Author: Chika Wonah Page 7 of 9

New Technology: 3D Printing Pen

On June 18, 2019

New technology is always emerging and reaching new revolutions. Every day there are new products coming the market that was once believed to not be possible. Recently, a 3D printing pen hit the market and has taken the tech world by storm. The new product is perfect for all ages and is very easy to use:

What is a 3D Printing Pen?

The 3D pen was developed by 3Doodler and comes in a wide range of types, colors, and sizes. Each pen they have designed extrudes heated or warm plastic from the pen’s nozzle. The pen doesn’t require any software to work and there is no need to be a tech genius to be able to use it. A user simply thinks of something they would like to draw and get to work. They can use sketches or outlines to work with. All that is needed is a flat surface or paper to draw on. What makes the 3D pen truly unique is its ability to draw in midair to create 3D graphics and structures that users can pick up and hold in their hands once they’ve finished.

How it All Works

Inside the pen, there are plastic pushes that are able to feed plastic through the pen, melting it, and pushing the melted plastic out of a nozzle at the end of the pen. Depending on the type of material used, the pen can heat up at different temperatures. As the melted plastic leaves the pen, it is flexible and soft, which allows for an easy drawing. After a few seconds, the plastic hardens to create a 3D drawing. It becomes a stable and solid structure. From there, the imagination of the user takes over so they may create any design they can think of.

Materials Being Used

There are multiple materials used in the 3D pen that are interchangeable for the user. First-time drawers are encouraged to use ABS plastic, which is best for drawing in the air. The most popular material is PLA which is used for doodling on a surface and is very versatile. The most flexible material that keeps its flexibility after being dried is the FLEXY material. For more advanced material, there is WOOD, which made with real wood fiber and can be sanded when it has dried. The METAL material is made from real bronze and copper and can create sturdy and heavier structures. Finally, the NYLON material is very fabric-like and can be dyed to any desired color.

The 3D printing pen opens new doors to creativity. Users are able to bring designs to life and create whatever their imagination can think of.

What is Marketing Automation?

By Chika Wonah

On May 22, 2019

In Uncategorized

In the digital world, there are an increasing number of tasks that can be automated to help businesses large and small. Automation helps small business owners juggle a wider range of tasks and helps free up critical personnel in larger businesses for more important tasks. Marketing automation can help businesses large and small get the most from their marketing efforts. Here is an overview of what marketing automation is and how your business can use it effectively.

WHAT IS IT?

Most of us have had experience with at least a basic form of marketing automation from the user side. If you have ever searched for an item on the internet and then had ads for that product follow you around the internet, you are experiencing one aspect of marketing automation. Today, however, automation is becoming more and more sophisticated in terms of being able to target a much narrower and specific user base. In addition, advertising is growing more flexible, allowing it to be customized to the user.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

As the IoT grows and machine learning advances, artificial intelligence will become more capable of developing stunningly accurate profiles of individual users. For instance, the purchasing history of one consumer might show that they have a penchant for purchasing products that are available in red. Marketing automation would then automatically show that consumer products in red, where they might show another consumer products in beige or black.

DRAWBACKS TO MARKETING AUTOMATION

As much as we would like to believe that marketing automation will one day sell products or services all by itself, the truth is there is still plenty of marketing work to be done to make automation effective. For one thing, marketing automation is not a great tool for generating leads. Many businesses try to cut corners by simply purchasing email lists or take advantage of pre-cultivated leads. In truth, the best leads will always be those that you cultivate yourself. While marketing automation can be an effective tool for reaching potential new clients and consumers, it is still not a substitute for the hard work of personal client or consumer cultivation.

In short, while automated marketing certainly has some advantages, it doesn’t mean there is not ongoing work to be done. Even automated campaigns still need to be tweaked and fine-tuned to perfection before developing a new one.

3D Printing and Design: Digital to Physical

By Chika Wonah

On April 30, 2019

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology

3D printing is a growing technology that has already been used in a variety of industries from healthcare to construction. It involves designing a digital representation of an object, which is sent to a 3D printing machine. The result is a physical object that meets the specifications of the digital representation.
It’s essential to understand the process by which a 3D printer operates. It creates each object by building up layers, which means you have to have an underlying surface for it to build upon. Due to the angle at which the printer builds the object, it’s wise to limit any overhang on the surface material. The bottom layer of the object will have a rougher surface, which can affect the overhang.
Additionally, you will have to be conscious of the limitations of the printer. While you are unlimited in designing the digital representation of the object, there are restrictions to what can be printed. You will run into problems in attempting to print a layer that’s too thin, so try to make sure you have a thickness of at least 0.8 millimeters. This can help you avoid structural issues in printing your object.
When you print an object, the printer doesn’t create the object out of thin air. It uses material, which is superheated and melted, so that it can be scanned with a laser. Once the layer is formed, the printer cools the material until it hardens. Depending on the settings of your printer, and the project you are undertaking, this process can cause the material to warp. This is more common when printing large flat surfaces, though warping can be eliminated with the correct settings. As long as you have good surface adhesion between the print bed and your object, you should be able to print without the material warping.
Finally, the quality of your printer will determine how detailed you can get in designing your object. Each printer has a minimum feature size, and going beyond that capability may compromise the quality of the print job. It’s also wise to consider layer height in choosing the details of your object. These factors can help you create the ideal piece, but they also restrict what you can do with your printer. Additionally, keep in mind that more detailed objects will take longer to print, and will cost more to create.

The Technology Behind 3D Metal Printing

By Chika Wonah

On October 29, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology

Metal fabrication has been known to be an expensive undertaking as it uses a massive amount of energy and there is a large amount of waste that is left. Besides using much energy and leaving a considerable residue, the metal products made are 60% heavier than the actual products. This makes the products not to be useful in several industries, especially the aviation sector. This explains why the 3D metal printing came into existence.

However, recent innovations show that metal fabrication can be replaced with 3D metal printing technology. The accuracy of this technology makes it the most preferred method of making different metal objects. Less material and energy is used as compared to metal fabrication. The objects made are within an accuracy range of plus or minus one, which is acceptable across the industry. There is less waste in this technology that manufacturers can easily consider.

Few companies around the world have already started working in 3D metal printing technology. There is a movement from the traditional 3D plastic printers to a new model of printers that can print metal objects. Binder jetting is one of the most preferred 3D metal printers in the industry that many manufacturers are considering. Binder jetting is highly preferred as the leading 3D metal printer because it is material efficient when compared to other metal printing techniques.

The building chamber within the binder jet has to be filled with argon or another inert gas so that it can minimize the oxidation of the molten metal. The molten metal is spread quickly and efficiently with a thickness of about 50 microns, which depends on the properties of the metal and the object required. Additionally, the shape and size of the object under consideration must be considered when printing an object. This process makes a single layer, and it has to be repeated several times until the object is completed.

Although 3D metal printing is an expensive undertaking, there are new technologies that are currently being incorporated by manufacturing companies with the sole purpose of making the whole technology less costly. The innovation remains very expensive to consumers, but it is still useful to large-scale consumers such as manufacturing entities. 3D printing is essential, especially when prototyping process. However, enhancing accuracy and minimizing cost will bring this technology to other consumers in the industry.

How Bitcoin Can Impact the World

By Chika Wonah

On October 1, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology

The Bitcoin technology has the potential to revolutionize the way people manage and utilize money. It is known by its nature to fluctuate over time. If used well it can have a great impact on the current financial structure. One can earn money from Bitcoin by working in office, trading and exchanging other currencies. One can also earn by mining Bitcoins. Mining of Bitcoins happens in the virtual world. When you have Bitcoins, you can use it to buy and sell goods and exchange it with other currencies.

How Bitcoin Work

To deal with Bitcoins, you need to create a Bitcoin wallet. You can create this with some of the best Bitcoin payment service providers such as Bitpay and CoinBase. Quintal is offering this services for free. You can pay low fees and let these providers execute orders for you. Bitcoin wallets also provide storage services for wallet owners. One can store money in the form of Bitcoins in this accounts and use it for any transactions as long as the counterparty accepts Bitcoins too.

The speculative nature

The Bitcoin is valued speculatively. The primary currency can be used for selling or buying goods. They are not accepted yet for use in the world. There are fears that it has been used for illegal purposes such as gambling and drugs. For a person buying goods using Bitcoins, it can be a cheaper option when compared to the dollar. In 2013 for instance, it was traded above $1000. It has always been fluctuating ever since. It has however received an exponential growth in the present-day economy. Its current value is associated with a bubble burst. The Bitcoin improved in 2017 due to its popularity and advancement in technology. This shows a long-term potential for cryptocurrency adoption.

Tech giants investing in Bitcoins

The largest investment in Bitcoin started being witnessed in 2017. It raised the foundation for a better economy. It also increased opportunities in sectors such as mobile app development, financial sector, cybersecurity, and many others. Larger companies have taken a step to invest in Bitcoin. Tech companies such as Dell, Overstock, Expedia, Dish, and Microsoft now allows their customers to make payments with Bitcoins. The total number of merchants who accept Bitcoins has increased from 36,000 to 82,000. It is now possible to buy anything using the Bitcoins.

The total number of Bitcoin ATM around the world has increased to 340. The total amount of venture capital investment increased to $335billion from $98million. This has created a potential for future growth in this currency. Bitcoin also provides a technological platform that is fast and safe. It has therefore changed the ecosystem around the world’s financial economy. It is expected that its use and adoption will keep increasing with time.

2018 Breakthrough Technologies

By Chika Wonah

On August 22, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology, Uncategorized

With so many exciting new technological developments coming down the pipeline, 2018 sure is an exciting time to be alive. Computers and programming especially have been enjoying a rapid-fire pace of progress. Breakthroughs in all facets of the science and research communities have led to the following promising technologies.

Earbuds That Translate for You
If you’ve ever visited another country and felt panicked by the fact that you couldn’t understand the language, have no fear. Pixel Buds, which will be available at the very reasonable price of $159, will allow people to communicate with others who don’t speak their native tongue.

3D Printed Metal
For anyone who’s ever lamented the fact that their car’s parts need to be sent from overseas before being replaced, 3D printed metal promises to be a game-changer. Now, mechanics will—in theory—be able to print out the parts that your vehicle so desperately needs, saving both time and money.

Polygenic Risk Scores According to DNA
Sooner rather than later, parents of newborn babies will find themselves saddled with a report card almost immediately after their child’s birth! However, this report card will be based on the baby’s DNA stats, alerting parents to possible problems down the line. If a child is more prone to getting hooked on smoking, for instance, their parents will know about it ahead of time.

Smart Cities
Although some cities, such as Dubai, have been praised for their tech savvy skills, many are still running on old models. Quayside, a new Canadian project that is based in Toronto, may change all of that. And drivers won’t be able to enter this city; in fact, the only cars you’ll see will be autonomous ride shares! Open-source software will be powering this smart city, which means that other urban planners will be able to benefit from all of the knowledge gleaned from this dazzling experiment. With underground robots running mail underneath the city’s sidewalks, this is truly going to be a futuristic feast.

Universal AI
These days, it can be difficult to get your hands on some AI—unless you’re a big name company with deep pockets. But with a recent push to change that, businesses are now seeing the possible boon of allowing consumers to use AI to power their lives.

Bitcoin Breakdown

By Chika Wonah

On August 22, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology

The recent explosion of cryptocurrencies on the market as of late has left many people scratching their heads and saying, “Just what exactly is Bitcoin?” Though a full description of Bitcoin would take a lot more than a single blog post, here’s a short-but-sweet breakdown of the headlines’ crypto darling.

Bitcoin’s Anonymous Founder

Developed in 2008 by a still-anonymous person named Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was first developed as a software solution to electronic transfers in a burgeoning internet landscape. It Offered quick and efficient money services unmatched by current systems at the time. Bitcoin claimed it would revolutionize the financial industry and since then it has come pretty close.

Understanding the Blockchain

Every transaction made using Bitcoin is transparent and recorded on a universal ledger called the blockchain, and is updated every ten minutes. As the name implies, the transactions in those ten minutes form a “block” that is stacked on past blocks, forming a “chain” that is viewable by anyone. It, in turn, creates a checks and balances system making it a more secure and transparent option.

Transferring Bitcoin

Your bitcoins are stored in a virtual wallet that is accessible by using a private key that is known only by the primary user – which makes keeping that key safe a top priority. If you want to buy something or transfer bitcoins to someone else, you can send them to a specific wallet address, much like you would send an email. The transaction can take up to a few hours to process, but you can pay more bitcoin if you would like it to move faster.

Obtaining More Bitcoins

The most straightforward way to gain bitcoin currency is by buying it on an open trading platform like Coinbase, but with enough computing power, you can also mine them straight from the blockchain themselves. Every time your computer solves a specific mathematical problem, you’re rewarded with a certain amount of Bitcoins that you can use.

Advantages of Bitcoin

This highly volatile currency is one of the hottest trends in the financial sector today, primarily because it delivers a few distinct advantages. For starters, Bitcoin transactions are almost completely anonymous, which makes it ideal for people who want to transport large sums of money without a trace. Second, it’s universal, so you won’t have to pay any fees to send money across borders. Third, it’s trackable. Since the blockchain records everything, it’s possible for a government or user to verify proof the transaction itself, which can help with either taxes or to solve identity concerns.

Technology’s Impact on Hiring and Recruitment

By Chika Wonah

On April 24, 2018

In Chika Wonah, Digital, Technology

Burgeoning tech has been laying claim to multiple industries from real estate to insurance, and more recently technology began to disrupt our hiring and recruitment tactics. In the digital age, it’s no surprise that how people find openings and apply for jobs changed. Now the vast majority start their searches online with sites like Linkedin and Indeed, but the actual interview process itself is also changing. Portfolios all take place online, interviews originally happen via video and personality diagnostics are standard.

One Way Interviews

Interviews are typically two-sided. A few business representatives interview a potential hiree, and while the hiree wants to impress the business, it’s also a chance to field questions and get to know each other.

Tech poses to change that with the rise of video interviews. As Dave Lee describes, “Traditional interviews with an interviewer and interviewee could go by the wayside, too. Rather than a two-way interaction, job candidates will upload video responses to interview questions. New technology will detect non-verbal cues such as those facial expressions and tone while eliminating human bias.” Brands like Red Bull already hopped on board with video interviews. This added step tests the applicant’s ability to think on their feet while also working through potential red flags or false starts eliminating wasted time for recruiters. Then, once the cream rises, formal interviews can take place. As Rajpreet Heir highlights, “Not only does digital interviewing allow candidates and employers to connect earlier in the interviewing process, it also saves time and money. A study by OfficeTeam revealed that 63% of companies are using video interviews vs. 13% from 2011.”

Analytics and Diagnostics

Personality diagnostics are also increasingly popular as an inexpensive means to gauge fit and placement within a larger company. As Chamanpreet Singh says, “Data is critical in the digitisation of recruitment. It allows you to determine the effectiveness of any strategy implemented and will enable HRs to develop future recruitment strategies based on the metrics and measurements received. This data will give an insight into channels that can work for your company which means cutting down on time and expenditure.”

Building a Business-Savvy Brand

It’s important to remember that if you can find them, potential recruits can also find you. As a result, recruiting in the digital age requires a larger emphasis on companies’ online brands. People want to understand the company culture they throw themselves into. Show personality, but also be sure the image you portray is accurate. Top talent is going to do their research, and if your digital presence is non-existent or inaccurate, they won’t want to work with you. As Rachit Jain says, “Building a healthy working culture and employer brand is getting more important day by day. But most importantly, employers and recruiters have to adapt and move to the modern recruiting technology faster.”

Pro Tips for Keeping Your Crypto Safe

By Chika Wonah

On April 2, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Technology

Staying safe online is harder than ever, and the stakes are even higher when there’s money involved. Someone can easily make a fake Twitter account using your profile image and copied bio, and in the time it takes you to report the account, another person might have mistaken it as you and already transferred money to them. It’s an easy mistake to make if you’re not being vigilant, and unfortunately, as soon as you report one account, another can pop up in its place. To keep your cryptocurrency safely in your possession, these suggestions will help you do that:

Know the attack vectors.

You can’t protect yourself if you don’t know what you’re up against. Fake sites have gotten very good at mimicking their targets – so good that if you don’t double check the URL, you might not even know the difference.

Use strong passwords.

This might seem like a no-brainer for digital natives, but it’s worth repeating. Don’t use words like street names, birthdays, or song lyrics. But don’t randomly keyboard smash, either, because a) you’re not as random as a computer generator and b) you want to be able to keep track of your keystrokes, or else risk not being able to sign into your account anymore.

Use cold storage.

All “cold storage” means is offline and unattached or “air gapped,” which is to say, unconnected to your home network in any capacity. You can do this by removing the network card from your computer, or by buying a hardware wallet. If you’re feeling really cautious, you can cover your computer’s camera and microphone, and even remove all electronic devices from that room.

Test everything.

Make small transactions beforehand to make sure everything works. Never manually type in a url – it’s too easy to make a mistake that way, and could cost you a lot of money in errors. Copy/paste and QR codes are your best friends, though make sure your scanning app is reliable! Test your seed phrase on your hardware wallet; test the MD5 checksum before and after you load the SD card on your air gapped computer. Check everything. You can never been too careful.

Store your seed phrases in multiple places.

Your seed phrase is the string of 24 words that you can derive a private key from. You want to make sure your seed phrase stays secure at all times. For some, this means writing the seed phrase down on paper, in which case, it is recommended you make two copies and store them in separate places. SD cards are also an option, though they don’t tend to last more than five years and can be wiped by an EMP bomb. A combination of analog and digital methods is the best option. For the most cautious, they will split the seed phrase in parts and store those parts separately. If you do this, be sure to remember the order they go in, or else lose access to seed phrase altogether.

Plausible deniability.

Most simply, this means be able to keep some of the data hidden. Like in the physical world, you don’t want to advertise how much money is in your bank account, so don’t do it in the digital world, either. Also look into using multiple wallets rather than storing all of your currency in the same place.

Keep your environment safe.

Require two-factor authentication, and educate others on how to stay safe. Help the community at large by reporting fake sites and teaching the less tech-literate about why strong passwords are important. Not only are you keeping yourself protected, but you are also protecting others and paying that forward.

Is Blockchain the Face of the Next Google?

By Chika Wonah

On March 5, 2018

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Uncategorized

When we discuss blockchain, conversations usually surround the tech’s association with cryptocurrency, security and investing. In reality, this new tech is multifaceted and shows major implications for nearly every industry. When it comes to blockchain and cryptocurrency, news outlets can’t stop reporting on the potential promise. That being said, now people are asking big questions like could blockchain actually be the developments needed to create a search engine capable of overtaking google?

Google dictates much of our online searches with “nearly 80 percent of desktop and 95 percent of mobile searches” taking place on the program. That being said, a plethora of alternatives exist. The problem, of course, is that while some people use these tools, most cater to specific niche audiences, because Google has become a Goliath that many of the Davids of search engines aren’t ready to conquer. Enter blockchain. Given its clout in the tech field, many think it could be the answer to building a search engine capable of overcoming Google.

In terms of basic rising user trends, more people results in more reported problems, and Google users experience their fair share of flaws. Privacy remains the primary point of contention with centralized search engines. As BitClave describes, “With centralized search engines, your search data is recorded, your IP address is logged, and tracking cookies are used by centralized search engines to create a digital profile of you so they can target you with ads. Even worse, there’s no way to voluntarily opt out of this invasion of your privacy, and every time you type a keyword into a centralized search engine, you’re giving up information that puts you at risk.” Blockchain acts as the poster-child for privacy and discretion though. While heavily regulated given its infrastructure, the system manages to maintain a level of anonymity for its users.

Now the question becomes, how do we combine blockchain’s private network with a computing system that has the strength of Google? One program still in beta testing called Presearch, thinks they may have found the answer. As Shivdeep Dhaliwal explains, “Using Blockchain technology, Presearch plans to enable users to personalize their experience while staying in control of their data.” The company also incentivizes the switch, rewarding users who change from Google to their program with cryptocurrency coins based on their use. Of course, this still isn’t a perfect system. Questions have arisen about whether hackers may take advantage of the rewards and hack into other user profiles in order to gain more coins once they max out since users are limited to 8 coins a day.

The Presearch program focuses on decentralizing the search engine model, rewarding users for their contribution. As a result, they hope to build a more transparent and unbiased ranking, a problem that Google has made headlines for, for years. Of course, the idea of using blockchain to create a more effective model is one thing and actually doing it another thing.