This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro

Jeanne Destro

WAKR's Jeanne Destro discusses a new tech topic each week!

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155 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes155

Newest first

Jun 7, 2024 · 19 min
Cool, Low-Tech Tips To Reduce Global Warming
There's not a whole lot better than summertime in Ohio, when it comes to picnics in the park, hikes along the Cuyahoga river, and maybe even a cool dip in one of our many beautiful lakes. But this cool green serenity is at risk, as global climate change heats up the water, fosters toxic algal blooms, and hastens leaf decomposition, which in turn; fuels more global warming. The good news is, though, that there is something you can do to help fight back against that, in your own yard right now.
May 31, 2024 · 11 min
Kids, Phones, AI, Nuclear Power, and EV's
This week we're taking a look at a number of different ways that technology is affecting our children, our environment, amd the kinds of cars we drive. We'll also hear about how some communities in NE Ohio are trying to ban large scale wind and solar facilities, and why the rapidly expanding use of Artifiial Intelligence may mean the return to using nuclear power to produce electricity. Find out more. Listen now.
May 25, 2024 · 17 min
"Stayin' Alive" On Wall Street, In the Age of AI
Although Wall Street Analysts, Stockbrokers, and Traders already use sophisticated computer programming to help them make what is in some case dizzyingly vast sums of money; rapidly developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools could soon help them make even more. On the other hand; AI could also completely replace a lot of those jobs, leaving the people doing them today, out of work and wondering how to get back in the game. That in fact, is a scenario that is going to play out for billions o
May 18, 2024 · 26 min
When AI Eats Your Job: What's Next?
Imagine if the outrage Apple stirred up this week over the ad showing their super thin new Ipad Pro "crushing" images representing art and music, amplified billions of times over. Imagine that instead of just crushing just digital images of human creativity, another tech creation; artificial intelligence, actually crushes our entire world economy, by eliminating 30 to 50 percent of all jobs, leaving millions of people, including today's top earners, in the dust, on the dole, and in despair. T
May 10, 2024 · 20 min
From Stow To The Stars: Exploring The Cosmos with NASA's Dr. Greg Davis
This week our special guest has a special tie to the Akron community. University of Akron graduate, Dr. Greg Davis, who started his professional career as a Physics teacher at Stow High School, has been with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, since 2005. Currently their Principal Technologist; Davis has worked on a number of amazing projects, including the Juno spacecraft, three Mars landers, and Mars Pathfinder. Listen now, as we find out what's next in his fascinating
May 3, 2024 · 8 min
Akron Expands Free RING Doorbell Cam Program
All Akron residents can now apply to receive a free Amazon RING doorbell security camera, as part of the city's ongoing effort to increase neighborhood security. What started as a pilot program in three of the city's ten wards last year, has now expanded outside of just wards 3, 4, ad 5. City officials are using federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to buy the cameras, and have allotted 300 per ward. This is in addition to the 400 originally given out to residents in four particularly high
Apr 26, 2024 · 10 min
What New TikTok Law Could Mean for Social Media Marketers
Now that President Biden has signed the bill Congress passed this week requiring the Chinese owners of the popular social media app, TikTok to sell to a US company within the next nine months, or face a possible ban; a lot more is at stake than than whether or not we can continue to can stare for hours at cute cat videos. The law, which was passed as part of a larger measure that renewed funding for war efforts in Ukraine and Israel, is a national security effort to ensure that the Chinese gove
Apr 12, 2024 · 21 min
AI In Everything, Everywhere: Are You Ready For The Future?
Imagine a future where virtually everything you touch is infused with Artificial Intelligence; not just your smart phone, but also your TV, your car, your air conditioner, the forklift at the factory where you work, and more. But that's not an imaginary scenario. According to the authors of the new book, "Fusion Strategy: How Real Time Data & AI will Power the Industrial Future"; that is exactly what is happening right now, and what will continue to happen on an ever increasing scale in the fu
Mar 30, 2024 · 10 min
Stark State College Offering Free Data Recovery Service This Week
The only thing worse than realizing you don't have your files backed up when your computer or external hard drive crashes, is finding out it could cost hundreds, or maybe even thousands of dollars to get them back. But, if you live in the Akron-Canton area; you're in luck, because students at Stark State College, will help you recover your precious photos, videos, music—or whatever else you lost— for free, this week! Listen now, for all the details, from Stark State Cybersecurity Professor, Gl
Mar 22, 2024 · 10 min
How Spyware & Disinformation Threaten Democracy
When citizens are mislead by lies online, and journalists are hacked, tracked, intimidated, and shut down; Democracies worldwide are threatened. That was the message this week from US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who spoke at this week at the Third Summit For Democracy in Seoul, South Korea. Blinken talked about efforts the United States is making to support free speech, free press, and free people, by funding independent media outlets, protecting journalists, teaching citizens how to s
Mar 16, 2024 · 23 min
Better, Faster, Cheaper: Akron's Plan To Bridge The Digital Divide
So much has changed since the pandemic shut down that started four years ago this week, and one of those things is how much more dependent we all are on technology. Going to work and to school suddenly became doable from home, but only for those with fast and reliable internet connections. Those who could not count on them, were left having to use less reliable connections through mobile phones, or public Wi-Fi at the library, coffee shops, and restaurants like McDonalds. Even that was hard, t
Mar 8, 2024 · 10 min
Countdown To Totality: Solar Eclipse Readiness & Safety Tips
April 8th is going to be a big day in Northeast Ohio, with thousands of of visitors from all over the country expected flock here for the first total solar eclipse of the sun visible from this area since 1806. It will quite literally be the chance of a lifetime, as the next one like it, won't be until 2099. With that in mind; state, local, and federal offiicials got tother recently to discuss their plans to keep people safe from the kinds of things you can naturally expect when big crowds gath
Mar 1, 2024 · 21 min
Artificial Intelligence In The Classroom: New Ohio "AI Toolkit" for K-12 Teachers
The State of Ohio wants to encourage teachers to get students ready for future employment in world where their jobs will be greatly influenced by Artificial Intelligence. As a result, they just issued a new "AI Toolkit" for K-12 teachers statewide, which they say will "empower policymakers, superintendents, principals, IT staff, teachers, and parents to advance AI literacy in their school districts. In addition, they say it will "provide resources that help promote student privacy, data securit
Feb 28, 2024 · 20 min
What's In Your Portfolio? Another Wall Street Fad Fizzles
Financial schemes, scams, and outright swindles are nothing new, with examples dating back hundreds of years, including the Tulip speculative bubble of the early 1600's, and the South Sea Scandal of 1720. Fast forward to more recent times, to Bernie Madoff's gigantic Ponzi scheme, which was discovered in 2008, earned him a 150 year federal prison sentence, to the sub-prime mortgage crisis that spurred a severe economic recession between 2007 and 2010. With all that in mind, I recently read a
Feb 24, 2024 · 14 min
University of Akron Esports Celebrates Recent Rocket League Milestone
The University of Akron's Esports program recently celebrated a career milestone. For the first time Rocket League history; a collegiate team composed of students from the same school qualified for their Championship Series, known as the RLCS. But, though they beat out over 900 other teams highly rated teams in the Rocket League Championship Series to become one of 16 teams to qualify for the RLCS North America Regional; they unfortunately didn't get past the first round, Still, as you'll hea
Feb 17, 2024 · 14 min
Wings Over America: NASA Testing New Space Plane In NE Ohio
A new era in space exploration is unfolding at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility near Sandusky, Ohio. That's where they're testing the new autonomous Dream Chaser Space Plane, made by Colorado-based, Sierra Space. The first of its kind, named "Tenacity", is currently undergoing rigorous testing, with plans for it to travel to the International Space Station for the first time, later this year. To find out why this new, reusable vehicle with retractable wings that can land on any runway, cou
Feb 2, 2024 · 18 min
Amazon RING, Police, & Civil Liberties
Amazon's "Neighbors" app got a little less neighborly in the past week, after the company decided it would no longer allow users to share videos from their RING doorbell home security cameras directly with police. In an apparent bow to pressure from civil rights groups, Amazon has disabled the direct connection between police and RING users. Now, if police want access to doorbell cam videos, they have to get it from Amazon, and other than in the most exigent circumstances; with a warrant. Thi
Jan 27, 2024 · 12 min
Hack This: America's Next Gen Cybercops
From somebody using AI to clone President Biden's voice for a robocall aimed at keeping people from voting in New Hampshire, to top level Microsoft officials' email getting hacked, and even the Director of the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity infrastructure protection agency being targeted in a dangerous "swatting" attempt; cybercriminals are aiming high, and often; they're hitting their marks. So, who is going to stop them? Right now, there are more than 700 thousand cybersecur
Jan 19, 2024 · 9 min
Investing in Bitcoin Just Got A Whole Lot Easier
While millions of people all over the world have eagerly embraced buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for years now, it has always been a bit of a hassle and pretty risky. Now, that has changed—at least to some degree— thanks to recent action from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), especially when it comes to institutional investors, like banks, or even individuals who want to make very large purchases. Find out why their recent decision to allow Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fun
Jan 12, 2024 · 24 min
CBS Tech Contributor Ian Sherr, on Kids, Social Media, and Mental Health
We're continuing our conversation about kids, social media, and mental health, with a special bonus edition featuring Tech Journalist, Ian Sherr. He recently left CNET, after 15 years as their Editor at Large, and now is a frequent contributor to CBS News. Listen now, as we discuss how Meta this week adopted some voluntary new restrictions on what kids and teens can see and search for, on Facebook and Instagram, and how that is related to concerns about mental health.