This month in technology: Sweat-powered wearable tech and Facebook’s new 50-person video calls
The latest news, insight and analysis from the general technology sector
US Army taps anti-terror technology for coronavirus battle
The US Army is utilising its anti-terrorism detection technology to track the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
JARVISS – which stands for Joint Analytic Real-Time Virtual Information Sharing System – is software that collects data to target potential criminal activity.
The technology was originally developed following the 2009 shootings at a soldier preparation centre in Fort Hood Texas.
Army major general Kevin Vereen said: “As the army phases into a steady state of operations, JARVISS has the capability of assessing the Covid-19 threat.
“It’s providing commanders with the tools needed to make appropriate decisions, and balancing readiness with the health and safety of the force is critical to our success,” he added.
The Army technology used to root out terrorism threats is also monitoring the spread of #COVID19, and in the process, giving Army leaders a leg up to make real-time, force protection decisions.
Learn more about JARVISS ➡️ https://t.co/s1j48WUTIy#ArmyTech #ArmyFutures pic.twitter.com/pNbWj0OSX8
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 15, 2020
Facebook launches 50-person video call platform
Facebook has launched Facebook Messenger Rooms which will allow up to 50 people to join a video call with no time limit.
Users can create a room directly via Facebook or Facebook Messenger and can invite anyone to join – including those without a Facebook account.
Facebook also noted that it will be possible in the near future for users to create rooms from Instagram, WhatsApp and Portal.
The platform will allow users to add virtual backgrounds and mood lighting and access rooms on both mobile and desktop without the need for an app download.
Elsewhere, Facebook said it holds plans to introduce group voice and video calls for up to eight people on WhatsApp.
Source: iStock
The wearable tech powered by sweat
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a new supercapacitor that is powered by electrolytes found in sweat to replace environmentally damaging conventional batteries.
The technology can be fully charged with 20 microlitres of fluid and works with a polyester cellulose cloth covered by a polymer that acts as the supercapacitor’s electrode.
As the cloth absorbs sweat, the positive and negative ions found in the liquid reacts with the polymer, creating an electrochemical reaction that generates energy.
In research trials, volunteers ran enough to generate enough sweat to generate around 10 milliwatts of power which was enough to power a bank of LEDs until the runner finished their exercise.
Lead researcher Professor Ravinder Sahiya said: “Conventional batteries are cheaper and more plentiful than ever before, but they are often built using unsustainable materials which are harmful to the environment.
“What we’ve been able to do for the first time is show that human sweat provides a real opportunity to do away with those toxic materials entirely, with excellent charging and discharging performance,” he added.
Source: Pixabay
Delhi airport ramps up Covid-19 measures
Delhi airport is set to implement several technology-driven measures to help combat coronavirus when flights return to normal operating levels.
UV-tunnels to disinfect trays and baggage, UV towers to disinfect terminal surfaces, walk-in shoe sanitiser and trolley disinfectants will all be deployed to slow the potential second outbreak.
The UV technology “disrupts DNA-based pairing…and leads to the inactivation of bacteria, virus and protozoa,” according to airport officials DIAL.
The UV towers are moveable and can be placed across the airport terminal while personal items will be disinfected via UV torches at security.
In a statement, DIAL said: “These facilities are deployed at several strategic points at the airport. These initiatives have been taken to enhance passenger safety owing to the present conditions caused by Covid-19.”
#Replug | Delhi airport gets ultraviolet rays, shoe sanitiser mats in its battle against #COVID19@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri @DelhiAirport @awnusharma
Read more: https://t.co/M7YbKqRHuL pic.twitter.com/FCmgBqelZT
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 16, 2020
US Defense Department blocks 5G plans
The US Defense Department is continuing to block efforts from Ligado Networks to launch a 5G network over concerns it would disrupt vital military GPS signals.
Ligado is looking to offer an alternative to the big three US networks, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, but due to its operations functioning on midband spectrum that sits next to the spectrum used for GPS, it has run into severe government opposition.
The firm is planning on investing $800m in infrastructure which will generate 8,000 jobs across the US.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has already limited Ligado’s power output on the spectrum by more than 99% and has implemented buffer zones to further restrict its capabilities.
However, the FCC has taken the decision to allow Ligado to repurpose satellite spectrum licences that it already owns to build a 5G network – which the Pentagon says negates its earlier action.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said: “The FCC’s decision will disrupt the daily lives and commerce of millions of Americans and inject unacceptable risk into systems that are critical for emergency response, aviation and missile defence.”
An FCC spokesperson commented: “The bottom line here is that the FCC made a unanimous, bipartisan decision based on sound engineering principles. We stand by that decision 100% and will not be dissuaded by baseless fearmongering.”
Source: Pixabay