TECHNOLOGY Virtual sparring partner will get Olympians ready
–One giant market–
A connected world Big tech companies have lofty visions of bringing the entire planet online ”I BELIEVE connectivity is a human and “likes” into a slimmer data package right, and that if we work together we is clear. To this end, Facebook is already can make it reality.” These were the trying to reduce average data usage on lofty ideals Facebook founder Mark its Android app from 12 Mb a day to 1 Mb. Zuckerberg revealed on 20 August, But the bigger question remains when he declared his intention to bring unanswered. How do you build a vast internet access to “the next 5 billion network to reach people who, in many people” – that is, the fraction of cases, can’t afford access to running humanity that currently lacks it. water, electricity or medical care? With tech giants like Ericsson, “The fundamental problem is Nokia, Samsung and Qualcomm as whether the infrastructure is in place. partners, Zuckerberg’s newly formed Do these countries have a ‘backbone’, Internet.org consortium looks to like BT fibre, which they can use?” asks have the corporate muscle to achieve Colin Beeke, a technology specialist at such a monumental vision. “Internet.org will have But the specifics, at least for the competition. Google has moment, are fuzzy. Zuckerberg’s its own plan for the 10-page statement talks of three developing world” broad objectives: making apps and other software more data-efficient; devising a way to make building access the University of West London. to the internet a profitable enterprise Partner companies could help here. in its own right; and at the same time Qualcomm, for example, based in San making online access affordable for Diego, California, makes chips for all – which effectively means “free”. wireless communication devices, and Making apps more efficient is the played a key role in devising the 3G and low-hanging fruit. Data compression 4G standards used by cellular algorithms – like those that create zip networks across the developed world. files – are used all the time. For The company predicts data demand companies like Facebook, which pay will grow 1000-fold over the next fees to transfer vast amounts of data decade. As it focuses on meeting around the internet, the incentive to those needs, it could find cheaper, squeeze down your photos, wall posts more efficient data transmission 22 | NewScientist | 31 August 2013
methods that could have a trickledown effect in the developing world. If that pans out, there is some evidence that content providers would be willing to make their products freely available to mobile users. Since 2010, Facebook has formed partnerships with mobile data providers in developing countries to “zero-rate” Facebook’s mobile traffic, so that it doesn’t count against users’ paid data plans. The Wikimedia Foundation has followed suit. Its Wikipedia Zero project allows people in several developing countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, to read the Wikipedia online encyclopedia in their native language without being billed for the data. Of course, every company wants an opportunity to grow its market, and Internet.org will have competition. Google has its own lofty plan for the developing world: Project Loon involves floating thousands of balloons about 20 kilometres up in the stratosphere and beaming down Wi-Fi signals to otherwise unconnected regions. It may sound like pie in the sky, but they are ahead of Internet.org. In a test in June, Project Loon flew 30 balloons over New Zealand, allowing a few lucky locals to get online, absolutely free. Jack Flanagan n
A VIRTUAL reality tae kwon do simulator could help the UK Olympic team train with minimal risk of injury. Aerospace firm BAE Systems of Warton, UK, is developing the simulator to help with preparations for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Using depth-camera-based motion sensors and eye-gaze trackers, the simulator will pit the fighter against a virtual opponent that reacts realistically to every attack and parry. It will do this, says project leader Kelvin Davies, by drawing on the firm’s experience designing battleship and combat flight simulators, which use predictive algorithms to produce smart adversaries. Davies’s team is considering three types of display for the simulator: a VR headset, a single-screen projected display, or a full holodeck in which the user is surrounded by projected imagery. Because the fighter’s movements will be captured in minute detail, the system will also allow for post-training analysis. The simulator is part of BAE’s broader involvement with the national organisation UK Sport, to aid the country’s top athletes. The firm has also designed faster carbon-fibre wheelchairs for Paralympians, and skeleton sleds.
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