Author: Lydia H

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Household Robots Will Save You From Chores by 2050

home-robot-future-technology

The future is full of household robots. If you think this is a sensationalist claim (“yeah, sure; moon colonies by 2030, right?”), think again. Nothing can stand in the way of human laziness– I mean efficiency.

The Domestic Robot Market Is Growing

Regular housekeeping items slowly evolve into futuristic household bots. The trend is pretty obvious. Roomba is a great example: it’s replacing old school vacuum cleaners as we speak. Recorders are being replaced by button-sized wearables that transform voice into text. Alexa and Siri handle order us food and handle calls.

The internet of things can connect all of these into one universal helper. Smart homes are a step in the right direction.

And look where we’re headed: the household robots market has grown by ~30% since 2019. It’s projected to triple by 2030.

Everybody Wants to Automate Their Chores

Okay, you’re saying, household robots are going to be popular in the future. But what if this is just a fad? What if the trend dies?

Short answer: no.

There are several reasons why household robots are what the customer needs. All of these reasons are very good. They are rooted in human nature and therefore unlikely to ever become irrelevant.

  • Domestic robots save the time spent cleaning, vacuuming, or mowing the lawn.
  • They can assist elderly people, allowing for 24/7 health monitoring and emotional support.
  • Robots don’t get paid. Human workers require a wage.
  • AI-powered devices can work while you’re away.

In other words, a domestic robot can save your money and your marriage.

So… How Long Until Household Bots Become Common?

With the recent advances in AI and mechatronics, the concept of futuristic household robots has never been closer to reality.

We already have food delivery robots zipping around big cities like London or Santa Monica.

AI chat bots entertain us with jokes, heartfelt conversations, and trivia.

We can use a phone to control our house.

Voice user interface is available for more and more devices, including cars.

All of the above illustrates some promising trends:

  • cheaper, mass-market robotic devices
  • robots are getting better at moving autonomously & navigating the world
  • organic, fast communication with AI-powered devices

And while androids are not likely to enter the market before at least 2050, by then most homes will own at least one domestic robot. At least that’s what most researchers and futurists agree on.

Conclusion

Some domestic helper bots are already available to everyone, although their functions are limited. As technology advances, we see better and cheaper robots used by companies and individuals alike. Based on market predictions, home robots will become common in the following decades.

If you want to learn more about the ever-changing world of technology, you might find our website interesting.

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Wearable Technology Trends: From Pet AI to Smart Clothes

wearable-technology-trends-ar-headset

Wearable technology trends have evolved significantly over the past few years. As wearables transcended their initial role as a fitness tracker, they now see more and more (unexpected) applications. These days, wearable tech is used for productivity, healthcare, fashion, security, gaming, learning, and even in the military.



Wearable Technology Trend #1: Productivity



Efficiency is the immortal classic of wearable technology trends. Everybody’s chasing it, and for a good reason. A couple of wearables can save you (or your company) massive amounts of time and money.



A wearable recorder like Senstone Scripter can record audio, perform voice-to-text conversion, and use AI to organize notes. Wearable assistants provide hands-free access to information and enable control of smart appliances.As a manager, you can pool the data tracked by wearables to assess your team’s progress.



(And since new productivity tech pops up like mushrooms after a rain, you can count on another trail blazer entering the market next Tuesday. God bless AI.)



Predictable Is Good: Health and Wellness



Wearable devices have moved far beyond basic step counting. Modern wearables can monitor heart rates, sleep patterns, stress levels, and even detect irregular heart rhythms and breathing patterns. With an increased emphasis on preventive healthcare, wearables with advanced sensors empower users to take control of their well-being. And since smart prosthetics technically do count as wearable tech, we’re doing a stellar job at improving those, too.



As for the health provider side, doctors, nurses, and paramedics can use wearables to log patient data. It’s faster than regular typing, and voice-to-text technology enables hands-free note taking.



Smartwatches Gone Smarter



Smartwatches have come a long way. Now they serve as miniature personal assistants, allowing users to check messages, make calls, and access a wide range of apps (and they tell the time!). A cheap wrist band has become an invaluable fitness companion, tracking workouts and helping navigate the city. Some models even offer medical-grade features like ECG monitoring and blood oxygen level tracking.



Whether you’re analyzing running form, measuring golf swings, or tracking your swimming performance, wearables can help you reach your fitness goals efficiently – and in style. Speaking of…



Wearable Is Fashionable



Fashion wearables are bridging the gap between style and functionality. Gone are the days of clunky, chunky, unattractive devices. Modern wearables include jewellery, smart clothes, designer smartwatches, futuristic wearable AI assistants, and even smart rings. They seamlessly integrate into your wardrobe, offering both utility and aesthetics. (We have dedicated a whole article to wearable art, check it out.)



Augmented Reality (AR)



Did you know F-35 pilots use an AR headset (aptly named “The Eye of God”) to see right through the plane? And it’s been old news for years.



As of now, AR is poised to revolutionize the way we interact with the digital world. By overlaying digital information onto physical surroundings, AR opens up a world of possibilities for everyone. From enhancing gaming experiences to providing real-time translation (hello, Google Lens!), AR has applications across various industries. The US army has been testing AR glasses for land warfare. Marketing agencies use AR to lure in customers. Trying on new clothes or testing hair styles in AR is becoming the new normal.



What About Wearable Payments?



Wearable payment solutions could transform how we conduct transactions. Smartwatches and fitness trackers equipped with near-field communication (NFC) technology allow buyers to make secure payments with a simple tap. Forget about physical wallets.



Conclusion



The wearable technology landscape is continually evolving. As tech continues to advance, we can expect wearables to become even more intuitive, versatile, and integrated into our daily routines. Whether you’re a CEO, a fitness enthusiast, an army officer, a fashionista, a retiree, or simply someone looking to make their life easier, wearable technology trends are changing to suit your needs.



Stay tuned for an amazing future as wearables continue to shape the way we live, rest, work, and play.

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Wearable Recording Device: Soon at Your Office

wearable-recording-device-technology

When you hear “wearable recording device”, you probably imagine a hidden camera straight out of a spy movie. This is about to change. More and more companies adopt wearable tech to record meetings and streamline note-taking.

 

Wearable Recorders & Voice Typing

 

A wearable recording device that uses AI to capture notes is the type of wearables that we are about to see enter the office.

 

Voice technology has evolved to the point where ignoring it would be inefficient. You do not use a 1930s typewriter when there is a perfectly good laptop right in front of you. This applies to manual typing and wearable voice recorders.

Why It’s a Good Idea

 

Incorporating a wearable into the office routine is a big step. It requires planning and adaptation. And yet, it is worth the hassle in the end. Why?

 

First of all, a wearable recording device works to help the user. Actively so. It manages files, corrects grammar and spelling, adds automatic keywords and titles, even creates reminders. This saves time and money.

 

Second, wearable recorders are built to keep you focused on the task. They do not distract you and never send notifications. Senstone Scripter is a good example of this design philosophy: it has only one button and no screen at all.

 

Third, wearables recorders boost productivity. You can instantly share recordings or transcripts with other employees. When there’s a business meeting, you can actually sit and listen – and emerge with every fine detail recorded.

 

Finally, wearables give you the advantage of correct posture and normal sight. That is something that inevitably suffers from the office setting, and wearable provide additional relief (but, sadly, cannot replace a good chair).

 

What to Expect From a Wearable Recorder

 

If you’re new to the world of wearable recording devices, you might not be aware of what counts as basic features. Apart from the obvious “it can record and transcribe audio”, your wearable recorder is expected to offer the following:

 

  • support for multiple languages

  • ability to work offline

  • correct and accurate transcription (the technology is there)

  • maximum recording length of at least 1 hour

  • automatic formatting

  • sharing & export options

  • encryption

Personal Tool – Or Fit For a Team?

 

You can use a wearable recording device alone. Voice assistants like Scripter do a great job at being your personal AI secretary. But they can also be used by a team.

 

For instance, outfitting managers with a wearable voice recorder allows them to keep real-time logs and pool those logs together. Tracking performance becomes an easy task.

 

Everything depends on the company and how it operates. Sometimes it makes sense to only use wearables for a certain unit. Sometimes quantity produces quality.

 

Do You Want to Learn More?

 

Visit our homepage and blog to familiarize yourself with wearable recorders. If you are thinking about integrating wearables into your work place, you can email us at team@senstone.io. We’ve been making productivity wearables for years, and this is something we can always help you with.

 

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Digital Detox For Students: A Step-by-Step Guide

digital-detox-for-students

Digital detox for students is an interesting topic. On one hand, students have to spend time online. From e-learning to independent research, from homework to staying in touch with classmates, there is no way around it. On the other hand, they need to take breaks – or face burnout and stress, which tank academic performance.

If you’re a learner looking to detox from the internet, you’re probably worried it might impact your grades. With this in mind, we have prepared a step-by-step guide on how to kill two birds with one stone.

Step 1. Set Your Digital Detox Goal.

Decide how much time you as a student are willing to spend on digital detox and why. Do you want to de-stress after class? Do you want to get your homework (or cramming) done? Are you looking to improve your sleeping habits? These are some common digital detox goals, but yours might look very different.

We suggest you write them down.

For example,

I want to clear my head after class because it helps me get things done later in the day.

Step 2. Schedule Your Time Offline.

Look at your digital detox goal and decide where it’s going to fit into your schedule. Continuing our previous example, it might look something like this:

One hour offline right after class, Monday through Friday.

In this case, you could spend the hour taking a walk or socializing. You could also spend it studying. It fully depends on your definition of “clear my head” (Step 1).

Important! Contrary to the popular belief, students can stay productive while doing digital detox. Use screen-free wearables like Scripter to write essays and take notes. Voice tech is your ally.

Scheduling digital detox is important because it helps build a habit. Detox regularly, and your brain will get used to it.

Step 3. Adhere to the Plan (Using These Tips & Tricks).

The first few days are going to be the toughest. It’s called digital “detox” for a reason, and you’re going to crave some screen time.

If you do relapse, do not take it personally: just pick up where you left off.

Pro tip: Get your study buddies on board. If you do digital detox with other students, you build a powerful support network.

Here’s a few tips on how to avoid an impending relapse:

  • Change location. Switch your desk for an arm chair. Go outside. Study in the kitchen. The idea is to avoid places you associate with being online.

  • Work with your hands. Physical activity boosts your cognitive performance – and makes it harder to browse the net.

  • Talk to people. A good conversation will make you forget all about social media.

  • When you go to bed, leave the phone out of your reach.

Step 4. Adapt & Improvise.

You might find your initial plan obsolete, sometimes even after a week. College can be unpredictable, and that’s okay. There is no “right” way to do digital detox. Nothing is set in stone. It’s good to tweak your goals, move the time around, and try different things.

If you want to learn more about digital detoxing, try these:

This article was brought to you by Senstone. We make AI-powered wearables that help you stay productive anytime, anywhere: offline, on the run, at work, or at home. Our recorders are perfect for students, professionals, content creators, and even senior citizens. Visit our homepage and experience the future.

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5 Signs You Need a Phone Detox

technology-phone-detox-anxiety

Even if you’ve never heard the term ‘phone detox’ before, you can probably tell what it means. Taking a break from using your phone to reduce its influence on your health, both mental and physical, is becoming increasingly popular – for a good reason.

Odds are you experience one of the following symptoms. If you do, consider detoxing from your phone by dedicating certain time (hours or even days) to living offline. You can use a voice-to-text recorder like Scripter to finish your projects without breaking the phone detox, so you can stay productive without staring at the screen.

1. Digital Eyestrain.

Eyestrain is often described as a slight burn, sometimes the “gritty” feeling of sand that’s not really there, soreness, or itching under your eyelids. Prolonged eyestrain results in headaches and blurred vision.

How does my phone cause it? It’s a combination of factors. First of all, a screen makes us stop blinking as often as needed, which makes the natural film of moisture covering the eye dry out. Second, a phone screen is too close for too long; the lens of your eye stays contracted and doesn’t relax. Third, if your screen it too bright, it can strain your eyes even more.

How can I fix it? The only way to fix eyestrain is to rest your eyes. Take breaks. Use voice input to minimize your screen exposure.

2. Trouble Focusing.

Another reason to do phone detox is a lack of focus. If you find yourself watching 20 seconds of a YouTube video, then switching to another one, then another one, then another one, your attention span has been damaged by the internet.

How does my phone cause it? Our brain is evolved to adapt. If we get used to information switching really fast, it adapts to that. But there’s a price: we lose the ability to focus on a single constant stream of information, such as a lecture or a long movie. Our brain develops the knee jerk impulse to switch.

How can I fix it? Your brain developed a short attention span to deal with the internet. You can make it adapt back. Pick up tasks that require long periods of focus. It could be reading, a craft, learning a language, or even exercise. Make them a habit, and make sure you don’t get distracted.

3. Trouble Falling Asleep.

A healthy person falls asleep within 15 minutes. Many people have trouble with that, and it’s not insomnia proper: they only toss and turn for an hour or so until they finally drift off. They also find it hard to get up in the morning.

And yes, this can be another symptom of too much screen time.

How does my phone cause it? Blue light makes your brain think it’s daytime and halts melatonin production. Additionally, reading news or texting can agitate you, which makes it harder to fall asleep. Eyestrain doesn’t help matters either.

How can I fix it? You guessed it, phone detox before bed. Health experts say 2 hours is enough to recover from blue light. (Pro tip: do not keep your phone on the bedside table; it helps resist the temptation.)

4. Dopamine Addiction.

Every time we perform a successful action, our brain releases a tiny burst of a chemical called dopamine. It makes us feel good. We crave another dopamine release, and it helps us stay motivated.

Smartphones make it so our source of dopamine is always at hand.

How does my phone cause it? Gaming apps, likes and dislikes, texting, even pressing a button makes brain release dopamine. We get addicted, and we know another dopamine release is just a click away. Although the addiction is purely psychological, it still makes it very hard to put away the phone.

How can I fix it? Take breaks from your phone. Limit your time playing games. Avoid fast-paced attention grabbers like TikTok.

5. Anxiety Alleviated by Phone Detox.

We all know what anxiety feels like. We know the short-lived anxiety you feel before a job interview and understand it’s normal. But long periods of anxiety are bad for your health.

Unfortunately, anxiety is on the rise around the globe. Many experts attribute this to our internet habits.

How does my phone cause it? A phone makes us expect another notification, whether we realize it or not. We browse bad news all day, even if most of them are irrelevant to our lives. Social media lower our self-esteem by displaying unrealistic pictures of success.

How can I fix it? Chronic anxiety is a serious concern, so it’s best to consult a health professional. However, you can make things easier for yourself. Do not engage with the content that upsets you. Avoid the media that deliberately posts shocking or fear-mongering news. Focus on your well-being.

 

We are Senstone. For years, we’ve helping our customers stay focused. Our AI-powered productivity wearables are uniquely efficient and user-friendly. Check out our homepage at senstone.io to learn more.

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‘Scarily Good’: The Voice Technology Revolution

voice-technology-wearable-device-senstone

Voice technology got impressive when we weren’t looking. Seemingly out of nowhere, cutting-edge solutions pop up one by one, and they actually work.

 

This generates a lot of discussion, which inevitably lags behind the reality: people can’t not use something this good. While tech experts argue about the ramifications of AI, the internet has a field day exploiting AI-powered voice technology.

 

And you know what? I think everyone should try it.

 

voice-technology-wearable-senstone

 

1. Voice Typing & Transcription.

The voice transcription technology used to be hilariously bad. You had to speak in a refined TV accent, and even then you’d get gems like “cat atrophy” (catastrophe), “success exam” (6:06 AM), and “cake asked me to” (tracheostomy tube).

 

Today voice typing is at 99% accuracy. You can even buy wearables allowing you to voice type without a phone. These apps and devices support multiple languages. They ‘understand’ accents and compile your notes into neat, formatted text files. You can also browse the internet using nothing but your voice; and this used to be sci-fi.

 

Examples:

2. Voice Cloning.

One of the most controversial and flashy services enabled by the progress of voice technology is voice cloning. It’s exactly what is says on the tin: AI can copy any voice. A 30 seconds worth of audio is enough for it to pick up your speech patterns.

 

While many netizens immediately think about identity theft and scamming, imagine all the creative content that can be made using voice cloning. The audio books, the movies, the video games.

 

Voice cloning can potentially help disabled people express themselves more clearly, or even regain speech. It can assist paralysed patients, those with vocal cord issues, and other diseases.

 

Examples:

  • ElevenLabs: cutting edge voice cloning gone publicly available

3. Voice Recognition.

Voice recognition technology keeps making big steps ahead, all thanks to advancements in machine learning and NLP (natural language processing). Major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and IBM made a lot of progress in improving their voice recognition systems. The field is tense with competition, and for good reasons.

 

Uses for voice recognition include gadgets adjusting to your emotions, personalizing smart homes, and boosting your security with additional voice checks.

 

Examples:

  • Deepgram: commercial voice recognition & speech-to-text API

  • Beey: online voice recognition service

4. Smart Assistants & Voice Technology.

Combine the best voice technology has to offer into one and get smart assistants. As they keep getting better, expect your Alexa to be able to mimic voices, read your mood, and book appointments for you.

 

The disadvantage of such assistants is that they need a constant online connection to access all of their functions.

 

Examples:

  • Siri: app, virtual assistant by Apple

  • Alexa: physical device, made by Amazon

  • Cortana: the Microsoft virtual assistant for Windows

While some people might feel uneasy about the world changing so rapidly, ultimately the voice technology revolution is a good thing. The new tools are helpful and easy to use, and you can access them from the comfort of your home.

 

If you want to know more about voice tech and the future of technology, read more of our posts here, sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on social media.

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Digital Wellbeing: 5 Essential Tips

digital-wellbeing-offline-digital-detox

The concept of digital wellbeing is simple: ensuring we maintain a healthy lifestyle while using technology. Like many obvious things, it’s easier said than done.

 

In this article you will learn the core methods of digital well-being. They are key to balancing the benefits of technology and its inevitable drawbacks.

Digital Wellbeing: the Basics

If you go to bed with your phone, check every notification, and spend two hours watching YouTube when you meant to check your emails, you have a problem. Good news is, you can solve it.

 

https://images3.memedroid.com/images/UPLOADED463/5fa05b574c68d.jpeg

(Pro Tip: Consider telling your friends and/or family all about your plans to cut down on the internet. This will create a sense of responsibility that will help you stay on course. Bonus points if you talk them into trying digital detox together.)

1. Declutter your subscriptions and notifications.

Any digital wellbeing journey starts with a digital clean-up.

 

Go through your following lists on social media and unfollow the people that flood your feed with nonsense. Unsubscribe from the channels you barely watch. Consider disabling notifications for social media apps completely, or leaving them on solely for things like private messages or friend requests.

 

Disabling as many notifications as possible will give you fewer excuses to pick up the phone. And when you do, the decluttered subscription list will guarantee you less time wasted and more high-quality content.

2. Create a phone-free bedtime routine.

Don’t put your phone on the bedside table. Just don’t.

 

Using a screen before bedtime disrupts your sleeping patterns. The bright light makes your brain think it’s morning and tampers with melatonin production. Not to mention it’s bad for your eyes.

 

Make the conscious effort to put your phone where you cannot reach it. Use screenless devices like Senstone Scripter if you’re the type to come up with ideas or plans after midnight. If you need a soothing activity to fall asleep, pick an offline habit, such as reading or journaling (which, again, you can do using a screenless gadget).

3. Make time for digital detox.

Awareness is an important part of your digital wellbeing, but for that you need a point of reference. In other words, you have to remember what it’s like to live offline. As much as it pains many of us to admit, that is when our brain works as evolution intended.

 

Set aside some time to “go off the grid”. There are degrees to digital detox, so don’t think you have to turn off your phone completely if you don’t want to. You can do short digital detox sessions every day. Some people go offline on Sundays. The point is to minimize the digital in your life and find balance in your surroundings.

4. Track the time you spend on the Internet.

Now, you say, all that digital detox stuff in fine and dandy, but how do I put down my phone if I have trouble doing that?

 

The answer is activity tracking. You want to identify the apps or websites that steal your time and go from there.

 

Look up “web activity time tracker” on any search engine and you’ll see many options for different platforms. Obligatory warning: make sure the apps you install come from verified sources.

5. Prioritize real-life entertainment for your digital wellbeing.

Some time after 20th cat video, it stops being fun. And yet we keep scrolling away, because our brains crave that sweet, sweet dopamine. That’s very far from the genuine entertainment.

 

It’s much easier to tell yourself “nope, let’s do something else” when you do things offline.

 

Make it a habit to replace digital entertainment with real-world activities. Pick up a hobby. Visit your friends. Stay present and focused.

 

Finally, remember that your digital well-being is a matter of lifestyle. Much like a diet or exercise, a short, explosive effort will produce little result. Start small and start slow, and in a few months you will be amazed how much difference it makes.

 

This article was brought to you by Senstone. We make productivity wearables; you make decisions. Check out our home page to learn more.

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What Is Senstone?

senstone scripter

 

Senstone Inc. is a U.S.-based tech company manufacturing AI-powered wearable recorders.

List of Senstone Products & Services

 

The current generation of Senstone recorders is dubbed Senstone Scripter.

Senstone Scripter is a miniature wearable recorder that can be clipped to your clothes or worn as a pendant. It uses AI for voice recognition and speech-to-text conversion. You can use Scripter to capture your thoughts and ideas, make to-do lists, take notes, and set reminders.

Senstone Scripter main features:

 

  • speech-to-text conversion for 12+ languages

  • automatic spell checking & syntax

  • audio recording

  • works offline

  • screenless

 

The one-button design allows you to record hands-free, using nothing but your voice. It’s faster than conventional typing, and you can take notes even while driving or jogging. This makes Scripter particularly useful for managers, journalists, doctors, content creators, care givers, and many, many others. Scripter is designed to boost productivity and help you remember everything that matters.

How Does It Work?

 

What is Senstone Scripter as a whole? The answer is simple: it’s a system where each part is built for accuracy and speed. This is what happens when you use Scripter:

1. Intention. You have decided to take a note. You reach for Scripter, clipped securely to the lapel of your coat. It takes a fraction of a second.

2. Press the button to start recording. Scripter has only one button. It takes up the entire front surface of the device, so you don’t have to look for it. Tap Scripter once, and you’re good to go.

3. Speak. Scripter will take care of the rest. Your voice will be converted into text, and if you used any keywords, such as “list” or “reminder”, the AI will format your note accordingly. Scripter will also save the audio file for your note, which you can always access via the Senstone app on your phone. If there is no internet connection available, the device will store your notes offline: up to 4 hours of audio.

4. Press the button again to stop recording. Short memos or long office meetings, Scripter can record for as long as you want it to.

5. Done!

Notes are processed by the AI and stored in the cloud. You have full control over your data. Edit, delete, or share your notes. Scripter connects to some common note-taking and sharing apps, such as OneNote and Gmail.

Okay, What’s the Catch?

 

There’s none. You only pay for Senstone Scripter once and it’s yours forever. While we do have a Premium subscription service, it’s completely optional.

If you want to know more about Scripter, here is something that might come in handy:

And if you’re the type to dig even deeper, you can access Senstone Scripter user manual (PDF).

You can also contact us using this page or via email, and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

Stay amazing!



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Are You Safe From the AI Web Scraping?

The concept of the AI web scraping entered the public consciousness very recently, even by the tech world standards. It happened somewhere between the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 and the time when ChatGPT went mainstream in 2022. 

 

Since then, we have learned one simple truth: the AI must get its knowledge from somewhere. It must be trained. It must absorb large quantities of information. And what is the easiest way to obtain information?

That’s right, by collecting data from the internet, or “scraping the web”.

 

As a pro-privacy tech company, we have been keeping a very close eye on this problem. Here is what we have to say.

 

AI: The Fastest Reader on the Web

 

The main problem with web scraping is that the AI can scrape anything. It could be Wikipedia – or your tax records. It could be your voice and facial data.

  • in 2019, IBM was caught scraping a million images from Flickr
  • Clearview AI has amassed more than 20 billion (!) photos from the web, including social media (and sought every US mugshot from the past 15 years)
  • Midjourney scraped ‘a hundred million’ artworks without the artists’ permission
  • Stable Diffusion is being sued for scraping millions of files from Getty Images
  • around 2014, Cambridge Analytica collected 50 million Facebook accounts to profile users and influence the US presidential election

And the list goes on.

 

ai-web-technology-mark-zuckerberg-meme

The thing is, most AI scraping goes unnoticed. No one is held accountable. Of course, the law protects your personal data to an extent, but you’re not going to know you’ve been “scraped”.

Wait, So the AI = Evil, Right?

The AI web scraping is not a bad thing, quite the opposite. You do it too when looking for the best deal in your area or booking a flight. 

 

When done ethically, automated web scraping is a great way to improve a neural network, which can help many people in the future.

However, anyone can write a piece of code and scrape the web. It’s fast. It’s simple. It’s our new reality.

 

There are 15-minute tutorials on the subject.

 

Your Facebook photo can be used by a compsci student for their semester project – or by a scammer who wants to construct a deepfake.

Let’s take voice data. It can be obtained from videos and sound files. You need around a minute of good quality audio to mimic a voice. We can expect the technology to grow, and a few seconds might be enough.

In the wrong hands, your voice can be cloned to arrange a spoofing scheme, steal your identity, ruin your reputation, identify you on the internet, or simply run pranks. Neither option sounds good.

Even With AI Web Scraping, Privacy Is Achievable

The brute force solution is: don’t put your voice or face on the internet. Ever.

 

But… come on.

 

555-come-on-now meme

Going “stealth” is rarely feasible. To many users, getting scraped by the AI would be preferable to deleting their photos. Most people need their online presence, either for work, business, or personal reasons.


The good strategy is to keep your sensitive data off the public internet. The AI might record your YouTube travel blog, but it won’t get your travel schedule, encrypted in a secure note taking app.

 

As a company, we have invested years into making wearables that can record sensitive data. We have gone to great lengths to protect our users. Data scraping has been another important challenge to solve. Luckily, our team is very good at encryption. Company policy is another crucial part of the effort.

  • secure software
  • secure hardware
  • appropriate policy

These are the key elements that ensure you will be safe from data scraping. Choose the apps to trust based on their encryption and transparent policies.

Web scraping is not the end of the world. It can be controlled, harnessed, and avoided. In the end, it’s not really the AI that’s collecting data but the humans behind the machine.

 

This article has been brought to you by Senstone. Our voice-to-text recorder is a leading solution on the productivity market. Learn more about our products here. To continue reading our blog, head over here. Stay secure – and stay awesome!

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Social Media vs. Productivity

Unpopular opinion: you can have a Facebook account and get things done. Productivity should not come at the cost of deleting social media.

 

Use social media and stay productive: is it even possible?

 

It seems these days, people are sharing strong sentiments about social media platforms – either love or cancel them. At least that’s what you see across the internet, which many believe is a true reflection of the real world – but wait a second. Is it?

 

First and foremost, a social media platform is a tool. Like any other instrument, people can use it to build or destroy – or both simultaneously. 

 

Secondly, social media can create community and bring joy. At the same time, they can also be detrimental to productivity and mental health. As you can see, it’s complicated.

 

Before participating on a social media platform, think about your intentions and define the purpose of your engagement. Does this platform serve your needs? Furthermore, can it support your goals without setting you back?

 

Social media can create connections

Social media can impede productivity
  • Keep in touch with family, friends, and co-workers
  • Shrink attention span and heighten ADHD
  • Connect with people from other environments
  • Distract you from your purpose with notifications
  • Create a front-row seat to the public opinion
  • Drive anxiety and depression
  • Entertain
  • Fuel procrastination from participating in real life

 

The platform designers build distractions into the user experience. A single notification can disrupt the deep focus needed for productivity. For example, when scrolling Facebook, each post distracts from the previous one. Moreover, automated content moves at warp speed, which forces us to multi-task to stay engaged. This gives the social media platform control of tired minds and drives behavior, therefore it’s not good for your brain (to say the least).

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!

 

In 2016 Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University, published a game-changing book, entitled “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.” Newport describes digital minimalism as a philosophy of technology used when users focus their online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support the things they value while happily missing out on everything else.

 

How can we apply digital minimalism to our lives to digitally detox – even a little, increase productivity, and enjoy social media?

 

  • Sacrifice the “anxious” digital entertainment. Social media uses gamification for you to “play” the platform by jumping between tags, headlines, cat photos, alerts, laughter, pain, fear, joy, anger, and invisibility.

 

  • Unsubscribe! Go through your list of subscriptions, because it’s ‘Marie Kondo’ time!  

 

  • Calendar your social media viewing and sending. Many websites and apps provide the option to schedule posts and updates.

 

  • Turn off Notifications (all the way or almost). Social media now lets audiences control notifications. In the app settings, select which type of notifications to allow and which type to trash. Then choose the times of day to receive notifications.  

 

  • Imagine unrelated clicks are paid.  Finally, our lifehack of the day: imagine you buy every idle click for $5, while the “free” clicks are reserved for your job. It is an excellent technique because, with it, you can see your priorities clear as day. Are you ready to pay $5 to watch a 10-seconds-long cat video? Do you want to like a funny GIF that bad?

 

To sum up, increasing productivity in the age of integrated work and personal life requires the intentional use of social media. With intention, feel the results of digitally detoxing when leaving behind social media anxiety.

 

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