Kris Abel
Expert on Emerging Technologies & Social Media;
CTV On-air Technology Expert
Style
Kris is articulate, fun and knowledgeable. You always learn something mind-boggling with Kris!
Profile
Kris Abel covers technology for CTV News and BNN and previously on Canada AM, offering insights into the innovations changing our world and reviews of the latest gadgets. Through his CTV blog Tech Life he provides a daily showcase of interactive websites, video game reviews, and industry events. Recently Kris has joined Richard Crouse on his new show Newstalk 1010 appearing weekly.
Kris joined Canada AM in 2002, establishing the show’s first regular feature on technology. His weekly reports make him one of the only reviewers in the world to regularly demonstrate the latest technology on live, national television. From cameras and computers, to smartphones and social networks, augmented realities and motion-controls, Kris juggles them all, often four at a time despite the chaotic and unpredictable nature of live TV.
As the resident tech specialist for CTV News and its many divisions Kris is asked to make sense of the latest headlines, discussing topics of the day both serious and light. He has covered wars, shootings, and disasters alongside computer viruses, scams, and historic events, using his ability to explain complex technical concepts in easy-to-understand ways in order to offer clarity as the story happens.
Clients Comments
"The students loved your presentation and the following discussion, and in fact, many said it was their favourite class of the entire program."
- Allen Zuk, Humber Institute's School for Creative and Performing Arts
"You've given the industry new ideas, brighter visions, and renewed hope for the future. That's all we could have hoped for this event -- and so much more."
- Don Sedgwick, Workshop Coordinator, New Face of Publishing
Topics
- Technology’s New Perception Of Life
-
The rise of personal technology has taken us through several revolutions in digital content, shared information, and social networking. New technologies are building on these achievements to create a new perception of our lives and the world around us. Touch screens, motion controls, Augmented Reality, and 3D displays are moving us to interact with our world in new ways, bringing the virtual world we’ve created on-line to deliver contextual power to the physical one we occupy. Once again, everything will change.
- The Power Of Community Through Social Networking
-
A self-indulgent phase? Hardly. The rise of social networking through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter has created an intriguing phenomenon that with each passing day finds new uses for different groups of people. It is the fastest source for news, the most inexpensive form of advertising, a reliable communication network during times of great crises, and a record of our reactions during historic moments of global impact. It is a global sense of community, one that allows lives both celebrated and humble to reach out to each other in the most simple and powerful way.
- The Fortune And Glory Of On-line Treasure
-
Piracy as we know it is obsolete. In today’s on-line world where major corporations have developed a policy of “acceptable copyright infringement” and business models built around “free” goods, content is either legitimate or illegitimate. Illegal is a concept bound by country borders where the on-line world has none and digital tools put every computer user into the role of creator and distributor as much as a consumer. While this change has sacrificed profits for many companies, it has opened access to a wealth of information never before available, creating new opportunities for self-learning and a rich resource for educators and researchers
- The Rise Of eBooks And Tablet Computers
-
The popularity of digital books and newspapers has resulted in a new generation of portable devices with innovative screens and new ways of displaying text. The Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, and Apple Tablet are leading an explosion of eBook Readers and Tablet computers that are revolutionizing the way traditional print is being consumed, creating a battle between publishers and device manufacturers that echo the conflicts the music industry faced with MP3 players. What is the future of books and periodicals and how will this impact our reading culture in the future?
- Show Me The Gadgets!!
-
Kris always has the latest, hottest gadgets in his hands, often before they are released. As expected, showing off these cool devices and James Bond toys is a popular request and one he’s only too happy to accommodate with a sense of wonder and surprise.
- EMCEE