Technology Info Crunch

Why you might not be in control of your own decisions Research shows how our consciousness makes us aware of our thoughts after they have been made. Image: REUTERS/Gleb Granich This article is published in collaboration with The Conversation 28 Nov 2017 Peter Halligan Hon Professor of Neuropsychology, Cardiff University David A Oakley Emeritus Professor of Psychology, UCL Everyone knows what it feels like to have consciousness: it’s that self-evident sense of personal awareness, which gives us a feeling of ownership and control over the thoughts, emotions and experiences that we have every day. Most experts think that consciousness can be divided into two parts: the experience of consciousness (or personal awareness), and the contents of consciousness, which include things such as thoughts, beliefs, sensations, perceptions, intentions, memories and emotions. It’s easy to assume that these contents of consciousness are somehow chosen, caused or...

Image: REUTERS/Fabian Bimme.  Third Party Content.  This article is published in collaboration with Business Insider 30 Mar 2017 Will Martin Markets Reporter, Business Insider UK When moving abroad, especially when you have a family, there is a lot to consider when it comes to quality of life. In a new survey by InterNations, the world’s largest network for people who live and work abroad,  the company asked 14,300 expats, representing 174 nationalities and living in 191 countries or territories, to rate 43 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of 1-7. Healthcare, safety, and the cost of living are crucially important, but so too is the quality of education available to expat families looking to give their children the best start in life. Education in the countries listed below can come at a price, but the quality of education in these nations are considered the best in the world. 13. Czech Republic — Education is ...

People are increasingly worried that powerful software will replace the need for human workers. Image: REUTERS/Rick Wilking 13 Apr 2017 Jonathan Vanian Writer, Fortune Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is preparing his country to deal with the challenges new technologies place on the workforce. The rise of artificial intelligence technologies has made it easier for companies like  Google  to automatically identify cats in photos. But as cutting-edge AI technologies amplify automation, people are increasingly worried that powerful software will replace the need for  human workers . Earlier this week, Trudeau  addressed  the subject of automation and labor on the question-and-answer website Quora and explained some of his ideas to help Canadian citizens keep their jobs in light of rapid technological advances. Trudeau concedes that the “job market is changing” but instead of “resisting in vain,” Canada is going to fu...

Third Party Content   World Bank April 7, 2017 Photo: Dominic Chavez / World Bank Context Around the world, waste generation rates are rising. In 2012, the worlds’ cities generated  1.3 billion tonnes  of solid waste per year, amounting to a footprint of 1.2 kilograms per person per day. With rapid population growth and urbanization, municipal waste generation is expected to rise to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. Compared to those in developed nations, residents in developing countries, especially the urban poor, are more severely impacted by unsustainably managed waste. In low and middle-income countries, waste is often disposed in unregulated dumps or openly burned. These practices create serious health, safety, and environmental consequences. Poorly managed waste serves as a breeding ground for disease vectors, contributes to global climate change through methane generation, and even  promotes urban violence . Managing waste properly...