Page 5 - Technology Internet
Mobiles disallowed in CM's meetings in Uttar Pradesh
The use of mobile phones has been banned in all meetings convened by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here, effective from Wednesday.Earlier the ban was imposed only on the review meetings conducted by the Chief Minister.In the laptop programme for the village accountants conducted on Wednesday, mobiles were not allowed to be taken inside the meeting venue.
This app turns smartphone into robot to perform boring jobs
A smartphone app that allows a user to easily programme any robot to perform a mundane activity, such as picking up parts from one area and delivering them to another, has been developed by scientists, including one of Indian origin. The app developed by researchers at Purdue University in the US could dramatically bring down the costs of building and programming mobile robots. The setup could also take care of household chores, they said. "Smaller companies can't afford software programmers or expensive mobile robots," said Karthik Ramani, from Purdue University. "We've made it to where they can do the programming themselves, dramatically bringing down the costs of building and programming mobile robots," he said. Using augmented reality, the app allows the user to either walk out where the robot should go to perform its tasks, or draw out a workflow directly into real space. The app offers options for how those tasks can be performed, such as under a certain time limit, on repeat or
Novel AI system manages road infrastructure using Google Street View
Scientists have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) based system to monitor street signs needing replacement or repair by tapping into Google Street View images. The fully-automated system developed by researchers at RMIT University in Australia is trained using AI-powered object detection to identify street signs in the freely available images. Municipal authorities currently spend large amounts of time and money monitoring and recording the geolocation of traffic infrastructure manually, a task which also exposes workers to unnecessary traffic risks, researchers said. According to the study, published in the journal of Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, the model detects signs with near 96 per cent accuracy. It identifies their type with near 98 per cent accuracy and can record their precise geolocation from the two-dimensional (2D) images. The proof-of-concept model was trained to see 'stop' and 'give way' signs, said Andrew Campbell, from RMIT University. However, .
Portable sensor can detect explosives in real time
Scientists have developed a compact and portable sensor that detects explosives like DNT and TNT in real time, and can be used to monitor public spaces to counter terrorism. Nitroaromatic explosives like DNT, TNT and TNP pose a serious threat to civilian and military safety. These chemicals are also recognised as toxic contaminants that pollute the environment. The device, described in the the journal Scientific Reports, paves the way for light weight and compact explosive sensor for field use as well as for environmental monitoring. Large scale use of explosives in the terror activities triggered the scientists at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to work on novel sensing materials for detection of such explosives. The team, which included Binoy Maiti and Priyadarsi De from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, developed the sensor by using a technique based on fluorescence spectroscopy. When explosives come into contact with the newly ...
Google Calendar suffers global outage
Adding to the plethora of outages that apps from major tech giants have been suffering lately, Google's Calendar refused to work for over nearly three hours for users around the world.
HCL Technologies selected by Cricket Australia as Digital Technology Partner
HCL will help the Australian cricket's governing body provide an elevated and immersive digital experience to cricket fans, players, partners, employees, and volunteers across the country and around the world, through CA's digital offerings.
Apple to release cheaper 6.1-inch OLED iPhone in 2020: Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo
Apple is expected to release three new iPhone models in the second half of 2020 and if the latest indication from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed, there might be an addition of a cheaper model with an OLED display.Kuo has estimated that Apple will release three models including the high-end 5.4-inch and 6.7-inch models and a low-end 6.1-inch version. All models will feature OLED displays, MacRumours reports.The high-end models are expected to support 5G while the low-end model will support up to LTE. It is further expected that all new iPhones will support 5G starting 2021 with Qualcomm being the primary supplier of 5G modems.
Apple TV to support Picture-in-Picture mode
Because watching one show at a time is not enough, a new Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode is coming to Apple TV that will allow users to multitask while watching a video.As 9to5 Mac reports, the feature is available in tvOS 13 beta 2 and was first introduced in iOS 9 for multitasking on iPad.Similar to an iPad, Apple TV users will be able to leave a video playing in a thumbnail to continue navigating the rest of the OS. The controls are overlaid on the video to jump back to the app, or playback the video directly.
Amazon's Instagram competitor Amazon Spark is dead
Microsoft is reportedly testing a dedicated shortcut key for its Office apps that could possibly end the 25-year-rule of the familiar but seldom used Windows keys on its keyboards.According to The Verge, the company has been conducting a survey with testers of the Office key and is getting feedback on the experience. A Twitter user, who goes by the handle @WalkingCat, has also shared a screenshot of the survey.The Office key would work as an additional keyboard shortcut for Office apps, such as quickly sharing documents and files.While it may seem like an alternative to the dedicated menu key or the secondary Windows key on a keyboard, Microsoft appears to be testing the concept with its latest Windows 10 May 2019 Update.
Facebook announces global cryptocurrency Libra, to launch in 2020
After months of speculations and rumours, Facebook has officially announced a new global cryptocurrency called Libra.As the official blog explains, the new digital currency will be made available through a digital wallet called Calibra that will be available in Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and as a standalone app. The company expects to launch it in 2020.Calibra will allow users to send Libra to almost anyone with a smartphone as easily as a text message at low or no cost. Facebook plans to offer more services such as bill payments, food ordering, or local public transit, all through Calibra and Libra.
Apple iOS 13 beta alerts when you delete an app with active subscription
With smartphones becoming warehouses of apps, it can get challenging to keep a track of those apps, which are paid at the time of cleanup.To prevent accidental deletion of such an app, Apple has added a warning in its iOS 13 beta 2 that tells you if an app you are deleting has an active subscription. The feature was spotted by MacStories editor Federico Viticci who shared a screenshot of the alert.The prompt message asks you if you want to keep your subscription or manage it. It also shows helpful details such as the time of renewal for easy access.
Google Calendar down; co investigating matter
Users across various parts of the world, including India, could not access 'Google Calendar' on Tuesday evening. Navigating to google.calendar.com and the app presented users with a 'Not Found Error 404' message. Google, on its G Suite Status Dashboard, said: "We're investigating reports of an issue with Google Calendar. We will provide more information shortly. The affected users are unable to access Google Calendar". Netizens took to Twitter to complain about the outage. While many referred to the disruption as 'snow day', many others shared GIFs of chaotic workplaces to express how their day was like without the popular scheduling solution. Interestingly, the disruption occurred a few hours after Google G Suite tweeted about 'Scheduling made simpler with @googlecalendar'.
RBI to examine concerns over data localisation rule: Govt
The RBI will examine concerns around its strict data localisation rules that require storing of customer data exclusively in India without creating mirror sites overseas, the government said Tuesday. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in April last year asked payment firms to ensure their data are stored exclusively on local servers, setting a tight six-month deadline for compliance. That deadline was said to have been missed by some foreign firms including credit card giants Visa and Mastercard. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday held extensive consultations with the tech industry and e-commerce companies, a statement by his ministry said. "All the companies who were represented in this meeting put forth their concerns related to RBI data storage requirements and processing related guidelines issued by the RBI. Deputy Governor of RBI, BP Kanungo, assured the industry representatives that the Reserve Bank of India will look into this," it said. The RBI in April 2018 ...
Internet in Ethiopia hit by week-old cuts
Most of Ethiopia was without internet access on Tuesday on the eighth consecutive day of an unexplained break. An AFP investigation found that with the exception of the capital Addis Ababa, most of the country's cities had no internet. Cherer Aklilu, executive director of the state monopoly Ethio Telecom, declined to give any details to explain the break. "We expect to release an official statement on the internet blackout before the end of this week and we urge our users to be patient until that time," he told AFP. Internet access was cut on June 11, briefly restored and then severed again. It was restored for the Addis area on Friday. The cut is the longest since reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to office in April last year in the Horn of Africa country. The current break coincides with annual school-leaving exams, which end on Friday. In 2017, the authorities defended a similar blackout by saying they wanted to limit cheating for the important tests. However, the internet ..
With 'Libra,' Facebook takes on the world of cryptocurrency
Facebook is leaping into the world of cryptocurrency with its own digital money, designed to let people save, send or spend money as easily as firing off text messages. "Libra" -- described as "a new global currency" -- was unveiled Tuesday in a new initiative in payments for the world's biggest social network with the potential to bring crypto-money out of the shadows and into the mainstream. Facebook and some two dozen partners released a prototype of Libra as an open source code to be used by developers interested in weaving it into apps, services or businesses ahead of a rollout as global digital money next year. An eponymous nonprofit association based in Geneva will oversee the blockchain-based Libra, maintaining a real-world asset reserve to keep its value stable. The initiative has the potential to allow more than a billion "unbanked" people around the world access to online commerce and financial services, said Libra Association head of policy and communications Dante ...
ICANN partners NASSCOM to develop tech, standards for IoT devices
Global internet body ICANN and Indian IT industry body Nasscom Tuesday announced collaboration to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using internet. Under the collaboration, both the bodies will first focus on updating Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business. "This collaboration provides a structure for us to jointly identify research projects, particularly in new technologies related to the internet's system of unique identifiers," Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Chief Technology Officer David Conrad said. "The teams began research on the DNS and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) last year," Conrad said. He said that first research project focuses on testing the use of the DNS to update IoT firmware and studying how the proposed technology could scale ...
Two planets that could support life discovered
Two exoplanets that have been discovered, which are warm similar to Earth and may have water, could be good candidates to support life, according to a study on Tuesday.
Social media comments may hinder credibility of health professionals
For health professionals, posting a single negative comment on their Facebook profiles may hinder their credibility with current or potential clients, according to a study.
Keen on deepening engagement with startup ecosystem in India: WhatsApp
Messaging giant WhatsApp Tuesday said it is focussed on deepening engagement with startups in India to help them leverage technology platforms and scale operations to solve various issues. The Facebook-owned company also announced the winners of its 'Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge', awarding a total of USD 2,50,000 to five startups. "It's five months into the job and one of my goals was to deepen WhatsApp's engagement in India on multiple fronts. As a tech company, we can be a very important partner to the startup ecosystem...we are doing to deepen our engagement with the startup and tech ecosystem," WhatsApp India Head Abhijit Bose told reporters here. He added that the company will evaluate various routes to engage with the startup community in India. Interestingly, last week, Facebook had announced picking up a minority stake in Bengaluru-based Meesho that helps entrepreneurs set up online businesses via social channels. Bose, who was the first top-level executive to be ...
Airtel starts 4G services in Lakshadweep
Bharti Airtel Tuesday announced the launch of 4G services in the Lakshadweep Islands, becoming the first mobile operator to launch high speed data services on the tropical archipelago. "We are truly proud to become the first operator to launch 4G services in Lakshadweep and put the last remaining remote territory on the digital superhighway. Airtel 4G now reaches the farthest corners of India," Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India and South Asia), Bharti Airtel said in a statement. Airtel said its 4G services are now available across Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti to begin with and will be gradually expanded to other islands of the archipelago. "I would like to congratulate Bharti Airtel on the launch of 4G services in Lakshadweep. This is yet another milestone towards building a digitally enabled India and empowering every Indian through access to digital services," Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said. Airtel's 4G services will enable local residents to access video streaming, ...
