The recent NHS computer hack using Wanna Decryptor ransomware shut down IT systems with 75,000 attacks in 99 countries. The unprecedented ransomware breach froze computers across the health service with hackers threatening to delete files unless a ransom was paid.

Only last week the popular font sharing site DaFont.com was hacked, exposing 699,464 accounts in the breach. The passwords were scrambled with the MD5 algorithm, which nowadays is easy to crack. The hacker unscrambled over 98% of the passwords into plain text.

According to Zdnet.com, the unidentified hacker explained his motives for the attack:
“I heard the database was getting traded around so I decided to dump it myself – like I always do”. He said it was “mainly just for the challenge and training my pentest skills.” He exploited a union-based SQL injection vulnerability in the site’s software, a flaw he said was “easy to find.”
These attacks have unleashed a media frenzy, but what of the other undocumented attacks that are happening every minute?

Cybercrime can be committed with minimal resources and from a remote location. The same systems that have made it easier for people to conduct e-commerce and online transactions are now being exploited. Detection of criminals is difficult and it’s a relatively low risk activity for high rewards.

Last year, Ginni Rometty, IBM’s chairman, president and CEO, said “Cybercrime is the greatest threat to every company in the world.”

According to csoonline.com the costs of cybercrime will hit $6 trillion annually by 2021, up from $3 trillion just a year ago.

It is predicted that humans have moved ahead of machines as the top target for cybercriminals. Microsoft estimates that by 2020 4 billion people will be online – twice the number that are now.

In this article, we review the following areas:

1. Cybercrime demystified: what is it?
2. The impact of these attacks on both businesses and individuals
3. The current state of Cybercrime
4. Predictions of future Cybercrime
5. How may we be able to use AI and Robotics to combat Cybercrime?

Cybercrime demystified: what is it?

Cybercrime is defined as a crime in which a computer is the object of the crime or is used as a tool to commit an offence. Crimes that target computer networks or devices include viruses and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Crimes that use computer networks to advance other criminal activities include cyberstalking, phishing and fraud or identity theft.

Broadly, cybercrime can be divided into three areas of attack:

1. Property

Theft is rife in the cyberworld. Criminals can steal a person’s bank details and siphon off money; misuse credit cards to make numerous purchases online; run scams to convince people to part with money; use malicious software to gain access to an organisation’s website or disrupt systems. It can also damage software and hardware.

This crime is when a person’s computer is broken into and personal or sensitive information accessed. This differs from ethical hacking, which many organisations use to check their internet security protection. In hacking, the criminal uses a variety of software to enter a person’s computer and the person may not be aware that his computer is being accessed from a remote location.

This crime occurs when a person violates copyrights and downloads music, movies, games and software. There are peer sharing websites which encourage software piracy and illegal downloading .

This has become a major problem with people using the internet for cash transactions and banking services. In this cyber crime, a criminal accesses data about a person’s bank account, credit cards, debit cards and other sensitive information to siphon money or to buy things online in the victim’s name. It can result in significant financial losses for the victim, even ruining credit history.

These are Internet-based software or programs that are used to disrupt a network. The software is used to gain access to a system to steal sensitive information or data or causing damage to software in the system.

2. Individual

This type of cyber crime can be in the form of cyberstalking, distributing pornography, trafficking and “grooming”.

3. Government

Crimes against a government are referred to as Cyber terrorism. This is the least common area of attack, however if successful, it can cause chaos and panic amongst citizens. Disruptions to last year’s U.S. electoral process was attempted by state-sponsored groups. The perpetrators may be terrorist organisations or hostile governments of other countries.

Part 1: Can Artificial Intelligence & Robots fight the Cybercrime Epidemic?
Part 2: The impact of these attacks on both businesses and individuals
Part 3: The potential of AI and machine learning to fight Cybercrime

The post Can Artificial Intelligence & Robots fight the Cybercrime Epidemic? appeared first on ChipIn.

While the idea of AI is exciting, we still have no idea exactly how much of an impact artificial intelligence will have on our daily lives. Ask one person, and they’ll be full of optimism about a life of leisure while the robots do all the hard work.
Ask another, and they’ll tell you darkly that robots are destined to enslave us.

For many people, the fear of the unknown (and all those Terminator movies), is a convincing argument towards slowing down our quest for free-thinking robots. But if you’ve ever used a self-checkout, spoken to Siri, or watched Netflix, you’ve already interacted with AI. And self-driving cars, automated drones, and elder-care robots will soon be just another normal part of life.

The Ethics of AI: Should Robots Vote?
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The moment when the intelligence of machines will exceed the puny intelligence of humans is known as singularity, but what happens if robots decide they don’t need humans around?

In Futurescape with James Woods, episode two begins with a robot walking towards a polling booth. Surrounded by protestors, her eyes scan a man wearing a badge which says “No soul means no vote!”

Woods begins the narration: “Ridiculous right? A robot voting. Well you know they said the same thing about blacks in 1870 and about women in the early 1900s. But you wouldn’t give a programmable robot the full rights of citizenship now, would you? I mean they can’t think like us, they don’t feel like us- they are fundamentally different from us. For now. But the lines are already blurring. And if you doubt that, ask your dad to turn in his pacemaker, or your grandma to live without her artificial hip. Every day we’re getting closer and closer to the day when man and machine truly meld and redefine what it means to be human.”

The difference between humans and machines? Machines are programmable, and repairs are mechanical. We also believe that humans have a mind, a soul, and free will. But some scientists argue that one day we’ll find the wiring that shows us how the mind truly works- eliminating the last barriers between humans and robots.

It could be that these patterns are very simple, and research has already begun in this direction at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Arthur Toga is mapping the connection between neurons in the human brain, which would give us a total picture of the brain. While this will help us identify miswiring in humans, it could also unlock that special something that makes us uniquely human.

In order to feel emotion, robots must be able to become conscious.

Futurist Ray Kurzweil believes that robots will gain consciousness by 2029, and he points to the current studies of the human brain which show inter-neural connections firing in real time. Since scientists can see our brains creating our thoughts, it’s not unreasonable to imagine that they’ll be able to replicate this in robots. For this reason, the idea of “robot morality” is attracting scholars from theology, law, psychology, ethics, human rights, and philosophy.

Elon Musk is the founder of Tesla Motors, and he recently pledged $10 million towards research that would help ensure “friendly AI.”

Stephen Hawking has also spoken about AI, warning that super-intelligent AI may equal the end of the human race, and the list of concerned experts continues to grow, with Steve Wozniak and Bill Gates warning that robots could threaten our existence.When robots achieve singularity and become smarter than us, they could, therefore, be out of our control. And if they’re programmed without morality, may just decide to do away with us. This leads to all sorts of questions. How do you program morality? Is morality in the eye of the programmer? If robots need an ethical code, who will decide what this ethical code is?

One answer is to directly program behavioral rules into the robot’s software. These could be concrete rules (think the Ten Commandments), or theoretical such as utilitarian ethics. The important thing is that the robots are given hard-coded guidelines which they could then use as a base for all of their decision-making.

This sounds great in theory, but it could make it too difficult for robots to make quick decisions in the real world.

Another idea is a bottom-up approach, with the machines learning from experience instead of being spoon-fed the necessary rules. This puts less strain on the robot’s computers, since it won’t need to consider the repercussions of each and every action, and can simply use habitual responses, leading to the organic development of ethical and moral behavior.

If we can develop conscious robots, would they then be people? And in that case, shouldn’t they have the same rights as any other person?

Scientists at Stanford University are currently working on the Nerogrid– a piece of hardware that can mimic the activity of the brain- in real time. This supercomputer is the size of an iPad and may one day become a machine that can think for itself.

Neurogrid even replicates the circuitry of the human brain. The only difference between humans and robots that could think like us, is more neuropathways, which means that it’s only a matter of time before robots are able to think for themselves.

But if robots become self-aware, what will separate them from us?

A 58cm humanoid robot called Nao can already tell stories, walk, and make decisions. But that’s not all it can do. Nao is also being programmed to have ethics and can weigh all of the options in any given situation, before choosing how to act. Nao uses a series of true/false statements to recognize harm, benefit, and the pros and cons of each option.

When programmed to remind someone to take medication, Nao has some choices to make. If the patient refuses her medication, the robot must decide whether to allow her to skip her dose (and potentially cause harm) or insist that she takes her medicine (impinging on her autonomy).

The creators taught Nao how to navigate these types of problems by giving it examples of conflicts that bioethicists had resolved which involved autonomy, benefit, and harm to patients. Nao’s learning algorithms allow it to sort through these cases to find patterns to help it make a decision in a new situation (the woman refused the aspirin, and Nao accepted this and reminded her again later).

Humans bond with each other by establishing a rapport and the survival of our species depends on this bonding, which is also dependent on emotion. We recognize these emotions in other humans and express our own from birth.

Nao is able to download new behaviors, make eye contact, recognize faces, and respond to users. This makes it invaluable for children who are autistic, overstimulated, or nonverbal, and the robot can help them learn to identify emotions. Research has even shown that computers are actually better at reading expressions than we are, meaning it’s going to be increasingly difficult for us to lie to robots.

Nao is able to download new behaviors, make eye contact, recognize faces, and respond to users.

Aldebaran, the creators of Nao, released Pepper last year. This robot is the first designed to live with humans and is able to mirror the emotional state of its user- something that humans begin to do when they’re babies. This works both ways, and as robots mirror our emotions, we instinctively mirror theirs, feeling a bond with them and assisting them with tasks.

While robots can’t yet feel emotions, they’re already able to appear as if they do. In 2014, a robot named Eugene passed the Turing test. Named after Alan Turing, a computing pioneer, the test was designed to test whether or not a computer can be “intelligent”, and is basically an imitation game. A human judge will sit on one side of a computer screen and will have conversations with other humans, and one chatbot which has been created to trick the judge into thinking it’s human.

Turing tests have been happening for more than 20 years, and Eugene (programmed as a 13-year-old boy) convinced 33% of the judges that he was human, showing that robots still have a long way to go, but are now intelligent enough to effectively trick 1/3 of the humans they talk to.

While robots are becoming excellent at pretending to feel, the ultimate goal for many companies is to ensure that they can one day actually think and feel- just like a human.

The European parliament has voted for the drafting of regulations which would govern the creation and use of artificial intelligence and robots, including “electronic personhood“, which would give robots rights and responsibilities.

Under current laws in the United States, corporations are persons. So are ships. And municipalities. So why couldn’t a robot or cyborg also be a person?

This will have huge implications for the companies creating robots. If they create a robot, and that robot then creates a product that can be patented, who would own the patent? The robot? Or the corporation?

More importantly, a large part of being a “person”, is the right to vote. If robots have to take responsibility for their actions, many argue that they should then have the right to vote or sit on a jury.

But in order to vote, robots would need to have a very complex understanding of right and wrong.

Another key right that humans have is the right to reproduce. Since robots would be able to make infinite copies of themselves, allowing them to vote would effectively be allowing them to be in charge. It’s for this reason that many ethicists argue that robots should either have the right to reproduce or the right to vote, but not both.

Ryan Calo is a law professor specializing in cyber law and robotics at the University of Washington. He serves on the advisory committee of CITRIS, a People and Robots initiative. He calls this dilemma the “copy-or-vote paradox.”

If an artificially intelligent machine one day claims that it has achieved personhood, it’s sentient, experiences both pain and joy, has dignity, and we’re unable to disprove it, we may not be able to justify denying it the same human rights that we enjoy.

If that machine then claims that it should be able to procreate and vote, and then copies itself indefinitely, democracy would be completely undone.

Once robots have become “people”, and enjoy the same rights that humans do, it makes sense that they must also be subject to the same responsibilities. This would mean that robots would be able to be sued for causing damage or making mistakes, and would also be able to be punished under the legal system.

Another problem? While the EU may be ready to grant robots personhood, and the United States is encouraging the use of ethics, who’s to say that other countries will do the same?

Autonomous robots making life or death decisions may soon be a common feature of warfare, as countries around the world begin harnessing artificial intelligence. The Chinese and Russian governments are already working to gain an edge over other countries, launching a new-age arms race.

Professor Toby Walsh, from the University of New South Wales in Australia, has already spoken to the United Nations on a number of occasions to encourage the formation of an international body which would prevent killer robots from becoming another weapon of war.

There’s little doubt that the ethical implications of AI will be one of the biggest challenges that humans face over the next fifty years. Ideally, we’ll eventually be able to utilize the strength of both robots and humans and integrate them ethically, although there are sure to be some bumps in the road along the way.

One thing’s for sure, we’ll never look at our Roombas the same way again.

The post The Ethics of AI: Should Robots be Allowed to Vote? appeared first on ChipIn.

What if I told you these policy debates were all for show, and these jobs were never coming back? Not because of cheap overseas labor or a favorable regulatory environment, but because global corporations had discovered a replacement. Such replacement did not require health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, or training? The reality is that the global economy is on the cusp of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution that will even leave white-collar, highly specialized professions vulnerable to extinction.

Here are some alarming projections for the next generation of workers. Within five years, an estimated 6% of all American jobs will be replaced by a robot.

With an American labor force of 152 million, a 6% decline amounts to 9 million jobs lost! Time is not a friend to the workforce. Over an eight year period, up to 25% of American jobs will be eliminated. And according to Oxford University, 35% of all jobs will be replaced by AI in the next 20 years.

The three genius android robots created by Hanson Robotics

Ten shocking professions that could be replaced with AI in the coming decade

1. Surgeons

In addition to requiring an advanced degree and years of on-the-job training, surgeons must carry the burden of performing high-risk, life-saving procedures. Even the most highly-skilled surgeons are prone to human error; requiring hospitals and out-patient surgery centers to carry costly insurance plans.

Enter surgical robots, which will be available 24/7 and calibrated to operate with laser-like precision. The transition may already be underway as Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has employed surgical robots to operate side-by-side with human doctors during kidney surgeries. In theory, robots can perform faster than human doctors, without emotion, exhaustion, or pressure.

The 2016 movie Passengers gives us a glimpse into the future as a patient in critical condition undergoes multiple complex surgeries simultaneously in a robot-operated pod. Surgical robots may increase the likelihood of survival in emergency situations as they can be programmed to perform the roles of different surgeons at the same time.

Robot operated Pod as shown in the movie Passengers 2016

2. Teachers

Children of future may depend on robots for learning and will look up to them as inspiration.

“Engkey”-A droid with human face is already introduced, Source: dailymail

The analytical abilities of robots would allow for unrivaled insight into students’ knowledge base and, as a result, would make standardized testing obsolete. From an economic standpoint, insolvent state and local governments could employ robots to reduce the costs associated with generous health care and pension benefits enjoyed by teachers. Children of the future may, in fact, look back on a robot as the greatest inspiration of their life.

3. Police Officers

The popular sci-fi fantasy of RoboCop is coming true with the introduction of Robotic police officers |Source: Business Insider

Robotic police officers have been sci-fi fantasy since the 1987 blockbuster movie RoboCop. Thirty years later, remote-controlled robotic technology is commonly employed in the Middle East by the U.S. military. Advanced weaponry such as unmanned aerial drones and robots designed to clear Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are staples of the war on terror.

Remote-controlled robotic technology is commonly employed in the Middle East

Unlike many other professions that are embracing AI, there is a notable resistance among the military/law enforcement industry. Just five years ago, the U.S. Department of Defense signed a development ban on “autonomous and semi-autonomous” weaponry. The primary concern is that it would be impossible to hold AI accountable for the lethal force it employs. While a valid point, the chance to drastically reduce human casualties could ultimately tip the scales.

4. Commercial Airline Pilots

Surprisingly, there is little buzz over the great leaps in AI technology in commercial piloting. Obviously, AI is making waves in the automobile industry, as Tesla has launched three driverless vehicles that are fully autonomous. Add in remote-controlled drones and autopilot features on commercial flights, and pilotless airliners are an inevitable leap over the next decade.

The leap to pilotless airliners is inevitable specially after the launch of driverless vehicles by Tesla

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a system that will replace copilots with AI. The program, called the Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS), even allows the AI to manipulate the plane’s primary flight controls.

Lastly, Chinese drone manufacturer EHang plans to roll out a self-driving hover-taxi that can carry one passenger, travel up to 100 kilometers, and fly for up to 30 minutes. Clearly, the technology is almost there, and pilotless commercial flights will be here sooner rather than later.

5. Pharmacists

De-Nesting & Re-Nesting Machines for Nested Containers-An example of Robotic Pharmacists

The major benefits of pharmaceutical robots are the reduction of human error, increased patient safety, and freeing up human pharmacists to emphasize patient interaction. Automation is especially appealing to hospitals and pharmacy chains as it has the potential to greatly reduce operating expenses related to government regulations and continuing education for employees.

6. Astronauts

Google and NASA have already deployed robots to the International Space Station

It is highly likely that the next milestone in space exploration will not be achieved by man, but rather by an autonomous or semi-autonomous robot.

The AI advances in transportation are well documented in this article. Along those same lines, Google and NASA have already deployed robots to the International Space Station. Furthermore, NASA has been using automated exploration rovers on Mars for a decade.

Robots have many advantages over humans pertaining to space exploration. Obviously, robots can travel further than humans over substantially longer periods of time. In addition, robots can handle extreme conditions that the human body cannot. Perhaps most significant is that scientists can take greater risks with robots, as the legitimate moral and ethical concerns associated with risking a human life will not be an issue.

Obviously, this will not affect a large number of jobs. However, astronauts once occupied the dreams of millions of children worldwide. Unfortunately, AI will fill this role in the foreseeable future.

7. Bartenders

A robotic bar can be found aboard Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship “Anthem of the Seas”

This reality may be many years off for most of America, but AI is already finding its way into high-end bars. For instance, a robotic bar can be found aboard Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Anthem of the Seas. Clients place orders on a tablet and the robotic arms can create any cocktail upon request. The debate centers on the preference for cheap, efficient labor over a more sociable experience. It is difficult to imagine robotic bartenders in rural, blue-collar America, it is certainly conceivable to see these systems springing up in trendy urban centers along the east and west coasts.

8. Poker Dealers

Min-Paradise Entertainment’s robot| The Japan Times

Hanson Robotics’ product, on the other hand, is more interactive and has the ability to make facial expressions. The transition to robotic dealers is inevitable in the United States, where casino profits are down due to online gaming and increased supply of gaming opportunities driven by a growing number of states legalizing gambling.

Casinos may be able to utilize robotic dealers as a means to circumvent state laws that disallow human dealers

Replacing dealers will not have a significant impact on the overall jobs market, but it could bring hardship to casino epicenters such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Specifically, Atlantic City’s economy is driven by the gaming industry and automation will be crippling to a city that is already reeling and facing Detroit-like bankruptcy issues.

9. Journalists

Majority of online content we read today is generated by software programs

In the era of fake news and social media, the journalism field is ripe for an injection of objectivity and speed. The vast majority of online readers do not realize that they are already taking in content generated by software program. For example, Forbes frequently publishes sports, business, and politics content that is produced by computer algorithm.

These programs analyze online data, model effective and popular writing styles, and then generate a fascinating piece. The advantage to AI-generated news is clearly the speed in which content can be published. In a 24/7 news cycle where journalists strive to break stories first on social media, AI would produce content even more expeditiously.

To be clear, AI technology is not currently capable of replacing your favorite opinion journalist at the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. However, it is plausible that a software program could be tailored to utilize data from strictly liberal or conservative publications, think-tanks, or organizations. As a result, the content generated would be biased towards the data sources.

10. Lawyers

With AI representation, legal specializations such as real estate or criminal defense could become obsolete.

For instance, to project the outcome of U.S. Supreme Court cases, a team of professors at Chicago-Kent College of Law developed an algorithm that proved to be 70% successful with a sample size of nearly 8,000 cases.

With AI representation, legal specializations such as real estate or criminal defense could become obsolete. As the capacity to store and analyze legal data grows, robotic lawyers will master various specializations. Perhaps most importantly, AI could solve issues of income inequality in the legal field. In the current legal environment, financial resources dictate the quality of representation.

In the future, local and state governments can procure AI technology to erase the negative stigma associated with public defenders. Lastly, robotic lawyers will instill confidence in their clients as the legal analysis provided will be entirely objective and not motivated by profit, publicity, or human emotion.

The impact that automation will have on the global jobs market is nothing short of alarming. How will mankind respond when AI squeezes humans out of an already competitive jobs market?

One popular idea is to tax a company’s usage of AI. Bill Gates recently advocated for a robot tax, arguing that it could slow the transition to automation and provide additional funding for government relief programs. Billionaire Mark Cuban encourages students to pursue college degree programs that emphasize creative thinking. Cuban believes that majors such as liberal arts, psychology, or foreign language will be in greater demand after AI takes root. Others argue that workers must commit to reskilling and continuing education in order to concurrently evolve with technology.

. Conclusion

The post Ten Stunning Jobs that will be Replaced by Artificial Intelligence in the Next 10 Years appeared first on ChipIn.

Whether you’re a hobbyist who wants to explore territory with a bird’s-eye view, or a professional photographer looking for aerial coverage over special events, drones offer a winning solution that won’t break your budget.

After covering the basics below, we’ll review the most popular models.

Best Drones to Buy in 2017 - Quadcopters, Camera & Racing Drones
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Like other technology-fueled devices, drones have advanced over the past couple of years.

If you looked at drones in 2016 but weren’t impressed enough to spend your hard-earned money, now it’s time to take another look. The landscape has improved. The models available today offer more stability and video quality than previous generations. And, with enhanced capabilities and safety features, drone prices seem reasonable.

Instead of the grainy video quality and “control issues”, the newest generation offers sharper resolution and stable flight. Still, just as it is with any other consumer product, you’ll only get the capability that you pay for. Before buying any drone you should first consider your goals and set a budget accordingly.

Quadcopters are ready-to-fly, easy to control, and a few models already have an Android interface

A few models already have an Android interface. For this review, we’ve focused mainly on the basic models which are ready to fly right out of the box. Their cameras are already onboard and ready for use.

In contrast, some high-end “professional” drones require performing minor soldering to install custom flight-control systems to accommodate mirrorless cameras.

Even if you’ve lost direct control, the drone should still land automatically in the same area where it first took off.

That means if your drone loses its control signal or the battery is low, it’s programmed to fly back toward the takeoff coordinates.

So even if you’ve lost direct control, the drone should still land automatically in the same area where it first took off, assuming it has enough power to do so.

Most of the drones reviewed here have enough power for at least 20 minutes of full-power flight unless you add additional battery capability.

Some one who is truly concerned about losing the copter through an uncontrolled “flyaway,” you can easily add a plugin GPS tracker for redundant protection. For example, the Flytrex Live 3G is a standalone GPS tracker with extra functionality to help monitor a drone’s movement and position. It can be used with most of the popular models available today.

Flytrex Live 3G is a standalone GPS tracker

It’s obvious that something which could fall from a height might cause property damage, injuries, or worse. That’s why it’s important to avoid flying any drone manufactured without appropriate, well-tested safety features.

A case in point is the GoPro Karma device – It was hastily pulled from the market in late 2016 after a series of scary crashes due to power loss while in flight.

Note

If you’re flying inside the US you’ll want to be careful to comply with the FAA’s rules regarding drones. Also, keep in mind that if you buy or fly any device that weighs over a half-pound you’ll be required to register as a drone operator with the FAA.

Wherever you are, make sure you don’t enter “no-fly zones,” especially around airports, prisons and government installations like military bases.

Even when you’re “droning” in an unpopulated area, don’t operate above 400 feet. Nearly all modern drones are pre-set to comply with this regulation, but you’ll still be held responsible if your equipment strays.

Now it’s easy to find affordable drones that will put a smile on your face

Some RC quadcopters aren’t “real” drones. So, before spending any money first make sure a device has these defining characteristics –

✓ On-board GPS stabilization

✓ Automated flight programming, including

✓ Return-to-home capability

When you want a “real” drone but your operational requirements are limited, it’s easy to find affordable devices that will put a smile on your face. For example, if you want a small, no-frills copter and you don’t mind limited capability, the Aerius is a good low-cost choice.

Apart from RC toys, some drones are designed specifically for racing use. These include models like the Horizon Blade Nano, which costs about $200.

Horizon Blade is designed specifically for racing use

Here’s a quick roundup of the best-selling models from top manufacturers.

Best Selling Drone models from Top Manufacturers

1. DJI Drones

DJI is ahead of the market and offers a wide range of products and price points.

Its earlier-generation Phantom 2 Vision+ model was replaced by the Phantom 3 (priced at about $390), which offers superior video quality and improved flight stability.

Even better, the Phantom 4 was the first to receive a 5-star rating from PCMag. It features an innovative crash-avoidance system. This family of drones is a great improvement over all previous generations.

Phantom 4 offers an innovative crash-avoidance system

Or, you could choose DJI’s Phantom 3 with 4K – It uses the same WiFi system as the Standard model, but with video resolution enhanced from the basic 2.7K upward to 4K.

For about the same price you can also buy the Phantom 3 Advanced, which can record video at 2.7K while using the same Lightbridge control and streaming as the Phantom 3 Professional or Phantom 4.

Top of the line is the DJI Inspire. This is a serious drone – It’s built with carbon fiber for the ultimate strength and lightness.

Its camera can move in any direction, and it also offers dual-operator control. That feature is extremely useful because one person can concentrate entirely on flying the drone while another operates its 4K camera.

The DJI camera can move in any direction, and it also offers dual-operator control

The Inspire is truly a tool for professionals, which explains why it’s so pricey – about $3,000 when configured with just one remote control, or about $3,300 configured as the dual-operator version including a second remote control.

2. Xiro Drones

This is the most popular choice is the Xiro Xplorer

3. Parrot Drones

Parrot drone is a great choice if you want a quality drone at a bargain price

This quadcopter is a great choice if you want a quality drone at a bargain price.

The Parrot Bebop doesn’t fly as high or fast as the Phantom, yet it’s a small, maneuverable quadcopter that excels in acrobatic rolls and flips. You’ll find this copter fun, agile and extremely useful. You can fly the Bebop’s low-cost configuration using only a smartphone or tablet.

Buying a Bebop gives you low-cost drone capability right now. For an additional $300 you can buy a separate Skycontroller later.

With a slightly higher budget of around $500, you could choose the Bebop 2, which offers expanded features and functions.

Today a drone with excellent stability and safety features is relatively small in size

Keep in mind that some small models, such as the Xiro Xplorer mentioned above, have only limited functionality. Others such as the Vantage Robotics Snap and the DJI Mavic Pro are tiny yet offer the most advanced technologies.

For example, the Snap relies on an ingenious magnetic system to attach folding propellers to the main chassis, so it’s easy to disassemble and transport, not to mention less likely to be damaged during a crash.

The small drones have magnetic system which makes it easy to disassemble and transport

There’s plenty of competitio but DJI currently seems to be leading in popularity,

Aside from their unmanned capability, they’ve also won the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) for the breakthrough engineering of a fully electric, two-seat airplane, the EA340, which features a 48 kW propulsion system.

The Yuneec Typhoon drone series is quickly gaining popularity. This line includes the Q500 with 4K camera.

Yuneec Typhoon six-rotor design can stay aloft even after losing an engine or propeller

It sells for about $1,200 equipped with the standard collision-avoidance system, or about $1,900 when equipped with more advanced crash-avoidance software powered by Intel RealSense.

There is a hugl room for innovation in the drone marketplace

PowerVision has recently announced two new copters – The PowerEgg, which is said to be consumer-friendly, and the professional-grade PowerEye.

Another recent entrant into the US marketplace is the X-Star drone made by Autel Robotics. These devices are similar in price and look like DJI’s Phantom line except they’re colored bright orange for visibility and safety.

Another rising competitor is the 3D Robotics Solo, which offers numerous features for a low price, yet also suffers from occasional glitches from battery failure or GPS unreliability.

DJ Inspire 2 offers sophisticated features for professionals including event videographers, and cinematographers

The DJ Inspire 2 offers sophisticated features for professionals including event videographers, cinematographers, security operators and news organizations.

It’s priced accordingly – The retail list price of about $3,000 doesn’t include a camera. You could attach a 1-inch fixed-lens, or choose an interchangeable-lens camera. Both types of camera offer video up 5.2K.

Yuneec also offers a professional drone model, the Tornado H9 for about $3,500. This is a large drone featuring 6 rotors and enough room to hold 3 batteries, which gives you an impressive 40+ minutes of flight time.

Tornado H9 is a large drone featuring 6 rotors and enough room to hold 3 batteries

For professional videographers and security operators who insist on recording pure uncompressed video, the Inspire 1 Raw is usually the best choice. However, this capability comes at a serious price – In markets where available, it may cost $7,000 or more.

The post Best Drones to Buy in 2017 – Quadcopters, Camera & Racing Drones appeared first on ChipIn.

The first device on our list is Sony’s attempt at the already famous concept of transforming solid surfaces into touch-enabled ones. The Touch does this by projecting what is essentially a tablet screen onto the surface it is placed on, and then using infrared sensors to detect movement within the projected area, thus effectively transforming the user’s movement into what touch gestures would be on a tablet screen.

Sony Xperia Touch showcased during the MWC Barcelona

Before you pass to a verdict on whether or not this gadget is worth owning solely on this fairly futuristic, yet virtually useless gimmick, you need to know that this isn’t all the Touch can do. Because the gadget is basically a tablet in a different form, the Touch runs Android 7.0, and that means that it can use Google Assistant, the artificial intelligence, in order to act as a competitor to Google Home or Amazon Echo.

The Xperia Touch has 32GB of internal storage, 3GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.2 and a wide range of sensors, from human detection to GPS to temperature, and more. Additionally, it is equipped with an NFC sensor which allows it to transfer data to your phone with simple gestures. The device was planned as an always-plugged-in gadget, but if for some reason you want to take it with you, it does have a battery that should last for about an hour.

Next up on the list is a reimagining of an already existing piece of technology made by Sony. The Xperia Ear, as the first model is called, is currently available right now, and it’s a hearable that puts a personal assistant in your ear. Always ready for your instructions, it uses one of the three available assistants on Android in order to understand your orders clearly and notify you about every notification you receive.

Even though the assistance of the original Ear is undoubtedly useful, it has received flak for only being usable on one ear, therefore getting music listening out of the picture, something that other hearables have gotten right a long time ago.

Sony showcased the latest Xperia Ear Concept – here how it would actually look like

This is why Sony created the Xperia Ear Concept – a combination of the useful assistance provided by the original Ear hearable and a brand new listening concept that allows people to listen to their music while hearing everything that’s going on around them.

The listening concept, developed in Sony’s Future Lab Program, features two spatial acoustic conductors and driver units that transmit the sounds received from the phone directly to the user’s ear canal, leaving room for sounds coming from around the user. Therefore, users are able to enjoy their music while talking to people or riding their bicycles without the fear of being unable to hear what happens around them.

The concept is certainly unique in the hearable market, and will hopefully catch on, because user experience so far was more than satisfactory, claiming that they could go through conversations while hearing those who were talking with perfectly. According to those who have used this new listening concept, you can tell that you are wearing hearables, but the sound feels as if it comes from somewhere behind you.

While the listening concept is here to stay, both the current design and name are subject to change. So far, there is no information about a possible launch date.

Another concept, this time Sony attempted to create the perfect combination between a friendly-faced robot and a useful assistant. The Xperia Agent Concept is a fantastic assistant for families and people who want their information delivered with personality.

Sony Xperia Agent not offering any Coffee

If the technology is there, it can also connect to your lights in order to control them on your command, or modify your room temperature and so on. To put it bluntly, the Internet of Things will do wonders for the future of Sony’s little robot assistant.

When not connected, the Xperia Agent uses a small screen located on its front side to display the information you requested. As any good virtual assistant, it features a soft, friendly feminine voice that repeats the commands it understood and may also reply to your enquiries.

If you enjoyed the concept of the Xperia Touch, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Agent can also project information on nearby surfaces. However, it currently does not feature the infrared technology found in the Touch, so it can only be controlled via voice.

It is currently unknown when Sony will release the adorable Xperia Agent, but given the features promised, it would be reasonable to estimate a 2018 launch.

Whether you’ve fallen in love with the cute Agent, were amazed by the concept of the Touch or would enjoy to try out the Ear’s new listening concept, you have to admit that Sony’s futuristic gadgets make for a killer lineup. It can’t be said if these gadgets will be as successful or innovative as they sound right now, especially given the fact that most of them are concepts, but they will surely make a difference in their respective fields.

The post Sony’s New Xperia Lineup: Futuristic Gadgets For a Smarter Home appeared first on ChipIn.

In a recent event held in Berlin, Germany, artificial intelligence (AI) experts discussed the “Rise of AI” in front of an audience of 160 people.

Among the things addressed was a quote from science fiction author William Gibson, stating: “The future is already here, though it is unevenly distributed.”

. Factors facilitating the growth of artificial intelligence

First, there is a lot of progressive machine learning, owing largely to advancements at Google, Amazon, Apple, and Facebook.

The idea of machine learning itself has been around for a while, but today’s advantage is the much stronger computer processing power which has made it possible to achieve a much smarter AI than in the 1960s or 70s.

Artificial intelligence is largely dependent on the processing power of computers. With modern technology, it is much easier to achieve results that were not possible before.

The next Rise of AI Conference in Berlin

Machines have a better understanding of how humans write, speak, or use pictures, which has significantly enhanced the process of human-machine communication.

Third, there is data mining: corporations and many internet companies have been collecting data for the last 10 years or so.

These data-driven companies now need machine learning or AI tools to figure out this data and implement it. Without this data, there would be no learning fodder for machines or AI.

Fourth, the internet was not available decades ago. The internet provided the means for AI.

. Applications of AI

With an AI enabling environment, there are more startups working in the AI space, resulting in more trained robots to handle a myriad of duties that were previously performed by humans.

AI is good at specific tasks today, such as:

• Playing games – chess, cards, etc.
• Flying drones
• Driving cars, planes, boats – Tesla, Google, etc.
• Organizing meetings
• Booking plane tickets
• Shopping online

Chatbots are essentially taking over roles that were previously assigned to personal assistants. AIs can also be used to:

• Write songs
• Draw pictures
• Trade stocks – robot advisors
• Write emails
• Facilitate Instant medical diagnosis

Many industries are also benefiting from the ability of AI to optimize complex processes and solve problems that were impossible to solve due to large amounts of data and variables, collected over years of experience.

AI tools can go through this data and derive solutions that humans cannot see, like in:

• Production cycles
• Supply chains
• Manufacturing processes

. Should humans compete with machines?

In some areas, machines are already better at certain tasks than humans, which is not necessarily a bad thing. But in what ways are humans unique?

According to experts, people argue that machines will never be like human beings, especially in regard to the human thought process.

And this single factor will keep them from taking over everything. But this is not necessarily true. Robots can be trained to do just about any task and be better at it than a human.

They can be integrated into every area, including manufacturing processes and stock trading, where they are fed with data from the many work hours, and left to figure out how to optimize the processes.

Huge amounts of data and variables that humans may find hard to analyze are not a problem for machines, making them better at any trained process.

Machines can be trained to be creative and even to dream; they just don’t do it the same way as human beings. Machines can even identify trends; however, they lack conscience compassion or emotions – love, greed, hate, ethics, humor, soul, curiosity, insecurity, DNA, etc.

Humans need machines to increase productivity and output. Since industrialization, people have enjoyed more free time and have become happier and healthier. Life expectancy has also gone up, and the same can be expected with AI.

. Can AIs take away human resources?

For AIs to take resources from human beings, they would have to “wake up”. This means that they would have to acquire consciousness and intelligence beyond that of human beings.

But AIs becoming smarter than human beings is not too farfetched. Here’s why:

1. The substrate that AI runs on

Artificial Intelligence “runs on Silicon”, which is a $300 billion a year industry. To bring this figure into perspective, the Hollywood industry is at $50 billion a year, while the video gaming industry is about $100 billion a year.

The semiconductor industry is growing drastically and following Moore’s law. There are PCs, smartphones, networks, electronics in cars, etc.

2. Billions going to AI directly

Google, Facebook, and other top tech/internet companies are buying startups for millions of dollars to leverage artificial intelligence and increase click-through revenue.

For instance, in early 2014, Google bought UK AI startup DeepMind for $650 million. The firm specializes in machine learning, systems neuroscience, and advanced algorithms, and is claimed to reduce Google Data Centre cooling bill by a remarkable 40 percent.

More recently, Intel spent $400 million to acquire a deep learning startup called Nervana Systems.

3. DAO Infrastructure coming of age

The concept of DAO – Decentralized Autonomous Organization is an idealistic result of a crypto-tech revolution.

DAO is on a path to an evolutionary sequence with each stage building on the functions of the previous one, and will eventually get a point where autonomous agents can do their work through artificial intelligence or smart programs.

These stages are:

• Participative – where users voluntarily and independently take part in loose tasks
• Collaborative – where users collaborate and add value towards reaching a common objective
• Cooperative – where users expect some shared gains in return
• Distributed – propagation of these functions begins by multiplying them across a wider net
• Decentralized – more scalability is reached by increasing power in the edges
• Autonomous – smart programs, autonomous agents, and increased levels of AI and AI algorithms will provide self-sustainability in operations and value creation at all points of an organization.

Still, a new DAO is like a startup with many assumptions being made before it can become sustainable, but it will be a major contributor to AI.

4. No fundamental roadblocks

AI is just as creative as human beings, plus it has been proven that robots can be trained to do just about anything a human can do, and even better.

If AI promotes productivity, speed, and profits, it will be more readily adopted.

. The Future of AI

In the not so far future, not necessarily in a 25 years time span, intelligent machines will be super-smart and probably capable of ruling over people.

The technology will have reached a level where it can optimize itself further, giving rise to the theory of technological singularity: the extreme acceleration of progress through machines that continuously improve themselves.

According to this theory robots and applications will eventually be smarter than their inventors in any way imaginable.

Some people may dismiss such claims as fantasies of science fiction, but more and more companies are investing in innovations aimed precisely at AI and robots.

In the last five years, investment in AI startups has increased six-fold. In 2016 alone, venture capital firms have invested in over 200 startup companies dealing with artificial intelligence.

Most of these companies are developing programs for specific, highly localized programs, like self-learning programs that diagnose diseases, or software to detect credit card fraud.

Some are even working on the concept of mind uploading, where users transfer their own brain to a computer storage media. This technology may be available by 2030.

. But would humans be willing to upgrade as well?

During the Berlin conference, the attendants were asked to imagine technological progress over the next 25 years and then surveyed to find out whether they would be willing to upgrade to increase their intelligence, health, and happiness.

Only a handful claimed that they would not change a thing, while most admitted that they would be willing to use neuro-enhancement, biomechatronic body parts, neural implants, life extension with cryonics, or upload their mind to a computer.

People are already relying on technology like smartphones, which are more or less an extension of the brain. People also depend on software to recommend products, control vehicles, and write and send messages. So there is nothing to deter them from mind uploading if it adds value to their lives.

Assuming that humans observe the world at one second per second, then moving your conscious activity to the medium that performs at a more efficient level than the brain would mean that you would be able to observe a lot more per second. The world would literally slow down, allowing you to do more and experience a lot more in the same amount of time.

But in a real sense, humans perceive a lot of things in a single second, yet tests have found that human response time has a minimum of 50 ms. So, if you were able to perceive a lot more per second, you would also need to respond a lot faster for that extra information to be meaningful.

. Enhancing your mind

Science has made it possible to simulate simple neuron connections to thousands or millions of other neurons through synapses.

In a study published in the Journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, subjects who received brain stimulation through electrode-embedded head caps exhibited better piloting skills and performed tasks 33 percent better than the control group.

The researchers studied electric signals in the brain of a trained pilot and fed that data into inexperienced subjects as they learned to fly an airplane in a realistic flight simulator.

Brain simulation is based on the idea that when you learn something, your brain changes physically, and the study provided some proof to this.

Mind enhancing is not just a way for humans to catch-up to increasingly smarter robots, but also an opportunity accelerates economic growth.

If human minds can run on substrates that are then accelerated by computing power, humans would be able to spin off mature progeny with superior intelligence to facilitate economic growth.

But for mind uploading to be a possibility, three conditions must be met:

First, it must be possible to incrementally replace a brain with functionally identical implants while retaining its identity and fundamental characteristics;
Second, the computational capacity of the human brain must be a rational number, no more than 10 – raised to the power of 19 ops/sec; and
Third, computers that fast must have been created.

. Save the time for the next Rise of AI

The post Rise of AI and Human Response through Mind Uploading appeared first on ChipIn.

The new technology will transform the world radically because it will make it possible to create simulations at the atomic level.

A quantum computer would exhibit significantly greater computing power than IBM’s current supercomputer Watson, possibly millions of times.

This is the technology that many scientists, big businesses, and entrepreneurs expect to provide a quantum leap into the future.

The pioneer organization that hits the market first is also likely to enjoy amazing profits owing to the possibilities of quantum technology, which is perhaps why companies are collaborating with universities to accelerate the development of quantum chips.

. What is quantum computing?

According to Rainer Blatt a physicist and quantum expert in Austria, the “century of quantum technology” will revolutionize the economy and society, and scientists have only begun to understand the impact of this “revolution of possibilities”.

It is understandable that non-physicists may find it hard to comprehend the implications of this leap. So, here is a description of quantum computing:

A quantum chip comprises superconducting metals (IBM uses niobium) that require quantum suitable algorithms and benefit from the superposition phenomenon: standard chips comprise transistors in either on or off position (1 or 0), while the quantum chip exhibits both states at the same time. This is just one of the strengths of a quantum chip.

The smallest unit into which computer data is broken down is called a bit that can be either a “1” for on or “0” for off. The computational power of a classic or normal computer depends on the number of binary transistors (minute power switches) contained within its microprocessor.

To bring some meaning to these numbers: the first Intel processor created in 1971 had 2,300 transistors. Today, Intel produces microprocessors with over 5 billion transistors for the fastest processing available with classical computers today.

But with quantum computers, the bits or qubits offer more options because of the uncertainty of their physical state.

It is this mysterious aspect of quantum physics that introduces the concept of superposition, where qubits can be 0 or 1, or 0 and 1, as opposed to classical computers that can only be either 0 or 1.

With superposition, it is possible to perform two equations simultaneously, but with exponential expansion. So, one qubit can perform two equations; two qubits can perform four; three qubits can perform 8; and so on.

This translates to some inconceivably large numbers and mind-boggling working concepts if a quantum computer can have the same bits as the 1971 Intel processor – leave alone the modern ones.

.First quantum processor?

The quantum processor developed by IBM operates at nearly Absolute Zero (-273 degrees Celsius), kept within a white cylinder that is cooled by a helium pump.

It is like a large refrigerator operating in a vacuum. The chip is positioned at the middle of the cylinder with measuring instruments and displays all around it and needs a skilled technician to operate it.

This chip has to be in this super-cooled environment to maintain the coherent quantum activity of superposition and entanglement.

D-Wave Quantum Processor

The qubits are connected by quantum mechanics irrespective of their position in space. Any heat or light that penetrates this space could interfere with process and effectiveness of the computer.

It is interesting that quantum physics has to adhere to fiction-like rules for it to succeed.

At this level, it is only capable of performing simple tasks, which is still a major step according to Jerry Chow, a Yale graduate and senior scientist leading one of the major research groups at IBM.

IBMs supercomputer project is expected to not only advance artificial intelligence but also mark the advent of a new era in information technology.

Every year, IBM invests millions of dollars in new technology, most of which is directed to expanding Chow’s team to ensure that IBM releases the first marketable quantum processor.

Other tech giants, including Google, Big Blue, Intel, and Microsoft are also in the race. But perhaps Google is their biggest competitor, following their announcement in December 2015 that they had built a quantum computer that is “hundreds of millions of times” faster than standard chips.

The EU Commission also announced in May 2016 that they would be investing one billion euros in the technology under a quantum master plan.

.What to expect from quantum computing

A successful quantum computer should surpass Watson’s computing power by a million times. Increasing the processing speed of computers will have a massive effect on the economy in the following ways:

1. Greater field of application

Quantum chips will not only be incredibly faster than traditional processors, but also more capable of solving complex problems due to their special properties, addressing challenges that even supercomputers like Watson cannot.

The field of application would be massive. Experts believe that a quantum computer would revolutionize the process of drug development, impact the finance sector, and facilitate the much-awaited breakthrough of artificial intelligence.

Even cryptographers believe that the quantum chip could crack encryptions that were previously considered the gold standard of IT security. Considering the complexity of a quantum code, it would physically impossible to decrypt it, making it incredibly safe.

The Chinese government has recently installed a 2,000 km long special cable between Beijing and Shanghai to allow the people to maximize on the field of quantum cryptography.

Generally, a quantum computer will be expected to perform a number of tasks, including:

• Reading secret messages communicated over the internet using complex technologies such as Diffie Hellman and RSA
• Conducting virtual experiments
• Modeling quantum systems
• Searching huge amounts of data

Still, this does not necessarily explain how quantum computers will be useful. Indeed, they will be much faster and capable of handling more computational tasks, from searching huge amounts of data to modeling. There should be more applications that are yet to be discovered.

2. Exemption of the semiconductor industry

The semi-conductor industry will also benefit from quantum chips, bringing about the quantum age of exemption. There has been a growing need for the chip industry to produce transistors for smaller chips in order to make computers faster and more portable.

The capacity of computer chips has been growing remarkably for decades, just as predicted by Intel co-founder, Gordon Moore, back in 1965. Moore claimed that the capacity of chips would double every 1-2 years, which has been fairly true owing to the company’s innovative strength.

But the prophecy has nearly reached its physical limit considering that manufacturers are having trouble developing smaller circuits than those currently available at 14 nanometers.

3. Collaboration with universities

The IT industry is in great need of a spurt in new growth that could become possible with quantum processors. Intel, for instance, has been struggling with its dwindling PC business, which led them to make a 50 million dollar partnership with the Technical University of Delft in fall 2015, to bring together quantum research specialists with Intel engineers.

Previously, Microsoft had formed a quantum liaison with the Dutch.

The possibilities of Quantum chips have presented companies with the opportunity to get into the technological revolution fairly early in the game.

Another company, D-Wave System, was formed as a spin-off of a local university in Burnaby, Canada, and is nearly at the same level as IBM in regard to quantum chip development.

4. Drugs and fighter jets

In 2011, a private company called D-Wave claimed to have the first commercial quantum computer ever with 1,000 qubits, but it was seriously questioned by experts.

Nevertheless, the company received multiple rounds of financing that saw it raise over $160 million venture capital from, among other investors, the CIA, Goldman Sachs, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

D-Wave System building a Quantum Computer in Canada

The US space agency NASA claims that D-Wave can help with the planning of its space missions by developing control software for its jets.

The success of the combat aircraft manufacturer can mean faster synchronization of millions of lines of code with more relevant scenarios. This is critical for an F-16, as the slightest error can mean a fatality.

D-Wave has not ordered an upgrade with each presentation of a new generation of chips in Burnaby. Many clients use the company’s own server park in Vancouver through the cloud.

5. Quantum annealing as a precursor

D-Waves is creating processors based on a technique known as quantum annealing or tunneling.

Compared to the intricate technologies on which other companies like Intel or IBM are based on, D-Work’s approach is quite simple with fewer tasks to arrive at a solution.

According to the lead in Processor Development, Jeremy Hilton, choosing a robust and scalable model was the best approach for the startup.

However, the D-Wave computer is not capable of simulating entire molecular chains, which is one of the most attractive features of the quantum technology.

In fact, the first demonstration by D-Wave of a 16-qubit device could only solve a Sudoku puzzle, which was quite unimpressive. This was back in 2007, and the company is now working on superfast quantum computers with more qubits.

At the very least, a quantum processor should be able to simulate realities at the atomic level, allowing physicists to test the theories of Erwin Schrodinger or Max Planck.

Quantum technology can make it possible to compute the highly intricate movement of electrons; or to design and test new drugs or materials on a screen, eliminating the costly trial-and-error process in the pharmaceutical industry.

Mark Ritter, a researcher at IBM, hopes to use quantum technology to discover a metal alloy that can transmit power without loss. Such a discovery could lead to massive savings, marking the beginning of a golden age for some industries.

6. Facilitate innovations or Moon Shots

Google, which has been using a D-Wave computer since 2013, recently informed NASA that they are convinced of the possibilities that the technology presents.

In 2014, Google took up John Martinis, a quantum researcher from the University of Santa Barbara, and his group to develop an in-house laboratory for artificial intelligence based on a chip that is similar to that of IBM.

From self-propelled cars, robots, to herbs that treat cancer, Google has had a range of “Moon Shots”, and now it has the quantum computer project.

The success of quantum technology would speed up the training software and machine learning while offering an unprecedented degree of realism in simulations.

For software to be able to recognize faces of street signs, it must first go through millions of sample of images to make it reasonably reliable. The more detailed an image is, the higher the flow of data.

Google researchers are confident that they will introduce the first marketable quantum computer that is superior to traditional computers in about 2-3 years.

.How much further to realizing quantum computing?

The post The First Quantum Computer: Race Of The Top Tech Companies appeared first on ChipIn.

We have at least a cup of coffee or tea each morning, try to sleep for at least eight hours a night and still create time for a daytime nap and, well, feed on a balanced diet.

.What Exactly is Biohacking?

In the simplest of terms, biohacking can be defined as the desire and endeavor to be the best of yourself.

It is the art of manipulating biology using natural mechanisms and technological ideas to bring out the desired outcome on your body.

Biohacking can technically be broken down into two broad categories:

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Biologists
• Superhumans

According to Dave Asprey, one of the leading biohackers in the world right now, you can be a biohacker by either hacking biology outside your body or manipulate your own biology to better the general performance of your body.

DIY Biologists

These biologists claim biohacking is a way for anyone to explore the possibilities of biological research outside the restrictions of work-based or academic goals. Those undertaking this kind of projects range from the greenest of novices to professional biologists all eager to be part of innovations and discoveries.
Their works are almost entirely all about DNA manipulation and identifying weaknesses (especially on plant matter) and working to improve specific cellular structures.

Superhumans

Superhumans work on their own bodies to ensure they remain productive. By preparing that meal schedule or hitting the gym to tone your abs, you fall under this category of biohacking. Basically, anything that is done intentionally to improve your wellbeing

.History of Biohacking

The term biohacking is around thirty years old now but has only burst into the mainstream during the start of the century when hacker communities started promoting garage laboratories in San Francisco. It simply came up as a combination in the meaning of its component words “bio” and “hacking”.

From my viewpoint, by the early 2000s, biohacking had spread wide enough to cover even subjects outside of the two aforementioned categories. The two fields themselves have grown more sophisticated as time draws on and are now encompassing tens of new sub-fields.

While some people improve the physical state of their bodies by following strict diets and attending gym sessions, for instance, some people give it a more direct approach which includes receiving physical implants, fat removal, and tummy tucking to develop themselves into mini-cyborgs.

Cosmetic surgeries are basically what we are talking about; increasing butt and breast size using silicone or special fluids to make lips and cheeks fuller and more “desirable”.

While routes followed may vary thanks to natural bodily conditions, willingness to work, financial ability, urgency etc. one thing remains: they are all aimed at making the human body better and more acceptable to the current state of technology.

.Biohacking Tips for Beginners

There is too much content about biohacking out there that you can get your hands on and pore over as a beginner, but due to the sophistication of the field, I have a suggestion of where you can start.
And this is not one of those easier said than done “eat two leaves of broccoli thrice a day for three months starting now” or “make sure you sleep exactly between 9 pm and 8 am” type of suggestions.
No. This is a little more simple, less taxing and practical, but actually very effective if adhered to.
I’m going to give you five tools but don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard the best biohackers out there suggest you try some of them.

1. Have an Air Purifier

This is recommended directly by Dave Asprey himself, who wants you to live 180 years with him.
He maintains that our kind of environment right now doesn’t allow for any health-conscious individual – especially those dwelling in cities – to consider investing in an air purifier as an option.
The idea is to do away with inhalable microscopic particles in the air to reduce the risk of inflammation, he explains.

2. Avoid LED Lights

Asprey expresses his concern on the recent switchover from the conventional red light bulbs to LED lighting.
Our bodies, according to him, have not evolved to adapt to light fivefold more blue than sunlight or light without infrared and ultraviolet rays.
He recommends installing the old-fashioned red or amber lights and ensuring you have a dimmer switch too.

3. Fast Sporadically

While this may seem a little absurd, it has actually proven to be one of the most effective biohacking techniques aimed at improving brain power.
It’s never usually suggested because of varying eating habits among biohackers, some of which may not chime well with intermittent fasting.
This is basically for anyone whose meal schedule is steady and followed to the letter.

So how helpful is fasting in biohacking and how should I go about this fasting?

Firstly, I might need you to answer this: what is the bodily function that requires most energy?

Walking or even eating maybe?
Nope.

Thinking is.

The human brain contributes to only 2 percent of the body mass but uses up more energy than other organ or set of muscles.

It needs a regular supply of oxygen and, of course, blood to carry that oxygen for enhanced cognition. If anything naturally improves this, then it has to be fasting.

Staying for eight hours after waking up without feeding (which means skipping breakfast) has been shown by studies to increase your cognitive capacity.

Also, it increases your brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which triggers your brain to build and release more neurons.

We all know what more neurons means: better processing and higher learning capacity.
Of course restricting yourself to two meals a day also reduces your calorie intake and increases your lifespan by a whopping 40 percent but that’s just a spin-off bonus.
Another advantage to the brain is that it keeps it away from harm by triggering autophagy – a state where the brain starts using old cells for fuel. This maintains the level of toxins at a tolerable low and also keeps Alzheimer’s at bay.

Lastly, a study shows that intermittent fasting improves mood and vigilance as the new diet pattern triggers the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline, which combine in large amounts to boost positivity, focus, and motivation.

4. Work on Your Posture

Upright posture has been shown to offer more to your body than just an improved spinal health.
Also, according to studies, it has an effect on the people you interact with; it communicates confidence and subtly passes a message that you are worth respecting and listening to. It plausibly increases your confidence as well.

Amy Cuddy of Harvard University did a research of her own apropos the relationship between posture and body chemistry, and her findings as presented at TED were nothing short of astonishing.

They categorized posture as either “high power” or “low power” representing good posture and bad posture respectively.

Amy explained that high power poses not only reflected but also produced power, increasing implicit and explicit feelings of dominance and power, pain tolerance, action orientation and risk-taking behavior while reducing the stress hormone cortisol and anxiety.

Specifically, the level of testosterone (the dominance hormone) rose by 20% on subjects while cortisol went down by 25%. For the lower power poses by different subjects but under the same conditions, there was an average 15% increase in cortisol and a 10% decrease in testosterone.

Hacking your body language to boost confidence and involves practicing these habits as regularly as possible:

• Keeping your chest out and your back
• Keeping your chin straight and high
• Spreading out your legs and arms when in a seating position
• Keeping your abdomen somewhat activated to help keep your spine upright

5. Reduce Sugar Intake

Sugar is one of the most consumed foodstuffs in the world. Unfortunately, it has more side effects than you can count if used overly.
One of them is that it kills off dopamine receptors, making dopamine virtually useless in triggering natural happiness or pleasure.

Adding insult to injury, sugar is actually addictive, which means you may never get to fully salvage your brain’s capability through its receptors to sense dopamine as a source of pleasure.

Completely doing away with sugar from your diet may be a little difficult but definitely taking a cut can be tolerated. Here is how you can seamlessly go about that.

First of all, you need to know which products contain sugar, or just too much of it, so that you can avoid them.

Look at the percentage recorded against any of the following names on the product blurb before you toss it into the trolley:

It makes sense that if you don’t have sugary products in your kitchen then you are not going to take sugar, so the first step is to ensure they don’t get to your home.
Cravings might come to haunt you after, especially during the first few days but you can always satisfy them by eating salad, including a lot of protein in your meal and getting enough rest and sleep.
Eating a lot of proteins will busy your stomach and cut down the cravings for sugar. An overdose of proteins is not even a fraction as harmful as an overdose of sugar could be.

Bonus:Sleep Hacking

Sleep Hacking is basically one of the easiest forms of biohacking because it suggests you do something you love doing.
If you find it hard drifting off naturally, however, try such sleep-inducing methods as music, count sheep etc. but try as much possible to not rely on drugs.

Check out our list of the Best Sleep Trackers to help you achieve your goals.

.The Future of Biohacking

Biohacking is currently a common practice to plenty of people, according to Dave Asprey, who believes it is now apparent that traditional self-improvement, weight loss, health etc. don’t work.

To him, biohacking is a natural evolution that we have no choice but to follow. He thinks that the more people join the movement, the more awareness spreads, and the more biohacking become commonplace.

There will consequently be the need for better hacks, newer trends will evolve due to the increased number of people willing to find easier solutions and the practice will slowly develop into an irresistible force.

The annual Biohacking Conference will be held in LA late in September and Asprey, who will be in attendance, believes that that will be the best place to learn new practices and products.

Moreover, there is a new and fast-growing trend of technological implants to enable a quantified self and to start logging and keeping track of all your personal data, for the purposes of better health and self-improvement. We will update this article over the coming weeks to keep you up to date on these as well.

. Conclusion

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below and let us know how you feel about the field, whether you think it merits the hype and whether you have tried it yourself.

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