IBM teams up with the Beijing government to tackle its pollution problem

Posted on by Jason Li

ibm-evolving-temperature-and-wind-directions

From a Quartz article by Gwynn Guilford:

IBM plans to improve the quality of data by installing its latest generation of optical sensors, incorporating meteorological satellite data and running that through its artificial-intelligence computing system (a.k.a. Watson, that computer that trounced humans on Jeopardy). The visual maps it generates will identify the source and dispersal pattern…

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The future of Chinese language learning

Posted on by Jason Li

Victor Mair has some compelling thoughts on the Language Log on the future of Chinese language learning, and how we might soon be rid of brute force “rote memorization (sǐbèi/jì 死背/記 [lit., “deadly memorization”]).”

When I began learning Mandarin nearly half a century ago, I knew exactly how I wanted to acquire proficiency in the language.  Nobody had to tell…

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Starting Up in Shenzhen

Shanzhai Meets Open Source

Posted on by Jason Li

From Hacked Matter’s feature in the Atlantic:

Take, World Peace Industrial (WPI), a Taiwanese electronic sourcing company located in Shenzhen, as an example. The company’s application technology unit (ATU) spends millions annually to develop reference circuit boards, called gongban 公板 (“public board”). A gongban can be used by a variety of different companies, who either incorporate it in…

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Ethnography of Tech

Coming of age in a culture of information paternalism in China

Posted on by Jason Li

Editor’s note: this is a summary of some of the ideas that are presented in Tricia’s recent talk the Berkman Center, Talking to Strangers: Chinese Youth and Social Media. The video of the full talk is now online, and we highly recommend watching it in its entirety.

Tricia’s research discusses how Chinese youth are experiencing their coming of…

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Starting Up in Shenzhen

Join us at Maker Faire Shenzhen in April!

Posted on by Jason Li

mommyhacker

Join us at the upcoming April 6th Maker Faire in Shenzhen!

For starters, Lyn will be speaking there alongside an international cast of researchers, hackers and entrepreneurs. And there are also a series of great workshops, including a course by a “mommy hacker” (pictured above) for kids interested in electronics.

More information…

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A new blog on “moving images & digital creativity in and around China”

Posted on by Jason Li

Helmed by our friend Sam Culp, the POV by P.I.G. blog gives us a fascinating look at the worlds of film, digital advertising, and (for lack of a better term) art in China. Below are some highlights from their recent posts.

An interview with Shanghai-based designer Francis Lam, who made an iOS app that lets you…

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