Futurity.org » Iowa State University

Privacy: Does face recognition cross the line?

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:29:55 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — Facial recognition technology could help businesses customize services but are customers ready for it?

“It’s beneficial for a company to have more information about you because it allows them to customize their service and products as well as their advertising,” says Brian Mennecke, an associate professor of information systems at Iowa State University. “And it’s certainly beneficial to the customer because they don’t have to waste time essentially relaying that information.

High hopes can lead to voter letdown

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:27:34 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — Leading up to an election, supporters who maintain a high level of optimism are more likely to vote—but are also more disappointed if the results don’t go their way.

“People tend to expect things they want to happen to actually happen. The reason this is interesting in elections is because your ability to make that happen, assuming you’re not heavily involved with the campaign, is almost zero,” says Zlatan Krizan, an assistant professor of psychology at Iowa State University.

Parent violence leads to teen dating abuse

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:05:08 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — Psychological violence from a parent has a greater impact on the child’s teenage relationships than witnessing violence between two adults in the home, a new study finds.

“It is true that if you grow up in a violent household you have a higher likelihood of being in a violent relationship,” says Brenda Lohman, lead author and an associate professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University.

The research focuses on psychological violence instead of physical violence.

Violent games strongly linked to youth crime

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:56:09 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — A new study suggests there’s a strong connection between violent video games and aggressive behavior in kids.

Matt DeLisi, a professor of sociology at Iowa State University, says the research shows a strong link even when controlling for a history of violence and psychopathic traits among juvenile offenders.

“When critics say, ‘Well, it’s probably not video games, it’s probably how antisocial they are,’ we can address that directly because we controlled for a lot of things that we know matter,” DeLisi says.

Tiny planet is a bit bigger than Earth’s moon

Mike Krapfl-Iowa State — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:20:49 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — A planet discovered outside our solar system is smaller than Mercury, the smallest planet orbiting our sun.

The planet, about the size of the Earth’s moon, is one of three orbiting a star designated Kepler-37 in the Cygnus-Lyra region of the Milky Way.

Envy added to narcissism is a volatile mix

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:03:37 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — Not all narcissists boast an “I’m better than you” swagger. Some harbor feelings of vulnerability that can make them more prone to unexpected bursts of aggression.

Understanding the relationship between envy and narcissism may offer insight into these potentially dangerous behaviors.

Around the world, kids choose jobs vs. school

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:02:06 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — When making a choice between school and a job, students in countries with high fertility and mortality rates are more likely to drop out.

Access to public schools is one explanation for the educational gap between students in rich and poor countries, but a new study shows other factors are more significant.

Teen’s criminal career can start by age 5

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:58:55 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — By the time a juvenile is arrested, or referred to the juvenile court system, chances are he or she has already displayed a pattern of antisocial behavior.

Red flags are easy to recognize in the days following a tragic event like a mass shooting—but it’s important to identify those early warning signs before they turn into a pattern of criminal behavior.

Violent games stir up stereotypes of Arabs

Diane Swanbrow-Michigan — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:44:11 +0000

U. MICHIGAN / IOWA STATE (US) — Playing violent video games about terrorism strengthens negative stereotypes about Arabs, even when Arabs are not portrayed in the games.

The findings suggest that “parents, educators and others need to consider the harmful impact of stereotype-laden games on a group that has become a major target of prejudice within the United States,” says University of Michigan researcher Muniba Saleem.

Food stamps mean fewer hungry kids

Angie Hunt-Iowa State — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:05:08 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) — The food stamp program in the US reduces food insecurity among high-risk children by at least 20 percent and poor general health by at least 35 percent, new research shows.

An extension of the current Farm Bill has delayed the debate over funding for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. Nutrition programs, of which SNAP is the primary one, account for 75 percent of the funding in the Farm Bill.