Kozminski Techblog

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A growing number of companies have started to accept virtual currencies. For example, Microsoft, Tesla, and Amazon already accept Bitcoin. Luxury brand Gucci also announced that they will accept cryptocurrency payments in some stores in the US starting at the end of May. They are planning to expand this change to be applied to Gucci’s full North America network. Another luxury brand Off-White also started accpeting payment with cryptocurrencies this March in some stores in London, Paris, and Milan.

Cryptocurrencies that will be available to use are more than 10 currencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, etc. The company also reported that niche cryptocurrencies like Shiba Inu and Dogecoin will be available too. Then, how customers can pay with virtual money? If a customer wants to pay with cryptocurrency, one will be sent an email that has a QR code that allows using a digital asset wallet. With that QR code, the customer can use their virtual money.

However, the important thing is that this was not the first time that Gucci showed an interest in the web 3 world. This March, the company launched the Gucci Vault, a digital store where they plan to sell their items in the metaverse alongside real-life items. They also already released several NFTs in collaboration with Bored Ape Yacht Club and Cool Cats. Furthermore, Gucci’s parent company Kering has recently introduced an in-house game that was developed in collaboration with creative agency Al Dente to educate employees on NFTs and Web3.

With Gucci’s this action, it is expected that cryptocurrency payments will be accepted by many mainstream businesses.

References:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61343255

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/08/business/gucci-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-payments-trnd/index.html

https://www.voguebusiness.com/technology/gucci-takes-the-leap-will-accept-crypto-in-us-stores

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The revolutionary internet has been changing everything, affecting everywhere. Unprecedented issues and problems always arise, some parts of the world dominate the online space, and there are still countries where the government controls the internet and censor contents. Under such changes, together with 60 partner countries including all member states of the EU, the US recently announced a declaration. 

  The declaration is called “Declaration for the Future of the Internet(https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Declaration-for-the-Future-for-the-Internet_Launch-Event-Signing-Version_FINAL.pdf)”. It highlights human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in the digital world. It says that this declaration is not targeting any specific countries. 

 For your reference, this was not the first case some countries tried to address this matter. To protect privacy and safety, the EU has had the General Data Protection Regulation and Digital Services Acts, which pose more obligations for web services to remove illegal contents or contents that might harm users.

 Then, let’s take look details of this declaration. The declaration prioritizes open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet. Generally, it aims decentralized and interconnected internet with security. Its goal is to attain neutrality and affordability of the internet and remove illegal content without curtailing people’s right to express opinions freely. At the same time, with the trend of cryptocurrency that is energy-intensive, they aim to reduce an environmental footprint as much as possible. 

 With these goals and its priorities, the potential of digital technologies will be to promote connectivity among people no matter where they are, promote democracy and peace, and seek sustainable ways of development. While doing so, people can be able to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

 Though there are still some obstacles they need to overcome. To begin with, online platforms and digital tools are often used to repress freedom of expression and deny other human rights and fundamental freedoms, whether it’s conveying misinformation or expressing hatred towards other people. Furthermore, some countries ban some parts of the internet by blocking services and stopping the mass to get access to foreign websites and apps. For example, China uses the internet and technologies for surveilling. The same goes for Russia. Splinternet!

 Nevertheless, with this declaration which more countries are expected to join; they said the invitation for joining remains open to all other countries, the world will discuss this matter and address this together. We can also expect the digital world to be more structured, decentralized, and secure. I look forward to the positive changes that it will bring and hope they can promote this vision and principles globally. Also, let’s hope the internet will be run for the benefit of all!

References:

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220429000200325?input=2106m

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/28/23046652/declaration-for-the-future-of-the-internet-eu-us-regulation-commitment-announced

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/28/fact-sheet-united-states-and-60-global-partners-launch-declaration-for-the-future-of-the-internet/

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ever since the covid-19 pandemic, many parts of our lives have switched online, and socializing online, whether in the metaverse, VR, or Zoom, has become quite normal. Conferences, working, learning, training, and collaborations in the workplace have already become overwhelmingly online.

For those who are not familiar with the concept of the metaverse, the metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. Some call it the next generation of the internet. Unlike the current internet, it’s decentralized and places emphasis on virtual experiences and activities. Some companies started to use this metaverse in their workplace, and instead of having a zoom call, people meet in virtual reality with others’ avatars by wearing devices like headsets. Some even started to use it in socializing in the workplace.

 When used properly, the metaverse has lots of pros. First, it can allow employees to connect even when all workers have not fully been back to the office. By using the metaverse, employees can meet colleagues even though they’re not in the office or they’re working in another country. The metaverse also features various functions. One of them is a spatial audio system, which allows people’s voices to get louder or quieter depending on how one’s avatar is close to another’s in the virtual space. They can add more reality, unlike Zoom meetings where the focus only goes to the speaker. They might also use a digital whiteboard for visual collaboration among remote workers. Virtual games, like playing golf together or doing casual mobile games are also possible in the metaverse. Overall, it enables working or socializing even in bad conditions, not only for the pandemic but also for people who get injured or need to take care of their children.

However, like always, there are also some downsides. First, there’s physical discomfort when using VR headsets. They are bulkier and heavier than most would like. Secondly, socializing in VR could be like socializing online. Eventually, it might cause some phenomenon like Zoom fatigue. It also makes people lose real connection with people. Lack of in-person socialization is already a problem ever since the pandemic. 

For some companies, VR devices have become part of the essential hardware with laptops and phones. Let’s look at the company Accenture. The global IT consulting firm purchased 60,000 Oculus Quest 2 headsets, which is Meta’s entry-level VR device. Their onboarding process now includes training that even might happen in their virtual space (the metaverse), which is called the Nth floor. On the Nth floor, they have their avatars and can talk with colleagues.

Companies want to better connect employees to others and clients using VR. They want to create a future of mixed reality, where virtual reality meld with our real world. Microsoft even aims to go beyond these avatars and turn them into actual holograms

Nevertheless, for me, I would still prefer in-person socializing. Technology can enhance human connections but never replace them. What do you think about it?

References:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-future-of-socializing-at-wodrk-virtual-golf-11649476854?mod=tech_featst_pos2

https://droppgg.medium.com/the-metaverse-a-new-way-of-socializing-79155d6f9c46

https://www.wsj.com/articles/help-microsoft-put-a-holographic-james-cameron-in-my-basement-11614723373?mod=article_inline

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It seems like there has been an introduction of new hygiene products using advanced technology. I recently read two articles which I found quite interesting, so I would like to share and ask your opinion about these.

First, let’s take a look at Dyson. Dyson is renowned for home appliances like vacuum cleaners, hand dryers, and hair dryers. Now, they introduce the world with their new product, the Dyson Zone, which is a headphone with an air purifier. It means whenever people use one’s headphones, they also take the advantage of inhaling purified air. Of course, as a headphone, you can take calls and listen to music with a noise-canceling function. They started inventing this 6 years ago, so it’s not designed only for coronavirus. It will be out on the market this fall.

Dyson explained that they considered every option, from shoulder to head, but they finally chose a headphone as it is the most natural known way of wearing a device. They also mentioned that the weight distribution mattered since the device is packed with large batteries and mechanics. The filter they used is like an N95 mask and it uses static electricity to pull small particles toward it to improve its filtration efficiency. Since all the motors and air channels create noise, Dyson engineers used active noise cancellation to silence any sounds that couldn’t be eliminated mechanically. 

Another product is the so-called ‘disinfection robot’ from the Korean company, KT.

Korean company KT recently launched the AI disinfection robot combining the latest disinfection technology and AI robot. They are planning to lead the robot service market by promoting its own customized ‘robot service platform’ business.

The AI disinfection robot provides plasma, UVC sterilization, and air cleaning functions. Depending on the customer’s preference and the size of the space, it is possible to choose between small/medium- and large-sized.

In the existing quarantine activities, it was common to wear protective clothing and evict people and then spray the disinfection fluid. However, instead of spraying disinfectant that is harmful to the human body, KT’s AI disinfection robot adopted an eco-friendly plasma method that sterilizes more than 99.9% of viruses while being harmless to the human body. 

The AI robot function was also faithfully implemented. By applying technologies such as safe autonomous driving and automatic charging based on lidar and camera sensors, the robot moves on its own and unmanned disinfection activities of the entire space are possible at all times. In addition, by utilizing the strengths of KT, a nationwide network operator, it provides customer care services such as remote monitoring with 24-hour intelligent control. You can control the robot, check status information, check the quarantine schedule, and even check the result report with a smartphone app.

As you can guess, the robot service platform means not only providing robot products but also providing services based on digital platforms such as AI networks, autonomous driving, and remote control. Their main goal is to continue to introduce new robot services that solve social problems and innovate customer experience through their robot service platform.

Instead of preventing pollution as its source and pandemic from happening, they are developing a way to live with it.

References:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90736024/dysons-futuristic-new-headphones-double-as-an-air-purifier-for-your-face

https://news.naver.com/main/read.naver?mode=LSD&mid=shm&sid1=105&oid=022&aid=0003681420

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Probably, many of you have encountered the presence of new fancy technologies around the world when reading or listening to the news about the ongoing war. From heavily armed armies with state-of-the-art weaponry, countries competing for having the most powerful army by spending billions of dollars annually, Elon Musk’s Starlink, which helps connect Ukraine with the internet amid the distraction of Russia, even to a biological weapon that is known to have the same power in causing casualties with physical weapons. 

But this time, I would like to focus on the use of digital technology. It seems like digital technology has a huge impact on the war in the 21st century. This not only applies to ones who are actually in the army combating in the field but also applies to the public behind the scenes. The internet and digital technology allow the public unprecedented engagement and access to the war. 

I would like to divide this topic into two parts; crowds and platforms, and the sharing economy, and would like to show you some examples of how each part has affected the flow of the war. People might think that what matters in winning is the power of the military force, but that time has changed. 

So let’s talk about Platforms, Crowds, the Sharing Economy, and the War.

First, crowds and the use of social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Lots of Ukrainians and people around the world are using social media platforms to reach people outside, letting them know about the devastating situation and asking for support and help. The most common and usual way of using social media would be spreading the REAL news and the status of the war. They can also be used to raise funds for the Ukrainian army or the refugees or encourage people to sign up for petitions. People are also started to shame big companies which keep doing their business in Russia, and inside of all of this, social media platforms’ role is very big and crucial. From what I have experienced, I found the use of social media is effective in raising people’s awareness. 

 But it looks like there is definitely a downside. For example, the Russian government is using social media to spread false news and propaganda justifying their purpose of invading another country and spreading falsified history. They once spread posts across platforms like Facebook and Twitter that Ukraine is considering using biological weapons with the help of the US. But this has been proved to be false by the US. 

 Overall, this enables the fast and vast transfer of information and makes the war more digital. We can also say that this makes ordinary citizens also take part in the war.

Second, the sharing economy platform is a new way of helping.

 Recently, a new way of supporting Ukrainians has emerged. Probably lots of you have experience using Airbnb when traveling. This time, this sharing economy platform has been used as a unique way of helping people in need. People started to book Airbnbs in Ukraine to donate money directly to the hosts, whose businesses were impacted because of the war. Of course, they are not planning to actually go there. But by doing so and sharing this, they also can suggest a new easy way of donating to those who have no idea about how to help people in need.

Who knows? Probably there will be a new sharing economy platform that will be used as a creative method of helping them.

With digital technology and so-called digital weapons, we can also be an army. We can even send money directly to the army, which seems to be not possible if this war has happened years ago. The only way we can donate and help would have been through governmental organizations or humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross. We might have been fooled by false propaganda.

Evolving technology and crowds using social media platforms are making changes, and let’s hope peace will come soon, like real soon.

[References]

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/18/tech/social-media-russia-government-accounts/index.html

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/02/28/ukraine-russia-digital-war-cyberattacks/

https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/analysis/2022/03/19/the-digital-war-against-russia-how-ordinary-citizens-are-using-technology-to-thwart-putin.html