Category Archives: Technology

Insurers increased their use of catastrophe models, drones and mobile apps during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they anticipate growth in such technology to continue once the health crisis passes.

Some growth in what is known as insurtech was driven by the social distancing measures and quarantines that accompanied the pandemic, while adoption of other technologies came despite it.

Edin Imsirovic, an associate director at insurance rating firm AM Best, said market pressure from the pandemic advanced innovation by a couple of years or so.

Digitization in the insurance space sort of really accelerated this year due to COVID, Imsirovic said in an interview.

That might accurately describe some advances such as communicating virtually with policyholders, said Serge Gagarin, manager of segment marketing at catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide. But large-scale systems integration projects, big projects insurers might be undertaking, are developing independently of the pandemic, he said.

Technology growth hasnt always been a priority in the insurance industry. Were a slow industry to adopt things sometimes, I dare say, said Don Griffin, vice president of personal lines for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

The industry has embraced catastrophe modeling for predicting the severity of events and for claims handling. Use of the technology was increasing before the pandemic, but it accelerated during quarantines for claims handling, experts say. This modeling gives agents an idea of how strong damage was at a location, said Tom Larsen, principal of industry solutions at CoreLogic. Weather forensics determine what happened at a specific location rather than half a mile away.

The influence of (COVID-19]) has been to accelerate this technology, which was sort of moving like a glacier, Larsen said. Using catastrophe modeling for claims is better for policyholders because insurers can handle claims more efficiently and at a lower cost, getting money to clients faster, he said.

Because insurers dont interact with policyholders often, they can differentiate themselves from other companies by how they respond to customers at times of need, Larsen said.

Karen Clark, CEO and co-founder of catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark & Co., said catastrophe models can be used for projecting average claim severity in the two days before a hurricane makes landfall. Her companys data, which insurers use for planning, shows damage by zip code and updates twice per day. After a catastrophe, insurers need extra adjusters, so planning for the severity of claims can help them decide where to put them, she added.

Models are also used for fraud detection to see if claims for hail damage, for example, are coming from areas where storms didnt hit. Hail is the main type of weather that causes insurance claims, Clark said, estimating it causes insurers more than $15 billion in damage on average each year, about a third of which is for commercial property and personal auto coverage and the rest for homeowners coverage.

The use of modeling for predicting claims stems from damage modeling, which was surging before the pandemic. The technology involves insurers submitting information to modeling firms that can run millions of scenarios to predict potential impacts from destructive events.

In the past several years, hurricanes have been more frequent and sometimes more severe. A record 30 named storms, 12 of which made landfall in the U.S., formed during last years Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Despite the number of storms, insured losses were consistent with the long-term average based on catastrophe modeling, so using the models helped insurers be prepared, Gagarin said.

Models for flooding and wildfires that predict where damage might occur are on the rise.

The California Department of Insurance is considering how catastrophe models predict wildfire risk and whether they can be used in rate-making, the subject of a virtual public hearing last month.

Models are also a tool for insurers to help policyholders understand mitigation techniques and their impacts, said Jeff Waters, senior product manager for North Atlantic hurricane solutions at Risk Management Solutions Inc.

The insurer could perform some sensitivity tests and get an idea of just how much of a benefit different mitigation strategies could have at the policyholder level, Waters said. His firm used event response tools to help insurers during last years historic hurricane season.

A tool called HWind uses weather forecasting data and conveys the uncertainty about where a storm could go and how strong it could be, he said.

Along with catastrophe modeling, drone use is on the rise. Its a technology whose use increased as a result of social distancing.

Karen Collins, assistant vice president of personal lines at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said drones came into widespread use after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. According to Clark, they were even more valuable during the pandemic to help avoid in-person inspections, such as when adjusters climb on roofs to see damage.

Certainly drone technology has been used a lot more, Clark said. That was coming along anyway, but I know a lot of companies are subscribing to that so they can quickly survey particular houses in the impacted areas to see how many of their policyholders could have roof damage, which is the most common in a hurricane. She anticipates that trend will continue after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking forward, insurers see more technology growth.

One area is the expansion of phone apps, such as those for initial underwriting, Collins said. Some carriers were using them before the pandemic, and some adapted because of it, she said based on her own observations.

The insurance industry is very open to embracing new technologies, Collins said. Anything that is bringing efficiencies into play, and might even be cost savers that they can, in turn, pass savings on to policyholders to reduce rates, are certainly technologies that the industrys going to be very receptive to and not just turn off when the pandemic finally concludes.

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Pandemic spurs technology growth in insurance industry | Technology | gmtoday.com - Greater Milwaukee Today

As the travel and tourism industry gears up for business, hoteliers are reimagining ways to prioritize hygiene standards and contactless services for arriving guests. Covid-19 proved to be the turning point that accelerated the adoption of contactless technology as demand for safer physical touchpoints for both guests and staff saw a surge. It is, therefore, no surprise that experts in the industry are re-defining service delivery, and "touchless hospitality" is the future.

Touchless check-in and check-out are some of the priorities guests are looking at to keep away from those crowded front desks. As guests turn to online sources to make their reservations, hotels need to invest in more versatile methods of booking through dedicated booking engines or online distribution channels. Hotelogix pioneered this fundamental change on a global scale with a remote digital concierge system that is designed to seamlessly manage end-to-end operations contact-free. With contactless options for check-in/out and touchless services for reservations, we have prioritized safety for both guests and staff without compromising on the integrity of the system - that is connected centrally through cloud.

Hoteliers, as well as B2B hotel tech solution providers, are beginning to realize the real tech revolution in hospitality is not just limited to guest-facing needs. The need of the hour for the travel and tourism industry is to leverage a thoughtfully curated integration of touchless technology and superior service for continued success. Hotelogix tapped in on this stagnated need for innovative digital solutions. From sales to support, the team remotely connects with hoteliers across the world.

Transition to a world-class PMS with easy setup and training from dedicated engineers- all from the safety of your hotel. Get certified to use the software with our training executives available remotely or use our state-of-the-art Automated Coaching Engine (ACE) to guide, train, and support your staff in an interactive easy-to-understand way. Experience the technology first-hand and earn credits that you can redeem on your subscription. With a 15-day free trial, Hotelogix also supports independent learning and empowers you to make an unbiased buying decision. Our team of competent solutions experts is available round the clock to help with the seamless integration of the PMS.

The evolution of touchless technology is not new or a one-time deal. Hotels may be faced with decisions about how much technology to adopt- the best way would be to choose a solution that encompasses all needs and has a lasting positive impact on the guest experience. One thing is for certain there may not be a "return to normal", but there is a "new normal" one that is possibly better.

Hotelogix is a pioneer in innovative hospitality tech solutions like touchless hospitality. Hotelogix provides a robust, remote, cloud-based Hotel PMS that helps hoteliers automate and manage end-to-end hotel operations with practically zero contact. Hotelogix also assists small and medium-sized properties to grow, increase revenue, and enhance their online reputation.

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Revolutionizing Hospitality Experiences with Touchless Technology - Hospitality Net

Image 1Revolutionary way of growingRevolutionary way of growingImage 2Traditional growingTraditional growing

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saffron Tech, an Israeli wholly owned subsidiary of Seedo Corp. (OTCQB: SEDO), announced its technology for automated, year-round saffron growing, is challenging the global Iranian monopoly on saffron supply of 90-95% of world demand, which has been in place for the past 1,000 years!

The reason Iran was the dominant player in supplying 90-95% of world demand for Saffron lies in the fact it has natural conditions fit for the growing and production of saffron in traditional, labor intensive methods.

Saffron Tech, from Seedo Corp., is developing a technology that hopes to provide turnkey automated growing solutions for high-quality, high-yield saffron all year round. The company is in advanced stages of developing and testing its automated vertical farm for saffron growing, based on the companys knowledge in plant biology and providing optimal conditions for each stage of the plants development to reach optimal product quality.

Saffron Tech solutions are a perfect fit for "Grow Next to Consumer" and is sustainable and fit for COVID-19 restrictions on transport. It is environmentally friendly, using economic levels of water, space, fertilizer, and energy. We believe that our controlled indoor growing technology could produce ten times more yield compared to the same land area using traditional methods. The sealed environment eliminates the need for harmful pesticides and herbicides, producing a clean and safe product. The solution is easily scalable and pre-designed to quickly grow operations.

"Saffron is used in many industries, such as the food industry, particularly by famous chefs and Michelin starred restaurants, the natural cosmetics industry and the natural medicine industry and as a dye in the textile industry" said Mr. David Friedenberg, Saffron Tech CEO. "It is considered the 'Red Gold', worth its weight in gold. We are about to revolutionize the way saffron is grown, growing it all year round and anywhere with our indoors growing technology". https://youtu.be/cWnAFWGw50s

Story continues

About Seedo

Seedo Corp. (OTC: SEDO), an agritech company, is focusing on its research, development, and commercialization of agriculture technology products in the fields of saffron, exotic plants and mushrooms. Seedos know-how and technology are aimed at transforming the way agriculture is done by offering a responsible and sustainable way to grow crops in a world confronted by environmental challenges of dwindling earth reserves, diminishing water resources and unstable weather conditions.

Contact: info@saffron.ag

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on managements current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to our ability to successfully execute a smooth transition of CFO functions as well as our ability to retain and recruit qualified executives; uncertainties related to, and failure to achieve, the potential benefits and success of our senior management team and organizational structure; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace; our substantial indebtedness, which may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in additional transactions or make new investments; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned "Risk Factors and Forward Looking Statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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Israeli Groundbreaking Technology by Saffron Tech Challenges Iranian 1,000-Year Monopoly on the Lucrative $1B Saffron Market - Yahoo Finance

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A few years ago, a good friend of mine, who is also an expert in waste management, decided to carry the landfill-destined waste she produced with her for 30 days. When she came to visit me for a weekend during that month, she discreetly but consistently kept a gallon-size Ziploc bag with her at all times. Throughout the weekend, I watched her mull over what are often mindless decisions for the rest of us grabbing a disposable utensil at a food truck or digging into an individually wrapped granola bar all because of her bag. At one point, as we were finishing a meal at a restaurant, she refused the takeout container offered by the waiter, only to pull a collapsible bowl and lid from her purse to package her leftovers. Not only was the entire experience eye-opening for her, but it also challenged those around her, including me, to think about the choices we make every day.

While my friends efforts may sound extreme, she made an important point: If we are conscious about the amount of energy we consume and the waste we produce, we are likely to adjust our behavior to decrease it. Yet, many significant investments in greening new technology focus on energy efficiency, such as power generation or vehicle mileage standards, but leave out an integral part of the equation us, the users. In the effort to minimize waste and combat climate change, leveraging automation, especially automated decision aids, in a way that understands human tendencies can better compel us toward limiting our individual and collective carbon footprints.

The Rebound Effect

Whether its the food we eat, the cars we drive, or the lightbulbs we install in our homes, many of us choose energy efficient options whenever we can. Yet, even when we have the best intentions, the widespread phenomenon known as the rebound effect can negate the progress were attempting to make.

The rebound effect also referred to as the takeback effect is when the gains that would otherwise be made from environmentally conscious decisions and products are offset, even if just partially, by the users behavior. The owner of a hybrid car may be less mindful of their energy consumption how much fuel they use or the routes they take because they believe theyre already acting efficiently by driving that vehicle. Similarly, a household may be less conscious of leaving the lights on because they are using energy-saving bulbs. The tendency behind the rebound effect is somewhat natural for humans think about the time you ate a cookie right after taking a run which is why understanding behavioral tendencies when designing new technology that informs people of their consumption is so vital.

Deploying automotive systems that monitor and record our energy usage and waste production is one approach. Less than 10 miles from Purdue University, where I teach, an Indiana Subaru plant became the first manufacturing facility in the U.S. to reach zero-landfill status by either recycling all waste or turning it into electricity. By meticulously tracking its waste, according to one article, and keep[ing] a running tab on the amount of waste coming from each assembly station, the plant and its workers learned more about what they were doing to achieve this distinction. The data helped Subaru identify ways to cut waste and save millions of dollars.

Gamifying Our Consumption

On an individualized level, we have access to similar information, like smart-home devices that track a households electrical consumption for cutting down on excessive usage and costs. However, the sheer amount of data can be overwhelming for some. For others, it may also understandably feel like theyre being chastised for their consumption and decisions, rather than motivated to invest in the process of changing their behaviors in a way that will positively impact the environment.

Wearable technologies may hold the key. If you have a Fitbit FIT and Apple Watch, youre likely familiar with the achievement medals you can earn and competitions you can participate in. If you reach a certain number of steps or active minutes, you get a reward, giving you a goal to strive for. The gamification of our health contextualizes what thousands of steps can mean to us and, as a result, motivates us for our benefit. Its still the same information, only presented in a manner that incentivizes us to act on it.

This application of automated decision aids, which intelligently inform users on how to approach their choices, may be the next phase of green technology to help us address the climate crisis. A car that sets goals for a driver based off of their mileage and fuel usage, and comparing it to their past consumption, could steadily impact individual behavior. Likewise, a manufacturer that incentivizes workers to limit waste could have an even more significant impact. This technology puts the human at the center of the equation and can contribute to helping our planet.

Not all of us may be up for carrying around our garbage, but we are looking for ways to do our part or do more and just need the information and interfaces to know how.

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Why Green Technology Needs To Involve Green Behavior - Forbes

Between remote learning, more time spent at home, and working parents trying to keep their kids occupied, children across the United States have clocked in record-breaking hours of screen time during the pandemic. Much of it is supervised and curated by teachers or parents but increasingly, kids of all ages are watching videos, playing games, and interacting with devices powered by artificial intelligence. As head of the Personal Robots group and AI Education at MIT, Media Lab Professor Cynthia Breazeal is on a mission to help this generation of young people to grow up understanding the AI they use.

At AI Education: Research and Practice, an Open Learning Talks event in December, Breazeal shared her vision for educating students not only about how AI works, but how to design and use it themselves an initiative she calls AI Literacy for All. The AI Education project Breazeal is leading at MIT is a collaboration between MIT Open Learning and the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab, the Media Lab, and the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing. Through research projects, hands-on activities, and scalable learning modules, Breazeal and her AI Education affiliates across MIT are creating a robust resource hub for educators, parents, and learners of all ages to understand how AI functions in different day-to-day roles, and how to approach both using and creating artificial intelligence with a basis in ethics, inclusion, and empathy.

Open Learning Talks | AI Education: Research and Practice

Its at this intersection of human psychology, engagement, and AI and technology, and were learning a lot, Breazeal said as she explained her groups research to the audience. Were not trying to build technologies to replace teachers or compete with parents. These are fluffy, pet-like robots, but they can engage children in this interaction where there are aspects like a motivating ally, like a friend ... there are aspects like this companion animal, and this nonjudgmental companion animal gives the nature of this relationship this very different flavor, where even if theyre embarrassed to make mistakes in front of their teacher or their friends, they seem not to be in front of the robot and you cant learn if youre not willing to take learning risks.

Breazeal shared examples from her Personal Robots groups efforts, including recent studies on personalized learning companions for early childhood education, developing comprehensive K-12 AI literacy programs, and creating tools to help kids get creative using AI technologies.

So how do you empower kids to create things with AI? Youre not going to put a middle-schooler on Tensorflow and say Good luck, right? Breazeal said. MIT is the home base for things like Scratch and App Inventor, so the team is taking these more advanced AI methods and curricula and concepts, and augmenting these platforms to empower kids to use these AI technologies, to learn about them and then design projects of their own, and port them to different kinds of platforms.

Host Professor Eric Klopfer, director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and the Education Arcade at MIT and head of MIT Comparative Media Studies and Writing, engaged Breazeal in a dialogue about all aspects of AI education and fielded questions from the live audience, ranging from emotional connection with robots to screen time, data collection, and representation in research and design.

How does AI in education narrow the gap that we see between socioeconomic groups? How do we see AI bridging that gap rather than widening the gap? asked Klopfer, as he and Breazeal shared insights on training teachers, providing hands-on activities and paper prototyping to expand access and inclusion on technology education. The technology itself is not the impetus for the divide anymore; its the way the technologies are being used, and the way people are trained to be able to use them, Klopfer said. Its so key that we dont repeat our mistakes from past technological innovations, where we just distribute devices to schools without thinking about the training and expertise that needs to go with that.

And in an increasingly tech-driven society, access and education are key to creating equity for, and encouraging thoughtful participation from, all users. We want a much more diverse, inclusive group of people being able to participate in shaping this future [with AI], said Breazeal.

Launched last fall, Open Learning Talks is a public, online event series that features conversations between leaders from MIT and around the world, sharing their research and insights on education, teaching, and the science of learning. Upcoming events include William Bonvillian and Sanjay Sarma discussing their new book, Workforce Education, on Feb. 23; and Professor D. Fox Harrell and Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, in mid-March.

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Learning with and about AI technology - MIT News

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CyberOptics Corporation (NASDAQ: CYBE), a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-precision 3D sensing technology solutions, will feature the WX3000 metrology and inspection system with Multi-Reflection Suppression (MRS) sensor technology, and high-precision sensors for semiconductor tool set-up and diagnostics at the Virtual SEMI Technology Unites Global Summit from February 15-19th.

Tim Skunes, VP of R&D at CyberOptics, will share a related technical presentation Fast, 100% 3D Wafer Bump Metrology and Inspection to Improve Yields and 3D System Integration on February 16th. Advanced Packaging (AP) and wafer level packaging (WLP) continue to be among the most dynamic and rapidly evolving areas of semiconductor development and manufacturing. As the processes and features they create have become smaller and more complex, manufacturers face an increasing need for high-precision inspection and measurement to detect defects and improve process control. This need is amplified by the fact that these processes use expensive known good die, making the cost of failure extremely high.

The NanoResolution MRS sensor integrated into CyberOptics WX3000 system provides sub-micrometer accuracy on features as small as 25m. While retaining its ability to reject spurious multiple reflections, it adds the ability to capture and analyze specular reflections from shiny surfaces of solder balls, bumps and pillars, allowing highly accurate inspection and 3D metrology of these critical packaging features. Complete 100% 3D/2D inspection and bump metrology can be accomplished vs. time-consuming alternative methods that require separate scans for 3D and 2D, or a sampling only approach. With data processing speeds in excess of 75 million 3D points per second, it delivers production-worthy throughput greater than 25 wafers (300mm) per hour, at speeds 2-3X faster.

Whether its for the back-end or mid-end of the semiconductor fab, our proprietary sensors and systems deliver significant benefits to customers in terms of improved yields, processes and productivity, said Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, President and CEO, CyberOptics. Compared to other solutions, our technology saves our customers significant time and expense.

The company will also digitally demonstrate high-precision sensors that process and equipment engineers use in the front-end of the fab to speed equipment qualification, shorten equipment maintenance cycles, lower equipment expenses and optimize preventative maintenance plans. The WaferSense Auto Resistance Sensor (ARS) enables real-time resistance measurements of plating cell contacts in semiconductor Electrochemical Deposition (ECD) applications, and the In-Line Particle Sensor (IPS) detects, monitors and enables troubleshooting of particles down to 0.1 m in gas and vacuum lines in any areas of the fab 24/7.

The Technology Unites Global Summit brings together the global microelectronics supply chain, manufacturers and end users for a digital experience featuring industry thought leaders and high-value technical content from around the world. CyberOptics is a platinum sponsor.

For more information, visit http://www.cyberoptics.com.

About CyberOptics

CyberOptics Corporation (www.cyberoptics.com) is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-precision 3D sensing technology solutions. CyberOptics sensors are used for inspection and metrology in the SMT and semiconductor markets to significantly improve yields and productivity. By leveraging its leading edge technologies, the Company has strategically established itself as a global leader in high precision 3D sensors, allowing CyberOptics to further increase its penetration of key vertical markets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, CyberOptics conducts worldwide operations through its facilities in North America, Asia and Europe.

Statements regarding the Companys anticipated performance are forward-looking and therefore involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: a possible world-wide recession or depression resulting from the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; the negative effect on our revenue and operating results of the COVID-19 crisis on our customers and suppliers and the global supply chain; market conditions in the global SMT and semiconductor capital equipment industries; trade relations between the United States and China and other countries; the timing of orders and shipments of our products, particularly our 3D MRS SQ3000 Multi-Function systems and MX systems for memory module inspection; increasing price competition and price pressure on our product sales, particularly our SMT systems; the level of orders from our OEM customers; the availability of parts required to meet customer orders; unanticipated product development challenges; the effect of world events on our sales, the majority of which are from foreign customers; rapid changes in technology in the electronics and semiconductor markets; product introductions and pricing by our competitors; the success of our 3D technology initiatives; the market acceptance of our SQ3000 MultiFunction inspection and measurement systems and products for semiconductor advanced packaging inspection and metrology; costly and time consuming litigation with third parties related to intellectual property infringement; the negative impact on our customers and suppliers due to past and future terrorist threats and attacks and any acts of war; the impact of the MX3000 orders on our consolidated gross margin percentage in any future period; risks related to cancellation or renegotiation of orders we have received; and other factors set forth in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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CyberOptics to Showcase High-Precision Inspection and Metrology Solutions at SEMI Technology Unites Global Summit - Business Wire

Clarkson University has teamed up with Precise Biometrics to install Precises YOUNiQ facial recognition for facility access in the North Country Incubator part of Clarksons Shipley Center for Innovation. Following the installation, the 16 tenant companies with combined 150 employees will have access to the system which gives users access to the facilities using facial recognition technology, rather than the use of a traditional key or keycard.

Precise YOUNiQ integrates face recognition with access control systems to provide convenient and secure access to facilities. The technology behind the product is based on artificial intelligence that confirms the individuals identity through its unique facial features.

At Clarkson, we are driven by innovation and entrepreneurship, and we work tirelessly to support the companies who are housed in our business incubator. Emerging technologies such as YOUNiQs facial recognition are an exciting tool that have the power to change how we do business, Clarkson President Tony Collins said.

We have been working closely with Clarkson University since the acquisition of NexID in 2017 and have conducted several pilot projects together. We are therefore particularly happy that North Country Incubator now has decided to upgrade its access management system with YOUNiQ. The tenants, most of which develop and utilize proprietary IP, will now be able to access its premises in a more secure and convenient way than ever before, said Mark Cornett, Senior Sales Director at Precise Biometrics.

About North Country IncubatorThe North Country Incubator (NCI) exists to help small and early-stage businesses develop to their full potential. It is sponsored and managed through a joint partnership between Clarkson Universitys Shipley Center for Innovation and New York States Innovation Hot Spot Program.

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New Facial Recognition Technology to be Installed At North Country Incubator - Clarkson University News

New York, Jan. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Haptic Technology Market with COVID-19 Impact by Component, Feedback Type, Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04247287/?utm_source=GNW

The major factor restraining the growth of the haptic technology market is the high cost of force feedback technology.Although the integration of haptics (tactile haptics) into mobiles and tablets does not involve high costs, force feedback haptic devices are costlier compared with tactile feedback haptic devices.

Force feedback haptic requires efficient devices that are available in 3 degrees of freedom (DoF), 6 DoF, and 7 DoF, which allow users to experience real-time virtual haptics in several applications.Force feedback-based haptic devices are used in simulation applications in the medical, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, as well as in several ergonomic studies.

These haptic devices are typically bulky, which becomes is a major issue in the case of wearable haptic devices. This is expected to impact the haptic technology market negatively in the coming years.The market is expected to decline in 2020, mainly due to the impact of COVID-19.The consumer electronics and automotive supply chains was disrupted in March and April 2020 due to the lockdown imposed by various governments and labor shortages in these industries due to travel restrictions, which would affect the haptic technology market.

Though the market is expected to be impacted in 2020, it is expected to fully recover by 2021.

Tactile feedback type: The fastest-growing segment of the haptic technology market, by feedback typeTactile feedback technology is the fastest-growing segment of the haptic technology market by feedback type.This is mainly because tactile feedback-based haptic components are used in many devices such as smartphones, tablets, other consumer devices, car navigation systems, and several appliances.

Increasing use of touchscreen displays in various devices, including smart and portable devices, is the major driving factor for the market.Tactile haptic technology enhances user experience along with offering benefit to the manufacturer as it is a low-cost solution compared to mechanical control panels.

This is expected to drive the market for tactile feedback technology during the forecast period.

Consumer devices: The largest segment of the haptic technology market, by applicationThe haptic technology market for the consumer devices application is expected to hold the largest market share from 2020 to 2026.The consumer devices application includes various devices in which haptic effects are embedded, such as smartphones, tablets, gaming devices, smartwatches, cameras, media players, handheld devices, and haptics-enabled touch-based phones.

Consumer devices with haptics provide easier, intuitive access to music, multimedia, and photography.Almost all smartphones today are equipped with haptic devices.

Smartphone companies are using advanced haptic components from leading players to integrate into their smartphones. These developments are expected to drive the market for consumer devices application during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific: The fastest-growing region in the haptic technology marketThe APAC region is expected to dominate the haptic technology market and is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.APAC is home to most top players in the haptic technology market, including AAC Technologies, TDK, Johnson Electric, SMK Corporation, Alps Alpine, Jinlong Machinery & Electronics, and Imagis.

Also, the region has countries like China, which is a leader in terms of production of consumer devices like smartphones.Moreover, the region is the largest producer and consumer of haptic devices and related components.

These factors are expected to propel the haptic technology market in APAC.

The study contains insights from various industry experts, ranging from component suppliers to Tier 1 companies. The break-up of the primaries is as follows: By Company Type: Tier 1 45%, Tier 2 30%, and Tier 3 25% By Designation: C-level Executives 40%, Directors 35%, and Others 25% By Region: North America 35%, Europe 25%, APAC 30%, and RoW 10%

The report profiles key players in the global haptic technology market with their respective market share analysis. Prominent players profiled in this report are Texas Instruments (US), Johnson Electric (Hong Kong), AAC Technologies (China), TDK (Japan), Microchip Technology (US), Immersion (US), ON Semiconductor (US), Precision Microdrives (UK), Synaptics (US), Ultraleap (UK), Aito BV (Netherlands), Alps Alpine (Japan), Cirrus Logic (US), Dialog Semiconductor (UK), Hap2U (France), Imagis (South Korea), Infineon (Germany), Jinlong Machinery & Electronics (China), Nidec (Japan), and SMK Corporation (Japan).

Research Coverage:The report segments the haptic technology market and forecasts its size, by value and volume, based on region (North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW), by component (hardware, software), feedback type (tactile, force), and application (consumer devices, automotive & transportation, commercial & industrial, education & research, healthcare, and others).The report also provides a comprehensive review of market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the haptic technology market. The report also covers qualitative aspects in addition to the quantitative aspects of these markets.

Key Benefits of Buying the ReportThe report will help the leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the sub-segments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the haptic technology market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04247287/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The global haptic technology market size is expected to grow from USD 2.6 billion in 2021 to USD 4.6 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 12.0% -...

In the future, you'll shed your personal meat.

Let's talk about meat.

Specifically the meat in your head.

I'm not confining these words to meatheads, but to the whole body of humanity that's about to undergo a precipitous descent into a new level of being. Let's call it Level 13 because I'm not sure we'll be lucky to get there.

I'm not depressed about this. I'm (a little) more fascinated by what will happen to us all after hearing the sage meanderings of Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of video game company Valve.

Speaking to 1 News in New Zealand, Newell patiently explained what we are about to become.

Let's begin with his opening salvo. It isn't a salve for the sane. Said Newell: "Our ability to create experiences in people's brains that are not mediated through their meat peripherals will actually be better than is possible."

Don't you feel the limitations of your meat peripherals? Don't you wish that you could pan-fry them a little so they could behave in a tastier manner?

Newell explained: "You're used to experiencing the world through your eyes. Eyes were created by this low-cost bidder who didn't care about failure rates and RMAs."

Are we dissing God here?

And Is he talking about reliability, maintainability, and availability? Or perhaps he's referring to return merchandise authorization?

It's hard to keep up with the biggest-brain nerds.

Newell's thoughts can be a joy to behold. Here's how he describes our meat deficiencies: "It totally makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, but is not at all reflective of consumer preferences."

Evolution, then, is something of an incompetent system. Technology is here, as it is with all things, to perfect the original idea, so that humans can give it a five-star review.

Of course, Newell was referencing gaming, but you can't help thinking he's really talking about life. He wants to leave the real world behind -- something too many technologists do instinctively -- and make people experience things that leave the world looking "blurry." I bet.

Naturally, he has in mind the power of the Brain-Computer Interface. Or, as it's known in some circles, the Ideal State Of Elon Musk.

Newell doesn't find any of this weird. Well, why would he? For him, weird is another realm entirely.

He mused: "Where it gets weird is when who you are becomes editable."

I've longed for being edited since before I learned to type. Why did I say that? Why did I do that?

Thankfully, ZDNet provides me with highly intelligent human beings who perform the task, but they're not available to me 24 hours a day. Which does cause problems.

With the Brain-Computer Interface, things can change at any given second.

"So, like, I'm feeling unmotivated today. Right now, we think that's the fundamental characteristic that is relatively intractable to change, and instead, it'll be like, 'Oh, I can just turn up my focus right now. My mood should be this.'"

My mood shouldn't be to worry, but I do.

Won't we all just turn on the Happy Switch all the time and be utterly unbearable to each other? Even more unbearable than we find each other currently. At least on Twitter.

What's lovely about such descriptions of the future is that they're bonkers. And therefore entirely inevitable.

And Newell does offer tangible benefits that everyone will appreciate. One of the first benefits of BCI will be better sleep, he believes.

"Sleep will now become an app that you run," he explained.

Oh, please no. Another app I have to have on my iPhone?

"I need this much sleep, this much REM, but it's now, rather than, you know, 'I'll fluff my pillows this way and I'll take Zolpidem to get myself to go to sleep, I just say, 'This is how I want to sleep right now.'"

What boring self-absorbed beings we'll become. Yes, even worse than now. We won't need drugs because we'll have technology that can change how we feel.

Newell offered one sentence that many will instantly gravitate to: "You can make people think they hurt by injuring their tool."

(I pause for your inner child to release itself and go to play on the swings.)

What Newell was referring to was the prospect of adding tentacles or other workable pieces to the human body.

Lurching toward understatement, Newell mused: "People are going to have to have a lot of confidence that these are secure systems."

Let's pause for digestion. Your very brain will be subject to technological interference. Which may -- oh, you just know it will -- include hacking.

Hey, have you seen Bob lately?

"Nobody wants to say, 'Oh, remember Bob? Remember when Bob got hacked by the Russian malware? That sucked -- is he still running naked through the forests?'" admitted Newell.

Newell's conclusion is, if anything, even sadder than his description of future life and humanity's decision-making process in it.

"I'm not saying that everybody is going to love and insist that they have a Brain-Computer Interface," he said. "I'm just saying each person is going to decide for themselves whether or not there's an interesting combination of feature, functionality, and price."

One translation might be: The rich will do it first and try to become all-feeling superhumans.

Yet I'm most saddened by Newell's painfully glib finger-stoke toward ancient views of personal liberty: "People are going to decide for themselves if they want to do it. Nobody makes people use a phone."

Oh, come now. That's not true. Apple does it all the time. And you know exactly what's going to happen.

There's often a blessed naivet in tech luminaries' perspectives.

If only we had a Brain-Computer Interface that could make us immune from the consequences.

Continue reading here:

I've just seen the future of technology and you may not love it - ZDNet

OHIO COUNTY, W.VA (WTRF) A new technology that prevents the spread of the COVID 19 virus is already working in some Ohio County Schools.

And now its being added to others. The board of education voted Monday to approve 100-thousand dollars to add it to Bridge Street Middle School and Bethlehem, Madison and Ritchie elementaries.

Its called Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization technology. Its a very small blue box, with a big effect.

It is connected to the buildings existing heating and ventilation system. Its already been installed at Elm Grove and Middle Creek elementary schools and Wheeling Park High School. And it is reportedly 99-point-four percent effective in stopping the spread of the virus in the air.

Essentially put ions throughout our buildings that when they come in contact with things, in this case the virus, after 30 minutes render it ineffective.So essentially knocking down the receptors that allows it to connect to things and does not allow it to do it anymore.

It will also be installed at the board office, the bus garage, and the pool at the high school.

And many other schools in the district were already approved and scheduled for installation. Those include Triadelphia, Steenrod, West Liberty, Warwood, Woodsdale and Wheeling Middle.

Excerpt from:

New technology that prevents the spread of the COVID 19 virus in Ohio County Schools - WTRF