Technology News

Artificial Synapse- A Chip Working As Original Brain

When we look at the present world of science, we may see that nothing can beat the processing power of our brain. The good news is that MIT researchers have recently created a new chip, which functions almost as our brain. They have created artificial synapse with the help of new technology.

New Chip Created By Removing the Limitations–

Those, who are engaged in artificial intelligence, know that it is not simple for them to reproduce brain activities. However, they may find it easily manageable while a hardware part has been designed just as our brain. We call it as the neuromorphic computing process. You may find the origin of this type of engineering in 1980s. VLSI systems are used for creating neuro-biological structure. MIT researchers and engineers have solved all the issues and got success with the creation of artificial synapse. They have used transistor-free switching system, which is able to remove all the limitations (high energy consumption).

The Way in Which Our Brain Works–

Our brain has lots of neurons (86±8 billion), and each of these neurons is able to send information to several other active neurons with the use of synapses. These synapses help in passing the chemical to a different neuron. Just as our brains, the small neuromorphic chips have the ability for processing several streams. In order to create the chip, the researchers have applied silicon germanium. This chip has also the power of identifying handwriting accurately.

How the Scientists Have Created the Chip–

For the new structure, the scientists have used crystalline silicon by aligning atoms consistent, and this helps with the flow of ions. To have success in this process, the researchers have designed silicon germanium of a special pattern. Its design is much bigger, and the materials have developed dislocation for creating one ion path. The new chip, created by scientists, contains artificially designed synapses, and every synapse is twenty-five nanometers in length. With the application of voltage, there is an effect on current flow. The difference among synapses is four percent, and the performance level is much uniform and better than metal-made chip.

For the verification of uniformity, the researchers have checked a synapse, which is not under different voltage. They have also done functional tests for the recognition of handwriting models. The chips may have output or input neurons, and each of them fitted to different neurons. The network of neurons may make out several patterns, like our brain.

They dealt with artificial network by using 3 layers, which are attached with two other layers of synapses. They have also applied handwritten data that has several samples. It is also noticed that this network is able to detect the samples successfully in most of the cases.

To conclude, we have to say that artificial synapse development has opened a path for realizing the most functional and big sized neural systems. The researchers are trying to use supercomputer for performing other innovative tasks for future.

If GPS isn’t working then you can still get location detection with this new approach

In this modern digitalized age we are relying too much on the GPS devices. The sales of the GPS devices has broken all the barrier in the last decade and people had started relying on it way too much even for their daily location detection related needs. Whether it is finding the nearest ATM, petrol pump or a museum or popular restaurant we can’t think beyond the GPS devices or based service. Our location detection needs are fuelled by the GPS based services present in our hand held devices. It is worth noting that GPS doesn’t work so well when used indoors and it isn’t quite precise when it comes to locating smaller objects like equipment or goods placed in a large building or even navigating through the unfamiliar surroundings.

Location detection from wireless signals a possible scientifically

A professor going by the name Moe Win has been extensively investigating whether it is possible to make use of the wireless signals to gauge the location. He is professor of aeronautics and astronautics and he has been researching at it for last ten years. He has been successful at getting a number of papers published in the year 2010 which has helped in establishing the very fundamental limits of any such system utilizing the wireless transmitters. In this case the wireless transmitters is able to provide the precise location detection by taking a wide range of features into account like angle of arrival, power and time of flight.

How Location detection works?

Over the years he had perfected his study and being successful in materializing this concept into reality with the help of some colleagues. In the beginning they were able to show how changing the different parameters of the wireless localization system by altering its fundamental limits. The parameters here in question are the power, duration and bandwidth of its transmission. By tinkering with these parameters these researchers were able to determine the best system configuration which helps in bringing the best and most accurate location interferences which indeed results in one of kind location detection. These researchers have also come up with a number of localization algorithms which helps the location detection exercises in the real world scenarios.

Location Detection Experimentation is under way

Win has stressed that at the moment they are working towards developing a theory which will help in determining the limits of the location detection of this new technology. It can be said that they are trying to offers the best location detection solution to the users with the limited resources. Currently they are actively developing algorithms before going for the experimentation to see whether these algorithms remain true to the theory or not.

Secondly through extensive experimentation researchers will also be able to make this technology as efficient as possible. This whole method is based on taking the different network resource constraints like transmission power, duration and bandwidth as being a single cumulative value. But that wouldn’t be the case in the real world therefore extensive experimentation is the need of the hour to making the wireless transmission based location detection an error free reality.

Google offers unlimited cell phone plan in Project Fi with Bill Protection

Less than a year after its commercial launch, Google Fi is now available with Bill protection. The use of a Nexus among the last three models released is however still mandatory. It remains to be seen what are the next steps.

Google’s evolution in telephony in Project Fi with Bill Protection with Bill Protection is very similar to that of Apple, even if the path traveled by the two companies is far from the same. Apple has developed a vertical strategy, controlling each layer of development (design, chipset, operating system, ecosystem and perhaps soon GPU, battery, etc.) and the marketing of its products (even developing his own shops). Google has chosen to rely on a cross-cutting strategy, ranging from online services to the operating system, from the operating system to hardware, and finally from hardware to connectivity. However, you will notice that both companies have the same goal: to be ubiquitous.

Project Fi with Bill Protection is the last step of Google to ensure this presence. Officially, by becoming a virtual operator, Google is exploring new ways to deliver connectivity and market it. The goal: to create an “all-IP” service organized around a data plan where voice calls become secondary. 10 months ago, Google started marketing its product in association with T-Mobile and Sprint. Three conditions to access it: have a Nexus 6, request an invitation and live in the United States, even if the service covers 120 countries.

Although Google’s cellular service business plan, Project Fi with Bill Protection, only requires you to pay for what you use, with the new Bill Protection feature you will not pay more than $ 80 if you use more than 6GB of data.

Google Project Fi with Bill Protection, Google’s mobile phone service that allows you to pay only what you use, wants to compete with the big phone companies by offering its own unlimited cell phone plan.

With the new feature called Bill Protection, the most you can be charged will be US $ 80 plus taxes (unless you make international calls).

Project Fi with Bill Protection has a plan that starts at US $ 20 for unlimited text calls and messages, plus US $ 10 for every GB of data used. With the new function that serves as protection of your account statement, if you use more than 6GB of data you will not have to pay anything additional to what you pay for 6GB.

Google says that once users reach 15GB of data, the speed will be reduced.

However, it is estimated that most users generally use 2GB or less per month and the Project Fi with Bill Protection service allows you to tether (use your cell phone as an Internet connection point for other devices) at no additional charge. In addition, Project Fi with Bill Protection offers free data connectivity when you travel internationally.

This plan makes Project Fi with Bill Protection more and more tempting, but it is still limited to just a few devices, including the Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 2, Nexus 6P and Moto X4 Android One, among a few others.

Apple in Partnership with Malala – Education Funding Program

Apple has announced its partnership with Malala Yousafzai together with her non-profit organisation on the Malala Fund. This has been taken up for the purpose of extending education funding programs to India and Latin America.

With the support of Apple as the first Laureate Partner in funds, the Malala Fund has a primary objective of extending secondary education prospects to over 100,000 girls. The Malala Fund had been established in 2013 by the activist of Pakistan as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, partners with governments together with organizations all across the world to fight for the right of every girl to have access of 12 years of free safe as well as quality education.

Apple’s fund’s first Laureate partner with Tim Cook – CEO, would be joining its leadership council. Cook had mentioned in a statement that they were of the belief that education tends to be a great equalizing force and they share Malala Funds’ commitment in providing every girl with an opportunity of going to school.  He had mentioned in an interview with Good Morning America released recently that this is precisely what Apple loves to work on and is something which everyone is saying is impossible’.

Scaling Malala Organization

He praised Yousafzai’s depth of humanity and courage with a big `C’.  He stated that Malala is a courageous advocate for equality. She is one of the most inspiring figures of our time and we are honoured to help her extend the important work she is doing in empowering girls around the world.  This partnership also means that the Malala Fund would be capable of expanding the number of grants it tends to distribute through its Gulmakai Network which is said to assist local educators together with the activist in developing countries.

They tend to deal with various threats with regards to the education of girls such as war, gender discrimination and poverty.  Presently the network tends to assist programs in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.  Apple would be scaling up the organization through this partnership by supporting with technology, curriculum as well as research into policy modifications.

Malala Fund Mission – Bringing a Change

Apple has not disclosed the size of its financial commitment to the non-profit and the representative of Apple had not responded to a request for comment. Yousafzai 20 years of age had begun supporting for human rights as a child when the local Taliban had banned education for girls in her vicinity.  She began gaining international recognition in 2012 and also faced death when a Taliban militant shot her in head.  However instead of retreating, the activism of Yousafzai increased all the more.  She is said to be the youngest Nobel Laureate.

She mentioned in a statement that Apple had supported in educating and empowering people around the world and that she was grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and in joining Malala Fund in the fight ensuring that all girls can learn and lead without fear.

She further mentioned that her dream for every girl is to choose their own future.  As per a 2016 report by UNESCO, an estimated 130 million girls all over the world are out of school and Malala Fund has made it its mission to bring about that change.

Google’s main aim Daydream with VR is to make it accessible and useful to all, right now only a few understand what’s VR and how they can use it. Google is trying to get people on board with the whole VR experience by partnering up with smartphone developers to get VR onto people’s phones and getting it on to gadgets that allow people to capture their memories much like a camera but only more immersive.

One of Google’s Attempts at making the VR world more accessible is through the Google’s Daydream platform which basically simplifies access to VR content on smartphones. Google has even made Daydream compatible headsets for VR viewing.  There is even a Daydream Home that allows you to access various VR Apps and videos.Currently, there are not a horde of VR supportable videos, like on YouTube and many people don’t really understand what VR has to offer other than in the gaming world. Google plans on changing current perception by bringing out various Google collab Daydream gadgets.

Google’s Daydream and Lenovo Mirage Solo:

As the name suggests you will be flying solo on this gadget, in other words you don’t need a smartphone to use this gadget. The Lenovo Mirage Solo combines the best in having a smartphone VR, it has ease of use and portability.

What’s even more great about this device is that it is comfortable to use with Google’s new WorldSense tech and it gives you a more immersive VR experience. The Lenovo Mirage Solo comes with simultaneous localization mapping or SLAM for short, that basically gives you computer- like position tracking without the need for any extra sensors.

The gadget is even great for gaming because of its immersive VR experience and it’s great tracking capabilities. Using the Lenovo Mirage Solo on Google’s Daydream would just add to the experience.

The Lenovo Mirage Solo will have access to Google’s Daydream apps and with YouTube VR , you can enjoy the VR experience even more. What’s more is that Google is working closely with developers to bring new experiences to the Daydream platform that will take advantage of new tech like the Lenovo Mirage Solo.

Google’s Daydream and VR 180 cameras:

Everyone these days wants to capture their memories and share it with the near and dear ones, Google is trying to make this experience an even more memorable one by introducing the VR 180 cameras.

With these VR 180 cameras you can shoot everything in 3D with 4K resolution and get a more I-was-there-experience.

You can then browse through all the memories you captured on VR headsets like Google’s Daydream view and Cardboard or for a more accessible device you can even use your smartphone.

With these memories you can share them over platforms like YouTube or even watch them on your desktop or phones. You could even access Google’s Daydream with these VR 180 cameras.

Google’s Daydream Compatible VR 180 cameras coming out this year:

Different VR cameras will have different features apart from accessing Google’s Day dream, some will even offer live video streaming so you can share your moments with people over real time.

From the many VR 180 cameras due to be released this year, the Lenovo Mirage Solo camera and the YI Technology’s YI Horizon VR 180 camera will come out in the second quarter of this year.

For a more professional approach the Z Cam K1Pro was recently released.

At the CES held recently in Las Vegas, saw many companies showcase the new and innovative gadgets. Although most of these products may not see the light of day, the CES is still a place where tech companies can get a feel of the market for their gadgets. So it was surprising to see an insurance company as one among the many tech companies at the CES to showcase their gadget, the “My Special Aflac Duck”.

What’s more, the My Special Aflac Duck won the best unexpected product at the CES. All in all this endeavor of the insurance company was well received by all those present at the CES.

More about the My Special Aflac Duck:

Aflac is a company that deals in voluntary insurance. This social robot developed in collaboration with Sproutel, is a companion to a child suffering from cancer. The My Special Aflac Duck was developed in order to make health care more playful and less stressful for the wee ones.

Taking a year to develop the My Special Aflac Duck  and with four patents to back it up the My Special Aflac Duck is all set to offer care and comfort to the small cancer patients.

The My Special Aflac Duck is focused on bringing comfort to children suffering from cancer. With the My Special Aflac Duck’s naturalistic movements and interactive tech, the My Special Aflac Duck is a good comfort factor for children. The My Special Aflac Duck also comes with an app that allows children to use augmented reality in which the My Special Aflac Duck is seen to mirror the child’s life in the form of feeding and even enduring the same painful therapy as the child.

The My Special Aflac Duck also imitates the child’s moods, dances, quacks and also cuddles up to the child when they need it the most. Aflac and Sproutel are all ready to deliver the product to the center at Atlanta later in this year for further testing and are all set to launch the product nation- wide in 2018-19. Backed by four patents and 1 hard year of research, the My Special Aflac Duck has no wonder taken up the hearts and minds of all those present at the CES.

The brains behind the My Special Aflac Duck:

Aflac is the leading voluntary insurance provider in the US that gives payouts quickly when a patient falls sick. These payouts are normally within the same day as when the patient needs the money. The company has taken the minds of family from financial strain to healthcare in their most trying time. The company has also taken root in Japan by being one of the leading providers of insurance there. They provide insurance to one in every 4 households in Japan.  Aflac is the short form of American Family Life Assurance of Columbus.

Sproutel on the other hand is a research and development workshop who’s main focus is developing products that can provide emotional support to patients in need. It has collaborated with many non- for profit organizations and companies alike to come out with products such as the “My Special Aflac Duck” and “Jerry the Bear.”

Currently, the lenses in use today, whether it be in a camera or otherwise use a number of lenses in order to correct what is known as a chromatic aberration. Coming to chromatic aberration later on, this use of multiple lenses causes the instrument or gadget it is used in to be bulky and complex in design.  Recently all that is changed, with researches having created a single metalens that is capable of overcoming chromatic aberration thereby resulting in a more compact and simple designed device. Having created a metalens, opens up various possibilities too in the VR and AR world.

What is a Metalens?

Metalens is a flat surface with nanostructures that focus all colors in a visible spectrum including white light into a single point.

Previously metalenses could only be used to focus a limited range of colors and the only other option was curved lenses that needed to be used in numbers just to overcome chromatic aberration resulting in a very bulky product.

Using multiple layers of curved lenses was necessary because of chromatic aberration. Different color’s wavelengths travel at different speeds through different materials, for example a red wavelength passes through glass faster than what a blue wavelength would. These colors would then reach a point at different times causing a different foci. This difference in foci is called a chromatic aberration.

So currently, in order that this problem of chromatic aberration is solved, a number of curved lenses made of different thickness and materials have been used that is until metalenses.

Advantages of a Metalens over traditional lenses:

Metalenses are made from materials that are cost effective, they are easy to make and are thin compared to today’s traditional lenses.

How has a Metalens taken care of the problem of Chromatic Abberation?

The research team has used arrays of titanium dioxide nanofins to create a metalens which also eliminates the problem of chromatic aberration. Researchers have used units of paired titanium dioxide nanofins to control the speed of various wavelengths simultaneously.

Another advantage of using paired nanofins is that they also control the refractive index on the metalens which creates time delays of the wavelengths passing through the different fins. This process ensures that all colors reach at the same time and at the same place.

Major problems to overcome in making a Metalens:

Researchers had to ensure that all the colors of the spectrum was focused at a single point and that they reached this point at the same time from different points on the metalens.

By joining two nanofins into one element, researchers were able to bring all the colors of a spectrum to focus on one point and all come at the same time to that one focal point.

This breakthrough invention will greatly reduce the thickness and complexity in design when it comes to optical devices such as cameras. This also opens up the AR and VR world of tech.

Researchers are now planning on developing a bigger 1 cm diameter metalens.

Byton is a Chinese based company that unveiled its electric car at the Consumer Electronic Show. Byton will be launching its electric car, the futuristic smart car in 2019. The smart car was created by former engineers from BMW and Apple. Byton actually comes from the phrase, ‘Bytes on Wheels’

Byton has been equipped with smart technology that will enable autonomous driving. It provides for interaction of the driver and passengers with the smart display panel present in the car. This can be done via touch, voice control or gestures.

The car will go into production in 2019 and will be available in the US and Europe in 2020. It will be selling at a price of $45,000.

This car has been pitted against the smart car produced by Tesla’s Model 3, which has been selling for $35,000. Tesla has 8,496 super charging points globally, while Byton has none. It is seeking to get their cars to be charged at the Tesla charging points. Tesla is willing to accommodate Byton at a cost.

Features

On the inside of the Byton smart car, there is a huge touchscreen that occupies the space of the dashboard. This display panel stretches from end to end. This display panel will serve as an active interface for the driver and passengers. During the day, the display is bright white and at night it tones down to cause less distraction. The display can show video clips, calendars, health data and much more.

When the Byton smart car is in fully self-driving mode or stationary, the front seats can rotate inwards at an angle of 12 degrees to provide a comfortable position for interaction.

An 8 inch tablet has been embedded in the steering wheel.

The Main display unit and the tablet can be controlled by a combination of facial recognition, voice activation and gestures. The gestures will be read by cameras that are located below the center of the dashboard. The cameras can determine who you are, upload your profile, adjust the driver’s seat and other customized actions.

The Byton smart car is also equipped with screens on the back of each front seat to entertain the extra passengers.

In its production version, Byton is promising only up to Level 3 capabilities, which is somewhere between a car with a driver and fully autonomous driving. It actually means that the car can drive itself , but the driver has to be alert and be in control of the situation at all  times. After 2020, they will raise it up to Level 4 autonomy, whereby the driver can actually go to sleep.

Painkillers are additive and people usually end up having it even when it has done its job. Having painkillers when there is no need usually results in unwanted side effects which have dramatic effect on the health of the person. It is very likely to develop an addiction for an Opioid painkiller but scientists has come up with a new kind of painkiller which is addictive not does it have extreme side effects.

This new Opioid painkiller has been discovered and developed by an international team of scientists who came across the crystal structure of the kappa Opioid receptor.

It is worth noting that this particular substance is extremely vital in providing the relief against the pain and works like charm of human brain cells to lessen the pain drastically.

The international of scientists consisted of 24 scientists led by researcher from University of North Carolina along with three scientists from USC Michelson Center who had made their name with their research on the special receptors exclusively found on the neuron.

Another important discovery made by the researchers in their endeavor is that this particular Opioid based compound only ends up in activating the kappa Opioid receptor which ensures that there is no risk of addition among the users and certainly it will not have any dangerous side effects surrounding it.

This finding has already been published in a reputed journal called Cell which give insights and details the discovery and development of this amazing painkiller.

Challenge To Bring New Opioid Painkiller into Mainstream Healthcare

In the drug research and development arena scientists face a major challenge of coming with reliable new alternatives towards easing out pain but at the same time keeping down side effects as low as possible.

But using Opioid presents the danger of giving rise to the addiction which is quite rampant with the use of Opioid painkillers. Current data shared by National Institutes of Health shows that more than 1 in 10 American citizens suffers from chronic pain which require administration of painkiller to relive the pain and this has resulted in the addiction to the Opioid painkillers for millions at the same time.

The Science behind the New Opioid Painkillers

It is worth noting that the G protein filled receptors found right on the surface of the membrane is known to act as the communication gatekeeper within cells.

The solution towards bringing relief to the pain is to get in touch with the structure of the receptors and allow it to interact with the right kind of drug compound with limited side effects.

Usually scientists move towards determining the structure of the receptors through forcing the proteins compound right into a crystal lattice which gets exposed to X-rays later on.

This group of scientists actively tried to come up with a perfect model of receptor to understand when it does and doesn’t interact with the drug compound.

There research has also helped in generating a greater understanding of the tecpetor and their behavior and the new Opioid painkiller is based on this very knowledge.

Developing the perfect language translation tool has been a difficult challenge for the scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and others alike for quite some time. Google has made some lead with its translation services but when it comes to AI based speaking almost everyone comes out as robotic voice which can be easily differentiated from a human voice. Google has developed a new method which will aid developers in training neural network to produce realistic speed with Tacotron 2.

This Tacotron 2 will help in bringing realistic kind of speech to the translators through analysing the text and even without the need of any grammatical expertise in the said language. This method is making use of two different speech generation projects namely the original Tacoron and the WaveNet.

The earlier voice generators

During the early days WaveNet left everyone speechless by offering eerily convincing speech but with one audio sample at a time. This was a great achievement but it wasn’t effective when it came to language translation or text to speech translation objectives. In order to get into the world of voice generation WaveNet had to accumulate a great range of metadata relating to the every aspect of the language from the right pronunciation to the key linguistic features. But this problem was overcome with the launch of the first Tacotron which helped in getting high end linguistic feature absolutely but it wasn’t the best enough to be used directly in the speech products of the time.

How Tacotron 2 works?

The Tacotron 2 makes of both the pieces of text and narration in order to get to the right way that particular language is spoken by the natives. In short it specifically calculates all the linguistic rules which might apply to the given text in order to render a human like voice. In essence this method helps in converting the text into very peculiar Tacotron style mel-scale spectrogram which helps in identifying the rhythm and emphasis. It shouldn’t come as surprise that the words are formed using this WaveNet style system for better realistic appeal. The resulting speech with Tacotron 2 is extremely convincing as a realistic human voice but it always happens to be quiet chipper than the usual.

Overcoming the challenges with Tacotron 2

This technique of Tacotron 2 still have a number of shortcoming to overcome before it renders human like voice for language translation in the future. Researchers have stated that this technique faces immense difficulty when it comes to pronouncing difficult words like decorum and merlot. In some cases it freaks out by generating some really eerie and strange noise. The second major shortcoming with this technique is that it isn’t able to translate and generate voice in real-time. Thirdly researchers can’t even control the tone of the generated voice or compel it sound happy or sad. But rigorous research is being undertaken by the team to overcome these challenges on the Tacotron 2 and bring the worlds first realistic voice generator to the masses.