Intel's $15 Billion Purchase of Mobileye Shakes Up Driverless Car Sector

Inventions of new technologies have seen the rise in the production of self-driving cars. Leading tech companies have been in a constant battle with their inventions to grab the top spot in autonomous driving technology. Amidst all of this, Intel has made a clever and significant move that can mark the company’s venture into the automotive market a huge success.

Intel Corp has been in agreements to buy over the Israeli driverless technology firm Mobileye for a sum of 15.3 billion US dollars. For a while Intel has been trying to expand its market from the computer business. The acquisition of Mobileye can very well push this US chip making company into the frontlines of driverless automotive market with equal footing against rival firms, Nvidia and Qualcomm.

Although the current market for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems can see a potential rise in the next 10 to 20 years, some people are still skeptical about Intel buying Mobileye. Most companies are promising to deliver fully automated cars in the next 4 years but the depth of the promise is questionable. Intel has not been very well known in the automotive industry but however they have funded numerous startups that are developing different components of self-driving automotive.

What does Mobileye offer?

Mobile specializes in developing sensor chips, networking systems for cars, navigation systems, cloud software, machine learning and other data management systems that aid in developing a fully automatic vehicle. The technology offered by Mobileye is critical to the development of driverless systems and with the tie up with a huge company like Intel; it can increase their business opportunities by entering into the global market.

The deal in question 

Experts and analysts from industry are speculating the deal might be an exaggeration as the price involved is too much. The money paid by Intel to acquire Mobileye is apparently 21 times more than the average expected revenue of the firm in the year 2017. Since more and more companies are popping up in the self-driving technology scene, the market is becoming congested and it may be hard for Intel to get back its investment with the final released product.

The fight for supremacy

Intel and Mobileye are already holding talks with popular German automobile manufacturer BMW to produce some 40 odd self-driving test cars and release them. Mobileye has also made progress to manufacture its fifth generation of chips after teaming up with Intel which is to be released in market by 2021. These chips are to be used in full self-driving vehicles.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm has made its move to acquire the largest chip supplier, NXP with a deal of 47 million US Dollars putting immense pressure on Nvidia, Intel and Mobileye as well.

It is only a matter of time before we can see autonomous self-driving vehicle systems on the road at full swing and whether Intel has made a wise decision in buying Mobileye.

Google Maps Users Soon Can Broadcast Their Movements to Friends, Family

Google is known for its highly developed features that provide its users wide varieties of features. On March 2017, Google has launched a privacy detector feature, where its users will actually be able to share their movements with their friends and relatives. Google Maps is that very feature that is ensuring this facility to its users. In these days the act of sharing every detail on social networking site with your friends and relatives by posting pictures and videos has become very common.

So, Google by introducing Google maps have taken a step forward in this regard where people can easily share their exact location with whomsoever it concerns.

This feature is already installed on almost every smartphones and there is an update from Google that says this feature will also be available on personal computers. With the help of this enticing tool it will be more easy for people to let others know where they are without having to opt for text or call. This is a very big advantage as any emergency situation can be avoided.

To this Ruth Glenn, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has seconded that this application has both positive and negative connotations. All emergency situations can be avoided being easily able to catch up with people. On a humorous note this can create drastic problems for those who are in relationships, married, as they might have to be constant under the supervision of their partner. Even parents can be sure of where their teenage children are putting up by asking them to turn on the application when they are going out. So, this can be really a boon or a curse for different individuals.

Vice President of Google Maps has accepted that they are not the first brand who have tried to create something like this. As several tracking applications are available on different devices. Glympse which is introduced by Microsoft have been offering this facility to their user since a long time. Apple also puts forward an option called find my friends on their iPhones, iPads, and even watches and this is probably why Google is not expecting any criticisms especially from them who do not want their near and dear ones to locate them. A very intelligent tactics Google have used to camouflage themselves to be on the safer side of the table.

It is very simple to use as the users of this Map will just have to activate the location sharing option by pressing a button available near the search bar and then they can select the person from their contact list whom they want to address their location. They will automatically be informed via a text message. If the receiver does not have the Google Maps application downloaded on their phones, then they will get a link through which they can view the location using a browser.

The one who are unwilling to disclose their whereabouts they can make the desired changes in their setting due to which they can determine for how long their location can be traced.

5 Business Technology Trends to Watch in 2017

Business technology is constantly evolving, and with every new advancement, business owners have the opportunity to improve the way they run their companies. From machine learning to communication innovation, new products are emerging every day. If you want to make these new technologies a part of your business plan this year, there are a few technology trends to watch for this year that may help you reach the goals you have set for your company.

1.     Mobile Payments

Gone are the days when customers had to rush to the nearest ATM to pull out cash for a purchase. Mobile payments are almost everywhere now, from small, locally-owned businesses to larger companies that allow their customers to pay with an electronic signature when goods or services are delivered to their homes. Some businesses are using popular apps, such as Apple or Samsung Pay, while others have adapted other means of letting their customers pay with the touch of a mobile app.

Allowing your customers to take advantage of mobile payments may have several benefits for your business. The biggest advantage is that can boost buying convenience for your clients, which is usually high on the list of customer priorities when it comes to making purchases. It can also help you collect data about the types of purchases your customers are making and which goods and services you may want to promote or scale back.

2.     Smart Apps and Devices

Smart apps are evolving and can do more than ever. While these apps are used for a variety of personal purposes, they can also help organize and prioritize your business. For example, if you run a small business, smart apps and responsive devices that can listen and perform tasks as they are requested may help you save time by digitally ordering supplies and sending messages for you. This could help you streamline duties that might otherwise take up much of your time during the day.

Connecting your employees to new technology may give your business a boost as well. Apps that allow them to communicate a variety of information to you and to their coworkers or to upload it into a secure system that can only be accessed by certain personnel could improve employee productivity, especially for those who work remotely. If your company is located in a major Canadian city, such as Toronto, a business that offers Canadian office phone systems may be able to provide you with communication solutions for clients and remote employees to improve the way you communicate with both.

3.     Data Collection

If you run a small business, you may think that tracking big data technology might be a waste of time. However, even the way you organize your customers’ data can directly impact your sales numbers, and the way you protect it can affect how much trusts your clients put in your company. Being aware of new data trends may allow you to give your customers a more humanized customer service experience and make them feel less like a number and more like someone who matters to your company.

Services like cloud security may help you keep customer information safer than it might be when stored in your company’s main database at the office. Even smaller businesses might be targeted by data thieves, so it may be worth your time to research new technological storage options.

4.     Voice Over IP

Voice over internet protocol is not a brand new technology, but it is one that has changed and evolved since its introduction a little over a decade ago. This type of communication service allows you to make and receive phone calls over a broadband service, whether you are in or out of the office. A VoIP service provider can help you review the needs of your business and what kinds of services you might require.

VoIP technology means much more than making and receiving calls, however. Depending on the nature of your business, a provider could offer you call waiting, conferencing options, and video options that would allow you to communicate with employees and clients over broadband. Many companies are offering more access points than ever, which could result in greater mobility for you and anyone in your company who uses the technology.

As business technology continues to change, you may find that some products and services are a better fit for your company than others. However, staying aware of new tech trends can allow you to pick and choose certain technologies with more confidence and make the best decisions possible for your company.

Research Leads to a Golden Discovery for Wearable Technology

With an improvement of wearable technology, it is perhaps not impractical to think of a wonderful wearable device, which works as your mobile and your earring or your wristwatch. However, the newest thing that you may now see is the application of pure gold on these wearable devices, and this has been accomplished by Missouri S&T researchers.

Coating of gold on silicon-

In one of the journals, the scientists of S&T have talked about an option to develop thin golden layers on a crystal silicon wafer. They have to take out the golden foil to apply them just as a kind of substrates. Other available electronic stuffs may be developed on them. The new discovery of researchers may bring about some transformation in the field of wearable items. Moreover, it also proves an improvement of similar electronics on the coming days.

One of the leading scientists, Jay Switzer has said that a significant amount of study has been conducted in the domain of wearable technologies with the use of polymer-based substrates. Some substrates also comprise crystals. They are placed into semiconductor in order to bring the flexibility. However, there may be a loss of order, maintained by silicon. As there is more than one crystal, they may have grain limits, which restrict the functioning of some electronic systems.

If we consider a semiconductor, there are holes and electrons, opposite to each other. They may also blend the stated boundaries in order to produce heat. Most of the electronic appliances are manufactured with silicon as this is more affordable item. In addition to it, the performance of this substance is also good. There is a perfect alignment of all atoms. However, while only one crystal is present, the level of flexibility is not much high.

What positive features gold mar bring to a foil-

The scientists have, at first, started their work with one silicon crystal, and after that, they have considered golden foils. As gold is present in the foil, both flexibility and durability are high. The system may be twisted almost four thousand times. But, the level of resistance cannot get altered.

Some challenges have been faced by the researchers at the time of unpeeling the thin foil layer. The bolding between silicon and gold is very strong. To get rid of the problem, photo electrochemical process is used for silicon oxidization. In this oxidization, light allows semiconductor for promoting the reaction. Several golden foils may be designed with single silicon.

The overall research is really a pleasure to the scientists, who wanted to get an affordable way for creating distinct crystals. Many people, who like to deal with such materials, may have some interest in this matter. Moreover, it also gives important data to those, who desire working on these crystals. The team of researchers, who are involved in this issue, includes expert in the field of chemistry and engineering. And with the efforts of all these professionals, the research has been successful.

Furhat Robot Eavesdrops on Men and Women to See How Much They Talk

Robotic systems, created by scientists in the modern world, are really amazing to us. We cannot imagine how a complicated task is easily accomplished by robots. Obviously, it is the intelligence of scientists that may allow robotic structures to get programmed properly to do any work. However, one of the latest innovations in this field is a robot, which is equipped with the capacity of overhearing something. When the robot is installed in a place, it may find out how all the existing people interact with each other.

Different level of conversations among various people-

To describe about the look of this small robot, it is to be said that the researchers have covered its head with a hat, lined with fur. Lots of experimental studies have been done on head of robot that is termed as Furhat. These are intended to know all the disparities in the participation of every person, while dealing with a project or any other activity. The scientists want to make out whether this Furhat robot is able to maintain a balance. From the analysis, it has been observed that while there is a pairing of two women, they speak considerably. However, if it is a pair with male member, she does not speak much. Again, the pairing of two guys does not involve more conversation than that of 2 women. The above things are true only in case of adult persons. For teenage girls or boys, the same reaction is not seen. But, sex is not an importance factor to create a difference.

How the experiment is done with Furhat robot-

The Furhat robot has made an interaction with more than five hundred people in an experiment, which continues for 9 days. At a table, 2 persons have taken their seats at particular time, and a Touchscreen is placed at the opposite side. These people have played one game, in which some virtual cards have to be sorted.

Furhat Robot has interacted with them to do a task, and its sensors have recorded the duration for which a person speaks to another one. Female pairs communicates for almost 45 % of the available time, while for males, it is 26 %.

In the pairs of kids and adults, the latter one converse more. But, the gap is increased, while a man is coupled with a girl. While it is the turn of a Furhat robot to speak out anything, it presents some random behavior. At this point, one may realize the way a robotic system may affect the communication.

The complete research and observation has been exhibited at a conference in Austria. Same type of trials has also been done in laboratory. Thus, the results seem to become more exciting, while everything is done in a normal setting. However, these outcomes may differ vary according to various cultures. But, the effect of Furhat robot on conversations can assist in improving educational aspects. It also helps to bring about behavioral changes in a person.