California, as we all should know by now, has an almost unblemished record of failure in efficiently implementing digital technology in state government operations. The Department of Motor Vehicles, the Employment Development Department, a system called FI$Cal for managing state finances, a failed judicial case management system and, most recently,...
New Specialized Drone Will Aid and Protect County Firefighters
Local fire crews are counting on a high-flying, high tech tool to help them respond more quickly to emergency situations. A specialized aerial drone being deployed by the Fresno County Fire Protection District, will do more than just provide first responders with an aerial view of an incident. Officials say...
Robo-Boot Concept Promises 50% Faster Running
No matter how well designed, there are no running shoes that allow runners to keep up with cyclists. The bicycle was a key invention that doubled human-powered speed. But what if a new kind of shoe could allow people to run faster by mimicking cycling mechanics? This is the question...
Steak Dinners, Secret Donors: How the Tech Caucus Is Courting Silicon Valley With Charity
On a recent afternoon, more than a dozen California lawmakers gathered to discuss thorny issues impacting a state that is the cradle of technological innovation — but also suffering from wildfires, aging infrastructure, and vast economic inequality. On the agenda: how to maintain wireless phone service during emergencies; how to...
CES Gadget Show: Flying Taxis, Toilet Paper Robots and More
LAS VEGAS — Flying taxis and a robot that can fetch toilet paper when you're stranded on the loo were among the technologies showcased this week at the annual CES gadget show in Las Vegas. The annual technology conference is the place for big brands and startups alike to unveil their products...
Risks, Rewards, and Robots: The Future of Work in California
Are robots coming for California’s jobs? In today’s increasingly automated economy, that’s certainly the fear. Technology has always generated economic churn, destroying some jobs and creating others. Already advances have generated a whole new sector of “gig” employment, and deeply disrupted other workplaces, from brick-and-mortar bookstores to newspapers to travel...
Beware of the Smart Device: Ways to Stay Private and Safe
NEW YORK — Did someone invite a spy into your home over the holidays? Maybe so, if a friend or family member gave you a voice-controlled speaker or some other smart device. It's easy to forget, but everything from internet-connected speakers with voice assistants such as Amazon's Alexa to television...
Walters: Bullet Train Follies
As oft-noted in this space, those in California’s state government — governors, legislators and agency directors — have an unfortunate habit of starting programs and projects that are never fully implemented. These governmental orphans fall roughly into two categories, those that have some valid rationale and those that don’t. For...
Facebook to Tackle Efforts to Interfere With 2020 US Census
SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook plans to clamp down on attempts to use its services to interfere with the 2020 U.S. census, including the posting of misleading information about when and how to participate, who can participate and what happens when people do. Facebook and other social media companies have been...
Walters: California’s High-Tech FI$Cal Debacle
In 1966, as the United States was wallowing in the quagmire of the Vietnam War, U.S. Sen. George Aiken of Vermont famously suggested that the United States simply “declare victory and get out.” For more than a decade, California’s politicians and bureaucrats have been promising a high-technology system that would...