Pet facial recognition apps are now available, allowing pet owners to reunite with their lost pets with the help of algorithms. Pet owners will be asked to upload images of their pets using a high-definition camera phone to create a pet profile. The app will match the images to the stored data based on the extracted features like fur type, nose tip, and skin colour. Look them up yourself: some examples include ForPaws, PiP and Love Lost. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
