Techies Corner

Officially verify fake news on WhatsApp!

WhatsApp has launched a new fact-checking service that can help users verify any spread news.

One of the prime reasons for this was the way, most users would share messages without verifying the source or authenticity of it.

Checkpoint TipLine, which is essentially a chatbot that can verify any piece of news you send it.

>> To try verifying a news:

- You can send/forward a message (links, text messages, or photos they think could be fake) to WhatsApp Checkpoint TipLine on +91 9643000888 or via this
- And it will ask you to confirm if you want to go ahead with the verification.
- Once confirmed, it will look up the information with the help of Proto (an Indian startup) to conclude if the news is true, false, misleading or disputed.

WhatsApp hopes users will have a word with the Checkpoint TipLine before forwarding messages with sensitive material.

Thanks for your support in reducing fake news! :-)

Note: This still seems to be in initial stage and expected to grow better.


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New Privacy controls in WA & Google

>> Control getting you added to WhatsApp groups:

In WhatsApp's settings (Account >> Privacy >> Groups), users can choose whether "Everyone," "My Contacts," or "Nobody" can automatically add them to groups.

However others can who can't add you to a group can send an invite, which you can 'Accept/Decline'


>> Auto-Delete your Google's web history:



Users can choose a time limit for how long you want your activity data to be saved - 3 or 18 months and any data older than that will be automatically deleted from your account on an ongoing basis.

Go here to change settings

*Currently applies to Location History And Activity Data

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'Lifelike' Robot that can move, eat and die using Artificial Metabolism

Engineers create ‘lifelike’ material with artificial metabolism

This robot makes use of materials called DASH (DNA-based Assembly and Synthesis of Hierarchical) that have in-built capabilities of metabolism (giving it that lifelike ‘eating’ ability) in addition with self-assembly and organization – three key traits of life.

This artificial metabolism helps the machine generate new cells, and sweep away the old ones, resulting in a dynamic and autonomous process of growth and decay.

*The designs are still primitive

White paper here

>> Project Soli - Google's gesture-control tech for touchless interactions!

Google is working on 'Project Soli' for some time now!

* Soli is a new sensing technology that uses miniature radar to detect touchless gesture interactions.
* It is a purpose-built interaction sensor that uses radar for motion tracking of the human hand.
* The sensor tracks sub-millimeter motion at high speeds with great accuracy.



Kinds of interactions Google is developing:
Imagine an invisible button between your thumb and index fingers – you can press it by tapping your fingers together.
Or a Virtual Dial that you turn by rubbing thumb against index finger.
Or grabbing and pulling a Virtual Slider in thin air.



So instead of controlling a smartdevice by tapping on a display, for instance, you could quickly rub or tap your fingers together!
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>> Your time on Facebook/Instagram?

* In the Facebook app (only) on iOS and Android, you can find “Your Time on Facebook”.
To check the same, navigate to More --> Settings and Privacy, then scroll down to 'Your Time on Facebook'.
Will get a bar graph of the week, with your usage time per day, including the average amount of time you spent each day.

* On Instagram app (only), go to More --> Settings --> Your Activity

Note:
Currently, the numbers in the bar graph indicate only how much time you spend on Facebook or Instagram apps on that single device. And no desktop data available for now.


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