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Category: EmergingTechnologiesUpdate

EmergingTechnologiesUpdate

  • 5 Reasons to Finance Electronic Devices

    5 Reasons to Finance Electronic Devices

    With the addition of millions of remote workers, new devices for security, and countless electronics designed for our comfort and convenience, it makes sense to finance purchases of electronics. 

    Whether you work from home or not, if you have a good work-from-home setup, you may make yourself more useful to your current employers and more marketable for future jobs by purchasing up-to-date equipment. The current trend in remote work means this could be possible for many people. Therefore, this could require purchasing a good laptop, a headset, and possibly even a webcam. 

    What would you do if you couldn’t afford to pay cash for pricey devices? Fortunately, you can get financing for electronics. 

    Here are 5 reasons for financing your new electronics:

    1. You Do Not Need Excellent Credit

    Many consumers assume they won’t be able to finance electronics because they have poor credit. Perhaps you have a history of irregular car payments or owe a lot of money in college loans or medical debt. Don’t worry. New electronics purchases are still financeable. In fact, many companies that provide financing for electronics, furniture, and appliances also offer financing for people with poor credit. This means that your financing applications may still be approved even if you have a low credit score or none.

    2. Get Your Payments Reported on Your Credit

    Unbelievable as it may seem, choosing to finance electronics can really help you raise your credit score. Your credit score will rise as you make timely and regular payments for your electronics. In fact, some consumers decide to finance their electronics in order to concentrate on building their credit.

    3. No-Interest Financing 

    Did you know that interest is not always a part of financing options? You might be able to simply pay off your purchase over time without incurring interest if you select a lease-to-purchase option. This means you are removing one of the biggest barriers to financing electronics some individuals face. There won’t be any further costs; you’ll pay for the electronics exactly as you would if you paid for it in full.

    4.  Affordable New Electronics

    One of the key benefits of financing electronics is that you won’t have to settle for a used item; instead, you may purchase a brand-new item. Even while you might be tempted to purchase a used electrical gadget online or through services like Craigslist in an effort to save money, the chances of having them break down are high. Even if they are refurbished, there is typically a reason why old things are so cheap. Unfortunately, it’s often due to their short lifespans and unreliability. 

    5. Reliable Dealers

    Generally, while financing electronics, you can be sure that the seller is offering the real deal. There’s no need to be concerned about them taking your money and taking off. You’re going into a long-term contract as a pair. This cannot be asserted if you seek to make a purchase from a person selling goods in person or from an anonymous online merchant. If you finance electronics, you’ll be able to identify and trust the seller, which is worth the effort.

    Conclusion

    There are many factors to take into account before financing an electronic item. Yet, in the long run, this choice can be an excellent way for you to save money and buy the equipment you need or desire.

  • Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung is planning to invest $230 billion to build the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing “mega cluster.”

    As semiconductors become more important across industries, the chip supply chain is increasingly becoming an area of national security concern for countries around the world. According to ABC News, Samsung’s plan is part of a South Korean national project to help establish the country as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturing site.

    The plan includes Samsung building the world’s single biggest chip-building base, and will take some 20 years to fully realize. Once the “mega cluster” is complete, in 2042, it will build a wide range of high-end chips, including both computer memory and logic chips.

    “(South Korea) has world-class manufacturing capabilities and technologies in various high-tech industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and displays, but (government) support and regulatory conditions have been insufficient,” the Trade Ministry said in a statement.

    Samsung is already one of the world’s leading chipmakers. This expansion is sure to help it strengthen its position.

  • Microsoft Announces Hybrid Quantum Computing

    Microsoft Announces Hybrid Quantum Computing

    Microsoft has added a major feature to Azure Quantum, integrating quantum and classical computing.

    Quantum computing is the next great computing revolution, bringing a level of processing power previously only imagined. While the industry has always understood that the hybrid model would be critical to unlocking quantum computing’s potential, achieving it has been a challenge. Microsoft is the first to deliver on the promise with its Integrated Hybrid feature in Azure Quantum.

    “Quantum computing is inherently hybrid. The key to unlocking impactful, commercial applications at scale will be deep integration between classical computing capabilities including HPC and AI with scaled quantum computing in the cloud,” writes Fabrice Frachon, Principal PM Lead, Azure Quantum.

    “Now, researchers can begin developing hybrid quantum applications with a mix of classical and quantum code together that run on one of today’s quantum machines, the Quantinuum H-Series, and soon QCI, in Azure Quantum. This capability unlocks a new generation of hybrid algorithms and is a first for the industry.”

    Microsoft is making it easy to begin experimenting with hybrid quantum computing:

    You can try integrated hybrid quantum computing on Azure Quantum for free. All users are eligible for $500 in Azure Quantum credits – use it to explore and experiment with any Quantinuum QPU available on the platform. You can also apply for up to $10,000 in research credits on Azure Quantum to further your quantum research and innovation. To get started, just set up an Azure account (check out free Azure accounts for students), create an Azure Quantum workspace in the Azure Portal, and start your quantum journey with Azure Quantum.

  • The Booming Market of Smart Devices

    The Booming Market of Smart Devices

    Looking at old novels, cartoons, and stories, the image of a fully smart home, automated and aware, is pervasive. It’s a natural extension of progression, eventually the home will just take care of itself, independent of humans. Although that image is still one of the distant future, smart devices have begun to fill in the gaps.

    The Rise of Smart Homes

    Smart homes, homes filled with smart devices, are now becoming common. Today 69% of households own a smart device. This equates to 349 million smart devices being shipped in a year, a number that is projected to hit 1.7 billion in 2025. What exactly are these smart devices though, and what purposes do they serve?

    The most common and pervasive example is the one most commonly thought of. Alexa, Amazon Echo, the countless alternatives, smart speakers and hubs that connect a house digitally. Most smart devices are found in the living room and represent convenience and luxury. Although this isn’t the case for all smart devices.

    Smart security, for example, is one of the longest standing markets. Smart security today is the third most popular category, with 17% of consumers utilizing it. These devices can be smart doorbells, cameras, or various other security measures. Today homeowners can watch their home on vacation, see who’s outside, and be alerted to specific dangers.

    Cost Savings?

    A slightly less obvious set of smart devices are those that affect the bills. Smart devices are expensive, price being one of the biggest barriers to entry. Although some smart devices actually save money over time. For example, smart water heaters save $4,500 over 10 years. Smart thermostats can cut costs 10% even yearly. And smart light bulbs save around $35 per bulb yearly.

    These devices are more akin to a practical investment. Although there are certainly many niche and obscure devices to accompany them. Things like smart mirrors, showerheads, dishwashers, ovens, window shades, and sprinklers. These devices tend to solve much more niche issues, and are a greater mark of luxury.

    Gen Z and Millennials are Leading the Way

    Overall consumers today see smart devices and their implementation as a positive. 94% of Gen Z value convenience, and 80% of Gen Z and Millennials say their adoption is positive. While 51% of smart device owners think that prices are too high, 51% also still want to buy another.

    There’s something intrinsically appealing about the idea of smart devices, at least, to younger generations. Baby boomers have a less favorable perception to them, as they can have a high barrier to entry. Undoubtedly though price is what is stopping these devices from booming in popularity. Subscription models and cheaper alternatives are being developed, but it is ultimately a luxury good.

    Conclusion

    Looking forward, it’s hard to see where smart homes will lie. Will they drop in price and continue to invade the average home? Or will they become more complete in scope and move closer to the smart homes seen in the media? Only time will tell, but for now smart devices are here and they’re here to stay.

    Smart Devices and Homes of the Future
  • TSMC’s Arizona Plant Will Have Its Most Advanced Capabilities

    TSMC’s Arizona Plant Will Have Its Most Advanced Capabilities

    TSMC’s founder Morris Chang has confirmed the company’s Arizona plant will feature its most advanced capabilities.

    TSMC is the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, manufacturing chips for Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and others. The company is in a precarious position, however, as a result of escalating tension between Taiwan and China, not to mention the threat of a Chinese invasion.

    According to CNN, TSMC seems to be hedging its bets, bringing its most advanced manufacturing capabilities to the Arizona foundries it is building.

    “Chips are very important products,” TSMC’s founder Morris Chang said at press briefing Monday. “It seems that people are only starting to realize this recently, and as a result, lots of people out there are envious of Taiwan’s chip manufacturing.”

    “I not only believe, but know for a fact that the cost of manufacturing chips in the US will be at least 55% higher than in Taiwan,” Chang at another press event Saturday..

  • Amazon May Deploy Facial Recognition to Confirm Seller Identity

    Amazon May Deploy Facial Recognition to Confirm Seller Identity

    Amazon is testing various methods to streamline seller identity verification, including facial recognition.

    Facial recognition is a controversial technology, with critics raising concerns over privacy, security, racial profiling, and more. That isn’t stopping Amazon from testing the technology as a way to speed up and simply seller verification.

    The company announced its intentions in a blog post:

    Today, we are starting to test a new, optional experience for prospective sellers that uses forgery detection, facial recognition, and liveness detection technology to quickly verify the authenticity of government-issued identity documents and whether they match the individual applying to sell in our store. Our test will determine whether we can achieve the same robustness of identity verification as our current processes while also providing a better experience for sellers who choose this verification process.

    Companies and organizations that have tried to roll out facial recognition for identify verification have quickly learned of the pitfalls involved. The IRS infamously tried to enforce the use of facial recognition for online accounts, only to backtrack over the backlash it received.

  • TSMC Eyeing Major Expansion of Arizona Semiconductor Presence

    TSMC Eyeing Major Expansion of Arizona Semiconductor Presence

    The CHIPS Act appears to be paying off, with TSMC looking to significantly expand its semiconductor presence in Arizona.

    TSMC is the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer. The company builds chips for the world’s biggest companies and most popular devices. Like its rivals, TSMC was no doubt waiting to see if the US CHIPS Act passed, making some $53 billion available to semiconductor manufacturers that expand production in the US.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, TSMC is investigating the possibility of building a second chip plant in Arizona. The company began construction on its first Arizona plant in mid-2021.

    TSMC told the Journal that it is constructing a building that could eventually serve as a second fab. The company said that, while no final decision has been made, it may eventually add advanced chip-building capacity at that location.

    Arizona has emerged as the center of a resurgence of American chip-making, with TSMC and Intel investing heavily in the state.

  • Biden Administration Wants Research Into Reflecting the Sun’s Rays

    Biden Administration Wants Research Into Reflecting the Sun’s Rays

    The Biden administration is continuing its efforts to combat climate change, announcing a study into reflecting the Sun’s rays.

    Climate scientists have been sounding the alarm about climate change, warning that drastic measures must be taken in order to prevent a catastrophic rise in temperatures. If the rise isn’t halted, sea levels will submerge coastal cities and towns, devastate some island nations, and drastically redraw the maps.

    One increasingly popular solution is to find a way to reflect some of the Sun’s rays, thereby reducing some of the heat that reaches the Earth. As Popular Mechanics points out, the scientific theory behind the idea is based on naturally occurring events. Volcanoes have long had a cooling impact on the Earth, thanks to the tons of ash spewed into the atmosphere, ash that blocks some of the Sun’s rays.

    The Biden administration wants “scientific assessment of solar and other rapid climate interventions in the context of near-term climate risks and hazards.”

    Scientists are already applauding the research.

    “Sunlight reflection has the potential to safeguard the livelihoods of billions of people, and it’s a sign of the White House’s leadership that they’re advancing the research so that any future decisions can be rooted in science not geopolitical brinkmanship,” Chris Sacca, the founder of climate tech investment fund Lowercarbon Capital, told CNBC.

  • Elon Musk Announces Neuralink Show and Tell Delay

    Elon Musk Announces Neuralink Show and Tell Delay

    Elon Musk has announced a month-long delay to Neuralink’s next event.

    Neuralink is one of Elon Musk’s other companies, one that is working to develop interfaces that will enable the human brain to directly interact with machines. The company’s next event was scheduled for October 31, but has been delayed.

    Musk did not provide any additional details, but here’s to hoping the event doesn’t get delayed again.

  • Oracle Turns to AI to Automate Digital Marketing With Fusion Marketing

    Oracle Turns to AI to Automate Digital Marketing With Fusion Marketing

    In an industry first, Oracle is using artificial intelligence (AI) to help automate digital marketing.

    AI is revolutionizing a wide range of industries, but Oracle is applying it to digital marketing campaigns, with its newly announced Fusion Marketing platform. Unlike many lead generation systems, that merely raise brand awareness, Fusion Marketing is specifically designed to generate leads.

    Fusion Marketing uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically score leads at the account level, predict when consumers are ready to talk to a salesperson, and generate a qualified sales opportunity in any CRM system.

    Oracle hopes Fusion Marketing will address the disconnect many salespeople feel when using a CRM system, where siloed data often works against making a sale. Oracle’s new system is designed to address that and accelerate marketing campaigns by automating the lead generation process from end-to-end.

    “It is time for our industry to think differently about marketing and sales automation so that we can transform CRM into a system that actually works for both the marketer and the salesperson,” said Rob Tarkoff, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Advertising and Customer Experience. “This is not about forecasts and rollups or a reporting tool to see how the sales force is performing, but instead about turning CRM into a system that helps sellers sell. A huge part of that change is bringing marketing and sales teams together and eliminating the low-value, time consuming tasks that distract from building customer relationships and closing deals. That’s why we have invested so much time engineering a system that will help marketers fully automate lead generation and qualification and get highly qualified leads to the sales team faster.”

    Oracle’s Fusion Marketing is just the beginning, as experts say AI will continue to transform digital marketing.

    “Machine learning algorithms are integral to digital marketing and that will only increase over time. The best digital marketers have embraced this fact, and have already shifted their focus towards more human-first activities. Machines are better at crunching numbers and making data-driven decisions. But they still need humans to decide what data to feed into those systems. This comes from understanding human behavior, a deep sense of empathy, and expert-level storytelling that are hard to replicate through AI.” – Dennis Consorte, Digital Marketing Expert and Expert at Digital.com, told WebProNews.

  • How to Optimize a Network for VoIP

    How to Optimize a Network for VoIP

    Many businesses are moving from traditional telephone systems to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP has various productive and cost benefits that business owners can take advantage of. Reliability is especially crucial for all small businesses, and this is something VoIP provides you with. Because VoIP uses the same internet connection you use in the rest of the building, fluctuations in quality and connectivity are common, and both lead to a degraded experience. To improve things, you should optimize your network to ensure you get the best experience possible. In this article, we will look at a few ways to do this.

    Pick a VoIP Provider

    Before you can optimize your network for VoIP, you should first choose a VoIP provider. The provider should have services that are catered to the business, industry, or field you are in. For example, hospitals should lean towards VoIP providers who can ensure reliable and cost-effective services while also allowing healthcare professionals to connect to their colleagues or patients on mobile wherever they may be.

    At top10.com, you can read reviews of the best VoIP providers for hospitals with the features everyone who uses the option will appreciate. On the provided link you will also find the important features you should consider when choosing a VoIP provider for your hospital or healthcare facility as well as detailed reviews of the top five providers.

    Evaluate Your Connection Needs

    You should have enough bandwidth for the best VoIP experience. The amount of bandwidth you need will depend on the number of VoIP systems you install as well as the number of other systems that use the same connection. It will also depend on the number of concurrent calls you wish to make. To know your bandwidth, you can use various online tools that help you check your internet bandwidth and other factors that affect connection quality and reliability.

    Change Your Connection Type

    Beyond the bandwidth, you also need to ensure you are using the right types of connections. DSL is outdated in this age of fast internet speeds, and what you are looking for are coax cable and fiber cable connections. Numerous network service providers deploy fiber connections and deal with business-level internet bandwidth.

    Once you have determined your bandwidth and the type of connection you need, get in touch with a network provider who can give you both, plus higher internet speeds at a reasonable cost. Remember to also ask if they can provide more than one connection because having many more lines with higher internet speeds will improve call quality and reliability.

    Replace Outdated Equipment

    Your hardware is the other puzzle of your VoIP system. You can get by on old equipment, but not only will you risk your network’s security, you will also have a degraded call experience and the reliability of these systems is often very poor. Your network’s backbone is critical, and this is why you need to upgrade your networking hardware and equipment.

    The first thing you need to check is your switch. How old is it, and can it handle gigabit connections? The switch’s age will determine its reliability and its ability to handle gigabit speeds will determine the number of VoIP systems and concurrent calls you can have and the quality and reliability of your calls. The quality and reliability will be determined by the latency within the switch which is often higher in older equipment but almost non-existent in newer models.

    If you do not have a budget to overhaul your whole infrastructure, concentrate on the switching and routing gear. When you upgrade, do not skimp on cost because cheap equipment will lead to headaches sooner than more expensive equipment will.

    Manage Traffic Using a VLAN

    Your office will have different services running on the same network as is expected. These services interfere with each other and affect the performance of priority services like VoIP which need lots of bandwidth. Dedicated bandwidth for your VoIP system can solve this issue. But how do you get such dedicated bandwidth? You use a dedicated Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

    A VLAN allows you to prioritize bandwidth to applications that need more such as VoIP systems. By doing so, you can reduce latency and delays, which improves performance and the quality of service you get.

    Network segmentation and prioritization using a VLAN is a feature typically found on business-class routers and this is yet another reason to upgrade and not skimp on your routers. When creating a VLAN, give dedicated bandwidth to the ports used by your VoIP system.

    For the best reliability and performance, your VoIP system requires a good connection as well as adequate bandwidth. You can achieve both by using the right networking equipment and setting up your network the right way. Do not forget to check whether your switching and routing equipment can handle the additional bandwidth as well as how many VoIP systems you want to be installed.

  • The Most Popular eSports Games of 2022

    The Most Popular eSports Games of 2022

    Nowadays, playing video games can make you quite famous. The video game industry is, in fact, one of the largest, most profitable and fastest-growing industries in the word today. The logical step was to turn video games into a legitimate sport sooner or later. 

    That being said, playing video games isn’t as easy as people may think, especially when it comes to competitive video games. It’s because of that competitiveness that eSports have been created. Today, a lot of people around the world  rely on sources like esprts for news and for wagering on eSports matches, as well. 

    The growth of popularity for eSports events is continuously rising and many people are quite invested in these competitions. With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the most  popular games that made it into the eSports realm.

    Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

    The good old Counter Strike began its journey back in 1999 as a mod for Half Life 2 developed by Valve. Since then the game has become very popular and it is played even today. 

    Valve eventually purchased the IP from the modders and created CS:GO in 2012. 

    After more than two decades of competitive first-person shooter matches, the CS franchise has become one of the most influential games in the world and one of the major games in eSports events. 

    Dota 2

    Another title from Valve, Dota 2 has evolved from Warcraft II multiplayer mod. Today, it’s one of the most popular MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games in the world. 

    Dota 2 quickly made it into the eSports industry as a video game that attracts the most gamers from all over the world. Some Dota 2 eSports teams have already made a name for themselves that video game enthusiasts from around the globe are quite familiar with. 

    League of Legends (LOL)

    LOL is another MOBA game developed by Riot Games that has seen a massive increase in popularity over the years. Similar to Dota 2, LOL is a competitive game that involves strategizing and skill to defeat the opposing team. 

    LOL’s eSports events are one of the most popular and highly sought-after sources of modern entertainment today. Gamers from around the world, especially Asia are very invested in this franchise. 

    Closing Words

    If you’d ask someone a decade ago whether video games will become so popular and so lucrative, they’d say you’re crazy. But times change and so do things we thought insignificant enough to pay attention to. Yet here we are with eSports popularity that rivals that of actual sports events. 

  • The Impact of Too Much Screen Time

    The Impact of Too Much Screen Time

    Unlimited screen time has a significant impact on the safety and well being of children. In 2021, parents ranked increased time on mobile devices as one of the most harmful effects of the pandemic. In fact, studies show that teens’ screen time more than doubled during the pandemic, with the average sitting around 4 hours per day in 2019, then jumping to nearly 8 hours per day in 2020. Half of surveyed teens say that they “feel addicted” to their phones, and 59% of those participants’ parents agree. In addition, 72% of teens feel the need to immediately respond to notifications, and nearly 80% check their devices at least once an hour.

    Dangers of Increased Screen Time

    Because of this increased screen time in the lives of young people, there is an increased chance of negative mental and emotional effects as a result. It has been reported that almost half of adolescents today will experience some form of mental health disorder in their lifetime, and teens who use social media for more than 3 hours per day are at a heightened risk. A persistent use of social media not only opens the door for negative outcomes like lower self-esteem and diminished body image, but also increases the likelihood of cyberbullying. A shocking 90% of teens believe that online harassment is normal, therefore these types of threats are no stranger to people who spend time on the internet.

    In addition to cyberbullying, accidental exposure to pornography at a young age is another threat that minors face when spending time online. The average age at which children are first exposed to pornography has decreased by 2.5 years since 1985, falling to age 11. Early exposure to this type of inappropriate content can have many long term consequences such as the normalization of violence, lower self-esteem, loneliness, greater risk of depression, and an increased odds of teen pregnancy. Studies show that 1 in 7 children between ages 9 and 12 have shared a nude photo of themselves, and 1 in 3 have seen indecent photos of others that have been re-shared without consent. In 2020, one-third of reported child sexual abuse material was self generated, which only fuels the 84% of parents that are worried about their child’s safety while using the internet.

    The Impact of Accidental Exposure

    Accidental exposure most often occurs through innocently entering simple search phrases or open ended terms. Also, many young children are playing video games and consuming content on social media platforms that require or allow strangers to communicate with them. 43% of children ages 8 to 13 speak to strangers online, often without supervision while receiving unsolicited messages. Although these dangers are everywhere, there are many effective ways for parents and families to ensure that all experiences online are nothing but positive. Setting ground rules, enabling parental privacy and use controls, talking to children about potential dangers, and enforcing good habits while online are only a few of the ways that device usage can be made safer. Although studies show that almost 1 in 5 parents do not bother with parental controls, new technology has made them easy to use and difficult to bypass, ensuring that children are only consuming content that is targeted for their age group and maturity level.

    Learn more about the impact of too much screen time in the infographic below:

    This Is Your Mind Online: What Unlimited Screen Time Does To Kids
    Source: Canopy.us

  • Intel Moves Up 2025 Chip Tech a Full Six Months

    Intel Moves Up 2025 Chip Tech a Full Six Months

    Intel’s efforts to catch up in the semiconductor industry are ahead of schedule, by as much as a full six months.

    Intel has been working to catch up to its rivals after years of falling behind, both in innovation and manufacturing ability. Since bringing back Pat Gelsinger as CEO, the company has been going back to its roots, focusing on chip manufacturing. The company has a roadmap for its turnaround, with the goal of leapfrogging its rivals by 2025. According to CNET, the company now believes products based on its most advanced Intel 18A process will be available in late 2024, rather than early 2025.

    “Intel must have good confidence in the [schedule] pull in,” said Tirias analyst Kevin Krewell. “Otherwise, why announce it this early?”

    The company has been investing billions in new factories and foundries in an effort to increase its production, as well as spending heavily to upgrade its equipment to stay competitive. If Intel’s announcement is correct, it may finally be in a position to challenge TSMC and AMD, and perhaps reclaim its crown as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer.

  • Startup Develops Tech to Deliver Pain in the Metaverse

    Startup Develops Tech to Deliver Pain in the Metaverse

    H2L Technologies has developed technology to allow users to experience real pain in response to their metaverse activities.

    The metaverse is the convergence of virtual, augmented, and in-person reality, with an emphasis on the virtual aspect. Companies in virtually every industry are racing to stake their claim in the metaverse, with banks opening offices and purchasing land in it.

    H2L Technologies wants to make the virtual world as real as possible, developing tech that brings real-world pain into the metaverse.

    “Feeling pain enables us to turn the metaverse world into a real [world], with increased feelings of presence and immersion,” H2L CEO Emi Tamaki told Financial Times, via The Byte.

    Pain isn’t the only sensation the tech can provide, however.

    H2L technology conveys weight and resistance feeling to users and avatars on the Metaverse, not only pain. Please read also her interview.

    — h2linc (@h2linc), March 21, 2022

    Tamaki sees her company’s tech as a way of creating fully immersive experiences, especially for those whose health limits their ability to travel and engage in certain activities, as is the case with her.

  • Qualcomm Announces $100 Million Snapdragon Metaverse Fund

    Qualcomm Announces $100 Million Snapdragon Metaverse Fund

    Qualcomm is increasing its investment in metaverse development, announcing the $100 million Snapdragon Metaverse Fund.

    The metaverse — the convergence of virtual, augmented, and in-person realty to create an immersive extended reality (XR) experience — is quickly gaining momentum, with a wide range of companies moving to stake their claim. Qualcomm is the latest, announcing its new fund to help further development by supporting XR developers in their efforts.

    Qualcomm will deploy the available capital through both venture investments and a grant program.

    “We deliver the groundbreaking platform technology and experiences that will enable both the consumer and the enterprise to build and engage in the metaverse and allow the physical and digital worlds to be connected. Qualcomm is the ticket to the metaverse,” said Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. “Through the Snapdragon Metaverse Fund, we look forward to empowering developers and companies of all sizes as they push boundaries of what’s possible as we enter into this new generation of spatial computing.”

    Developers interested in the program can learn more at qualcomm.com/metaverse-fund. Applications for funding will open in June.

  • Intel Spinning Off Autonomous Unit Mobileye

    Intel Spinning Off Autonomous Unit Mobileye

    Intel has filed paperwork to spin off Mobileye, its autonomous driving unit, roughly five years after it acquired it.

    Mobileye is a leading provider of autonomous vehicle technology, including the camera systems some models rely. Since being acquired by Intel, the company has benefited from Intel’s investment and technical expertise, significantly expanding its reach. According to The Wall Street Journal, via TheStreet, Mobileye’s vehicle pipeline has risen from 37 million vehicles in 2021 to 50 million in 2022. The company also increased its revenue 40% from 2020 to 2021, coming in at $1.4 billion.

    Intel clearly wants to maximize the return on its investment, filing confidentially for a Mobileye IPO. The valuation could come in north of $50 billion, making it the largest IPO of the year so far. Intel says it will retain majority ownership.

    The IPO could come as early as mid-2022.

  • JPMorgan Opens Offices in the Metaverse

    JPMorgan Opens Offices in the Metaverse

    JPMorgan is a big believer in the metaverse, becoming the first bank to open an office it in.

    The metaverse refers to the convergence of virtual, augmented, and in-person reality. The entire tech industry seems to be pivoting toward it, with Facebook even changing its name to Meta to better position itself to lead the way.

    JPMorgan appears to also be going all-in on the metaverse, becoming the first bank to open offices in it.

    $MANA $SOL $ETH $JPM JPMorgan’s new lounge in Metajuku mall in Decentraland. Visitors are greeted by a digital portrait of Jamie Dimon and a roaming tiger.

    — Weather (@Weather40813438), February 15, 2022

    According to Fortune, JPMorgan believes the metaverse could eventually be worth $1 trillion annually, as its virtual worlds “infiltrate every sector in some way in the coming years.”

    A company like JPMorgan setting up offices in the metaverse may be the biggest endorsement yet of its potential future.

  • 3 Tech Startups Making it Big in Texas

    3 Tech Startups Making it Big in Texas

    The purpose of a tech startup is to revolutionize and innovate on technological products or services. Startups can be a slow-burn type of business and might not see success for a long time, making many entrepreneurs and consumers wary. But, states such as Texas provide benefits and opportunities for startups, as Austin has been ranked as one of the best cities in the world for startups in the tech industry. 

    With so much potential in Texas, many entrepreneurs have made the move there to try to enter the market and contribute to the growing economy and technological industry. The success of many of these tech startups is inspiring and creates a chain reaction, as countless other small tech-based businesses are being formed in an attempt to follow in the footsteps of those who have seen success. 

    As there are many promising and successful tech startups to talk about, here is a breakdown of the 3 most notable tech startups that are making it big in Texas, with exciting ideas and great execution. 

    Molecula 

    Since the day the startup was established in 2017, Molecula has specialized in analytics and artificial intelligence, combining the two to create something that is useful when it comes to data analysis for businesses. 

    One of Molecula’s most well-known products is FeatureBase, a feature that allows businesses to have a single access point for all of their data, allowing accessibility and reusability. Even if a business’s data is scattered throughout different sections, FeatureBase manages to extract all of the data into one space. 

    Data analytics and extraction can be a pain for many businesses, Molecula saw this as an opportunity to create something that eases the process of data collection and creates a sense of organization for many businesses, which is why they are still growing to this day. Data will always be a part of any business, especially in the digital age where all data is stored online. Molecula will always have a reason to operate. 

    Workrise 

    As Texas is seeing massive growth with regards to job opportunities, finding a job in the right industry and hiring the right worker can be overwhelming. Workrise saw this as an opportunity, and so with the help of technology, they have created a system that helps people find jobs and helps businesses hire the right people in industries related to construction, solar, defense, and more. 

    Focusing on both workers and businesses looking to hire, Workrise ensures that people will find the perfect opportunity best suited to their skills, with beneficial pay terms and agreements. Likewise, they help businesses find people with the best skills to complete projects and administrative tasks. 

    Workrise’s system manages to match projects with the best-suited talent. Their system also streamlines cumbersome management processes such as time sheet management, invoicing, and payments. Operating for almost 8 years now, Workrise is a startup that has made working in Texas that much easier. 

    Everlywell

    Getting medical tests can be a stressful process and fairly time-consuming depending on where one needs to go. This is where Everywell comes into play. This tech startup entered the market to provide health information to customers from the comfort of their homes. 

    By sending test kits related to food sensitivity, metabolism, women’s health, and  more to customers’ houses, Everywell ensures that people can get important tests at home without needing to go to a hospital or any medical institution, which is especially useful during the pandemic. 

    These accurate tests are mailed to certified labs where professional physicians will examine them and produce results in no time. Everlywell was designed with efficiency in mind, and this tech startup is one that will continue to age well as time goes on.  

    How Are Tech Startups Established?

    These 3 are just a few examples of the many successful tech startups that have been established in the state of Texas. In this day and age, there are so many ways for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. 

    Limited liability corporations (LLCs) have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially in Texas. This type of business entity is easy to establish and provides benefits associated with personal asset protection, privacy, and flexibility. 

    This is one of the best ways for entrepreneurs to establish their very own tech startups. Companies such as TRUiC provide useful information and aid when it comes to LLC establishment, as seen with this suggested resource. 

  • US Space Force Wants Help Combatting Space Junk

    US Space Force Wants Help Combatting Space Junk

    It may not be battling aliens, but the US Space Force still wants help combating a major enemy: space junk.

    Space junk has become a growing problem over the last few decades. According to Space Force, the newest branch of the US military is tracking some 40,000 objects in orbit around Earth, only 5,000 of which are active satellites. Those 40,000 objects are fist-sized or larger, but it’s estimated there are at least 10 times as many smaller objects. All of these objects pose a major risk to space operations.

    Space Force’s new endeavor, Orbital Prime, is designed to address this problem, according to General David D. Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations.

    “Our goal through Orbital Prime is to partner with innovative minds in industry, academia, and research institutions, to advance and apply state of the art technology and operating concepts in the areas of debris mitigation and removal,” said General Thompson.

    Those interested in participating in Orbital Prime can register here to learn more.

  • Microsoft and Qualcomm Collaborating on Chips for AR Glasses

    Microsoft and Qualcomm Collaborating on Chips for AR Glasses

    Microsoft and Qualcomm are collaborating to produce chipsets to power AR glasses for metaverse applications.

    The metaverse refers to the blending of the real and virtual world. Companies from Microsoft to Meta (formerly Facebook) are investing heavily in the metaverse. Even some governments are opening offices in the metaverse.

    Qualcomm and Microsoft will work together to create AR chips to power lightweight, power-efficient glasses for consumer and enterprise use.

    “This collaboration reflects the next step in both companies’ shared commitment to XR and the metaverse,” said Hugo Swart, vice president and general manager of XR, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Qualcomm Technologies’ core XR strategy has always been delivering the most cutting-edge technology, purpose-built XR chipsets and enabling the ecosystem with our software platforms and hardware reference designs. We are thrilled to work with Microsoft to help expand and scale the adoption of AR hardware and software across the entire industry.”

    “Our goal is to inspire and empower others to collectively work to develop the metaverse future – a future that is grounded in trust and innovation,” said Rubén Caballero, corporate vice president Mixed Reality, Microsoft. “With services like Microsoft Mesh, we are committed to delivering the safest and most comprehensive set of capabilities to power metaverses that blend the physical and digital worlds, ultimately delivering a shared sense of presence across devices. We look forward to working with Qualcomm Technologies to help the entire ecosystem unlock the promise of the metaverse.”