Just when you think you’ve got a grasp on your smartphone, Facebook or GPS, the tech industry swoops in and shakes things up again! This week we found out some interesting stats on youth and how different generations utilize technology, more on the future of mobile payments, and highlight Google with news about their new Canadian blog and fun facts on Google Maps.

Half of Teens Couldn’t Live Without Their Phone for a Week [STUDY]

We’ve seen these studies and infographics time and time again, yet they never cease to amaze us when we really stop and think about how dependent we are on our tech.

According to a recent study by TextPlus that was highlighted in Mashable, half the teens between the ages of 13-17 surveyed said they couldn’t go longer than a week without their cell phones. 36% ventured to say they couldn’t go 10 minutes without checking their phones even! What is it that makes them so addictive to teens – is it the apps, games or texting capabilities? Find out this and several other interesting findings in the full article here.

We also released our new infographic in our Innovation Report series earlier this week confirming much of the same information. Check out what our findings had to reveal about bridging the generation gap, and what role technology is playing in education these days.

11 Fascinating Facts About Google Maps

Google Maps is one of those tools we’ve gotten so used to having in our lives, we rarely stop to think about the advances it’s made, or what goes into maintaining it. Mashable came up with 11 Fascinating Facts About Google Maps that we have to admit are pretty cool! For instance, number 8 asks “In the history of Google Maps, how many Street View images have been taken?” Other facts include what equipment is used in hard to reach places, and where you can see museums and particular landmarks. Check out the complete list here and let us know if you can add to the list!

Google Canada launches the official Google Canada blog

As Mobile Syrup points out in their reporting on Google’s new Canadian blog, “Finding specific news about Google in Canada has been sparse.” But this week Google made millions of Canadians happy when they announced the launch of an official blog pertaining specifically to Canadian Google news.

Check out what our friends at Mobile Syrup had to say about the story, then head on over to the Google blog to read up on the latest updates for yourself!

Mobile Payments to Reach $1.3 Trillion Annually by 2017, Study Says

The opening paragraph in Tech Vibes article pretty much sums things up: “According to a recent report from Juniper Research, global mobile payment transactions are expected to grow nearly fourfold over the next five years to more than $1.3 trillion.”

At Rogers, we recognized the trend and desire from the public as well, which is why in May we announced an agreement with CIBC to launch Canada’s first mobile payment solution. The technology is already there, it’s now a matter of regulation, security, and reliability for the public. Read more on the study through Tech Vibes here and let us know how you’re embracing mobile payments.

Kelly is a regular contributor for Redboard.