Tag: Technology
All longform pieces tagged with #technology on The Slow Scroll
Through brain scanning techniques, researchers have uncovered how sequences of familiar events—like dining in a restaurant or navigating an airport—serve as scaffolds for our memories. Ingrid Wickelgren explores how these "event scripts." as scientists call them, help us connect ...
Justine Calma writes about the health ramifications for early semiconductor factory workers in Silicon Valley. She focuses on the experiences of women like Yvette Flores, whose exposure to hazardous chemicals while working in chip manufacturing led to their children being born wi...
Chatbots of the dead are AI technologies that simulate conversations with the deceased using their personal data. There are important questions about the ethics of these technologies, but the authors are optimistic, arguing for them to be viewed as artistic props, fostering imagi...
The Guardian investigates the safety practices of Match Group, the parent company of popular dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. Despite being aware of numerous reports of sexual assault by users, this piece argues that the company has often prioritized profits over the safety of ...
Bee Wilson reviews Nicola Twilley’s book “Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet and Ourselves.” Refrigeration is a huge part of our lives, and this technology has reshaped not just our diets but also our relationship with food itself. For all the good it does,...
Anton Howes continues tracing the history of the rise of coal, and how it transformed not just heating practices but also the economy and daily life in growing urban centers. The essay provides rich historical detail, as it highlights the interplay between technology, culture, an...
Andy Greenberg chronicles the ordeals of Tigran Gambaryan, a former IRS agent and Binance compliance officer, who was detained in Nigeria. Lured to Nigeria under the guise of resolving issues between Binance and the Nigerian government, he becomes a pawn in a multibillion-dollar ...
Ilan Manouach makes a case for embracing generative AI for comic production, or at least, against stigmatizing it. He argues for using the term "synthetic comics" over "AI comics," highlighting the historical symbiosis between comics and technological innovation.
Noland Arbaugh was the first human to receive a brain chip from Elon Musk's Neuralink, allowing him to control computers with his thoughts. His story raises questions not only about the potential of this technology but also about the ethical implications of merging human minds wi...
Joseph Firmage, a Silicon Valley pioneer, faces accusations of fraud and elder abuse after a series of failed ventures fueled by his obsession with antigravity technology and UFOs. Brent Crane traces Firmage's rise and fall, from founding successful tech companies to his increasi...