![[November 2024]“Grandma AI” appears to fight against scammers. 5 Good News | Social Good Ideas Magazine from Around the World | IDEAS FOR GOOD](https://i0.wp.com/ideasforgood.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/twitter.png?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "[November 2024]“Grandma AI” appears to fight against scammers. 5 Good News | Social Good Ideas Magazine from Around the World | IDEAS FOR GOOD")
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This month’s “good news from around the world that will brighten your heart” is selected by the editorial department of IDEAS FOR GOOD, a world magazine with ideas for making society better. In previous articles, we introduced topics such as Burger King’s voting campaign and the complete abolition of coal-fired power generation in the UK.
For those of you who are tired of the daily sad news, information that makes you anxious, and discussions that only create negative emotions. I hope that the fact that there are many equally good things happening in the world will soothe your mind for a little while, and give you the energy to start moving again tomorrow.
5 Good News from a world full of love
01. “Grandma AI” that buys time to prevent someone from getting scammed
Fraudulent calls where you don’t know when, where or to whom you will receive the call. In Japan, there seems to be a lot of awareness aimed at the elderly, who are easy targets, but anyone of any generation can receive a fraudulent call.
A ‘granny AI’ has been developed by British carrier O2 to protect citizens from these pesky scammers. The scammer manager, named Daisy, said that when she receives calls from a group of scammers, she talks for 40 minutes each time. This is an attempt to waste the scammers’ time. The company is calling on people to be careful about fraudulent calls by increasing awareness of Grandma AI.
This is not a feature that can be installed on personal numbers, and how calls are received is not made public, but it is a little reassuring to think that Daisy is stopping scammers somewhere today. . I want to follow her lead and be careful about suspicious phone calls.
[Reference site]O2 unveils Daisy, the AI granny wasting scammers’ time
02. Soccer player enters Spain with rescue dog. As an opportunity to pick up
In recent years, the option of rescue dogs and cats is becoming more and more popular in Japan as a way to welcome dogs and cats into the family. In Spain, the movement to increase recognition by combining the power of sports seems to have become a hot topic.
Before a game in October, players from RCD Espanyol, a professional soccer club based in Barcelona, entered the venue walking and holding rescue dogs. They are often seen walking hand in hand with children. The entrance scene is likely to be covered by the media, so it was probably chosen as an opportunity to encourage people to adopt rescued dogs.
A video of the entrance has received over 5,800 reactions on Instagram. The world of sports has many fans. Depending on how it is used, its influence could greatly contribute to solving social issues.
[Reference site]In Spain, football players enter the field with abandoned dogs
03. Malaria eradicated in Egypt after nearly 100 years of effort
Malaria is one of the world’s three major infectious diseases. It is said that malaria is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. Although there are currently no cases of infection in Japan, it is a deadly disease, and efforts have been made to eradicate it for many years.
One country that is promoting such efforts is Egypt, which has a history of malaria infections since ancient times. However, on October 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared malaria eradicated in the country. This is a historic event that marks the culmination of nearly 100 years of eradication efforts by the government and citizens. This news shows that a society in which people can live with peace of mind is gradually expanding.
[Reference site]Egypt declared malaria-free after 100-year effort
[Reference site]Egypt is certified malaria-free by WHO
[Reference site]Malaria | Tokyo Metropolitan Infectious Disease Information Center
04. Three people who made AirPods hearing aid function available in India, where the service is not available
Apple announced on September 9, 2024 that it has introduced new hearing loss check and hearing aid functions to AirPods Pro 2. We view earphone hearing loss as an issue and aim to support the health of users from a preventive perspective.
AirPods now has hearing loss check and hearing aid functions. Earphones for prevention and assistance of hearing loss
When Rithwik Jayasimha from India heard about this, he rushed to the store to buy AirPods Pro 2 for his hearing-impaired grandmother, saying, “I’ve been waiting for a feature like this!” However, right after purchasing it, he was disappointed. India was not covered by the hearing aid function. However, he did not give up here.
Together with two friends whose grandmothers also needed hearing aids, they found a way to circumvent regional restrictions and use hearing aid features. The idea is to wrap the iPad, which serves as the main device for configuration, in aluminum foil and place it on top of the microwave oven to block the signal. They have a detailed methodwebsiteIt was released and seems to be getting a lot of attention. While we demand that services be equally available everywhere, we also hope that such gentle innovations will increase.
[Reference site]These Guys Hacked AirPods to Give Their Grandmas Hearing Aids
[Reference site]Bypassing regulatory locks, Faraday cages and upgrading your hearing
05. Belgian campaign to make bicycles “aspirational” through commercials
When it comes to commercials for vehicles, most of them are about cars. The sight of cars zipping through cities and nature has aroused people’s admiration for cars. On the other hand, there is a need to move away from a car-based society due to concerns about environmental impact. So, how about trying to promote something other than cars?
In Belgium, a humorous bicycle commercial has appeared. The main character, tired of the traffic jams, is shocked when he sees people dashing past on bicycles and children riding their bicycles carelessly. The story is that one day later, he begins riding a pink bicycle with eccentric decorations, accompanied by his friends. “Bicycles are cooler” — if such a message becomes commonplace, mobility in the city may change dramatically.
[Reference site]The most Belgian of advertisements to encourage cycling
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How can individuals contribute to spreading positive news and actions like those highlighted in the article?
This is a wonderful article highlighting positive news stories from around the world! Here are some open-ended questions to encourage discussion for each section:
**01. AI Grandma Stopping Scammers**
* How can technology like “Daisy” be used to protect vulnerable populations from scams and fraud?
* What are the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI to impersonate people, even for good purposes?
* Do you think people are becoming more aware of scams, or are scammers finding more creative ways to deceive?
**02. Soccer Players and Rescue Dogs**
* What are the potential benefits of athletes using their platform to promote animal adoption?
* How can sports organizations and fans work together to make a difference for animals in need?
* Do you think seeing professional athletes with rescue dogs will encourage more people to consider adoption?
**03. Malaria Eradicated in Egypt**
* How significant is this achievement for Egypt and the global health community?
* What lessons can be learned from Egypt’s successful malaria eradication campaign?
* What other diseases pose major health threats globally, and how can similar efforts be implemented to combat them?
**04. AirPods Hearing Aid Hack**
* What does this story reveal about the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in technology design?
* Is it ethical for individuals to find workarounds to access features not officially available in their region?
* How can companies like Apple better address the needs of users in diverse regions and ensure equal access to technology?
**05. Belgian Bicycle Campaign**
* How effective do you think humorous campaigns can be in changing public perception and behavior?
* What other strategies could be used to promote cycling and reduce car dependency?
* How important is it to make sustainable transportation options more appealing and accessible to all?
These open-ended questions can spark engaging conversations and delve deeper into the implications of these positive news stories.
