The rapid penetration of internet technologies in Africa provides hope for e-commerce’s continued growth. Potential online stores need to understand what draws or pushes customers away.
Africa is urbanising quickly, as growth in cities like Cairo, Egypt, shows.
Dan/Flickr
How can African research universities be more responsive to African countries’ needs? And how can these universities work together to leverage funding for research informed by African realities?
Very few African universities offer postgraduate degrees in astronomy. This gap in knowledge and training can be addressed through international partnerships and collaboration.
Citizen scientists have a great deal to contribute.
Mount Rainier National Park/Flickr
Analyzing big data sets holds the promise of big insights. But the axiom “garbage in, garbage out” is particularly apt, since conclusions can be only as good as the raw data itself.
Nothing sinister, just taking a quick peek.
Smit via Shutterstock
Researchers are tapping into some of the massive amounts data collected these days, which could include information about you. But how do they protect your privacy?
Governments produce enormous amounts of data. The open data movement wants to make that available to all citizens.
r2hox/Flickr
We live in a world increasingly dominated by our personal data. Some of those data we choose to reveal, for example, through social media, email and the billions – yes, billions – of messages, photos and…
Most sport is played by non-professionals in Australia such as this college challenge.
Flickr/SPORTSPICS
Australia is a sporting nation and the tragic death of batsman Phil Hughes is still very much in the hearts and minds of fans and players alike. Deaths in sport are rare but history does tell us that they…
One of the UK’s largest market research firms has caused a stir with an online tool that gives a peek into its treasure trove of consumer profiles. YouGov describes its Profiler app as “a showcase for…
When the sun sets on Patriot, what will spy agencies do?
Roving Eye 365/Flickr
Last week a proposal called the Freedom Act was defeated in the US Senate. The Freedom Act was to restrict whole-of-population collection of communications data which is currently permitted under the Patriot…
Don’t look a big data gift horse in the mouth.
Horse graphic by Yganko/Shutterstock
There have been so many leaks, hacks and scares based on misuse or misappropriation of personal data that any thought that “big data” could provide benefits rather than only opportunities for harm may…
Have you ever ordered too many items online – say, buying 20 courgettes when you meant two? Then you might feel a little sorry for the anonymous broker in Japan who lost US$617 billion to a trading typo…
What data from telcos and tech companies does the government want handed over?
Flickr/Nic McPhee
Governments around the world want to know a lot about who we are and what we’re doing online and they want communications companies to help them find it. We don’t know a lot about when companies hand over…
The failure to publish collected data is hindering understanding of the effectiveness and failures of government programs.
Flickr/LOD2project/European Data Forum
The McClure Review of Welfare, much like the Commission of Audit report, is unlikely to win the Abbott government many new fans in the social services sector. However, for those involved in social policy…
errmmmm, no I don’t really know how to add friends either. Vic Gundotra has had enough.
niallkennedy
The news that Vic Gundotra, Google’s vice-president for social media, is to leave the company has fuelled speculation that Google+, the company’s much maligned social network that Gundotra oversaw, is…
We collect climate data. We collect health data. What if we combined the two?
Kevin
As the world wakes up to the power of data, we need to start working out how to join up all this information. We need to turn it into meaningful findings that will help us to make changes to the way we…
Now for lot 56: a rare collection of Graham’s angry emails to his ex-girlfriend.
portableantiquities
A dutch student has taken the bold decision to sell all his data at auction. It’s a decision that should make us think about the future of our own information. In an auction on April 12, Shawn Buckles…