Digital Discourse Database

Number of Posts: 13
Posts 11 - 13

When things are so bad you have no words, don’t reach for an emoji

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Newspaper | The Guardian
Date | 13.10.2015
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | emojis, word/writing
Summary | Some people didn't like the fact that the newspaper USA Today decided to add a little emoji next to one of its editions' front-page stories. The author of this Guardian article thinks that it was inappropriate to use a crying face emoji next to a story about an American hero who was stabbed. Many people use emojis to add context to their messages and to show some emotion. However, emojis are also limited. The author claims that they work well with positive statements, but not with negative ones. This is due to their "inherent ridiculousness". Finally, the author is not worried about the future of words, but she wants to warn people and tell them that if they can't find the right words, it's better not to say anything rather that using an emoji.
Image Description | Screenshot of the front page of USA Today, screenshot of a tweet about the front page, and series of five yellow-face emojis.
Image Tags | emojis, newspaper, Twitter

Chatbot that overturned 160,000 parking fines now helping refugees claim asylum

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Newspaper | The Guardian
Date | 6.3.2017
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | artificial intelligence, Facebook, law, WhatsApp
Summary | A Stanford student has developed a chatbot on Facebook messenger that helps refugees apply for asylum in the US, UK, and Canada. It helps them fill out the necessary forms by using plain English and they are working on an Arabic translation. He wishes he could have the service on WhatsApp so that it would be better encrypted.
Image Description | Facebook chats on smartphones and a laptop.
Image Tags | computer/laptop, Facebook, smartphone

Sugata Mitra – the professor with his head in the cloud

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Newspaper | The Guardian
Date | 7.6.2016
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | childhood, digitized education, research/study, school
Summary | Professor Sugata Mitra's educational methods have not always been well received because they are not "traditional". Mitra predicts that the internet will be everywhere and in our heads, and that traditional examinations will disappear. It will be difficult to ban the use of internet in exams, for instance. People will be even more dependent on their phones; they will need it for skills such as reading. Mitra's method is called Sole (self-organised learning environment). Children need to collaborate in small groups and do research on computers. The method proved successful, but more research is needed.
Image Description | Series of three photograph; Mitra holding a book, Mitra interacting with four pupils on a computer, and portrait of Ivan Illich.
Image Tags | computer/laptop, male(s)

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