Alexa Answers
Beyond Social Media Show, Episode 280
BL and David discuss Google’s addiction recovery maps; Amazon crowd-sourcing Alexa answers; Google’s algorithm highlights original reporting; Twitter allows arrangeable photos in Tweets; Zooniverse crowdsources citizen scientists; WordPress buys Tumblr; BL gets a great sales pitch; 9/11 pizza #FAIL; 48 Attorneys Generals investigate Google; facial recognition blocking jewelry…and much, much more.
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Best Digital Cases
Recover With Google
September is National Recovery Month and Google has released two new map-related tools aimed at both helping people find drug addiction recovery resources and helping to make the life-saving drug Naloxone more accessible.
- Recovery Together
- New Google Maps tools aim to help combat opioid addiction
- Drug Deaths in America Are Rising Faster Than Ever
- National Recovery Month website
Alexa Answers
Amazon is crowdsourcing answers for its smart speaker, Alexa.
Google Algorithm to Highlight “Original Reporting”
Google announced changes to its search algorithm to give an advantage to “original reporting” that would be reinforced by changes in other guidelines.
- Elevating Original Reporting in Search
- Google Says a Change In Its Algorithm Will Highlight “Original Reporting”
Twitter Arrangeable Photos
The social network launches feature to let you drag and rearrange photos while composing Tweets.
Be A Citizen Scientist
More than one million people (including BL) have become citizen scientists through Zooniverse, the world’s largest crowdsourcing project.
- Zooniverse.org
- Want to be a citizen scientist? Then zoom in to the Zooniverse and help compile important — and fascinating — research
- Join the Planetary Response Network
- Zooniverse NestCams
Tumblr Sold
WordPress owner Automattic buys Tumblr for $3 million.
A Great Pitch
This is a great follow-up pitch instead of the usual “didya get it” or whining emails so often received. It’s from Johnny Tran at WP Engine.
Worst Digital Cases
48 Attorneys General Investigate Google
Every state except Alabama and California are now investigating the company for anticompetitive behavior in its advertising business.
9/11 Pizza
Hashtagjacking 9/11 is never an appropriate promotional tactic.
Shiny New Stuff
Facial Recognition Blocker
Polish artist Ewa Nowak has created a solution for Big Brother-esque facial recognition monitoring.
HTML5 Outliner
A handy tool for web developers.
The Daily Numbers
