Virtual reality that the forecasts in the short term, tend to be very conservative – most people represent the future in the form of slightly extended version of this write IT News.

People think that most of the major social transformations or have already occurred or will occur in the distant future, but this is far from the truth. The world is changing faster than ever before, and a number of technologies that are already in active development, change it beyond recognition. Among them – the self-governing cars and virtual reality. On it we’ll talk.

There are three basic axioms that are necessary to understand, trying to predict the near future:

Ten years later, popular technology is unlikely to be a novelty – it will be smaller, faster, easier, more convenient, more compact and less expensive than what we have today.

The best technology is used today to create tomorrow’s technologies, causing improvement technologies exponentially.

As the exponential growth of technology, the level of acceptance grows symmetrically.

It is also important to note that network effects accelerate the development of many new technologies. Network effect means that the value of technology depends on the number of people using it: The first phone was not value for its owner, but it became when increase in the number of people able to call. Phone became valuable only when the technology is exponential distribution.

Why do most forecasts are wrong about the future

There is one fundamental reason why many forecasts are very wrong: experts and analysts try to use linear models to predict the level of adoption of technologies that evolve exponentially. This happens mostly because they assess the potential of the technology, based on its current form and function; The reality is that this technology every year will get better and better.

Futurologist Zack Kanter leads a good example. In 1980, AT & T has hired consulting giant McKinsey, to the predicted size of the mobile phone market. Based on the slow speed of the historic decision and disadvantages of this technology – heavy device, terrible battery life, poor coverage and absurd cost, – McKinsey famously predicted that by 2000 the total market can hardly pick up a million subscribers. In fact it is the number exceeded 100 million.

Although McKinsey analysis may seem ridiculous, from our point of view, the truth is that very few people at that time foresaw the explosive growth of mobile phones in the coming years. In fact, quite easy to trace the thoughts of analysts: for the time cell phones were awful and looked linear growth – and only when we look at the chart from a distance, it becomes clear that the growth was exponential adoption.

Virtual reality is ready for widespread

Many people see the virtual reality in black and white colors: it is hardly a novelty until until it becomes a real Matrix. But virtual reality is not competing with the perfect simulation of the real world – it competes with traditional sources of media: TV, radio, smart phones, tablets and computers. Those who have reached the age of majority, has carried out at least 8 hours of this network. And good technology of virtual reality for the people ceased to be a pipe dream – it already exists. Oculus Rift brings excellent experience in many ways, and the consumer version will be ready in 2015 at a price of 200-400 dollars apiece.

Consumer behavior described above is well established, which means that technology will soon become inexpensive and available everywhere. It would be foolish to believe that virtual reality will not be at the hearing people in the next 5 years – in fact, the consumption in this area will increase as the content and user experience will improve exponentially.

In other words, I believe that most people would prefer to spend time in virtual reality, viewing some “Game of Thrones” playing Call of Duty or just porn.

The network effect of virtual reality will be grandiose. As more and more people will use virtual reality to grow and platform; it will become more attractive to lure new users and continuing the cycle.

We can not imagine how virtual reality will be developed as a medium – perhaps the most interesting is to divide the virtual experience a la p2p. Imagine interface like YouTube, where you can immerse yourself in the present three-dimensional environment, created by someone else. Of course, we will see mass production of content, including the traditional “top-down” from the media giant and studios.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Whole markets are formed exclusively within a virtual reality, perhaps allowing flourish finally Cryptocurrency type Bitcoin. Enterprise applications are often overlooked – but imagine how many jobs of virtual reality, of course, for 10-15 years.

In the real world around virtual reality will not be without winners and losers. Users will have less time for cooking, and it can be assumed that food alternatives like “Soylent” will be very popular, as well as delivery services and catering. Cinemas surely die together with them and major streaming services (if not adaptable, of course). Who will be able to successfully transform 2D-experience in an immersive experience of virtual reality? Facebook, YouTube, Netflix and Google will have to push.

Although, of course, the market will develop associated with virtual reality devices and accessories – even our home furniture will undergo significant changes – a virtual reality will kill whole categories of products. Giants like Amazon will not like it.

Perhaps the biggest problem is the threat of virtual reality for our health and well-being. We know that the seat kills – lack of physical activity is part of the ten leading factors that lead to death, all over the world – and virtual life will certainly exacerbate a lot of problems associated with obesity and inactivity. Surely there will be some innovative approaches in the pharmaceutical industry, preserving muscle mass and bone density, as well as active methods such as treadmills for virtual reality. Many bright minds are already trying to resolve these issues in a different context: for a successful mission to Mars to find a way to preserve the health of astronauts in disastrous conditions of weightlessness. Elon Musk, for example, plans to launch Mars as early as 2026.

He laments the fact that in every corner of the earth have a look, but spread out before us limitless expanses of space. Nevertheless, there is another epic journey, which we will do, looking at the border, which extends infinitely inside: to our minds, in the first universe created by us.

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By and large, our smartphones – it displays a battery. Screen certainly cannot be called a model of strength, because the slightest drop device facing a “web of glass.” To deliver us from this kind of trouble, there is a company Corning, who presented on the eve of the fourth generation of its tempered glass Gorilla Glass.

According to the company, Gorilla Glass 4 will provide improved by half, compared with the previous generation, protection from broken screens.

Corning began shipping partners Gorilla Glass 4

Using to simulate rough surfaces, this accounts for our land devices sandpaper grit with an index of 180, Corning experts throwing smartphones from a height of about 1 meter. Some of them are protected Gorilla Glass 4 others – competing coatings. As a result, smart phones, secure new glass company, remained intact in 80% of cases.

One of the possible competitors Corning, obviously a sapphire crystal, is the second strength of the material in the world, second only to diamonds. It is expected that the sapphire is used in the iPhone 6, but Apple led the manufacturer.

Meanwhile, Cliff Hund, president of Corning East Asia, said that the sapphire is the best offer when it comes to scratch resistance screen, but when it comes to exposure to stress, sapphire Gorilla Glass inferior in strength.

Great news for those who’ve breathlessly lifted asphalt favorite gadget that had fallen down screen: Corning has already begun to supply Gorilla Glass 4 to its partners. So probably we will be able to test the new glass for strength in the coming updates smartphones.

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Not long ago, a Chinese manufacturer of smartphones Vivo Xplay 5S received a portion of attention, thanks to rumors about the upcoming smartphone, which should come into the race the finest representatives of portable devices on the market.

However, there are photos on the web is being questioned previously obtained information. As the resource phonearena, the pictures smartphone Vivo Xplay 5S, which prepares the company Vivo.

First pictures of thin and powerful smartphone Vivo Xplay 5S

It is assumed that the device will get a 6-dyuymoy QHD-screen, processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of non-volatile memory with optional memory cards. The camera in the smartphone will be able to shoot with a resolution of 13 megapixels, and will be equipped with dual LED flash. The front camera will have an 8-megapixel sensor and a wide-angle lens that provides quality self-photography.

Battery capacity Vivo Xplay 5S make 3500mAh, and the smartphone will run under the operating system Android 4.4.4 with a proprietary shell Funtouch 2.0. The thickness of the device is 5.68 mm, which is significantly greater than previously expected. In addition, the thickness does not provide Vivo Xplay 5S superiority in the market of thin devices, which currently leads Oppo R5.

It is possible that the company is preparing two Vivo Xplay 5S Smartphone with similar characteristics, but with different housings. However, these are only rumors and speculation that is actually preparing a Chinese manufacturer, time will tell.

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Technology does not stand still, they bring us closer to a future that we see in science fiction movies. In most, simple movements where people manage information in the air on huge projection screens. We already wrote about the ring iRing and SDK to it, which may change the usual method of interaction with iOS-applications. But this ring is not necessary.

Mobile Applications Laboratory University of Toronto is preparing to introduce SDK, could turn any surface into a control panel. Their work they called XTouch. Unlike iRing instead of the camera to track your actions XTouch uses a microphone. Technology detects any punches fingers over the surface on which lies the device and depending on the location in which the blow finger, the application performs the desired action.

Colleagues from 9to5Mac dismantled principle of SDK. It can run on any existing device equipped with at least one microphone. We know that the iPhone is more of that certainly has a positive effect on the quality of work XTouch. No additional sensors are not required, a unique acoustic technology senses changes obtained by touching the surface at different locations. After a quick calibration XTouch able to accurately determine the location in which it was committed touch.

This method of interaction with devices opens up new possibilities for games and other applications. Moreover, several people will be able to manage a single device. Is not this the future? The creators promise to publish the SDK in the second quarter of this year, and many applications can be transformed. And maybe this will be the impetus for new products. Developers will have to wait, but users can try XTouch now. The creators have released two applications using this SDK, it Voodoo Tap Frogs and Magic Xylophone .

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If a company specializing in 3D-printing, and government agencies are hoping to continue to control the spread of dangerous and illegal of 3D-models of various objects, they need to be more vigilant.

Late last month, Matthew Plummer-Fernandez, 31-year-old creative designer and technologist from Goldsmiths College, part of the University of London, presented to the public a special tool called Disarming Corruptor, designed to distort the drawings of objects that can be printed on the 3D-printer. He created the app allows you to change the 3D-model of the object beyond recognition. In order to restore the drawings need only pre-generated key. Only after that the object can be printed on the 3D-printer. In other words, Disarming Corruptor allows you to “encrypt” and put all the drawings of objects that can be printed on the 3D-printer on popular sites like Thingiverse.

Mr. Plummer-Fernandez says the idea of ​​3D-models of masking occurred to him for the first time when specialists iMaterialize denied in print that he created 3D-model of Mickey Mouse for reasons of copyright protection. Then he thought again about this venture as a site Thingiverse in 2012 removed all the component drawings 3D-arms. Appendix Disarming Corruptor distorts the shape and proportions of an object changes so that it becomes unrecognizable.

“When the patent trolls and law enforcement agencies will find encrypted 3D-models, they will see only abstract textures and distortion. In fact, the data files are the objects, but in need of renovation, “- says Plummer-Fernandez.

It also encourages the download encrypted drawing any objects on the site Thingiverse marked «DC».

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Uncomfortable cables are not compatible electrical plugs and sockets and a variety of adapters for a long time complicate the lives of people who love to travel frequently. It is a serial data interface USB managed to make life easier for most users. Through the USB-cable connected to a PC or a special adapter that is now being charged a huge number of mobile devices. Moreover, in the near future, USB-cables will be used to charge the more powerful electrical appliances, in the long run be able to completely change the principles of electricity consumption, while reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency has different systems. All this will be possible thanks to the new standard USB Power Delivery (USB PD), which will transmit up to 100 watts of power.

It is unlikely that Ajay Bhatt of Intel, one of the creators of USB, 20 years ago, thought about his power. In the past, he had only one goal – to simplify the process of connecting multiple devices to a PC. He hardly thought that creating a new universal charging system. Indeed, the current standard USB allows you to transfer up to 5 watts, which is barely enough to iPad. However, recharging with the USB-interface has become a standard in the mobile market.

It is believed that in the near future to feed an exponentially growing number of low-voltage DC network will be to put on the backburner because of Nikola Tesla and his contribution to the creation of devices that operate on alternating current. Most likely, the war of currents, which was started by Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla could flare up again.

It should be noted that to convert alternating current to direct current power transistors are needed – the “heart” of any electronic device, which are associated with some disadvantages. Although the dimensions of the transistors are negligible current and relatively low price, they are still ineffective, and consume a substantial part of the electricity. In addition, they are working around the clock, regardless of the night and day rates for electricity. DC networks are more practical.

It was during these hard to overestimate the role of the USB-interface through which the transmission of direct current, and data. In other words, they can help to prioritize between devices that do not only consume electricity, but also to provide it to others. For example, by means of rechargeable laptop smartphone.

In standard USB PD and low-voltage DC networks have several advantages. First, the energy transfer is possible in both directions. For example, connected to the laptop via USB cable, external battery, which is charged as long as both devices are connected to the network can transmit the charge in the opposite direction when the laptop is disconnected from the network. Second, the low-voltage DC ideally work in tandem with solar panels and this can benefit both private homes and small offices.

Resource The Economist reports that the disposal of Moixa is more than a dozen projects to revitalize DC networks. Several prototypes USB-plugs have been successfully operated in one of London’s theaters and the Science and Technology Park Nupharo in the Czech Republic.

This month, a special conference, during which they discussed issues related to the promotion of low-voltage networks in developing countries. DC systems that store solar energy in these countries can become irreplaceable.

The first devices with interface USB PD will be on sale in 2014, and by 2015, the standard may be accepted, – said Brad Saunders, the head of the consortium USB 3.0 Promoter Group, engaged in the development and promotion of the new standard USB.

Standard USB PD can blend in with the items from the world of “Internet of things”, as will satisfy the need for the devices as a power and data exchange. According to preliminary information, it will be different from today’s USB interfaces by additional contacts and maintain backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

Mr. Ajay Bhatt in the process of developing a removable USB-cable. In other words, a separate cable, connector separately.

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Alternative to Google

As we know, Google unveiled its tablet Google Nexus 7 of the second generation, the display of which is almost identical to the famous Retina-display of Apple. However, the main difference lies in the fact that the tablet from Google is worth $ 100 less. And if the second generation of the company will introduce a device that even at the cost of more than $ 100, can not get ahead of the decision of Google in terms of the display, it is hardly pleasant to affect sales of the new device.

In theory, one could argue, saying that the choice of iPad Mini you are paying for quality materials, but on the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, they display?

Display – almost the most important thing in the device

I think no one would think to deny it. Display – this is something with which we come into contact more often when using the device. That is why the display should be on the most decent level. And of course, Apple should take this into account, producing not the best solution on the market.

Buyers concerned about the finished product

If you think about it, customers do not care how the producer receives money from your device, and this is important if we compare the cost of the iPad and Google Nexus 7 of the second generation.

What are the differences? And those that Google has already made the mistake of trying to earn money for their services and advertising, which are actively used in the Google Nexus 7. Apple prefers to make money is to sell the device with the “technical” point of view. That is, they are not trying to cash in on those services that are offered with the device. They prefer to make a profit on the profitable sale of the device relative to the price that was worth all the parts, assembling the device, and so on. But it is very difficult to forget about how much money the company brings services and iTunes App Store.

Therefore, ask to Apple about her to do the same at the price of the device, but with Retina display – it is wrong, but to ask that for the same money we could get a device with a Retina display – completely.

What would you like to see in the new iPad? For example, I would not give up new solutions in terms of housing or to availability pay for purchases in iTunes with one touch finger, that is, the availability of Touch ID in the new iPad Mini.

According to the materials gottabemobile.com

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In augmented reality glasses Google Glass, Android and other products the search giant could soon appear more Kinect-like functionality.

Implement its plans by Google to help develop a startup Flutter, founded with the support of the venture fund Y Combinator, which now joins a growing list of acquisitions the search giant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but given the cost – about $ 40 million

The first and only product Flutter is an application which allows you to track and recognize gestures with devices equipped with a webcam.

Flutter company confirmed the deal and said that is not going to stop existing developments. Currently the application is available in the Flutter Mac App Store.

It should be noted that in the first two weeks of the availability of the application Flutter in the Mac App Store, it downloaded more than 1 million users. Of the 90 countries in which it has been available in 14 Flutter almost immediately became the first in the list of the most popular.

For August, the developer planned to announce a new product, and there is now a clear reason why it was delayed. It is possible that it was a Windows-version of the application or Flutter extended version, aimed at owners of the Mac.

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Smart TVs for already a couple of years haunt buyers. And it seems to me, do not give something else – the answer to the question “What will happen to the TV as a device, then?” But the latest software update for Apple TV at number six gives a hint of a more elegant way of development and response to what awaits interested in this issue in the future.

There are opinions, many of them (and I them, in general, support) that the so-called “smart” TVs, as a device for viewing content, developed in a completely wrong direction. If you’ve spent enough time at one of these “child prodigy screens” from any leading manufacturer, odds are you have experienced some, to put it mildly, mixed feelings on the interface, the control method and the quality of the decision. Basically, of course, claim to an interface, rather, an approach to its implementation.

Manufacturers such as Samsung and LG, partly to blame for the fact that embedding some advanced features to their telemonstry and thus extending some opportunities, incredibly complicated the use of the device. If you do not have a pair of three free hours to set up this TV to just figure out how it works, you will not be able to use most features built into it. In fact, everything is simple: what is going on, can be called “a sign of cultural marketing” – to invent and shove a bunch of unnecessary features, and then build the whole advertising strategy around it.

Added features and functionality! Added even more features and functionality! And now we have added a control system view, it is useful to you, without it can not be!

We just give the idea. And really – it’s an arms race between manufacturers. And it’s a battle for survival, of course, for those to whom it may be important to those concerned.

Infrastructure bundles iTunes-iCloud, created by Apple, gives some hope for a brighter future, a more elegant solution. While the Apple TV interface, in general, is far from the excesses AirPlay technology shows an alternative, and I think the correct direction of TV devices. Fundamentally speaking, when I use the iPad for viewing via AirPlay to Apple TV, set-top box does not require me to download content from the web, in fact, the device is able to recognize the type of content that I like, and give it to obtain flow directly from the servers of Apple. At the same time, the iPad is free for other tasks that you can do something else.

Now about smart TVs.

Smart TV requires that all that is done, it was done on the screen. Navigating the menu, some settings, the choice of interesting content – all of this have to do with the remote on the TV, and it seems to be like the best, fast and convenient for today. The fact that I now hold in your hands, in six months or a year will be outdated useless thing, because there will be new, even faster, convenient and multifunctional devices, other models, the next generation! But unless someone changes the TV every year?

«More EQ, less IQ». In fact, the TV like device that does not need such a large number of functions. It would be better improved picture quality and sound, it is far more important for the buyer. The TV must be a high-quality screen with good picture and sound pleasant, and not a substitute for a computer. I know where to take that view, and the task of the TV – show me that. And just Apple TV there is competition, both in terms of convenience, since the size and cost. Especially if you have already formed the habit of “multi-tasking”, just the presence of Apple TV does not prevent to do several things at once.

Everyone has a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop or computer. And those functions that is in today’s “smart” TVs are simply not necessary, in any case, they do not give a tenth of the opportunities that can be done with, for example, iPad and Apple TV. iPhone or iPad constantly on hand, what is needed in this case the TV remote? In this case, need only a picture and sound, and not fancy and functional fat nedokompyuter. Really push the buttons on the remote control easier and more enjoyable than doing the same on the screen iPad?

Apple TV and AirPlay device as the technology are now in the initial stage of its development, at least at this very hopefully. And I do not think Apple will miss a piece of the “pie”, taking into account the jump in the number of new supported services such as iTunes Radio , iTunes Match , the sports channel MLB, News Wall Street Journal Live, music videos Qello TV, even Anime Crunchyroll. Of course, all this is really the presence of devices with a minimum mark of Apple, bought in a store, but you need the iPad is not just for watching TV. As always, Apple provides an alternative view, and implements other than the usual approach to things. And such an approach, as well, and always a little better than the competition. The path of development of “smart” TVs – a road to nowhere, and the development of television direction Apple – is the creation of a new ecosystem. And, probably, it will be called Apple Smart TV. Although, who knows.

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As we all know, recently, Apple introduced iPhone 5s, one of the main innovations of which was the new processor, but the processor is not idle, and 64-bit! But since most people are 64 bit vs 32 bit is only two times more, today we would like to talk about what is actually receive the users, that is, you and I, of this revolutionary innovations in the seventh generation iPhone.

To start kratenko: first, a 64-bit processor is simply a great performance: in theory, a two-time increase productivity and speed, but in practice, we get about 15-30% of the increase. Secondly, applications that leverage a 64-bit processor, more optimized use of its resources, as well as RAM. A perfect example is, of course, are the games.

Now just about the complex. To understand the difference between a 64-bit processor 32-bit, let’s turn to the thought experiment: Let’s say that we have a librarian who has 32 ​​assistant, but in a neighboring building has a more “pumped” librarian who has 64 assistant. 

Working at the library is as follows: the librarian must be some books say about dinosaurs, and all the helpers on a journey through the library, returning every single volume. Obviously, the second librarian will get their books in half the time, because the assistants he twice. Far from it.

Let’s come professor of paleontology and asked about the 65 books of the Paleozoic era in both libraries. How to act in the first library: books assistants sent to seek and bring 32 books, then again, and then a third time, but coming back with a book. How to operate in the second library: books assistants sent to seek and bring 64 books, and then flee once more after the last book. Gain only 1/3.

But there are times when the growth really is 100%, for example, if we want 256 books will get their first librarian after 8 “taps” of his assistants, and the second after 4.

That’s like two librarians processors work 32 – and 64-bit architectures. Because the number of bits indicates how much information the processor can handle. I hope this is clear.

Go ahead

Moreover, there is a small advantage, which is known for literally everything: Available memory. The fact is, for a 32-bit limit of 4 GB, will not fly higher, more precisely, simply do not see it. And in this case it’s really for the future, to as many as memory devices of Apple away. It is also worth noting that Apple does not disclose the amount of RAM in their devices, but the iPhone 5 , for example, its 1GB.

To sum ​​up

So why still need a 64-bit processor, now and in the near future. Now – just for faster application performance, interface, and … perhaps, everything. In the future, it will bring the application to a new level, to use the device for more than 4 GB of RAM, and probably will make some new functions.

According to the materials independent.co.uk

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