Smartphones and contact-tracing: balancing care and surveillance

A wider understanding of cultural values will be crucial to the successful implementation of contact-tracing technology across the world.

Daniel Miller, Professor of Anthropology, UCL • conversation
June 21, 2021 • ~7 min

Is there a happiness equation? Here's how we're trying to find out

Happiness is different for everyone in ways that scientists don't understand – yet.

Robb Rutledge, Honorary Associate Professor, UCL • conversation
May 20, 2021 • ~6 min

Smartphones are powerful personal pocket computers – should schools ban them?

Phones have the potential to help children learn, but UK teachers need evidence-based guidance on phone use in schools

Miranda Pallan, Reader in Public Health & Epidemiology, University of Birmingham • conversation
May 10, 2021 • ~7 min

How Apple and Google let your phone warn you if you've been exposed to the coronavirus while protecting your privacy

Bluetooth wireless communication makes it possible to track when people have been exposed to people infected with the coronavirus. The right cryptography scheme keeps alerts about exposures private.

David Starobinski, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University • conversation
Feb. 12, 2021 • ~11 min

Consumer electronics have changed a lot in 20 years – systems for managing e-waste aren't keeping up

Technical advances are reducing the volume of e-waste generated in the US as lighter, more compact products enter the market. But those goods can be harder to reuse and recycle.

Shahana Althaf, Postdoctoral associate, Yale University • conversation
Jan. 11, 2021 • ~9 min

I'm a bit of a modern-day alchemist, recovering gold from old mobile phones

There's 33 times more gold in the average handset than in the equivalent amount of ore. Yet the vast majority is never recovered.

Sandra Wilson, Professor of Ecological Metal Design, University of Dundee • conversation
May 21, 2020 • ~9 min

Contact tracing apps: why they should learn a trick from fitness trackers

There's definitely such a thing as society – which is a huge challenge for developing an app that will ward off COVID-19. 

Greig Paul, Lead Mobile Networks and Security Engineer, University of Strathclyde • conversation
April 29, 2020 • ~7 min

Contact tracing apps: to succeed, they should learn a trick from fitness trackers

There's definitely such a thing as society – which is a huge challenge for developing an app that will ward off COVID-19. 

Greig Paul, Lead Mobile Networks and Security Engineer, University of Strathclyde • conversation
April 29, 2020 • ~7 min

If contact tracing is to succeed on smartphones, it should learn a trick from fitness apps

There's definitely such a thing as society – which is a huge challenge for developing an app that will ward off COVID-19. 

Greig Paul, Lead Mobile Networks and Security Engineer, University of Strathclyde • conversation
April 29, 2020 • ~7 min

Screens are keeping us connected now – but they're still disruptive to in-person communication

Research shows smartphone use disrupts an essential facet of human connection – eye contact.

Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Professor of Psychology, Hunter College • conversation
April 15, 2020 • ~6 min

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