Who’d have thought. As a technology advocate, I’d be suggesting you switch your tech off for a while?
Well… I am.
Bal… are you going crazy?
No, not in the slightest. I am noticing that we are ever so becoming more and more dependent on technology – and yes, we’re surrounded by it. But I’ve written/blogged about it before. We should always take a break from it. And there’s some method behind the madness (of what I’m suggesting!)
Firstly, when you take a break from the tech – you’ll appreciate it more when you come back to it.
Secondly, when you take a break from tech – and when you come back, you can be more focussed on what you need that tech to do or what you want from it. Make it work for you.
Thirdly, when you take a break from tech – you’ll notice other things. What I mean about this is – you won’t be scrolling and seeing a device – when you look up you may notice something different, something unique, something that then gives you an idea! (you may need to return to tech to then progress – but take that break).
We now have smart cars, smart homes, smart tv’s, smart watches, smart… well, everything is becoming smart! And that’s with the advancement of technology. Which is great. Because it’s meant to be quicker and easier to do things. That’s what smart means, right? – the smarter something is, the quicker or easier it is to do something.
But I’ve noticed that whilst there’s alot of talk about AI (Artificial Technology) – we’re very reliant on technology to do the basics for us or become, dare I say it… lazy (er).
I’m sat at my macbook writing this blog. I’ve not written for a long time. Yesterday, I met a friend of mine – Craig. We had a coffee. No device in sight. For an hour. It was great. We had lots of ideas and things we want to do. The great thing then was, we picked up our phones, made notes. Productivity. On your mobile phone, you can see what you have used your phone for… productivity, social media, etc… Have a look at the data – and what it’s telling you.
Data-led decisions can then enable you to be more productive.
Data-led decisions can then help you be more adventurous.
So, maybe it is time to switch off for a while – take a break and look out the window for inspiration.
I thought this morning – there’s alot going on in the world of Technology and I haven’t had the opportunity for a while to share with you all what’s going on, how it’s all going… and most importantly, which bit of tech that really matters to you! So here we go…
First up, the new iPhone 15
Now, there’s been alot of hype over the iPhone 15 but in all honesty, I’m not seeing the huge leap that I was expecting.
Yes, it’s got a quicker processor.
Yes, the camera technology has improved.
Yes, the operating has some new cool features.
Yes, the charging port has changed to USB C.
Yes, it’s the new iPhone with an improved dynamic island user interface.
But should you upgrade?
Well, depends what you have now. The camera tech, to be fair has improved considerably. So if you’re rocking an 11 or 12, then yes! I would say definitely upgrade. If you’ve got a 13 or 14… depends if you need the speed (new processor makes it faster than before) and images (if you want a much better camera) then yes, upgrade. If you’re on the fence on these items… then you could wait or think about what other tech you could get.
Next up, what if you’ve got a Samsung?
The new Samsung Galaxy S23 has been accidently leaked in an image.
The leak comes from an image posted on the Galaxy Buds FE page found on Samsung Argentina’s website. Eagled-eyed Samsung watchers have spotted the date of Wednesday, October 4th in the notifications bar of the Tab S9 FE
Unfortunately, I don’t know much more at this time… but will share more as and when there’s more information shared. But for the Samsungers amongst us, this would be interesting for sure…
And finally, (not phone related)… AI Alexa!
Amazon has announced plans to incorporate Generative AI into its Alexa digital assistant.
Alexa is arguably the most popular virtual assistant. Still, like Siri, it uses natural language processing (NLP), a branch of AI that helps systems understand and naturally respond to human speech. However, these assistants are limited and trained to respond to patterns with pre-determined scripts or replies that need to be processed. That is, until now.
Currently, Alexa can recite a bedtime story for your kids. With the addition of Gen AI, Alexa would be able to produce unique stories each time, complete with your kids’ names for the characters and genres.
Essentially, generative AI would make Alexa smarter. This also means that Alexa would be able to answer open-ended questions without resorting to an internet search or an “Alexa answers contributor”.
Personally, I think that’s quite awesome – but also scary on the other hand because what you feed into GenAI helps it build it’s knowledge so becareful with any sensitive information you may be talking about!
So that’s a wrap folks! A quick Sunday (Tech) Summary of a few tech bits from the past week or so.
I’ll share some more in a few weeks… And like always, if you have any questions, you can always reach out to me on my socials or via this blog!
Well, it sure has been a while! – I know… apologies. It’s just, it’s been super busy recently and I haven’t been able to dedicate the time I’d like to my blog. I’ve made a promise to myself (after a few people asked me why I’m not blogging anymore) that I will blog more.
Bal, where have you been and what you been doing?
Well… I was over in Nashville, USA for a week for the first week of May, then I was at the Gartner conference (in London) for a few days. And I’m not sure if this is a reason or not, but my Nottingham Forest needed a huge win against the table topping (until Man City took over), Arsenal… and Forest being Forest, beat them – which meant they’re in the English Premiership for another season!
So now I’ve a little more relaxed, I’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham next Sunday (June 4th) at around 6.30pm (but look out on my socials for the exact time) to talk about Tech! – that’s right, back to my, every two months’, BBC Radio interview where I’m asked what’s the latest and what’s happening.
Whilst there’s so much going on… honestly, everything from AI (ChatGPT) – if you’ve not heard about that, I’ll blog about it very soon! to all things robots and how the world is going to be taken over by bots!
However, what’s even more important than all that is what Mr Musk is up to…
Elon Musk’s brain-chip firm says it has received approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to conduct its first tests on humans.
The Neuralink implant company wants to help restore vision and mobility to people by linking brains to computers.
It says it does not have immediate plans to start recruiting participants. Mr Musk’s previous ambitions to begin tests came to nothing.
So what is Neuralink, Bal?
Neuralink hopes to use its microchips to treat conditions such as paralysis and blindness, and to help certain disabled people use computers and mobile technology.
The chips – which have been tested in monkeys – are designed to interpret signals produced in the brain and relay information to devices via Bluetooth. Experts have cautioned that Neuralink’s brain implants will require extensive testing to overcome technical and ethical challenges if they are to become widely available.
So whilst the reasons makes sense… the question is, what also will these chips do and once we all have them in our brain!
Now its website promises that “safety, accessibility and reliability” are all priorities during its engineering process. Its initial aim was to start planting chips in human brains in 2020, in order to honour a pledge made the year before. It later vowed to get started in 2022 – so safe to say there’s been delays, but it’s definitely coming!
So I’ll wrap it up today with the question… would you have a microchip in your brain?
Well… technically, there’s nothing ‘big’ for 2023 – but alot of progress and enhancements of what is already out there.
I thought I’d share my Top Five Big Things for 2023!
Artifical Intelligence (AI) Everywhere
Spoken about AI before but in 2023, it’s going to take a major leap. Why is that? – because it will become real in organizations. No-code AI, with its easy drag-and-drop interfaces, will enable any business to leverage its power to create more intelligent products and services.
AI will also augment nearly every job in every business process across industries. More retailers will use AI to manage and automate the complex inventory management processes that happen behind the scenes, so convenience trends like buy-online-pickup-at-curbside (BOPAC), buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), and buy-online-return-in-store (BORIS), will become standard.
AI will also be the engine behind the newest autonomous delivery initiatives that retailers are piloting and rolling out, and more and more retail workers will need to get used to working alongside machines to do their jobs.
Digital and Physical Worlds coming closer
We’re already seeing an emerging bridge between the digital and physical worlds, and this trend will continue in 2023. There are two components of this merger: digital twin technology and 3D printing.
Digital twins are virtual simulations of real-world processes, operations, or products that can be used to test new ideas in a safe digital environment. Designers and engineers are using digital twins to recreate physical objects inside virtual worlds, so they can test under every conceivable condition without the high costs of real-life experiments. In 2023, we’ll see even more digital twins, from factories to machinery to cars to precision healthcare.
After testing in the virtual world, engineers can tweak and edit components, then create them in the real world using 3D printing technology.
For example, Formula 1 teams currently collect data transmitted from sensors during races, as well as race track temperatures and weather conditions, to see how cars change during races. Then they stream the data from the sensors to digital twins of the engines and car components and run scenarios to make design changes on the fly. The teams then 3D print car parts based on the results of their testing.
Green Technology
One of the biggest challenges the world is facing right now is putting the brakes on our carbon emissions so we can tackle the climate crisis.
In 2023, look for continued progress around green hydrogen, a new clean-burning source of energy that produces close to zero greenhouse gas emissions. Shell and RWE, two major European energy companies, are creating the first major green pipeline from wind plants in the North Sea.
Robots more Human-like
In 2023, robots will become even more like humans — in appearance and capability. These types of robots will be used in the real world as event greeters, bartenders, concierges, and companions for older adults. They’ll also perform complex tasks in warehouses and factories as they work alongside humans in manufacturing and logistics.
One company is working hard to create a human-like robot that will work in our homes. At Tesla AI Day in September 2022, Elon Musk revealed two Optimus humanoid robot prototypes, and said the company would be ready to take orders within the next 3 to 5 years. The robot can perform simple tasks like lifting items and watering plants — so perhaps soon we’ll be able to have “robot butlers” that help around in the house.
Sustainable Technology
Finally, we’ll see a push toward more sustainable technology in 2023. Many (if not most) of us are addicted to technology like our smartphones, tablets, and computers — but where are the components coming from to manufacture our favorite gadgets? People will be thinking more about where rare earth components for things like computer chips originate and how we’re consuming them.
And moreso, where can we use/upgrade/renew technology to further it’s life. Even the Head of Sustainability at BMW said we should look at using older cars – and have a mechanism in place to update and renew parts quickly and cost effectively.
So there you go – my Top Five.
Any things you’re thinking that in 2023 will hit us from a Technology perspective?
Off course… I left out some obvious items, such as what Elon is doing over at Twitter and a few other items because they’re more specific and all depends how much some of these billionaires throw at their projects.
For me – Point 5, sustainability is key. That’s the most important one. And in one of my up and coming blogs – I’ll talk about repair cafe’s that are popping up, and ways to be more concious about the environment when it comes to tech.
I’m sat at my dining table this Sunday morning. It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post, and after a busy summer… and after a few busy weeks talking to people about tech and some of the headwinds approaching – thought it’d be appropriate to share my thoughts.
Everything is getting expensive. We know this. Prices of essentials (food, energy, etc…) are increasing. With this in mind, it’s good to do a review of your technology landscape.
What devices do you have/own – and what do you use.
Now, usually… we’d have our phone, maybe a tablet (iPad or an Android version), and some more. It’s that ‘some more’ that we need to focus on. Do we have old phones in the drawer that we don’t use?
Now would be a good time to have a clear out.
But remember… delete and reset the device! The last thing you want is something else having your information and data. Delete your profiles and information… then reset the device. Hard reset. Delete the device (factory reset) if you have the option.
The reason to have a look at what you own and what you use is because, devices have evolved so much – that one or two devices will do what several used to do.
I know this was rapidly increased a while back – but even today, some of our phones and devices are so good and have so much built in, it makes you think… do I need anything else?
We’ll see more of the above.
In fact, we’re seeing it now. New cars can be controlled from your phone. Home heating systems can be controlled from your phone.
What else do you think can be done from your from today (or in the next few years?)
So when you have the opportunity, summarise what you own and what you use. Then start to clear out. Sell devices or items you don’t use any more – invest that money you get to upgrade or have something newer that will last you a few extra years.
It’s been a few weeks, since I shared that I was on the local Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) committee, as the Youth and Community Officer. I’ll still be honest, not something I wanted to do, but once I said yes… it was full steam ahead. And I’ll be sharing my progress here – I’ll put it under the category YCO!
So… with the mindset I have, I asked the sangat (folk who attend the Gurdwara), if they had any ideas to increase community engagement and/or help with the youth who attend. Lots of great ideas… but also, comments and ‘things’ they want fixed.
It’s great – looking forward, but sometimes, you need to fix what you have before you can move forward.
Let me give you an example. There’s a projector and screen in the main hall. And it’s not worked for several years. Many want it to work. They want to read the hymns. It’s these small things. So, I enquired. It’s all run from a laptop (so this is on my list of ‘things to do’ – get the laptop running, make sure the screen works and hook it all back up!)
BAU – Business As Usual. (in the below Horizon 1)
(Yes – I did have to put a technology spin on this).
So whilst we are on the Horizon 1 (BAU), there’s an element of the Horizon 2 and 3 – looking to the future, and more importantly being aware of the disruption points.
And bringing this back to the Gurdwara.
So I’ve started doing some basics… such as, taking over their social media.
I started an Instagram Account and started to post more on their Facebook account.
The results…
253% Increase in Post Reach!
189% Increase in Post engagements.
19% Increase in New Page Likes.
It’s all about the engagement. More photo’s. More videos.
Instagram is growing also – with 182 accounts reached in the past 30 days!
You have to start somewhere.
Next up… (my recommendations) are… a website. Whilst I face many challenges to digitise the ways of working – we are definitely headed in the right direction. I’d also like to say Thank You – to all those who reached out to me, supported me, offered me advice and shared contacts of those who’ve been on a similar journey. It’s much appreciated.
So in summary, there’s 2 things…
Get Started – I took over the social media and had an impact. It’s great talking… it’s better doing!
Remember the 3 Horizons… and make sure you’re not on the H1 Trajectory for a long time, because H2 and H3 will take over…. It’s important to fix the basics but then move onto more innovative solutions, where possible.
I don’t really share a lot on here, what else I do… Well, I kind of do with the football – but this blog mainly focuses on technology, new things that can help in life and a few motivational quotes to get you thinking about life.
So, I’m going to do something here – which may, or may not work. I’m going to share, (on a regular basis), success (however limited it may be), within a new volunteer role I’ve recently accepted.
The local Sikh Temple, had some ‘openings’ for local volunteers… so they could be part of the ‘management committee’. Every two years, the Sikh Temple holds elections – but this time, they had enough people to go ahead without elections. One of those people, who had their name put forward… was me! So, cut long story short… I’m the Youth and Community Liaison Officer for the Ramgarhia Sikh Temple, Nottingham.
Now… let’s be honest. Many of you will go to Google, and type it in to understand a bit more about what Bal has got himself into…
And so… you’ll quickly notice, they have a presence on Facebook… (who doesn’t!), and a few other websites share some information. But no website of their own….
Online presence is so important. For an organization. To communicate.
And I’ll be honest, there is soooooo much to communicate. In addition, your website provides the organisation with so much more….
So… as I mentioned as the start of this blog post, I’ll be sharing more on this journey of mine with you. First things first, is to understand the current landscape and the Sikh Temple’s Online presence. Then it’s about enhancing those channels and communicating more, providing options and most importantly… being clear what the Sikh Temple provides.
We often do over look the basics. Because we don’t know how to go about it. Because we don’t know where to start. Because we don’t understand the importance of it. Because…. there’s so many reasons. But the key thing here is, this is a journey and we are all going to be on it – yes, you included! As you’re reading this… I’ll ask you to be part of the journey!
So, I’m armed with my 30/60/90 Day plan.
And I’ll keep you updated!
(Once I’ve shared my plan with the Management Committee – I’ll for sure share it back here, and share the feedback I get!)
My earliest memory of it was, when I newly into a role… and the manager (GM) had a blackberry. We were on the shop floor (manufacturing company) and he asked me if I’d seen a particular note from another senior person. I said, no. He instantly, pulled his blackberry out – and said, it’s in your inbox, have a look and walked off.
Wow. The power in his hands at that moment!
I rushed up a flight of stairs, to the office, and put the laptop on and had a look for the email – and rightly so, it was there! Read the email and replied and knew what was happening.
It was rather ground-breaking.
Having the power to do your emails on the go. Not having to get to the laptop. Not having to run up a flight of stairs. Nope… none of that. In the palm of your hands – you could be quicker, simpler and empowered (to a certain extent) to make decisions and get work done!
What was your first memory of the BlackBerry phone? (if you’re old enough to remember them!)
But… we know what happened to the trusted BlackBerry device. Don’t we?
You’ll have heard, it’s the End of the Road for them.
Sales have been plummeting for a while. Every since Apple and other devices didn’t use physical buttons, every since other devices had better integrations with other applications and then the whole eco-system between devices (laptops, phones, tablets, etc…)
BlackBerry stuck with their unique selling point – the physical buttons. And to be honest, there were some die-hard fans that loved them. But the problem was, technology moved on so much… that honestly, there were other features that were more important than having the physical buttons. And on top of that, we all got used to the simplicity.
Simplicity of the screen.
Unfortunately, BlackBerry didn’t advance. They didn’t innovate. They stayed as they are.
And the other strand to this is… people aren’t sending as many emails as they used to previously.
We have more chat functionality. (Yes you had that on blackberry – but it was limited).
We have MS Teams. We have Slack. We have Whatsapp. We have all the social media platforms – Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, etc…
Let’s be honest, who has the time today to read long emails. It’s quicker and easier to send a quick message.
I think this only proves one point. It’s not the strongest of the species that survive…
Blackberry/RIM’s revenue from fiscal year 2004 to 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)
… it’s those, who are most adaptable to change.
Unfortunately, BlackBerry, like Blockbuster, like Kodak… just didn’t adapt to the change. Didn’t innovate. We know companies like Apple have that innovative spirit built within…
Look at the two graphs from 2011 to 2013. Blackberry’s huge decline and Apple’s huge increase in sales.
I’m sure there’ll be many who are emotional about BlackBerry being no more… and I’m sure they’ll tweet/share their sorrows via their Apple or Android device. Basically, their non-BlackBerry device.
In the middle of November and someone told me, Christmas is nearly upon us!! Wow… have to admit, this year has gone super quick!
Not to dribble on about what’s been happening this year for me (I’ll save that for another day), but here’s my Top Two Tech Stories from this Week!
First up… AI in Greece!!
Ancient Olympia is to be digitally preserved, in a new deal between the Greek government and Microsoft.
The collaboration uses artificial intelligence to map the site, and augmented reality to help restore the original home of the Olympic Games.
It will allow viewers to explore the area as it stood more than 2,000 years ago.
Microsoft has ambitions to rival Facebook with its own plans for the so-called metaverse.
It recently announced Microsoft Teams metaverse for meetings and is keen to transform Minecraft and other games it owns into more immersive 3D worlds.
Its tie-up with the Greek government means people can tour the site remotely or in person with an augmented-reality mobile app. At the Olympic Museum in Athens they can use HoloLens headsets to overlay a digital version of the site.
Microsoft’s augmented reality smart glasses HoloLens use multiple sensors, advanced optics, and holograms, to display information, blend with the real world or simulate a virtual world.
Among the 27 monuments to be preserved are the original Olympic Stadium, the temples of Zeus and Hera, and the workshop of the renowned sculptor Phidias.
The buildings are as close as possible to their original forms and include historical timelines of the site’s changes over time, and depictions of artefacts from each period.
Through its AI for Cultural Heritage initiative, Microsoft partnered technology company Iconem, which specializes in digitising historic sites in 3D.
Using on-the-ground cameras and drones to take hundreds of thousands of images of the site, Microsoft AI then processed the pictures to create models.
“The cultural implications of this technology are endless. For the first time, visitors from around the world can virtually visit the birthplace of democracy, the ancient site of Olympia, and experience history first hand,” said the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft said: “The project to digitally preserve Ancient Olympia is a stunning achievement in cultural heritage, bringing together humanity and cutting-edge technology to benefit the world, and empower coming generations with new ways to explore our past.”
2. Up next… Beware and watch out for those scams!
A grandfather has told of how he lost money saved for Christmas presents after his family were duped by fraudsters on WhatsApp.
The 75-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, said they had been tricked by criminals posing as his grand-daughter on the messaging service.
He transferred £1,550 to the con-artists, for an emergency medical bill that was a fake.
WhatsApp and trading standards officers are warning others of the scam.
Fraudsters posing as the young student sent a message to her father, saying she had a case of haemorrhoids that she was embarrassed to talk about.
Subsequent messages suggested that she needed money for private medical care and asked for the money to be transferred directly.
The correct spelling of her unusual name helped convince the family it was genuine, and her grandfather agreed to pay the supposed bill.
Attempts to contact her directly failed, as the calls went straight to an answerphone.
Only after the money was paid did they get through to her, and realised they had been tricked.
“You feel such a fool,” her grandfather said. “I was angry that I was able to be duped.
“You get used to these scam calls, but they are getting quite clever. I used to run my own business, so if they can fool people like me, a lot of very vulnerable people will be in trouble.”
He is trying to get the money refunded from his bank, but so far they have said their fraud checks were sufficient and have refused to reimburse him.
Surveys have suggested that 59% of those asked had received a message-based scam attempt in the last year.
Younger age groups, who were more likely to text than call, were said to be more exposed to these kinds of scams.
So stay careful – and if it doesn’t seem to be right, or if you haven’t spoken to the person – double/triple check, what you’re doing is the right thing.
There you go… my Top Two Tech Stories of the week…. AI is preserving Ancient Olympia and Whatsapp Scams getting more clever!
Another busy week on the ol’ tech front! – but let’s not hang around and dive straight into my Top Two Tech Stories of the week!
First up – starting and selling companies!
British entrepreneur Nick D’Aloisio, who sold the mobile app Summly to Yahoo for $30m (£21.73m) at the age of 17, has sold his latest company to Twitter.
The Sphere group chat app was founded by Mr D’Aloisio and Tomas Halgas.
Sphere, which connects strangers interested in common topics, has been sold for an undisclosed amount and will close in November.
Its 20 or so staff will join Twitter to integrate their community features into the social network.
The company started as a question and answer app that allowed users to instantly chat to paid experts. At the end of 2018, almost 500,000 people were using that version of the platform.
However, Mr D’Aloisio said he found himself drawn to the community aspect of the app which brought strangers interested in the same topics together.
“What was interesting was that people were talking so often throughout the day, and it wasn’t just talking to their friend on Facebook, but someone they had not met before about something they were interested in,” he told the BBC.
As a result, the app slowly pivoted toward a focus on group chats.
Sphere’s features include the ability to:
create multiple chats for a single group
send highlighted announcements so no-one in a group misses anything
send notifications to individuals or just those yet to read a message
“A lot of the messenger apps that exist are catered toward groups that already know each other, but with Sphere, the aim was to unlock new dynamics and bring together people around the world with shared interests.”
Mr D’Aloisio said he was struck by the toxicity on platforms like Reddit, Facebook, Twitch and Twitter, which has been widely criticised about its handling of harassment and trolling.
2. Most shops going till-less!
The Tesco Express on High Holborn looks identical to thousands of others across the country. But inside there are no tills and no self-checkout machines. Instead you scan a QR code on your phone to gain entry, and a complex system of cameras and weighted shelves figures out what you have picked up. Once you’re done you just walk out and your phone (eventually) buzzes to tell you how much you’ve spent.
Yes – we’ve been here before – with the Amazon shop that was opened, but looks like Tesco are using the new technology and many more will be doing so too!
“It creates like an exoskeleton image of you and follows you around and knows what products you have bought,” Bilal explains – the store assistant. “But don’t worry, it’s not recording you and we don’t know who you are.”
Big retailers around the world reckon the technology in use at this Tesco GetGo store on High Holborn will revolutionise shopping and could account for $400bn (£290bn) of transactions within five years, according to analysts at Juniper Research.
The Holborn shop is new but Tesco has been trialling the technology at an Express outlet at its headquarters in Welwyn Garden City since 2019. That was two years before Amazon launched the first of its similar “till-less” stores in the UK.
Aldi is preparing to open its first checkout-free store in Greenwich. Morrisons is testing its own vision of the technology, codenamed Project Sarah, at its Bradford headquarters and has plans to quickly roll out dozens of small stores at busy locations.
So get ready to see no tills, just walk in – get what you want and walk out. This is the future.
So there you go… from an alternative to the usual social media platforms to till-less shopping!
