Double-Duty Textile Developed Could Keep Warm or Cool

Engineers from Stanford University have developed a low-priced, plastic-based Double-duty textile that interwoven in the fabric refreshes the body much more efficiently than the natural or synthetic fabrics of the clothes we wear today.

The study, published recently by Science, suggests that this new family of Double-duty textile can form the basis of clothing that keeps people cool in hot climates without the need for air conditioning.
"If you can refresh people, it's better than refreshing the building where they live or work, so we'll save energy," Yi Cui, an associate professor at Stanford University, said in a statement.

The new Double-duty textile cools by allowing sweat to evaporate through the fabric, something that normal fabrics already do, but the novelty is that it provides a second innovative mechanism to cool the body.
 

Human heat passes through plastic

 
The Double-duty textile allows the heat that the body emits as infrared radiation to pass through the plastic Double-duty textile. In fact, the blankets warm us because they trap that kind of heat near the body, which is the same that makes the body visible in the dark when wearing night vision goggles.

Between 40% and 60% of our body's heat dissipates in the form of infrared radiation when we are sitting in an office, another of the study's authors, Shanhui Fan, has indicated, but so far "there has been very little or no research on the design of fabrics according to their characteristics of thermal radiation ".

For the development of the new plastic weave, the researchers used nanotechnology, photons and chemistry to confer polyethylene a series of desirable characteristics for a Double-duty textile that is used to dress.

Thus, it allows thermal radiation, air and water vapor to pass through it, besides being opaque to visible light, and allows infrared radiation to pass through it, because that is one of the characteristics of polystyrene, one whose uses is to wrap food.

Chemically treated polystyrene

The Stanford experts did have to face two problems in the use of polystyrene: that it is waterproof and that it lets in light. To solve these problems, the researchers found a polystyrene variant that has a nanostructure that is opaque to visible light, but transparent to infrared radiation - allowing the body's heat to escape.

They also modified this Double-duty textile by treating it with harmless chemicals to allow vapor molecules to evaporate through nanopores in the plastic, allowing it to breathe like a natural fiber.

Once the material was obtained and to make it more similar to the Double-duty textile, they created a version with three layers, two of them treated polystyrene separated by a cotton mesh to give it more strength and thickness.

The experts continue with their research to add more colors to the new Double-duty textile and give it characteristics and textures that make it more similar to clothing.

Artificial Photosynthesis Gets Big Boost From New Catalyst Developed

A step Closer to Artificial Photosynthesis

 
We all know about the continuing threat of global warming. Global warming is caused by many gases in the air but one of the most important concerns in the world is about carbon emissions. As carbon emissions come from burning of fossil fuel, which gives us our energy, there are undoubtedly many steps taken by researchers worldwide to look for alternate sources of renewable energy.

One such attempt is being made by researchers at the University of Toronto. They are trying to replicate the photosynthesis process used by plants, in order to create a renewable source of energy. While there are many other renewable sources of energy out there such as wind, water and solar energy all these can be expensive. So researchers at the University are trying to use artificial photosynthesis to create an alternate source of energy.
 

What is meant by Artificial Photosynthesis?

 
So we all know that plants get their energy by using the sun’s rays to convert carbon dioxide and water into their food. So the scientists at the University of Toronto are trying to do just by using artificial photosynthesis.

In plants, water is broken down into protons and oxygen gas while with carbon dioxide; it is broken down into carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is what is actually needed, which is then through an industrial process known as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis converted to hydro carbon fuels which will give us our energy source.
 

Problems encountered in Artificial Synthesis:

 
While breaking down water and carbon dioxide into its respective components, researchers encountered problems with their catalysts. The process of breaking down the components required in artificial photosynthesis, involves two reactions, while the first reaction uses high levels of PH the second reaction uses neutral PH levels.

This inconsistency in replicating artificial photosynthesis poses a problem because the movement of particles between reactions consumes a lot of energy. Therefore the artificial photosynthesis process is not as efficient as it could be.

Overcoming problems in artificial photosynthesis:

In order to bring in more efficiency into the artificial synthesis process, researchers have developed a new catalyst for the initial reaction. Initially water was split into protons and oxygen but this reaction involved high PH levels which made the artificial photosynthesis process inefficient.

But now, researchers are using a new catalyst which will use a neutral PH level in the artificial photosynthesis process, just as in the second reaction. This discovery now means that energy is not lost by moving particles through both reactions.
 

Benefits of the Catalyst in Artificial photosynthesis:

 
The new catalyst which is made of nickel, cobalt, iron and phosphorous, consumes less energy in the artificial photosynthesis process and when combined with the second reaction, the overall energy consumption is brought down.

The elements used in making the catalyst are not only cheap but also safe. It can even be made at room temperatures using inexpensive equipment. This makes the overall artificial photosynthesis process not only inexpensive to replicate but also increases the efficiency of the system.

While testing the catalyst, it showed stability for all of the 100 hours that it was tested.

NeoXCraft: British Company Reveals Its Luxury Flying Car

The future in cars is upon us. We saw flying cars in ‘The Jetsons’, a serial on Cartoon Network, some years ago. The kids were talking about flying cars then. This seems like becoming a reality.

VRCO (Vehicle Redesign Company), has revealed that they will be launching a flying car in 2020. This amphibious car will not only fly in air, but travel on the road as well.

The car is slated to take off vertically. In other words, you can even take off in the NeoXCraft from right outside your home or your place of work.

The NeoXCraft project has been sponsored by investors to the tune of about 500,000 pounds. VRCO is expecting to get another 10m pounds from private individuals. This backing for the NeoXCraft project will help the company in creating these futuristic vehicles as well as get the Civil Aviation Authority to certify it. It will be a big boost in the car manufacturing sector, as there will be no carbon emission, less road congestion and promises to be more efficient.

About 100 orders for the NeoXCraft vehicles have already been placed. They are expected to be ready in the year 2020. Only those who are qualified, will be able to pilot the NeoXCraft.

Features

The NeoXCraft can accommodate two passengers with a maximum of 180kg capacity. It can travel at speeds of 210mph (320 kph) and between 1000ft to 3000ft for an hour. It will be controlled by a computer program and will also have an in-built parachute. The NeoXCraft comes at a cost of 1.5 million pounds ($2 million).

It has 4 high-powered fans that act as propellers, enabling the NeoXCraft to reach its speed of 210mph. At the time of landing, these fans fold down and you can use it as wheels while driving on the road.

Working Principle

The NeoXCraft will take off vertically, making it possible to take off from right outside your home or work place. The 4 high-powered fans act as propellers enabling the NeoXCraft to attain its speed of 210mph. The NeoXCraft is computer controlled and equipped with voice commands to enable flying in the air and driving on the road. At the time of landing, the fans will fold and act as wheels for driving on the road. Parking too is done by the NeoXCraft itself. You need to push a button to convert the NeoXCraft from flight mode to road mode.

It is considered to have a short range for driving and medium range for flying.

If the NeoXCraft proves to be a success, then it will become the much anticipated car of the future. It can be a trendsetter for other models. They will have an autonomous electric program that will help to fly passengers with no driver. It will bring about road decongestion, purer air; free from carbon emission. We will see a future with flying cars, which will actually be the supercars of the sky with all the trimmings of luxury and high-performance.

What Are Headphone Drivers and How They Effect Sound Quality

For in-ear headphones, there is always talk of dynamic drivers and balanced armature drivers. Today we deal with the topic and show the differences. If the in-ear listener sits properly in the ear canal and thus "closes" well, the space between the eardrum and the membrane is closed and very small. The whole thing then works like a kind of spring system (or "push-pull mechanism") and the membrane can move the eardrum well with little deflection and little energy, ensuant in a very good bass upshot. As soon as there is a leak in this system, this is immediately noticeable by the fact that low frequencies are lost (as is the case with ear buttons). This is because the human ear is less sensitive to low frequencies (below about 150 Hz) than to higher frequencies.

So if we want to hear low frequencies better then a lot of energy has to be applied to amplify them. When using loudspeakers, low frequencies are still physically noticeable. This is not the case with headphones. Also, speaker diaphragms are larger and more stable (thicker material), which allows much more air to be set in motion than headphones. In order to be able to make the best possible use of the low energy that the headphone system develops, care must be taken to ensure that the headphones or in-ear headphones are optimally terminated.

Ok! Which driver was used certainly determines how well the in-ear headphones sound. In the development of the drivers most of the money usually flows in the production of in-ear headphones.
 

What are balanced armature drivers?

 
Balanced Armature Drivers (BA) are often used only in in-ear headphones in the higher price segment. Balanced armature drivers are made to sound particularly good in a certain frequency range, such as: As the heights, which is why in-ear headphones with Balanced Armature drivers often several drivers installed. For example, the Sony XBA 3 iP incorporates 3 Balanced Armature drivers, which ensure that the entire sound spectrum is covered.
 

Advantages of Balanced Armature Driver

 

• You can make a frequency range sound great
• The sound sounds more detailed
• The sound plays faster
• The treble sounds clearer than dynamic drivers
• They are smaller than in-ear headphones with dynamic sound transducers and weigh less
• They need less power than dynamic drivers

 

Disadvantages of Balanced Armature drivers

 

• The bass is weaker than dynamic drivers
• In-ear headphones with Balanced Armature drivers are more expensive
• Often several drivers are necessary to cover all frequency ranges

 

What are dynamic drivers?

 
Dynamic drivers in in-ear headphones make it possible for in-ear headphones to be offered at a good price. Unlike Balanced Armature drivers, only one driver covers the entire sound spectrum. They work on the same principle as loudspeaker boxes.
Advantages of dynamic drivers

• Cheaper than Balanced Armature sound transducer
• Bass frequency is better
• The sound signature is better coordinated
• Often they are also more robust than Balanced-Armature drivers

 

Disadvantages of dynamic drivers

 

• No detailed sound like Balanced Armature drivers
• The heights are not that clear in comparison
• They weigh more and are bigger too

 

Balanced Armature Drivers and Dynamic Drivers

 
In some in-ear headphones both types of drivers are worn, such. B. the Sony XBA H3. The advantage of having multiple types of drivers is that the bass and treble sound great, but the case is usually larger and they weigh more.

Moving Armature driver

Moving Armature drivers are new drivers that combine the benefits of Balanced Armature drivers and dynamic drivers. Moving Armature drivers work like Balanced Armature drivers but have the advantage that the entire frequency range is covered in contrast to Balanced Armature drivers where multiple drivers are needed, the Moving Armature driver in-ear headphones only need a driver. However, very few models use this type of driver so far and they are also quite expensive.

The classic and most commonly encountered headphone driver is - as with speakers - the electrodynamic principle assign.

However, in order to map the entire frequency spectrum as accurately as possible, partially modified drivers are used, such as the Variomotion technology from AGK (depending on the frequency position, a larger or smaller part of the diaphragm swings) or the ring driver of the Sennheiser HD800.

Google Cloud Natural Language API

Google’s Cloud Natural Language API

Cloud Natural Language API, established by Google is said to provide customers with language analyser which according to the company `reveals the structure as well as the meaning of your text. The public beta launch of Cloud natural language API is a new service giving developers access to Google-powered emotion analysis, entity, recognition together with grammar analysis.

 Some of this tends to gauge believing some words positive and the others negative. When observed by Motherboard it was found that the analyser of Google interpreted some words like homosexual to be negative. This is evident that the API that tends to judge depending on the information it has been fed, now seems to give out partial analysis. The tool has been developed to provide companies with a preview on how their language would be expected.

Editing complete sentences would provide predictive analysis on each word and as the overall statement on a negative to positive scale, respectively. AI systems have been trained in utilisation of texts, media as well as books given to it.

Whatever Cloud Natural Language API consumed to form its criteria in assessing English text for sentiment, it influenced the study to negative attribution of certain descriptive terms. No confirmation has been provided by Google to Motherboard as to the body of the text fed to the Cloud Natural Language API.
 
API Connects Other Pre-Trained Machine Learning API
 
Once it begins to engage content from the outside world even if begins with a remote set of contents to comprehend sentiments, it tends to get polluted with the negative word connections found in it. A confirmation had been given by Google to Motherboard that its NLP API had produced biased results in a statement.

There had been clear parallels with the ill-fated as well as impressionable AI chatbots Tay of Microsoft, which had been rapidly, pulled offline by the company in March 2016 after the users of Twitters had taught it to be a shockingly racist as well as sexist conspiracy philosopher.

In July, Google had tried once again with its bot Zo which had learned the same horrible habits form human and had to be quickly shut down. The new API connects the other pre-trained machine-learning API of Google such as the Cloud Speech API which has been made available in public beta, together with the Vision API and the Translate API.
 
Assist Text in English/Spanish/Japanese
 
The latest Cloud Natural Language API presently tends to assist texts in English, Spanish and Japanese. The purpose of Google here is to provide a service which could meet the scale as well as the performance essential for developers and enterprises in a comprehensive range of industries. Providing API for sentiment analysis and entity recognition is not new where services like Thomson Reuters Open Calais have been providing assistance for entity recognition for around ten years now. Sentiment analysis is also not a new concept. On the other hand, grammar analysis API which tend to classify parts of speech and develop dependency analyse trees are not as extensively available still. It would be interesting to know how developers would be utilising these apps though it is easy to see how the same could be utilised to power chat bots for instance and support them in comprehending incoming request.

Researchers Developed Flexible Photonic Devices

Photonics will have a direct impact on many areas of our daily life. Soon photonics will be fundamental, both for the improvement or replacement of existing processes and for the development of new solutions and new products.

On the other hand, society demands products with better and better features: new functionalities and improved properties, lightweight, flexible photonic devices, and capable of adapting to different materials and surfaces. Likewise, these developments must be competitive and not increase the price of the final product.

A team of MIT Associate professor Juejin Hu from the University of Central florida, China and France has developed a new method of making light based photonic devices. These special flexible photonic devices is made from a kind of glass called Chalcogenide. This specialized kind of glass material has a great flexible property which can be bend and strech to the very large extent without any damage. These flexible photonic devices can be used in field of biomedical sensors and flexible connectors in Electronics.

How about a device that can simultaneously detect blood oxygen level, heart rate and blood pressure? Yes, these flexible photonic devices of optical technology which are made from the strechy and bendable material can be mounted in skin to monitor the condition.

By using these kinds of new light based flexible photonic devices, we can stave off the condition for the conversion process. Because, if the original data is light based is having the advantages for a lot of applications.

The current photonic devices applied in the field are made up of rigid materials on rigid matters thus rises an intrinsic counterpart. The polymer based softmaterials is having a less refractive index tracks to not so good ability to circumscribe a light beam. To confront this issue, the team of MIT researchers have developed a stiff material that can stretch and bend which is almost like a Rubber. Its confuguration is like a spring made from a polymer matter has no noticeable abjection in its optical performance.

Other flexible photonic devices that are made by implanting nanorods of a rigid substrates in a polymer base need extra developmental steps. And hence they are not congruous with current systems. These flexible photonic devices can also be used for applications where the devices require to adapt to the rippled surfaces of some other material. But optics technology is extremely sensitive to strain, thus can observe deformations of lower than one hundredth of one percent.

This team recently has formulated a way of segregating layers of photonics, made of chalcogenide and graphene with customary semiconductor photonic electronic equipment. Current method of segregating such material need them to be made on a surface and then take off and tranfern to a semiconductor thin layer. This process is very difficult. But the new procedure permits the layers to be fancied directly on the surface of a semiconductor. This process no need a special temperature condition for the entire process and thus allows very simplified fabrication and more punctilious coalition.

This team of MIT researchers have confirmed very soon they develop this new technology of flexible photonic devices to reach commercially.

Introducing the New Firefox Quantum Web Browser with Double Speed

Amazingly faster performance with lower RAM usage is the key highlight of Firefox’s Quantum Browser

 
Once the web browser world was ruled by the Internet Explorer then came the Google Chrome which simply established itself as the numero uno with no major threats. Firefox is waging the war to dethrone the Chrome from the top position and to regain its dominance in the arena but it wouldn’t be a cake walk. Firefox is lying just at the bottom of the major popular web browsers by amounting just 9.1 market share and running right below the Microsoft Edge and Safari browser. Mozilla is looking forward to change its fortune with the launch new improved and faster Firefox Quantum browser.
Quantum translates into a fast browser

The Firefox Quantum browser comes with a built-in technology running on the 64 bit but at the same time it makes use of 30 per cent lesser RAM than other conventional browsers. In this way Firefox is competing right against the Chrome by offering better performance by lesser utilization of the map but this isn’t being communicated with the target audience with a massive PR strategy.

Firefox has went with a major overhaul for its browser by improvising not just the user interface but also the browser engines which power the search results. The new engine powering the Firefox Quantum browser comes has the ability to work in parallel manner which make sit amazingly faster than the earlier version of the web-browser due to the user of the latest Servo engine. Mozilla has even stated that this Servo engine will be able to offer support for the Mixed Reality features and functionalities which are expected to be next big thing in the technology world.
 

Bigger change for better browsing

 
This new browser has also lowered the user interface gradients to bring better visibility to the users. Microsoft Edge browser made a bad decision getting rid of the gradients which made it extremely difficult to navigate through the browser but that aren’t the case with Firefox’s browser. On the benchmark test this browser glides like a charm and comes with better numbers than all the browsers in the competition. The Speedometer benchmark gave this browser a score of mighty 70 compared to the 45 which the pre-Quantum Firefox browser came up with. Using the JetStream benchmark tests everyone was surprised with the 151 score achieved by the Firefox Quantum when compared to the Google Chrome’s 144 score.

All the benchmark testing and normal day-to-day usage suggests that this Firefox browser is way faster and snappier than other browser available in the market. Firefox has fixed all the bugs related to performance as well as responsiveness to enhance the overall user experience. Quantum browser certainly appears to be a major upgrade over the earlier version of the Firefox and it is right step towards bringing better browsing experience to the users. Now it all depends on the users whether they adopt the Firefox Quantum browser to increase its market share and give a stiff completion to the omnipotent domination of the Google Chrome.

AI Image Recognition Fooled By Single Pixel Change

Adversarial Model Images

According to research, computers can be misled into thinking that an image of a taxi can be a dog by only altering one pixel. These limits developed from the methods that Japanese function in tricking the extensively utilised AI-based image recognition system.

Several of the other scientists tend to now develop `adversarial’ model images to reveal the fragility of some kinds of recognition software. Experts have cautioned that there is no quick and easy means of fixing image recognition system of stopping them from being duped in this manner.

Su Jiawei together with colleagues at Kyushu University, in their research had made small alterations to plenty of the images which were then analysed by extensively utilised AI-based image recognition systems. All the systems that had been tested had been based on a kind of AI known as deep neural networks.

These systems usually tend to learn on being trained with plenty of various examples for the purpose of providing them with an intellect of how objects such as dogs and taxis tend to vary. It was observed by the researchers that altering one pixel in about 74% of the test images made the neural nets mistakenly label what they saw.

Designed – Pixel Based Attacks

A variety of pixel based attacks had been designed by Japanese researchers which had caught all the state-of-the-art image recognitions system that had been investigated. Mr Su from Kyushu leading the research had commented that as far as they were aware there was no data-set or network which is more robust than others.

 Several other research groups all over the world have been now developing `adversarial examples’ which tend to reveal the flaw of these systems according to Anish Athalye from the Massachusetts institute of Technology – MIT who has been dealing with this issue. A specimen made by Mr Athalye together with his team is a 3D printed turtle that one image classification system insists on labelling a rifle.

He informed BBC that more and more real world schemes have begun to incorporate neural networks and tends to be huge concern which these schemes could be possible to destabilize or attack utilising adversarial examples. He stated that though there had been no instances of malicious attacks in real life, the fact that these apparently smart schemes could be deceived with ease was a matter of concern.

Methods of Resisting Adversarial Exploitation

Web giants comprising of Facebook, Amazon as well as Google seems to be known for investigating methods of resisting adversarial exploitation. He stated that it is not some strange `corner case’ and it has been shown in their work that one can have a single object which steadily fools a network over viewpoints, even in the physical world.

He further added that the machine learning community do not tend to comprehend completely what seems to be going on with adversarial examples or why they seem to exist. Learning system established on neural network tends to involve creating links between large numbers of nodes such as nerve cells in a brain.

Analysis involves the network creating plenty of decision regarding what it tends to see and every decision should lead the network nearer to the accurate answer.

Google Introducing Certified Kubernetes

Since its launch three years back, Kubernetes has gained a lot of popularity over the years, with many vendors even developing their own offerings. What makes the Kubernetes software so successful is that it is programmed to run anywhere and its consistency.

There are roughly 60 new Kubernetes platforms and distributions out there.
 

What is a Kubernetes Certification program?

 
One of the main concerns to users of the Kubernetes program is that it should be consistent and reliable anywhere and at any time. This issue is compounded with the fact that there are many vendors out there who are now offering Kubernetes, so consistency over platforms does become a major concern for any client.

In order to address this issue, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation or more commonly known as CNCF in partnership with the Kubernetes community, have recently introduced the beta version of Kubernetes conformance certification program.
 

The Kubernetes Certification Program:

 

With this certificate in mind, vendors are able to reassure their clients that the software they are using conform to standards and will be reliable in any of the platforms they use it on.

Besides conforming to standards, the Kubernetes certification also gives users confidence of a high level of common functionality of the Kubernetes software over all platforms.

Basically clients can be sure that their software will work as expected.

 

How to get the Kubernetes conformation Certificate?

 
Cloud Native Computing Foundation in partnership with the Kubernetes community are requesting all Kubernetes vendors to run the conformance test and then send the results to the CNCF for review and to give the certificate.

All vendors that have been tested and certified during the beta version of the program will have their names published when the actual version of the program is released.

 

Changes to the Kubernetes certificate:

 
Kubernetes certification standards will receive updates as and when there are software developments to the Kubernetes program itself.

This is done in order to ensure that the updated version of the Kubernetes software conforms to updated standards and a new certificate will be issued in effect.

Every vendor has to get recertified each year in order to provide their clients with the reassurance that not only are they getting a software that complies with uniform standards but is also updated with all the latest and newest in the Kubernetes software.

Once the vendors have their certification in hand they will be able to display the Kubernetes certified logo on all marketing and packaging material.
 

Advantages of Kubernetes Certification:

 
One of the main advantages with a Kubernetes certificate is that there will be smoother flow of data between cloud environments and local operations. The workload can also be split over multiple platforms.
Another advantage is that there will be consistent updates and access to support resources and community software.

BankBot Android Malware Sneaks into the Google Play Store

BankBot: Google’s little Sneak

A malware known for stealing people’s bank details by posing as a legitimate bank’s web page has struck hundreds of users yet again.

The malware was spotted on the Google play store in April of this year, with a recurrence in September and then finally it has come around again in November. Each of these times the Bank Bot nuisance has been removed by the Google team.

What essentially is BankBot?

BankBot is malware that first made its appearance in the Google Play store in April of this year. Posing as a legitimate app it fools users into downloading it. BankBot then asks for permission to SMS, bank and other details, all the while appearing to be a legitimate process of downloading the app.

Finally BankBot poses as a bank page when any payment has to be made. This bank page appears as an overlay to the actual one. BankBot even has access to an individual’s SMS app to take care of dual authentication processes which is required for some banks.

Why was it so easy for users to get fooled?

Users of Google’s Play store downloaded a seemingly genuine app known as Crypto Currency Market Prices. This app appears to be the front of the malware. Having a proper appearance and containing all the details it promised to have, it was very easy for users to get fooled by the app.

By having a working app, users were easily taken in by its appearance to doubt any foul practice. Had it been an app which appeared to be full of spam or one that didn’t work well or could not be opened, it would have given users an idea of what the app really was about.

The second point to note was that the malware was removed twice by the Google team with the security protocols being renewed and updated and in spite of all this BankBot found its way back into the system.

Updates to BankBot:

Since its first appearance in April, the BankBot malware has under gone a series of updates. These updates include code obfusication and the ability to bypass Android’s accessibility services.

This coupled with the fact that it was able to penetrate Google’s security protocol is an added way in which the malware has developed over the span of 7 months.

Users affected by BankBot:

The crypto currency app containing the malware was removed from the Google Play store but not before hundreds of users downloaded it to their mobile devices.

As far as Google is concerned, its 1.4 million were safe from the attack. It is unsure how many users were affected when the malware first arrived on the scene in April of this year.

Google Play store is full of apps that can cause serious damage to an individual’s device or in this case to their bank account. It is therefore important to keep an eye out on what you’re downloading. This is not the first time Google has become embroiled in the malware found on its Play store, recently there was news that a fake Whatsapp app was doing the rounds on the Google Play store.

Why Google is Reading Your Google Docs

Most of the users of the online word processing service by Google, known as Google Docs, were in for a surprise on Tuesday when their documents faced a block as a result of violating the policies. Many users were reported saying they lost access to either their wedding vows or academic researches, for example, receiving notifications saying that their documents had violated the terms of service of Google Docs. This error was reported by dozens of users on the product forums of Google.
While Google acted quickly and put the blame on an erroneous update that locked its users out of their own documents by mistake, the whole incident disclosed what many people did not notice, that Google is scrutinising the apparently personal files stored in Google Docs.

While Google was under pressure to keep a better watch on the kind of videos that were being uploaded on YouTube, deleting content that was illegal from its search results and better monitoring of its advertising network, hardly few people were aware that Google Docs was also being watched. Google Docs is not only used by people for their day-to-day works but also by many businesses across the globe with possibly classified information. Rachael Bale, a journalist at National Geographic, wrote that she found this kind of monitoring creepy. Another user, Kelly O’Mara, who is writer, stated that people really need to take into consideration how much information they have been feeding into Google Docs.

While hardly few will actually read it, the terms of service of Google Drive forbid spam, hate or violent speech, pornography, the spread of private information, etc. Only shared files are subjected to these rules, so the files that are kept private are apparently an exception.

A spokesman for Google stated that Docs and other files in Google Drive are regulated by an algorithm that keeps a watch on the abuse of its policies and if they are found to supposedly be a violation then it automatically blocks those files. Unlike a few systems, where the supposed matter is escalated to a moderator, here there is no human evaluation involved.

The spokesman also said that the primary reason its algorithm scans the files is for the prevention of computer viruses or spam from spreading. It is not clear if Google’s algorithm is utilised to keep a check on pornography or other types of misuse, or if the policy is equally applied to work as well as personal accounts.

After many users were locked out of their vital documents, the company stated that they made a code push that mistakenly marked a small percentage of Google Docs as abusive, which resulted in those documents getting blocked automatically. They also mentioned that a fix was already in place and all users will soon regain full access to their private docs. They issued an apology for the disruption while maintaining that their main focus is user safety.

While Google provides free of charge access to its “G Suite” of programs to its corporate users, Google Docs is available to consumers for free same as Gmail, Maps and its other services. Its company privacy policy mentions that it collects information from Google Docs along with other services, but it is not clarified whether this information is used for adverts.

A New Set of Eyes in Your Home: Cherry Home

There are a range of high security cameras out there, this one is a little different in monitoring your house. Cherry home made by Cherry labs, a startup company is the latest in AI technology. Besides this gadget being the eyes in your house it also senses your every movement and the layout of the room that it is in.

The cherry home cam can even identify you wherever you are in your home. The Cherry home sensors are able to detect your eye color, proportions of your body and even hair color. This gadget can do all this and more with its processor and sensors.

This gadget can also sense your laugh, scream and squeals and analyses them to see whether there is any danger. The info is then passed onto to an app that can be installed on any smartphone. The cherry home cam can also dial 911 in case of an emergency.

With the latest in AI technology, this gadget is able to triangulate the room it is in and give real time data to an app on your smartphone. So an individual can see all that is happening in the room that they are monitoring.

The gadget also notifies you in case there is an incident such as a person falling down. It is able to discern an individual’s laughter and scream when they are in danger.

Right now the Cherry home cam can do all these things but the startup company has also promised more in the future. According to the company, the Cherry cam will be able to sync in with your smart home and turn on lights when you need them. Another feature of cherry cam that is in the pipeline could be a breakthrough in what a security cam can do. The Cherry labs is reportedly in talks with pharmaceutical companies in trying to get the Cherry cam to identify when a person is in the process of getting a stroke and then to dial 911 or emergency services.

The gadget is packed with a binocular camera, infrared sensor for night time monitoring, an altimeter, a compass and an accelerometer. So how does this thing actually work? The cam sends data to a central processor with a high end PC to analyze all the data. It connects to other cameras in the house through a mesh WiFi network. It only connects to the cloud when it needs to transfer data to an app on your smartphone.

This Gadget also comes with a coin sized battery that is recharged by the processor cherry cam houses. There are also two batteries that are spares in the camera.

Now for the most important question at what price can a consumer get the incredible Cherry cam? The prices of the Cherry cam are not so conducive to buying them. A starter pack is available for 900$, a camera in this range would include 2 sensors and a processor while a pack of 4 sensors would cost you 1200$.

Resonance Audio: Multi Platform Spatial Audio at Scale

Sound is a part of the world around us, without it or the ability to hear it we feel an emotional disconnect with the world. The way we experience things and the world around us is all dependent on our senses and how we perceive it.

Google’s new product Resonance Audio brings 3D sound to our ears just from using headphones. This venture opens up new possibilities for VR, AR and 360- degree videos.

When we listen to music from our phones or any other device we always hear sound as it is, meaning no account is taken of the distance between sounds, the directionality, frequency of sounds or the way we are facing some sounds. But with Resonance Audio we will be able to establish distances between sounds and more. Basically it means that we would feel as if we were in the same place the sounds are transmitting from.
 
What is Resonance Audio?
 
Resonance Audio is a tool that brings 3D sound to our ears in other words it is a tool that gives us the feeling of being in the exact location the sound is transmitting from. It can be used over all platforms and is said to be even compatible with IOS, android and Linux.
 
What brought about Resonance Audio?
 
Resonance Audio was initially thought of for VR, AR and 360-degree video. In VR, bringing realistic sounds to the platform was difficult as it put a lot of pressure on the hardware and the results were never up to the mark. With Resonance Audio, there are no problems on hardware and it can still deliver performance in the interactive environments.
 
How is Resonance Audio made?
 
Resonance Audio uses Ambisonics technique to create the realistic 3D sound Quality. What this technique really does is to bring in sounds coming from all directions while at the same time taking account of their frequency, distance, space, the individual’s position with respect to the sound and timing of the sounds. You can then hear all this from your headphones. It basically performs the analysis of the brain in discerning and analyzing sounds.

Ambisonics brings in sound from all directions without compromising on quality.
 
How is Resonance Audio different from 3D Spatialization?
 
Resonance Audio is different from 3D Spatialization in the sense that it not only takes in to account the directionality of sounds but also their frequency, distance, position of the individual in relation to the sound and more. 3D spatialization takes in to account only the different directions in which sounds come.

Resonance Audio is likely to be a game changer for musicians, software developers, gamers, music enthusiasts and more. Its ability to be used across all platforms from IOS, Android and Linux also gives it an additional quality. If it really proves to be as processor friendly as Google claims and is really capable of providing quality 3D sounds to users, It could mean its wider adoption in all systems and technologies.

 

DeformWear: Deformation Input on Tiny Wearable Devices

We have all seen various smart- somethings entering the market whether it be a smart watch or virtual glasses or wireless headphones, they all have one thing in common. They require an app on a smart phone or tab or some other device with not only WiFi connectivity but also a Bluetooth connection.
Using such devices at times therefore can be a handful while inputing all data into a phone or some other device. The world of science now brings DeformWear. DeformWear can be thought of as a tiny device the size of a pea that allows you to toggle data onto your gadget.

How was DeformWear made? 

Scientists felt the need for a tiny device that could be used fast and discreetly to handle devices when gadgets such as the Apple watch came out. Their screens were so small that using the device made it impractical for many people. So DeformWear was born. It is a gadget no less than the size of a pea that can be moved in all directions, pressed, pinched, pushed right, left, down and up.

How DeformWear was thought of: 

Researchers at Saarland University tested smart phone gestures with the use of a person’s skin and found that many of them pinched and pushed to the side to access smart phone apps. This study combined with sensors that were initially thought of for robots led to the creation of a body carried device the DeformWear.

Functioning of DeformWear: 

DeformWear has a diameter of 10 millimeters and can be handled just like a balloon but minus the bursting part. DeformWear comes with a sensor that then allows an individual to maneuver it in all directions.

Testing of DeformWear: 

DeformWear was made into a charm, bracelet and ring. The device was then tested on multiple people for different applications while using a smart watch and virtual glasses discreetly and fast. Later on it was used on smart televisions and to play music all without the need to look at the screen. The results from the testing of DeformWear were all found to be successful. DeformWear uses the fine motor functioning of fingers along with push and press functioning to give desired results.

Researchers at Saarland University hope to use this device quickly and discreetly when handling devices with no screen or when the device has too small a screen. With the introduction of DeformWear, the world can be ready for even smaller gadgets which can be handled with DeformWear. Also with the development of DeformWear, there may also be different ways in which the device can be worn. At present it is tested only as a charm, bracelet and ring.

The Motorola RAZR Flip Phone is BACK and Renamed as Binatone Blade

THE PROTOTYPE OF MOTOROLA RAZR FLIP PHONE WILL MAKE YOU WONDERSTRUCK

The digital world or the world of cellular technology are always on the news. Well, Binatone firm is trying to take us to the older days but with an improvisation this time. They are planning to bring a spectacular and upgraded version of the Motorola RAZR flip phone which would be termed as Blade. Already there has been images of the prototype that is going under some modifications. One tech journalist supposed to have got that phone in eBay though it is an earlier version. The images were shared by him and many other thoughts related to the phone.

THE ICONIC MODEL

The gorgeous black phone is designed to give a stiff competition to the other tech giants like the Samsung or iPhone. The recent reports have stated that the current generation teens are now going for the old-fashioned phones as they want to take a break from the social media which has hooked them to the screen only and no physical conversation with the people nearby. The price that was revealed by the tech journalist is only 22.95 euro. The model was up for sale for the testing purpose and he was lucky enough to grab the offer. The Motorola Motorola RAZR flip phone was a craze when the iconic phone was launched way back in the year 2003 and the price was a too high at that time. The price used to range close to the 800 euros.

THE MANUFACTURING

The Motorola RAZR flip phone was built a string and determined engineers who used to work overtime in order to bring glory for the company. They used in a secret manner and all they did this without the knowledge of the managers. This certainly changed the phase of the iconic and the prestigious company. It is reported that there are three variations in terms of the colours which are red, black and rose gold. The -Motorola RAZR flip phone was a huge success at that times with the global stars also going for it. The new one has stuck to the original design with some gorgeous finish and colour designs.
THE SPECIFICATIONS
The Motorola RAZR flip phone was sold more than 100 million units and it was one of the top phones at that time. The phone was a metal one where as the new Blade is a plastic finish. The latest one has not got that satisfactory snap of the earlier version. The keys are fine in the new Binatone Blade. If the weight is taken into comparison, then the new Blade is much lighter weighing only 67g. It is very slim and comes with 2 SIM card slots. There is an inbuilt music player and much sophisticated softwares as compared to the previous ones. The phone is small and light which is very easy to handle and carry. The slim feature will look even cooler when you hold it in your hands.

5 Benefits of Asset Tracking for Facility Management

Asset tracking is a flexible management strategy that should be implemented by business for effective facility management and outcomes. Enterprises that invest in asset tracking of their portable and fixed asset record higher returns compared to enterprises that don’t. Apart from improved asset management, asset tracking simplifies the tedious monitoring process and ensures proper and timely allocation of assets during the firm operations

Here are 5 benefits a firm enjoys through asset tracking for improved and effective facility management.

1. Asset Location

Developments in asset tracking software have enabled accessing of real-time information on the location of the specific assets. These assets could be in the firm premises or in transits. A delivery company access to the location of a certain asset can note if it arrived at the required destination and enables record keeping for future reference. Asset location has been a major factor to the growth of freight investments. One can order cargo, delivery services, and shipment services online and track the movement of the freight.

One should consider the best tracking software that provides a wide range tracking coverage for different assets. A good example is when you Track your assets with TrackAbout Software, you are able to select from their wide tracking services on different assets. These assets range from delicate gas cylinders and medical equipment to containers and tools.

2. Timely Replacement/Fix Decisions

Asset tracking enables setting of specific performance limits in different used assets in the farm. It tracks and gives warning signals to the operators when facility operational limits are exceeded. The warning signals enable timely replacement of assets or fixing the assets to their normal operational status. These prevent asset destruction hence continuity in performance. A good example is monitoring oil leakage in transits vehicles. A warning signal will be generated and the driver will respond by the timely fixing of the problem to prevent later severe repercussions. Through early warning services, one will never be surprised by machinery breakdown. It gives the manager the advantage of being a step ahead.

3. Detailed report on equipment performance

Equipment performance information is simply acquired through effective equipment tracking. Equipment performance is a major factor in why facility management is important. Through the easily accessible history records available on the website, the management of a business can easily identify incidents where equipment faced downtime, determine the root cause, and apply the necessary resolutions. This ensures improved future performance hence saves money and time.

4. Improved Purchasing Decisions

Through proper evaluation of asset tracking reports, a firm will be well informed on their immediate and future purchases. When the tracking report reveals worn out parts of equipment, the management will carry out an early purchase of relevant spare parts. This will give the management ample time to get the best spare parts instead of panic purchases and impulse buying.

5. Accuracy in Repair

Asset tracking reviles the specific part of a building or a machine that requires repair for continual in functionality. It enables the management to get the right equipment and the right contractors to repair the issue. These save time as the contractors know the specific focal area.

In conclusion, asset tracking plays a major role in ensuring proper facility management. The 5 major benefits derived from asset tracking include; asset location, timely decision making in fixing and replacement of facilities, a detailed report on equipment performance record, improved purchasing decisions, and accuracy in repair.

Nintendo Switch Version 4.0 Update

Nintendo Switch Update:

Users keen on purchasing the Nintendo Switch would find this update useful. Recently the Version 4.0 of the operating system of the console had gone live and along with it included surplus of important new features, fan have been coming since the release of Nintendo.

1. Record Clips of Games

Earlier there was a possibility of capturing in-game screenshots though the latest update would permit users to record video clips from their experience. On holding the button beneath the directional pad of the Switch, the device is capable of capturing the last 30 seconds of the play in an editable video.

2. Transfer Data Between Consoles

If the user has been sharing a Nintendo Switch with someone and tends to have their own console, there is a possibility of transferring and save data to the new device. Nintendo explained that transferring user information and save data, enables one to move the user profile together with its associated save data as well as Nintendo eShop purchased from one Nintendo Switch console to another. Data can be moved one user at a time which means that one can pick and opt which user’s data one would prefer to move and which one needs to be retained on the source console. The overall procedure can be accomplished with 10 easy guidelines which have been provided at the site of Nintendo.

3. Pre-Order/Pre-Load Games

The waiting period for a video game to come out and over it the longer waiting period for it to load on to your system before one could get to play can be very daunting. Taking into consideration the frustration due to it, Nintendo has made it possible to prepay and pre-load games much ahead of its release. Take for instance the game of Super Mario odyssey. The game was scheduled for release on October 27 but if one intends purchasing it from the online eShop of Nintendo before its release it can be downloaded and ready to play the minute it tends to go on sale to the public.

4. Amazing New User Icons

Every user would desire the skill to further modify their profile and the latest update has been providing several more opportunities. Users now have the option of selecting from 12 new Super Mario odyssey as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild icons for their user profile. Though it is only a small change, additional options would always be welcome.

5. Provision for Wireless USB Headsets

Some of the Reddit users have observed that the update tends to come with a provision for USB devices though it might not be a feature which has not been listed on the official list of alterations. All that one needs to do is to just plug the dongle of the device in the Switch dock and one would observe a new volume slider which will only function when the console is docked. There is a possibility of utilising the feature when the Switch is handheld by plugging the receiver in a USB-C adaptor.

Watch YouTube TV with a New App for Your Big Screen

YouTube TV: New App for Big Screen

In the next few days Youtube TV will come to Xbox One, a new television service with which Google has been trying for a few months to compete against others such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. At the moment the bet of Youtube TV had focused on mobile devices and the use of Chromecast, however now the service will expand to more platforms through their corresponding applications, such as smart TV or Xbox One.

At the beginning of this year we echoed the arrival of YouTube TV, a bet of the internet giant for television programs. But for a bet for and for television to prosper, the logical thing is that it does not focus on mobile devices.

Finally, YouTube TV has presented an application for smart televisions, specifically for Android TV, with what you can use it in TV Boxes and televisions that have such a system. And within a few weeks you can enjoy it on more sites, such as Xbox One, Apple TV, Roku devices and Samsung, Sony and LG TVs.

The Youtube TV offer is focused on cable television channels such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, AMC, ESPN, Disney Channel, Fox News or Bravo. To this must be added the inclusion of musical and sports events, or the possibility of accessing movies and television series. Its price is $ 35 per month, and allows access to up to 6 devices at a time. The negative note for now is that it seems that the service will not be available in some European companies, but hopefully it will arrive soon, as little by little other similar ones are doing, such as Netflix, HBO (from which we continue to wait for the Xbox application One, by the way) or Amazon Prime.

When you reboot the application you will go back to the place where you left it. In case you want to see new things, there is a menu with three categories: Home, library and "live" in three tabs within the new application.

The YouTube Home page focuses on five content shelves, customized for each user taking into account their playback history and the programs they have recorded to their DVR in the cloud. Regarding sporting events, YouTube TV allows the selection of certain teams, which will make sports events of your favorite colors prioritized.

In the YouTube Home tab we will also have recommendations on all the contents and summaries of those programs that we have begun to visualize but that for some reason we have not finished seeing them.

The YouTube"live" tab shows a traditional list of channels that are currently broadcasting and the content they offer. You can scroll to the right to see what will be broadcast next and record the programs you want.

The YouTube library tab will save those broadcasts that you have recorded as programs, movies, sports, etc. You can also search for films by specific actors, shows similar to those you usually attend, etc.

Finally, next to the launch of the YouTube TV application, its interface and some features will be renewed to offer an experience more akin to the new platforms for which it will be oriented. And the truth is that it seems a very complete platform in terms of multimedia content and features. It remains to be seen when the service is also available in our region and if its price can compete with others.
If you have never tried YouTube TV (I have not done it yet), the company offers seven free trial days.

Can We Teach Robots Ethics?

Artificial Intelligence – Outperforming Humans

 
Artificial intelligence is outperforming human in various fields from driverless car to `carebots’ machine which are entering the dominion of right and wrong. Would an autonomous vehicle select the lives of its passenger over pedestrians? The challenges of artificial intelligence are not only technical but moral and tend to raise queries on what it could mean to be human. As we progress ahead with time with strong network of Internet of Things where several things will have the capabilities of supporting us in our everyday undertakings, there would be instances where these very things would begin to select for us. We are not used to the notion of machines indulging in ethical decision, however the day they will do this by themselves, is not very long. David Edmonds, of BBC asks how they would be taught to do the right thing. Here the example of driverless car is utilised which are projects to be integrated on the highways towards the next years with the potential of resolving trolley problem. Two kids tend to run across the street and there is no time to stop and brake it to a halt. The car is faced with the option of swerving left which could cause it to collide into the oncoming traffic from the opposite end.
 

Robots …. Could Cause Destruction

 
What options would the car tend to make and considering the element the car would opt for gives us thought for speculation on what type of ethics should be programmed in the car? How should the value of the life of the driver be compared to the passenger in the other cars? Or would the buyer make a choice on a car which is prepared to sacrifice its driver to spare the lives of the pedestrians? With every choice is the consequence that tends to raise the query on where does the error lie, could it be on the technology, manufacturer, firm or the driver in the car. Another example is the utilisation of autonomous weapons wherein this brings up the pros and cons on the topic. The obvious con with regards to cons is that robots should not be permitted, since they could cause destruction. We are not used to the notion of machine making ethical decision though it is said that when they tend to do the same by themselves is not far off. In the present scenario, this seems to be an urgent query.
 

Robots – Care for Elderly/Disabled

 
Self-driving cars have covered up millions of miles on road by indulging in autonomous decision which could affect the safety of others using the road. Serving robots for the purpose of providing care for the elderly as well as disabled have been developed by roboticist in Japan, Europe and the United States. A robot caretaker launched in 2015 dubbed as `Robear’ tends to be adequately strong to lift frail patients from their beds and if they can do that they could also be capable of crushing them. The US Army since 2000 had deployed thousands of robots with machine guns each of which had the potential of locating targets and focusing on them without the support of human contribution. Autonomous weapons, like driverless cars, are not science fiction and are weapons which tend to operate without the support of humans.