Daily Archives: February 23, 2017

New York Times

Google Cousin Develops Technology to Flag Toxic Online Comments New York Times SAN FRANCISCO From self-driving cars to multi-language translation, machine learning is underpinning many of the technology industry's biggest advances with its form of artificial intelligence. Now, Google's parent company, Alphabet, says it plans ... Google launches technology for news websites to identify abusive contentThe Straits Times all 37 news articles »

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Google Cousin Develops Technology to Flag Toxic Online Comments - New York Times

Chieko Asakawa (Photo credit: IBM)

Cognitive technology and machine-learning capabilities are essential to help the disabled stand on their own, but further advancements are needed to help them beyond the basics.

The visually impaired now were able to perform more tasks than they did decades before the internet and mobile technology surfaced, said Chieko Asakawa, who was the first female Japanese to be named IBM Fellow back in 2009. She lost her sight at the age of 14 after an accident in a swimming pool damaged her optic nerve and had to abandon her dream of becoming an Olympic athletic.

Asakawa, who joined IBM as a researcher in 1985, currently works with the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, to identify ways accessibility technologies can help more people participate in society. Much of her work now centred on cognitive technology.

She explained that the visually impaired faced two primary difficulties in life-- accessibility to information and mobility, the first of which had changed dramatically over the past few decades.

Previously, without personal computers and the internet, she was unable to read newspapers, magazines, or books without help from someone else. While the emergence of audio and Braille books helped, copies were limited and she would have to wait, sometimes for months, before the Braille library was able to send a copy to her.

The most significant development came when Braille went digital and web accessibility became pervasive, she said. Asakawa's research had supported various initiatives in this field, which included developing a word processor to create Braille documents and building a digital library for Braille literature.

More notably, she helped build a browser plugin that converted text on webpages to speech, enabling visually-impaired users to navigate the web using a numeric keypad. Developed in 1997, the IBM Home Page Reader supported multiple languages including French, German, and Japanese and widely adopted across the globe.

There also had been some advancement in the area of mobility, thanks to technologies such as GPS and beacons as well as mobile devices with voice command capabilities. Progress, though, remained inadequate and more improvements would be needed to help the blind attain true independence.

Asakawa's research here looked at how GPS could be used to guide the visually impaired, but the technology's accuracy, especially indoors, still was not up to par. Its potential, though, was promising.

In fact, IBM and Carnegie Mellon University developed a mobile app, called NavCog, which operated as a voice navigation system using sensors, or beacons, as well as cognitive technology to identify the user's location and direction. It then would send voice commands via the smartphone to guide users towards their destination.

IBM Research this month kicked off a pilot, alongside Japanese civil engineering firm Shimizu and real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan, to assess the NavCog system across three Coredo Muromachi shopping mall buildings located in the downtown district of Nihonbashi-Muromachi.

Some 220 beacons were installed to cover an area spanning 21,000 square metres. This encompassed an underground pedestrian walkway, which connected the three buildings, as well as several shops and restaurants and a movie theatre. The beacons were installed on ceilings and in existing gaps, so no changes to infrastructures were required.

A probabilistic model was created using machine-learning algorithms, which linked radio wave signals with likely pedestrian locations to facilitate navigation. The system used various sensors in the smartphone, such as accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer, to improve navigation.

After a destination had been provided, the system would provide the shortest route while avoiding obstructions such as escalators and confusing turns. It would provide additional information to caution users about nearby obstacles or when they were about to reach a fork in the passageway.

During the pilot, data would be analysed for location accuracy, voice guidance timing, and ease-of-use.

According to Asakawa, the system currently had an accuracy rate of one to two metres. While this would need to be further improved, she underscored the importance of cognitive technology in enabling the blind to be mobile.

"We call this cognitive assistance, which means to supplement or augment abilities that others may be missing or abilities that are decreasing and weakening, such as those experienced by elderly people," she said.

She explained that IBM categorised cognitive technology into four key areas: localisation; computer vision or object recognition; data or knowledge; and interaction.

Pointing to the localisation component, she said the effectiveness of navigation systems could be significantly improved if the accuracy of the user's location could be narrowed down to an inch.

She added that object recognition also would need to be further developed and properly linked to the required data, such as a map or store details.

Until technology caught up, Asakawa's priorities remained primarily on addressing the mobility challenge, which continued to be the biggest hurdle for the visually impaired.

Asked what she would like technology to help her regain from her time as a sighted individual, she said it would be "nice to have" the ability to perceive colours again.

"I really enjoy visiting museums and looking at art and paintings, but those information has been lost," she said. "So perhaps we could find a way to describe artistic artefacts, colours, or sceneries and portraits through voice. Or we could tap some form of crowdsourcing, in which we ask people to describe and then share what they see."

This, she added, could open up opportunities for video analysis, among others, in the field of vision recognition. She also mooted the idea of a robotic guide dog, which would have vision recognition and machine-learning capabilities while requiring lower maintenance than an actual dog.

For now, however, such ideas remained low on her priorities and would remain so until the visually impaired attained absolute independence in terms of mobility.

"Now I still have to depend on someone, for instance, to tell me where the front desk or the gate is. There are still so many issues to address to be truly mobile," said Asakawa, who today aspires to be able to travel and go for walks alone.

Reiterating the importance of achieving true independence, she noted: "We need to change the mindset that the impaired can't or don't need to shop, just as previously when people didn't think we needed to use the web."

The goal was to reduce the amount of effort needed for the disabled to go about their daily lives, she said, adding that cognitive technology and artificial intelligence played a key role in facilitating this change.

More:

Helping Asia's disabled move forward with cognitive technology - ZDNet

Car shopping isn't just about kicking the tires anymore. It's also about testing the technology.

The rapidly evolving in-car infotainment and navigation systems can be bewildering for all but the most tech-savvy car buyers. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is 11 years old; that means many people last went car shopping before iPhones were invented.

Car buyers should make sure they can pair their phone with a car, play music from their phone, make a hands-free call and use the navigation system before they leave the dealer lot, experts say. They should make sure volume knobs, climate controls and other technology is intuitive and displayed the way they like. Some drivers want volume controls on the steering wheel, for example, while others prefer a knob on the dashboard.

Safety technology is also changing rapidly, and buyers should familiarize themselves with what the car can and can't do. Some vehicles will brake automatically to avoid a collision, while others flash a warning and help the driver pump the brakes but won't bring the car to a full stop.

"Spend some time in the parking lot sitting in the car and just messing with it," says Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor for the car shopping site Edmunds.com.

The issue is a serious one for the auto industry. Consumers' complaints about phone connectivity, navigation and infotainment systems have lowered vehicle dependability scores in annual rankings from J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. Poor showings in such rankings can put a dent in sales. Car shopping site Autotrader.com has found that as many as one-third of buyers will choose a different brand if they think a vehicle's tech features are too hard to use.

To combat that, some brands are setting up technology help desks at dealerships and boosting employee training. In 2013, General Motors Co. formed a staff of 50 tech specialists to help deal with an increase in questions from customers about new technology. Those specialists train U.S. dealers to pair customers' phones, set up in-car Wi-Fi and set preferences like radio stations.

When he takes customers for test drives, Paul Makowski pairs his own phone with the car and has customers make a call, stream music and do other tasks. He uses his own phone so customers don't worry that their data will be shared with the dealership.

"Some people fear the technology and decline it all, but we still go over it. They don't leave here not knowing what their car has to offer," says Makowski, the sales manager for Ed Rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC in Center Line, Michigan.

Here are some tips for taking a tech test drive:

TAKE YOUR TIME: Test driving the technology should take at least 45 minutes, says Brian Moody, the executive editor at AutoTrader.com. Find out whether your phone is compatible with the car and learn how to pair it. Call a friend and ask if the sound is clear. Make sure the car understands your voice commands. Enter an address into the navigation system or, if the car has the capability, download an address to the car from your phone. Moody says it's better to learn all these tasks at the dealership than on the road.

UPDATE YOUR PHONE: Make sure your phone has the latest operating system when you go shopping. New cars will be most compatible with updated phones.

DECIDE WHAT YOU LIKE: Six percent of new cars sold last year had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which display many of your phone's apps on the touchscreen. That's expected to rise to 50 percent by 2020, according to IHS Markit. The familiar interface of those systems can make it easier to transition to in-car technology. But Montoya says there are some shortcomings. Apple CarPlay doesn't support the Waze traffic app or Google maps, for example, and if you want to change a radio station, you have to scroll out of Apple CarPlay and back to your car's radio. You should decide what system is best for you.

SHOP AROUND: Even if you've settled on a vehicle, it never hurts to test drive something else. You may find, for example, that you prefer climate controls on a touchscreen instead of on dashboard knobs, or that one vehicle has easier-to-use buttons on the steering wheel for making calls or adjusting volume. "It might expose you to something better," Montoya says.

DON'T FORGET SAFETY: Lane departure warning systems, backup cameras and blind-spot detection systems work differently depending on the car. Some lane departure systems buzz the seat if you drift out of your lane, for example, while others beep loudly. That's something you might hear or feel a lot, so choose the technology you prefer.

BUY WHAT YOU NEED: Not everyone wants to stream Spotify and chat with Siri while they're driving. If you're in that category, choose a stripped-down model so you're not paying for features you don't need, Montoya says. For example, a Toyota Camry starts at $23,050, but the EnTune infotainment package, which includes hands-free calling and other features, costs $775 extra.

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When test-driving a new car, take the technology for a spin - ABC News

Although most of us probably cannot run out and buy the new 2017 E-Class Mercedes-Benz (suggested retail price: $52,150 and up), theres some interesting new technology in it that you may want to know about. According to IEEE Spectrum, when this Mercedes detects the car is about to crash, it deploys a burst of pink noise causing an inner-ear muscle called the stapedius to contract and brace the eardrum for the earsplitting noise of the crash itself.

Precrash safety features in cars are not new (IEEE Spectrum cites seat belts that instantly tighten or sunroofs that instantly close when a crash is predicted), but the notion of pink noise as a means of protecting hearing is novel. Mercedes describes this feature as Pre-Safe Sound (you can hear it yourself in Mercedes video).

IEEE Spectrum reports that the pinknoise being used is approximately80 decibels about equalto that of a dishwasher and completely safe. Car crashes, IEEE explains, are potentially deafening and usually register around 145 decibels. Worse still and this part is not emphasized by Mercedes-Benz or any other car maker is the noise created by the near-instantaneous deployment of the air bag: around 165 dB, writes Philip E. Ross.Its estimated that17 % of the people who are exposed to air bag deployment suffer some degree of permanent hearing loss.

Most of ushave heard of white noise; white noise machines and apps flood rooms with something that sounds like old-fashioned broken TV static. The machines are often used as sleep aids and to mask tinnitus. Technically speaking, white noise is really a combination of all of the different frequencies of sound.

Pink noise refers to a broad spectrum of frequencies in which the power is inversely proportional to the frequency. If you skipped college physics and listened to a lot of records instead, you might better understand pink noise as using different octaves of the same tone in which each of the octaves has the same frequency power as the other. Because of this, a lot of people hear pink noise as being even or flat, but the difference between white and pink noise is difficult for most people to detect. Mercedes describes it in its marketing materials as a bit like diffuse traffic noise, the breaking of waves or a waterfall.

(Just think about how you might panic upon hearing ocean waves during a car crash if you werent aware of this feature, though.)

Mercedes use of pink noise raises the question ofwhether the same techniquemight be used to trigger muscles in the ear to brace the inner ear from other loud noises and prevent hearing loss. The threshold to trigger the stapedius reflex is around 100 decibels, which is quite loud. Pink noise, however, allows that noise to be spread across the spectrum and doesnt feel as jarring to our ears. However, it only triggers a quick muscle reflex lasting just about a second.

In other words, loud bursts of pink noise probably could not prevent hearing loss over time or in many other cases. In fact, it could be detrimental to hearing if used loudly over time. However, some hearing aids use pink noise (as well as white noise, high-tone noise and other noise) to help people who suffer from tinnitus to reduce or diffuse the ringing in their ears.

New pre-safety measures like the pink noise deployment in the Mercedes E-Class could usher in a new level of hearing protection safety in automobiles. And perhaps other uses of the technology can be developed and used beyond just high-end vehicle safety (for example, maybeworkplaces prone to loud bursts of sound might investigate other uses of bursts of pink noise or the military could use the technology where loud explosives and guns are used).

Considering the connection between hearing loss and dementia, as well as the social isolation experienced by many who have lost their hearing, any additional measures that protect hearing seem worthy of research and investment.

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How pink noise technology can be used to protect hearing - MarketWatch

New York Times

Send Us Your Questions About Mobile Technology New York Times I'm Mark, the European technology correspondent for The New York Times. I'm tasked with keeping tabs on all things tech across the Continent and, sometimes, beyond. I'm in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, a weeklong powwow of company bigwigs, ... and more »

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Send Us Your Questions About Mobile Technology - New York Times

Fox 59

After Delphi murders, teens urged to be safe with technology Fox 59 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The best leads authorities have come from Liberty German's cell phone: a suspect's picture and an audio clip. Wednesday morning, authorities called her a hero for having the presence of mind to record what was happening in her ... and more »

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After Delphi murders, teens urged to be safe with technology - Fox 59

The incoming head of Maines trade group for credit unions said his top priority is to use advanced technology and data to save consumers money and help them make better financial decisions.

The Maine Credit Union League and its for-profit data processing affiliate Synergent have chosen Todd Mason to replace outgoing President and CEO John Murphy, who plans to retire this summer. Mason is a credit union industry veteran from Michigan with executive experience in that states credit union trade organization.

Masons current job is chief strategy officer for RouteOne, an indirect automotive lending technology company based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Before that, he worked for the Michigan Credit Union League and Affiliates for 19 years, serving in a variety of roles including vice president of technology, education and marketing, and chief operating officer of the leagues CU Solutions Group. He also helped launch a cooperative venture called League InfoSight, where he served as its chief operating officer.

Mason said he plans to arrive in Maine in late April. It will be his first time living in the state. He said the Maine league and Synergent have an outstanding national reputation, particularly in the area of technology, which drew him to the job.

There are some really interesting things going on around technology in the financial world, Mason said. Synergent is really at the core of that.

Synergent is a for-profit subsidiary of the Maine league that provides data-processing services to credit unions. It also offers back-end services such as shared branching, statement processing, ATM, debit card, check processing and support services, along with data mining for marketing purposes.

Mason said the Maine league and Synergent seemed like a good fit because they share his desire to push credit union technology further without compromising the industrys emphasis on personal interaction. He said an example of technology he would like to see implemented is the use of artificial intelligence to better connect credit union members with services they may need.

Mason said he also was impressed with the Maine leagues success at promoting credit unions in the state. His job will include leading the marketing, education and lobbying efforts for the industry.

Maine is a very well-respected organization in the credit union system, he said. In Maine, we have some of the highest member penetration in the U.S., with over 50 percent of state residents belonging to a credit union.

In September, Murphy announced plans to retire in June after 25 years as head of the Maine Credit Union League and Synergent. He has held numerous positions during his 44-year career with the organizations and participated in the development of many products, services and programs for credit unions. Together, the league and Synergent employ 163 people.

To me, its a very bittersweet position to be in, Murphy said. Im very appreciative of the opportunities that Ive had through my own career.

The process of choosing Murphys replacement involved an extensive, six-month national search conducted by ORourke & Associates that first led to the selection of five finalists by a six-member search committee. Ultimately, the leagues board of directors chose Mason.

We just felt that he was a good overall fit, Murphy said.

Board Chairman and Connected CU CEO Rick Lachance said the board found Murphy to be the most aligned with the leagues values, culture and shared vision for its member organizations. His background in technology also was considered a major asset, Lachance said.

His extensive leadership experience, with both a technology organization and working with innovative credit union trade association services, allows Todd to bring unique skills to our organizations, he said. Our board looks forward to the innovation and service commitment that he will bring to the credit unions we serve.

Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union Leagues membership comprises all 58 credit unions in Maine.

J. Craig Anderson can be contacted at 791-6390 or at:

[emailprotected]

Twitter: @jcraiganderson

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Maine Credit Union League's incoming top exec promises technology boost - Press Herald