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Monday 8 July 2024
How bitcoin and blockchain impact gambling industry in Asia
The Asian continent has long been a hub for gambling activities, with various forms of traditional and modern gaming deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric. Concurrently, the rise of Bitcoin and blockchain technology has disrupted industries worldwide, offering innovative solutions for secure and transparent transactions. As these two worlds collide, the impact of Bitcoin and blockchain on the Asian gambling industry has been multifaceted and far-reaching. This exploration delves into the transformative effects of these emerging technologies, examining their potential to revolutionize online gambling platforms, enhance transparency and security, and facilitate cross-border transactions, while also considering the regulatory challenges and societal implications that accompany such advancements.Understanding Bitcoin and BlockchainBitcoin: The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates without a central bank or authority. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, providing transparency and security.Blockchain: At the heart of BTC lies the revolutionary blockchain technology, a secure, distributed ledger system. Imagine a digital record book, duplicated and distributed across a network of computers. Transactions are bundled into "blocks" and chronologically linked together, forming a tamper-proof chain. This decentralized nature eliminates the need for a trusted third party, as each block is cryptographically secured and validated by the network, making it virtually impossible to alter past records.The blockchain's inherent transparency, immutability, and decentralization make it a potent tool for various applications beyond cryptocurrencies. Its ability to securely record and verify transactions holds significant implications for industries seeking to streamline processes, enhance traceability, and reduce corruption. As the Asian gambling industry explores the potential of Bitcoin and blockchain, understanding these underlying technologies becomes crucial for leveraging their transformative capabilities.Power Up Your Play: How Bitcoin and Blockchain Benefit GamblersFor players, Bitcoin and blockchain unlock a new level of convenience and control. Transactions are significantly faster compared to traditional methods like credit cards or bank transfers, allowing for near-instant deposits and withdrawals. Additionally, these transactions often come with lower fees, putting more money directly in your pocket.However, the true game-changer lies in privacy. Unlike traditional methods that require extensive personal information, Bitcoin transactions offer a layer of anonymity. This can be appealing to players, but it's important to remember that regulations are evolving to ensure responsible gambling practices.But the benefits go beyond speed and privacy. Blockchain technology holds the potential for provably fair games. By leveraging the transparent and tamper-proof nature of the blockchain, players can verify the randomness and fairness of games, fostering trust and confidence.Finally, geo-restrictions that limit access to certain online gambling platforms may become a thing of the past. With Bitcoin, players can potentially access a wider range of options, regardless of location (although regulations may still apply).Advantages of Bitcoin and Blockchain for Online CasinosThe integration of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in the online gambling industry has the potential to offer numerous advantages, revolutionizing the way casinos operate and players engage with these platforms.Cheaper transactionsReduced processing fees for transactions compared to traditional payment methods: One of the most significant benefits is the substantial reduction in transaction fees. Traditional payment methods often involve intermediaries and associated costs, which can be a burden for both casinos and players. By leveraging BTC and blockchain, casinos facilitate direct peer-to-peer transactions, significantly reducing these fees and increasing profitability. To go even more in depth about highest rated gambling brands with crypto you can read more in this post.New marketsReaching players in regions with restrictions on traditional gambling: The decentralized nature of Bitcoin and blockchain allows online casinos to bypass geographical restrictions and reach players in regions where traditional gambling methods may be heavily regulated or prohibited. This opens up new markets and expands the potential customer base for these platforms.Improved security and transparencyA blockchain ledger creates a tamper-proof record of transactions: The inherent transparency and immutability of the blockchain ledger ensure that all transactions are securely recorded and cannot be altered or manipulated. This level of transparency instills trust and confidence in players, as they can verify the fairness and integrity of the gambling process.Potential for innovative gambling experiencesIntegration with cryptocurrencies and NFTs (non-fungible tokens): Beyond facilitating transactions, the integration of Bitcoin and blockchain technology paves the way for innovative gambling experiences. Online casinos can explore the use of cryptocurrencies as gaming chips or integrate non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to create unique digital assets representing in-game items or collectibles. This opens up new avenues for player engagement and revenue streams.Furthermore, the decentralized nature of blockchain technology aligns with the growing demand for data privacy and security, addressing concerns surrounding the handling of sensitive information by centralized authorities. As the adoption of Bitcoin and blockchain continues to gain momentum, the Asian gambling industry has an opportunity to embrace these technologies, enhancing operational efficiency, reaching new markets, and providing a secure and transparent gaming experience for players.Charting the Course: The Future of Crypto Gambling in AsiaAs Bitcoin and blockchain continue to reshape the landscape, the future of Asian online gambling promises exciting developments. Regulatory bodies are likely to play a more active role, potentially implementing licensing for crypto gambling to ensure security and fairness for all parties involved. This will bring much-needed structure to the industry.On the user side, expect a wave of user-friendly interfaces that make crypto transactions as simple as using a credit card. As technology becomes more accessible, a wider range of players will be able to experience the benefits of crypto gambling.Furthermore, the integration of blockchain technology into traditional gambling experiences is a distinct possibility. Imagine secure in-game transactions facilitated by blockchain, streamlining gameplay and eliminating friction. This convergence could create a truly seamless gambling experience.Looking ahead, the Asian online market is poised for continued growth, with cryptocurrencies becoming a mainstream payment option. As regulations evolve and user adoption increases, BTC and blockchain will undoubtedly continue to transform the way people gamble in Asia.ConclusionThe convergence of Bitcoin, blockchain technology, and the Asian gambling industry presents a transformative opportunity. As online casinos embrace these innovations, they unlock new avenues for operational efficiency, cost savings, and market reach. Players, too, stand to benefit from enhanced security, transparency, and innovative experiences.However, the true potential of this fusion hinges on the ability of stakeholders to navigate the regulatory landscape and address societal concerns surrounding responsible gambling practices. By striking a balance between technological progress and ethical considerations, the Asian gambling industry can harness the power of Bitcoin and blockchain to redefine the gaming experience for the digital age.As this revolution unfolds, one thing is certain – the future of gambling in Asia is poised for a seismic shift, driven by the disruptive force of decentralized technologies.
Friday 5 July 2024
Pegatron 5G and Fujisoft discuss collaboration for future smart manufacturing
With the rapid development of 5G Open RAN communication, Pegatron 5G, a new business group of the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Pegatron Corporation ("Pegatron"), and FUJISOFT Incorporated, a globally renowned Japanese IT service company, held discussions on their shared vision of accelerating digitalization in smart factories.During his visit to Pegatron Headquarters, Satoyasu Sakashita, President & Representative Director of FUJISOFT Incorporated, said, "We foresee that 5G in private networks will become irreplaceable in factory operations. We especially note that Pegatron has been transforming its manufacturing from traditional to digital." After visiting Pegatron's Taoyuan factory, he added, "We are looking forward to seeing the change by cooperating with the Pegatron 5G team."CY Feng, General Manager of Pegatron Business Group 6 Communication Products, stated, "Looking at the next two years' time frame, we expect 5G private networks to become the industry standard, and we have prepared to lead this trend by turning our factories into smart manufacturing hubs first. 5G Open RAN has now matured and has been applied in real cases; we are optimistic about the advantages it brings us."Smart manufacturing is one of the major industrial sectors that Pegatron has focused on. Currently, Pegatron factories in Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia are undergoing 5G deployment. The Pegatron 5G team is determined to leverage 5G technology to build a better, more secure, and more productive manufacturing sector.Pegatron is excited to work with FUJISOFT, a globally renowned Japanese IT service company, to help develop smart manufacturing solutions for FUJISOFT's customer base.From left to right: OSAKO TATEYUKI /Director & Senior Executive Operating, FUJISOFT Incorporated, SAKASHITA SATOYASU /President & Representative Director, FUJISOFT Incorporated, Dr. James Shue, Senior Vice President & CTO of Pegatron and CY Feng, General Manager of Pegatron Business Group 6 Communication Products
Friday 28 June 2024
Why should busy professionals use AI for their passport size photo editing?
Have you ever stared down the barrel of a looming business trip with the sinking realization you don't have a valid passport photo? Or you've experienced the frustration of waiting in line at a photo studio only to reject your picture because of a minor technicality.Let's face it: getting a professional passport photo can be a real hassle, especially for busy professionals like us who juggle demanding schedules and frequent travel.The good news? Thanks to the magic of artificial intelligence (AI), there's a much smoother and more efficient way to get that perfect passport photo. AI passport photo size photo editors are revolutionizing how we approach this essential travel document.5 Reasons Why Professionals Should Use AI Passport Size Photo Editing ToolHere's why busy professionals like you should seriously consider using an AI photo editor for your next passport photo:1. Efficiency is Your Middle Name:Who has time to squeeze a trip to the photo studio into their already-packed schedule? Traditional passport photos often involve long wait times, inflexible appointments, and the added stress of potential retakes.AI tools eliminate all of that. You can take your photo from the comfort of your own home, office, or even a hotel room – anytime, anywhere. Need a retake because you blinked? No problem! With AI, you can snap as many photos as needed without incurring additional costs.2. Guaranteed Compliance, Zero Rejections:Passport photo requirements are notoriously strict. The last thing you want on your travel eve is a frantic scramble because your photo needs to meet the exact specifications. AI tools take the guesswork out of the equation.They are programmed to adhere to all government regulations, ensuring your photo has the correct size, background (white or light blue), and facial expression (a neutral, closed-mouth look). This minimizes the risk of rejection at passport offices and potential delays in your travel plans.3. Project a Polished, Professional Image:First impressions matter, especially when you're traveling for business. Your passport photo is often the first glimpse immigration officials or potential clients get of you. AI tools can help you project a professional and polished image.They can remove minor blemishes like red-eye or adjust lighting to enhance your facial features. You'll look confident, competent, and ready to take on the world – all from the comfort of your phone.4. Save Time, Save Money:Studio photo fees can add up, especially if you need to renew your passport frequently. AI tools offer a much more cost-effective solution.Many platforms have affordable one-time fees or subscription plans, allowing you to edit multiple photos simultaneously. This is perfect for business travelers needing to update their passport photos for various trips.5. Peace of Mind and Convenience:Using AI for your passport photo eliminates much stress and hassle. No more worrying about appointment times, studio lighting, or potential photo rejections.You can focus on the essential things, like booking flights and finalizing travel arrangements. Additionally, AI tools often provide digital storage for your edited photos, so you can easily access them whenever needed.Introducing ZMO.AI: Your AI Passport Photo Editing PartnerNow that you understand the benefits of AI photo editing, let's explore how ZMO.AI, a leading provider of AI-powered passport photo editing tools, can simplify the process even further.Here's what makes ZMO.AI stand out:*Fast Processing: Get your edited passport photo back in minutes, not hours. No more waiting in line or rushing to meet deadlines.*Guaranteed Compliance: Rest assured your photo meets all government regulations, eliminating the risk of rejection and delays. *Secure Platform: AI prioritizes the security of your data and photo uploads, giving you peace of mind.*User-Friendly Interface: The platform is straightforward to navigate, even for non-tech-savvy users—no complex software or editing skills are required.Using ZMO.AI is as simple as 1-2-3:The good news? Using ZMO.AI is incredibly simple. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:1. Effortless Upload: Simply drag and drop your photo (JPEG or PNG format) directly onto the ZMO.AI website. Alternatively, you can browse your files and select the image you want to use. 2. Resize & Edit (Made Easy): ZMO.AI understands that passport photo requirements can vary depending on your destination. That's why they offer a range of pre-set templates specifically designed for different countries (US, EU, etc.).Here's the magic: choose the appropriate template, and the AI automatically resizes your photo to the correct dimensions. There's no need to worry about measuring or cropping—ZMO.AI takes care of it all.However, ZMO.AI also allows for some manual adjustments if you're feeling adventurous. You can use the built-in tools to fine-tune the size and position of your photo within the template, ensuring a perfect fit.3. Download Your Perfect Passport Photo: Once you're happy with the results, simply download your edited photo. ZMO.AI ensures your image is high-resolution and meets all printing requirements for official applications.Beyond Efficiency: ZMO.AI Makes it Hassle-FreeRemember earlier information about background removal and ensuring a plain white backdrop? Here's where ZMO.AI truly shines.Their AI technology can automatically identify and isolate your face in the photo. With a single click, it removes any background clutter and replaces it with a clean white background, saving you the time and effort of editing it yourself.This is particularly helpful if you can't access a studio setup with a plain white background. You won't need to worry about finding a white sheet or struggling with lighting—ZMO.AI takes care of it all for you.Multiple Options for Your NeedsZMO.AI understands that passport photo requirements might differ depending on your destination. That's why they offer a range of pre-set templates to cater to various international standards.So, whether you're applying for a US passport, an EU visa, or a travel document for another country, ZMO.AI has you covered. Simply choose the appropriate template during the upload process, and the AI will ensure your photo meets the specific size and format requirements.Ready to ditch the photo studio for good?Head over to ZMO.AI today and experience the future of passport photos. They offer a free trial so you can see how fast, easy, and professional the process can be. No more waiting in lines, stressing about technicalities, or wondering if your photo will be accepted.With ZMO.AI, getting your perfect passport photo is just a few clicks away. Except this ZMO.AI have many other tools where you can generate the images from AI, AI drawing generator, AI anime generator, AI wallpaper generator.Why Should Busy Professionals Use AI For Their Passport Size Photo Editing?
Friday 28 June 2024
SK Hynix develops PCB01 for artificial intelligence PCs
SK Hynix Inc. (or "the company") announced today that it developed PCB01, an SSD product with the industry's best specifications, for on-device AI* PCs.Readers can visit SK Hynix at www.skhynix.com.*On-device AI: a technology that implements AI functions on the device itself, instead of going through computation by a physically separated server. A smartphone's direct collection and computation of information allows fast reactions of the AI performance while promising an improved customized AI service.The product marks the first case where the industry adopts the fifth generation of the 8-channel** PCIe*** technology and brings innovation to performance including the data processing speed.**Channel: a route for the input/output of data between a NAND flash and a controller on the SSD. An increase in the number of channels leads to the advancement of the PCIe to the next generations and an improvement in the data processing speed. A 4-channel SSD is typically adopted for conventional PCs, while an 8-channel SSD is for high-performance PCs.***Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle): a serial-structured, high-speed input/output interface used on the motherboard of digital devicesThe company expects the latest advancement in the NAND solution space to add to its success stories in the high-performance DRAM area led by HBM, enhancing its leadership in the overall AI memory space.With a validation process with a global PC customer underway, SK Hynix plans to mass produce and start shipping the products to corporate customers and general consumers this year.PCB01 comes with the capabilities of sequential read and write speeds of 14GB and 12GB per second, respectively, bringing the performance of an SSD to a level unseen before. The speeds allow the operation of a large language model****, or LLM, for AI training and inference, in a second.****Large language model (LLM): a language model trained on vast amounts of data, which is essential for the performance of generative AI tasks such as creating, summarizing, and translating textsThe product also comes with an improvement in power efficiency of more than 30% compared with the previous generation, enhancing the stability of large-scale AI computing tasks.SK Hynix also adopted the SLC***** caching for the production of PCB01. With the adoption of the technology that places the single-level cell, or SLC, in some parts of the NAND cell to accelerate performance, a PC user can experience a faster performance for both AI services and conventional computing.*****Single-level cell (SLC): a type of memory cell used in NAND flash that stores one bit of data in a single cell. As the amount of data stored increases, the memory cell becomes a multi-level cell (MLC), a triple-level cell (TLC), and a quad-level cell (QLC). An increase in data storage means more data can be stored in the same area, but the speed and stability decrease. An SLC enables faster processing of selected data.The product is also equipped with the capability aimed at protecting personal data. SK Hynix engineers built the root of trust, or ROT******, a security solution, in the PCB01 to prevent external cybersecurity attacks and forging and falsification of information, while protecting a user's password.******Root of Trust (RoT): an area of the hardware that can always be trusted in terms of security, while enabling the prevention of forging and falsification of informationThe company plans to launch PCB01 in three capacities – 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.Ahn Hyun, Head of the N-S Committee at SK Hynix, said numerous global providers of CPUs for on-device AI PCs are requesting collaboration for the compatibility validation process. "We will work towards enhancing our leadership as the global top AI memory provider also in the NAND solution space by successfully completing the customer validation and mass production of PCB01, which will be in the limelight."SK Hynix develops PCB01
Thursday 27 June 2024
How VR and AR technologies are transforming gaming experience
The use of the latest technologies not only offers a more immersive experience but also improves the overall quality of gameplay.Augmented Reality (AR) is used to overlay digital elements onto the real world. You can add different virtual elements to your surroundings.On the other hand, Virtual Reality offers a fully immersive experience in the digital environment. While using VR, you will be disconnecting from the real world. The latest games use a mix of both technologies.Playing VR games might also require you to invest in additional hardware. Only limited games are available with VR and AR support, but the growing demand for these technologies indicates bright opportunities for the gaming industry.Impact of VR and AR on the Gaming SectorThe entertainment industry seems to be the biggest user of these technologies, but other sectors are also benefiting a lot from these latest technologies. From real estate agents to hardware developers, everyone is using the latest technologies in different ways. When it comes to gaming, consumers expect more immersive gameplay and better-quality visuals. Here are some major impacts of these technologies in different niches of the gaming industry.Immersive GameplayGames are not just about shooting and running because there is a completely imaginary world in these days. Players spend hours making progress in these games, and developers need to have essential tech in place to keep them engaged.With VR headsets, users can enjoy a 360-degree view of the surroundings. Many games benefit from this feature as players need to be aware of their surroundings in the games. There are even motion controllers installed for these games that will take you to the digital realm.Pokemon Go is the biggest example of the successful integration of AR in the gaming world. While playing games based on AR, you will be interacting with the physical world via smartphone, but there will be different elements added to the environment with AR.Some casino games even use VR and AR technologies. Players will enjoy the same gambling experience as playing at a physical casino. Without spending much on new devices, gamblers still play free slot machine games at online casinos to experience the platform. Once you are done with the basic games, you can search for better and more entertaining options like VR and AR games.Enhanced Gameplay MechanicsOld games offered only limited controls where you could control the player's movement with a joystick and buttons only. With new games, new technologies and sensors allow players to use their body movements for the games.For example, if you are playing an action-adventure game, you will have to move your body in real-time to avoid the sword attack in the game. You will have to move your legs in the real world to move in the game.Traditional games can add new layers of creative elements and features with AR technology. Monster Hunter Now and Pokemon Go are quite popular games. You will be able to play games, move physically, and interact with virtual elements via your smartphone. Playing AR games does not require additional hardware because the camera of your smartphone is used to display different elements in the surroundings.Improved Social InteractionMost games are based on multiplayer gameplay features, and there are different platforms where users of the same game can interact in a virtual environment. Their avatars will be in the same room or space, and players behind these characters will be able to communicate with each other. Chat options and other means of communication don't offer that kind of smooth experience as VR spaces.As players will be interacting in real time via their smartphones, different players can also team up and play games together. They usually gather at a common place and then play in groups to make faster progress in the game.Innovative Game DesignTraditional gaming technologies have been entertaining the industry for ages. However, certain design limitations restrict the potential of the gameplay.With VR and AR, developers can add different innovative game elements to improve the creativity of the game. Players can climb mountains, run, and walk in the game by performing real-like actions and movements in real life. Their movements in real life direct and control the movement of the avatar in the game.More ways to interact with the game characters and surroundings increase the growth opportunities. Location-based games are the perfect example of the use of AR in the gaming world. Instead of limiting the design approach, developers take inspiration from real-world surroundings, and they keep adding new and innovative game design elements.The potential of AR and VR TechnologiesThe entertainment industry, including online casinos, video games, and the film industry, is using the latest visual technologies to improve production quality. The use of machine learning and artificial intelligence will open doors to new opportunities in the gaming world.Modern consumers want customized services and products in every aspect of life. The latest technologies and tools ensure easy personalization of different aspects of the game.With more realistic gameplay, users will be able to gain better control over the game dynamics and enjoy better flexibility in the games. The overall adaption of these technologies will take a few years, but the interest of tech giants shows that consumers can expect some major developments in the industry soon.ConclusionGames are not just a hobby or entertainment; people use these activities for personal and professional reasons, too. Streamers make their living by playing games online and then streaming to the interested audience.On the other hand, millions of users find peace and escape from reality in these games. So, the level of impact of gaming on our daily lives demands the swift implementation of the latest technologies in the industry. You will find VR and AR games easily available on almost every online gaming platform.
Wednesday 26 June 2024
NewPower Worldwide secures top rankings as #1 independent distributor and #10 global distributor
NewPower Worldwide, a leader in the distribution of electronic components and finished goods, has proudly announced its latest achievement as being named the #1 Independent Distributor in North America by Electronics Sourcing and the #10 Global Distributor awarded by Supply Chain Connect's Top 50 rankings.This year's rise to #1 completes a meteoric ascension to the top of the world's distribution charts. With 14 offices worldwide, NewPower is positioned to provide its customers with 24/7 world-class service. The company's proprietary cloud-based sourcing technology, EMPOWER, has been instrumental in this success, providing customers with real-time access to an extensive inventory of electronic components."Our climb in the rankings is a direct result of our team's innovative spirit and dedication to providing cutting-edge supply chain solutions. As the market evolves, we'll remain deeply committed to enhancing the efficiency of our customer's supply chains," said Carleton Dufoe, Chief Executive Officer.As an industry expert in sourcing, procurement, and redistribution of electronic components and peripherals, NewPower Worldwide has consistently been recognized for its performance, appearing at the top of highly competitive and rigorous annual reports for seven consecutive years.The company's achievements reflect its technological advancements and financial strength, as well as its customer-first mentality, which has been crucial in driving impactful results for its clients.For more information, visit www.newpowerww.com for a complete list of supply chain services or email solutions@newpowerww.com for immediate assistance.
Wednesday 26 June 2024
How precise inventory control can minimize waste and improve sustainability
As a business person, you don't want a situation where your stock level either exceeds or is way less than the customer demand.The merchandising process should be optimized in such a way that the available stock meets consumer demands without excess or deficiencies. This is where inventory control comes in – it allows you to track stock levels while keeping an eye on customer demand, ensuring optimal business performance.When you're able to meet this demand optimally, you avoid chances of over or understocking, theft and damage, and so much more. As technology has evolved, it's become even easier to keep track of your stock levels amid varying customer demands.A manufacturing inventory software, for example, can allow you to manage your stock more accurately, especially because it offers real-time data that makes the process even more efficient. Regardless of your business size – whether large or small – the importance of inventory control can never be overstated. Read on to gather more insights.Reducing Overstock and Understock: Balancing Supply and DemandAs you've already read in the introduction, inventory control is a great way to avoid over or understocking. When done right, this mechanism can save a company up to 10% of inventory costs.When there's too much inventory, you can end up restricting your business' capital and miss out on opportunities for growth and expansion. Walmart, for example, lost a chance of making $3 billion worth of sales in 2014 due to stockouts that arose from insufficient inventory control measures.Inventory control has an integral part, supply chain management (SCM), which ensures a proper flow of inventory to the point where the organization or buyers consume the products. As a report by ADS suggested, 79% of companies that establish efficient SCMs often experience more-than-average revenue growth within their industrial sectors. Inventory control can help to improve your profits while enhancing customer satisfaction.If you are looking to improve the accuracy of your record levels, then inventory control is the way to go. Actually for retail businesses, inventory is only accurate for up to 63% of the time.With better control, you can always be sure that customers are receiving high-quality products – which is a plus. Zonka Feedback demonstrated that 69% of customers who find satisfactory products tend to shop more consistently.Ensuring that customers can find their needed products any time they want them can greatly add to your sustainability. Stockouts are to be avoided as research has indicated that convenience stores could lose one in 100 customers completely due to such experiences. Plus, up to 55% of customers are not willing to shop for an alternative product if their regular item is out of supply.Minimizing Waste with Precise Inventory ControlEspecially during instances where you overstock or hoard large amounts of products, a good percentage of these items might go unsold or out of date. As a result, the environment has to deal with the pressures of dumping, resource depletion, carbon emissions, and so on.If companies can handle and manage their inventory properly, it eliminates the need to construct sizable warehouses to store excess products. Mark you; these warehouses contribute to the overall carbon footprint of buildings as they consume large amounts of energy.Just recently, in early 2024, DAA Capital Partners did a write-up that showed that warehouses accounted for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To add on the emissions from the warehouses, you'll also have to deal with the discharges from the transport sector – moving the surplus inventory occasioned by overstocking increases the distance traveled and, thus, the carbon released.These parts of the many side effects of overstocking suggest the critical importance of implementing precise inventory control. The Just-in-Time (JIT) method, for example, ensures no excesses as goods are only received in production when needed.With ABC analysis, you can partition the inventory into three categories depending on their importance and volume. Other methods like First In, First Out (FIFO) and Last In, First Out (LIFO) streamline operations by managing the valuation of stock.Best Practices for Implementing Precise Inventory ControlFor those who are wondering about how to get started, these practices will help you to develop an effective system:*Ensure you have an organized floor plan: You can achieve this by using proper labels and signage and placing the most popular items closer to the shipping area. A labeling software can come in handy when you need to print the tags. Plus, you can consider other tools like RFID systems to help you in real-time control.*Take advantage of cycle counting: This can help you identify inaccuracies quickly since you count items in small sections rather than counting them all at once.*Implement warehouse management systems: In a world where so many factors affect customer demand, nothing beats the power of real-time tracking. Plus, with these management systems, the chances of human error are minimal.Undoubtedly, businesses that ensure their stock levels align with customer demands without compromising satisfaction have a great opportunity to improve their competitiveness. This is so because customers are always assured of finding their regular products. As more consumers are becoming environmentally conscious, precise inventory control ensures that you can improve your appeal to such shoppers.
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Synaptics showcases cutting-edge innovations in AI for PCs and IoT edge devices
AI PCs were undoubtedly the hottest topic at Computex 2024. Various PC manufacturers showcased related solutions, and major processor players like AMD, Intel, and Arm emphasized the importance of AI PC applications.As one of the earliest companies to implement AI functions on PCs, Synaptics brought even more advanced solutions with Edge AI technologies to the event this year. Their latest innovations build upon its three technology pillars: sensing, processing, and connecting."At the demos you saw, even for things like a PC touchpad, there are techniques such as accidental contact mitigation (ACM), which uses AI algorithms," said Satish Ganesan, Synaptics' SVP & GM of Intelligent Sensing Division and Chief Strategy Officer. "Our goal is to infuse more and more AI features into PCs, smartphones, and automotive at the sensing edge where the user interacts with the device.""The other side is our processing solutions with our newly announced Astra family of processors, where we are uniquely positioned. We are building processors that go after markets wherever computer vision, voice, or any form of edge AI is required, like in smart home, industrial automation, and so on," he added. "Some of the same elements are then used in the PC space where you saw user presence detection techniques which implements vision AI algorithms to enhance overall user experience."In a demo at Computex 2024, Synaptics showed how the intelligent sensing solution with its new Edge AI chip enhances the PC user's experience. The demo focused on practical, everyday use cases in office environments. Features include Human Presence Detection (HPD), head pose tracking, and gesture control, which allow for automatic adjustments such as waking up the computer, locking it, and managing battery and privacy settings.For instance, users can mute their microphone or switch focus between monitors effortlessly using gestures. Integration of vision AI algorithms and PC cameras provides seamless interaction, ensures user privacy and security, saves power, and improves overall productivity by recognizing user identity and preferences, thus illustrating the real-world benefits of AI-enhanced PCs beyond just technological advancements.Ganesan emphasized that many talks about AI PCs from major companies at Computex 2024 focused on the computational power of processors, but "We're not going to compete with those main processors, we're not doing LLM processing or things like that, our value proposition will be in other areas, where we provide chipsets in the touchpad, fingerprint and so on. Of course, we're doing it on Astra for other markets as the main processor."Synaptics Astra was launched at Embedded World with the debut of the SL-Series, a new family of edge AI processors described as "AI-native SoCs" capable of running the Linux and Android OS. The series uses Arm Cortex-A cores, scales from 2 to 8 TOPS performance, and targets multi-modal consumer, enterprise, and industrial IoT workloads. The upcoming SR-Series MCUs with tiered inferencing were also demonstrated. Together with the SL-Series, the MCUs make context-aware computing a reality across the smart home, the factory floor, and at work.According to Synaptics, the SL-Series and SR-Series of Astra SoCs deliver a unified experience combining standards-based open software frameworks, rapid prototyping kits, full-featured AI/ML toolkits, and Synaptics' Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity solutions. The SL-Series is also supported by the Astra Machina Foundation Series development kit, which allows easy and rapid prototyping.Beyond hardware, Synaptics' solutions emphasize optimizing AI algorithms to operate efficiently at the edge, "So we can work with a smaller memory footprint and lower speed processors," Ganesan mentioned. "Right now, the take rate of AI PCs is still pretty small, but I think it is going to be pretty explosive. We focused on AI early, and the biggest thing in AI is about basically the software and the framework." Synaptics' AI software accepts commonly used input frameworks such as TensorFlow, TFLite, TLFM, ONNX, CAFFE, and PyTorch.For clients with varying levels of AI expertise, the company can provide comprehensive support, including the compiler, tools, and resources like predefined models and libraries for different use cases, such as vision and audio. "That is where we will differentiate in the market," said Ganesan. "Most companies only focus on hardware or software; we are the only ones who deliver an end-to-end solution. That would help our customers bring products to market faster because they don't need to learn from scratch. we have done all the learning for them."Advances in Docking, Enterprise Headsets, and Fingerprint SensorsBeyond the intelligent sensing technology applications for PCs' HPD functions mentioned above, Synaptics also showcased a range of other solutions at Computex 2024, including Docking Station Solutions supporting the latest DisplayPort (DP) 2.0 standard and with the ability to add virtual displays and enhanced user guides for troubleshooting. Low-latency wireless video was also shown, along with audio solutions that enable ultra-low-power Enterprise Headsets that support simultaneous audio streaming with BT Classic, BLE, DECT, and USB-connected devices.Regarding the touchpad and fingerprint solutions for PCs, the fingerprint market is shifting away from traditional palm rest placement towards integration on the keyboard. This change offers a more streamlined and reliable integration.The touchpad sector is witnessing a significant increase in size to match larger screens, emphasizing the importance of advanced palm rejection technology. Synaptics AI-based algorithm can improve palm rejection, addressing common complaints about accidental cursor movements during typing. The algorithm enhances accuracy when distinguishing between fingers and palms, especially at the touchpad edges.Additionally, the integration of Zoom and Teams functions directly into the touchpad was introduced. This allows users to control mute and video settings without moving the cursor, thus simplifying the user experience during online meetings.This customization provides flexibility based on OEM preferences. And, the haptic force touchpad is poised to become dominant in flagship PCs, offering a larger touch area and integrating touch and force using a single chip. This technology allows clicks anywhere on the pad and provides a consistent tactile response, enhancing user experience. The development of piezo technology, combining thin piezo disks with touch sensors, promises even more precise and localized haptic feedback, potentially simulating different textures and offering advanced notification patterns.Taiwan's Pivotal RoleDue to the boom in AI PCs, this year's Computex gathered numerous top executives from major companies and garnered worldwide attention. Ganesan also acknowledged Taiwan's pivotal role in the global PC market and ecosystem, "Taiwan is a big center for PCs, almost all the PC makers and ODMs are here. We're going to see a lot of developments here focused on AI PCs and things like that. It plays a very important role in the hardware ecosystem that supplies worldwide. That is why Taiwan is one of Synaptics' biggest R&D centers."Although the local team is already significant, as the market for AI PCs and other Edge AI applications grows, Ganesan did not rule out the possibility of further expansion, with more investment and the recruitment of more local talent. Synaptics plans to enhance its support and infrastructure in Taiwan, leveraging the country's central role in both implementation and innovation.In a demo at Computex 2024, Synaptics showed how the intelligent sensing solution with its new Edge AI chip enhances the PC user's experience.
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Generative AI Applications Hackathon winner built an AI assistant to boost e-scooter user satisfaction
Ever since the all-knowing AI demonstrated its capability to comprehensively respond to user inquiries at the end of 2022, businesses have been trying to utilize generative AI to build smart customer service and AI assistants as a means to reduce staff workload and increase work efficiency, while also boosting customer satisfaction.Participating in the smart mobility: Gogoro division of the AI Wave: Taiwan Generative AI Applications Hackathon, held on May 18-19, 2024 by DIGITIMES, the team named "How Come Fu-Gui Left," comprising Fu-Gui Wang from Bachelor's Program of Artificial Intelligence Technology and Application, Feng Chia University, as well as Si-Ya Chen, Yan-Ting Guo and Cheng-Han Lin from Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, Feng Chia University, created "Gogoro Smart Scooter Wizard," an AI assistant built with generative AI that gives instant and complete responses to all kinds of user inquiries about Gogoro. The team stood out from a group of strong competitors and won the honorable mention award, voted unanimously by all the judges.The market has seen quite a few AI-based chatbots emerge in recent years. However, most of them only provide standardized answers to specific questions. In contrast, How Come Fu-Gui Left developed Gogoro Smart Scooter Wizard using the Anthropic Claude 3 Sonnet and Haiku models in Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that makes high-performing foundation models on Amazon Web Services (AWS), trained on massive data from Gogoro, allowing it to give organized and sensible responses. Users only need to input the Gogoro model to start asking any questions and get complete answers.Despite its powerful capabilities, generative AI with large language models (LLMs) may occasionally give false or misleading information. When this happens, it does not help but burdens customer service agents.To prevent this, How Come Fu-Gui Left implemented multiple measures in their AI assistant. First, it is restricted to providing answers only to Gogoro-related questions. Furthermore, to save the AI model from incorrectly identifying a Gogoro vehicle, the AI assistant searches the Gogoro knowledge base for information based only on the vehicle model entered by the user. It then sorts out relevant content and provides a user-friendly response. It will politely refuse to answer questions unrelated to Gogoro vehicles.Gogoro Smart Scooter Wizard further uses generative AI to give answers with images. Not only will this help users better understand the response, but it also optimizes the user experience and raises user satisfaction, thereby boosting Gogoro's brand awareness and trustworthiness.The team named "How Come Fu-Gui Left" won honorable mention for their AI assistant for Gogoro smart scooters
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Cybersecurity chatbot developed by Generative AI Applications Hackathon winner helps users swiftly respond to cyberattacks
In the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats, apart from new AI tools for cybersecurity, data-driven analysis and prediction of potential cyberattack targets and methods will help mitigate the impact of cybersecurity incidents.Trend Micro provided the challenge for the cybersecurity division of the AI Wave: Taiwan Generative AI Applications Hackathon, held on May 18-19, 2024 by DIGITIMES, asking the participating teams to use cyber threat data and generative AI to strengthen corporate cybersecurity. Trend Micro also provided resources and data for the teams to use.The team named "Aspiring to Ensure Cybersecurity", comprising Jun-Sheng Shi from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Ilan University, and Wei-Chi Luo from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan Normal University, harnessed the power of generative AI to build an automated analyzer and chatbot that provides cyber threat intelligence summary, prediction on potential cyberattacks and data extraction from NoSQL databases. The team stood out from a group of strong competitors and won the honorable mention award, voted unanimously by all the judges.With today's growingly diverse forms of cyber threats, the team thinks if cybersecurity teams can leverage automation tools to sort through cyber threat data of the past, present, and future and thereby predict cyberattacks, not only will they be able to stay ahead of global cybersecurity trends but they will also work much more efficiently. Individual and corporate users are subject to cyber threats and need such tools to help ensure cybersecurity.Aspiring to Ensure Cybersecurity designed their automation tool to meet the needs of both professional and general users. This thinking drove them to use a chatbot to provide automated service that enables users to make the right decision as quickly as possible in response to a cybersecurity incident. As part of their efforts to protect critical data, corporate and individual users generally have some sort of cybersecurity mechanism in place. However, not everyone is capable of understanding the jargon from their cybersecurity tools.The automation tool developed by Aspiring to Ensure Cybersecurity provides the intelligence summary that Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) teams need. More importantly, it helps general users quickly decipher cybersecurity terms and take appropriate actions in response to all types of cyber threats, thereby minimizing potential impact.The team expressed great interest in the cybersecurity industry and appreciated the chance to learn generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) knowledge through the Amazon Web Services (AWS) workshops. The team members both have plans to obtain cybersecurity, AI, and ML certifications and aspire to a career in the cybersecurity industry.The team named "Aspiring to Ensure Cybersecurity" won honorable mention for their AI-powered cybersecurity analyzer and chatbot
Holtek
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