Researchers Developed Flexible Photonic Devices

Photonics will have a direct impact on many areas of our daily life. Soon photonics will be fundamental, both for the improvement or replacement of existing processes and for the development of new solutions and new products.

On the other hand, society demands products with better and better features: new functionalities and improved properties, lightweight, flexible photonic devices, and capable of adapting to different materials and surfaces. Likewise, these developments must be competitive and not increase the price of the final product.

A team of MIT Associate professor Juejin Hu from the University of Central florida, China and France has developed a new method of making light based photonic devices. These special flexible photonic devices is made from a kind of glass called Chalcogenide. This specialized kind of glass material has a great flexible property which can be bend and strech to the very large extent without any damage. These flexible photonic devices can be used in field of biomedical sensors and flexible connectors in Electronics.

How about a device that can simultaneously detect blood oxygen level, heart rate and blood pressure? Yes, these flexible photonic devices of optical technology which are made from the strechy and bendable material can be mounted in skin to monitor the condition.

By using these kinds of new light based flexible photonic devices, we can stave off the condition for the conversion process. Because, if the original data is light based is having the advantages for a lot of applications.

The current photonic devices applied in the field are made up of rigid materials on rigid matters thus rises an intrinsic counterpart. The polymer based softmaterials is having a less refractive index tracks to not so good ability to circumscribe a light beam. To confront this issue, the team of MIT researchers have developed a stiff material that can stretch and bend which is almost like a Rubber. Its confuguration is like a spring made from a polymer matter has no noticeable abjection in its optical performance.

Other flexible photonic devices that are made by implanting nanorods of a rigid substrates in a polymer base need extra developmental steps. And hence they are not congruous with current systems. These flexible photonic devices can also be used for applications where the devices require to adapt to the rippled surfaces of some other material. But optics technology is extremely sensitive to strain, thus can observe deformations of lower than one hundredth of one percent.

This team recently has formulated a way of segregating layers of photonics, made of chalcogenide and graphene with customary semiconductor photonic electronic equipment. Current method of segregating such material need them to be made on a surface and then take off and tranfern to a semiconductor thin layer. This process is very difficult. But the new procedure permits the layers to be fancied directly on the surface of a semiconductor. This process no need a special temperature condition for the entire process and thus allows very simplified fabrication and more punctilious coalition.

This team of MIT researchers have confirmed very soon they develop this new technology of flexible photonic devices to reach commercially.

Introducing the New Firefox Quantum Web Browser with Double Speed

Amazingly faster performance with lower RAM usage is the key highlight of Firefox’s Quantum Browser

 
Once the web browser world was ruled by the Internet Explorer then came the Google Chrome which simply established itself as the numero uno with no major threats. Firefox is waging the war to dethrone the Chrome from the top position and to regain its dominance in the arena but it wouldn’t be a cake walk. Firefox is lying just at the bottom of the major popular web browsers by amounting just 9.1 market share and running right below the Microsoft Edge and Safari browser. Mozilla is looking forward to change its fortune with the launch new improved and faster Firefox Quantum browser.
Quantum translates into a fast browser

The Firefox Quantum browser comes with a built-in technology running on the 64 bit but at the same time it makes use of 30 per cent lesser RAM than other conventional browsers. In this way Firefox is competing right against the Chrome by offering better performance by lesser utilization of the map but this isn’t being communicated with the target audience with a massive PR strategy.

Firefox has went with a major overhaul for its browser by improvising not just the user interface but also the browser engines which power the search results. The new engine powering the Firefox Quantum browser comes has the ability to work in parallel manner which make sit amazingly faster than the earlier version of the web-browser due to the user of the latest Servo engine. Mozilla has even stated that this Servo engine will be able to offer support for the Mixed Reality features and functionalities which are expected to be next big thing in the technology world.
 

Bigger change for better browsing

 
This new browser has also lowered the user interface gradients to bring better visibility to the users. Microsoft Edge browser made a bad decision getting rid of the gradients which made it extremely difficult to navigate through the browser but that aren’t the case with Firefox’s browser. On the benchmark test this browser glides like a charm and comes with better numbers than all the browsers in the competition. The Speedometer benchmark gave this browser a score of mighty 70 compared to the 45 which the pre-Quantum Firefox browser came up with. Using the JetStream benchmark tests everyone was surprised with the 151 score achieved by the Firefox Quantum when compared to the Google Chrome’s 144 score.

All the benchmark testing and normal day-to-day usage suggests that this Firefox browser is way faster and snappier than other browser available in the market. Firefox has fixed all the bugs related to performance as well as responsiveness to enhance the overall user experience. Quantum browser certainly appears to be a major upgrade over the earlier version of the Firefox and it is right step towards bringing better browsing experience to the users. Now it all depends on the users whether they adopt the Firefox Quantum browser to increase its market share and give a stiff completion to the omnipotent domination of the Google Chrome.

AI Image Recognition Fooled By Single Pixel Change

Adversarial Model Images

According to research, computers can be misled into thinking that an image of a taxi can be a dog by only altering one pixel. These limits developed from the methods that Japanese function in tricking the extensively utilised AI-based image recognition system.

Several of the other scientists tend to now develop `adversarial’ model images to reveal the fragility of some kinds of recognition software. Experts have cautioned that there is no quick and easy means of fixing image recognition system of stopping them from being duped in this manner.

Su Jiawei together with colleagues at Kyushu University, in their research had made small alterations to plenty of the images which were then analysed by extensively utilised AI-based image recognition systems. All the systems that had been tested had been based on a kind of AI known as deep neural networks.

These systems usually tend to learn on being trained with plenty of various examples for the purpose of providing them with an intellect of how objects such as dogs and taxis tend to vary. It was observed by the researchers that altering one pixel in about 74% of the test images made the neural nets mistakenly label what they saw.

Designed – Pixel Based Attacks

A variety of pixel based attacks had been designed by Japanese researchers which had caught all the state-of-the-art image recognitions system that had been investigated. Mr Su from Kyushu leading the research had commented that as far as they were aware there was no data-set or network which is more robust than others.

 Several other research groups all over the world have been now developing `adversarial examples’ which tend to reveal the flaw of these systems according to Anish Athalye from the Massachusetts institute of Technology – MIT who has been dealing with this issue. A specimen made by Mr Athalye together with his team is a 3D printed turtle that one image classification system insists on labelling a rifle.

He informed BBC that more and more real world schemes have begun to incorporate neural networks and tends to be huge concern which these schemes could be possible to destabilize or attack utilising adversarial examples. He stated that though there had been no instances of malicious attacks in real life, the fact that these apparently smart schemes could be deceived with ease was a matter of concern.

Methods of Resisting Adversarial Exploitation

Web giants comprising of Facebook, Amazon as well as Google seems to be known for investigating methods of resisting adversarial exploitation. He stated that it is not some strange `corner case’ and it has been shown in their work that one can have a single object which steadily fools a network over viewpoints, even in the physical world.

He further added that the machine learning community do not tend to comprehend completely what seems to be going on with adversarial examples or why they seem to exist. Learning system established on neural network tends to involve creating links between large numbers of nodes such as nerve cells in a brain.

Analysis involves the network creating plenty of decision regarding what it tends to see and every decision should lead the network nearer to the accurate answer.

Google Introducing Certified Kubernetes

Since its launch three years back, Kubernetes has gained a lot of popularity over the years, with many vendors even developing their own offerings. What makes the Kubernetes software so successful is that it is programmed to run anywhere and its consistency.

There are roughly 60 new Kubernetes platforms and distributions out there.
 

What is a Kubernetes Certification program?

 
One of the main concerns to users of the Kubernetes program is that it should be consistent and reliable anywhere and at any time. This issue is compounded with the fact that there are many vendors out there who are now offering Kubernetes, so consistency over platforms does become a major concern for any client.

In order to address this issue, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation or more commonly known as CNCF in partnership with the Kubernetes community, have recently introduced the beta version of Kubernetes conformance certification program.
 

The Kubernetes Certification Program:

 

With this certificate in mind, vendors are able to reassure their clients that the software they are using conform to standards and will be reliable in any of the platforms they use it on.

Besides conforming to standards, the Kubernetes certification also gives users confidence of a high level of common functionality of the Kubernetes software over all platforms.

Basically clients can be sure that their software will work as expected.

 

How to get the Kubernetes conformation Certificate?

 
Cloud Native Computing Foundation in partnership with the Kubernetes community are requesting all Kubernetes vendors to run the conformance test and then send the results to the CNCF for review and to give the certificate.

All vendors that have been tested and certified during the beta version of the program will have their names published when the actual version of the program is released.

 

Changes to the Kubernetes certificate:

 
Kubernetes certification standards will receive updates as and when there are software developments to the Kubernetes program itself.

This is done in order to ensure that the updated version of the Kubernetes software conforms to updated standards and a new certificate will be issued in effect.

Every vendor has to get recertified each year in order to provide their clients with the reassurance that not only are they getting a software that complies with uniform standards but is also updated with all the latest and newest in the Kubernetes software.

Once the vendors have their certification in hand they will be able to display the Kubernetes certified logo on all marketing and packaging material.
 

Advantages of Kubernetes Certification:

 
One of the main advantages with a Kubernetes certificate is that there will be smoother flow of data between cloud environments and local operations. The workload can also be split over multiple platforms.
Another advantage is that there will be consistent updates and access to support resources and community software.

BankBot Android Malware Sneaks into the Google Play Store

BankBot: Google’s little Sneak

A malware known for stealing people’s bank details by posing as a legitimate bank’s web page has struck hundreds of users yet again.

The malware was spotted on the Google play store in April of this year, with a recurrence in September and then finally it has come around again in November. Each of these times the Bank Bot nuisance has been removed by the Google team.

What essentially is BankBot?

BankBot is malware that first made its appearance in the Google Play store in April of this year. Posing as a legitimate app it fools users into downloading it. BankBot then asks for permission to SMS, bank and other details, all the while appearing to be a legitimate process of downloading the app.

Finally BankBot poses as a bank page when any payment has to be made. This bank page appears as an overlay to the actual one. BankBot even has access to an individual’s SMS app to take care of dual authentication processes which is required for some banks.

Why was it so easy for users to get fooled?

Users of Google’s Play store downloaded a seemingly genuine app known as Crypto Currency Market Prices. This app appears to be the front of the malware. Having a proper appearance and containing all the details it promised to have, it was very easy for users to get fooled by the app.

By having a working app, users were easily taken in by its appearance to doubt any foul practice. Had it been an app which appeared to be full of spam or one that didn’t work well or could not be opened, it would have given users an idea of what the app really was about.

The second point to note was that the malware was removed twice by the Google team with the security protocols being renewed and updated and in spite of all this BankBot found its way back into the system.

Updates to BankBot:

Since its first appearance in April, the BankBot malware has under gone a series of updates. These updates include code obfusication and the ability to bypass Android’s accessibility services.

This coupled with the fact that it was able to penetrate Google’s security protocol is an added way in which the malware has developed over the span of 7 months.

Users affected by BankBot:

The crypto currency app containing the malware was removed from the Google Play store but not before hundreds of users downloaded it to their mobile devices.

As far as Google is concerned, its 1.4 million were safe from the attack. It is unsure how many users were affected when the malware first arrived on the scene in April of this year.

Google Play store is full of apps that can cause serious damage to an individual’s device or in this case to their bank account. It is therefore important to keep an eye out on what you’re downloading. This is not the first time Google has become embroiled in the malware found on its Play store, recently there was news that a fake Whatsapp app was doing the rounds on the Google Play store.