SUNDAY Star, 21 June 2015

special

TECH WORLD

Life and business

made easier

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

2 tech world

By TINA CARMILLIA
FOR centuries, humans have been
donning man-made items that
enhance our productivity and
intellectual or physical capacities.
Some of these inventions have
become so essential that we do not
even notice them: spectacles to
improve failing eyesight, wrist
watches to tell the time, shoes to
protect our feet and clothes that
keep us warm.
Now, emerging technologies are
making humans even less au
naturel and even more inorganic.
These technologies, known as
wearable technologies, fuse
humans with machines to allow a
seamless interaction between
physical and virtual realities to
create an augmented experience.

Head

There are several types

of head-mounted
technology that function to
display real-time
streaming, information
and media access, and
augmented reality
experience directly onto
the users field of vision.
Some are discrete, such
as the Google Glass, while
others, such as the Skully
AR-1 helmet, not only
serve a traditional safety
purpose but additionally
provide navigation
assistance and
heads-up and
rearview
displays.

The body hackers

The web will no longer be
something we merely surf; it will
be something we wear.
According to ABI Research, a
technology market intelligence
company, more than 485 million
humans will be wearing a webconnected watch, camera, eyepiece,
pacemaker or other forms of
wearable technology gadgets by
2018.
Wearable technologies are not
new machines used to monitor
health activities such as blood
pressure, insulin levels and heart
rate have long been around.

However, these gadgets are used

mainly for medical reasons and
less for an integrated lifestyle
experience.
Indeed, the forms and functions
of wearable tech have since
evolved to assist in various aspects
of human behaviour and activity to
include productivity, safety and
security, health and fitness, and
leisure, among other things.
The Bluetooth hands-free
headset is perhaps one of the
earliest forms of wearable tech that
is not specifically medical-related.
When it first came out a decade

Body

Wrist

The initial reason for

wearing clothing was to keep
warm and protected. Then, it
also became a fashion
statement. The evolution of
its purpose continues into
the age of wearable tech as it
will serve an additional
purpose with the
introduction of conductive
thread fabric.
This fabric has a computer
built into the shirts and
trousers to provide
processing power generated
from the users movement to
charge other wearable
gadgets on the persons body.
Other clothing items,
especially inner wear such
as sports bras and socks, can
also communicate with
smartphone apps to track
physical activities.
Sensorias smart fabrics,
for example, provide
information about the users
speed and distance, calories
burned, heart rate, and foot
landing technique and
weight distribution. Zackees
turn signal gloves will be
useful for bicycle
riders they
come with
built-in LED
turn indicators
and can be
operated by
turning a metal
switch
between the
thumb and
index
finger on
or off.

Watch out, in the future,

watches will not just tell
the time and date like an
out-dated wristwatch.
They will be able to
inform users when a
message or call is received.
Pebbles smartwatch, for
example, serves as an
extension for a users iOS
or Android smartphone.
Similarly, wristband
trackers such as the Fitbit
Tracker, Nikes FuelBand
and Garmins Vivofit are
geared mainly for the
fitness-conscious and can
perform numerous healthrelated data collection
functions, including
tracking physical activities,
calorie intake and hours of
sleep.

ago, early adopters were

considered lunatics for appearing
as though they were speaking to
themselves in public.
However, despite the initial
apprehension towards it, no one
really bats an eyelid when they
encounter someone speaking into
the device these days.
The same sceptical resistance
can be expected for practically any
new technology before it becomes
accepted as the norm.
As with any new technology,
wearable tech faces its own
setbacks in terms of its practicality,

Finger
The next big
thing in
wearable
devices is
perhaps
touchless
interaction
with air
gesture
control rings.
Several
developers, including Fin
and Logbar, have come up
with promising prototypes
thanks to successful crowdsourced funding.
These rings are supposed
to allow wearers to operate
devices by waving their
finger or hand in the air.
Although none of the
devices have hit the
mass market yet,
the one ring to
control them all
is within reach
in the next few
years.

Eventually, these wearable

devices are expected to become
an extension of each other to
provide a seamless
technologically driven experience
for the user.
Many of these devices are in
fact designed to be integrated
with iOS and Android mobile
operation systems.

funding and adoptability, among

other things.
However, proponents of life
extension, technological singularity
(artificial general intelligence
capable of performing any task
that a human can) and bionics who
embrace radical scientific
development can look forward to
starting the revolution by gearing
up with some of the latest available
wearable tech to enhance their
living.
Here is a selection of wearable
tech items that are either already
in the market or about to be.

Feet
Those boots are no
longer just made for
walking.
These days, smart
shoes are embedded with
sensors and GPS chips to
track, among other
things, the number of
steps taken throughout
the day and the speed of
the users movement.
Some Nike+ shoes can
even measure jump
shots, pressure and
acceleration to provide
statistics about the users
athletic performance.

Additionally, data taken from

fitness-based devices are easily
uploaded to a corresponding
fitness app or shared on the users
social media accounts.
After all, in this day and age,
what is the point of a gadget if it
cannot be integrated with other
devices and social media
platforms?

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

4 tech world

Technologies that
changed the world
By ANUSHIA KANDASIVAM
TECHNOLOGY is the foundation of
the modern world. Without it, life
would be incredibly different an
analogue world where the hyperconnectivity we all take for granted
is an idea beyond imagination.
More than this, technology
informs and facilitates the
development of the human
condition, allowing us to push the
boundaries of discovery, knowledge

and imagination.
Historys innovators have left us
with legacies that have become
imperative to modern life.
One of the most interesting
aspects of these inventions and
discoveries is that they, more often
than not, are connected to and rely
on other innovations to work.
Here are some groups of
technological breakthroughs that
have changed the way humans live,
think, work and play.

Nanotechnology
In 1959, California Institute of
Technology physics professor
Richard Feynman gave a
speech, titled Theres Plenty of
Room at the Bottom, in which
he described the ability to write
the entire Encyclopaedia
Britannica on the head of a pin
using atom-sized tools or
machines.
This is basically what
nanotechnology is the
manipulation of matter on a
molecular, supramolecular or
atomic scale.
Nanolithography, the
technology of fabricating
nanometre-scale structures, is
the technology that makes our
cell phones, computers and GPS
systems as compact as they are.
By using an atomic-force
microscope, engineers arrange
atom-sized nanomaterials such
as nanocrystals, nanolayers and
nanotubes into structures.
Nanolithography, which has
its roots in the invention of the
microscope in 1590, has
allowed circuit boards to
become so tiny that they can be
used in programmable matter.
Programmable matter is
matter that has the ability to
change its form (shape, density,
conductivity, etc) as a result of
input from a user or by
autonomous sensing by its
own computations.
First introduced in a paper by
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) researchers
in 1991, programmable matter
has great potential benefits,
including the possibility of
using it for information
processing and other forms

of computing.
Much research has gone into
it since it was first described.
In 2010, for example, an MIT
team of researches successfully
created self-folding sheets of
origami.
Researchers hope that
programmable matter may
have defence applications in
the future; they imagine, for
example, soldiers carrying
lightweight buckets of
programmable material that
could be fashioned on the spot
into anything they need.
Nanotechnology also has
applications in nanomedicine,
which involves the engineering
of miniscule machines to repair
cells.
Scientists are also working on
creating nanotech that act as
drug-delivery systems, medical
and diagnostic tools that can
mark disease-indicating
molecules and nanotech drugs.
Carbon nanotubes form
the foundation of some
technologies in nanomedicine.
These are tubes that measure
three to 30mm in diameter,
constructed by an arc
evaporation method (where a
50-amp current is passed
between two graphite
electrodes in helium).
Considered one of the most
important discoveries in the
history of physics, carbon
nanotubes have a tensile
strength up to 50 times that
of steel.
They can also be used as
semiconductors and
applications in the construction
industry are being explored.

Nanomedicine
uses miniscule
tech in medical
applications.

Computer-mediated reality
The use of computer-mediated
reality is becoming more
prevalent nowadays.
This technology involves
the ability to add (or
subtract) sensory
information to reality
through the use of
wearable technology or a
hand-held device.
Augmented reality
superimposes audio, visual
and other elements onto
your senses.
The most identifiable use
of this technology is a
smartphone app called
Layar by a Dutch technology
company that uses the phones
camera and GPS to gather
information about the
surrounding area.
It then shows the user
information about nearby
areas such as historical sites,
restaurants or theatres on the
phones screen.
The global positioning
system (GPS) is essential to
augmented reality as it is used
to pinpoint the users location.
GPS works on the principle of
triangulation four satellites
are used to determine the
relative position of a given
object.
Currently, the GPS network

The Layar app augments your reality.

is composed of 24 satellites, with

three on standby in case of a
failure.
Another vital technology of
augmented reality is the mobile
phone.
Invented in 1973, the mobile
phone is actually a highly
sophisticated radio it is a fullduplex device that uses two
different frequencies for talking
and listening.
Nanotechnology has made
todays mobile phones smaller,
lighter, more powerful
and capable of
Internet
connectivity.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

tech world 5

Cloud computing

Computer technology has moved

beyond physical infrastructure;
users on the cutting edge now use
the Internet to store data and
applications.
This is cloud computing, which
reduces cost companies no
longer have to buy individual
software licences and enables
more collaborative and efficient
work as a single application can
give multiple users remote access
to the software.
The most commonly used form
of cloud computing is web-based
e-mail, such as Googles Gmail.
Cloud computing applications
exist on the World Wide Web, the
network of information that is
linked together by the Internet.
The Web has changed millions
of lives forever, inking computers
throughout the world and making
all the information they contain

available to everyone.
The Web was invented in
1990, when a computer scientist
created the first Web browser
and Web pages that could be
accessed via the Internet. Web
pages incorporate hypertext (text
that contains hyperlinks to other
documents), a concept that was
first described in the 1960s.
The Internet, which began as a
collaboration among academia,
industry and government in 1969,
uses several technologies to
operate.
It is also based on a key
concept called open architecture
networking that enables different
providers to use any individual
technology they want, linking the
networks together into a seamless
end-to-end service.
Most people access the Web
and the cloud through a personal
computer. The first
commercial
personal
computer was the
Italian-made
Programma 101,
which was
launched in 1964.
Not long after
that, other
technology
companies began

producing desktop
personal computer, most
notably the Commodore
PET and the Apple II in
1977 and the IBM PC,
which was introduced in
1981 and designed to
supplant the other
devices in the home.
The personal computer
A visual map of the Internet
made computing
based on 2005 data.
technology available to
the wider public,
facilitated the development
person to create and implement
of new industries and changed
an electric power generation and
the way people communicate.
distribution network to homes,
With increased usage of the
businesses and factories,
Internet and the cloud, privacy
patenting this system in 1880.
and security are major concerns.
This system helped stimulate
Public key cryptography, a
advances in electric engineering
security technology that allows
the secure transmission of private and, through research into
mathematical theories and
data, has closed many security
electric engineering, informed the
loopholes in wireless
evolution in design of electric
communication.
motors.
Invented in 1976, public key
cryptography enables users to
safely transmit confidential
information over the Internet
and is one of the catalysts for an
increased use of the Web to make
transactions.
Cloud computing also requires
a large-scale electric supply
network to work.
Thomas Edison was the first

Bonus future technology: Geoengineering

Geoengineering, the large-scale engineering
of Earths environment, may only have
been seen on the silver screen so far, but it
is considered to be a viable solution to
counteracting global climate change.
Current limited geoengineering projects
include tree planting and cool roof
installations (where light-coloured
materials are used).
Though there are many geoengineering
ideas in the offing, including efforts to
prevent further loss of Arctic sea ice, there
are no large-scale projects in progress as
yet.
The concept of ecosystems is crucial to
the understanding of how geoengineering
works and how it will affect Earth.
The foundation for the idea of climate
change was first laid in 1896 when a
scientist calculated that Earths
temperature would increase as the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
increased.
One step further from geoengineering is

terraforming modifying a planets

atmosphere to make it inhabitable for
humans.
This is another idea that seems to have
come straight out of science fiction, but
with advances in science and engineering,
it may just be possible.
Terraforming a planet Mars, for
example is a long-term project that will
take generations and at least a thousand
years to fully complete.
It will involve constructing
infrastructure to direct appropriate
amounts of sunlight and heat to the
planets surface and produce greenhouse
gasses, and creating climate-controlled
living spaces and power- generation
systems, among numerous other massive
projects.
However, scientists believe that even
after a millennium of terraforming and
development, Mars atmosphere will not
produce enough oxygen for humans to
breathe without the aid of equipment.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

6 tech world

Realising dreams
with convergence
IN this day and age, most
economists believe that the rate of
ICT adoption is one of the factors
that contributes to a nations
economic well-being.
This belief is what drives
Malaysias aspiration of becoming
a fully digitised economy by 2020
and the catalyst for the growth of
many industries identified as
National Key Economic Areas.
In the long, rich history of
Malaysian telecommunications,
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) has
been at the forefront of every
major milestone, including the roll
out of the globally acclaimed High
Speed Broadband (HSBB) project
through a public-private
partnership.
As the countrys only truly
integrated telecommunications
provider, TM is committed to
contributing to the next wave of
socio-economic growth through a
digital transformation programme.

On that note, TMs true purpose

is symbolised by the campaign it
started in 2013 called Life and
Business Made Easier.
This is an inspirational pledge
that goes beyond TMs dedication
to better customer service so that
whatever the company does is
done with the intent of making the
lives of all its stakeholders easier.
TM does not only make lives
easier by enriching lifestyles and
enhancing business productivity,
but also by going beyond
connectivity to provide
opportunities for communications
and collaboration.
Whether it is through TMs
products and services, integrated
ICT solutions, community and
nation-building programmes or
education, TM continues to play an
important role in transforming the
way Malaysians connect,
communicate and collaborate
towards a better future.

As TMs vision of a converged

nation is taking shape, people are
being empowered with digital
technology that has really made a
difference.
TMs technology enables
Malaysians to stay connected, such
as Paridah Ahmed and Hasan Haji
Ismail from Titi Gajah, Alor Setar,
who are able to speak to their son
in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, entrepreneurs such
as Humble Chef owner Rosman
Hussin Rizal can easily grow their
businesses with TMs business
tools, which are designed to help
them manage operations.
TMs commitment to building a
digitised, converged nation is a
reflection of its ongoing mission to
bridge the digital divide between
urban and rural communities.
Program Sejahtera was
introduced to give single mothers
in the community the ability to

support their families.

An example is Siti Kartini Ismail,
a single mother from Kampung
Tawang, Kelantan, who was
provided financial support and
business tools so she could grow
and sustain her business.
Education is being driven
forward by convergence as well.
Under the TM Pintar school
adoption programme, students at
Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan
Khas Pekan Tuaran are enjoying
broadband connectivity, giving
them access to learning aids that
allow them to stretch their
imaginations and fulfil their
potential.
Convergence will also one day
enable expectant mothers in
remote areas to have ready access
to quality prenatal health care.
With convergence, TM provides
platforms for local developers,
startup entrepreneurs and students
to realise their potential and bring

their innovations to life.

TM introduced its Innovation
Exchange platform via the
Innovation Exchange Accelerator
Programme that enables student
teams from Multimedia University
to showcase their ideas and
compete among the industrys best
in technology innovation.
Convergence has the ability to
make dreams a reality.
The Mencari Ramli talent search
programme, for example, tapped
into the power of digital
connectivity to pick young
Malaysians from Johor, Penang,
Terengganu and Perak for the
opportunity to meet and train with
their football heroes from
Manchester United Football Club.

n For more information visit

www.tm.com.my/
convergencechampion
TM a convergence
champion

Convergence for
convenience
This digital transformation will
not just be about rolling out the
best high-speed fixed and mobile
broadband networks that connect
even the remotest corners of the
country, but also one that focuses
on converging and embedding
technology-enabled solutions into
lives and businesses so that they
become easier and more seamless
every day.
TM is sure that real digital
growth will happen when
communities are empowered and
connected.
All our achievements have been
inspired by the one thing that is
closest to our heart: the continuous
well-being of the community. We
believe that we are more than just
a convergence champion, says
Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa,
group chief executive officer of TM.

Connecting communities

TM is dedicated to
improving communities
through convergence.

TMs business tools allow

entrepreneurs such as Humble Chef
owner Rosman Hussin Rizal to grow
their businesses.

Convergence by TM is
inspired by a vision to
infuse a seamless
broadband-enabled
experience into peoples
lives in more ways than
one.
TM aims to empower
every facet of the nations
development from
education, healthcare and
banking to entertainment,
retail and more.
With ambitious plans
set firmly in place, TM will
continue to converge
technologies across all
platforms to enrich,
improve and impact the
lives of Malaysians
everywhere, making their
lives and businesses
easier.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

8 tech world

The global travellers timepiece

THROUGHOUT the brands history,
Casio has pioneered several
technological innovations in
pursuit of accurate
timekeeping. Every step in
the evolution of its
watches has created new
value for timepieces.
Casio was the first in
the world to develop two
technologies that
enabled it to realise its
Global Time Sync
concept a combination
of global positioning
system (GPS), radiocontrolled timekeeping, solarpowered technology and
smartphone technology.
This combination of
technologies enables accurate,
reliable reception of time
calibration signals from GPS
satellites and terrestrial
transmission station clock in any
usage environment worldwide.
The incomparable reliability that
this gives Casio watches has
dramatically increased their
usability and demand.

A pair of innovations
Starting last year, Casio created a
range of new products based on its
Global Time Sync development
concept.
The latest additions to the Global
Time Sync concept, the Edifice
EQB-510D and ECB-500 watches
are based on the Smartphone Link

EQB-500, which enables users to

easily check the time of more than
300 cities worldwide by sub dial
from a smartphone app.

When linked with Casios

Watch+ smartphone app, users
can adjust time settings by
selecting from a list of cities.
The app even corrects for
daylight savings times if
needed.
The Mobile Link
capability means that
it is now easier to set
world time in both the
analog-style EQB-510D
and digital-analog style
ECB-500. Designed for
business users, these two
watches feature
multidimensional, high-contrast
watch faces.
The simple layout clearly
presents both the local time and
one world time so that they can
be seen at a glance.
Users can easily choose the time
they want displayed on the main
dial and inset dial. This can be
done either from the watch or
smartphone.
The EQB-510D comes with a
dedicated Bluetooth SMART
connection button in the eight
oclock position that allows users
to connect the watch to a
smartphone with just a push of a
button.
To cater for fans of analogdigital watches, there is the
ECB-500DC. This model comes
with a digital screen and a black
ion-plated case and band.
Its digital screen shows the
date, day and time.
Tough Solar
charging system

The EQB-510D comes

with a dedicated
Bluetooth SMART
connection button that
can connect the watch
to a smartphone.

CASIOS Tough Solar is a

solar-charging system that
not only converts sunlight
to energy, but is also able
to use even faint light
from fluorescent lamps to
achieve stable operation
of various high-load
functions in Casio
watches.
Light captured by a tiny
solar panel is used to
generate electric power
and charge a built-in
rechargeable battery with
ample capacity to operate
several energy-hungry
functions with ease.

Limited edition
watch up for grabs
CASIOS partnership with Red
Bull has resulted in the Infiniti
Red Bull Racing Limited
Edition watch.
This special watch from
the Edifice range has all
the functions of a
normal EQB-510D, but
also comes with a
grey and rose gold
ion-plated case.
Furthermore, this
limited edition EQB510RBM has a
sapphire crystal face
that is highly scratchresistant.
This limited edition watch
is the perfect timepiece for
Red Bull F1 racing fans, Edifice
fans and anyone who likes its
durability, functionality and
design.
Casio has been an official
partner of the Infiniti Red Bull
Racing team since 2009,
contributing to the teams
success in capturing four
consecutive F1 World
Championships.
Casios Edifice range of
watches, which operates
through a Speed &
Intelligence brand concept,
cooperates with the racing
team by applying Casios

The Infiniti Red

Bull Racing
Limited Edition
watch.

innovative thinking and

advanced LSI technologies to
create value beyond the reach
of ordinary mechanical watches.
The Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Limited Edition watch is
available at G-Factory outlets
nationwide, major retail outlets
and other exclusive Edifice
dealers.

n For more information, visit

www.edifice-watches.com/asiamea/en/f1

Casios mobile link capability

Link your Casio

watch to your
smartphone for a
host of features.

CASIO watches can be linked to

your smartphone through
Casios Watch+ app. With this
app, users can access the
following Mobile Link functions
for the EQB-510D and ECB-500
watches:
l Easy selection of the local
time of more than 300 cities
worldwide
l Automatic adjustment of
time to previously specified
home and international
locations at a specified time
each day
l Automatic correction for
daylight savings time.
Information about daylight

savings is kept current by

updating the app
l Easy resetting of alarms
and various other time settings
using a smartphone
l Phone Finder function,
where a smartphone alarm is
activated by pressing a watch
button
Casios Watch+ app is
available for download from
the iTunes App Store and
Google Play.

n For more information on

supported smartphones, visit
www.edifice-watches.com/bs/

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

10 tech world

Digital television revolution

ENJOY unrivalled entertainment pleasure
with Toshibas new digital TV series Pro
Theatre L2550 and L5550 LED TV with
Android which are designed to deliver rich,
vibrant and exceptionally sharp picture
quality with extraordinary colour, detail and
texture, as well as superb sound.
In 2014, the Government announced a
plan to move from the current analog
broadcast system for Malaysias free-to-air
television to the new digital broadcast
system.
It is targeted to be completed in 2018 with
proposed 20 free-to-air stations.
With DVB-T2 (digital video broadcasting
second generation terrestrial), the worlds
most advanced digital terrestrial television
(DTT) system in operation, signals are
exceptionally clearer, which translate to
clearer and sharper picture quality and
sound.
Toshibas Pro Theatre L2550 and L5550
LED TV with Android has a host of
sophisticated features designed to astound
your senses.
Both the Pro Theatre L2550 and L5550
LED TV with Android are compatible with
DVB-T2, offering viewers robustness,
flexibility and 50% more efficiency than
other DTT systems.
The Pro Theatre L2550 and L5550 LED TV
with Android feature full HD of 1,080 pixels,
intelligent scene optimiser, USB movie
(which can play 28 video formats), CEVO
Engine (CEVO Engine Premium for the
L5550), and AMR+ 200.

Details of the features:

l The intelligent scene

optimiser feature
automatically adjusts
picture and sound
settings for optimal
picture performance
based on different genres
such as cinema view,
video games, photo
viewing and music
player.
l USB Movie allows
enhanced playback
compatibility on most
popular video formats in
the market via a USB or
external hard disk drive
(subject to hardware and
software specifications).
l CEVO Engine
delivers picture
reproduction that
resembles reality as
accurately as possible.
Both contrast and
saturation are
meticulously adjusted to
scenes to prevent
washout of colours,
resulting in deeper and
more vivid images.
l AMR+ 200 gives users
an immersive viewing experience with
reduced motion blur.
This ensures that action scenes are

Toshiba Pro Theatre L2550 TV produces sharp picture

quality with its intelligent screen optimiser.

seamlessly smooth, which is ideal for

watching sports, movies and playing games.
The Pro Theatre L2550 digital TV series is
available in various models and sizes and
comes with two HDMI ports and one USB
port. It also has the personal video recording
feature, which is not available in the L5550
LED TV with Android.
This feature allows easy and quick
recording and play back of terrestrial digital
TV programmes with a USB storage device.
Users can also take advantage of an
existing menu-based, broadcast
programming system called EPG (electronic

programme guide) that helps search, reserve

and record up to 64 digital TV programmes
in a quick and easy manner.
The Pro Theatre L5550 LED TV with
Android is available in various models and
sizes and comes with Android powered by a
Kitkat 4.4.2 operating system, which is ideal
for those who use many apps and want to
enjoy them on the big screen.
It also comes with three HDMI ports and
two USB ports.

n For more information, call 1300 887 899

or visit www.toshiba.com.my

Toshiba Pro Theatre L5550 TV comes with various

features, including a Kitkat 4.4.2 operating system.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

COMPUTER and mobile

applications increasingly improve
the manner in which technology
shapes our lives. There is
something for everyone in the app
market do you find it hard to
wake up, find your way to new
places, or remember faces and
names?
There is an app that can solve
each of these predicaments and,
if you are lucky, you will find it
for free on iTunes or Google
Play stores.
Here are some apps that aim to
help us organise tasks and increase
productivity in both our personal
and professional lives.
l Mail managers Dealing with
e-mails can be cumbersome we
may find ourselves searching
through a clutter of spam, office
circulars and unrelated messages
just to find an important note from
last week. With mail managers
such as Mailbox (a Dropbox
product), you can categorise

tech world 11

Simplifying organisation
e-mails to archive or delete the
moment you receive them with
mere swipes. You can even snooze
e-mails and set a reminder for later
so you can prioritise based on
timely importance.
Mailbox currently supports
Gmail and iCloud accounts and
works by delivering messages to
the app from your cloud.
This app is an alternative to the
older and widely used Microsoft
Outlook, which integrates e-mail,
calendar, contacts and attachments
to ease scheduling and
management.

l Tracking tasks Integrating

office communications can be a
challenge, especially in larger
companies. We often use several

Seeing the
bigger picture
REVAMP your home
entertainment with Philips
Screeneo HDP 1590 Smart LED
projector.
The Screeneo lets you enjoy
brilliant imagery and gives you a
magical viewing experience.
With a flexible screen size, you
can watch your movies and
sports as well as play games on a
50-inch to 100-inch screen
(127cm to 254cm).
Even at 100 inches (254cm),
the projection can be done from
a short distance to the wall
from as close as 10cm to 44cm
from the wall.
Not only that, you can even
view the display in 3D with the
additional DLP Link 3D glasses
accessory.
Unlike traditional projectors,
the Screeneo offers more than
just big screen display. With
Screeneo, you can also enjoy
great sound and content from a
wide range of devices.
The Screeneo comes with
integrated speakers and
subwoofers, eliminating the need
to connect it to an external sound
system.
It also allows you to stream
music via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi/
DLNA and connects through
Bluetooth to a loudspeaker.
Additionally, with its multiple
connectivity function, you can
connect your set-top box/
recorder, DVD/Blu-ray player,
games console, media server and
Wi-Fi devices to the Screeneo.
The integrated Wi-Fi feature

makes connecting to your home

network easy. You can also
connect your tablet or
smartphone wirelessly to
Screeneo and mirror your screen
while browsing on your
handheld device.
Besides that, you can play
videos and view photos hasslefree from a USB stick or SD card.

n For full specifications and

more information, visit
www.philips.com/screeneo
Specifications
Display technology: DLP
Light source: RGB LED
Resolution: 1,280p x 800p
Aspect ratio: 4:3 and 16:9
Projection modes: Front,
rear, front ceiling, rear
ceiling
3D technology: Converts
2D images into 3D and
supports all 3D modes
Operating system:
Android 4.2
Internal memory: 4GB
Sound system: Dolby
Digital 2.1
Speakers: Two built-in
speakers with subwoofer
Unpacked dimensions
(weight x depth x
height): 339mm x 28mm x
148mm
Unpacked weight: 5.3kg
Accessories: DLP Link 3D
glasses

Mailbox makes inbox management

quick and easy.

apps or platforms on one job,

which makes it harder to keep
track of things.
Team communications and task

management are made easier with

organisational apps such as Trello
and Slack.
On Trello, you can create boards
to organise almost anything. Then,
you can use cards to arrange ideas,
assignments or attachments on
lists. This makes team projects
easier to monitor and manage.
A similar app, Slack, allows
real-time messaging and file
sharing in group conversations.
The information shared is synced
to all devices so you are always
kept in the loop.

l Working wizards
Pioneering content management
apps such as Scrivener were highly
appreciated by writers. Not only
did the app simplify writing

projects by gathering all your

material in one place, it also
facilitated the creative process
by creating order in the chaos.
Today, there are other
management apps that simplify the
work process Evernote is one of
the more popular ones, acting as a
multipurpose digital buddy to
organise your personal and
professional lives.
You can write, store and transfer
notes, lists and attachments in
various formats.
Thanks to cloud computing, all
this information can be accessed
and edited across various
platforms. You can outline a
project using Evernote on your
smartphone and continue working
on it later on your laptop.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

12 tech world

Superior viewing experience

WITH the decreasing popularity of
CRT TVs in the 21st century, LCD
TVs emerged to fill its void.
However, over the years, home
appliance developers have sought
to continue meeting the needs of
discerning consumers who desire
better picture quality, leading to
the production of the LED TV.
LG Electronics is leading the way
in high-definition TVs with its UHD
(ultra high-definition) TVs, aptly
named the super UHD TV.
The super UHD TV promises
crispier pictures, sleeker design
and the highest quality in sound
performance, making it a must-buy
for people who desire a good
viewing experience.

experience that is just as

immersive as the viewing
experience.
LGs Super UHD TV is also
supported by a unique stand
design that reflects sound to create
an immersive sound experience
just like in an auditorium.
The stand even enhances the
TVs audio by functioning as a
sound reflector to centralise the
sound output.

Simplifying Internet
usage

Superb picture quality

The superb picture quality is
the result of detailed research and
development efforts that enable
an immersive viewing experience.
LGs ColorPrime technology
provides wider colour range that
can be displayed on screen and
results in realistic images.
It also utilises the full colour
spectrum to render a wider range
of hues and shades, thereby
creating greater image depth.
Ultra luminance technology in
the super UHD TV continuously
analyses the brightest and darkest
parts of the displayed content to
improve the extended expression
range of brightness with higher
peaks and enhanced contrast ratio.
LGs 4K IPS panels in its super
UHD TV series support multiple
viewing angles, equal dispersing of
colours and high-definition content

The LG super UHD TV is for those who desire superb picture quality and
sound.

delivery leading to premium and

cinema-like experience.
Additionally, IPS delivers a wider
viewing angle to help make any
seat the best in the house.
This allows viewers to enjoy
bright, vibrant colours and
virtually blur-free images on TV
from a distance.
TVs need to be compatible to
offer high-resolution content that is
4K-resolution friendly. LGs super
UHD TVs are more advanced
compared to other UHD TV
offerings.
The 4K resolution accommodates
UHD content, which is four times
higher in resolution than a full HD.
Coupled with its stunning 8.3
million megapixels, pictures

delivered are more detailed and

vivid.

Superfine design and

superior sound
Designed to be compact and
sleek with the razor-thin 8.5mm
ultra-slim display, ultra-thin bezel
and cinema screen design, the
super UHD TV offers viewers a
cinematic viewing experience at
the comfort of their own home.
Stunning 4K-resolution pictures
are nicely packaged in this slim TV
that will seamlessly blend in with
your homes decoration.
Powered by Harman Kardon, the
superior sound brings a new level
of premium sound for a listening

Part of the Super element is to

keep users up to date with
technology.
With LGs webOS 2.0 Smart TV
user interface, the super UHD TV
enables fast switching, quick
settings, new video content and is
capable of carrying out additional
content searches without
interrupting current viewing.
The TV is an interactive
innovation that makes obtaining
your daily dose of information,
updating your social media status
or streaming videos more
simplified.
Engineered with a humanised
operating system, smart surfing is
just a click away.

Top of the line

In the midst of the many
television brands in the market,
consumers must ensure they fully
understand the product disclosure
statements (PDS) as outlined by LG
and explore all features of the TV

before making a purchase.

A super UHD TV meets most
requirements for viewers who are
looking for top-of-the line products
for their viewing pleasure.

n For more information

on LG Electronics, visit
www.LGnewsroom.com
About LG Electronics, Inc
LG Electronics, Inc is a
global leader and
technology innovator in
consumer electronics,
mobile communications
and home appliances. It
now employs 83,000
people in 128 locations
around the world.
With global sales last
year of US$55.91bil
(RM208bil), LG comprises
four business units home
entertainment, mobile
communications, home
appliances and air
solutions, and vehicle
components.
It is one of the worlds
leading producers of
flat panel TVs, mobile
devices, air conditioners,
washing machines and
refrigerators.
LG is a 2014 ENERGY
STAR Partner of the Year,
which demonstrates
superior energy
management.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

tech world 13

Team-building mobile games

IN a world where anti-social
zombies are becoming pandemic,
there are ways to incorporate
mobile phones into group
activities that do not involve a
selfie stick.
Ice-breaking and teambuilding activities have
traditionally involved games
that allow participants to learn
essential collaborative skills
while helping develop trust in
each other.
Here are some mobile
applications that are free for
download and will be useful
for breaking down barriers
between individuals,
improve productivity,
increase motivation, foster
problem solving and
encourage creativity.

l Tmounit Photo
Scavenger Hunt
This treasure hunt offers an
intense, intellectual and aerobic
workout that draws out each
players knowledge and
personality.
It is a great social icebreaker
and fosters camaraderie.
With Tmounit, all you need to do
is be the first team to take pictures
of five objects out of a list of nine
objects to win the game.
The game is simple enough for
you to play in an office or

acting, singing or dancing out clues

so that a team member can guess
the keywords that flash on your
phones screen.
You can easily draw a new card
(from more than 45 themed decks)
by tilting your phone up or down.
This app is available for both
Apple and Android phones.

l Spaceteam
Playing a game together also
allows for members to blow off
steam in a healthy way and foster
teamwork at the same time.
Spaceteam is a cooperative party
game for two to four players who
shout technobabble at each other
until their ship explodes.

Each player will

be assigned a
random control
panel with buttons,
switches, sliders and
dials where he needs
to follow time-sensitive
instructions sent to the
phone of other members
of the group.
This app is available
for both Apple and
Android phones.

Heads
Up!

l King of Opera Party

Game!
Competition is the critical
driver of performance and
innovation and playing

Tmounit.

classroom setting.
This app is available for both
Apple and Android phones.

l Charades Heads Up!

Charades is a classic leadership
game that teaches important
creative communication skills
and can be played by anyone.
With Heads Up! teams take turns

King of Opera.

competitive games may also help

in peacefully resolving conflicts
and disagreements.
This game allows you to play an
opera singer trying to knock off
other three players from the stage
while avoiding the bull tenor.
Fight for your fame in five game
modes. This app is available on
both Apple and Android phones.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

14 tech world

l Monitors and

l Medication
trackers and
reminders As you
age, it may become
hard to keep track of
the medications and
vitamins you have to
take daily.
Here is where
medication tracking
applications come in
handy apps such
as MediSafe Meds
and Pill Reminder
and Pillboxie act as
your personal
technological nurse to keep
track of your medication intake.
You will receive reminders when you or
a loved one should take specific
medication, according to a schedule
customised to suit your needs.

recorders Various
apps in the market
allow you to
monitor your blood
pressure, heart rate
and weight and
record them over a
period of time.
Nifty apps such
as Blood Pressure
Tracker allow
people with
hypertension to
record and
analyse their blood pressure and
even generate reports to show
doctors.
Some applications are also able
to provide heart rate readings
using your smartphones camera,
such as Instant Heart Rate.

l Memory and
brain activity
boosters Besides
The Memory Backup
for Alzheimers
patients by
Samsung, there
are existing apps
that aid in
enhancing the
cognitive
functions of
those suffering from
dementia.
Clevermind is one app that is tailored
for elderly people and those with cognitive
disabilities. On top of that, apps such as
Lumosity can boost brain activity to help
with memory and attention.

Apps for everyday aid

WITH the availability of a variety of
applications in the market catering
to numerous niches, it comes as no
surprise that there are also apps for
the elderly.
Samsung recently made tech news
for its release of a back-up memory
app for Alzheimers patients in
collaboration with the Tunisian

Alzheimers Association. This app will

act as a storage facility for those who
are unable to rely on their own
memory.
Apple is not to be left out and is
currently working with IBM on
special iPads customised with apps
for seniors.
These apps will help monitor

health, serve as medication intake

and doctors appointment reminders
as well as connect the elderly to
home care services.
It will aid healthcare workers in
checking on the elderly under their
care.
These applications merely scratch
the surface of a great number of apps

available for free or at a minimal fee

on Google Play and Apple App Store,
each playing a role in making life a
little easier for the elderly or people
who require some assistance with
their medical needs.
They are easy to learn to operate
and can come in useful in day-to-day
life.

l Tech made simple Elderly people who are unfamiliar with

technology may find it hard to adapt to smartphone or tablet
usage, keeping the door to the world of apps closed to them.
Waning dexterity and eyesight may also contribute to difficulties
in using these gadgets.
Apps such as Silver Surf (on iPad), Wiser and Necta Launcher
simplify the often complex functions of smartphones or tablets,
thus increasing accessibility and ease of use.
Additionally, magnifying apps such as EyeReader are able to
enlarge text on any other medium to help with reading.

A useful technological tip

when it comes to the
elderly is to purchase
devices with larger
screens. Developers
themselves have
recognised the potential
of tablets such as iPads in
the elderly niche mainly
due to ease of use and a
larger, user-friendly
interface.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

tech world 15

Complete desktop experience

THE Inspiron 20 3000 All-in-One
Series (Intel) desktop is a complete
PC set-up that offers versatility to
perform various tasks at hand.
With the combination of PC,
monitor and speakers, the Inspiron
20 3000 All-in-One Series provides
a platform on which you can
create documents, balance budgets
or watch a movie.
The Intel processor provides
reliable performance for various
tasks such as surfing the web and
streaming videos as well as
delivering exceptional HD
graphics on-screen.
The desktop can be
powered for up to 3.5 hours
using an optional battery
pack, eliminating the need
for an outlet for a certain
period of time.
It can also be
connected to a wireless
keyboard and mouse,
making your
workspace neater
and more
convenient.
The design of the
Inspiron 20 3000
All-in-One Series allows users to
work comfortably with a 200 tilt
while the computer is in stand
mode.
You can also fold the desktop

all-in-one desktop is light

enough to be taken anywhere,
from the comfort of your own
home or around the office,
making it a convenient choice
for those who require flexibility
in terms of location.
The Inspiron 20 3000 All-in-One
Series has a built-in 720 pixels
webcam that makes it easy to stay
in touch with friends and family.
Users can also connect to the
Internet quickly to an 802.11n
Wi-Fi connection.
There are also three USB 2.0
ports and a HDMI port offering
flexible connectivity and data
transfer options.

n For more information,

visit www.dell.com

The Inspiron 20 3000 All-inone series (Intel) desktop

screen can be adjusted to
different angles for users
comfort.

screen to a nearly flat level to

make it more comfortable for
playing games or watching videos.
The desktop can also be easily

mounted on a wall.
The VESA wall mount is sold
separately for this feature.
Weighing about 3.65kg, this sleek

The Quatro V speakers

provide the ideal music
entertainment you need.

Music to your ears

SONIC Gear Quatro V are speakers that will
meet your sound quality expectations.
The Sonic Gear Quatro V 2.1 speaker set
is compact, comes with a wireless remote
control and offers various functions such as
FM radio and connectivity to music sources
such as flash drives, microSD cards,
computers or laptops via an audio cable.
You can also play songs from your
gadgets with these speakers by connecting
them, for example, to your smartphone via
Bluetooth (using a dongle, which is sold
separately) or attaching a USB into an
available port.
Listeners are rewarded with good sound
quality, which is ideal for providing music
entertainment as you work on your
computer.
Another product from Sonic Gear, the
Quatro 2, is a compact and portable
speaker. It is small and can be connected to
mobile devices or computers to play music.

The in-line volume controller is easy to use

and the USB and 3.5mm connector are
combined into one cable.
The bass punch of the Quatro 2 is amazing.
Overall, there is a good amount of detail and
the Quatro 2 sounds great.

n For more information, visit

leapfroglobal.com

Weighing about 3.65kg,

this all-in-one desktop is a
convenient choice for
individuals who need to
work from different
locations.

SUNDAY STAR, 21 JUNE 2015

16 tech world

Sophisticated digital shooting

FUJIFILM Corporation has
launched the Fujifilm X-T10.
It is the latest premium
interchangeable lens digital
camera to join the renowned
Fujifilm X-series digital camera
line-up.
Boasting outstanding image
quality as a result of unique colour
reproduction technology, the new
model is designed for photography
enthusiasts and combines a
compact and lightweight body
with a new autofocus system
(AF) that excels at capturing
moving subjects.
The features of the Fujifilm
X-T10 include:
l Compact and lightweight
body
The all-new design packs
X-Series operability into a compact
and lightweight body. Both top
and base plates are made of a
lightweight but rigid, die-cast
magnesium.
It is also equipped with an auto
mode switch lever to select the
fully automatic advanced scene
recognition auto mode (SR auto)
that chooses optimum settings for
different scenes to make shooting
effortless.

l Real time
viewfinder
With a
magnification of
0.62x and a display
lag time of just
0.005 seconds, the
X-T10 offers a clear,
high-definition live
view with the new
2.36M-dot organic EL
electronic
viewfinder.
Visibility has also
been improved with
the automatically
controlled brightness,
which adjusts the shot
according to the ambient light
levels.
l Quality image and
high-speed performance
The camera features Fujifilms
APS-C 16.3 megapixel X-Trans
CMOS II sensor to deliver quality
images.
Its unique, random colour filter
array reduces moir and false
colours without having to use an
optical low pass filter.
The elimination of the low pass
filter, which compromises image

the camera starts up in just 0.5

seconds, has a shutter time lag
of 0.05 seconds and shooting
interval of 0.5 seconds.

l Effortlessly capture
moving subjects
The new AF system offers
the 49-point single point mode
for high speed and precision
shots.
The new zone and wide/
tracking modes that use a
larger 77-point focal area helps
to effectively capture moving
subjects at ease.
The new
Fujifilm X-T10.

quality, means a greater amount of

light reaches the sensor.
Combined with the EXR
Processor II image processor, the
sensor is capable of delivering
outstanding resolution and low
noise.
The unique on-sensor phase
detection AF system focuses
within 0.06 seconds.
With the high-speed EXR
Processor II image processor,

l Lenses that help deliver

premium image quality
X-mount lenses offer highprecision optical designs to bring
out the best image quality from
the X-T10.
When designing the lens range,
the aim was to achieve edge-toedge definition for hi-res imagery
across the entire frame and offer
maximum aperture while
maintaining a compact size.
The current line-up of 18 lenses
ranges from ultra wide-angle to
telephoto, including five fast
aperture prime lenses.

l Helps perfect photos

Fujifilms technology helps the
camera reproduce warm skin
tones, bright blue skies and rich
green trees to closely match the
actual environment depicted.
The X-T10 features the latest
classic chrome film simulation
mode, which delivers muted tones
and deep colours.
Users can choose from 10 other
modes that simulate the effects of
traditional Fujifilm films.
These include colour reversal
film effects, professional colour
negative film, monochrome filters
and sepia.

l Capable of producing full HD

videos
A 60fps smooth full hi-definition
movie can be shot with the X-T10
with the 50fps, 30fps, 25fps and
24fps frame rates available.
Manual exposure can also be
set up to shoot a movie where
aperture, shutter speed and ISO
sensitivity can be changed to
enable users to shoot movies using
a preferred level of exposure.
n For more information,
visit www.fujifilm.com