Asus Skips Robots at This Year Computex Event and Flaunts Super Thin Laptops Instead!

If you had attended Asus’s press conference last year, all you will remember is the flashing of lights and camera on the special robot called the Zenbo. The smart robotic device which promised to be by your side for acting as smart home assistant, security guard, kids mate or even a photographer. While this was definitely a big change in the technology field, Asus changed its plans this year, decided to skip on anything robotic and went right with Asus super thin laptops!

Asus is today one of the leading IT technology brand with a perfect pairing of technology with the people’s lifestyle. Asus offers its customers the computer and mobile devices at great prices and competitive technology to win their hearts! In a recent press conference held at Taipei, Taiwan the focus was laid on the Asus super thin laptops with its special models added to the collection of ZenBooks – The Zenbook Flip S and The Zenbook Pro UX550. Both the models have been launched with the latest of technology developments and have a classic style. While the ZenBook Flip S is claimed to be the ‘World’s thinnest convertible laptops’ the Zenbook Pro UX550 comes as a gamer’s powerbox!

ZenBook Flip S: This 1.1kg convertible laptop has the power processor from Intel Core i7-7500U in touchscreen display of 4k and flips for a complete 360 degree. The thickness of the Asus ZenBook Flip S is about 10.9mm which was compared to the MacBook Air i.e. 1.35kg of 17mm and HO Spectre x360 i.e. 1.29kg with 13.8mm of thickness. It was found that indeed the Asus super thin laptop is the thinnest convertible laptop.

The ZenBook Flip S comes as a very fast performance laptop with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. The machine can stand by on battery for about 11.5 hours and reaches only 60% in 49 minutes. It uses USB-C port for the peripherals. The ZenBook is said to hit the stores for sale from September at a price starting $1099.

ZenBook Pro UX550: As amazing like its predecessor, the ZenBook Pro UX550 is a smart laptop of 15.6 with 4K touchscreen display which runs on the intel core i7-7700HQ seventh generation quad core processor, which has a 16GB DDR4 RAM, A graphic card and a Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti that makes it interesting device for the gamers. The ZenBook Pro UX550 has a weight of 1.8kg and 18.9 thickness with a slim profile. This model is said to be on the stores starting July at a price of $1299.

Along with these two premium Asus super thin laptops, there was an introduction of a few more models in the show! The list of other new launches included the ZenBook 3 Deluxe that was introduced as a part of CES in January. The VivoBook S with a i7 Core CPU paired up with Nvidia GTX 940MX GPU and the VivoBook which comes with a i7 Core CPU and Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU. The two models are priced at $499 and $799 respectively.

FaceDisplay and Other Bizarre Virtual Reality Projects from CHI 2017

Explore/Innovate/Inspire

Recently in Denver the ACMCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing took place and similar to last year, hosted some remarkable, unbelievable and absolutely unusual technology demos. The theme for this year is `Explore, Innovate, Inspire’, which tends to provide adequate room for encouraging the weirdness that CHI is famous for. Some of the most amazing 3D printing related stuff are:

• FaceDisplay
• Fingertip Tangible Devices 
• CarVR 
• Ambiotherm 
• Haptic Walls

FaceDisplay – Supporting Multi-user Interaction for Mobile Virtual Reality

Observing someone while they seem to don a head mounted display, experiencing virtual reality environment would seem to be quite boring. FaceDisplay, a multi-display mobile VRHMD, enabling by-stander to view within the immersed virtual world of the users, permitting them to interact through touch. A prototype is built comprising of three additional screens together with prevailing interaction techniques as well as an example application which tends to power the FaceDisplay design area.

Fingertip Tangible Devices for Virtual Object Operation & Assessment

Often controlling objects in VR has been unproductive and the fact that one does not tend to feel anything when your virtual hand touches a virtual object seems to interrupt you from the experience, making you aware that in the imaginary territory, the object nor the hand tends to actually exist. This crafty glove seems to put force on your fingertips in order that one can grasp something in VR and get a convincing physical feeling of the weight of a virtual object.

The most important obstacle to immersivity at the time of object manipulation in virtual reality is the absence of feedback of realistic haptic. The intention here is to express convincing interactions with virtual objects like grasping, pressing, squeezing, lifting together with stroking without the need of a bulky, world-grounded kinaesthetic feedback device or the utilisation of predetermined passive object. In order to attain this, a pair of finger-mounted haptic feedback device which tends to bend the skin on the fingertips in expressing cutaneous force information from object manipulation is used. It is detected that users appear to see alterations in virtual object weight and they relate to increasing grasp forces while lifting virtual objects as condensed mass in increased.

Besides this, it is also observed that inexperienced users view changes of physical properties of a virtual object when skin deformation in rendering objects with varying mass, friction and stiffness is utilised. The research portrays that fingertip skin deformation devices tend to offer a convincing haptic familiarity adequate for virtual reality scenarios pertaining to object manipulation. 

CarVR Empowering In-Car Virtual Reality Entertainment

When cars tend to be driverless, the main issue on road trips would be keeping oneself amused wherein VR tends to be of great support with the exception that the motion of the car would probably be an issue. CarVR on the contrary utilises the motion of the vehicle in improving the VR experience, syncing what tends to happen in VR to what the car seems to be doing in the actual world. This would make the VR much more immersive as well as supportive in alleviating impulsive spewing.

CarVR is a solution permitting VR in moving vehicles by subtracting the rotation of the car and mapping vehicular movements with the visual information. This enables the user to feel the precise kinaesthetic forces at the time of the VR experience. A comparison with CarVR inside a moving vehicle with the baseline of using VR without vehicle movement was made.

 It was shown that apparent kinaesthetic forces caused by CarVR increase enjoyment and immersion considerably while simulator sickness is abridged in comparison to a stationary VR experience. Lastly the design space of in-car VR entertainment application utilising actual kinaesthetic forces was explored to develop design considerations for practitioners.

Ambiotherm – Increasing Sense of Existence in Virtual Reality on Simulating Real World Environmental Conditions

To evaluate Ambiotherm, a wearable accessory for head-mounted display is presented which offers thermal as well as wind stimuli in simulating real-world environmental conditions like ambient temperatures together with wind condition to augment the awareness of virtual reality. Ambiotherm comprises of Ambient Temperature Module which is linked to the neck of the user, a Wind Simulation Module directed towards the face of the user together with a control module using Bluetooth communication. A demonstration was conducted on Ambiotherm with two VR environments, a hot desert as well as a snowy mountain to showcase the various kinds of computer-generated environmental conditions. Several researches were also done to address design factors of the system, to evaluate the effects of Ambiotherm on factors connected to the sense of presence of the user. It was discovered that the calculation of wind and thermal stimuli considerably improved sensory and realism aspects contributing to an improved sense of presence in comparison to traditional VR experiences.

Offering Haptic to Walls & Heavy Objects in Virtual Reality through Electrical Muscle Stimulation

A wall is said to be something wherein it tends to be difficult to pass through. To simulate a wall in VR, a system is utilised which uses electrical muscle stimulation in taking-over the muscles in your arm in order that one is physically incapable of passing your arms through a virtual wall. It is somewhat a brute force approach to haptic though apparently is effective but hard to believe that the feeling is mostly pleasant. Other options were considered on how to add haptic to walls together with the other heavy objects in virtual reality. Our systems tends to trigger the user’s shoulder, arm and wrist muscles whenever a user attempts to push such objects, through electrical muscle stimulation, developing a counter force which seems to pull the user’s arm backward. This device has achieved this in wearable form aspect. The repugnance design together with the soft design is said to receive high scores on `prevented me from passing through’ and `realist’. In the second research, the effectiveness of approach was demonstrated, by enabling participants to explore a virtual world wherein all the objects offer haptic EMS effects comprising of walls, gates, boxes, sliders together with projectiles.

Online Growth 101: Simple Strategies For Success

While there is a great deal of ambiguity and trial-and-error work when it comes to building a business, one thing is clear: advertising online is almost always advantageous. Online advertising is a prudent course of action for many reasons. First, it allows you to interface with your target audience in a very immediate way. Second, it can expand your company's sphere of authority. These are just two of the many benefits that result from online marketing, so now is the time to figure out which strategies you need to implement to keep your company growing. Below are four that may work wonders for you:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

SEO is one of the most important strategies to implement if you're serious about having success in the online sector. This approach works by making your product and service line more visible to members of your target audience. While there are many SEO services that a team of digital experts might deploy to engender this outcome, the following techniques are particularly prevalent:

•  keyword analysis 
•  target market research 
•  inbound/outbound linking 
•  local SEO 

2. Online Reputation Management (ORM).

In addition to implementing dynamic SEO services, it's important for you to invest in top notch ORM services. These services are empowering because they help you maintain the type of positive, pristine online image that will make prospects more willing to invest in your brand. ORM professionals can deploy a wide range of strategies to limit negative feedback about your brand in online spaces while also encouraging satisfied clients to provide positive feedback regarding your company.

3. Social Media Optimization (SMO).

If you really want your business to grow online, consider the value of using SMO services. These services are empowering because they enable you to communicate effectively with members of your target audience on key channels like:

•  Facebook 
•  LinkedIn 
•  Twitter 
•  Pinterest 
•  Google+ 

Note that you can provide clients and prospects with instant updates through these channels, making it a great way to announce last minute sales and other brand-related information when you need to communicate something immediately.

4. Web Design And Development.

One of the most important aspects of your online presence is web design and development. Site development is immensely important because it empowers you to advertise your product or service line in an interactive, engaging manner. When your website is both highly functional and aesthetically appealing, you can count on attaining substantive traffic and having your clients share your content with people in their social networks. When site development professionals start to work on your website, they typically keep the following elements in mind:

• functionality 
• engagement 
•  mobile friendliness 
•  aesthetic innovation 

Also note that companies such as Register.com offer ssl certificates to help clients keep their websites secure.

Start Growing Your Organization Now!

If you're ready to cultivate a substantive online presence, now is the time to make it happen. You can use some or all of the internet advertising strategies outlined above to keep your brand going and growing via internet!

Network Traffic Provides Early Indication of Malware Infection

Malware - The Great Dangers on the Internet

The word malware is a combination of the two English words "malicious" and "software", which means roughly as much as malicious software. The dubious meaning and purpose of these types of programs is therefore clear: they are supposed to cause damage. This can take many forms. When defining it, it is important to point out that malware infection without the computer user's consent or has hidden functions that it hides, and then secretly performs its task. Software with which you can harm others without being disadvantaged by yourself does not usually belong to this group.

Security for networks in organizations need the planning and execution of an holistic idea. Furthermore tools such as scanners or firewalls, network monitoring is a helpful addition to security. The monitoring networks assists administrators to discover network abnormalities early enough and to find incipient attacks of Malware infection. It thus get along a strategically essential element in the IT security conception of companies.

Organizations would secure their IT base while the firewall worked dependably and the virus reviewer is up-to-date. Nevertheless, malware infection are often revealed late. An integrated system of monitoring networks, into the security conception, plays as an primal warning system if outset are designed accordingly. Full, suddenly happening CPU load alterations, out of the blue high traffic or an over utilization of hard disk capacities are crucial bespeak of undiscovered afflictions.

HARMFUL DRAFT

Malware infection, Viruses and trojan horses manipulate or delete data and are able to compromise entire computers - a threat to the entire network. Studies on IT security warn that the threat situation is still to be taken seriously for companies. Cybercriminals are increasingly developing more professional Malware infection that is more intelligent and thus more effective. For example, the number of drive-by downloads and denial-of-service attacks has steadily increased in recent years.

Network Monitor allows administrators to recognize a large part of such Malware infection to the enterprise network at an early stage. Signs are unexpected, unusual, and sudden changes in load, access times, and disk space that can not be explained by hardware defects.

PROVIDE IRREGULARITIES IMMEDIATELY

For the early perception of malware infection, it is achievable to find out bandwidths of chartered lines, networks or devices (switches, routers) etc. By the means of Network Monitoring, system executives acquire elaborate data on the actual state of their system. Additionally, we can observe usage crises, impendent bottlenecks and connection errors. Network executives can further measure the bandwidth and find out the activating IP addresses and protocols.

The network monitoring solution helps administrators to detect network irregularities at an early stage. It provides detailed real-time data about the current state of all integrated devices. In addition to the accustomed security means, to supervise network has considered as a time-tested method to observe early affliction from the outside. The chief reason for this is the time savings in the early perception of malware infection.

Which Smartphone Has the Best Camera?

Nowadays, smartphone cameras are remarkably good and it’s really difficult to take a bad photograph with a hi-end smartphone. Therefore, over the years, there have been major developments in this area as manufacturers look for more ideas to gain profits.


Over the past five years, more dual lens cameras have appeared which have an extra wide angle or have telephoto features. Some manufacturers have improvised on the front-facing camera concept, targeted at the large group of people who take selfies. In addition, some phones are made water-proof, for example the Apple iPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7.

A few manufacturers have made an addition of 4K video facilities. Many provide HDR for high quality dynamic range images and some use the method of “stacking” like, for example, Google Pixel, where it captures a small sequence and merges the results into one image.

Like the LG G6, some smartphones have dual lenses and sensors and the results are combined. Therefore, a smartphone camera that may be the best for one user, may not be ideal for another. One will have to pick a smartphone on the basis of their requirement, i.e. what they want to shoot and accordingly make a choice that suits their needs.

A low-end or mid-range smartphone does not offer many special features and the quality in general will be mediocre. However, there are a considerable amount of low end smartphones that take impeccably good pictures in sufficient lighting conditions. Grainy pictures tend to be an outcome when the lighting is low causing image noise.

Image in Contrast with Reality

The primary technical dissimilarity between smartphone cameras and standalone digital cameras is that smartphones have tiny lenses and sensors. The smartphone’s result should be worse that the digital camera’s but it is not so. They produce top-quality results by utilising their processors that are powerful and graphics engines that are built-in, to develop the image data and make up for their technical restrictions.

Sometimes, smartphone images look unusual because they are over-saturated and over-sharpened. However, there are very few people who are satisfied with the actuality of the final image and rather prefer something that looks good by enhancing it.

In the process, the final image tends to seem a bit exaggerated. This also means there are some criteria to be kept in mind while choosing a smartphone camera. You may find a resemblance sometimes as different smartphones from the same manufacturer often use the same sensors and software for processing.

Possibility of Various Options

Smartphone photography saw a boost in progress with the launch of Nokia 808 PureView smartphone in 2012. Its 38-megapixel sensor captured a high resolution image and changed the whole idea of how excellent a smartphone camera could be. This model and its other variants, like the Lumia 1020, are still running in the competition with other smartphones though newer models have surpassed them. Today’s smartphone cameras provide a resolution of 4032 X 3024 pixels because of their f/1.8 lenses and 12MP 1/3in sensors.

Apple’s iPhone 7 has the same specification. Google Pixel may be providing the best smartphone camera with a somewhat bigger 12.3MP 1/2.3in sensor and an f/2.0 lens. A smaller number indicates a better smartphone camera. A 1/2.5in sensor is bigger and less noisy as compared to a 1/3in sensor while an f/1.7 lens is faster and gathers more light when compared to an f/2 lens. In terms of megapixels, the more the number the better outcome. A minimum of 10MP should be good unless large prints need to be taken.


The Verge has out together an informative group review of four of the primary options namely Apple’s iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S8, Google Pixel and LG’s G6. Also, iPhone 7 Plus and the just launched HTC U11 can be considered in the same league as the ones mentioned above.

A cheaper option would be the OnePlus 3T that has a 16MP 1/2.8in sensor and an f/2.0 lens. According to DP review, it is not the best option when it comes to class but still the performance can be considered fairly good and an even better one could be OnePlus 5. Budget-wise, Lenovo’s £159 Moto G5 is the best which has a 13MP 1/2.5in sensor and an f/2.0 lens.

There is also £249 G5 Plus with a 12MP camera with a faster f/1.7 lens. Both these smartphones offer auto HDR and have two modes namely professional mode, which gives manual control to the user and beautification mode.

DxO Marks

Someone who follows smartphone cameras will come across DxO Marks. DxO Labs provide a small camera and many other photo-enhancement programs such as DxOOpticsPro. Still, cameras and lenses have been tested by this program for years and the DxO Mark Mobile rating system was announced in the year 2012. It’s a testing system that analyses the smartphone camera’s performance and gives it a rating.

Accordingly, smartphones are allotted a score and a list with the top smartphones are available to help users in making their choice. The top 20 to 25 are the ones that are generally better than the rest. The reviews by DxO labs are usefully in selecting a smartphone. The Moto Z Force Droid and the Moto G Plus have been given a rating of 87 and 84 respectively. The iPhone 6 Plus (82), Huawei P9 (80), Google Nexus 6 (78) and the Lumia 1020 (74) have all been rated by this program too.

Camera as The First Priority

Some companies have given more importance to the camera instead of the phone. However, it is advisable to go for a cheap, compact camera for just the photographical aspect. Not only are there a wider range of options to choose from, the camera is more easy to handle also, which includes quicker zooming, framing and shooting.

There are some good compact cameras available, one of which is the Sony RX100V which is a little expensive but is tiny and compact with a one-inch sensor. Other options include numerous Canon PowerShots, from model G3 X to G9 X, the Lumix DMC-LX10 and also the one by DxO. Its relatively easier to carry a compact camera that fits in the pocket of your jeans rather than carting along a Nikon D90 along with a few additional lenses.