Why Microsoft’s So-Called ‘Avoid Ghetto’ App Is Really American

by Jamilah King on January 31 2012, 9:20AM

Microsoft’s controversial new mapping technology would direct users away from supposedly violent neighborhoods. But it is based on faulty assumptions about violent crime that are a rooted in a long history of racist ideas about black communities.

Topics: Media

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There’s An App for That: Figure Out How Many ‘Slaves’ Work for You

by Jorge Rivas on October 20 2011, 2:00PM

There’s often a heavy price to pay for your favorite gadgets. And that’s long before they hit store shelves.

Topics: Media

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Twitter Rages as NY Announces No Evacuation Plan for Rikers

by Jorge Rivas on August 29 2011, 2:30PM

Major publications avoided the biggest story in New York’s battle against Hurricane Irene. Twitter played a critical row in bringing the news to the masses.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Environment

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Apple Rejects ‘Smuggle Truck’ Game About Immigrant Deaths

by Channing Kennedy on April 28 2011, 5:27PM

Back in January, we reported on the game Smuggle Truck, a game by Boston-based developers Owlchemy Labs. In Smuggle Truck, the player races an old pickup truck through a desert, attempting to cross the border without letting too many immigrants…

Topics: Immigration

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Blacks and Latinos Using Twitter to Sound Off, Organize [SXSW VIDEO]

by Jorge Rivas on March 19 2010, 4:02PM

While the digital divide is very real and affects low income and folks of color in negative ways, that doesn’t mean these groups aren’t engaging in internet trends like Twitter. In a presentation earlier this week at SXSW Baratunde Thurston,…

Topics: Technology

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There’s an App For That: The White House

by Jorge Rivas on February 1 2010, 2:32PM

In addition to the 48 million viewers watching the President’s State of the Union speech on TV last week, there was also nearly 1.3 million people who tuned into the WhiteHouse.gov’s live video feed of the speech. A good…

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The Power of Data Visualization: Used to Mislead As Much As Inform

by Jorge Rivas on January 8 2010, 3:30PM

Alex Lundry, a conservative political pollster and data visualizer, recently presented at Ignite DC, a conference designed to “spark new conversations and collaborations across cultures and disciplines.” (Before I get any angry comments, you should know I do not…

Topics: Media

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I.C.E. and the Unmanned Aerial “Predator” Drones to Patrol US/Mexico Sea Border

by Jorge Rivas on December 7 2009, 5:31PM

This is the first unmanned aircraft that will be used to patrol at sea, said Juan Muñoz-Torres, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s office in Washington, D.C. Unlike the aircraft used to patrol over land, which rely…

Topics: Immigration

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Racist Camera! No, I did not Blink… I’m just Asian!

by Jorge Rivas on November 3 2009, 8:59AM

A few months ago Joz got her mom a new Nikon digital camera for Mothers Day. They got to try out the camera at a baseball game, but after taking a few pictures Joz’s mom got a real surprise. “As…

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