Tech Trends
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Breaking the language barrier
Romanian, Hindu, Polish… What would you like to speak today?
This dream is now made possible thanks to Skype and its new Skype Translator service. Last December, Skype launched its instant audio translation service, which allows people to have real-time, spoken conversations, even if they speak two completely different languages.Think of Skype’s 300 million subscribers, scattered all over the globe, exchanging fascinating, personal information in a language they do not speak, but understand perfectly. To demonstrate this new service, the company made a short video in which two schoolgirls, separated by thousands of kilometers, have a real-time conversation with no pauses and no translator present.
How does it work?
In 2015, years of research and development in speech recognition, artificial intelligence and machine learning have culminated in a major breakthrough that will change the way the world communicates.
The software recognizes the spoken words, translates them and plays them back to the other side. Users can also see a transcript of the entire conversation.The service is currently available in preview mode for Spanish and English. The company intends to expand it to include over 40 languages.
Where is my wallet?
Frantic patting of the back pocket, the front pocket, the inner coat pocket…
Has anyone seen my wallet?
The days when losing your wallet meant losing your life are coming to an end, along with the days of cash payment.
2015 is going to be the year when your credit card, your HMO card and the card that lets you buy patchouli lavender soap at a discount will fade into obsolescence.
All thanks to the payment system that turns your smartphone into a wallet – Mobile Pay.
A few months ago, Apple launched its new Apple Pay service, integrated into the iPhone 6, the iPad and the Apple Watch. According to Apple, this service will change the way the world shops, both in physical and in virtual stores.
How does it work?
In order to enjoy the service, the user must provide the system with his or her credit card information by taking a picture of the credit card with the device camera. Then, the system links the user, the bank and the credit card company together, and once confirmation is received, the card is valid and ready for use.
Now that we’re all set, how about some shopping?
To make a payment, all the user has to do is touch the tip of his or her finger to the fingerprint sensor on the phone, while the phone is pressed against the payment device connected to the cash register. One tap and voila – the purchase is made; no plastic rectangles and purse-digging required.
Fact or fiction?
The major banks, leading credit card companies and quite a few retail chains have already joined this revolutionary new service, and all of them are encouraging the consumers to lose their wallets and start shopping simpler.
OTI, a client of Titan, has, in fact, given birth to the idea of virtual payment over two decades ago, by creating and implementing cashless transaction processing and payment solutions. Today, OTI’s solutions use cutting edge NFC technology.
http://www.otiglobal.com/
If your card has been stolen, press 1
In the old days, swiping a wallet in the subway required sleight of hand, years of rigorous training and a lot of guts. Today, it’s easy as pie. Any wise guy with a good device and a bit of luck can hack your identity in seconds.
In 2015, over 10 million identities will be exposed around the world, on top of the 70% of the credit cards that will be used to fund outrageous shopping sprees – not yours, the thieves’.
How? As means of payment make the transition from physical to virtual, they become easier to trace and “tap into”. With the launch of Apple’s online, NFC (Near-Field Communication) powered payment service, payments can be made by merely placing the device near the pay station.
Despite the strict security measures, this payment method is vulnerable to data theft, the data being transmitted via RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification).
Identity theft 101: all you have to do is stand near the person making the payment and wait while their entire life is conveniently fed into your device.
So, how do we protect ourselves?
With style! Several key players have already begun developing fashion accessories and clothing made from RFID-blocking materials, including bags, jackets and even jeans. The signal blocking layers woven into the fabric protect your smartphone from attack without you ever noticing.
Reality or fantasy?
The fashion company, Betabrand, and the information security company, Norton by Symantec, are collaborating to create the world’s first clothing designed with RFID-blocking technology. Prepare your closets for the READY Active Jeans and the Work-It Blazer which will be ready in January 2015.
http://www.betabrand.com
Soon, your shirt will be smarter than you
Researchers from Laval University in Canada have made a scientific breakthrough that will change the way chronic patients, the elderly and other people cope with illness.
The product of their development is nothing more than mere clothing. But while they may appear completely ordinary, these clothes have an unusually large number of “tricks” up their sleeves.
At the base of the research is the development of fibers containing smart sensors. These sensors collect and transmit reliable, real-time information about the wearer’s body, including a wide range of parameters such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, cardiac activity and more. The clothing also monitors posture, hearing, vision, and even brain activity.
How does it work?
The clothes are made of layers of silica fibers, metals and hollow-sphere polymers, and can withstand wear and tear, stretching, folding and extreme weather conditions.
The sensors embedded in the fabric send and receive data, which is then synched with the medical servers via the internet. Medical personnel, attending physicians and emergency crews can use this valuable data to provide faster, more accurate care for their patients.
Fact or fiction?
The research team has already applied for a patent, and companies have expressed great interest in developing this fascinating new technology.