CLOUD COMPUTING

CLOUD COMPUTING

Analysts predict that the latest technology inventions in cloud computing will significantly influence how we use our computers and mobile devices.

Cloud computing is where tasks and file storage on your computer are performed and stored elsewhere.

By using an internet connection you can connect to a service that has the architecture, infrastructure and software to manage any task or storage requirement at less cost.

The advantages of cloud computing is that it eliminates the difficulty and expense of maintaining, upgrading and scaling your own computer hardware and software while increasing efficiency, speed and resources.

Your computer's processing speed, memory capacity, software applications and maintenance requirements are minimized.

You could store and access any size or type of file, play games, use or develop applications, render videos, word process, make scientific calculations, or anything you want, by simply using a smart phone.

As a comparison, let's say you had to generate your own electricity. You would need to maintain, upgrade and scale these resources as required to meet your demands. 

This would be expensive and time consuming.

Cloud computing could be compared to how a utility provides electricity. 

It has the architecture, infrastructure, applications, expertise and resources to generate this service for you. 

You just connect to their grid.

Microsoft, IBM and Google are some of the companies that are investing heavily into the research and development of cloud technology.

WATER DROP LENS

LIQUID OPTICAL LENS

Physicist and inventor, Bruno Berge, has created a liquid optical lens.

Using a process known as electro-wetting, a water drop is deposited on a metal substrate and covered by a thin insulating layer. When a voltage is applied to the metal, it modifies the angle of the liquid drop.

The liquid lens is comprised of two liquids, water and oil, one is a conductor while the other is an insulator. 

A variation in the voltage causes a change to the curvature of the liquid to liquid interface, which changes the focal length of the lens.

The use of liquids allows for low cost construction. 

There are no moving parts and electrical consumption is extremely low. 

The lens has a large inverse focal length range, quick response, high optical quality and can operate in a wide temperature range.

A HOUSE THAT WALKS

ECO-FRIENDLY N55 HOUSE

A new prototype house walked around the campus of the Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire, England.

The eco-friendly house is powered by solar cells and minature windmills, and comes with a kitchen, a composting toilet, a system for collecting rain water, one bed, a wood stove for CO2 neutral heating, a rear opening that forms a stairway entrance, and six legs.

image of a waling house A collaborative effort between MIT and the Danish design collective N55. 

The house walks about five kilometers an hour similar to the walking speed of a human.

The legs reguire a software algorithm to calculate the movement and position of the legs to provide stability over varying terrain.

The house can turn, move forward or backwards, or change height as required and can be programmed with GPS waypoints for traveling to destinations.

VEIN IDENTIFICATION

PALM SECURE

Another technology innovation is the biometric identification and security device known as PalmSecure.

It works by identifying the vein pattern in the palms of our hands.

Similar to our fingerprints, vein patterns are unique to each individual. 

The purported advantages of this technology is that it is less expensive,

 easier to manage,

 and is more reliable than traditional methods of identification.

ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR

AIR INTO WATER- WATERMILL

Johathan Ritchey has invented the Watermill, which is an atmospheric water generator. 

It converts air into fresh water.

This latest technology invention produces fresh water at a cost of about 3 cents a liter (1 quart).

Originally designed for areas that do not have clean drinking water.

The Watermill is for households that prefer an eco-friendly, cost effective alternative to bottled water.

Atmospheric water generators convert air into water when the temperature of the air becomes saturated with enough water vapor that it begins to condense (dew point).

"What is unique about the Watermill is that it has intelligence." 

This makes the appliance more efficient. It samples the air every 3 minutes to determine the most efficient time to convert the air into water.

It will also tell you when to change the carbon filter and will shut itself off if it cannot make pure clean water.

CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE SCHEME

CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE

It’s clear that most customers will do just about anything to avoid talking to a live customer support representative, and there has been a proliferation of automated technologies in recent years to help them help themselves. 

From live chat to ecommerce platforms, customers are using tech to self-educate through the majority of the buying process and much of the support process.

In 2017, AI will take customer self-service to the next level through applying cognitive solutions to the discovery process, providing useful information to customers they may not have known they needed.

The purchase of an item can trigger the delivery of a whitepaper on how to competitively position it, a form to register for a related webinar or an alert on an upcoming trade show.

The mobile-first and mobile-only ecosystem will demand responsive designs of portals and automated systems, and customer self-service platforms will feed data on customer behavior and buying patterns to internal sales and support teams to improve business performance.

Automating, customizing and managing dashboards and portals will be a big opportunity for the channel in 2017.

SEGWAY ROBOTS

NINEBOT SEGWAY

The Ninebot isn’t your typical Segway. It comes with a built-in 3D camera to give you better depth perception and object recognition while you’re riding. 

These cameras come with a global-positioning system (GPS) so you can easily track your location.

The vehicle also comes with voice-recognition software, so you can control it both during your trip and when you’ve hopped off the scooter. 

Much like the Carl Zeiss smart glasses, the robot Segway can sync to your smartphone and perform many of the same functions, such as application management and video sending.

When you’re not riding the Ninebot, the device can follow you around and carry your groceries for you.

It also has a fresh new design, sporting arms and a screen as the head.