By Joe Jowett, CEO and co-founder of StrikeX

Crypto wallets have enjoyed explosive popularity in recent years, with 79.3 million people across the world using the technology as of 21 November 2021.[1] However, while 78% of adults have now heard of it, up from 73% in 2020, fewer adults were able to define cryptocurrency than at this time last year.[2]

Crypto wallets have enjoyed explosive popularity in recent years, with 79.3 million people across the world using the technology as of 21 November 2021 @StrikeXofficial
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Designers and developers of crypto wallets have an obligation as well as an incentive to reduce this educational deficit, by providing products which leave users in no doubt about their benefits. This means delivering the security and clear links to fiat currency which first-time buyers crave and, beyond that, supporting a range of tokens to trade and even offering cross-chain compatibility. At StrikeX, for example, we are preparing to launch our own crypto wallet which will address a number of these issues.

Designers and developers of crypto wallets have an incentive to reduce this educational deficit, by providing products which leave users in no doubt about their benefits @StrikeXofficial
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But before that…

Wallet providers are often quick to bombard consumers with arguments of why their product is the best, but this will fail to resonate without first ensuring that consumers understand what a crypto wallet is.

Unlike a physical wallet, a crypto wallet does not store currency. Cryptocurrency and other tokens such as NFTs are stored on the blockchain, whereas a crypto wallet houses a user’s public and private keys, which enable them to access their assets. A public key is like an email address; if someone wants to transfer an asset, they send it to the recipient’s public key. A private key is like the password to an email account; it proves that the public key belongs to that user.

A crypto wallet does not store currency. Cryptocurrency and other tokens such as NFTs are stored on the blockchain, whereas a crypto wallet houses a user’s public and private keys @StrikeXofficial
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Why is this important?

Crypto wallets cannot, and should not, achieve mainstream adoption until consumers can be confident about their security credentials. Moreover, providers should be equally forthcoming about the potential security risks, as every platform on the market has both pros and cons.

Hot wallets, which store data online, are inherently riskier than cold wallets, which store data on hardware such as UBS drives. Online wallets are more susceptible to cyber-attackers, who might use malware to break into a wallet or exploit hidden vulnerabilities in its software.

Crypto wallets cannot, and should not, achieve mainstream adoption until consumers can be confident about their security credentials @StrikeXofficial
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But not all hot wallets are created equal. Electrum, for instance, has several security features which competitors such as Coinbase lack, including integration with hardware wallets to allow for “cold storage” of users’ data.[3] Offering advantages such as this, and ensuring that consumers understand them, will surmount a significant obstacle to mainstream adoption.

Providing a payment gateway

Crypto wallet providers can also drive adoption by making it as easy as possible to convert crypto assets to fiat currency. As well as assuring investors that cyber-attackers cannot easily access their assets, platforms should ensure that the opposite is true for users themselves. Making the transition from crypto to “real” currency as straightforward as possible will increase both convenience and consumer confidence, contributing to an overall improved user experience.

At StrikeX we are preparing to launch our own crypto wallet which avoids the hassle of exchanging crypto assets for fiat. Converting between crypto and cash must be a seamless process @StrikeXofficial
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At StrikeX, for example, we are preparing to launch our own crypto wallet which avoids the hassle of exchanging crypto assets for fiat. It will offer instant fiat-to-crypto deposits as well as withdrawals direct to the user’s bank account, with Visa, Mastercard, and Apple Pay all compatible. Converting between crypto and cash must be a seamless process to win over crypto-sceptic consumers.

Broadening horizons

But converting sceptics into first-time buyers is only an initial step on the journey to mainstream adoption. Keeping investors interested in their crypto assets with a fully functional, user-friendly platform will be key to the viability of crypto wallets in the long term. Wallets which support a range of tokens will be best-placed to achieve this.

Even some of the most popular platforms on the market do not yet offer this. MetaMask, for instance, surpassed 10 million users in August 2021,[4] but only supports Ethereum and Ethereum-based tokens. Integrating decentralised exchange capabilities into a platform, on the other hand, opens new opportunities for users to trade in different cryptocurrencies and tokens without requiring recourse to an external exchange.

Unlocking ever greater functionality for consumers will encourage them to keep using crypto wallets, as long as their expectations around security can be met @StrikeXofficial
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Beyond this, cross-chain compatibility would empower users to transfer value between different blockchains: Ethereum and the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), for example. Unlocking ever greater functionality for consumers will encourage them to keep using crypto wallets, as long as their expectations around security can be met. The onus is on crypto wallet providers to help consumers understand and adopt their products, and these principles of security, accessibility, and flexibility will provide the basis.

The post Crypto Wallets: How to Turn Popular Awareness into Understanding – and then Adoption appeared first on Tech Trends.

Many businesses have been dragged kicking and screaming into the digital era, with some reluctant to accept that their future was always bound to be dictated by how they adapted to things like online payment systems. However, there are some sectors, such as online gaming, that have stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting new fintech.

The rise of in-game payments

Online stores and websites offering services have always relied on some form of online payment system, yet only recently have new payment structures begun to be rolled out by savvy games and fintech developers alike.

A prime example of this is the online Battle Royale sensation Fortnite, which, despite being a free-to-play game both on mobile and PC/console, has found a way to integrate in-game purchases, with players spending big bucks on fancy avatars and skins for their weapons. Such purchases are also known as microtransactions.

Alongside this clever microtransactions business model, Epic Games also offers players a VIP pass of sorts, called BattlePass. This is a monthly subscription that keeps the game running at optimal levels for those who purchase it. There is even an in-game currency called V-bucks, batches of which can be bought in bulk, thus giving a discount to players who use them in the game.

Epic has raked in vast profits from these innovative approaches. So much so, in fact, that they are now doing battle with Apple and Google, as the app store giants vie for a bigger piece of the microtransaction pie. They are also looking to take Apple to court over their monopoly of the App Store, a real-life Battle Royale that should prove interesting to watch over the coming months.

Online casinos and Fintech

One online business that has long been well ahead of the curve when it comes to collaborating with Fintech firms is the online casino industry, with the sector’s competitors vying to provide their customers with fast and stress-free payment options which can be made at the drop of a hat. Players want to be able to keep their slot reels spinning or their blackjack hands flopping without having to constantly worry about whether their funds will be available.

This has meant that the top providers of online casino games work with multiple e-wallets and payment providers, ranging from established names such as PayPal, all the way through to new kids on the block such as Neosurf or MuchBetter, which enable players to easily fund their accounts and keep that hot streak going.

Cryptocurrencies: the new Fintech frontier

While regular currencies are traded and manipulated as they have been for many years, and gaming companies even develop their own in-game currencies, there is widespread agreement that crypto is where the future lies.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are decentralized digital currencies that use blockchain technology to essentially try and democratize the world of finance. Although the strength of their security protocols may not always be quite what they claim them to be, more and more people are now trading cryptocurrencies as well as using them to purchase goods and services.

Many gaming platforms and developers are already making contingencies so that they can harness this new type of currency, a move that will no doubt pay dividends down the line.

The post Online Gaming Innovating With Fintech appeared first on Tech Trends.

From mundane activities, such as paying bills online, to the more avant-garde ones, like developing blockchain-based cryptocurrencies, the idea of Fintech encompasses all processes that make handling our finances easier by using digital technologies and algorithms.

77% of fintech firms are expected to adopt blockchain by 2020
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It all started back in 1918 when the US Federal Reserve Banks introduced the Fedwire Funds Service, the first electronic fund transfer system, which relied on now-archaic technologies such as the telegraph and Morse code. Then came the creation of the first Diners Club credit card in 1950, by Frank McNamara, and the launch of the first ATM, by Barclays London branch, in 1967.

The most crucial stepping stone in the Fintech Revolution, however, was the advent of the Internet. It quickly led to a myriad of revolutionary inventions, such as online bank accounts and mobile payments. It also sparked the inception of the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, in 2009, which led to 2017’s worldwide Cryptomania, during which Coinbase—an online cryptocurrency exchange—exceeded $1.5 billion in value.

We should witness an introduction of advanced authentication methods, such as iris and fingerprint scanners, which will replace the unreliable and cumbersome passwords
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Today, most experts understand that financial institutions will have to invest in Fintech to avoid becoming obsolete. The consumer banking sector is leading the way when it comes to being the most disrupted industry, at 72%. However, some predictions indicate that in the next 3–5 years 84% of insurance corporations will begin to cooperate with Fintech companies, making them the champion of this digital innovation.

Today, around 46% of large fintech companies are powered by AI
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Some of the most significant disruptions originated with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, cloud storage, and crowdfunding. Today, around 46% of large Fintech companies are powered by AI. Nevertheless, estimates show that, in addition to its use in the back-end processes, AI will also take part in customer interactions, driving 95% of all communication with users by 2025. There are already very powerful robots capable of chatting with humans, such as Sofia. It’s estimated that their capacities for human interaction will increase, while their prices will decrease, prompting companies to switch to automated clerks to lower costs and improve customer satisfaction.

It’s possible that voice recognition technology will allow you to order things and pay bills just by saying a few words, while micro-embedded wearables will enable you to shop without ever using a cash register
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Using blockchain technology is another way for big banks to cut costs. It’s projected that by deploying the technology, $12.3 billion can be saved each year, reducing the infrastructure by 30%. Ripple, a cryptocurrency designed specifically to be compatible with the existing financial structure, is leading the way by operating with 15 out of 50 global banks, including UBS, Bank of China, and Santander. Given the benefits the technology brings, it comes as no surprise that 77% of fintech firms are expected to adopt blockchain by 2020.

Ripple, a cryptocurrency designed specifically to be compatible with the existing financial structure, is leading the way by operating with 15 out of 50 global banks
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The outlook of the Fintech industry seems very exciting, and one area where we can expect improvement is security. We should witness an introduction of advanced authentication methods, such as iris and fingerprint scanners, which will replace the unreliable and cumbersome passwords.

However, the major improvements lie in making financial services more user friendly and less resource hungry, while at the same time tailoring them to the individual. As Joy Schoffler, the Executive Chair of FinTech Professionals, says: “At the core of everything is simplification and personalization.” It’s possible that voice recognition technology will allow you to order things and pay bills just by saying a few words, while micro-embedded wearables will enable you to shop without ever using a cash register.

Whatever the future brings, one thing is certain: the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to ride the wave of disruption and stay oahead of the curve in the digital age.

This handy infographic from carsurance.net charts the growth of Fintech from the first wire transfer to blockchain technology & beyond
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Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Infographic: Growth of Fintech appeared first on Tech Trends.

By now, you have probably heard about Bitcoin or blockchain. At least I hope so!

The media attention these two receive has only increased over the years, and the trend shows no sign of stopping. Thus, the chances are that an article or video about them has found its way to your screen by now. But how much do you actually know about Bitcoin or blockchain?

The aforementioned articles or videos, useful though they may be, do tend to be a little too much to take in for someone not in the loop about Bitcoin or blockchain technology. To be sure, one may learn a thing or two, but, nine times out of ten, an uninitiated individual will not really benefit from them.

Where should a Bitcoin and blockchain novice go to find the information she requires? Well, all you need can be found in the following infographic
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This leaves those wishing to learn about Bitcoin or blockchain in a bit of a spot since the information they need can be difficult to glean from all the various sources and navigating through the complicated jargon that goes on unexplained. What, for example, do abbreviations like ICO and DAO stand for? This happens because content creators sometimes assume that the audience is already familiar with the terminology at hand.

So where should a Bitcoin and blockchain novice go to start building a foundation of basic knowledge about these key technologies? This infographic by Bitcoinfy attempts to do just that.

This infographic, brought to you by Bitcoinfy, holds all the foundational knowledge you can hope to get
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If you’re still worried about how hard it will be for you to understand all of this, have no fear. The way this Bitcoin and blockchain guide is designed makes it easy to absorb all the important facts quickly. So give this infographic a good look. It has everything you need, whether you simply want to be lightly informed about this topic, or you wish to take first steps on the path to Bitcoin and blockchain expertise.

What, for example, do abbreviations like ICO and DAO stand for?
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Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Infographic: Everything You Need To Know About Bitcoin appeared first on Tech Trends.

Technology gives everyone the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency online.

When it comes to technology, it can often feel that by the time we hear about something, it’s already too late to get ourselves involved. Indeed, sometimes this can be true. Those who invested early in Bitcoin are now seeing huge payouts, sometimes 1000x what they invested. Whereas to get involved now wouldn’t be nearly as lucrative. But there are some trends in tech that are open at any time for anyone to get involved with. One of these is trading online. While the currencies you may trade and the companies’ stocks may have been around forever, each day is a new day in trading and could be the day that you make a name for yourself as a trader. But how can you be a good trader online at this stage?

Those who invested early in Bitcoin are now seeing huge payouts, sometimes 1000x what they invested. Whereas to get involved now wouldn’t be nearly as lucrative
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Do Your Research

Due diligence is the key to being a good trader. Spending hours poring over trading forecasts and past trading information could help you see patterns and anticipate what comes next. Even when the market throws you a curveball, it’s still better to be prepared to deal with it than to trade blindly. Researching the current climate of economics is also important. You don’t need to know the intricacies of every country’s currency, but you do need to be able to back up decisions you make in your trades. There is no such thing as having too much information when it comes to making trades or investments in general.

When the market throws you a curveball, it's better to be prepared to deal with it than to trade blindly
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Find a Platform

There are plenty of websites for those who are less familiar with trading and want to be guided more at the start. These kinds of platforms allow you to buy stocks and to view trading information, which is critical for embarking on any trade. While the future may be uncertain, we can definitely learn from the past, especially when it comes to seasonal trends in forex and stocks. Using a platform isn’t just for those who are beginning their trading journey as the services they offer are also suitable for more seasoned traders.

While the future may be uncertain, we can definitely learn from the past, especially when it comes to seasonal trends in forex and stocks
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Take a Chance

One of the best lessons you can learn when you begin trading is that sometimes you just have to take a chance. While research is good, focusing too much on what it tells you could lead to paralysis by analysis. The act of trading sometimes comes down to taking risks and hoping they pay off. While it’s important to have a plan in place to see how expensive your risks can be, most great traders will tell you that you can often learn better from mistakes or failures than through success. Indeed, trading is all about making decisions on information, but in the microsecond that the trade is made, the information could be out of date or incorrect. Sometimes just taking the risk and hoping it pays off is the best strategy.

While research is good, focusing too much on what it tells you could lead to paralysis by analysis
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It’s definitely not too late to get into the trend of trading and by doing your research, using the right platform, and being able to take risks, you’ll soon know whether you are cut out for the lifestyle that comes with being a trader.

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Is It Too Late to Get Into Trading? appeared first on Tech Trends.

It has been a hectic year on the emerging crypto markets! This infographic looks back on the roller coaster ride

With any tech, any industry, and any product – there are fluctuations. Whether they’re positive or negative, every market has them. And of course, this can be said for the world of crypto in 2018. It’s been an eventful year in the crypto space. From dramatic price changes, forks and shifting market trends. In 2018, cryptocurrency markets continued to show growth in regions across the globe, showcasing the world’s desire to exercise more control over their finances.

With any tech, any industry, and any product - there are fluctuations. Whether they’re positive or negative, every market has them. And of course, this can be said for the world of crypto in 2018
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Since before the boom of December 2017, the crypto industry broke into the watchful, and sometimes cynical eye of the public. There’s been speculation, regulation changes, social media monitoring, and more in 2018. Here is a summary of some of the biggest crypto landmarks of the past 12 months by Magdalena Gołębiewska, Country Manager at Luno

There’s been Cryptocurrency speculation, regulation changes, social media monitoring, and more in 2018
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The first three months of 2018 are summarized below followed by the infographic for the whole year.

January 2018

The bull market of the holiday season came screaming to a halt as we entered 2018 Bitcoin lost 40% of its value over January.
This decline was due in part to new regulations in South Korea, as well as Facebook announcing they were starting to ban the advertising of cryptocurrencies and crypto exchanges.

February 2018

By February, nearly half of 2017’s ICOs failed to attract funding. Fortune reported that 142 ICOs failed before reaching their target, while another 276 failed after their fundraising ended. While some of these were actual token sales to raise money for would-be start-ups, a good number of these ICOs turned out to be scams, with the founders disappearing with the money raised. It’s always important to make sure you thoroughly research a company, its employees, and founders before deciding to buy their tokens.

March 2018

March brought with it better news for the cryptosphere. The G20’s Financial Stability Board comprising of 68 institutions such as banks and ministries of finance, who then prepare suggestions for global financial systems, stated they don’t believe crypto-assets pose a threat to global markets. The FSB Chairman, Mark Carney, wrote a letter to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, in which he expresses his concerns about the possible issues that will arise for consumers and investor protection. He noted, however, that the underlying cryptographic and blockchain technology has the potential to improve the inclusiveness of the financial system and the economy. The board delivered varying results for the world of crypto, but overall the sentiment was positive.

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post The 2018 Crypto Rollercoaster appeared first on Tech Trends.

A look back at some of the most exciting moments & innovations Tech Trends covered in 2018!

Cryptocurrency

Crypto is crashing – or so the experts say –  but it is not going away, so Tech Trends was excited to welcome on board our very own FinTech wizard Richard Andrews who kicked off his soon to be regular series last month.

Is Cryptocurrency on the verge of going mainstream?

Image by MichaelWuensch from Pixabay

During the bull run of 2017/18, coins could pump 50% on little more than a tweet of a conference announcement or a trivial code release. The principles of decentralisation and innovation were king and governments, financial services and regulation of any kind the public enemy of this bright new decentralised future. But after the parabolic rise of 2017 and the sharp sell-off of 2018 investor sentiment has reversed dramatically in the hope that these same institutions can restore their fortunes.

Hopes of greater institutional participation hinge on the Bitcoin ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) allowing institutional investors to participate in the market without the risks of holding Bitcoin directly
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Hopes of greater institutional participation have largely hinged on the prospect of a Bitcoin ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) which would allow private and institutional investors to participate in the market without the risks of holding Bitcoin directly. A good comparison is the well-established GLD ETF that provides exposure to gold without holding it under the mattress. However, this approach has so far proved disappointing due to rejections and delays by the US Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC). Read his full article here.

Mixed Reality

HoloLens subscription service spurring immersive tech adoption

Since the HoloLens was first released almost three years ago, Microsoft has steadily been building partnerships and demonstrating an array of industry use cases across manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, education and many others.

Rather than place users in a fully computer-generated world, as virtual reality does, HoloLens allows them to put 3D digital models in the room alongside them. As the Windows-10-based product does not have wires or external cameras or require a phone or PC connection, users can walk around the objects they create and interact with them using gestures, gaze and voice. This tends to make it well suited for onsite industrial applications.

While many large companies have adopted mixed reality and HoloLens applications, the $3,000 price tag of the device has been perceived as a barrier for adoption among smaller players
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Yet while many large companies have adopted mixed reality and enthusiastically evangelized about the efficiency gains that they achieved with HoloLens applications, the $3,000 price tag of the device has been perceived as a barrier for adoption among smaller players, who understandably aren’t sure that the ROI would be justified in onboarding the technology at this relatively early stage. Read the full article here.

Health Tech

Epilepsy consortium believes technology could save the NHS £250 million a year

Today, up to one in 100 people in the UK are believed to suffer from epilepsy, leading to three per cent of all Accident and Emergency visits and a total of 1.3 million days in hospital a year. It’s a challenging condition to manage, particularly as existing medication only works for up to 70 per cent of sufferers. Of those who do not respond to medication, most are not suitable for invasive surgery, leaving many to continue to experience unpredictable and potentially life-threatening seizures. New research by Public Health England (PHE) has found a 70% rise in the number of deaths of epilepsy patients between 2001 and 2014. PHE said there was a need to improve the clinical management of patients and make improvements to their wider health by tackling smoking, alcohol intake and poor diet.

The programme provides patients with wearable technology that records vital health data to help clinicians build a tailored record of a patient’s condition and seizure patterns
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This is what myCareCentric Epilepsy consortium – funded by Innovate UK and comprised of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Kent, System C & Graphnet Care Alliance and Shearwater Systems – is hoping to do by equipping people with the ability to self-manage their condition. Running on Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure, the programme provides patients with wearable technology that records vital health data to help clinicians build a tailored record of a patient’s condition and seizure patterns. It has the potential to learn to classify seizures; to alert clinicians and carers in real-time so they can consult patients remotely, and provide essential lifestyle recommendations and drug prescriptions. Read the full article here.

A Tragic Loss to Science

Stephen Hawking taught us about about life, the universe, and everything

I once met Professor Stephen Hawking as he was coming out of the elevator at the John Lewis store in Cambridge (UK – The original one), where we both lived at the time. And although I’ll admit this might be far from the most interesting Stephen Hawking story out there, it’s still one of my favourites. Being in his presence was an incredible feeling. I felt ridiculously honoured to have bumped into him in this ordinary shop.

Now, after his death, I feel much the same way about having had the honour of sharing the same time-space with him. In an age of fake news, President Trump and imminent Brexit, he was our steadfast voice of reason. Right to the end, he advocated for the things he felt passionate about, such as defending the National Health Service against the likes of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who – with a level of misguided arrogance I can’t begin to comprehend – actually chose to argue with him (with entirely predictable results).

In an age of fake news, President Trump and imminent Brexit, Professor Stephen Hawking was our steadfast voice of reason
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And all this he achieved with wit, wisdom, and a wicked sense of humour, which endeared him to millions around the world. When combined with the inspiring way in which he defied an illness that should have killed him and transcended the disability which left him only able to move a few muscles on his face, he is indeed a formidably inspirational figure. Read the full article here.

Virtual Reality

PokerStars brings online poker to a truly immersive social VR experience

Tech Extremes

Ninja tech skills can come in handy even onboard an Antarctic research ship

A research trip around the Antarctic gave a Software Engineer Carles Pina i Estany a new perspective on how the very product he helped build was being used by scientists. Aboard a research vessel thousands of miles from shore and the nearest reliable Internet connection, these modern explorers routinely relied on Mendeley to do their work, even in subzero temperatures.

A research trip around the Antarctic gave a Software Engineer Carles Pina i Estany a new perspective on how the very product he helped build was being used by scientists
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The opportunity to take part in this unique expedition came when Carles’ partner, Jen Thomas, was invited to become Data Manager on a research trip led by the newly created Swiss Polar Institute, which has a mission to connect researchers active in polar or extreme environments, promotes public awareness of these environments, and facilitates access to research facilities in those extreme environments. As they were short of an IT person and Carles was already on a sabbatical from his work at Elsevier – during which he had already planned to travel around the world – he seized the opportunity to fulfil a longstanding ambition to take part in a polar expedition. Read the full article here.

Ted Talks with Zebra

Accessible design in the age of Industry 4.0

Earlier this month Tech Trends attended our first TEDSalon in New York! Presented by Zebra Technologies and TED the session theme was ‘The Next Wave’ and focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing a tsunami of change that will dramatically affect how we interact with and adapt to technology. The ways we choose to ride this wave will determine the shape of our future. Will we use this as an opportunity to solve our most pressing issues, or allow it to become a calamity that divides us? Hosted by TED’s Bryn Freedman, five speakers and one performer explored the tools and expertise we’ll harness to build the future

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing a tsunami of change that will dramatically affect how we interact with and adapt to technology
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The evening included fascinating presentations from experts on the woeful state of America’s election systems and how technology can help, and how we need to change the way we learn if AI is part of the process. Zebra’s own design technologist James Morley-Smith took inspiration from how his disabled son Fintan learned piano starting with the black keys (the opposite of the traditional method) to guide his designs. In his work at Zebra, Morley-Smith designs for employees who are often in noisy, poorly lit industrial settings and clad in bulky protective gear. By following the black-keys tactic, he’s factoring in users’ limitations from the get-go, much like the idea of accessible product design championed by Microsoft at this year’s Build Conference. Read the full article here.

Sex Tech

Porn legend Ron Jeremy sees VR as the future of the adult industry 

Every 5 minutes, Pornhub transmits more data than the entire contents of the New York Public library’s 50 million books. Pornhub’s yearly review of trends reveals that in 2017 a total of 3,732 Petabytes of porn data was streamed, which makes for 7,101 GB per minutes and 118 GB per second.

In 2017 a total of 3,732 Petabytes of porn data was streamed, which makes for 7,101 GB per minutes and 118 GB per second
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And a man who significantly contributed to those gigantic volumes of traffic is Ron Jeremy, an AVN Hall of Famer with over 2,000 films under his belt. Jeremy is the Guinness Book of Records holder for Most Appearances in Adult Films and a big believer in VR Porn. So much so that he’s now put his money where his mouth is and launched RonJeremyVR, a premium service hosting VR films directed by the big man himself.

Every 5 minutes, Pornhub transmits more data than the entire contents of the New York Public library’s 50 million books
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So where are we in this new age of online VR thrills? According to the Pornhub Year in Review 2017 report:

“Virtual Reality Porn continues to gain in popularity, moving up 14 spots on the list from 2016. Cheerleaders came back with a bang, moving up 366 slots and into our top 20 searches of the year. VR devices were a popular holiday gift, and it seems that porn was one of the first things people wanted to try out with their new headsets. After the New Year, average daily views remained much higher than the pre-Christmas levels at around half a million per day.”

With the demand for streaming porn continuing to grow, this data suggests that Ron is indeed on to a real winner
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With the demand for streaming porn continuing to grow, this data suggests that Ron is indeed on to a real winner.  Read the full chat with Ron here.

Internet of Things

IoT and the connected home have yet to fulfil their promise

IFA this year was much like previous years, hundreds of companies screaming from the rooftops about minimally iterative products. A few more pixels, a bit bigger screen, a bit faster processor and everything a bit thinner, oh and crap Robots. I love tech and love my gadgets and can geek out with the best of them but I attended IFA this time looking for more meaningful innovation than a bit better camera on an $800 smartphone. I am happy to report that I found it, but not where you might expect.

A decade ago the invention of the smartphone changed our lives but truly new products like this are few and far between, so every year companies try to reinvent what we already have through minor upgrades and tweaks. We are stuck in a loop where the market is slowly evolving but no real innovation is going on, and the largest companies in the world are all guilty of this lack of effort to progress, so we must start looking off the beaten track for those that are truly working to innovate.

The largest companies in the world are all guilty of this lack of effort to progress so we must start looking off the beaten track for innovation
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Thought sustainably producing high-quality, smart and connected home products @Beko can democratise technology
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IoT and the connected home has been much discussed and I have seen some interesting concepts and even a few eyebrow-raising products but it is not yet in our homes, changing the way we live, and judging from the hundreds of pathetic, unimaginative and almost useless ‘innovative IoT products’ on display at IFA 2018, it’s not going to happen any time soon. But Turkish behemoth Beko, makers of reasonably priced kitchen appliances, held a press conference to announce their technology strategy and issued a white paper on the future of technology in the home and impressed me with their assessment of how new, innovative technologies in our kitchens can improve our lives and can do it affordably and in the not-too-distant future. Read the full article here.

Well, it’s been a very exciting year for technology, and we’re off to play with our gadgets, but be sure to check back with us right after Christmas as we boldly go where no one has gone before in 2019…

Merry Christmas from TECH TRENDS!

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post A Year in Tech: 2018 Recap appeared first on Tech Trends.