tech Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

‘Drive-By WiFi’: Hot Spots Pop Up Across Washington To Bridge Digital Divide In Pandemic

By Tom Banse April 27, 2020

The Tahuya fire station, in rural Mason County, Washington, is one of the sites tapped to host a drive-up Wi-Fi hotspot.

Distance learning, ordering groceries online or applying for unemployment, those are all kind of difficult without a good internet connection. So, at least seven public utilities spanning Washington state are setting up drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots amid the coronavirus pandemic.Read More

Senator Asks FTC To Investigate Zoom’s ‘Deceptive’ Security Claims

By NPR News April 5, 2020

Millions of people are using Zoom to communicate, but the company is facing mounting scrutiny over whether it is adequately protecting users. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Lawmakers and state attorneys general are scrutinizing the popular video conferencing company for potential violations, after users reported harassment and researchers uncovered security flaws.Read More

Canada Wins, U.S. Loses In Global Fight For High-Tech Workers

By NPR News January 27, 2020

U.S. immigration policy has been a boon for the tech industry in Canada. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

If there is a global war for tech talent, right now Canada is winning. And U.S. immigration policies are part of the reason.Read More

‘We Won’t Build It’: Northwest Tech Workers Struggle With Company Ties To Immigration Enforcement

By Esmy Jimenez January 14, 2020

Notecards handwritten by Tableau employees from a recent rally at Gas Works Park reveal what personally motivated them to 'draw a line', are shown on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, in Seattle.

The Southern border may be far from Washington state, but software used by immigration officials is built in Seattle. Now tech workers are grappling with their responsibility as the creators of that technology. Some have become unlikely activists.Read More

Two Washington Tech Giants Do Battle In ‘The Other Washington’ Over Pentagon Contract

By NPR News November 15, 2019

Amazon is alleging "unmistakable bias" on the government's part in awarding a massive military tech contract to rival Microsoft.This begins a new chapter in the protracted and contentious battle over the biggest cloud-computing contract in U.S. history — called JEDI, for Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure — worth up to $10 billion over 10 years.Read More

Google, YouTube To Pay $170 Million Penalty Over Collecting Kids’ Personal Info

By NPR News September 4, 2019

Google and its YouTube subsidiary are settling allegations that YouTube collected personal information from children without their parents' consent, the Federal Trade Commission said.Read More

Microsoft Closes The Book On Its E-Library, Erasing All User Content

By NPR News July 7, 2019

A man reads a book on his e-book reader device. In July, Microsoft will be deleting its e-book library and ceasing all e-book sales. Joerg Sarbach/Associated Press

The move comes as a result of Digital Rights Management, an approach that allows companies to prevent piracy. Every purchased book will be disappear this month.Read More

Neill Library Introduces Tech Tuesdays

By Murrow News - Ryan Peerboom April 24, 2019

The Neill Public Library is introducing Tech Tuesdays featuring virtual reality technology. Read More

BOOK REVIEW: ‘Brave, Not Perfect’ Speaks To The Scarcity Of Women In Tech

By NPR News February 10, 2019

Reshma Saujani, founder and chief executive officer of Girls Who Code Inc., speaks during the International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) InterConnect 2017 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 21, 2017. IBM

In a new book, Reshma Saujani of Girls Who Code joins a chorus of voices warning of devastating consequences if girls don't partake in tech — and suggesting girls should be encouraged to take risks.Read More

In Eastern Oregon, Pendleton Has Become A Drone-Testing Hub, With Hopes For More

By Tom Banse November 12, 2018

The latest variant of the Cubic Ares unmanned reconnaissance drone during flight testing at Pendleton on October 28. CREDIT: CUBIC CORP.

A dream to make rural Pendleton, Oregon into a drone testing mecca is becoming very real. It's so real, in fact, that the city-owned airport has run out of hangar space to rent to global aerospace companies. Now, the Pendleton airport is seeking millions more in public funding to help expand.Read More

Google Employees Walk Out To Protest Company’s Treatment Of Women

By NPR News November 1, 2018

Google employees stage a walkout on Thursday in New York City and at Google offices around the world over how the company has handled sexual harassment.

Many at Google have been simmering since The New York Times reported the company gave generous exit packages to alleged harassers. Thousands of employees walked out of its offices around the world.Read More