skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Expert: Tech Can Help Ring In a Safe, Healthy New Year

play audio
Play

Thursday, December 31, 2015   

MIAMI, Fla. - As people across Florida prepare to ring in 2016, a consumer technology expert says a safer, healthier new year could be just a few swipes away.

New Year's Eve parties used to mean keeping the number of a cab company in your pocket and hoping they'd answer, but consumer technology columnist Jennifer Jolly says transportation on demand apps have helped put a safe ride at your fingertips, and continue to evolve.

For example, Jolly says a new partnership between Uber and Facebook allows users in some cities to order a ride from right within the Facebook Messenger app, meaning they can do so without leaving conversations with their friends.

"It really is a way to just kind of keep tabs on each other, keep an eye on each other, and help everyone have a super, super happy, and most of all safe New Year's," says Jolly.

The partnership between Uber and Facebook Messenger just launched in Miami and Orlando, with more cities expected to come online in the next few months.

Whether it's catching a ride, counting steps, counting calories, or comparing prices of products, Jolly says smartphones and other wearable devices have been shown to help many people maintain new habits. But, she says it isn't "one size fits all," and you might have to experiment with different apps to find what works for you.

"This is a great way technology helps enhance what's at our fingertips, and I always say technology is supposed to help you. If it's not, then something's wrong with that technology, not necessarily with you," says Jolly.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021