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Category: Science and Technology

  • Facebook, Instagram could leave Europe for good over GDPR rules

    Facebook, Instagram could leave Europe for good over GDPR rules

    By Becky Adi

    Facebook parent Meta has once again threatened to leave the European market if it cannot secure an ongoing deal to exempt it from some aspects of the EU’s GDPR regulations.

    Meta made the claims in its annual letter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), outlining the ongoing dispute between the company and various European regulators over the transfer of user data to and from Europe. (Meta is, of course, based in the US.)

    “If a new transatlantic data transfer framework is not adopted and we are unable to continue to rely on SCCs or rely upon other alternative means of data transfers from Europe to the United States, we will likely be unable to offer a number of our most significant products and services, including Facebook and Instagram, in Europe, which would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations,” the company said.

    Speaking to City AM, Meta’s Nick Clegg confirmed the thinking, arguing that “a lack of safe, secure and legal international data transfers would damage the economy and hamper the growth of data-driven businesses in the EU, just as we seek a recovery from Covid-19.”

    This isn’t the first time Meta (or Facebook as it was known then) has made this threat. Back in 2020, the company made similar claims when it seems that the Irish data regulator would ban transatlantic data flows.

    “In the event that were subject to a complete suspension of the transfer of users’ data to the US,” Facebook lawyer Yvonne Cunnane argued, “it is not clear … how, in those circumstances, it could continue to provide the Facebook and Instagram services in the EU.”

    Leaving Europe, as Meta says, would do huge damage to its business and would likely be a last resort for the company. Speaking to City AM, Meta said that it has “absolutely no desire and no plans to withdraw from Europe, but the simple reality is that Meta, and many other businesses, organisations and services, rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate global services.”

    As you can imagine, European lawmakers were not impressed, which might be a little harsh given that Meta told the SEC as part of its overall fiduciary duties.

  • WhatsApp co-founder becomes Signal interim CEO

    WhatsApp co-founder becomes Signal interim CEO

    Messaging app Signal’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Moxie Marlinspike will step down and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton will become the interim CEO, Marlinspike said in a blog post on Monday.

    “It’s a new year, and I’ve decided it’s a good time to replace myself as the CEO of Signal”, he said. Marlinspike, who will remain on Signal’s board, said he is scouting for candidates for the permanent CEO position.

    Acton founded Signal’s rival messaging app WhatsApp in 2009. The company was bought by Meta Platforms, then Facebook Inc, in 2014. He left WhatsApp in 2017 due to differences around the use of customer data and targeted advertising, according to Signal’s website.

    In February 2018, he alongside Marlinspike, started the non-profit Signal Foundation, which currently oversees the app, by providing an initial funding of $50 million.

    Signal, an end-to-end encrypted messaging platform, has been endorsed by people including Twitter Inc co-founder Jack Dorsey, and whistleblower and privacy advocate Edward Snowden.

  • Twitter might let you ‘unmention’ yourself from tweets

    Twitter might let you ‘unmention’ yourself from tweets


    The features are meant to ‘control unwanted attention’ on the platform.


    By Karissa Bell

    Twitter is exploring a new way to prevent the kind of “unwanted attention” that often results in harassment. The company is working on tools that, if launched, would allow users to prevent people from mentioning them without the block or mute button.

    Described by Twitter product designer Dominic Camozzi as “early concepts,” the features would give Twitter users the ability to “unmention yourself” and control who can tag them in future tweets.

    Similar to untagging yourself on Facebook, unmentioning would essentially unlink your handle from a tweet and prevent you from being tagged in future replies, according to mock-ups shared by Camozzi. The feature could also allow you to block specific users from mentioning you in the future without the need to block their accounts outright. Another potential iteration would let you block any new mentions for a set number of days.

    Going further, if someone you don’t follow @ mentions you, you’ll get a special notification. If you unmention yourself from there, the Tweet author will not be able to mention you again.

    The concept is similar to one that allows users to limit replies to their tweets. Like that feature, the ability to “unmention” could help address some of the more toxic behaviors that often lead to large scale harassment on Twitter. For example, in one version previewed by Camozzi, the app would be able to notify you when you start to get “a lot” of mentions. From there, you could hop into your settings and change who can mention you or pause them altogether in order to “quickly address situations that have suddenly escalated.”

    The features could give users additional tools to deal with situations when viral tweets result in large-scale harassment. Unlike limiting replies, which must be done before you send a tweet, the “unmention” features could be used after the fact or proactively. The tools might not prevent people from saying nasty things altogether but it could shield users from having to wade through a mass of toxic replies or manually block or mute hundreds of accounts.

    Camozzi didn’t say when, or even if, these features could make their way to users, but that Twitter is looking for feedback on the ideas.

  • What’s the science behind CDC’s decision to say fully vaccinated people don’t need masks?

    What’s the science behind CDC’s decision to say fully vaccinated people don’t need masks?

    A fresh batch of data from a big study of health care workers across the country helped prompt the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to say fully vaccinated people can go without masks in most circumstances, the agency said Friday.

    The study found that real-life use of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines provided 94% protection for the front-line workers immunized at the beginning of the vaccine rollout. A single dose provided 82% protection, the CDC-led team reported in the agency’s weekly report

    It was the findings from the new study, on top of earlier studies, that pushed CDC to decide to loosen its advice on who needs to wear a mask and when, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

    “This report provided the most compelling information to date that COVID-19 vaccines were performing as expected in the real world,” Walensky said in a statement Friday.

    “COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death,” CDC says on its new web page describing guidance for the fully vaccinated.

    COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19.”

  • Huawei set to launch test satellites for 6G technology verification

    Huawei set to launch test satellites for 6G technology verification

    Chinese technology giant Huawei is reportedly set to launch two satellites together with two Chinese partners in July this year, with aims including the verification of the 6G network technologies that the company has taken the lead in the research and development (R&D) around the world.

    The satellite launch, with the cooperation of Chinese network operator China Mobile and a national space firm, which has no details unveiled, has great significance for China’s core technologies such as networking and switching, according to a post on Friday by an independent digital blogger named Chang’an Shumajun, who claims having close relations with Huawei.

    A Huawei PR told the Global Times on Saturday that he has not obtained such information so far.

    China Mobile did not respond to the Global Times as of press time.

    The satellite move is natural as Huawei pushes ahead its layout on 6G networks, which is 50 times faster than 5G, Ma Jihua, a senior tech industry analyst based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday.

    Compared with the construction of 5G networks that rely on base stations to transmit signals, 6G networks, conveying higher frequencies, need using satellite for communications instead of base stations where there will be low penetrability, Ma explained.

    Huawei’s rotating chairman Xu Zhijun announced at Huawei global analysts conference held earlier this month that the Chinese tech giant will launch its 6G networks in 2030, and it will release a 6G white paper soon to explain to the industry what 6G is.

    Actually back in 2019, Huawei proposed its vision to launch more than 10,000 small satellites to provide 6G services covering the world, during a global 6G summit.

    China has made the largest 5G footprint around the world and is likely further along into the 6G development with efforts from such bellwether as Huawei, whose 5G is already significantly ahead of its rivals, and has also taken the lead in 6G R&D despite the US’ groundless crackdown on its chip supply.

    The potential of 6G technologies is something that none government or firm could ignore despite the fact that it is still at the early R&D phase, according to Ma.

    Satellite communications have been attached to increasing importance since last year with the proposal of “new infrastructure.” “We need to know the constellation communication as the nation pushes forward is different from Huawei’s 6G move although they both use satellites,” Ma noted.

    China’s satellite constellation, as current projects Hongyun and Hongyan have been involved in, aims to enable broader online access for people and businesses in China’s remote and poorer areas. While, the 6G satellite is more used for tests and providing data in popular urban areas, Ma added.

    Late last year, China launched world’s first 6G experiment satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China’s Shanxi Province, marking a breakthrough in the exploration of terahertz space communication technologies in China’s space field.

    The satellite, carrying a terahertz satellite communication load, planned to establish a transceiver link on the satellite platform and carry out terahertz load tests.

    By Global Times

  • Global $3.1 Billion Virtual Production Market to 2026 – Rising Adoption of the LED Video Wall Technology

    Global $3.1 Billion Virtual Production Market to 2026 – Rising Adoption of the LED Video Wall Technology

    The Global Virtual Production Market size is expected to reach $3.1 billion by 2026, rising at a market growth of 14.3% CAGR during the forecast period.

    Virtual production (VP) is considered as the distinctive intersection of physical and digital filmmaking. With the help of virtual production, video game technology is blended with filmmaking techniques into the pre and post-production process. The initial use and iterations of this technology is based on innovations and advancements in filmmaking technologies.

    Virtual production (VP) has the ability to fuse computer graphics and live footage instantly, to acquire real-time feedback, and to take some crucial decisions on set regarding VFX and animation. Its real-time computer graphics on set can direct your decisions as a filmmaker.

    VP refers to the method of developing the digital world, starts with the inception of the movie and ending with the last VFX, revolves around the real-time interaction on set. Like earlier, VFX is no longer a matter of post-production and also the order of production doesn’t matter in the filming industry now The order of production has changed.

    The rising adoption of the LED video wall technology leads to the augmented implementation of virtual production in the media and entertainment industry. LED video wall present computer-generated graphics in the background and support filmmakers to capture visual effects in real-time. LED video wall screens deliver a realistic background visual that substitutes a real shoot location and saves travel expenses as well as the time of the entire crew.

    Scope of the Study

    Market Segments covered in the Report:

    By Component

    • Software
    • Hardware
    • Services

    By Type

    • Post-production
    • Production
    • Pre-production

    By End User

    • Movie
    • TV Series
    • Commercial Ads
    • Online Videos
    • Others

    By Geography

    • North America
    • US
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • Rest of North America
    • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Russia
    • Spain
    • Italy
    • Rest of Europe
    • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
    • LAMEA
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Nigeria
    • Rest of LAMEA

    Companies Profiled

    1. Adobe, Inc.
    2. Autodesk, Inc.
    3. HTC Corporation
    4. NVIDIA Corporation
    5. 360Rize
    6. Arashi Vision, Inc. (Insta360)
    7. Epic Games, Inc.
    8. HumanEyes Technologies, Ltd. (Vuze Camera)
    9. Mo-Sys Engineering, Ltd.
    10. Boris FX, Inc.
  • Microsoft launches ‘Surface Pro 7+’ in India starting at Rs 83,999

    Microsoft launches ‘Surface Pro 7+’ in India starting at Rs 83,999

    Microsoft on Monday launched the Surface Pro 7+ detachable tablet computer in the Indian market at a starting at Rs 83,999.
  • 50% Of Passenger Vehicles Will Be Electric By 2040

    50% Of Passenger Vehicles Will Be Electric By 2040

    On a global scale, passenger electric vehicles shot up from 450,000 to 2.1 million in 2019. According to A BloombergNEF report, there was a brief slump in 2020, sending the figure down to 1.7 million.

    By 2025, however, it is estimated that sales will reach 8.5 million as new markets open up and battery prices drop. The figure is projected to rise to 26 million by 2030, more than doubling to 54 million by 2040.

    According to the report, by 2040, 50% of passenger vehicles will be powered by electricity. As of 2020, the global penetration rate stands at 2.7%. It is set to increase to 10% by 2025, further to 28% by 2030 and reach 58% by 2040.

    The penetration rate in markets like China and Europe is much higher than the global average. However, it is dragged down by emerging markets where adoption is still limited.

    China will continue accounting for the lion’s share of global EV sales, reaching 54% in 2025. But as adoption becomes more widespread, the share will drop to 49% in 2030 and further down to 33% by 2040.

    Despite the impressive growth in electric vehicle sales, there is a risk that the market could become crowded. BloombergNEF estimates that there could be up to 500 models of EVs available globally by 2022.

    During the year 2020, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) posted sales of 2.11 million vehicles. Compared to its 2019 performance, it marked a decline of 11.3% in sales volume.

    For the 21st consecutive year, it was the top manufacturer globally when it comes to alternative vehicle sales. These include all-electric, fuel cell and hybrid vehicles.

    According to the research data analyzed and published by Sijoitusrahastot, in the hybrid vehicle segment, Toyota sold a total of 337,036 cars during the year, an increase of 22.7% year-over-year (YoY). Compared to the total sales volume, hybrid sales accounted for a 16% share.

    With the inclusion of the new Venza, Mirai and Sienna models, the company now has a total of 14 alternative vehicles on its lineup.

    Though hybrids have been around for about two decades, they are experiencing a gradual resurgence. Toyota is not the only automaker keen on capitalizing on the trend.

  • UK hospital first to use AI cancer treatment tool

    UK hospital first to use AI cancer treatment tool

    The pioneering treatment from Project InnerEye, which could relieve the UK’s cancer treatment backlog, is being offered for free at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge, UK.Microsoft, Cambridge, AI

    Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge is set to be the first hospital in the world to use InnerEye, an AI deep-learning tool from Microsoft Research Cambridge that accelerates the treatment of cancer patients. The technology computes hospital data to accurately identify tumours on patient scans, cutting CT processing times and treatment planning by up to 90%.

    The toolkit could potentially reduce the waiting time for cancer treatment that has built up over the pandemic without compromising on the quality of care. Microsoft has also made the InnerEye software opensource and freely available in order to democratise care and ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from the tool.

    WHY IT MATTERS

    When performed manually, a clinical oncologist or specialised technician must segment CT images obtained during a screening individually in a process called contouring. The medical professional outlines what are tumours and what are healthy organs on the scan, a process that can take several hours. The InnerEye toolkit processes these images 13 times faster than when done manually, utilising the hospital’s own data to improve accuracy and presenting the data to be carefully checked by the consultant oncologist. 

    Up to half of people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. According to Cancer Research, the pandemic has meant an estimated three million people in the UK have missed out on cancer screenings due to hospital restrictions, creating a severe backlog of patients waiting for treatment. The InnerEye toolkit, which is hosted securely on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, enables clinicians to spend more time with more patients whilst ensuring their treatment plans are tailored to them individually.

    THE LARGER PICTURE

    AI and deep learning are becoming a growing presence in digital care in the UK, with the government recently announcing a £20 million injection of funds into AI research.

    ON THE RECORD

    Dr Rajesh Jena, an oncologist at Addenbrooke’s and co-lead of InnerEye, said: “The results from InnerEye are a game-changer. To be diagnosed with a tumour of any kind is an incredibly traumatic experience for patients. So as clinicians we want to start radiotherapy promptly to improve survival rates and reduce anxiety. Using machine learning tools can save time for busy clinicians and help get our patients into treatment as quickly as possible.”

    “There is no doubt that InnerEye is saving me time,” said Yvonne Rimmer, consultant clinical oncologist at Addenbrooke’s. “It’s speeding up the process so I can concentrate on looking at a patient’s diagnostic images and tailoring treatment to them. But it’s important for patients to know that the AI is helping me in my professional role; it’s not replacing me in the process. I double check everything the AI does and can change it if I need to. The key thing is that most of the time, I don’t need to change anything.”

    Javier Alvarez-Valle, principal research manager at Microsoft Research Cambridge, said: “AI models trained with InnerEye are changing the way cancer is treated, speeding up the process to give patients greater peace of mind and empowering clinical oncologists with an AI assistant. The AI works in the background, so clinical oncologists just open up the scans on their computer and they can see what their AI model has highlighted. The clinical oncologist then decides what to do with that information.”

  • FG to Deploy Science and Technology for Mining Sector

    FG to Deploy Science and Technology for Mining Sector

    The Federal Government is to deploy Science and Technology in the area of solid mineral exploitation so as to accelerate economic diversification of the country.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this when he received the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Dr. Onu said the deployment of relevant technology to the solid mineral sector will help Nigeria achieve economic diversification in an inclusive and sustainable way.

    He added that Science, Technology and Innovation is of strategic importance in the exploitation of the solid mineral industry, in order to increase wealth and create more jobs for citizens.

    He told the committee members that the Ministry has the capacity to provide relevant data to help solid mineral exploration.

    In his words, “The National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) will help in the provision of data using satellites to guide miners to the areas where they can exploit mineral resources they need”.

    Dr. Onu added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be deployed by the Ministry’s space agency to help in mining safety and efficiency, adding that through (AI) mines could be operated remotely, thereby minimizing danger to the barest minimum at the mines.

    Dr. Onu also said that Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will assist in the area of processing and value addition of solid minerals in order to enhance their profitability.

    He added that sustainable and inclusive diversification of the solid mineral industry in Nigeria will ensure improved quality of life for Nigerians.

    Earlier, the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Victor Mela Dan-Zaria said the committee’s visit was to intimate the Ministry on the upcoming International summit “Ajaokuta 2020”.

    Hon. Dan-Zaria said the essence of the summit was for economic diversification in Nigeria with special focus on the Solid Mineral industry, adding that the application of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is crucial to the development of the solid mineral industry.

    He further said that the summit will help revive the Ajaokuta steel complex and help Nigeria’s quest for industrialisation.