Event-Driven Applications

            An event-driven application is a computer program that is written to respond to actions generated by the user or the system. In a computing context, an event is any identifiable occurrence that has significance for system hardware or software. As such, events include both user-generated actions like mouse clicks and keystrokes and system-generated events such as program loading.

                 Event-driven programming separates event-processing logic from the rest of a program’s code. The event-driven approach contrasts with batch processing. Continue Reading About event-driven application are i)EDA software: Event-driven architecture and DB2 ii)Event-driven applications: Where they apply and how they are built iii)Read this excerpt from Event-Driven Processing in Action on eBizQ iv)SOA event-driven architecture (EDA) and complex event processing (CEP)

             Because event-driven programming is an approach rather than a type of language, event-driven apps can be created in any programming language. Depending on the specific application, event-driven processing can improve responsiveness, throughput and flexibility.

Robotic Process Automation

      Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an emerging form of business process automation technology based on the notion of software robots or artificial intelligence (AI) workers. RPA is the Application of technology that allows employees in a company to configure computer software or a “robot” to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses and communicating with other digital systems.

   
             As RPA brings more technologically-advanced solutions to businesses around the world, operating models that adopt automation, whether in-house or offshored, will cut costs, drive efficiency and improve quality. Any company that uses labour on a large scale for general knowledge process work, where people are performing high-volume, highly transactional process functions, will boost their capabilities and save money and time with robotic process automation software.

          

           Just as industrial robots are remaking the manufacturing industry by creating higher production rates and improved quality, RPA “robots” are revolutionizing the way we think about and administer business processes, IT support processes, workflow processes, remote infrastructure and back-office work. RPA provides dramatic improvements in accuracy and cycle time and increased productivity in transaction processing while it elevates the nature of work by removing people from dull, repetitive tasks.The technology of RPA can be applied specifically to a wide range of industries.

Digital Swag Bags

        Digital swag bags are a great alternative for event hosts looking to engage tech- and environmentally friendly attendees. Rather than carrying a cumbersome bag throughout the event, attendees will receive a digital swag bag via text, email, an app or a link on your site. They need to carry nothing more than a smartphone to cash in on great offers from event hosts and sponsors.

               The digital swag bag is filled with discount codes, free offers or contests run by the host or sponsors. One of the biggest advantages of the digital swag bag is a fairly obvious one—hosts and guests no longer have to deal with the hassle of transporting, carrying and assembling (or disassembling) a physical bag.

               The attendees interact with the swag bag online, event hosts and sponsors can get valuable data about those interactions. Major advantage of moving swag bags online is that they offer lead gen and analytics opportunities to the sponsors and host. Guests don’t need to worry about traveling home and events hosts don’t need to worry about the logistics of ordering, shipping and assembling the bags. 

Artificial Intelligence and Automation

            AI in business. Robotic process automation is being applied to highly repetitive tasks normally performed by humans. Machine learning algorithms are being integrated into analytics and CRM platforms to uncover information on how to better serve customers. Automation is basically making a hardware or software that is capable of doing things automatically. Consider the example of fire alarm systems deployed in buildings. AI is all about try to make machines or software mimic human behavior and intelligence. 

               Some of the world's biggest brands are increasingly turning to automation in order to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Big-box retailers use automated warehouses to sort and ship products, while social media networks use automation to moderate comments, and credit card companies use automation to detect fraud.

               For example, Synapse is building a network that gives anyone the ability to contribute his or her data and train automation and machine-learning models. The implications here are massive, because a new AI economy, including decentralized blockchain AI, could change the way businesses operate and learn around the world.

Reusable Rockets

             One of the costliest aspects of space exploration is the building of sophisticated and powerful rockets capable of transporting thousands of pounds of equipment into space. The fact that we have figured out how to land rockets -- even the large ones used to launch the Falcon Heavy -- will help to reduce the cost of space travel.

           A reusable launch system (RLS, or reusable launchvehicle, RLV) is a space launch system intended to allow for recovery of all or part of the system for later reuse. To date, several fully reusable sub-orbital systems and partially reusable orbital systems have been flown. NASA's space shuttle was the world's first reusable spacecraft.

           It launched like arocket and returned to Earth like a glider. It was designed to carry large payloads — such as satellites — into orbit and bring them back, if necessary, for repairs.

 To date, several fully reusable sub-orbital systems and partially reusable orbital systems have been flown. However the design issues are extremely challenging and no fully reusable orbital launch system has yet been demonstrated.

Cloud Computing

                Cloud computing provides a simple way to access servers, storage, databases and a broad set of application services over the Internet. A Cloud services platform such as Amazon Web Services owns and maintains the network-connected hardware required for these application services, while you provision and use what you need via a web application.

   

Whether you are running applications that share photos to millions of mobile users or you’re supporting the critical operations of your business, a cloud services platform provides rapid access to flexible and low cost IT resources. With cloud computing, you don’t need to make large upfront investments in hardware and spend a lot of time on the heavy lifting of managing that hardware. Instead, you can provision exactly the right type and size of computing resources you need to power your newest bright idea or operate your IT department. 

     

        Cloud computing has three main types that are commonly referred to as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). You can access as many resources as you need, almost instantly, and only pay for what you use. Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a broad set of global compute, storage, database, analytics, application, and deployment services that help organizations move faster, lower IT costs, and scale applications. 

Angular and React

                Angular and React Training – Explore the Curriculum to Master Angular and React. There are JavaScript based Frameworks for creating modern web applications. Using React and Angular one can create a highly modular web app. So, you don’t need to go through a lot of changes in your code base for adding a new feature.

               The  angular and react also allows you to create a native mobile application with the same JS, CSS & HTML knowledge. Best part – Open source library with highly active community support. The comparison between these two technologies cannot be fully covered. Angular comes with a complete framework (MVC), while React is a fronted-library with lots of open-source packages to integrate with. 

               Overall, these technologies have made it much easier for developers to reuse, refactor, and maintain code by dividing things into modules/components. The goal of this article is not to find the best technology, but to compare, highlight, and clarify few misconceptions. We’ll also focus on what is important instead of minor details that do not really matter in the long-term.

Intelligent Apps (I – Apps)

                I-Apps are pieces of software written for mobile devices based on artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, aimed at making everyday tasks easier.This involves tasks like organizing and prioritizing emails, scheduling meetings, logging interactions, content, etc. Some familiar examples of I-Apps are Chatbots and virtual assistants.Technology has become the embedded component of applications and the defacto driver for growth in industries. With the advent of AI, new milestones are being achieved each day. 

             The next generation of mobile applications will be the result of multiple worlds colliding: when application development meets artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and big data analytics, intelligent apps are the outcome. Put simply, these are apps that continually learn from user interactions and other data sources to become even more relevant and useful.

            We are moving towards an era of more and more integration, making it an indispensable mediator between systems and humans. The rapid strides taken by mobile industry, seems like an overwhelming convergence of multiple worlds. The innate ability of such systems to improve itself, strengthened by data analytics, IoT and AI have opened new frontiers. To reap the unbound merits of AI, software application vendors are integrating it into software applications. It is literally the dawn of intelligent applications.

Digitaltwins

           Digital twin refers to a digital replica of physical assets (physical twin), processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes. The digital representation provides both the elements and the dynamics of how an Internet of things device operates and lives throughout its life cycle. A digital twin refers to the digital representation of a real-world entity or system. By 2020, Gartner estimates there will be more than 20 billion connected sensors and endpoints and digital twins will exist for potentially billions of things.

             Organisations will implement digital twins simply at first. They will evolve them over time, improving their ability to collect and visualise the right data, apply the right analytics and rules, and respond effectively to business objectives. “One aspect of the digital twin evolution that moves beyond IoT will be enterprises implementing digital twins of their organisations (DTOs).

             A DTO is a dynamic software model that relies on operational or other data to understand how an organisation operationalises its business model, connects with its current state, deploys resources and responds to changes to deliver expected customer value,” says Cearley. “DTOs help drive efficiencies in business processes, as well as create more flexible, dynamic and responsive processes that can potentially react to changing conditions automatically.”

Companies will need Data Ethicists

            2019 will be the year that companies hire a “data ethicist,” says Gil Elbaz, CEO of Factual, a location data provider. “As more and more decisions are made using AI, the teams amassed to build, test, and teach that software are growing as well,” he says. “The smarter these systems become, the more important it is that they’re designed with the needs of, and respect for, humanity in mind. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to program a machine to understand a human ethic.” Companies will solve this by hiring a data ethicist.

            The ability for a business to operate based on some amount of intelligence is not new. Even before business owners used manual techniques such as writing customer orders in a book or using calculators to help forecast how many pounds of potatoes might be needed to stock up for next week's sales, there were forms of "insight searching." Enterprises are always looking for operational efficiencies, and today they are gathering more intelligence exponentially.

         A significant part of business intelligence is understanding customers. The more data a company has about its current or prospective customers' wants, likes, dislikes, behaviors, activities, and lifestyle, the more intelligence that business can generate. “The technology is ultimately responsible for making a decision, but the steps it took to get there will be informed by data scientists programming with human ethics in mind,” Elbaz says. In principle, more data suggests the possibility of more intelligence.

Quantum Computing

               The typical computer uses a series of zeros and ones to communicate information. While today's computers are quite powerful, they still have considerable limitations that make it difficult to process challenging machine-learning problems.

               Quantum computers rely on quantum bits to carry information. These bits can exist in a state which allow quantum computers to process challenging datasets much better than traditional computers do. As a result, quantum computing can help to produce serious machine-learning breakthroughs that might otherwise be impossible solve.

           While the technology is still in its early stages, companies like Microsoft and Google are investing billions in developing supercomputers capable of developing highly accurate predictive models. These models can be used in everything from self-driving cars to marketing campaigns.

Crispr

               Imagine a world where crushing genetic diseases like Huntington's and cystic fibrosis can be cured. Thanks to crispr, genetic disease may be eliminated.

         CRISPR Cas-9 (an abbreviation standing for "Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats") is a gene-splicing technology capable of finding and removing mutated sections of DNA. Once this material is eliminated, crispr technology can replace the mutated sections with non-mutated variants.

                  As a result, crispr has the power to permanently eliminate certain types of genetic diseases from blood lines. The technology has already been used to eliminate cancer in some patients, and early results show that it may be possible to cure genetically caused blindness as well.

Robot Assistants

                   A robot that helps you with day-to-day household tasks, making your life easier. These little in-home companions serve a variety of purposes: everything from educational assistance to schedule organization. The robot has an endearing appearance, with a head complete with a touchscreen "face" and a small lower body that allows the robot to roll around. The home robot assistant can be used as a personal assistant that reminds homeowners of their appointments, schedules, medications and also can detect emergencies.

              When not being used as a screen for a variety of functions including taking pictures, revealing recipes and reading stories and songs to children, the robot has large eyes and dramatic facial expressions. Companies like Boston Dynamics have already developed a wide variety of robot assistants that can be used in factories or on the battlefield. The company originally started as an arm of MIT and has since pioneered the development of intelligent robots that operate effectively in the real world.

             Knightscope is another company working on a line of robot assistants for security applications. For example, its K5 robot features four cameras and can recognize 300 licenses plates per minute, per camera. It can also detect suspicious networks that may be operated by hackers.

Regenerative Medicine

            Regenerative medicine is a branch of translational research in tissue engineering and molecular biology which deals with the "process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function". The promising field of Regenerative Medicine is working to restore structure and function of damaged tissues and organs.

              The goal of this medicine is to find a way to cure previously untreatable injuries and diseases. Scientific research is working to make treatments available for clinical use.Though it may sound like science fiction, doctors are already producing made-to-order body parts. To get started, doctors scrape cells off the body part in question and grow them in a petri dish.

                   In time, the body part grows strong enough that it can be implanted inside the patient.One company, Organovo, has developed a printer capable of 3D printing body parts. In time, this new technology will become increasingly mainstream, providing patients with lifesaving organ replacements.

Augmented and Mixed Reality

                Augmented  reality there is a digital overlay of the reality that we live in day to day. With Mixed Reality you have the digital overlay of the reality we live in but there is interaction within the overlay. Mixed Reality is the very new of the terms mentioned. Mixed Reality takes the augmented and virtually displayed the information and later adds it to the real world.

            Just a few years ago, it was unclear whether augmented or mixed reality would take off. Given the fact that tech giants like Apple are investing billions of dollars in augmented reality hardware, it's pretty clear that it's only a matter of time before the tech goes mainstream.

             For example, Apple's latest phones are equipped with augmented reality capabilities, and a recent report suggests that the company is working on an AR headset that will replace the iPhone in two to three years.

Voice Assistants

            In four years, the majority of American households are expected to own a voice assistant device like an Amazon Echo or an Apple Homepod. Thanks to the power of artificial intelligence (AI), voice assistants will grow increasingly helpful.

               Even today, Amazon releases regular updates to Echo in order to help owners get more from the technology. The company recently reported seeing larger-than-expected gains from its voice assistant, which is why Amazon is now doubling down on the technology.

          Voice assistants are making a significant impact in markets across the globe, and some observers expect that in the future we will communicate with technology through voice rather than text.

Video Analytics and the future of Video Surveillance

             The current state of the art and direction of research in computer vision aimed at automating the analysis of CCTV images is presented. This includes low level identification of objects within the field of view of cameras, following those objects over time and between cameras, and the interpretation of those objects’ appearance and movements with respect to models of behavior.

                   Wherrett, a tutor at Tavcom Training, said Video Content Analysis (VCA) has been used for many years but can be expensive due to configuring costs and high false alarm rates as well as inaccuracies caused when images captured are of poor quality. With the number of surveillance cameras rising continually and over 566PB of video being stored globally every dayIt’s about helping them to be more efficient, he added on day two of the security show in the Future of Security Theater sponsored by Tavcom Training.

                     Video analytics can also be used in fire safety to detect smoke and fire where more conventional detectors cannot be used or where the speed of detection is  paramount in places such as tunnels or hangars. Further into the future, the investment in VCA will also enable better monitoring of people who are in assisted living so that they can maintain their independence while guaranteeing their safety.

London's "Stratford City" is fully built

              Stratford is a metropolitan district in the London Borough of Newham in Greater London, England. It is 6 miles (10 km) east-northeast of Charing Cross and is in East London. Stratford is part of the Lower Lea Valley and includes the localities of Maryland, East Village and Stratford City.

              Then at the end of 2008 Westfield opened its White City development in west London. The centre, which dominates Shepherd's Bush, is Europe's largest urban mall until Stratford opens. Miller says that "nothing of any significance" is in the process of being built after Stratford. Westfield Stratford City is a shopping centre in Stratford, London, which opened on 13 September 2011.

              Westfield London is now the largest shopping centre in Europe with the opening of a £600m extension. The 740,000sq-foot expansion of White City, west London, will increase the overall size of the centre to 2.6 million square foot to overtake Aviapark in Moscow and the Westgate shopping city in Zagreb, Croatia.

Renewable will power mobile networks

           In early 2018, news headlines lit up with AT&T’s announcement that it would roll out next-generation 5G mobile internet in a dozen markets by the end of the year, expecting to be the first company in the U.S. The advanced energy solution, called Green Tower, combines Panasonic lithium-ion batteries and solar modules with site-management software and big-data analytics, providing an efficient way for mobile operators and tower companies to measure, monitor and maintain energy infrastructure.

          The partnership between Panasonic and Ericsson, a leader in communications technology and services, promises to provide a smoother transition to 5G for mobile network operators, arming them with the capability to more cost-effectively generate and manage the energy needed to power a faster network while still maintaining compatibility for their legacy systems and users. One recent EU study projects dramatic growth in energy use by the telecommunications industry, forecasting that this sector could be responsible for over 50 percent of global power usage by 2030.

           When coupled with smart site management controls, energy storage not only improves site resiliency but can cut operating expenses, offering a crucial advantage that will possibly become the industry standard as energy and operating costs continue to rise. In addition to smart, sustainable energy storage, the Green Tower platform also has the capacity to generate energy through solar panels and generate revenue through provision of grid services. Crnogorski Telekom, Montenegro’s leading telecommunications service provider, has signed a ten-year Battery as a Service managed services agreement with Ericsson. As part of the deal, Panasonic will be responsible for dimensioning, manufacturing, supply, performance guarantees and support for battery and power infrastructure

Space as the next step for humankind

               I always wanted to fly. I imagined it mimicking a nun as a young girl: taking flight into the sky with white dress and habit made of cardboard, the kind cardboard found prepackaged in men’s shirts. I was successful with the overall look; I stood atop a platform on a well-chosen windy day ready for lift off.  But when it came to the countdown, that’s when mortality overcame me with disappointment in a flash…until I quickly shifted into drive and initiated levitation then ascension into the sky. My mind just soared into the bright blue yonder with its collection of the puffiest radiant clouds.  I’ll never forget that impression. 

            To be airborne and ascending, jetting from one destination to another, and even spiraling down, can all be a riveting adventure depending on what aircraft you are using. Humans have a sensational appetite for flying. They have flirted with all kinds of ways to fly, like Davinci’s dissection of mammals, impeccable drawings of future spaceships and what is known as the ornithologist, or helicopter today.

                Whether it’s a dream to discover our atmosphere and deep space, to travel regularly through space until you reach your destination, or to experience flight for the first time in a variety of ways, we are here to inspire ourselves and our children to imagine and experience, in the most sustainable way, a wider scope of all that there is to learn about the immediate and distant future. 

Better data saves marine mammals

            Some marine mammal populations are in major recovery due to successful conservation efforts. Behind these efforts is better data. By filling gaps in our knowledge of marine mammal populations and their movement patterns, scientists are discovering the reality of their situation. Better data makes it easier to create more effective recovery programs.

               Marine mammals are a loose grouping of about 127 species including animals like whales, dolphins and polar bears. According to a report in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) that assessed the recovery of marine mammals, some species that have declined in numbers by as much of 96 per cent have recovered by 25 per cent. Recovery means the population has increased significantly since their decline was recorded. The report highlights the need for enhanced monitoring of marine mammal populations and for collecting more reliable population data so that scientists can make better population trend estimates and create population management programs that are sure to work.

                  As scientists collect more and more data on endangered marine mammal populations, the easier it will be to target what threatens them and monitor their progress towards recovery. We will see more species like the Florida manatee leave the endangered list and once again become thriving populations. The data will also better reflect the effect pollution, climate change, commercial fishing, ship traffic and coastal construction projects have on marine mammal populations and encourage global environmental protection efforts. In the end, accurate data is what will help us solve a variety of environmental issues that threaten the future of our planet.

Nano-medicine expected to treat chronic illnesses

              Whether it’s the hair loss, the nauseating fatigue, or the never-ending stream of pills, anyone who’s ever experienced cancer knows that treatment can be downright distressing. Traditional chemotherapy has a knack for attacking healthy cells in addition to the troublesome malignant ones, resulting in the aforementioned afflictions. But what if we could treat cancer without the debilitating side effects? What if we could target drugs at the offending cells only and release them precisely when we needed to?

             Adah Almutairi, co-director of the Center for Excellence in Nanomedicine and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), has developed a technology involving light-activated nanoparticles that could potentially do just that. Using matter on the scale of 100nm, Almutairi and her research team placed drug molecules into tiny little balls she calls nanospheres. Almutairi’s invention isn’t unique in principle. In fact, targeted drug delivery has been at the forefront of research in the burgeoning field of nanomedicine for quite some time. Scientists first tried delivering drugs through liposomes, spherical vesicles that naturally assemble due to the properties of its constituent phospholipids.

             That’s where Almutairi’s model might have struck gold. Not only are her nanospheres “stable as a rock”, but they’re also perfectly safe. According to her, the nanospheres can “stay intact for a year before safely degrading,” as proven in animal trials with mice. The significance of that is monumental, demonstrating non-toxicity may be the first step in getting her invention on the market.