Technological advancements such as direct deposit, ATMs and cell phone apps have changed the way people bank. A recent news report found that 50% of the population had not visited a bank branch in the last month.

Ant Ozok, associate professor of information systems, visited WAMU’s The Kojo Nnamdi Show to discuss technological innovations that have transformed personal banking. Ozok, who specializes in human computer interaction, emphasized the importance of a positive user experience, saying, “Banks need to take the precautions that are necessary so that users do what they need to do in an efficient way.”

Click here to listen to “Personal Banking Technology” on The Kojo Nnamdi Show.

Erle Ellis, geography and information systems, recently discussed how humans are changing the planet with Wisconsin Public Radio and Die Zeit.

Ellis explains the idea of the Anthropocene, a term that signifies a new geological epoch where humans significantly impact the earth’s systems. He says, “It’s out of date to see the earth as a natural ecosystem that is disturbed by people. Rather, the earth has become a human system with embedded natural ecosystems.”

Click here to listen to “The Future Of Humans’ Transformation Of The Planet” on Wisconsin Public Radio. Read “Planet of the People” on Die Zeit by clicking here.

Lee Hawthorne Calizo, Director of Student Life, was recognized at the American College Personnel Association’s National Conference in Indianapolis in this years class of Diamond Honorees.

Lee was nominated by colleagues who believe she has distinguished herself as a teacher, administrator, researcher, writer, and an association leader. In addition, Lee has demonstrated sustained contributions to ACPA, higher education, and the Student Affairs profession at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels.

Having tackled Web-based file storage and e-mail, Dropbox is going after photos with the new Carousel app.

On Sunday, April 6, 2014, UMBC Chess took second place in the President’s Cup, also known as the Final Four of College Chess. UMBC has won the President’s Cup a record six times, and this year competed against Texas Tech, the University of Illinois and Webster University, which grabbed the title this year.

The Washington Post ran two articles on the President’s Cup this year, calling UMBC’s chess program “one of the oldest and most successful” and a “powerhouse in college chess.” Click to read “The other Final Four — of chess” and “Webster University wins (chess) Final Four” in The Washington Post.

Home automation systems and networking equipment vulnerable to a major encryption flaw are unlikely to be fixed.

A security bug uncovered this week affects an estimated two-thirds of websites and has Internet users scrambling to understand the problem and update their online passwords. But many systems vulnerable to the flaw are out of public view and are unlikely to get fixed.

Many devices vulnerable to the major Internet encryption bug uncovered this week, such as home automation systems and corporate network equipment, are unlikely to ever be fixed.

A security bug uncovered this week affects an estimated two-thirds of websites and has Internet users scrambling to understand the problem and update their online passwords. But many systems vulnerable to the flaw are out of public view and are unlikely to get fixed.