As the week draws to an end, we at IndianWeb2 give you a quick recap of what all important happened in the world of tech this week.
1) Sony Open Sources Its Deep Learning, AI Tools
In a recent statement, Sony has revealed that the tech giant is finally set to share its AI technology with engineers and developers so as to encourage them to incorporate them into their products and services. The Japanese electronics major has decided to open-source its Neural Network Libraries, a framework meant for developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions with deep learning capabilities.
With the move of making its AI open source, Sony has joined the ranks of its competitors Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and many others who have also made their AI open source long ago. Sony is hoping that the open source AI won’t only help developers in building smarts into their products, but it will also help them in further building on core libraries’ programs. Sony believes this way AI will turn out to be more useful to everyone.
2) Twitter Detects Riots and Violent Activities Faster Than Police
According to recent study released by Cardiff University, Social networking site Twitter can help police maintain peace and order better as it can detect riots faster than them. The study found out that the 140 characters social networking site is capable of identifying riots and other violent activities minutes or even in some cases almost an hour before the police are notified to reach the crime scene.
The Cardiff University study utilised algorithms to analyse 1.6 million tweets related to the infamous London riots that took place six years ago in 2011. The study found out that computer systems could have possibly detected the trouble brewing in Enfield, London an hour and 23 minutes before the police were alerted about the situation. The computer systems could have picked up the same information from Twitter.
According to Pete Burnap, co-author of the Cardiff study, the study reveals that online social media has nowadays become the go-to place to report observations of everyday occurrences — including terrestrial criminal activity and social disorder like riots, corruption etc.
3) Google, Microsoft Duped in Rs 15,000 Crore Telangana Land Scam
Global technology giants Google, Microsoft have become the victims of the largest realty scam currently unfolding in Telangana, India. These two biggies are amongst the numerous global and domestic companies in Hyderabad that have been left busy evaluating the value of their real estate holdings after the Telangana government rolled out legal cases to investigate the legitimacy of the ownership of real estate holdings, both government and private that were auctioned in the recent past.
The investigations have unfolded the largest land scam in Telangana worth at least Rs 15,000 crore and has left investors in a state of panic and dismay. The situation worsened further when the Telangana government pressurised by the opposition hue and cry decided to terminate suspicious land registrations.
4) Election Commission To Use Blockchain Technology in Voting Machines
There are several studies in public domain today that allege that EVMs hardware and software can be tampered with to practice election malpractices. Although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has maintained that such a thing is not possible in the EVMs that they have been using.
In a response to the aforementioned studies/reports, several tech enthusiasts have suggested using emerging and contemporary technologies in EVMs rather than the one that are being using currently. One of the most commonly suggested technology by tech experts in India that can solve the EVM tampering debates all at once is blockchain. Experts are confident that the blockchain’s attributes of transparency, immutability and trust can work wonders for the EVM system and put an end to issues like vote manipulation/tampering in the country’s famous democratic process of elections. Furthermore, experts are also positive that conditions now are most favourable for implementation of the technology as an alternative for EVMs in India as the country has improved infrastructure and interest in place. The country has see around 32 blockchain firms being founded in 2016, up from 23 founded before 2016, according to a fintech report by PwC.
5) NASA launches world’s smallest satellite designed by 18-year old Tamil Nadu student
All it takes is some determination and hard work to make your dreams come true. 18-year old boy genius Rifath Sharook from India’s Tamil Nadu realised this recently. Rifath and his team gained overnight worldwide fame when NASA launched the world’s smallest satellite built by them into the space. The satellite which made history is named Kalamsat, after one of India’s most respected President and scientist himself, late APJ Abdul Kalam. Weighing a mere 64 grams, Kalamsat was flown by NASA into the space in a NASA sounding rocket from its facility in Wallops Island.
6) As Per VCs, Amazon (not Flipkart) Will Lead the Future Tech
In what could come as a big blow for India’s homegrown ecommerce giant Flipkart, a panel of venture capitalists at the recent Silicon Dragon event in New York City picked Amazon as a leader in the list of companies that would be leading tomorrow’s tech landscape. Considering Amazon and Flipkart are currently going head to head in the Indian ecommerce market, this global recognition can really raise the former’s stake in the Indian subcontinent.
The panel’s decision to pick Amazon to lead tomorrow’s tech landscape didn’t surprise many as Amazon’s recent decision to buy Whole Foods Market Inc., a 465-store chain selling natural and organic groceries, for a jaw-dropping $13.7 billion, including net debt gave us a preview of what the global e-commerce giant is capable of doing.
7) India At No.2 For FinTech Innovation
India’s and Fintech’s relationship might have started a little late, but it is surely blooming faster than any other economy. According to a recent report by CapGemini SE, a French multinational information technology consulting corporation, India has occupied the number two position in the list evaluating the strength of fintech movement all around the world. The list has been topped by US, and is followed by UAE at third, China at fourth, and Netherlands at fifth, after India at second.
According to the World Retail Banking Report 2017 by CapGemini SE, Indians and Chinese are more open to trusting new companies when it comes to payments using mobile applications, e-wallets, etc; when compared to other countries around the world. The two countries have the highest percentage with 55-60% of users availing financial services from non-traditional firms (non-banks).
8) Instagram Now Uses AI To Block Offensive Comments
People using Instagram whose accounts are public can breath a sigh of relief now because now they won't have to constantly keep checking their profiles for deleting offensive comments. The week saw the popular photo sharing app launching an enhanced comment filter that is capable of getting rid of unsavoury comments using the power of AI. The app first offered a remark filter last year in September, but that was a much simpler one when compared to the ones launch this week as it would only wipe out comments that contained words and phrases it had specifically identified as offensive.
9) Windows 10 Will Hide Your Important Files From Ransomware Soon
The WannaCry ransomware attack took the entire world by storm in May this year. In order to ensure that such as thing doesn't affect Windows users in future, Microsoft has made some crucial security-related changes to Windows 10 with the next Fall Creators Update, that will hit the markets in September. The preview of changes is now available to Windows 10 testers and includes a new controlled folder access feature, which allows only specific apps to access and read / write to a folder. If enabled, the default list prevents apps from accessing the desktop, pictures, movies, and documents folders. For the uninitiated, Ransomware is a malware that blocks access to a computer or its data and demands money to release it. The infamous malware had attacked parts of Britain’s National Health Service and other companies worldwide in May this year.
10) These $3,000 Headphones Roll Up Like A Metal Link Bracelet
It is no secret that when it comes to headphones, on-ear and over-ear headphones win the sound battle over smaller, in-ear buds. That means, if you're a fan of good sound, you have to settle to carrying bulky, large devices. But, this was before Luzli Roller MK01 hit the markets.
They're a pair of handcrafted stainless steel and aluminum headphones that have a headband similar to a metal link bracelet on a watch, which allows them to roll up into a compact and portable package. In order to get your hands at the masterpiece, one has to especially order to built by hand in Switzerland and spend $3,000 per pair.
1) Sony Open Sources Its Deep Learning, AI Tools
In a recent statement, Sony has revealed that the tech giant is finally set to share its AI technology with engineers and developers so as to encourage them to incorporate them into their products and services. The Japanese electronics major has decided to open-source its Neural Network Libraries, a framework meant for developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions with deep learning capabilities.
With the move of making its AI open source, Sony has joined the ranks of its competitors Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and many others who have also made their AI open source long ago. Sony is hoping that the open source AI won’t only help developers in building smarts into their products, but it will also help them in further building on core libraries’ programs. Sony believes this way AI will turn out to be more useful to everyone.
2) Twitter Detects Riots and Violent Activities Faster Than Police
According to recent study released by Cardiff University, Social networking site Twitter can help police maintain peace and order better as it can detect riots faster than them. The study found out that the 140 characters social networking site is capable of identifying riots and other violent activities minutes or even in some cases almost an hour before the police are notified to reach the crime scene.
The Cardiff University study utilised algorithms to analyse 1.6 million tweets related to the infamous London riots that took place six years ago in 2011. The study found out that computer systems could have possibly detected the trouble brewing in Enfield, London an hour and 23 minutes before the police were alerted about the situation. The computer systems could have picked up the same information from Twitter.
According to Pete Burnap, co-author of the Cardiff study, the study reveals that online social media has nowadays become the go-to place to report observations of everyday occurrences — including terrestrial criminal activity and social disorder like riots, corruption etc.
3) Google, Microsoft Duped in Rs 15,000 Crore Telangana Land Scam
Global technology giants Google, Microsoft have become the victims of the largest realty scam currently unfolding in Telangana, India. These two biggies are amongst the numerous global and domestic companies in Hyderabad that have been left busy evaluating the value of their real estate holdings after the Telangana government rolled out legal cases to investigate the legitimacy of the ownership of real estate holdings, both government and private that were auctioned in the recent past.
The investigations have unfolded the largest land scam in Telangana worth at least Rs 15,000 crore and has left investors in a state of panic and dismay. The situation worsened further when the Telangana government pressurised by the opposition hue and cry decided to terminate suspicious land registrations.
4) Election Commission To Use Blockchain Technology in Voting Machines
There are several studies in public domain today that allege that EVMs hardware and software can be tampered with to practice election malpractices. Although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has maintained that such a thing is not possible in the EVMs that they have been using.
In a response to the aforementioned studies/reports, several tech enthusiasts have suggested using emerging and contemporary technologies in EVMs rather than the one that are being using currently. One of the most commonly suggested technology by tech experts in India that can solve the EVM tampering debates all at once is blockchain. Experts are confident that the blockchain’s attributes of transparency, immutability and trust can work wonders for the EVM system and put an end to issues like vote manipulation/tampering in the country’s famous democratic process of elections. Furthermore, experts are also positive that conditions now are most favourable for implementation of the technology as an alternative for EVMs in India as the country has improved infrastructure and interest in place. The country has see around 32 blockchain firms being founded in 2016, up from 23 founded before 2016, according to a fintech report by PwC.
5) NASA launches world’s smallest satellite designed by 18-year old Tamil Nadu student
All it takes is some determination and hard work to make your dreams come true. 18-year old boy genius Rifath Sharook from India’s Tamil Nadu realised this recently. Rifath and his team gained overnight worldwide fame when NASA launched the world’s smallest satellite built by them into the space. The satellite which made history is named Kalamsat, after one of India’s most respected President and scientist himself, late APJ Abdul Kalam. Weighing a mere 64 grams, Kalamsat was flown by NASA into the space in a NASA sounding rocket from its facility in Wallops Island.
6) As Per VCs, Amazon (not Flipkart) Will Lead the Future Tech
In what could come as a big blow for India’s homegrown ecommerce giant Flipkart, a panel of venture capitalists at the recent Silicon Dragon event in New York City picked Amazon as a leader in the list of companies that would be leading tomorrow’s tech landscape. Considering Amazon and Flipkart are currently going head to head in the Indian ecommerce market, this global recognition can really raise the former’s stake in the Indian subcontinent.
The panel’s decision to pick Amazon to lead tomorrow’s tech landscape didn’t surprise many as Amazon’s recent decision to buy Whole Foods Market Inc., a 465-store chain selling natural and organic groceries, for a jaw-dropping $13.7 billion, including net debt gave us a preview of what the global e-commerce giant is capable of doing.
7) India At No.2 For FinTech Innovation
India’s and Fintech’s relationship might have started a little late, but it is surely blooming faster than any other economy. According to a recent report by CapGemini SE, a French multinational information technology consulting corporation, India has occupied the number two position in the list evaluating the strength of fintech movement all around the world. The list has been topped by US, and is followed by UAE at third, China at fourth, and Netherlands at fifth, after India at second.
According to the World Retail Banking Report 2017 by CapGemini SE, Indians and Chinese are more open to trusting new companies when it comes to payments using mobile applications, e-wallets, etc; when compared to other countries around the world. The two countries have the highest percentage with 55-60% of users availing financial services from non-traditional firms (non-banks).
8) Instagram Now Uses AI To Block Offensive Comments
People using Instagram whose accounts are public can breath a sigh of relief now because now they won't have to constantly keep checking their profiles for deleting offensive comments. The week saw the popular photo sharing app launching an enhanced comment filter that is capable of getting rid of unsavoury comments using the power of AI. The app first offered a remark filter last year in September, but that was a much simpler one when compared to the ones launch this week as it would only wipe out comments that contained words and phrases it had specifically identified as offensive.
9) Windows 10 Will Hide Your Important Files From Ransomware Soon
The WannaCry ransomware attack took the entire world by storm in May this year. In order to ensure that such as thing doesn't affect Windows users in future, Microsoft has made some crucial security-related changes to Windows 10 with the next Fall Creators Update, that will hit the markets in September. The preview of changes is now available to Windows 10 testers and includes a new controlled folder access feature, which allows only specific apps to access and read / write to a folder. If enabled, the default list prevents apps from accessing the desktop, pictures, movies, and documents folders. For the uninitiated, Ransomware is a malware that blocks access to a computer or its data and demands money to release it. The infamous malware had attacked parts of Britain’s National Health Service and other companies worldwide in May this year.
10) These $3,000 Headphones Roll Up Like A Metal Link Bracelet
It is no secret that when it comes to headphones, on-ear and over-ear headphones win the sound battle over smaller, in-ear buds. That means, if you're a fan of good sound, you have to settle to carrying bulky, large devices. But, this was before Luzli Roller MK01 hit the markets.
They're a pair of handcrafted stainless steel and aluminum headphones that have a headband similar to a metal link bracelet on a watch, which allows them to roll up into a compact and portable package. In order to get your hands at the masterpiece, one has to especially order to built by hand in Switzerland and spend $3,000 per pair.
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