: Watch Out for Spoilers

    Avengers Endgame Has Leaked: Watch Out for Spoilers

    The biggest cinematic event of the year is hitting late this month. There’s less than two weeks between now and when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters. However, the film’s conclusion has been leaked online, so spoilers for the whole thing are up in the wild. Here are some ways you can protect yourself from the biggest spoilers.

    Avoiding Avengers Endgame Spoilers

    Social Media

    One of your best bets might be a full-blown social media blackout. No one wants to accidentally scroll past a major spoiler on Facebook, Twitter or Reddit. As such, simply staying off of those sites ad apps could be the right call. In the case of Reddit you can just avoid Marvel-related subreddits until you’ve seen the movie, at least.

    On Twitter, you can mute certain words or phrases manually. Consider muting the Avengers keyword in particular if you’re worried about getting spoiled. You can set it to mute indefinitely or for a set duration. Either way, you won’t see mentions of the chosen keyword for as long as its muted.

    Your Friends

    Depending on how friendly or unfriendly your buddies are, they might inadvertently expose you to spoilers. If your friends are sort-of jerks, consider just avoiding them until after you’ve seen the movie. Otherwise, just let them know you’re really trying to avoid spoilers and don’t want to discuss any leaks with them.

    At the Theater

    Some people are just trolls and will try to spoil the film for you while you’re in line at the theater. Consider pre-purchasing your tickets online so you don’t have to stand in line for a while. You could even skip the concession stand if you want to double down on not exposing yourself to potential trolls who would shout spoilers.

    For those of you considering spoiling the movie for people who are excited to see it: shame on you. Let people enjoy things without wanting to ruin it for them.

    Avengers Endgame hits theaters in the US on April 27th. Tickets are on sale now.

  • Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    When you rely on your internet for your entertainment, your work or just your leisure time, you want the best. Maybe you’re paying for the best internet money can buy but your devices still seem sluggish. Maybe it’s your wireless router. Today we’re looking at some of the best wireless routers that money can buy.

    Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    Google WiFi

    Google’s proprietary WiFi router, the aptly named Google WiFi, is great for people with large homes. The puck-shaped router can be set up in a net-style array, and will cast your wireless signal across a larger space. Just set up a router in each part of your house that you want to cover and Google WiFi will do the work.

    This mesh technology tends to work better than simple range boosters. The reason for this is that Google’s tech uses the smaller WiFi receivers as satellites for the signal, catching it and amplifying it in the area nearby. This makes it easier to cover dead zones in your home.

    ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300

    If you want the best of the best, you want the Rapture GT-AC5300. Asus’s entry in the crowded high-end router market was made with performance in mind, and the price shows it. The hefty $400 price tag might incite some sticker shock, but it more than makes up for this with its strength and features.

    The incredibly speedy Rapture router was literally made with gaming in mind. The through-put is blisteringly fast, and you’ll experience no trouble connecting. There’s tons of I/O ports for the gamers out there, and a great management console for customizing your experience. If you take gaming seriously, this huge router is for you.

    Asus RT-AC66U B1 Dual-Band

    Another entry from Asus, this router is much less expensive. Coming in around $100, the RT-AC66U is great for all-purpose internet use. It’s speedy, but not blisteringly so. It sports four LAN parts and three non-removable antenna. The signal strength is solid and the throughput is fast enough for general gaming and streaming.

    The only drawbacks to this snappy little router are its sub-par file transfer speeds and its clunky, non-removable antenna. However, thanks to its low price point and easy set-up, this is an easy router to recommend. If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money but still want a great router for all your internet needs, this is the one you should be looking at.