Remembrance Day Poppies

I made these poppies for Remembrance Day using Adobe Illustrator.

Tech News Story One: Social Media Banned for All Children Under 16 in Australia

In November, Australia passed a bill banning social media for all children under the age of 16. This ban is the most restrictive one currently in place in the world, and has the highest age limit. Many Australians believe that this is a step in the right direction, but others are worried about negative impacts on youth. 

The main reasoning behind the ban is to free youth from the confines of harmful content and addictive apps. “We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs,” Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, said (credit BBC). It’s hard to disagree with this sentiment; we all want children and teens to enjoy their lives and be safe online, and the social media ban will help protect young people from the dangers of this kind of technology. However, experts are worried that the ban could prevent teens from connecting with their friends online, leaving them feeling isolated. Additionally, there are concerns about privacy with possible age-verification technology, which could involve biometric recognition of the faces of children and adults alike. 

How the ban is implemented and its positive or negative effects remain to be seen. Depending on the outcome, other countries, like Canada, could follow suit, or if the ban is ineffective, go down alternative paths for protecting children on social media. 

Personally, I think that the ban has both positive and negative attributes. As a teenager, I am aware of my and my friends’ social media usage, and the positive and negative impacts it can have on our mental health. I take steps to avoid overusing social media, but not every teenager does, and this can lead to a lack of sleep and poor performance in school and other activities. While a flat-out ban may not be the ultimate solution to the social media problem, it will force tech companies to make their platforms safer for kids or risk losing a significant portion of their users. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts that will most surely come from this. 

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89vjj0lxx9o

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-social-media-ban-1.7395487

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/22/social-media-bans-for-teens-australia-has-passed-one-should-other-countries-follow-suit 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Ftech%2Fnews%2F2024%2F11%2F28%2Faustralia-social-media-ban-for-minors%2F76643584007%2F&psig=AOvVaw1I8aUzdO6R1ccuWPPcenAo&ust=1741709745789000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCMCUzcn0_4sDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Project 1: Life Sciences Practice Test- Google Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchAmNngUY27orJ3jGHsiirpfW0LOVTkGAFsAqbECCK7Re4fw/viewform?usp=dialog

I created this Google Form to act as a practice test for an upcoming Life Sciences 11 exam. It involves questions from all units and gives users a score out of 14 once they have completed the test.

Tech News Story Two: Smart Ray-Bans

In October of 2023, Meta Ray-Bans were released, which put photo, video and AI capabilities into a pair of fashionable glasses. These glasses allow wearers to listen to music, take photos and videos, livestream from the glasses, send messages, and ask AI questions, all without even taking out their phone. The glasses are reported to be as comfortable as regular ones, only weighing “a couple grams more” than their non-AI counterparts. With a long battery life and stylish, comfortable frames, these smart glasses could be the wave of the future. However, there are also some concerns with the ethics of the technology. Two Harvard students proved that while AI glasses are cool, they also raise some concerns about privacy. 

Combining facial recognition programs with AI assistants, the students approached strangers in the subway station and tested the technology on them. Once in about every 3 people, the glasses recognized a face and pulled information from the internet about them, including information about their job and possibly even where they live. They then introduced themselves to the strangers, asking them questions based on the information retrieved about their identities. The strangers, a bit confused to be greeted by someone they’d never met before, had no idea what was going on until they saw the video of the encounter posted later on social media. 

Personally, I believe that the Meta Ray-Bans are a great new invention that will be helpful to many people, but we also must be careful about respecting people’s privacy, especially when such useful technology is right at our fingertips. The same expectation of courtesy and etiquette with phones should be upheld with smart glasses and any other kinds of wearable electronics. In the end, always stop and think before you record someone or use facial recognition mechanisms, and ask yourself if it is the right thing to do. When in doubt, just ask for permission. 

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/international/iba-says-meta-and-ray-bans-ai-powered-smart-glasses-spark-privacy-and-legal-concerns/385972

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/technology/facial-recognition-glasses-privacy-harvard.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/09/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-review.html 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdowntown-mag.com%2Fen%2Fray-ben-meta-smart-glasses-review%2F&psig=AOvVaw3dTrSoUw-BTc9bmT2XYjI5&ust=1741897468809000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCIi34_OvhYwDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Project 2: Adobe Illustrator Parrot

I used Adobe Illustrator and watched a video on how to make a parrot using Illustrator functions such as the ellipse tool, layering shapes and then subtracting parts to make half-circles, and using the eyedropper tool to make everything the same colour.

Tech News Story Three: Synthetic Media

The rise of artificial intelligence in many aspects of communication and information sharing, such as social media posts, has also given rise to what is known as “synthetic media”. Synthetic media refers to any photo or video that has been altered or changed in some way to make it different. AI allows us to create all sorts of synthetic media, from photos of ourselves with cat filters to reels on social media to AI-generated trip itineraries. This kind of technology has led to advances in the film industry and other creative industries, improving some already-existing features such as CGI and making cinema even better. On a smaller scale, we can create fun social media posts that we share with our friends which were made through the assistance of AI. While all of these aspects of synthetic media are beneficial, AI has recently been used in the spread of disinformation.

Deepfakes, or fake videos of famous people, have become more and more common in our world, and harder to spot. Videos of politicians and celebrities, usually saying or doing outrageous things, proliferate across news and social media platforms, often spreading fast and far before fact-checkers can debunk them. This can lead to consumers being easily manipulated by fake videos, and believing the ideas and opinions that they share, which are most often harmful. In today’s uncertain political landscape, this type of synthetic media could wrongfully damage the reputations of different parties or candidates, causing their supporters to lose faith in their platforms or even support a different party, all because of false information. 

I believe that synthetic media has both positive and negative impacts on society. The positive aspects should be enhanced and celebrated, and we should reduce the negative aspects through consumer education, legislation and forms of technology that can combat deepfakes. We should also enjoy the benefits we reap from AI, but be conscious of the ways it can be used for harm, making sure to never spread misinformation and always protect ourselves from the influence of this technology. 

https://innovating.news/article/synthetic-media-deepfakes

https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/research-reports-impact-and-evaluation/research-and-reports/technology-and-innovation/tech-horizons-report-2025/synthetic-media-and-its-identification-and-detection

https://www.synthesia.io/post/the-future-of-synthetic-media 
https://threatpost.com/black-hat-2020-open-source-ai-to-spur-wave-of-synthetic-media-attacks/158066/

Project 3: Photoshop “Wacky World”

I used Photoshop to create this wacky scene. I took pictures off of the internet and combined them to form new animals, using the selection, blur, remove background and erase tools. I generated the background using AI.

Tech News Story Four: 23andMe Bankruptcy

The popular genetic testing company 23andMe has recently filed for bankruptcy, leaving many people wondering what will happen to the data the company has collected. Much of the information gathered from genetic testing can be quite personal. From your ancestry to your susceptibility to certain diseases to many other characteristics, companies like 23andMe provide users with lots of information. DNA testing is comprehensive as it looks at the whole genome, and can allow people to better understand themselves and make informed decisions about their health and take preventative measures to help ensure a better future.

Unfortunately, as 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, all of this valuable, yet sensitive, information could be changing hands very soon. Another company could buy 23andMe, and that company could have different privacy laws that don’t adequately protect the data of their customers. A data breach already occurred in 2023, exposing many customers’ data without their consent. Attorney general of California Rob Bonta said “Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company,” (The Toronto Star), echoing the comments of other experts. 

I believe that, in a world where many aspects of our life and information about us is stored online, we have to be careful about who we share our personal data with, and whether the risk is worth it at all. Once your information is out there, it’s often hard to retrieve it. When using online genetic testing, it’s important to take all possible steps to protect yourself. Putting personal information in the hands of someone else is always risky, so be prepared for all possible outcomes, including data breaches, before using such services. 

Sources: 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/25/how-to-delete-23andme-genetic-data.html

https://www.thestar.com/business/23andme-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-heres-what-that-means-for-your-genetic-data/article_0ac112bc-43db-4c83-8740-5c4c204e081b.html

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/23andme-data-bankrupt/ 
https://www.23andme.com/en-ca/membership/

Project 4: Mailchimp Campaign: Best Off-Campus Lunch Spots

I created a Mailchimp campaign, with an attached Google Form, surveying people about the best places to each lunch off-campus. The first image is a screenshot of the email, and the second one is the embed code for that email.

Tech News Story 5: Digital Twins: How the Fashion Industry Is Moving Towards AI Models

Famous fashion company H&M recently announced that they are going to start using AI models for marketing purposes. This campaign is an exciting opportunity to try out new forms of technology in a never-before-seen way. Many models are excited about this idea. It will allow them to be in “multiple places at once” (through their digital rendering). Without sacrificing pay, they will be able to take on more contracts and further their career by modeling for companies that may be far away from where they live. Spokespeople say that the models and their agents will have full control over their digital twin, just as if it was a real picture of themselves. This project could cut down on costs for the company and reduce travel time for the models. 

However, there are also concerns about this kind of technology being used against the wishes of the models. Clothing institutions could potentially use a digital twin in advertising without properly compensating the model for it, or apply the likeness in ways that the model doesn’t consent to. Additionally, professions associated with photo shoots, such as photography, makeup art, hair styling, and equipment setup could find themselves out of a job. To cut costs, money has to be saved somewhere, and in this case it would be by getting rid of all the jobs associated with organizing and running a photo shoot. 

In a constantly developing tech and fashion industry, policies and regulations can often fall behind innovations. The AI fashion industry could make the lives of models and companies much easier, extending the reach of their products. Sadly, it could also render many jobs void, and leave people out of work, or provide an opportunity for future companies to misuse digital likenesses in whole new ways. I believe that this kind of technology should be closely monitored and followed by laws to protect workers from the negative aspects of AI models, but not prevent industries from experimenting and progressing. We all have to make sure that as our world is developing no one is being harmed in the process.

Sources: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vwg73xndeo

https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/clothing-giant-hm-will-use-models-ai-made-digital-twins-consent-included/91166352

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/technology/hm-plans-to-use-ai-models/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.just-style.com%2Fnews%2Fsignal-hm-explores-ai-potential-as-global-safety-summit-highlights-risks%2F&psig=AOvVaw2h_AgIuZGAWLnyxz1lt_lM&ust=1743201277471000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqGAoTCJiNofmoq4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABCAAQ

Tech News Story 6: Bird Lasers: How Technology Is Being Used to Combat the Spread of Avian Flu

Avian influenza (H5N1) has been a problem for a long time, but the effects of the virus have grown in recent months and years. Wiping out millions of birds from a flock and decimating farms, H5N1 has made its mark. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story. Avian flu has spread to dairy farms, infecting cows and even human workers. While avian flu can’t spread from person to person yet, if the virus keeps spreading and mutating, it could happen soon. With a crisis looming in the future, experts were looking for a solution to the problem. They found one: lasers.

Originally used around airports to stop birds from landing on the runway, lasers provide an eco-friendly and harmless solution to the problem of keeping wild birds away from farms. Invisible to us and safe for animals and people, the technology is an excellent way to stop the spread. When installed on the top of a building, they form criss-crossing lines that birds perceive as objects, so they do not land. Farmers in Minnesota have tested the use of the lasers on farms, and they appear to work perfectly. A couple of months ago, the Minnesota government even gave out grants to farms to help subsidize the cost of installing these lasers. 

With avian influenza cases rapidly increasing, I think that technology, whether it is bird deterrents or vaccines, is the only way we will solve the problem and prevent it from getting worse. Technology has been used to solve all kinds of problems, and this issue is no different. Also, this design is not new: lasers were already in place in airports. Sometimes, the answer isn’t hard to find: You just have to look around at the tools you already have, and one of them might just work. 

Sources: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/laser-tech-is-the-latest-option-for-avian-flu-defense-for-minnesota-poultry-farmers/ 

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-farm-bird-flu-laser

https://m.farms.com/news/high-tech-help-may-be-on-the-way-to-keep-avian-flu-at-bay-224288.aspx https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbirdcontrolgroup.com%2Flasers-prevent-the-spreading-of-the-avian-influenza-virus%2F&psig=AOvVaw0sm0D6eFGpiZmw0bXRFXbd&ust=1743369326175000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCNi7uP6asIwDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

My OBS Overview

Here is an OBS overview of my portfolio and website.