Weekends are always a great time for unwinding and reflection. Here are a few topics for you to ponder as you head into the end of your week.

Microsoft is Teaching Kinect to Understand Sign Language

Microsoft’s Kinect is an interactive gaming interface that responds to body movement. It works remarkably well. So well in fact, that science is coming up with all kinds of neat ways to use it that don’t involve playing your favourite video game. Check out what some scientists in China are doing – they are developing a translator for Sign Languages. Basically the Kinect becomes the interface through which hand gestures and signs are interpreted to another language (in the video shown here you see Chinese Sign Language translated to Chinese, and American Sign Language translated to English). A very cool use of Kinect technology that has all kinds of positive implications.

Retirement Age Adults Take Classes to Learn Facebook

I can tell you for a fact that seniors are big on social media. My own parents both use Facebook and Twitter, and my Dad runs his own WordPress web site too. Well, some community centres in Massachusetts are becoming technology training grounds for seniors. Grandmothers are becoming Facebook mavens, one status update at a time. It’s being promoted as a way to stay connected with friends and family, especially to keep up with grandkids and great grandkids. Not only are they learning how to post a photo, they are learning how to stay safe online. And I think that’s a great thing.

Choose Rest

This post from Erin Feldman really hit home for me. I have a tendency to burn the candle at all three ends, and go go go until I can’t go no more. I feel guilty if I’m doing nothing, but I know sometimes that nothing is all I should do, if I want to be ready to face life head on. In this post, Erin tells us how it’s not just okay to rest when you need to – but that you MUST rest. Great advice here.

It’s Not That Hard To Listen Online

My friend and one of Jester Creative’s digital marketing instructors, the erudite Bob LeDrew has some wise words for anyone who wants to do a better job of listening online. He lays out some simple steps you can take to ramp up your ability to listen to the conversations online that matter to you and your business. Don’t get left behind! Listen to Bob, and become a better listener.

78% of Canadians Don’t Leave Home Without Their Smart Phone

One of my frustrations as a teacher of digital marketing is finding good Canadian stats to include in presentation and training materials. Well, my friends at Thornley Fallis just helped to solve that, by giving a great overview of some of the Canada-specific stats around smart phone use. What really intrigues me about these numbers is how many Canadians are using their smart phones for shopping – from looking at their smart phones while in stories to looking up product info and making purchases. It’s an interesting trend and one that business owners in Canada should be watching very closely.

There you have it – 5 things for you to think about as you head into the weekend. Did you come across anything interesting in your online travels this week? Share it in the comments below!