Weekly Tech Round-Up
This week: a Google Maps glitch confuses drivers in Greater Manchester, smart glasses and volunteers help a blind runner tackle a marathon, Hasbro confirms a cyber-attack, plus an app pick for learning British Sign Language and a reminder to stay alert to fake social media accounts.
🗺️ Google Maps Shows Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone Warning by Mistake
Motorists planning to drive into Greater Manchester have reported receiving Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charge warnings on Google Maps, four years after proposals to introduce a restricted area in the city region were scrapped.
After searching for their destination, some Google Maps users were shown information about a Clean Air Zone that has never actually existed.
The alert warned drivers that restrictions were in place all day, every day for taxi and private hire vehicles, with non-compliant vehicles subject to a daily charge.
It is understood that Google is aware of the issue and is rolling out a fix.
Source: BBC News
👓🏃 Blind Runner to Use Real-Time Assistive Tech in Marathon
A blind runner plans to complete a marathon using technology that allows sighted people to see what he sees and give him directions in real time.
Clarke Reynolds, 45, is a creator who turns braille into works of art to help raise awareness of sight loss. He said running has given him another opportunity to spread that message.
Supported by the charity Fight for Sight, for which he is an ambassador, he will use an app called Be My Eyes instead of a physical guide.
Through the camera and speakers on his smart glasses, sighted volunteers around the world will be able to see what he sees and speak to him live, helping direct him through the full 26.2 miles.
Source: BBC News
🧸 Hasbro Confirms Cyber-Attack After Unauthorised Network Access
Toy and entertainment giant Hasbro, which owns brands including Peppa Pig, Transformers and Monopoly, has been hacked.
The company confirmed it had identified unauthorised access to its network in a filing made to the US government.
Parts of Hasbro’s website and those of its brands were showing an error message on Wednesday afternoon, and the company warned that the cyber-attack could delay product deliveries.
Hasbro said the breach was discovered on 28 March.
Source: BBC News
🤟 App of the Week: Bright BSL
This week’s app of the week is Bright BSL.
The app is designed to help users learn British Sign Language anywhere and at any time in a fun and effective way.
The learning experience is divided into 20 modules, each covering a different topic and built around specific learning outcomes.
Bright BSL is free to download on iOS and Android devices:
🔎 Social Media Safety: Watch Out for Fake and Hijacked Accounts
In the world of social media, scammers often create fake accounts or hack genuine ones to carry out fraudulent activity.
Many platforms offer some form of account verification, such as verified badges on Instagram and Facebook, which can help identify real accounts and distinguish them from fake profiles pretending to be well-known people.
- Check whether the account shows when it was created.
- Be cautious of nonsensical usernames made up of random letters and numbers.
- Look at follower counts carefully, but remember these can also be artificially inflated.
- If something feels off, avoid engaging and verify the account through official channels.
