Navigate With Real-Time Data From The Cloud

November 29, 2021

Real-Time Data- Summertime’s are construction sites and therefore traffic jams. Many drivers are currently noticing this. And they know: navigation on motorways and country roads is not just a question of the detailed map material. The availability of real-time traffic data is at least as important.

The car has been stuck in a traffic jam for some time when the relevant message finally comes on the traffic radio – much too late to choose an alternative route. This awkward situation is everyday life for millions of annoyed and angry drivers. The anger is inherent in the system because it takes some time for the police, motorway maintenance depots, or employees of traffic clubs to pass a traffic jam observation through their reporting chain to the broadcasting editorial offices.

Navigation systems with their receiver for the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) broadcast via VHF radio do not bring any relief – their data is not much faster for the “end-user” in the car than the notoriously delayed radio reports.

But remedy in the form of more up-to-date traffic data is near. The data is collected by service providers and distributed via the cloud. To distribute real-time traffic data via any “cloud,” it must first be collected. And they have been for decades – at least longer than people talk about cloud computing.

Real-Time Data- Permanently Installed Sensors

It all started with induction loops in the lane, which count every passing car and report it to a traffic control center. Using a physical model, this data can be used to determine travel times and the speed of the traffic flow. Similar data are provided by radar or infrared sensors permanently installed on bridges.

But the technology of permanently installed sensors has disadvantages: A high structural effort is offset by a sketchy model because the traffic is only recorded where the sensors are installed. “When it comes to recording traffic flows, the trend is moving away from infrastructure and towards moving sensors.”

The operators of cellular networks have developed an obvious method for recording traffic flows with moving sensors. They evaluate the length of time cell phones remain in radio cells and use this to derive the speed at which they move. This means that the network operators have a data source that reports the occurrence of a traffic jam promptly. Experts refer to this approach as floating phone data (FPD).

Navigation Devices As Reporting Points

Navigation devices as reporting points are more precise than the relatively vague bearings on cell phone masts: They already have precise location data and calculate the current speed every second. If you have your own SIM card, you can actively report your data to a collection point. This floating device data (FDD) is currently the gold from which service providers forge their services.

They offer a considerable additional benefit compared to conventional navigation systems, enriched with not quite as time-critical but dynamic data such as information about construction sites, road closures, or temporary diversions on country roads and local areas.

This is where the competition begins. The quality of the data depends on several factors. One of the most important is the number of participants. To generate meaningful data, at least 1% of the vehicles on a given route must provide data. “Penetration is an important factor in competition.”

Manufacturers of navigation devices compete with specialized telematics service providers for the customers’ favor. The automakers also want a piece of the pie. To do this, they are again cooperating with service providers or navigation providers.

Modular Principle

Audi and BMW use real-time data from US telematics service provider Inrix. On the other hand, Daimler obtains the real-time data for its in-house navigation system Comand Online from Tomtom – precisely the data that the Dutch navigation manufacturer itself markets under “Tomtom Traffic.” Hardware and map material, at least for Daimler’s luxury sedans, come from a different source. “We see a differentiation option in the provision of specially prepared map material.”

Daimler has signed a contract with Deutsche Telekom for the storage and provision of the data. It sends the processed traffic data reports promptly – every two minutes at the latest – via its cellular network to the cars.

According to this modular principle, many service providers and data suppliers assemble their specific cloud offerings. Those who master the greater part of the value chain expect better market opportunities. Two years ago, Nokia took over the navigation system manufacturer Naveta and its service Naveta Traffic (formerly TMC Pro).

Save Time And Fuel

The news recently made the rounds that the Internet giant Google would also like to get involved: An indication of this is the interest in Waze. The Israeli start-up sells a smartphone app that uses the GPS chip built into most devices today. From this, it generates the current traffic reports in the manner of a social network. In addition, Google also operates a corresponding service from the cloud with “Live Traffic.”

One thing is certain: With the help of relevant real-time data and route alternatives, users can reach their destination faster, with less stress, and save fuel. In a comparative test, it was found that users of quality services need almost 15% less time for their trip than users of navigation systems who use no or outdated real-time data.

ALSO READ: New Generation Of Cellular Communications – Will 6G Be Able To Do?

New Generation Of Cellular Communications – Will 6G Be Able To Do?

Techno Rumours

November 27, 2021

The New Generation Of Cellular Communications - What Will 6G Be Able To Do

While we are still using the 4th generation cellular network and talking about 5G, research is already being carried out on 6G, in the scientific laboratories and offices. Because of this, new frequencies, as well as wireless transitions, have to be found.

The fourth generation of the mobile network has more than 90 percent network coverage. The LTE successor 5G should enable a bandwidth of up to 10 gigabits per second (Bit / s) in 2020. But even before the next cellular network is even in the starting blocks, the way seems to be clear for 6G. Researchers are already busy laying the foundations for significantly higher bandwidths. Wireless transmission rates of up to 400 Bit / s enable completely new ways of communication.

6G Wants To Bundle Increasing Data Streams

The data streams will continue to grow in the future, the scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF) are certain. In response to these increasing requirements, they cooperate with partners from research and development to enable far faster data connections in the future than appears possible in today’s LTE network or via WLAN.

The heart of the technology is a combination of radio solutions in the terahertz range and fiber optic technology. In particular, new frequency bands are intended to open up entirely new possibilities for a resilient communication network. Experts assume that wireless data transmission rates of up to 400 Bit / s can be achieved in this way.

Due to these high bandwidths, wireless communication should not only replace the previous cellular networks but ultimately also make the expensive expansion of the fiber-optic network in every home superfluous. In any case, this costly network expansion would not solve the problem of ever-larger data traffic being processed via mobile devices – at the latest outside of the home WLAN. The data rates would decrease significantly again.

Open Up New Frequencies

However, the frequencies used to date for cellular networks are not sufficient to transmit such high bandwidths at the fiber-optic level. The frequency ranges between 800 and 2,600 megahertz (MHz) are currently used for the LTE network, theoretically limiting the bandwidth to 1 gigabit per second. However, the mentioned transmission rates can be achieved if the frequencies are raised to the terahertz range.

The maximum bandwidth increases with the frequency, but the range decreases. For this reason, the comparatively slow 4G network in the LTE band 20 frequency range is transmitted at 800 MHz: due to the comparatively low frequency, the range is high, and in rural areas, the number of radio towers required can be reduced.

Seamless Transition Through “Merging” Of The Networks

Another research focus is the seamless change between different access technologies. It is already common for cell phone users to switch between WiFi and 4G. However, the problem here is that there is still no smooth transition because different access data are used. One of the aims of the Terranova project at Fraunhofer HHI is to “merge” the different networks so that the customer is no longer conscious of the change. This interaction between different network elements is a challenge that has to be mastered to even more efficient communication.

Another issue is hardware implementation: the high-performance radio chips must be so compact, energy-saving, and affordable that they can be used in upcoming smartphones. And finally, the range problem must be solved so that the construction of the new network infrastructure does not cause high costs.

Conclusion: The Cellular Network Of The Future

All in all, we can expect far more powerful cellular networks than are currently available in the future. And that at a time when the next-fastest 5G network, which IT expert Lisbeth van der Pere described as “a thousand times more powerful than 4G” just a few years ago, has not even been implemented. The special features of the 5G network lie primarily in the radio frequencies used, which should differ significantly from the conventional 4G network. As a result, bandwidths are technically feasible that are many times higher than the currently feasible speed. This is intended to replace currently available cellular networks and create competition for expensive fiber-optic expansion. In the 6G network, all these advantages will come together.

ALSO READ: The Antenna As Wallpaper: On The Way To 6G

The Antenna As Wallpaper: On The Way To 6G

Techno Rumours

November 26, 2021

The Antenna As Wallpaper On The Way To 6G

6G: Digitization also requires new ways of signal transmission. Princeton University researchers have taken an essential step, towards a whole new type of antenna array. It could revolutionize communication – and be a solution for 6G.

The Internet of Things (IoT) will play an increasingly important role in very different areas of life in the future. Skin patches could, for example, pass on measurement data to an app on the smartphone or transfer it to medical implants. In the smart home, heaters communicate with windows or the refrigerator in the supermarket. In industry, machines report when they run out of material. Much of this is already possible, but whether these concepts usually work depends on how good the WiFi is if alternatives such as wireless switches are not to be used. How can better ways of data transmission be achieved to enable the IoT without gaps? Engineers at Princeton University in the United States investigated this question. Your answer for 6G: Phased array antennas, which, as thin-film technology.

Silicon Semiconductors Will Probably Not Be Enough For 6G

5G is not there yet, but 6G is already being researched. The industrial development and the spread of innovations in the area will depend to a large extent on whether it is possible to establish wireless networks with high performance. The Princeton researchers know that large-area electronics could be a key. What is needed is an affordable way to package electronic circuitry on thin, flexible materials.

The problem is well known: conventional silicon semiconductors can work on the high radio frequencies that are required for 5G, but they can only be manufactured up to a width of a few centimeters. In addition, it is difficult to assemble them into arrays that would be necessary for better communication – with low power consumption. “To achieve these large dimensions, attempts have been made to integrate hundreds of small microchips. But that is not practical. Because it’s not inexpensive, it’s not reliable. It’s not scalable at the wireless system level”. “What you need is the technology that is inherently suitable for these large dimensions.”

Have They Converted Thin-Film Transistors As A Solution For 6G?

It was easy for the researchers to find. Because it is already there. The scientists quickly modified the thin-film transistor technology, which is used for computer monitors and liquid crystal screens (LCD), to be used for wireless signal transmission.

More precisely, the researchers used zinc oxide thin-film transistors to create a row of three antennas 30 centimeters long in a so-called phase-controlled arrangement. Phased array antennas can send out narrow beam signals that can be digitally programmed to achieve desired frequencies and directions. Each antenna in the group sends out a call with a specified time delay to the movement of the following antenna. The constructive and destructive interference between these signals adds up to a focused electromagnetic beam. This is similar to the interference between the small waves created by water droplets in a pond.

6G On The Wall – Via Wallpaper Made Of Unique Material

In addition: “A single antenna sends a fixed signal in all directions, but a phased arrangement can steer the beam electrically in different directions so that a wireless point-to-point communication is possible.”

The principle of phased array antennas is, of course, not new. For decades, they have been used in long-range communications systems such as radar systems, satellites, and cellular networks. Still, the development of the research team gives them a different level of flexibility. It would be possible to integrate the large-area electronics as thin-film technology on a flexible substrate – for example, over a width of several meters. The scientists used a glass substrate for the study, but plastic would also be a carrier material.

For example, the researchers imagine a suitably modified wallpaper. It could enable fast, secure, and energy-efficient communication with a distributed network of IoT devices such as temperature or motion sensors. Aircraft wings or facades could also be equipped with it – 6G is a step closer.

ALSO READ: New Workforce Management: Digital & Flexible In Working World Of Future

New Workforce Management: Digital & Flexible In Working World Of Future

Techno Rumours

November 25, 2021

New Workforce Management Digital And Flexible In The Working World Of The Future

New Workforce Management: The world is changing rapidly. Industry 4.0 and digital change are transforming the world of work. Companies that want to keep pace have to be agile – especially in their work processes.

Those companies that take the wishes of their employees into account when planning their working hours are one step ahead in the labor market. Digital workforce management combines profitability with employee satisfaction, ensures compliance with requirements and thus creates competitive advantages.

New Workforce Management: New Work And The New Way Of Working

Learn more about:

the five primary drivers of the current and future world of work
digital desired duty rosters, shift swap exchanges, self-services and apps
the implementation of individual working time models depending on age and phase of life
Efficiency and legal security through digitized processes
Digitization and data security

Flexible Duty Scheduling From Which Everyone Benefits

A professional workforce management software brings together all the relevant information for demand-oriented and, at the same time, employee-oriented deployment planning. On the one hand, there is company-specific data such as the forecast staffing requirements, time and vacation balances, working time and shift patterns, as well as statutory and collective bargaining regulations. On the part of the workforce, absences requested digitally, annual leave, and working time and shift requests are incorporated. The result is a cutting-edge duty roster that considers all factors and meets the increasing requirements for data protection and revision security. At the same time, supervisors and employees gain more transparency, efficiency and flexibility concerning the organization of working hours.

Digital Employee Experience That Integrates And Motivates

If companies include their employees’ individual life and performance situations in their workforce planning, this has many advantages. The need for time off and sick leave is reduced, and the willingness to take on an additional shift increases. Employees, including the deskless workforce without their PC access, are integrated into the processes relating to working hours via intuitive workforce management apps and self-services. Functions such as shift swap exchange, working time requests, paperless vacation requests and intuitive time recording on the desktop or via smartphone create an optimal digital employee experience.

System Integration According To Common Standards

The 24/7 availability of company software plays an essential role in the working world of the future. A solution for workforce management must be intuitively usable from anywhere globally, at any time and for any user group. Hybrid multi-cloud architectures offer the possibility of pulling together extensive application and data clouds. The prerequisite is that these systems can be integrated quickly and follow current standards.

At the same time, server and cloud applications must be protected against unauthorized access and securely networked with one another. With professional workforce management software, the smooth connection to cloud-based HCM systems such as SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central or Workday and existing ERP and wage and salary systems should be ensured. Only then can platforms be merged efficiently and without loss of productivity.

New Work Is Within Reach

With New Workforce Management, work-life integration and an optimal employee experience become a reality for large workforce parts. Based on real-time data, the actual personnel requirements and the individual wishes of the workforce, working hours are created from which employers and employees benefit.

ALSO READ: The 10 Most Important IT Trends For 2022

The 10 Most Important IT Trends For 2022

Techno Rumours

November 24, 2021

The 10 Most Important IT Trends For 2022

IT Trends – Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous driving will keep engineers busy in the next year. What other developments should you be prepared for?

IT Trends – Trend 1: Hyper-Automation

Hyper Automation is concerned with applying innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to automate processes more than before. In this context, augmented Reality provides new possibilities for simulating such processes.

Trend 2: Multi-Experience

The experts also expect new worlds of experience when shopping online. Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and combinations known as Mixed Reality are changing how customers perceive products. This so-called user experience, i.e., the interaction with a product or service, will change completely. What does this mean? For example, if you order a pizza, you use an app and experience how the product is made and how it is delivered in an autonomous vehicle.

Trend 3: The Democratization Of Knowledge

Regardless of whether they are engineers or laypeople, all people have access to technical or economic expertise without training or expensive licenses. For example, democratization would enable developers to create data models without specialist scientists. Rather, they use AI tools to generate codes and automate tests.

Trend 4: Human Enhancement

The use of technologies is increasingly making it possible to improve cognitive and physical experiences (“human enhancement”). Wearables are already being used in the automotive and mining industries to improve occupational safety. In retail, such gadgets are used to increase productivity. Gartner expects further developments in all areas, namely the sensory (hearing, seeing, perceiving), the biological-functional (exoskeletons, prostheses), the neural (implants for the treatment of seizures), and the genetic augmentation (somatic gene and cell therapies for diseases).

Trend 5: Measures Against Distrust

Initially, consumers have little confidence in new technologies. It is unclear what data is being collected – and where the information ultimately ends up. In addition, AI and machine learning are increasingly used to make decisions instead of people, and skepticism is growing. “This trend requires companies to focus on six key elements of trust: ethics, integrity, openness, accountability, competence, and consistency,” Gartner writes in the study.

Trend 6: Edge Computing In The Fast Lane

In contrast to cloud computing, edge computing is the decentralized data processing at the edge of the network, the so-called border. In this way, engineers try to place data collection and data processing closer to the sources of information to shorten system times. With the empowered edge, devices are networked to create intelligent spaces and bring applications closer to users. By 2023, more than 20 times as many smart devices could be on the edge of the network compared to the status quo.

Trend 7: Distribution Clouds

With distributed clouds, cloud services are distributed to locations outside physical data centers but are still controlled by the provider. Providers are responsible for all aspects of the cloud service architecture, i.e., provision, operation, governance, and updates. “The development from the centralized to the decentralized public cloud heralds a new era of cloud computing,” suspects Gartner.

Trend 8: Autonomous Devices

Cars, drones, robots, ships, and other devices use AI to perform tasks normally done by humans. They work with a spectrum of intelligence that ranges from semi-autonomous to fully autonomous and spans a variety of environments, including air, water, and land.

While autonomous devices have been moving in controlled environments such as a warehouse, they are being developed more and more for open spaces. They can group to form independent, collaborative swarms.

Trend 9: Blockchain Technologies In Practice

As is well known, a blockchain consists of a continuously expandable list of data records that are linked using cryptographic processes. In the food industry, blockchain technologies could be important for tracing food and drinks in the future, Gartner writes in the report. Due to several technical problems, such as a lack of scalability and interoperability, the principle is not yet fully developed for corporate deployments.

Trend 10: AI Security

Innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence offer the potential for business models and create new points of attack for hackers. Gartner points out three aspects in this context:

Secure AI training data, training pipelines and machine learning models,
uncover attacks with machine learning and automate parts of cyber security processes,
Detect attacks using AI and defend against them.

ALSO READ: Artificial Intelligence: Researchers Protect Patients With A Brilliant Idea

Artificial Intelligence: Researchers Protect Patients With A Brilliant Idea

Techno Rumours

November 23, 2021

Artificial Intelligence Researchers Protect Patients With A Brilliant Idea

In tomorrow’s medicine, applications of artificial intelligence are considered to be major future trend. Many patients afraid of their data. TUM experts are now presenting a practical solution. Numerous studies show that artificial intelligence (AI) can support doctors with countless tasks, especially diagnostics. Algorithms evaluate image data. They recognize abnormalities faster, but in some cases also more precisely, than medical specialists. Especially with routine tasks, they could relieve employees in the health sector to have more time for more important activities.

On the other hand, there is a decisive disadvantage. Artificial intelligence algorithms work with patient data, a particularly valuable asset. Sick people partially reject the external processing of their information. What can be done about it? Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) show how patients’ privacy is preserved despite innovative diagnostics.

Training Of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms – A Data Protection Problem

Background: Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science. It works based on machine learning. The first step in every project requires extensive test data. These are, for example, different computed topographies, including medical assessments and diagnoses. The algorithm “learns” based on the data set, for example, to distinguish a tumor from connective tissue. The better and more extensive the test data, the more powerful the algorithm will be later on.

This is exactly where difficulties arose in practice. Until now, hospitals have exchanged patient data to train artificial intelligence applications. Two procedures were used to ensure data protection. In the case of anonymization, individual components of the data record are removed. Tracing is no longer possible or only possible with a disproportionately large amount of effort. In contrast, doctors assign identification features in pseudonyms, i.e., letter-number combinations, when pseudonymization is used.

“It has been shown several times in the past that these procedures do not offer sufficient protection for the health data of patients,”

X-ray Pilot Project

Doctors take pictures as before in the children’s clinic. Unlike before, this data does not leave the hospital. Rather, the experts work with federated learning. That means: you share the algorithm but not your data. The program is trained on-site and sent back to colleagues. Owners of the data never lose control of it.

The step was not enough, however. Rather, secure aggregation was used as an additional technology. Algorithms were encrypted at the beginning of the project and only decrypted after the training phase with all participating hospitals. The project was also about maintaining differential privacy. Queries to a database should provide the most exact answers possible – with minimal risk of identifying people. “Ultimately, statistical relationships can be read out of the data sets, but not the contributions of individual people to the data set,”

After this preliminary work, the researchers tested their model under experimental conditions. At the same time, radiologists with appropriate experience assessed all images. Artificial intelligence algorithms had comparable, and in some cases even higher, accuracy than doctors in detecting pneumonia. Thanks to the collaboration between radiologists and computer scientists, it was possible for the first time to develop algorithms with high data protection requirements and to evaluate them under everyday conditions.

Artificial Intelligence Provides A Tailwind For Research

There is even more to the application of innovative data protection techniques to algorithms. If privacy is protected, ethical and legal hurdles can be overcome more easily than before: a plus point for difficult projects such as research into rare diseases. If there are only a few hundred to a thousand patients worldwide, it is important to reach as many people as possible. Such studies are carried out worldwide; so far, projects have sometimes failed due to data protection.

ALSO READ: Researchers Develop An App For Energy Management

Researchers Develop An App For Energy Management

Techno Rumours

November 23, 2021

Researchers Develop An App For Energy Management

App For Energy Management: Researchers at the Graz University of Technology have developed an app for energy management. The goal is to control better the fluctuating and unpredictable energy supply from renewable energies and make it usable in everyday life.

In the future, the energy is to be produced exclusively by wind parks, solar systems, hydropower plants, etc. – that is, with renewable energy sources. This is the only way to implement the energy transition and promote sustainable climate protection. Generating electricity only with renewable energies also has weak points: They provide a lot of power when the sun shines, or the wind blows. This is often during the day, at rush hour, and cannot be planned at all. On the other hand, conventional power plants generate energy practically at the push of a button, i.e., exactly when it is needed and consumed.

Researchers now want to eliminate this weak point. Their idea: a combination of intelligent networked systems and innovative energy services based on artificial intelligence (AI). This can be, for example, predictive optimization of energy consumption or intelligent energy monitoring. The research group “Intelligent Energy Systems and Cyber-Physical Systems” at the Institute for Software Technology at the Technical University (TU) Graz has dealt with this. You want to make energy systems more efficient and intelligent, considering the interaction between people and technology. The result is an app for the energy management of the future.

App For Energy Management: Intelligent Electricity Meters Deliver The Data

The app for energy management is intended to motivate users to collect data relating to their energy consumption of electricity, heating, and cooling. For example, on which days they need a lot of energy and when consumption is rather low. This data is provided by intelligent electricity meters, so-called smart meters, and smart home devices. Gerald Schweiger, head of the research group, explains the aim of the app: “The data obtained can help us in the future to coordinate the available energy with demand in terms of location and time.”

The researchers have already tested their app for energy management in an initial field study. Some households in Upper Austria and Burgenland were involved. These households all had a so-called smart meter. This was also a prerequisite for the scientists, as the intelligent electricity meter’s data represents the basis for them. The artificial intelligence algorithms can then continue to work. The result was a forecast of the energy consumption of the individual households, which was based on the smart meter data and the special features and preferences of the users.

Psychologists Evaluate The Acceptance Of The App For Energy Management

For such an app for energy management of the future to make it to market launch, broad acceptance is necessary, especially for the use of smart meters, without which it is not possible to record individual power requirements. For this reason, the researchers cooperated with psychologists from the University of Graz. You asked around 260 people to find out something about this acceptance.

Your result shows that people who have a positive attitude towards smart meters and their active users are also greatly interested in using the technology for themselves, such as keeping an eye on their electricity consumption. As soon as the risks such as data misuse or external interference with the devices were in the foreground, the respondents were generally more negative about smart meters. “Overall, the study offers valuable information on which aspects should be communicated when introducing smart meters if the active integration of users into future energy systems is sought with the help of smart meters.”

When The Washing Machine Switches On Automatically

After the first field test of the app for energy management was completed and the app offered very reliable, individual, and precise consumption forecasts, the researchers found two areas of application in the energy sector. On the one hand, smart devices such as washing machines, air conditioning systems, or charging stations for electric cars could run automatically using the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure. Then these devices would always switch on when the electricity is particularly cheap. On the other hand, they can also be used to save energy.

The researchers know that data usage and data processing questions must be clarified before the market launch. “The more data the test subjects provide for training the AI, the better the technology works. On the one hand, we have to clarify how and who can access smart meter data automatically. On the other hand, privacy concepts are also required to enable users to have complete and transparent control over their data”.

ALSO READ: Circular Economy: Consumer Sees Companies As Being Forced To Act

Circular Economy: Consumer Sees Companies As Being Forced To Act

Techno Rumours

November 20, 2021

Circular Economy Every Second Consumer Sees Companies As Being Forced To Act

Circular Economy: According to a new study by Capgemini, almost half of consumers are convinced that companies have not yet implemented, enough measures for a circular economy.

A new study by Capgemini: seven out of ten consumers in Germany want to change their consumption behavior to be more environmentally conscious.
Almost half of the consumers believe that companies are not implementing enough measures to enable a circular economy.
In particular, the inadequate labeling of products (60 percent) and high repair costs (55 percent) prevent consumers from buying sustainably.

Growing environmental awareness and concerns about waste and depleted resources mean that more and more consumers are turning to sustainable consumption. More than seven out of ten consumers would like to change their consumption behavior accordingly. This emerges from the new study “Circular economy for a sustainable future: How organizations can empower consumers and transition to a circular economy” by Capgemini Research Institute. To this end, consumers are increasingly turning to companies that rely on the circular economy principle. However, almost half believe that companies are not doing enough to recycle, reuse and reduce waste.

Circular Economy: High Demand For Sustainable Products

For the study, the Capgemini Research Institute surveyed more than 8,000 consumers in 14 countries worldwide, including 757 people in Germany. It shows that consumers want to consume more sustainably, for example, by reducing their overall consumption (54 percent), buying longer-lasting products (72 percent), or having products repaired and serviced to extend their lifespan (70 percent). Sixty-seven percent expect companies to advertise their products responsibly and not encourage excessive consumption.

Earlier research by Capgemini shows that companies have so far failed to establish the circular economy model, which closes material cycles as much as possible. The study “Sustainability in Consumer Product and Retail” from 2020 shows that only 18 percent of executives from the consumer goods and retail sectors have invested in circular economy initiatives. And in the study “The Automotive Industry in the Era of Sustainability,” 52 percent of the automotive companies stated that the most frequently used sustainability initiative was promoting a circular economy.

Circular Economy: Focus On Food And Plastic Waste

At the same time, more and more consumers are turning to companies that have developed a sustainable business model. This is especially true in areas that consumers are already highly aware of, such as food and plastic waste. In the past twelve months, 44 percent of consumers have increased their spending with food and beverage manufacturers who focus on recycling, reuse, and avoiding waste. Forty percent of consumers have done this in the personal and household care products sector.

Overall, however, 49 percent believe that companies need to take further measures in recycling, reuse and waste reduction. A lack of willingness to act can also develop into a reputation problem for companies: More than half (51 percent) of consumers currently have no confidence in the sustainability promises made by companies.

Remove Obstacles: The Focus Is Currently On The Reuse Phase

Consumers feel constrained in making more sustainable consumption choices in terms of convenience, access, and cost. Three out of five (60 percent) reason that product labels do not contain sufficient information, for example, about the origin, recyclability, or recycled content. For 55 percent, high costs for the repair of products represent a hurdle. And more than half (53 percent) state that they do not want to compromise on convenience.

To extend the life of products, there are already regulatory efforts such as the EU initiative “Right to Repair.” In addition, companies should take further measures to make their product portfolio more sustainable and enable environmentally conscious consumption. At the moment, consumers are mainly focusing on the post-use phase in their behavior. For example, 58 percent of consumers state that they separate food waste – in Germany, as much as 69 percent.

However, only 48 percent of the respondents buy food with as little packaging material as possible. This could indicate a limited selection of sustainable products that are available to consumers. While responsible disposal is key to the circular economy, more efforts are needed to ensure that waste does not arise in the first place.

A Circular Economy Supports Sustainable Growth

“The circular economy is the key to sustainable growth. Consumers are already doing their part with their behavior, but they can only choose from a small number of offers. Therefore, it is up to industrial companies to develop products with a more sustainable life cycle,”.

“To do this, they have to initiate a profound change in three areas: the minimization of the CO2 impact of their existing products and services, a product design that takes the principle of the circular economy into account from the start, and the establishment of a sustainable business strategy for the entire company. Companies that successfully implement this transformation will be among the market leaders of tomorrow and can secure the loyalty of their customers. On the way to more sustainability, the circular economy is an investment in the way we want to do business in the future. “

Establish A Business Model Based On The Circular Economy

In contrast to the linear economic model “take-make-waste,” the circular economy is regenerative. The model aims to decouple growth from the consumption of finite resources gradually. For consumers, this means buying durable products that are recyclable or made from recycled materials. In addition, to keep them in use for a long time through effective maintenance and repair. And to dispose of the products at the end of their service life, so that little or no waste is generated.

To meet consumer expectations, companies should develop products and business models that are designed to avoid waste. In addition, they should reduce their raw material consumption and plan for the return and recycling of products and packaging. Capgemini has identified vital actions companies can take to implement successful circular economy initiatives:

Product development according to the principles of circular design
A radical rethinking of business models
Rethink value chains to close the loop
Enable sustainable practices for consumers
Create organizational prerequisites that support the transition to the circular economy model
Use new technologies to promote a circular economy strategy
Collaboration to Accelerate Progress

ALSO READ: DATA USAGE – DATA VOLUME CONSUMES MY CELL PHONE?

Data Usage – Data Volume Consumes My Cell Phone?

Techno Rumours

November 19, 2021

Data usage- A rule of thumb is: Where a lot of information is exchanged, i.e., data is downloaded and uploaded via LTE high-speed, data consumption is highest. If you do not pay attention, you can quickly reach the limits of your mobile phone tariff and can no longer surf the mobile network or only surf at a reduced speed. Anyone who loves their Android smartphone or iPhone and the freedom that goes with it is best served with a flat data rate.

Data Usage- Used Data Volume – Identify Gentle & Wasteful Apps

Using brief instructions, we will show you how you can analyze the data consumption per application in detail and, if necessary, reduce it by making changes to the smartphone settings. This applies to both the Android and iOS operating systems from Apple. But first, we will give you an overview of the average data requirements for the most popular Apple and Android apps.

Mobile Data Consumption Of The Most Popular Apps

The most popular apps are, without question, WhatsApp and Google Maps. These applications can be found on almost every cell phone. It is, therefore, good to know what data consumption is the basis for the use here.

WhatsApp – Communication Tool With Little Data Consumption

A WhatsApp message only uses about 1 KB, even if it contains emojis. With one megabyte (MB) of data, 1,000 WhatsApp messages (without pictures) can be sent. However, video calls with WhatsApp put a significant strain on the data volume. Voice-only calls use only 0.3MB per minute, while video calls take 5MB per minute. WhatsApp likes to share pictures, videos, and audio files. WhatsApp automatically downloads a lot of mobile data in the preset mode. This can be prevented with a tiny tick in the menu under Settings / Data and memory usage.

Google Maps – Excellent Service, But The High Consumption Of Mobile Data

The data consumption here is a high 1-3 megabytes per minute. The high data and battery consumption of Google Maps results mainly from the fact that routes have to be reloaded repeatedly in the background. Google Maps continues to run in the background, which can drain the battery and data volume. Therefore, permanently close the app and end route guidance after reaching the destination, so unnecessary information is not consistently loaded in the background.

Mobile Data Consumption – The Most Significant Data Guzzler

If the cell phone battery of the iPhone or Android smartphone runs out quickly and the data volume dwindles too quickly, a few data-guzzling apps are often to blame. We have put together an overview of which applications these are and how you can use them anyway.

Instagram – Pictures And Videos Consume A Lot Of Data Volume

An upload takes about 2.5 megabytes here. Scrolling and liking use 1.3 megabytes per minute. Therefore, the hardcore fans of Instagram manage to use their monthly mobile data volume with this app alone. Due to the story feature, the data consumption of the app has skyrocketed in recent years.

The users have the right to post every photo and photo story in top quality. Influencers and hardcore users often use a cell phone lens to achieve the most unique and high-resolution photo motifs. The number of photos is increasing rapidly here – and with it the consumption of mobile data volume for uploading – everyone is on the hunt for the perfect pictures for even more likes, comments, and especially followers.

YouTube – Video Fun Costs Data Volume

Surfing on YouTube for one minute consumes up to 15 megabytes, depending on the resolution of the videos – this is a maximum value. On average, the data consumption after one hour of video showering is around 400 – 500 megabytes.

Twitter Information Service Produces High Data Consumption

Anyone who spends a minute on Twitter consumes an estimated 70 megabytes of data. That’s all that needs a timeline update. Here, too, it is best to adjust or switch off the video autopay setting and instead reload the timeline in a WLAN network.

Spotify – Downloading Music Over WIFI Makes Sense

The world’s most frequented music streaming provider uses around 3 megabytes per minute in the free version. You can expect almost double the data volume in the paid version, but the sound quality is significantly higher. It makes perfect sense to download your favorite songs for offline use on your smartphone in a secure WIFI network. If you have problems building a solid WIFI signal in your home, investing in a WIFI amplifier is often worth investing in.

As a possible alternative to the paid Spotify version, the flat music package from Napster, which holds over 40 million songs.

The Snapchat App Is Constantly Loading Data

Snapchat is structured in such a way that the app permanently preloads data. The result: new snaps are started immediately after you have opened your feed, which often already contains a large amount of information. That makes this application one of the biggest data hogs ever. This can be remedied by adjusting the settings. To do this, activate “Travel mode” in the menu under Settings / Manage. This means that new snaps are only reloaded if this is actively selected.

ALSO READ: Ransomware Attacks: 5 Steps To A Secure Corporate Network

Data Volume – The Most Economical Apps For Mobile Data Consumption

If you only use your smartphone to make calls and WhatsApp for the most part and otherwise use classic WLAN hopping, you can get by with a 1 GB tariff. However, things look very different if you use the mobile Internet more often with your Apple iPhone or Samsung cell phone. Anyone who surfs or streams the mobile Internet for at least one hour a day outside of WLAN should orient themselves on an LTE tariff with a monthly data volume of at least 3 GB.

There are no applications that produce no data or only marginal data consumption when used several times a day. They all generate traffic when an app is reloaded or by automatic updates. Furthermore, in the end, it is the sum of iPhone or Android apps that produces the data consumption.

The most economical applications of mobile data usage are a classic text e-mail or reading it on a mobile website.

E-mail – The Electronic Letter Requires Little Data

A plain text email is around 25 kilobytes in size, correspondingly larger with attachments such as images or files, which quickly adds up to several megabytes.

Classic Mobile Surfing – Information Is Possible With Manageable Data Traffic

The mobile use of websites is part of the standard of smartphone use. It takes about 200 kilobytes of data to visit an average website. The more modern the page and the more demanding the content, such as integrated starting videos, the more data is loaded and thus consumed.

Data Usage – Where Can I Optimize My Data Usage

Programs and apps that consume a lot of data can be easily identified with our instructions for Android and iOS. If you have an Internet volume tariff, you should only use it partially. This prevents the data volume from being used up just a few days after the start of the month.

The average available data volume for mobile phone contracts is usually between 1 and 20 GB per month. Anyone who uses a flat Internet rate is, of course, offered pure freedom. And if the comprehensive data volume is not enough, you can book additional megabytes or gigabytes for the rest of the month.

Analyze Data Usage On Android Models

Even without an additional app, you can easily find out the data usage on the Android device. Open the settings and select the “Data usage” option. A limit can be set here at which the automatic data connection for the cellular network is switched off. A notification can also be set here if a specified value is reached or exceeded. The period, as well as the maximum value for the data consumption, can also be specified.

Analyze Data Usage On The Apple iPhone

The operating system of iPhones (iOS) also counts every byte that is used. Also, under Settings, there is a rubric Mobile network (on the smartphone) or Mobile data (on the tablet ), where deep insights into the data usage are possible. This is broken down per app, with a controller next to each app with which the mobile data usage can be switched off specifically for this application. On the iPhone, the counter can be restarted at any time with the ‘Reset statistics’ button at the bottom of the page.

Data Volume – Data-Saving Apps For Special Savers

With optimized settings and a little mindfulness with usage habits, you can save a lot on mobile data. Nevertheless, there are unique apps that have optimized data saving even more.

The free Glass Wire app (in full: Glass Wire Data Usage Monitor) analyzes data traffic from Android smartphones. In this way, the app helps to avoid data throttling before the end of the month. A live graphic shows how high the data consumption per app is. Also very practical: you automatically receive a notification as soon as a new app uses up mobile data. In addition, alerts can be set up to notify users, for example, before the monthly available data volume has expired.

The Samsung Max app is specially designed for Samsung phones. It compresses applications such as websites, pictures, videos, and music. There is also a function that apps cannot automatically cause data traffic in the background. Unique feature: Samsung Max is implemented via an encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) and thus gives users more privacy.

Data Volume – Your Phone Offers Individually Selectable Data Volumes

Of course, there is no single number of data volumes consumed each month. Each user acts a little differently, so of course, the data consumption of each individual differs accordingly. However, the scenarios described should help everyone to get a personal impression of the unique data volume. Based on this, the first optimization is to choose the right tariff with the right data volume. And should your user behavior change, you can at least flexibly change or change your mobile phone contract with your phone and adjust it upwards.

ALSO READ: GOOGLE PIXEL 6 (PRO): THE NEW PHONE – SERIES OF GOOGLE

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 (Pro): The New Phone – Series Of Google

Techno Rumours

November 19, 2021

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 (PRO) THE NEW PHONE - FLAGSHIP - SERIES OF GOOGLE

The Google Pixel 6 & Google Pixel 6 Pro were eagerly awaited. After all the tech company only revealed few specs before the official launch. In mid-October 2021, the time had finally come: the new Pixel phones were unveiled. These are real premium smartphones that are even superior to Samsung’s future flagships in one respect. You can find out more about this detail and all other information about the new Pixel Phones here.

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 (PRO): New Design, High-Resolution OLED Displays And IP68 Certification

Google calls the new Pixel smartphones “completely new inside and out”. With this claim, the internet giant has not promised too much. The design language has changed: the 6th generation pixel phones have a box-like shape, the rounded corners that once enclosed the screen of the previous models have given way. The notch is in the middle of the display instead of on the left, and the camera block on the back is elongated instead of square.

The stylish smartphones have a 6.4 (Pixel 6) or 6.7 (Pixel 6 Pro) inch OLED display. While the Pixel 6 has FHD +, the Pro version even offers QHD +. Both variants support HDR and have the full 24-bit color depth for 16 million colors. You can therefore look forward to high-resolution image content in vivid and intense colors. With an increased refresh rate of 90 Hertz (Pixel 6) or 120 Hertz (Pixel 6 Pro), both Google phones can be operated very smoothly. As screen protection, Gorilla Glass 6 (back) or Vectus (cover glass) comes from Corning. In addition, both Pixel Phones are certified with the IP68 protection class so that they are waterproof and dustproof.

Google Tensor Is A Tailor-Made, Intelligent Cell Phone Chip

The next innovation is the cell phone processor. Whereas Google installed a chip from Qualcomm in the previous Pixel 5 and Pixel 4 models, the tech group developed the CPU for the current model itself for the first time. The chip is called Google Tensor and is tailored to the new Pixel 6 mobile phones: Er ensures smooth, fast and efficient performance. Google promises that apps and pages will start and load faster. Even speech recognition and live translation are more innovative and more responsive. Both the Google Pixel 6 and the Pro version are therefore suitable as gaming phones.

As an innovative IT company, Google also relies on artificial intelligence: The security, photography and language functions are expanded with modern Google models for machine learning. Speaking of digital security: The Google Tensor is equipped with an additional security layer and uses the new Titan M2 security chip – this means that the Pixel smartphones are even better protected against malware and hacker attacks. Google is talking about the most secure Pixel Phones ever and will deliver security updates for the next five years. The lifespan of smartphones is therefore very long and sustainable.

The Intelligent Battery With A High Capacity And Quick Charge Function

Google installs an intelligent processor and an intelligent cell phone battery that should last a whole day. If you activate the extreme energy-saving mode, the runtime is even a full two days with a 100 percent charged battery. The turbo display scans intelligently adapt to a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and down to 10 Hz to save the battery. In addition, the lengthy runtime is also due to the comparatively high capacity of 4,524 mAh (Pixel 6) and 4,905 mAh (Pixel 6 Pro). At this point, the Pixel Phones are superior to the future Samsung flagships: According to rum ours, the new models of the Galaxy S22 series will have a significantly smaller battery. In addition, the Google mobile phones have a quick charge function with 30 watts, which charges the battery by up to 50 per cent within 30 minutes. Inductive charging is also possible.

Android 12 For The First Time For The Pixel Phones

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are the first phones to feature the latest operating system from Google. Android 12 offers numerous new features and an even more intuitive operation. The Pixel phones are dual SIM cell phones, support the latest cellular standard 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and NFC. You can connect your smartwatch and Bluetooth headphones via Bluetooth 5.2.

Utterly New Camera System And Practical Functions

The integrated smartphone camera again promises authentic and lifelike recordings. While the Pixel 6 comes up with a 2-camera system, the Pro version impresses with a 3-way camera. Google has integrated a completely new camera system into both models: the 50 MP primary camera with a wide-angle takes pictures with up to 150 per cent more light so that you can take sharp pictures even in poor lighting conditions. In addition, both Pixel phones have a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera for panoramic shots. The additional telephoto lens in the Google Pixel 6 Pro has a resolution of 48 MP. In addition to OIS (optical image stabilization), there are modern camera features, including motion mode, magic eraser, and blurring from faces. The pixel-Phones (6 pixels) and 11.1-MP are suitable with the 8-MP (pixels 6 Pro) front camera as Selfie phones. Of course, you can also record moving images with smartphones: slow-motion videos are possible with up to 240 fps, while 4K time-lapse can be recorded with stabilization. The photographic possibilities that Google phones offer are varied.

Conclusion: The New Pixel Phones Are A Natural Alternative To Flagships From Apple And Samsung

The new Pixel devices from Google are positioned as premium smartphones and can keep up with the current flagships from Apple and Samsung. Numerous components can (so far) only be found in Google Phones: the custom-made Google Tensor mobile phone processor, the Android 12 operating system, the intelligent mobile phone battery and a few camera features. Therefore, it is not surprising that Google is calling for high prices: The Google Pixel 6 is available with 128 GB of flash memory for 649 EUR recommended retail price (RRP). In comparison, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is available for 899 (128 GB) EUR or 999 EUR (256 GB) MSRP.

With your one, you can combine the Google Pixel 6 with a fast LTE tariff. So you have mobile internet on the go-to surf, stream or work. You can find more top offers with the latest smartphones on the linked page.

ALSO READ: Database As A Service: 5 Convincing Arguments For Its Use

1...444546...55 Page 45 of 55