12 JUN 2013
Family Ties

Emergent social networks keep it all in the family

10 JUN 2013
In Focus

New wearable technologies aim to sharpen mental focus

6 JUN 2013
Now You Read It, Now You Don’t

New ephemeral messaging services advance the Snapchat phenomenon

4 JUN 2013
Today’s Forecast

New apps crowdsource weather reporting

21 MAY 2013
Park It

New apps help drivers locate parking spots

13 MAY 2013
Spot On

Free Wi-Fi hotspots are emerging in atypical venues

9 MAY 2013
Apps Against Extinction

New mobile campaigns protect and build awareness of endangered species

25 APR 2013
IPSo Facto

Indoor Positioning Systems are the next frontier in mobile navigation

24 APR 2013
Get Psyched

Virtual therapy is bringing emotional healing home

19 APR 2013
Tipping Point

New technologies advance the art of appreciation

17 APR 2013
Make Some Noise

Digital tools simulate aural environments to boost listeners’ productivity

12 APR 2013
Getting Cloudy

The cloud yields a new generation of online organizational tools

29 MAR 2013
Small Gestures

Forthcoming wireless devices control computers through physical movements

21 MAR 2013
Lighten Up

LED light bulbs are getting cheaper, subtler, and more efficient

20 MAR 2013
What’s the Password?

New gadgets help users keep their online passwords secure and organized

18 MAR 2013
Close Encounters of the 3D Kind

New technologies are poised to make 3D printing more accessible

14 MAR 2013
Full Alert

Sensory alert technologies keep users apprised of physical and social stimuli

8 MAR 2013
Whose Vine Is It Anyway?

Novel digital tools illuminate the emergence of Vine

6 MAR 2013
Ain’t No Dummy

High-tech mannequins enliven brick-and-mortar shopping

5 MAR 2013
Crowd Control

New apps help commuters avoid congestion

Network Rework
New social networks advance the conversation
Tech / 19 Sep 2012
With more than 1 billion people using them, social networks have become fundamental to modern communication. Facebook accounts for 90% of that population, but new social networks continue to spring up. Niche iterations provide starting points for forging real-world relationships, while others offer a place to bond over unique shared circumstances. And even as a few have shut down, several new ones are creating fresh ways to build meaningful connections.
App.net: App.net is a new, alternative social network that ensures its members an ad-free platform. The San Francisco startup charges each member an annual fee of $50 in exchange for peace of mind that their activity won’t be data-mined—a concern among many users of social media lately. Similarities to Twitter abound (streaming status updates, follow buttons, profiles, and mentions), but members have more capacity to share their thoughts with 256 characters available per post. The platform has opened its API to developers with limited restrictions, with the hope that they will build tools like mobile and desktop applications that will make App.net indispensable.
Branch: New social discussion platform Branch is attempting to change the way people communicate online. Instead of simply posting in the free-for-all that is Facebook, Branch users start conversations intended for meaningful dialogue. They can then invite others through Twitter or email to join in and further the discourse. Co-founder Josh Miller explains that it “takes advantage of the desire for more intimate, private conversations of self-selected groups...Branch is trying to find a way to lower the signal-to-noise ratio of babblers to meaningful participants." Conversations can also be embedded into a blog or shared through social media to integrate each exchange into the wider web seamlessly.
Impossible: Actress/fashion model Lily Cole is promoting the notion of kindness as currency with Impossible, her new “social giving network” that facilitates simple sharing of skills and services. Currently in beta, the minimal site lets participants choose from a list of tasks that they need done or would like to do for others. Requests range from “I would like someone to give advice on law” to “I would like someone to look after my plants,” and anyone in a member’s local network can offer to help the person meet their need. Impossible has attracted several high-profile advisors, including a major proponent of profitless sharing: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.
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