Information Technology

/Information Technology

thick data

thick data: qualitative information and insights gathered from contextual observations of behavior and preferences (e.g., routines, emotions, stories, habits, aspirations, and motivations). *** TROVELOG *** Thick data Residents [of the Barcelona neighbourhood of Gràcia] were learning that data is rarely neutral. The kinds of data gathered, the methods used, how it gets interpreted, what gets overlooked, the [...]


biohackers: people who try to modify a biological system – a plant, another animal, or their own body. Includes: DIY genetic self-testing; novel diet or sleep regimens; or device implantation. *** TROVELOG *** biohacking: The activity of exploiting genetic material experimentally without regard to accepted ethical standards, or for criminal purposes. See definition at: Oxford Dictionaries: biohacking [...]

Dunbar’s number

Dunbar's number: the idea that human beings have a cognitive limit to the number of close relationships (about 150) they can maintain; theory proposed by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar of the University of Oxford. *** TROVELOG *** It also turns out there’s a maximum number of people you can maintain relationships with at any given time. That [...]

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): European Union (EU) data-privacy rules (effective 25May2018) providing individuals with more control of their personal data and strict rules on hosts or processors of such data. *** TROVELOG *** Companies will need to be more transparent about the management of employee data or risk getting caught on the wrong side of the [...]

fat-finger error

fat-finger error: a keyboard error made when the originator of the message or transaction presses the wrong key or keys; often referring to the cause of a significant error in a finance or securities transaction. *** TROVELOG ***  [Deutsche Bank AG] inadvertently transferred 28 billion euros ($35 billion) to one of its outside accounts, Bloomberg News has [...]

breach fatigue

breach fatigue: the apparent lack of significant responses and countermeasures by consumers regarding safeguarding their information in the wake of well-publicized reports of huge data breaches by major companies. *** TROVELOG *** The news has been dominated lately by the failure of one company, Facebook Inc., to safeguard customer data. But Facebook isn't alone. In just the [...]

information escrow

information escrow: a confidential allegation (e.g., re sexual harassment/ assault) transmitted to a secure, online site where it is time-stamped and held for possible future reporting to appropriate authorities. *** TROVELOG *** Callisto [is] an online nonprofit startup that seeks to leverage the power of tech to fight sexual harassment and assault. Using Callisto, a victim can [...]

smart kitchen

smart kitchen: a home kitchen equipped to access data from its internet-connected “smart” appliances and gadgets to cook food, download recipes, manage inventory, and order groceries. *** TROVELOG *** Household brands like Whirlpool, Samsung and Bosch are racing against tech behemoths like Google and Amazon to dominate the kitchen with internet-connected appliances and cooking gadgets that include [...]

going dark

going dark: the consequences of law enforcement’s inability to use traditional wiretaps and search warrants to access encrypted online communications in investigations of criminal and terrorism suspects. *** TROVELOG *** Federal law enforcement officials are renewing a push for a legal mandate that tech companies build tools into smartphones and other devices that would allow access to [...]

Apple/ cash

       [Some Apple investors have] deep frustrations over Apple's cash pile, a $50 billion lode that is expected to swell to $70 billion by year-end. The vast sum exceeds the gross domestic product of two-thirds of the world's countries—and all but 36 of the market values of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock [...]