Posts Tagged ‘technology’
The Kapor Center: Community-centric tech
The Kapor Center for Social Impact moved into its new Oakland headquarters this summer.
Read MoreNew portable sensor tests for gluten in minutes
Martha Benco, an Oakland native, knows what it’s like to rely on the truthfulness of labels and servers when it comes to checking whether there’s gluten in her food. “I have celiac disease,” says Benco, 35, who also has a way to test her food now. Benco says she’s been lucky so far—though she does…
Read MoreCuriosity Hacked brings the maker movement to Oakland’s students
It is 7 p.m. and the young makers at Curiosity Hacked are swiftly moving between the laser cutter and their workbenches. This Tuesday, the kids have one mission in mind: creating BattleBots for the spring competition.
Read MoreAlameda County becomes first in state to regulate cellphone surveillance tool
On Tuesday, Alameda County became the first county in California to implement new regulations on controversial spying devices used by police.
Read MoreAt North Oakland hackerspace, enthusiasts tinker with microcontrollers
Ace Monster Toys, a North Oakland-based hackerspace, hosted its first-ever Arduino Night on Wednesday, as a handful of attendees had a chance to tinker with microcontrollers. Microcontrollers, which are small low power computers that don’t require a keyboard, mice or monitor to work, can be found in gadgets that control something as simple as a button that turns on a light or moves a toy robot.
Read MoreOUSD study finds link between lack of Internet, computer access and poverty level
A new OUSD study found that 40 percent of students do not have access to internet and/or a computer at home. And according to those who the lead the data collection, there is a direct correlation between a higher level of poverty and the lack of access.
Read MoreBlack Girls Code teaches girls digital technology skills
Black Girls Code runs after-school programs where they teach programming and game design. At the event held on Saturday at DeVry University in downtown Oakland, 100 girls between the ages of 7 and 17, their parents, and 50 volunteers listened carefully as Kimberly Bryant, the founder of Black Girls Code, addressed the crowd.
Read MoreEast Bay Mini Maker Faire instills creativity in local youth
Thousands attended the East Bay Mini Maker Faire, an annual gathering of inventors, technologists, engineers, science clubs and artists. The event included 170 projects, such as mini-robots, a home-made butter shaker and a clothing swap.
Read MoreOakland techie works to “open” local government data
OpenOakland co-founder Steve “Spike” Spiker works to increase civic involvement and local government data transparency through technology.
Read MoreTeens turn tech skills learned from nonprofit into a first job
Kemish Rosales spent the summer of 2012, the one between his junior and senior year of high school, learning how to remove hard drives and disk drives safely, rebooting computers, installing software, cleaning mice and speakers, and attending a computer lab every Thursday. Angel Yañez also spent that summer fixing and refurbishing computers, setting them…
Read MoreEight Berkeley Lab scientists present eight game-changing ideas
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory hosted the “8 Big Ideas” event last Wednesday, as part of its “Science at the Theater” initiative. During the event, eight scientists were invited to present game-changing concepts and progressive ideas in eight minutes each.
Read MoreKapor Center works to close technology “gap”
The Kapor Center, an organization trying to close what staffers call “the gap” between those who can access information, education and technology and those who can’t, are relocating to a new home.
Read MoreBART offers free app so riders can report disturbances and crime
New BART Watch app allows patrons to report disturbances, crimes in progress, vandalism and panhandling.
Read MoreMesh network offers potential for free wireless Internet in Oakland
Sudo Mesh brings volunteers together to bridge the “digital divide”
Read MoreCityCamp Oakland bridges the divide between tech and local government
Saturday’s “unconference” at Oakland City Hall featured more than a dozen workshops ranging from the city budget, to neighborhood crime issues, to the digital divide, and open data. Over a hundred technology professionals, city staff, local citizens, and business leaders came together to discuss the often-rocky relationship between technology and local government.
The second annual CityCamp Oakland comes out of a surging tech community in Oakland and a city government looking to become a leader in civic technology. The conference was organized by OpenOakland, a civic hacking group born out of Code for America, the national non-profit that pairs young programmers with local governments.
Read MoreOakland, Code for America unveil public records program
Oakland city officials on Tuesday launched RecordTrac, a new program designed by Code for America that allows users to request public records online.
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