Velux, does it sound familiar to you? It is normal, this year, the company that makes roof windows has passed its 75th anniversary. This Danish firm is well known all around the globe, so much that it has become an eponym, in other words, when we talk about roof windows, we don’t say “roof window” but “Velux”. This situation naturally creates a monopoly and often can be understood as a must have even if there is no real improvement (compared to competing brands). This last part was the case for Velux for a long time, because a roof window is a roof window, but this year, at the 2017 CES in Las Vegas, new technologies allowed them to offer something that will change this monotony.

Our homes are becoming more and more connected thanks to new technologies. Heaters, shutters, sockets, lights are now “connected”. Velux Active with Netatmo, is the Velux part in those products. The Danish company has been working with Netatmo, a French company specialized in new technologies, to develop a new, efficient and healthy roof window. All of that is possible thanks to 3 sensors.

One for the humidity that will know when to open windows to evacuate humidity, the second one is for the temperature to keep the right temperature in every room during day and night and the last one is for Co2 and particles to reduce the pollution inside the living place if there is a need for it.

According to Velux’s Vice President “In a close future, your home will take care of your health providing you the quantity of natural light and fresh air that you need, when you need it”.

Here is how it looks like on video :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7m93zxQmpA

Interesting, don’t you think? Moreover, it will be possible to connect it to your smartphone or tablet and to control all of it :

In addition to that, it will in integrate with all the features that you can find in Velux products like the automatic window closing when it is raining, and others.

VELUX ACTIVE with Netatmo was awarded two prestigious CES 2017 awards in the Smart Home and Eco-design & Sustainable Technologies categories.
We don’t have the price at the moment, but the availability is expected during the 1st semester  of 2018.

Nevertheless, the increasing popularity of connected devices at home can be scary for many people, because today, everything can be in your house, your alarm, your TV, your cooling system, even your washing machine. Companies claim that all the systems are protected and secure, but what if a situation like in Mr.Robot happens?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAj8zHOEfiI

Here it is less interesting to have all of this because you cannot even use your house normally.

And the problem is, that many people are not aware of the power of the internet and how easy it can be to hack. Here is a survey of the cybersecurity knowledge in the US from a 1055 people sample.

If you don’t trust surveys and you live in an apartment where you can connect to numerous wifi networks, just have a look at how many of them have the name that is on the router, which by consequence means that they probably haven’t changed the password as well.

To conclude, in my opinion, it is good to have all those features in our houses, it can definitely increase the comfort in our life, but if you are not into technology, you are not friendly, your neighbours don’t like you, and you don’t know how to change your wifi password, you should probably stay with the classical way of using those products. If you want this, then you have to be attentive and aware of what you are doing and what are the risks.

Sources :

What the Public Knows About Cybersecurity

http://www.velux.fr/a-propos/innovation/velux-active-with-netatmo

https://www.netatmo.com/en-US/partners/velux

These days in the internet, when we have all this snapchat, instagram photo filters, many applications of editing pictures we all know is rare to see the picture without “pimping”. This is rare when someone would post picture with no filter or changes done. However before all of this accessible for everyone apps there was photoshop which is still existing and is the most popular one.

So how does this famous photoshop works. Photoshop was originally designed for graphic designers, while as photography is more and more connected now days with graphics, it is now also a basic tool for photographers. Photoshop has very extensive options when it comes to modifying photos, which are portraits, pictures of landscapes, professional photo shoots and what is more and more famous now selfies and pictures of the individuals which are not professional photographers.

Earlier photoshop was the tool used by professionals but now everyone could use it, you can download it from the adobe.com and by paying only 24, 59 euro per month. Okay why am I writing about the photoshop when it is not a “new thing”. Lately I started my adventure with photoshop and as I started I was scared and surprised at once, scared how people could be changed in this program and surprised how amazing it is. I decided to describe this a little bit and show how much it changed internet these days and how perfect people would like to look in the internet and how damaged it could be. The knowledge about it should be shared loudly and everywhere, as this problem exist already for a couple of yers. Moreover as I come from generation who knows that most of the beautiful perfect and confident women on the internet are fake and they do not exist my children would consider it as a real and would have problems with themselves as they would not be consider as perfect. The problem with photoshop begin when the fashion industry exaggerated with photoshopping pictures in the magazines which looked fake or people on the pictures did not look alike anymore. The problem stopped as soon as there were limitations introduced, but while the social media became famous, people went crazy about how they look, how other people see them and they started to photoshop their picture. The question is why? For what?

Genius program which was created for the photographers to explore their passion and help them in editing photos they did is now used by the group of  people who want to heal their complexes by photoshopping their pictures. The most important saying nowadays is “If you want to find out about somebody, then see them in real life”. And remember do not believe in everything you see online. The sad true is that that the true always comes out and as soon this would be reveal than better. Moreover it is especially sad for people who do photoshop to their pictures most of the time. These times are awful for people and for the world, as we would be so focus on us and social media and how we look we would not go forward. I would leave you with the video which shows how Photoshop works to be honest destroy people view and question is it worth to use photoshop in this kind of empty way?

Sources:

https://www.google.pl/search?q=photoshop&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQjbnGpoDYAhWJJZoKHWfvDRcQ_AUICigB&biw=1440&bih=799#imgrc=j4aRD5J2OMC1PM:

https://www.akademia-fotografii-dzieciecej.pl/blog/wskazowki-fotograficzne-fotografia-dziecieca/fotograficzne-pytania-i-odpowiedzi/wyjasniamy-pojecia-co-to-jest-photoshop/

https://www.google.pl/search?biw=1440&bih=755&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=bpstWpOiHMek6ATkgZeoCw&q=photoshop+vs+reality+social+media&oq=photoshop+vs+reality+social+media&gs_l=psy-ab.3…390132.394367.0.395191.30.24.3.2.2.0.139.1877.21j3.24.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.18.942…0j0i67k1j0i30k1j0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i13k1j0i13i30k1j0i13i5i30k1j0i8i13i30k1j0i19k1j0i30i19k1.0.m-xXm3mWbzI#imgrc=Uy7iXdlHcoUbsM:

Photoshop Master Reveals Why You Should Never Trust Photos You See On Social Media

Nowadays people usually use credit cards to pay in shops, clubs, restaurants and other places. We can spend a lot of money just thanks to a little peace of plastic with a chip. That was a brilliant solution but now we have something even better than that. Fingopay is a completely new way of paying for your grocery!

Fingopay is a payment system where the only thing you need to have while making the transaction is your own finger, nothing else. This method is solving many problems. Firstly, you can be sure that you won’t forget your credit card or wallet so you will be always prepared to pay. More more awkward moments in gas station or grocery shops. Secondly, you can’t loose your finger so you can be sure that your money are save with you. Thirdly, there is no way that somebody will rob you.

But how it works, you might ask. Here is a wideo with an explanation:

The company’s head quarter is located in London where the production is launch since 2015. They have created in collaboration with hitachi a device that uses biometric Vein ID. Thanks to that it provide us with safest method of protecting our data because there is no higher mathematical certainty of proving someone’s identity. Fingopay has successfully completed trials with Visa and Worldpay. It’s safe, simple and reliable payment system.

Nowadays everything needs to be fast, consumers are getting frustrated and easily bored. Moreover we’re not a big fun of waisting our time in a queue. But here is the solusion also for that! No more PINs, passwords, cash or bank cards. The only thing you need is your finger. Whole paying process is smoother and quicker.

To use this device you need to go through 3 stages, the 1st one is that you have to register on the website and link your card with your finger when you are paying at a shop or other place equipped with Fingopay, then pay with your finger, and to finish you will receive the Payment confirmation by e-mail.

Here is a schema of the way it works

• first you put your finger in the device
• The LED light is projected on your finger
• This light will go through your finger to the CCD camera that recognises you

It means that you need to be present. It won’t work if somebody will cut your finger and try to put it to device, pretending to be you. Still not convinced?

Read more:

Home

https://www.instagram.com/fingopay/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLlXAT3neOg6U8WBwfNErNg

https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/21/costcutter-finger-vein-payments/

Home

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41346717

I can’t believe what LG has just invented. The Drone Phone. Really, are you serious?

Unlike the other brands which are focusing on designing and producing more and more borderless – Samsung has just applied for a patent on smartphones without borders –, the Korean electronics manufacturer LG sees things from another angle and decided to move away from its competitors by rising up, taking a little height. Indeed, they decided to make a smartphone flying, dream of many magicians (and users). This smartphone seems to come straight out of a sci-fi movie.

After a long reflexion time and wondering why these lads have invented this crazy idea for a smartphone, I found a lot of pros. To illustrate those advantages, I’ll use simple examples that everybody has already lived once.

Example 1. After a long day of work, I feel so tired that I decide to l lie down in my bed or in the sofa to chill a little bit and to read the news or watch videos on my smartphone. I don’t really care about the battery consumption because I know that my charger is at my fingertips. So, I’m watching videos again and again and I fell asleep in a short time. The next morning, after waking up, I’m in a hurry and I’m running out of battery. This is always a frustrating situation.
Hopefully, LG has searched for a solution to this daily problem and came up with the idea of the Drone Phone. The LG 505 U+ can recognise if you’re sleeping and fly autonomously back to its wireless charging station. Thanks to this, you avoid this stressful moment of looking for a power socket in the bus, the tram or the train.

Example 2. I’m not usually cooking but my mother does. When I see her hands dirty, I really want to do a prank, grab my phone, call her, watch her washing her hands in a hurry to answer the caller and hang up just before she’s able to take her phone. Or imagine that you’re gardening, and your hands are so dirty that you decide not to pick up your phone.
LG has, thanks to its idea to embed the drone technology inside a smartphone, found this solution for those poor mums or gardeners. And for the laziest people in the world. From now, you don’t have to stand up to grab your phone located on the table because you don’t have to move, the smartphone comes to you. By combining the features of a smartphone and a drone, you can now cook while having a videoconference or a phone call without soiling the device.

Example 3. Nowadays, the trends of taking selfies has been global and has reached nearly everyone who owns a smartphone. Biggest problem of this trend? Retaking the picture again and again because you are not satisfied for multiple reasons: the quality is not good enough, all the people are not on the picture because the arm (or his/her selfie stick) of the owner is too short, the selfie stick appears on the picture, you were not ready, …
LG has solved this issue for you, selfie lovers! This Drone Phone allows you to take photos of you at a maximum distance of 10 meters. It’s also able to capture the selfie in the air from the best possible angle automatically and to stay perfectly stable at the moment of the picture. This product will appeal to the shy people: the time of asking the bystanders to take picture for you is finally over. This could also use to take picture from inaccessible locations. No need for your buddy to try to reach hardly attainable spots to take amazing pictures (Location: Trolltunga, Norway).

Example 4. Spending time on YouTube or on Netflix with my phone lying in the couch or sitting on the toilet has become a habit for many people (including me). But the only thing I hate is to hold my phone in my hands during a long time in an uncomfortable position.
The flying smartphone doesn’t need to be held in the air to watch your favourite TV series or documentaries. The smartphone is able to recognise where the user is looking and can move around your head to have the best position (optimal distance is 30cm). You could, from that moment, feel like being in a theatre, comfortably seated without using your hands.

Example 5. I watch a lot of videos of extreme sports. These people, usually sponsored by Red Bull, generally use GoPro cameras for their recordings. This type of camera makes the viewer feel like if he was in place of the sportsman or the stuntman. But sometimes, you want to make something crazy and you haven’t brought you GoPro camera with you to record it.
Now, you can record your crazy achievements or your insane actions under a new angle only with your phone. Indeed, the LG device can move in any direction at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. Enough to record a bungee jumping, a cliff jumping, a kart race or even focus on your face on a rollercoaster.

To sum up these five examples, all these ideas are illustrated in the following video:

Nevertheless, I don’t think that such a product won’t be released in the next few months. This breakthrough device is a very good out-of-the-box idea, but it is still at the project stage, which means that research & development must be done to improve the LG 505 U+. Though, this is a preview of the future, which means that you might probably use a phone that can fly in the near future. Regarding the fly feature, I’m wondering if the LG 505 U+ will be considered as a drone or not, because certain governments have set up drone regulations. This could be a big disadvantage for the forerunner of the flying phone.

To conclude this post, please don’t forget: “Life’s Good.”

References:

http://www.phonandroid.com/lg-505-u-smartphone-drone-qui-senvoit-lair-pour-vous-suivre-partout-montre-video.html

http://www.estufs.com/you-might-use-a-phone-that-can-fly/

https://www.phoneworld.com.pk/lg-to-launch-first-drone-phone-lg-u/

As a reflection of our way of life, fashion has to adapt itself in a world which is changing. This is no longer a myth; technologies invade the very real world of fashion. It is the arrival little by little of technology in a world that is very traditional and artisanal. The collaboration between technology and fashion is a phenomenon that is developing more and more: technology is therefore at the service of crafts, the goal is not to turn our back on traditional skills.

Thus, we see appearing the term smart clothing, which by definition, are textiles capable of capturing and analysing a signal in order to respond in a suitable manner. There are different levels of smart clothing. Firstly, there are passive smart clothes, the technology which doesn’t require electrical power. It is the material of the clothes which by its properties tends to give technical qualities. Secondly, there are smart active clothes, able to react in a preprogramed way, requiring a processor and an electric current capable of putting them into action. Finally, there are intelligent adaptive structures, with a learning ability that can adapt to the situation.

At the moment, health and sport are the themes whose smart clothing has developed the most. Having a large number of technical fabrics capable of adapting to the comfort of athletes or patients, it’s possible to measure heart rate, body temperature or performance.

In passive smart clothing, brands such as Nike, Adidas or Reebok are already using textiles to protect the skin from temperature changes while letting it breathe and resist sweat, in most of their technical parts such as socks or leggings.

In terms of smart active clothing, we see that the health sector uses smart fibres to control people with heart disease or diabetes. For its part, Nike has launched sneakers that are laced by themselves (HyperAdapt 1.0), being the first fully functional sports shoes that electronically adapt to the contours of the foot through adaptive lacing technology. Finally Adidas has created a pair of sneakers resistant to vomit and beer, on the occasion of the 184th Oktoberfest in Munich. The materials used have been fully designed to be waterproof and without the possibility to be stained.

In addition, some brands want to offer us, to include features specific to our connected phones, directly in our clothing. Levi’s is preparing a connected jacket in collaboration with Google, being sensitive to touch. The jacket will control your smartphone remotely and activate several features like receiving calls, notifications and GPS information, while having an aesthetically beautiful denim version with high quality. The jacket having fibres composed of a totally invisible electronic device. It will allow people by bike, car or motorcycle, to continue their journey without putting themselves in danger. For example, simply by tapping the sleeve of the jacket, you can accept or decline a call.

Finally, it is in the professional field of risk that technologies and fashion are used frequently. Indeed aerospace, has space suits composed of many innovations and micro-technology to improve both the comfort and protection of astronauts. Firefighters also see their clothing evolve, having sensors that can control the temperature inside and outside the suit and alert the wearer in critical conditions. Finally it is in the military field that it is possible to find military suits that can reduce infections in case of injury.

This shows that smart clothing is not only a gadget but also can be used and needed in specific areas. This is why we must not be afraid of the technological revolution that is beginning to affect the field of textiles and fashion. It is a new way of putting technologies at the service of the craft industry, which enriches the industry and allow new actors to emerge which are becoming more and more important. However, this revolution can present certain risks, which must be informed, such as the emergence of new ethical and societal issues. Indeed, smart clothing creating new IP addresses and new data information brings new risks of data protection and the risk of malicious intrusions.

Sources:

https://eu.mouser.com/applications/healthcare-may-reside-in-smart-clothing/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/smart-clothing-is-the-future-of-wearables/

https://www.nike.com/pl/launch/t/hyperadapt-1-0

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakocay/2017/09/06/adidas-is-releasing-puke-and-beer-resistant-oktoberfest-sneakers/#53d63a5033de

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/26/jacquard-google-levis-smart-jacket-denim

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/17/introducing-astronaut-clothing-future-349955.html

http://blog.peigenesis.com/the-rise-of-smart-clothing-and-body-sensors-for-military-use

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279955814_A_Review_of_Smart_Clothing_in_Military

A smart decanter that can pour you whiskey on a single command. Good or bad? Apparently, the bourbon company Jim Beam is selling such a product and what’s not very surprising, it’s already sold out. The only feature this decanter includes is the delivery of whiskey when it’s asked for. It’s mentioned that it might respond to you with a couple of recorded phrases, but this is not what people needs. We wants our liquor and we wants it simple and easy. I have to admit it – I love this product.

As is discussed in the original article, this might be a marketing stunt performed by the company. I doubt it, but it cannot be taken out of consideration. However, if true, this adds an extra feature to drinking, and probably also encouraging yet another drink just because it’s entertaining to use it. At least until you’re familiar with the concept.

Nevertheless, I’m excited about the idea. Not only for home usage, but mainly for pubs. If enough effort is put into this area, the future bars and nightclubs will not need any bartenders. Who hasn’t stood in a line at a club waiting for a drink? I mean, if the drinks are pouring up themselves, there’s a potential of saving time. Hence, people can do whatever they do at clubs instead, and in the meantime the clubs can be more profitable. See, we are looking at a win-win situation.

This idea indeed comes with a bunch of issues. Not to mention the payment, but if the club has implemented self-serving bottles, one can assume that the transaction technology is enough developed at the time as well. Just to elaborate it through the current available technology, the customers can load an account with money upfront or just connect their regular RFID credit cards. Another issue is that it’s more difficult to control the servings of people. I know in some countries it’s illegal to serve persons that are too intoxicated, which indeed would cause some difficulties. But I guess it’s solved with an additional responsibility for the bouncers.

If you can afford it, these problems are avoidable if you establish a bar in your home for private use only. The setback, I can imagine, is that your home will be a victim for a lot of house parties. The thing is, I believe that people around the world are becoming lazier for every day. The most daily issues needs to be solved in the most optimal way, thus time and energy saving. The demand of services are constantly rising and companies are putting a lot of effort in making their products and services as easy as possible for the customers in order to outcompete the competition. The area of consuming alcohol is one that is not yet developed as much as other areas, for example the automatic car-sharing offerings. Hence, I clearly see a potential.

Authors note. It may appear to the readers that I’m glorifying the consumption of alcohol. Drinking alcohol comes with a lots of responsibility and I advocates you to follow the legislation of whichever country you are located in. End of note.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/11/29/16716156/jim-beam-smart-decanter-amazon-echo-joke-real-product

I am sure you know what is a selfie stick and how you should use it. Nowadays it is all about making photos, everywhere and as many as we can!

At the beginning it was awkward to be caught while making a selfie. Maybe not for all of us but for me it was really awkward moment and I wanted to eliminate such situations. Then everything changed when selfie sticks appeared on the market. Even before them we all knew that making photos not only on vacations is just a normal situation. Using selfie stick everything became more easier and common.

Selfie stick is great and helps but this post is going to show you that selfie stick was nothing comparing to this new product invented by a group of students. I am talking about 3-Axis Stabilizer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFShVQJH9ds 

It’s not just about the photos, it’s more about the videos you can make by using this product to make the job done. There is no way somebody could complain about this product because it is easy to use, it’s small so you can always be ready to film whatever you want to and be ready for it all the time!

Some specs about the product:

Creators are describing their products as “luxuriously smooth video for the Modern Creators”. It means that even though you don’t have the best filming skills you can still use this stabiliser which will allow you catch all moments and film them just the way you see them. This stabilizator is for both – professional videographer as well as amateurs.

With this product you can film it all because the battery life is up to 8 hours! All you need is stabilizator and your smartphone which is always with you, isn’t it?

Creators are normal people who loves extreme sports where filming their performance is the most awaited moment so that’s the reason they are saying that “your equipment shouldn’t limit your creativity”! With this words they created a new selfie stick which enables to film everything!

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/019/196/745/bf2cafbf03f836a3025172c9e2a5e648_original.gif?w=680&fit=max&v=1510560276&auto=format&gif-q=50&q=92&s=c1ee96cc2aba40e29c00d7a712b34b0a

What is so special?

• Super Smooth Servomotors & Self-Calibrating (your picture is moving smooth, without any crashes and cuts)

• Ergonomic Design (stabilizator has access to your camera screen so you can react initially and control everything by using it)

• Ultra Long Battery Life (up to 8 hours)

• Aircraft Grade Aluminum (mady from 6061 aluminium, no plastic is used in whole device)

This product is now available on Kickstarter! If you are intrested on this topic you can read more about the product on:

http://luxgimbal.com

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/luxgimbal/lux-the-first-ultra-quality-3-axis-stabilizers