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Chrome extension stalks Facebook Messenger users

Michelle Avenant
By Michelle Avenant, portals journalist.
Johannesburg, 29 May 2015

In this week's Worldwide Wrap: Harry Potter's Marauder's Map comes to life, and new tech could soon make life easier for the blind and deaf.

Chrome extension stalks Facebook Messenger users

An extension for Google's Chrome Web browser allows users to pinpoint the location of Facebook Messenger users to within a metre.

Named after the magical map in JK Rowling's Harry Potter books, the extension raises disturbing privacy concerns for the "real world".
Via: The Guardian

Google upgrades cardboard headset

Google has upgraded its cardboard virtual reality headset to accommodate a broader range of smartphones.

Cardboard is, as its name suggests, a cardboard headset that turns a smartphone into a virtual reality viewer.
Via: Wired

Cane for blind users

Researchers at Birmingham City University in England are developing a cane for blind users which can recognise faces from up to nine metres away.

The XPlor, a smart cane with camera and facial recognition software, could help sight-impaired or blind people greet people they know or more easily recognise new acquaintances.
Via: Wired

Uber updates features

Uber has introduced new features to its driver app to make deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers' jobs easier.

The features include a flashing screen for ride requests (instead of a sound notification), and turning off the option to phone deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers (passengers can text them instead).
Via: Mashable

Fifa 16 adds women's teams

EA Games will introduce woman footballers to its Fifa video game series, starting with its Fifa 16 edition.

Series vice-president and general manager David Rutter claims technological challenges as the reason the game company has taken over 20 years to introduce female players.
Via: The Guardian

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