Kozminski Techblog

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The Ministry of Digitization in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance in Poland has not been idle since the beginning of the year. Immediately after the new year, the e-Paragony application for smartphones appeared in Google Play and App Store. The application is the next step in the digitization of transactions in Poland.

Poland has one of the most advanced payments in Europe

As you probably know, Poland is a pioneer on the market when it comes to online banking and cashless payments. As reported by the Chamber of Electronic Economy in 2019, the second most popular payment method is card payment, where we include BLIK, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and other similar methods of payments. The report also mentions that the popularity of non-cash payments is growing more dynamically than our foreign neighbors.
These data clearly show that Poles are interested in digitizing payments, which explains the actions of the government.

Functionality of e-Paragony

The functionality is quite limited, but some updates are coming to optimize it. For now, the main function of the app is to keep track of your expenses. You can add your receipts, check your expenses over weeks, months, or even years. You can assign your receipts to the categories of purchases, sellers or prices. It is the perfect solution to optimize your expenses. You can also add warranty information for a specific product, and view previously saved expense data and statistics.

An additional feature of the application, which many may not like, is the possibility of submitting reports directly to the Ministry of Finance. The reporting function has been added to combat dishonest sellers. If either of these situations occurs:

• we did not receive the receipt
• the receipt contains incorrect items
• the receipt is illegible
• the seller’s details on the receipt are incorrect
• the receipt shows the understated VAT rate
• the receipt has been canceled
  we have the option of reporting a denunciation.
  Each report remains anonymous to protect the user – as the developers assure. In addition, the authors of the application ensure that our data will be safe thanks to the PIN, password, and biometric verification.

What do you think about reporting sellers by using the app?

Future of e-Paragony

The Ministry of Finance has already announced that it will extend the functionality of the application in the future. The nearest plans are for downloading the receipt in an electronic version directly from the cash register.

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About the problem

In almost 70% of countries, there is not enough blood. It happens because of a lack of logistics and (bez also) infrastructure deficiencies. These need to buy blood from one other. As a result, a lot of blood components can be wasted during the transportation process.
Another important problem is a crisis coming into Asia. Because of the demographic situation, we observe that fewer and fewer people can donate blood. In 2030 we will observe that China will not have enough blood to make treatments and operations.
So, as you can observe the problem is huge. We need to find a solution to stop wasting blood. We need a tool that optimizes the logistics in managing blood.
The real question is: What we can do or improve to use blood more effectively and stop wasting it?

Start-up came with the idea

AIDA Diagnostics is a startup in the med-tech market founded in 2019 by Michał Janiszewski and Mateusz Pawełczuk. They revolutionized the blood market by combining AI and blood management. Their main goal is to reduce wasting blood by applying clinical decision support systems. It is simple assistance for doctors and regional blood banks. It decides if and how much blood transfusion is required. Even though previously few people tried to apply similar systems of blood management, AIDA’s was first using AI.
The three main goals of AIDA are to: reduce blood wasting, improve blood management and apply clinical decision support systems.

Their products

The E-Documentation for blood storage management is a tool that allows us to do several things. The first one is running the electronic registry of blood components going in and out of the blood bank. Also, it is generating all the reports and documentation necessary to be compliant with the regulation issued by the Minister of Health of Poland.
The CDSS system is designed to provide information about the validity of transfusions. It is based on the expertise included in the guidelines for the treatment with blood and its components issued by the Polish Ministry of Health. The system suggestions are based directly on the guidelines. Moreover, it can provide intel on the strength of scientific evidence supporting its recommendations. One of the similar solutions abroad reduces the number of unnecessary transfusions by up to 60%! Furthermore, they benefit patients while reducing the cost of blood therapy.
The third of AIDA products is AIDA Blood. It’s a tool that provides quick and user-friendly access to all the data needed to manage blood inventory. Also, it allows its users to analyze the potential results of their decisions thanks to AI and Data Science-based algorithms. It helps with the assessment of the risk of facing a shortage of blood components for the following days.

The future of AIDA

AIDA is a system created basically on Excel. Data that enter the data (regarding the number of used blood units and those that are in stock). Then, based on new and archival data, the system informs how many doses will be needed in four ahead. The target plan is to integrate AIDA with hospital systems. This innovative system aims to create an ecosystem that will be able to ensure an abundance of blood in hospitals. As a result, much less blood will be wasted.
For example, one of the hospitals in Poland used AIDA. It turns out that they menage to reduce out-of-date blood from 8.4% to only 2.5%.

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“We build decentralised, robust infrastructure to make crypto apps not just powerful, but also delightful. Our technology will unlock a future where everyone can exchange value as easily and as efficiently as using the Internet. We strive to make this a reality for everyone, not just a handful of crypto-natives.”

Ramp site

What is Ramp?  

Ramp was started by two friends Szymon Sypniewicz and Przemysław Kowalczyk. They were interested in cryptocurrency for years but they spot an opportunity to solve – people are scared of buying crypto because they do not have an easy and reliable tool to buy and manage cryptocurrency. In interviews, they always say: we want to make cryptocurrency easier to buy. They are working on a tool that can revolutionize the market of crypto. 

Now we observe that all tools work on the same principles: client buying crypto on one platform has to store currency on the same platform, but if wants to sell it, need to do a lot of steps to make it happen. Ramp wants to design a well-aligned and friendly UX to make it easier to buy cryptocurrency. “Interactions with cryptocurrency world should be that easy like payments on the internet” – Sypniewicz said. They also give a solution that helps asset tokenization.

What they achieved?

The Ramp was created in 2018 but now they are actually a significant gamer on the market. At first, they were classified as a start-up from Poland but when they increase income in one year by 3000 percent and trebled numbers of workers they show the world how important manage they are. Moreover, they encourage 400 partners to cooperate with them and invest money. In the first A fund round they collected 53 million dollars from NfX Fund (one of the top seed funds from Silicon Valley) or Mozilla. They also convinced Morgan Beller, who created Facebook’s crypto – Libry. 

Moreover, their start-up was assessed on 10 billion dollars. As Sypniewicz said if their idea comes up that number can increase to 100 billion dollars. 

What about the future? 

For now, they got 53 million dollars and they started hiring, and want to treble a number of workers. Furthermore, they open a new office in Wrocław for product development workers and another in London. Now the expands UK, France, Italy and USA markets. They got also an MSB license, which helps them to service clients.

Useful links: 
https://docs.ramp.network

Sources: 
https://ramp.network/about/
https://docs.ramp.network
https://www.forbes.pl/technologie/polski-kryptowalutoway-start-up-ramp-z-nowym-rekordowym-finansowaniem/tmm6bcw?tpcc=lnkdin_forbes&utm_campaign=post&utm_content=f52dacd2-06a9-42b0-97d9-c26e35d8b645&utm_medium=social&utm_source=lnkdin_forbes
https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/polski-startup-pozyskal-duze-finansowanie-to-rekord-w-polskiej-branzy-6715629847153504a.htmlhttps://www.money.pl/gospodarka/polski-startup-pozyskal-duze-finansowanie-to-rekord-w-polskiej-branzy-6715629847153504a.html

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Work at home

As we all know, the fact that we all study and work from  home for 1,5 years is sometimes annoying. Most of the time we fight with ourselves to not get distracted by kids, animals, or anything that surrounds us. We need to focus on our work or lessons, but as we know – it is easy to say. 

Moreover, this it is not only our opinion, that in the long term it is much harder to focus at home. There is some research that workers have lower efficiency now. Statistically the number of a work hours decreased because of working from home. Pandemic situation forced us to move work from publics places. It is worth to admire, that most studies show that usually we do not have a place like an office in our houses. The place which may give us opportunity to focus and not be constantly distracted. 

The real question is how we can change that? 

A  Microsoft’s solution

Microsoft found out about this problem. Even more they decided to solve it in a different way. Instead of rebuilding your house to create a place to work, Microsoft presented smarter solution. They created something more than just another desk that you will put in the corner of your room. 
Microsoft Office Envisioning Team led by Anton Andrews – a winner of a 2021 ‘Best of the Best Red Dot Award’ created the Microsoft Flowspace Pod that you can see below. 

Flowspace Pod is a concept that create a secure pod setup by combining Surface Studio with a shallow desk and stool. This combination provides user the privacy and good environment without any outside, distractive stimulus. More than that, the versatility of being accessible by multiple workers in the office is useful for companies. 

The Flowspace Pod includes a big screen on the regulated height – to protect your shoulders and neck for unhealthy positions. Of course, there is a possibility to move your screen in any direction. Flowspace Pod give you opportunity to work by standing, sitting or even using it as a big tablet. Microsoft designed a desk in way that user can choose, if they want to type on keyboard or write casually notes. In addition, it has designed speakers which surround you. This simple idea gives users ability to have meetings without need to have headphones. 

The whole construction resembles a cocoon that cuts you of from the world. Also, you may use additional covers to be more separated.

Microsoft also took care of the light in their invention. They put specialized led lights that will illuminate the whole space in the selected way. It helps to keep your eyes not dried and rest. 

Of course, it is only a Microsoft’s concept. You can create something like that on your own by using from example materials from IKEA. I am pretty sure that invention like this will help us stay more focused at work.

Sources 
https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BFI_WP_2021-56.pdf

The Microsoft Flowspace Pod Emphasizes Privacy With Technology

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Are we going to fly to work in next 3 years?

At the end of October coming from China, an Xpeng start-up presented a project of a flying car – Voyager X2. So far, the company was involved in the production of the electric car. As a result, the eastern firm was Tesla’s biggest competitor in the Chinese market. However, they decided to take a step forward and challenged all other companies from the automotive industry. By 2024 the Xpeng goal is fly cars mass-producing. In addition, the estimated cost of the single invention will not exceed 150,000 dollars.   Interestingly, the manufacturer designed the machine to be able to move on public roads and in the airspace. Inside we will find sits for two people, who will be able to enjoy the flight for a maximum of 35 minutes.

Is it possible that the costs are so low?

In July this year, the Pentagon Motor Group published an article entitled: “High Flyers: We’ve calculated the cost of owning a flying car”. As we read, the costs of owning a flying car do not only apply to buy it.  For example, the law requires to have a license, not to mention insurance or operating costs. The agency calculated the total cost including the car prize and annual maintenance to £ 536,000.

This is not the first time

For years, we have heard that companies are trying to create a drone that will be able to transport us from point A to point B. So far a flying taxi was tested in Dubai, 2017. The Prince of Dubai took a Volocopter flight, created by a German star-up. The prototype was able to reach 100 km/h and stay in the air for 30 minutes. However, something went wrong, because the product was still not introduced to the market.

Similar attempts have already been taken by companies such as Toyota, Airbus, AeroMobil, and Uber.

What is the obstacle to flying cars?

Almost every country is currently introducing new laws regarding airspace. As a result,  the drone’s popularization affects private individuals too. When we are talking about flying cars, we need to take into account the fact that the airspace is controlled by each country separately. Even in the European Union there are countless entities responsible for flight safety. Is it possible for flying cars to be operated by private individuals? The answer is yes if aviation licensing becomes more popular. Now, it is most likely possible that artificial intelligence will replace people at leading flying cars to make it widely available to humans.

Sources:

• https://www.pentagon-group.co.uk/news/how-much-will-flying-cars-cost
• https://businessinsider.com.pl/technologie/nowe-technologie/latajace-autonomiczne-taksowki-w-dubaju-pierwszy-test/xwc6mhg
• https://businessinsider.com.pl/technologie/nowe-technologie/airbus-i-audi-testuja-latajace-taksowki-w-ingolstadt/x9x96s9