In the news … May 24, 2018

Here’s how to make your digital strategy seamless

When a district goes digital, it is doing everything necessary so that students can seamlessly access and use all of the digital learning tools available and teachers can easily manage the administrative functions associated with these tools, such as rostering students into apps and connecting learning applications, tools, and content into the learning system.
ESCHOOL NEWS

The government of Canada has been increasing its use of paid Facebook advertisements over the last three years, spending tens of millions of dollars on boosted posts, videos and ad campaigns, new figures tabled in Parliament show.

From Jan. 1, 2016 to March 2018, federal government departments and agencies spent more than $24.4-million on Facebook and Instagram ads, promotions and sponsored posts and videos.
GLOBE AND MAIL

Samsung opens AI centres in the UK, Canada and Russia

Samsung Research, the advanced R&D hub of Samsung Electronics’ SET Business, has opened an artificial intelligence centre in Cambridge, UK, with two more being established in Toronto, Canada (24 May) and Moscow, Russia (29 May) to enhance the company’s AI capabilities.
The company is already exploring AI technology and expanding the global AI research capabilities of Samsung Electronics at its centres in Korea and the US, as well as five AI centres around the world including new AI Centres in Seoul last November and in Silicon Valley in January.
AV MAGAZINE

Lobby Wrap: Standing up for (digital) rights

A month-old not-for-profit organization led by one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, Jim Balsillie, is hoping to gain the attention of public office holders about the need for improved data protection online.
The Centre for Digital Rights, Balsillie’s latest venture, intends to identify the gaps in Canada’s regulatory framework on digital rights that have allowed companies such as Facebook and Cambridge Analytica access copious amounts of personal information.
IPOLITICS

Digital Life: How to cut back on a constant smartphone habit

NEW YORK — Why are we checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then Facebook again when we just wanted to check the weather?
Turns out, smartphone addiction is by design. Think of the constant stream of notifications, colour schemes in apps and all the “likes,” followers and in-game trophies. Our phones and apps are designed to give us short-term, feel-good rewards, so we’ll use them longer — at the expense of reading, enjoying the moment or simply being bored.
CTV