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121

Software Engineering / Be careful of permissions given to third-party apps on smartphones, warn experts

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:55:09 PM »

NEW DELHI: It's not just social media platforms that could be stealing your data. Security experts have warned users to be cautious about the level of access they provide to third-party apps on smartphones as they run the risk of handing over their sensitive personal information to cyber crooks.

Users across the world this week were rocked by revelations that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to US President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, had accessed personal data of 50 million ..

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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/be-careful-of-permissions-given-to-third-party-apps-on-smartphones-warn-experts/articleshow/63451275.cms

122

Software Engineering / Biometrics-based paperless air travel coming soon to India: SITA

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:52:06 PM »

JAIPUR: Even as Aadhaar's credibility is being questioned, paperless travel could soon become a reality, according to a top aviation expert.

"Our research shows that 70 per cent of passengers in India said they would definitely use biometrics if given the option, removing the need to show a passport or boarding card at key points at airports," Maneesh Jaikrishna, Vice President -- Indian Subcontinet, Eastern and Southern Africa -- for SITA told here. He said this was well above the glob ..

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/biometrics-based-paperless-air-travel-coming-soon-to-india-sita/articleshow/63731019.cms

123

Software Engineering / WINDOWS 10 APRIL 2018 UPDATE REVIEW: SMALL FIXES NOW HINT AT BETTER THINGS FOR L

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:50:14 PM »

Timeline and Near Sharing highlight an otherwise modest list of improvements within the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, which feels more like the Windows service packs of old.

https://www.itnews.com/article/3261547/windows/windows-10-april-2018-update-review.html

124

Software Engineering / JEWELRY INDUSTRY'S NEW 'TRUSTCHAIN INITIATIVE' USES BLOCKCHAIN TO TRACK PRODUCTS

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:48:36 PM »

The world's major jewelry and gem businesses are deploying a blockchain electronic ledger that will verify the origins of their products, all the way from the mines to the retail cases.

Read More.. Visit :

https://www.itnews.com/article/3269440/blockchain/jewelry-industrys-new-trustchain-initiative-uses-blockchain-to-track-products.html

125

Software Engineering / Re: This New Algorithm Can Read Your Brainwaves to See What You're Seeing

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:42:05 PM »

Impressive

126

Software Engineering / Re: Microsoft gambles on a quantum leap in computing

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:40:23 PM »

 

127

Software Engineering / Re: How computers are learning to be creative.

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:39:38 PM »

Informative 

128

Software Engineering / Olympics opening ceremony broadcast will feature 1,200 drones

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:38:00 PM »

The Olympic rings, a symbol of the games for more than 100 years, will receive a high-tech presentation at Friday's opening ceremony.
A flight of more than 1,200 automated Intel (INTC) drones — a world record — will appear in the shape of the five rings during Friday's kickoff broadcast of the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Intel pre-taped the flock of drones on a Korean ski slope in December. A smaller live 300-drone performance was planned for attendees at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, but was called off at the last minute. An Intel spokeswoman did not say why the show was scratched.

But during Friday's evening broadcast, Intel will also organize the drones to resemble a snowboarder racing down a slope. In another part of the taped segment, they will align to resemble a huge bird that's flapping its wings.
Intel's drones are large LED lights with propellers and sensors attached. They weigh less than a pound. Computer software is used to coordinate where each drone flies, and whether it is lit up.
"The Olympics is all about pushing boundaries," Anil Nanduri, general manager of Intel's Drone Group told CNN Tech. "We wanted to do something the world has never seen before."

The performance requires three employees to monitor the drones, and Olympic volunteers to help set them up. One human employee, dubbed the pilot, hits a button on a computer to launch the automated show.

The tech company is planning daily drone performances for attendees throughout the Winter Games that will last for three to five minutes, weather permitting.

Intel, which believes its drones could one day replace fireworks, tested its drones in Finland to prepare for the cold temperatures in Pyeongchang.

The demonstrations are a significant advancement from Intel's earliest drone light shows, which began in 2016. It's now executed 160 shows -- from Singapore's 2017 National Day Parade to the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas -- in more than 10 countries.

In addition, its drones were featured in a pre-taped segment for the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show featuring Lady Gaga. The drones swirled above Gaga and took the shape of the U.S. flag as she sung God Bless America.

Source: CNNMoney (Washington)
First published February 9, 2018: 8:51 AM ET

129

Software Engineering / Robot follows you around, projects on your wall. Useful?

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:36:36 PM »

Keecker is an all-in-one entertainment system designed to follow you from room to room. But is it worth the $1,790 price tag?
Visit the Link:
http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2018/01/29/keecker-robot-projector-review.cnnmoney/index.html

130

Software Engineering / Drones are helping scientists fight wildlife extinction

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:35:22 PM »

Drones may be a powerful tool for preserving endangered species.
Researchers in Australia suggest that counting wildlife using drones is more accurate than traditional methods, according to a paper published on Tuesday in the British Ecological Society journal "Methods in Ecology and Evolution."
"With so many animals across the world facing extinction, our need for accurate wildlife data has never been greater," said Jarrod Hodgson, lead author of the research paper and Ph.D candidate at the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences. "Accurate monitoring can detect small changes in animal numbers. That is important because if we had to wait for a big shift in those numbers to notice the decline, it might be too late to conserve a threatened species."
Drones have previously been used to monitor different animals, such as elephants and nesting birds. But it was uncertain how accurate drones were for counting species, according to the researchers.

To test the method, the team created fake bird colonies on a beach in Adelaide, Australia, using 2,000 decoy ducks. They were modeled after Crested Tern seabirds.

Wildlife experts on the ground counted the fake birds with binoculars and telescopes, while a drone flew overhead and took pictures. Another group of scientists counted the number of birds they could see from the drone images.

counting birds with drones
Jarred Hodgson, lead author of the research paper, stands with a fake bird colony.
"In a wild population, the true number of individuals is not known. This makes it very difficult to test the accuracy of a counting approach," Hodgson told CNN Tech. "We needed to test the technology where we knew the correct answer."

The researchers found that the drone approach was more precise than counting on the ground.

Because counting species in photographs is time intensive, the researchers also trained a computer algorithm to count the birds automatically. Those results were nearly as accurate as scientists reviewing the photos, according to the team.
The research paper was co-authored by scientists from the University of Adelaide, Australian Antarctic Division, University of Tasmania and Monash University.

Hodgson said the researchers are still learning about how wildlife reacts to the presence of drones.

"The results will help to refine and improve drone monitoring protocols so that drones have minimal to non-existent impact on wildlife," he said. "This is particularly important for species that are prone to disturbance and where traditional methods involving close proximity to species are not possible or desirable."

The researchers are planning a similar drone test to monitor different species of seals and to detect the nests or tracks of difficult-to-observe animals.

Drones aren't the only technology scientists are using to count wildlife populations.

Last year, a group of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and Canterbury Museum in New Zealand demonstrated that albatross birds can be seen and counted from space using high-resolution satellite imagery. Albatrosses, a type of big seabird, are one of the most threatened groups of birds in the world.

Source: CNN News

131

Software Engineering / Ransomware experiment shows the dangers of hacking robots

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:34:02 PM »

Ransomware, the act of demanding money by locking down devices and files, is not only a threat on phones or computers. It's coming for robots, too.
Researchers at security firm IOActive have successfully conducted a ransomware attack on a SoftBank Robotics NAO humanoid robot.

Designed for schools and businesses, NAO and its more popular sibling Pepper are robots equipped with microphones and cameras. They're typically used in classrooms, retail stores, and offices for customer assistance.

After installing ransomware on the robot, the security firm was able to get it to demand bitcoin. The researchers could modify system files and the robot's behavior, such as forcing it to say threatening messages.

The team also noted a hacked robot's potential ability to steal stored data, say curse words, or display controversial content such as pornography if it has a screen.

"Ransomware for robots is a real threat with potentially huge economic implications for businesses -- even more than regular ransomware," the researchers wrote in a report published Friday.
As robots become increasingly commonplace, from smart speakers like Amazon Echo to manufacturing plants, it's a reminder of the threats that could disrupt our lives.

In IOActive's case, the ransomware installation required the same Wi-Fi network as the robot. This means the hack had to take place nearby; if a robot is connected to a retail store's public internet, a hacker would need access to its Wi-Fi network to compromise the device.

The experiment followed IOActive's work last year that discovered 50 vulnerabilities in robots manufactured by a number of vendors, including SoftBank Robotics. To further their research, IOActive created a proof-of-concept ransomware attack on the NAO robot. Because it was developed in a similar way, the attack would also likely work on Pepper.

IOActive said researchers alerted SoftBank Robotics to the security issues in January 2017, but the company has not yet fixed the flaws.

"When in use of Pepper, we ask to maintain the wifi network security, and also to set the robot passwords correctly. We will continue to improve our security measures on Pepper, so we can counter any risks we may face," the firm said in a statement.

The researchers said fixing a robot controlled by ransomware requires a specialized technician. A robot owner might have to send the robot back to the vendor for repairs, which could be costly.

The financial cost of general ransomware on businesses is significant. Small businesses can lose hundreds thousands of dollars and days of productivity due to disruptions in their services. At large corporations, the cost can be even higher.

Last year, the WannaCry ransomware attack shut down hospitals in the UK, which were forced to turn patients away due to computer issues. The malware also infected a Honda plant in Japan and disrupted vehicle production.

Although the IOActive research didn't harm a business or consumer, it's an example of the potential issues of robots and connected devices. The more gadgets become a part of the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) -- which includes products like internet-connected lightbulbs, smart TVs and speakers -- the more opportunities hackers have to conduct cyberattacks.

"Robots are IoT on steroids," said Cesar Cerrudo, CTO at IOActive. "And the impact of ransomware is much bigger, as it directly affects business production and services."

Source: CNN News

132

Software Engineering / Beyond passwords: Companies use fingerprints and digital behavior to ID employee

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:30:42 PM »

More companies are ditching passwords and using fingerprints and other biometrics to stop hackers.
"We're seeing a very rapid evolution from what used to be passwords, then smart cards, and now to biometrics," said Alex Simons, director of program management in Microsoft's identity division.

Biometric authentication uses face, fingerprint or iris scans to quickly confirm a person's identity. You probably already use itap by touching the home button to unlock your phone.

In the workplace, employees are increasingly using biometrics to log in to phones and computers, and to access data stored on those devices and in the cloud.

Spiceworks, a professional network for people in the IT industry, says nearly 90% of businesses will use biometric authentication by 2020, up from 62% today. Fingerprint scanning is currently the most common type of biometric authentication: 57% of organizations use it. Far fewer, just 14%, use facial recognition.

Companies such as Microsoft (MSFT) and Facebook (FB) are trying to get rid of passwords completely.

In 2015, Microsoft introduced Windows Hello with Windows 10. The new software uses face scans or fingerprints to log in to Windows devices. More than 50 million people use Windows Hello to log in to their PCs both in the home and at the office.

The Windows 10 Spring Creators Update will include a new authentication standard developed in collaboration with other tech companies, including Google. Called FIDO 2.0, the standard will enable Windows consumers to use multiple devices — including third-party security keys or a security monitors that track your heart rate — to automatically log in to their computers without a password.

Continue Reading:
http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/18/technology/biometrics-workplace/index.html

133

Software Engineering / Robot co-workers?

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:26:27 PM »

Technology is poised to change the workplace, from robot co-workers and AI bosses to a fun twist on working remotely.

One such innovation is virtual reality. Although it's often associated with gaming, it can also be a powerful workplace training tool.

Construction workers can put on a VR headset to understand hazards before entering a site, and nurses can learn more about the medical devices they use to treat patients. A startup named Strivr designs such VR experiences. It's worked with Walmart to prepare workers for shopping crowds on Black Friday, too.

Professional sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings also use Strivr's tech to review plays or keep Injured players mind's sharp when they cannot practice.

One of the biggest areas where VR training can be useful is safety, according to J. P. Gownder, vice president at research firm Forrester.

"Strivr is one of many approaches to solving this problem. The company's templated approach makes it relatively easy to capture real-world environments for training," Gownder said.

Source: CNN News

134

Software Engineering / Google is testing some new ways to have fun with smartphone photography.

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:24:23 PM »

The company released a trio of free photo apps on Monday. Created as experiments by different Google (GOOG) departments, the simple mobile apps include a photo booth with pose-detecting powers, a way to remix videos like a DJ, and a tool for turning any mundane adventure into a comic book panel.

The company is calling the free downloads Appsperiments, a clunky portmanteau of "apps" and "experiments." The tools offer a peek into the future of smartphone photography, which will increasingly rely on effects created by software.

An early example is the Google Pixel 2 portrait mode, which uses software to fake a shallow depth-of-field effect.

"The next generation of cameras ... will have the capability to blend hardware and computer vision algorithms," said Alex Kauffmann, an interaction researcher at Google Research, in a blog post.

Continue Reading Visit:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/11/technology/google-photo-apps/index.html?iid=EL

135

IT Forum / Can Google replace photographers with an algorithm?

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:22:12 PM »

Like all mediocre photographers, Google's Clips camera occasionally lucks into some good pictures.
The new $249 gadget, released in February, automates much of the job of a certain kind of photographer. You place the 2-inch high white square on a surface, preferably someplace frequented by children or pets. It automatically captures any "candid" scenes it determines are worthwhile with its wide-angle lens.

I spent a week with the camera, planting it on countertops, floors and shelves. Unfortunately my cat and bunny both passed away last year, so Clips only had children to work with. Luckily, my children are extremely good looking.

Even so, the resulting photos and videos had a common, soulless look to them. The wide-angle meant they were busy, with too much in focus and no appealing composition.

Essentially, Clips combines the hands-off approach of a surveillance camera with the visual style of a surveillance camera.

And yet, for a camera that silently watches you, Clips doesn't feel creepy. Google (GOOG) has been careful to avoid raising any privacy red flags. It stores all images and videos on the device. You preview photos using the Clips Android or iOS app over a one-to-one WiFI connection, and manually choose which ones to save to your smartphone.
While it might not succeed as a camera, it does raise interesting questions about what makes a photograph "good," and if you can ever program an algorithm to make art.

"The act of photography is the act of expression," said photographer Ben Long, author of "The Complete Digital Photography." "The [Clips] algorithm would just be the expression of the photographic ideas of whoever wrote that algorithm, minus the knowledge of what makes the scene around them interesting."
To come up with its special sauce, the Clips team asked professional photographers working at the company what they believe makes a good photo.

The software looks for children, animals, and faces, preferably within three-to-eight feet of the lens. Clips likes movement, but tries to avoid blurry photos and can tell when something is blocking the lens, like the hand of a curious child. It learns the faces of the people you save the most and takes more pictures of them. It is programmed to have a preference for happy, smiling faces.

Continue Reading Visit:
http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/30/technology/google-clips-photography/index.html

Source: CNN News