Pure Pakistani » Technology

Samsung Electronics First to Mass Produce ‘Optical Sensor in Pixel’ LCD Panel

Tanzeel Afzal — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:34:17 +0000

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has recently begun mass production of 40-inch ‘Optical Sensor in Pixel’ LCD panels, which feature highly advanced optical sensors. The Optical Sensor in Pixel LCD panel detects reflected images of an object on the panel, using Infra-red sensors that are built into the panel. With optical sensor in each pixel of the panel, it can assess touch sensitivity much more accurately, compared to existing touch panels.

Using next-generation image sensing technology, this Optical Sensor can detect more than 50 touch points simultaneously and can display images with Full HD resolution and wide-angle viewing. All of the input functions of a keyboard, mouse or scanner can be carried out on the panel itself. The panel can be installed in a variety of applications including table top and wall-mounted types. Its tempered glass is strong enough to withstand external loads over 80 kilograms.

This product will transform the paradigm for massively interactive communications, compared to the older one-way communications of today’s kiosk touch panels. ‘Optical sensing per pixel’ technology can perform without interrupting the image signals displayed on the panel, so it can be used by professional stock brokers, financial analysts or for eDesk applications in schools or business conference rooms.

It has already been installed in ‘Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft® Surface®’, a table-type PC product, co-developed by Samsung Electronics and Microsoft®, that is now available for pre-order. The MD of Samsung Pakistan, Mr, Hee Chang Yee said; “This innovation has overcome the limitations of touch functionality that hampered the effectiveness of most interactive displays.

Employees Using Social Networks While In The Office: Is There Even a Question?

Sidrah Zaheer — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:47:03 +0000

There was an interesting survey conducted recently this month by the British job site Reed.co.uk according to which around 33% of the employees admit that they use social networking during their office hours. This is a statistics of only one place that does not represent a larger group. The actual figures and percentage might be higher when it comes to those using social networks while at work in the office.

The question that comes to mind is whether such a use could be taken as a waste of time or it could be considered constructive too, because the employees can use the social media for building up more connections for a company they work for and hence, have a better chance of networking.

This question should not even be valid. Just as with mobiles initially arriving in the markets, employers thought of them as a distraction. Now those very same employers often facilitate their employees with a mobile phone and a mobile connection. Though not every employee is in a position of having to deal with building contacts for a company, but just as he or she is working at a particular job to get that thing done for the company, it is better to apply technology and have it done through its service.

For mainly marketing purposes, social media has given a whole new dimension and theme to reaching out to customers and clients. Almost everyone is joining Facebook and Twitter to have a Page and an account that people can like and follow to keep up-to-date about the latest products.

For the telecommunication companies and mobile operating networks that come out with new packages and schemes every now and then in a month or two, they can benefit a lot by attracting customers. However, this does not take away the importance of making print advertisements and airtime on electronic media. One could still confirm that those ads will be there trying to convince what is new that we are missing on.

But when it comes to employees using social networking during their office hours, I don’t think that there is anything sinister about it even if it be for a personal use. The only thing that should be made sure of is that no one overuses this permission. After all, employees need to catch up with the things going around so fast in the world around them and having that experience is part of who they are and makes them better aware as people.

The element of relaxation is obviously not entirely absent and a bit of pinch of all in social networking while in the office for a few minutes to take a little break is not that bad a thing at all. With an open permission, one does not has to minimize the window and pretend they are doing something else while they were actually socializing online or just catching up on things on Twitter.

Reality Check: Is Email a Thing of the Past?

Sidrah Zaheer — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:22:29 +0000

The new remark by social media tech giant, Mark Zuckerberg that, “We don’t think a modern message system is going to be email” is being interpreted by many as an alternative way of saying that email is actually an obsolete way of modern communication on the internet. With the tremendous growth of social media, certainly this seems to be the true case. Though that email has developed a lot since it began in 1971 when the programmer Ray Tomlinson sent the first message, it is now facing a tough time with the advancement that social media has come to provide.

Amidst such a competition, email accounts have significantly grown in number and are on the rise every day that technology market researchers predict they will reach the number of 4.1 billion by 2015 from their current number at 3.1 billion. This suggestion by Zuckerberg is not anything new. The demise of email is being talked about since long now in the social media world. One reason is very much understandable why social media enthusiasts would like to paint such a picture where email is weak and down and that they are coming out on the top. But it is what internet users feel comfortable in which matters.

Various studies have shown that emailing is not the preferred means of messaging amongst teenagers. But they are teenagers and for the reason of being in that age bracket, they are mostly trendy. When email came around the first time, it was the thing they communicated most through. Now that text messaging and social media messaging has come about, they are into these. This goes to show that email has a more formal touch to it now, with most companies not only having an official email address, but also using it to conduct their business correspondences officially.

But what these corporate companies also have is a Facebook Page and a Twitter account, which means that they do understand the strength of capturing their target audiences on these platforms. It is obvious that businesses will step in on anything that will further their business interest. If that happens through the means of social media as well, then what is faulty in taking chances on it?

If there is spamming in emails, then platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well as other social media networks are also not safe that they could claim any better service when it comes to this menace. There are around a billion email messages sent every day all across the globe, both which have business tendencies and private and personal ones. It is just as quick and easy as other means of quick and fast communication.

The only difference is which one you use more. If of course, a mobile, an iPad, or an iPhone is that which you hang around with conducting your day to day correspondences, then obviously a text message might be your preference, but the reason that these devices also send emails shows the importance of emailing too.

Samsung launches the MultiView MV800 Camera

Umer Kayani — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is the global leader in home appliances, telecommunications and imaging technology. Recently, it has launched an innovative and compact digital camera – the stylish Samsung’s MultiView MV800. It is the perfect combination of style and ease-of-use, which enables social extroverts to capture and record all the highlights of their activities. This Multi-view camera is available in colors like vivid red, stylish black and snow white.

With a 3.0” Wide Flip-out Display, the MV800 shoots and record 16.1 mega pixel pictures from extremely high and low angles for Online profile self-portraits, group shots or festive concert pics.

A sophisticated, minimalist design with metallic finish makes it ultra-slender to be carried in a pocket or purse. It offers the best-in-class imaging technology that ensures premium results, even for the beginners. Limitless creative features and artistic possibilities are at the touch of a button, to make your pictures truly memorable.

The MultiView MV800 captures every detail in vivid colour and clarity, while it also enables instant social-sharing of videos and images, just like a smartphone. It offers a 26mm wide-angle and 5x optical zoom lens, as well as the Live Panorama function, for capturing large groups comfortably. Once the pictures are taken, the user can let his creative side take control with features like; fun frames, easy effects and storyboards through the Magic Frame, Smart Filter and Photo Editor. Its Smart Touch 3.0 User Interface lets you drag and scroll through menu options intuitively.

China Becomes the Largest Smartphone Market in the World

Sidrah Zaheer — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:09:55 +0000

China is taking over many major markets around the world. This year, it is the turn of taking over the smartphone market. According to Strategy Analytics, China has now become the largest smartphone market by volume in the world by surpassing the sales in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2011. However, this gap is not that wide as China’s smartphone shipments reached 23.9 million units during Q3 and in the U.S. it reached 23.3 million units.

The reason China was able to take this giant leap for its smartphone sales market is because it grew 58% since last year. The leading mobile company in China is that of Nokia followed by Samsung and others. If Pakistan is to import smartphones from China, this position for our friendly neighbours is friendly for our smartphone market at home as well. Many smartphone makers are looking to grab the Chinese market.

There are other local makers in China as well that are looking to compete in the race for sales. It all depends on their services and on customer’s satisfaction. The mobile carriers need to be able to support these smartphones so that this market could be utilized at its best potential. Though smartphones are not that popular in Pakistan and also most of the Chinese also don’t use these smartphones, but the good news is that this number of smartphone users is growing rapidly and soon within a year or two, the market will have a new dominant and stable position.

Facebook Bridges Gaps Between Its Users: How Is It Affecting the Real World?

Sidrah Zaheer — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:31:29 +0000

A recent study done on the relationships the 721 million Facebook users have amongst themselves show that now one is only four users away from being friends with someone on the world’s largest social networking site. This shows the growing connectivity not only between the Facebook users, but more so amidst the people from all regions of the globe. These 721 million Facebook users represent more than 10% of the global population.

This sounds wonderful if it were to be the case in real life world. It would make us care for each other more than we perhaps tend to do. But if it is merely adding people just because you have never had an interaction with someone of a particular nationality, then this bond seems to be a bit superficial. The many social media experts are terming this bridging of the gap as only four degrees of separation which if overcome will directly connect all the users. In the countries where more people have internet access and use social media thoroughly, they have only three degrees of separation between them.

This study says that 92% of the Facebook users are that close to each other. The saying that it is a small world is becoming virtually true and confirms the fast paced advancement in means of communication and information technology. However, two questions do come to mind at the foremost. One is how many of these 721 million users do actually exist and how many are fakes. The other is how many of these users who are connected to another user on Facebook actually know him or her.

The answer to these would actually reveal how much the Facebook users and through it the world is getting closer to each other. If thought upon further there are more questions that arise. The question is what do we make of these connections? How far do they take us in our understanding of each other as people? These may seem to be philosophical or sociological questions, but without having an attempt at these all this advancement in social media would hold little meaning in connecting different races.

It is good business, but is it good for human traditions and values, for developing our relationships as nations of the world, sharing the same planet and hence, in this sense, the same destiny? Facebook is a good platform for sharing ideas and getting information. It is also a wonderful platform to connect with our friends and families.

If the world were to really be a one big happy and peaceful family together, it would be a Utopia come true. At least no one will mind crowning Mark Zuckerberg the king in the field of social media technology. He is already a heroic legend of a sort with a Hollywood biopic about him. With 721 million Facebook users, it seems like everyone we know is using the social network. But every once in a while we do come across those who do not use it at all. They are people too with real lives and as such represent the diversity amongst human beings.

Emoticons Express Everything Thing Funny and Silly

Sidrah Zaheer — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:28:03 +0000

When the words fail to express what we intend to say, the emotions cover up for the void. The same is true in every form of communication, whether it be written or verbal. Since when we are speaking, the tone of our voice and our body language by way of our gestures give a lot away about how we are feeling. But how can the same happen when it comes to written communication? The answer is not very hard to arrive at.

It is through the cute, funny and sometimes silly emoticons, which convey our emotions on any platform online. Sometimes, those curtly written words are softened when an emoticon which is either silly or funny is added at the end or beginning of a sentence. Without their support things would end up abruptly.

Recently, Google+ has added some new emoticons to its list for users to express themselves more appropriately. If you happen to use chat on Google+ or Gchat in Gmail, then you must be familiar with some of the emoticons that automatically turn into animations. For example, “< 3” will turn into a red heart. But do you know how to make a cat?

Here is a how to communicate a cat in an emoticon, “: 3”. For more such expressive emoticons, go to “Google+ Chat Emoticons” Page on Google+. They will work right on Google, not here. So try them without any spaces. The others, which you should try out yourself, are as follows:

: 3

: ( : )

: ( | )

V . v . V

- < @ %

~ = [ ,,_ ,, ] : 3

Where is Social Media Taking Us?

Sidrah Zaheer — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:26:34 +0000

A lot of time these days online is being spent in one way or another on social networking sites. Social media has come to play a major role in internet users online activities. It seems as though there are just blogs to read, or to write, any social network to connect with contacts to, any online video site to watch our favourite items, or just merely chatting. What has happened to reading useful sites and logging on to them? There is plethora of sites available on every subject from A to Z.

Most of the times, people who do engage with social media spend their time either writing blogs or commenting on the blogs written by others. Some say that these blogs are really helpful in delivering the news and gathering public opinions. Others believe that they are merely a feel-good thing that something active is being done about issues facing us every day at local, national and global levels. But whatever side that you take on, this is true that blogs have come to represent a significant medium of their own.

The social media hence is making people active at least in some regard. Sharing of ideas, even though initially might not lead to something substantial, but then does spark up further ideas that may inspire some solution. What is required is an imaginative ability and a creative touch to the whole thing. In countries like Pakistan, where there are not many platforms for public discussion, social media is one place where some can vent their thoughts.

Games Do Effect Human Psyche

Sidrah Zaheer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:36:41 +0000

Recently, PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) had criticized the computer game Super Mario 3D Land through its “Mario Kills Tanooki” campaign. The reason PETA is upset is because tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur and the organization is against not only the killing of animals in such brutal ways, but also against using the products made from their skins. With Mario wearing the tanuki fur, it would suggest that it is fine to use animals in such. This is not acceptable as it gives a wrong message to little minds of kids playing these games.

So far, Nintendo has not given any response to PETA’s eagerness to stop such wrong messages being sent to kids. The fears of PETA, however, are not unfounded as they do have a fair grounding in the latest scientific and medical understanding on the matter. A new report in Translational Psychiatry has shown that the brains of those people who play computer games regularly differ from those who do not. It does suggest that computer games have their certain level of effect on people.

In all this, the effects of computer games on human mind are undeniable as they can cause addiction as well as improved reasoning. We know that video games improve creativity in kids. This means that it does not just depend on the amount of computer games you play, but also on what kinds of computer games you play. Parents need to be thoughtful about what they are exposing their kids to.

Video Games Increase Creativity in Children

Sidrah Zaheer — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:54:09 +0000

Since playing video games is not only fun and addictive for kids, but they also get to have a time off from their regular routine of work from school, a new study is there to support their fun addiction with video games. A lot of parents complain about their kids not getting enough physical exercise as they just tend to sit at one place playing video games, but their brains are actually getting a very healthy flow of blood and imagination. Hence, video gaming is a very healthy mental activity for kids.

Creativity has taken human civilization to many places and video gaming is just one of many ways in which kids can enhance their creative muscles. The research regarding this view has been published in Computers in Human Behavior journal under the Michigan State University’s Children and Technology Project. This creative potential is increased equally in both girls and boys of younger ages. Amongst other technology uses that were put to test, video gaming led all else in generating imaginative capacity the most.

Many a times, for those kids who don’t have video games available at their own homes, they tend to go and share video gaming time at their friend’s or at some local place of gaming arcades. Video games are available a plenty in Pakistan and kids here are as much into video gaming as anywhere else in the world. The only thing which is lacking here is national level video gaming contests which often take place abroad and are now becoming something of an international competing events annually.

Games Do Effect Human Psyche

CIA Detects Negative Tweets from Pakistan

Sidrah Zaheer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:43:46 +0000

The obsession to keep a check on what people are doing is immense in the US government and for this reason the CIA monitors around 5 million tweets every day. The social media is a very strong platform where users not only interact with each other for social reasons, but also discuss various on-going issues from around the globe. Although, not everything that everyone says is of any significance to the governments, but some of this stuff does hold their interest.

For this reason, not only the American government, but most governments around the world have started monitoring the social networks to know what the people have been talking about. This will not only allow them to have an assessment of what people think, but also more importantly what they know and how much they know. It is these latter questions that also keep the tug-of-war between the governments and the press going on for the right to know and for the freedom of information and freedom of expression.

Though most European countries, including America, think theirs are the democracies and others should follow the examples of, but when it comes to social media and free flow of information on the net, they also seem to take a step back and hesitate. The CIA translates each and every tweet in whatever language it may be. According to the CIA, a lot of the negative tweets have been in Urdu language, obviously coming from Pakistan, and in Chinese language, which is a close ally of Pakistan.

Apple Fans Are Religiously Devoted to Its Gadgets

Sidrah Zaheer — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:55:55 +0000

According to an interesting BBC documentary series, Apple triggers the kind of reaction in the brain that is similar to those who are religiously devoted. The BBC documentary series cited neurological research to support this point. The neuroscientists conducted an experiment where they passed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test on an Apple devotee and found out that the images of the Apple gadgets lit up the same parts of the brain as that a deity does for religious people.

The critics and observers have said that Apple fans do take things to an extreme with their tech mania. There have been reports of people showing their excitement about Apple products with tattoos, bumper stickers and even home shrines. This cult following of Apple has been covered in a documentary called “Macheads”. Such a craze for Apple’s products in fans is testament to the fact that for some people technology and its passion is way beyond normal and borders on extremism.

The question then arises, does excess in technology and its dependency lead people to have some abnormal human behavior especially when it comes to interacting and communicating with other fellow beings. If one starts giving more priority to technological gadgets rather than people around, then it sure does indicate that something is seriously wrong that needs to be corrected. The media is also partly to blame with its intensive advertising of products and convincing people that if they will not have it, then they are missing something big in life.

Use of Language on Facebook and Its Virtual Environment

Sidrah Zaheer — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:58:45 +0000

Writing on the walls is something that is called graffiti. But when it comes to Facebook, people don’t take it as in any way threatening for the environment. They in fact, seem to record every other single detail on their walls, and sometimes on the walls of other people too.

Recently a study has shown the vernacular that people usually have when they write on the Facebook walls is a little bit off a safe environment or a polite one at that. A company called Reppler had surveyed 30,000 walls and came up with this conclusion. According to their estimations, 47% of Facebook users have naughty words on their walls. Can it be called freedom of expression in any way or can we infer that people are more lenient to abuse when online?

Mostly people are of course different online from what and how they actually are when you meet them in person to person. There is a whole different persona to them virtually. The study has shown that 56% of these sorts of expressions mostly come from those who are friends with you on Facebook. So be careful about what image you present, because a man is known by the company he keeps.

Often times, people write in their own languages, romanising their words. Most Pakistanis using Facebook use romanised Urdu, which means, writing Urdu using Roman English letters. But, when using their own language, how much friendly they are as compared to when using English. Does language change their expression?

Google Maps Will Now Be Charging For Usage

Sidrah Zaheer — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:14:00 +0000

It seems like Google is starting to put fees on every of its product, or so could be a thing in future. The first one to be charge is Google Maps. Recently, it has been reported that users of Google Map links for their websites will be charged for heavy usage of the service. The charging will start from January 1, 2012. But this charge will only apply if more than 25,000 map hits are made within a day.

Mostly, travel firms and tourist websites use Google Maps to link customers so that they could view the destinations they want to know more about. The charge will be $4 per 1,000 views for those excessing this limit. Google says that this is only a prior change as it will affect only 0.35% of the users.

The reason because of which Google came up with this policy is that it says that the company is aware that developers are in need of time to evaluate their usage. The time will allow them to be certain if they will be affected and then they can take action accordingly.

According to Thor Mitchell, who is the product manager of the Maps API at Google:

“We understand that the introduction of these limits may be concerning. However, with the continued growth in adoption of the Maps API, we need to secure its long-term future by ensuring that even when used by the highest-volume for-profit sites, the service remains viable.”

The Last Words of Steve Jobs Are Fascinating

Sidrah Zaheer — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Steve Jobs’ sister, Mona Simpson had written a very touching eulogy for a private funeral service for one of the most highly innovative tech genius in history, at least in recent human history, which is safe to say. Though debatable as there are others too, but for Apple and its fans, there was none like Steve Jobs and perhaps none will ever take his place.

The private funeral took place a few days after his death in October. Since Mona Simpson is a novelist of some repute, so she knows how to capture the emotions in the right balance of words. She has delivered a well written description of Steve Jobs’ life, illness as well as his death. According to her, the last words that Steve Jobs spoke when he had his consciousness intact were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

Now this does raise a question what was it that he was appreciating during his last moments in life. May be, he was having some last minute ideas about what new technology to innovate, but was unable to share anything further, except for his appreciation saying “Oh wow” three times. The psychologists should offer their interpretation as to what that could possibly mean, because not many people’s dying last words are such as these.

To read “A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs” by Mona Simpson published in New York Times, click here.

Pure Pakistani » Technology

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