Shift
How is the Internet changing society? The magazine for digital culture, issues and technology, delivered directly from blogs and boardrooms.
Digital sovereignty and data sovereignty
Digital technologies are data-driven. But who has access to the data, and who is allowed to use it? Digital sovereignty means that people can decide for themselves how their data is used.
Are brain-computer interfaces risky?
What would happen if medical professionals and tech entrepreneurs could control the impulses in our brains? Some diseases, such as addiction, could potentially be cured. But how would this impact a person's personality?
Wearables to help control devices with your mind
Non-invasive brain-computer interfaces fit into headphones or headbands. They allow you to dim the lights, play a video or measure your productivity – using only the power of your thoughts.
The impact of future mobility
Discussions on the future of road-use have so far focused on the safety of self-driving vehicles. But the acceptance of future mobility also depends on factors such as data protection and sustainability.
The brain of a self-driving car
In self-driving vehicles, the engine will no longer be so important. It's all about the computer—as data from radar, lidar and other sensors must be analyzed in real time and processed by the AI.
Virtual training for safe self-driving cars
The US company Nvidia has created a driving simulation platform to train self-driving cars. A virtual world with large data sets, where all possible traffic situations are played out.
Facebook blocks algorithm research
Does the Instagram algorithm favor certain politicians or topics? The non-profit organization AlgorithmWatch launched a study to answer these questions. Once again, Facebook hindered the research into its algorithms.
How right-wing extremists are weaponizing
On Instagram, right-wing extremists use beautiful photos and subtle captions about home and tradition to lure new recruits. One young woman who used to be part of this scene explains how the process works.
Voice app for a digitally neglected language
Bonaventure Dossou speaks French, his mother only speaks Fon - a local language of Benin. The Beninese IT student is now programming a translation app.
African languages at a digital disadvantage
Mozilla's Common Voice project wants to use crowdsourcing to digitize as many languages as possible, because minority languages - especially those from Africa - are rarely found online or in language assistance systems.
Making Zimbabwe visible online
Tawanda Kanhema took action when he discovered that his hometown of Harare was not shown on Google Street View. He used a 360° camera to shoot more than 3,000 kilometers of Zimbabwe to upload online.
Why is TikTok so addictive?
TikTok tracks its users' behavior very precisely. The platform's AI-supported algorithm accurately selects videos based on personal preferences. When a user opens the app, the videos start playing immediately. It's hard to stop.
What exactly is a meme?
Memes like "Bad Luck Brian"—the photo of a young man that represents persistent misfortune—are known worldwide. But there are also more multi-layered memes that only certain insiders will understand.
Chatting on a gaming platform
Discord was originally a platform for gamers with an integrated chat program. But thanks to its great wealth of features, the app is becoming increasingly popular outside the gaming scene too.
Telegram – the alternative to WhatsApp
Telegram is the most successful WhatsApp alternative. The messaging app created by Pavel and Nikolai Durov in Russia is set to gain 150 million new users in 2021, profiting from the wave of users ditching WhatsApp.
Robotics suit teaches paraplegics learn to walk again
The Japanese exoskeleton suit HAL uses wearers' brains signals to teach paraplegics how to walk by themselves again. DW reporter Cassandra Boh tried HAL out and turned the power of her thoughts into motion.
Working ergonomically thanks to robo-technology
Exoskeletons are robotic suits that give people super strength. Even though many are just the size of a backpack, they help people lift heavy objects. They’re already used in care work, logistics and the auto industry.
What dangers are hidden within the crypto art craze?
Digital objects can be replicated indefinitely. But thanks to NFTs, singular ownership can now be ascribed. The so-called smart contract contains information on the edition of the work, its creator, and its owner.
NFT Fraud and Counterfeiting
Theoretically, anyone can create an NFT for a work of art and put it up for sale. This presents a danger for artists. How can they protect their work in the digital space?
Esports in Abidijan: A game changer
Thousands of people in Africa dream of an esports career. Abidjan is the largest metropolis in Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. There, young people train hard every afternoon to have a shot at an esports career.