Earlier this summer, artists assembled in San Francisco, Calif., for an event known as the Festival of the Impossible, which was based around how augmented and virtual reality transforms our perspectives and interactions with artwork. Attendees used devices like tablets to browse the beautifully crafted exhibits, which turned them into live projections. These projects offered…
What Are the Three Types of Hackers?
The term “hacker” is popularly associated with cybercriminals harboring malicious intentions, when in reality, it’s a lot more. A hacker can be anyone who utilizes their computer software and hardware knowledge to break down and bypass a computer, device, or network’s security measures. It’s popularly believed hacking is illegal on principle, which isn’t the case…
Where Will 4D Printing Make its First Impressions?
Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the process of converting information from digital blueprints to physical objects by constructing them layer by layer. As we all know, this technology is capable of manufacturing all kinds of devices and items, like toys, car parts, and medical devices and equipment—even entire houses—just to mention a…
Could Micro-Tokens Succeed Current Outdated Methods Of Data Encryption?
Since 2018, more than $1.1 billion in cryptocurrency has been stolen by cybercriminals. As a result, the lack of genuine security is turning that particular market on its head. Blockchain technology, which is considered the “backbone” for cryptocurrencies, has a lot of different uses nowadays. The degree of theft occurring in the cryptocurrency market is…
Infographic: What Trends Are Emerging In 3D Printing?
Despite being around for a number of years, 3D printing is just recently beginning to have a transformative influence over how goods are manufactured. While there are still hurdles to overcome before perfecting this method, 3D printing is slowly working its way toward becoming ubiquitous in manufacturing across several different industries. As more companies and fields…
Can “SMART” Drumlines Keep Sharks, Humans Safe From Each Other?
The West Australian government has caved into public demand, and will implement a trial of “SMART” drumlines, hoping to mitigate the frequency of shark attacks along its coastline. The news comes in the wake of two non-fatal attacks that occurred in the waters around the small town of Graceland in Southwestern Australia, which lies south…
Three Unique Ways To Operate Drones
Before becoming a ubiquitous part of our jobs and routines, drones still have a few hurdles to cross before becoming mature enough for large-scale commercial rollout. Drone control works via two-way communication, where ground controllers transmit commands to the aircraft, which sends back information like its position, altitude, and battery status. Almost all consumer and…
Researchers Using The IoT To Predict Natural Disasters
From 2005-2015, 242 natural disasters occurred in the United States alone. These figures only represent a small fraction on how many of these events affect people around the world during (and since) this timeframe. While catastrophes like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis are beyond humanity’s control, researchers are have been attempting to mitigate the destruction…
Companies Embracing Mixed Reality To Develop, Deploy Business Strategies
In a survey recently published by Microsoft and Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, 68 percent of respondents reported having confidence in mixed reality playing a significant role in achieving the strategic goals of their company over the next 18 months. In addition, another 87 percent of participants reported they were already in the process of…
Single-Source Commands Believed To Facilitate Cyberattack On Network Equipment
Last week, eSentire Threat Intelligence observed an increase in targeted attempts at exploiting small-office/home-office (SOHO) and consumer-grade network devices manufactured by global network solutions provider Dasan, and networking equipment from D-Link. The activity was identified using automated analysis via a simple script written in the form of a complex equation as seen below. B = (sum(x[i] *…
Video: Satellite Readings Monitored Oil Spill Off China Coast
Earlier this year, the Sanchi oil tanker collided with the cargo Crystal about 300 km off the coast of Shanghai in the East China Sea. Tragically, the vessel caught fire during the collision, and claimed the lives of all 32 crew members aboard the Sanchi. The crash spilled the tanker’s oil products, which spread into…
Four Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Influencing Big Business
With technologies like machine learning appearing as a sort of “magic wand” for business innovation, it’s prompted an unprecedented wave of speculation and investment in artificial intelligence (AI) across several different industries. According to the digital media firm GlobalData, AI has a relatively simple concept at play—exploring and implementing different ways to perform well-understood, common…
How IoT Networks Are Combating Drone Intrusions
U.K.-based multinational telecommunications company Vodafone is developing an Internet of Things-based tracking system geared toward protecting critical infrastructure. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Vodafone was developing a drone-tracking system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) too small for conventional radar to detect. For those unfamiliar, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a relatively new term…
Smart Lock Vulnerable To Breaches Using A Smartphone
Described as the “world’s first smart fingerprint padlock,” Tapplock is a high-tech padlock secured with a fingerprint. According to its creators, the smart lock’s owners no longer need to remember combination codes, but simply swipe their finger instead to open the smart lock. In addition, the device can be managed using a smartphone, so it…
Balancing Test And Measurement Equipment Costs
Oftentimes, test equipment is the most variable capital expense for companies. While it’s commonly believed the initial purchase price of test assets is a one-time cost, decisions made in the acquisition process will weigh down a program’s total lifecycle costs. Research has shown total cost of ownership (TCO) can increase initial purchase prices by 60…
MIT Researchers Give Artificial Intelligence X-Ray Vision
Over the last ten or so years, researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have been developing artificial intelligence (AI) x-ray vision. Earlier this month, the CSAIL researchers announced the RF-Pose, which is a form of technology using AI that teaches wireless devices how to track a person’s movement through a wall. Being able…
Drones Coming To Walmart Stores, Expanding Presence In Retail Industry
The impact drones are having on different fields of work and various industries is very well-documented. Construction, architecture, agriculture, photography, and transportation are among some of the sectors that are being heavily influenced by drone technology. Having said that, drones are continuing to seep in the retail industry, and one move Walmart just made will bolster their…
How Synthetic Diamond Can Effectively Distribute Heat In Semiconductors
Heat distribution and dissipation has been an issue throughout the semiconductor industry, which has been addressed by polycrystalline diamond products that can be used in cutting and dressing optics, as well as thermal, electrochemical, and nuclear fusion applications. Polycrystalline chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthetic diamond products endure tightly controlled growth conditions while being manufactured, and…
How Connected Cars Can “Lie” To Algorithms
With a focus on assuring next-generation transportation systems are foolproof and protected from cybercriminals, researchers from the University of Michigan discovered that connected cars are susceptible to deception. One vehicle transmitting fake data can trigger a crippling traffic jam, while multiple vehicles could be capable of shutting down miles worth of roadways. To reach a…
LPWAN Using Data Collection To Aid In Environmental Conservation Efforts
Protecting endangered species like rhinos from poachers has always been a top priority in park management, especially at national parks like the Serengeti. A few months ago, I wrote a piece that covered how researchers were utilizing IoT technology to monitor and protect endangered rhinos from poachers, which was just one of multiple innovative ways conservationists are combating…
“Psychopath” Artificial Intelligence Shows Biased Data Effects On Machine Learning
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a “psychopathic” artificial intelligence (AI) by feeding the technology data using images pulled from the online forum Reddit. Named after Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic antagonist Norman Bates, the project tests how data fed into an algorithm affects its outlook (aka its bias tendencies). In this case, Norman…
PNC Arena Reaping Benefits Of Revamped WiFi Infrastructure
The PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, which fits up to 20,000 attendees, is home to NC State’s men’s basketball team and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, and hosts many other events. A go-to venue for over 150 events annually, the arena’s IT team lacked a speedy network for fans to connect, and started receiving negative feedback on the facility’s WiFi experience.…
Augmented Reality, IoT Team To Improve Industrial System Operation
I spent the past few days attending NI Week 2018 in Austin, Texas, where thousands of engineers, companies, and researchers convened to learn about the latest on software-centric platforms for accelerating development and increasing productivity in test, measurement, and control systems. There was no shortage of seminars, workshops, and exhibitors, which unveiled some of the…
Governor Hickenlooper Establishing Innovative Foundation For Disaster Response Framework
Among the main benefits of unmanned vehicles like drones is the ability to closely survey locations and situations considered too remote and dangerous for manned crews to explore. Such is the case with the state of Colorado, which has in recent years dealt with a devastating string of wildfires. Since 2011, the state of Colorado has…
Integrating Wearable And Drone Technologies Has A Promising Future
AUVSI’s Xponential trade show that took place in Denver last week was filled with unique, exciting, and innovative models, solutions, and systems that are poised to take off in the field of drone technology. While visiting the different exhibitor booths, I noticed many different trends and show themes, with one—wearables—that stood out in particular. At…