Artificial Intelligence (AI):   

AI is a broad term encompassing machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. It has the potential to revolutionize, in particular, the healthcare, finance and transportation sectors. In the coming years, AI can also help healthcare professionals diagnose and treat patients. We will also witness driverless cars becoming more popular in the wake of AI advancement.  

Since the release of ChatGPT, online search methods are already changing. We are sure to see conversational search drawing more attention than ever. It is the first time since Google became a mainstream search engine in the early 2000s that people are heavily drifting towards another search engine. The later versions of ChatGPT may even understand and provide answers for video content.  

Extended Reality (XR):  

Extended Reality (XR) creates a digital environment that seamlessly blends with the real world to create real-like experiences. It includes immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). In 2023, XR will continue to advance and transform different industries like entertainment, education, and healthcare by enhancing realism. Users are expected to interact with digital content in ways that seemed impractical before. With the advancement in optics and display technology, we can expect higher-resolution displays in entertainment and gaming. In future, AR-enabled books can display 3D models of studies helping students to interact and explore. And MR surgical planning can also radically change the healthcare sector.  

Cybersecurity: 

Since the interconnectedness in our physical and digital lives is increasing by the day, cyber threats continue to grow too. Looking ahead to 2023, the landscape of cybersecurity will transition to password-less logins with enhanced authentication methods. Major tech companies like Microsoft and Google have already started offering password-less logins to users, and the trend is likely to grow. The transitions will be slow, but more organizations will adopt it for user protection. To stay ahead of threats, businesses and governments, may invest in AI-based threat detection and blockchain-based data encryption.  

Datafication: 

Datafication involves collecting data from different sources to enhance decision-making and reduce business risks. It enables the development of predictive analytics models to provide real-time information, which helps businesses plan future strategies. In 2023, more and more businesses can embrace data-driven decision-making, and the demand for IT professionals with expertise in data analytics may automatically grow.  

Quantum Computing: 

Quantum computing is a comparatively new technology and has not advanced much due to lack of the right talent. But in times ahead, the technology will rapidly evolve, and the use of quantum computers will be more mainstream. Consequently, we will access benefits like solving complex problems beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. In 2023, we can also expect to learn about more benefits to accrue by investing in cloud based quantum computing.

Instagram is on a quest to find the most interactive features for its users. To keep active users engaged and to help them express their love and support for one another, Instagram now has a ‘like’ feature for stories. 

Today, we all want to stay connected but keep our DMs (Direct Messages) light. We want people to appreciate our social media posts, but indulging in long digital conversations can give a hard time to most. Hence, the new Like feature on Instagram stories will resonate with most users. 

Unlike the past features – sending a reaction or reply to stories – the new ‘like’ feature doesn’t clog the DM section. This makes it a perfect solution to send appreciation across without nudging the recipients much. Considering the unending list of stories that one sees on a daily basis, sending a reaction or reply to everyone might be difficult. Sending a heart or like is easier – just the oar one needs to keep the love sailing on social media. 

So how to use this new feature? 

1. When you see someone’s Insta story, notice a heart icon (♡) in between the ‘Send Message’ and share icon (which looks like a paper plane icon). 

2. Tap on the heart icon to send your like for the story. 

3. The ‘like’ will end up in the recipient’s notification and not DM. 

Here’s how Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, explains it:

Private Story Likes

Starting to roll out today, you can now send some love by liking people’s stories without sending a DM.

Likes on stories are private and do not have counts. Rather, they appear as hearts next to people’s handles in your Stories view sheet. ??
pic.twitter.com/l56Rmzgnnw

— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) February 14, 2022

Recipients can see the likes on their view sheet; but these are not visible to the story audience/viewers. The ‘likes’ on a story will work differently from how they work on feed posts. 

The new update doesn’t deactivate the old features; you can still send a reaction, or message as a story response. The feature was rolled out on Valentine’s Day for most accounts. Other accounts may also expect the update shortly. 

GDPR checkpoints for app developers in India

Research states that mobile app downloads have increased from 140 billion in 2016 to 218 billion in 2020. It is believed that downloads will surge to 258 billion by the end of 2021. This gives rise to questions on security of user data. Smartphone applications collect user data to customise their experience on the website. It is difficult for a layman to know in what ways companies collect user data and use the personal information.

Data collection came under the purview of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)in 2018. GDPR was introduced to strengthen individuals’ control on their personal data and to streamline international business regulations. The regulation has a direct effect on all EU member states, which means every organisation that is established in the EU or processes data of EU individuals for the exchange of goods and services have to abide by the GDPR law. Breaching the policy may result in heavy penalties.

If you are in an industry that targets EU individuals and collects their data through mobile apps, you must comply with the GDPR law.

How has GDPR impacted the mobile app market in India

The biggest challenge is that most organisations employ third parties to conduct analytics, and inadvertently share data without the express consent of users. Further, a lot of apps (in India and globally) personalise offerings basis the user data available. If EU clients request for deletion of their personal information, it will pose a problem in the way these apps operate.

Banking institutions may conduct credit credibility checks by assessing people’s social media profiles. If an EU user requests them to not use the information available online, it will be difficult for organisations to create different procedures for one potential client.

These challenges are complicated but have to be addressed if organisations want to avoid penalty and loss of credibility. Here are some ways to ensure compliance.

How to comply with GDPR

• Review your application – mention each aspect of data collection throughout your app. Don’t mandate users to fill data where it is not necessary.

• Do not auto-fill forms; ask for users’ consent in filling up forms in a clear and simple language. Users may or may not want to subscribe to ads, newsletters, etc. Give them the right to choose.

• Privacy by design is imperative. It means that you must only hold and process data that is crucial for your app, you must also inform the user why you are collecting it.
  For example, if your application offers home-delivery of items, you may require the phone number of a user. You must specify that you need their number to schedule the delivery, assist them with the product, etc.

• Inform users about how to manage, collect or delete the data shared on your application. In other words, give users control over how they want to share their personal information.

• Strengthen user-data security, secure the data on the cloud with encryption.

• Write the privacy policy in simple language that ensures user readability. Also, upload policy on the app stores.
  
  
• If you share user data with any third party, they must also comply with GDPR.

What happens when you don’t comply with GDPR?

Non-compliance with the GDPR may result in corrective actions such as a limitation or ban on data processing, or suspension of data flow to collectors in a third country. Depending on the severity, a company may be penalised for two percent of its global revenue or 10 million EUR, whichever is higher. The maximum fine that a company might have to pay on breaching the law is four percent of its global revenue or 20 million EUR, whichever is higher.

The rise of the NFT marketplace  

The NFT market has exploded in the last couple of years. While few naysayers call the trend a bubble, NFTs hardly show signs of abating. Rather, NFTs are gaining popularity among several megastars of the Indian film industry. Amitabh Bachchan has sold his voice recordings of ‘Madhushala’, Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry collection. Salman Khan is also known to have collaborated with Bollywood’s NFT marketplace and will jump the bandwagon soon.   
 

What is NFT? And why is it so popular?   

NFT or Non-fungible Token is a blockchain-based collectable digital asset such as artwork, messages, audio, etc. Simply put, if you have an artwork that you want to auction. You can digitize and create an original e-copy which you can then sell in the NFT marketplace.   

Each NFT item will be considered unique, and cannot be disassembled or morphed.   

What can one sell in the NFT marketplace? 

Anything from music to videos, video game skins, virtual avatars, art, jpg, to designer products, can be sold.  

Some of the renowned NFT sales include Beeple’s $69 million NFT, Jack Dorsey’s first tweet, and the animated Nyan Cat.   
 

Key features of non-fungible-token:  

1. NFTs are written in blockchain-based code that is time-stamped. The use of blockchain ensures that each transaction is recorded, which is why NFT ownership can only be transferred and not duplicated or modified.  

2. NFTs cannot be divided or changed into little tokens. They remain indivisible.  

3. Linking NFT with blockchain technology offers an encryption feature that keeps the artwork secure.  

4. The ownership of a digital asset is verified, which means a second copy of the original work can be easily distinguished. The copyrights of the artwork remain with the owner of the unique NFT.  

5. Digital assets can be accessed by more people as compared to physical copies, which also increases the possibility of uptake.  

6. It’s quick and easy to share digital work, which increases its liquidity factor.   

7. Transactions are made instantly followed by an automatic update of the digital art owner.  

Is there a need for an NFT marketplace?  

NFT marketplaces have existed for over a decade in the form of platforms like SnapDeal, Amazon, Flipkart etc. However, the sudden popularity of NFTs to sell artwork is attributed to the closure of auction houses and galleries during the pandemic and the dramatic shift to the digital space.  
 

These platforms provide a common ground for artists, connoisseurs and buyers. Artists and creators can reach multiple buyers online and garner more interest in their work. Buyers and collectors have a readily available array of assets. It is easy to authenticate artwork and verify ownership. All these factors make NFTs convenient and attractive for all parties. 

Recording calls on iPhone

One cannot record audio calls on iPhones. Though it is not difficult to deploy, Apple excluded the option of call recording due to legal issues. As per the Federal and state laws of the US, every participant on the call must agree to a call recording, which most people don’t follow individually.

Further, most of the apps which allows call recording on iPhone are usually paid. In this article, we’ll talk about an app which allows free recording of calls. Rev Call Recorder iOS app is an easy-to-use application that records calls, and you can share them via Dropbox or email. For now, the Rev – voice recorder is only available in the US, UK, and Australia.

How to record calls on the Rev app?

To record outgoing calls:

1. Download the app
2. Verify your number
3. Tap on ‘start call record’
4. Select outgoing call
5. Enter the number you wish to call
6. Call Rev’s recorder
7. Tap Add call and enter the recipient’s number
8. Once the call connects, merge it with the recorder
9. End call to stop recording

To record incoming calls:

1. Receive the call
2. Open Rev app
3. Tap ‘start call record’ followed by incoming call option
4. Call Rev’s recorder with the pop-up message
5. Once the call connects, merge calls to start recording
6. End call to stop recording

Your recorded call appears in the list of recordings within the application. You can listen, share or export these recordings as per your requirement. You can also rename the recordings to organize them. Rev allows you to transcribe the call to text as shown here.  

Several applications support call recording such as TapeACall Pro, Call Recorder App, Call Recorder iCall, CallRec Lite, etc. These apps allow you to record calls and access different options for a trial period, and then you must take a premium subscription. The steps remain almost the same, with a slight difference that you can find on exploring the applications. However, one must take consent from all participants before recording starts. It is crucial to avoid any legal implications and use the app only for the wellbeing of all participants.

Meet the new backwards-compatible smartphone with upgradable modules – Fairphone 

Approximately 1.5 billion smartphones are expected to be sold by the end of 2021, mentions a Gartner report.  Our dependency on gadgets are rising and so are the prices. While it might be ‘cool’ to have upgraded tech in your pocket, the creation and disposal of phones have a heavy carbon footprint. 

Fairphone aims to fix this problem.

This device is manufactured from recycled, responsibly-sourced material, and allows users to replace components that break down or needs an update. The tagline of Fairphone reads ‘the phone that cares for people and planet’. With this phone, the company is looking to change the way products are crafted, offering an alternative sustainable and fashionable solution.  

What is in it for users? 

What if you could sustain one phone for years, and yet own the latest model?

No investments as soon as something better enters the market. 

Does it seem like a convenient, cost-effective idea?  

Fairphone is creating solutions to increase smartphones longevity so that users do not have to discard the devices often. The devices are competitive, with mid-range Android phones, the latest version being Fairphone4.

The phones have decent features when you compare with any upscale phone today; so, you are not compromising usability. Further, one can replace the worn-out parts to increase the phone’s life. The modules that can be replaced include: 

• Back covers 
• USB-C ports 
• Loudspeakers 
• Batteries 
• Displays 
• Earpieces 
• Cameras (rear and selfie) 

A user can remove the parts and replace them with a new one without seeking professional help.  

How is Fairphone environment-friendly? 

According to the makers, Fairphone is geared towards long-time performance. The device can be repaired and modules upgraded. Therefore, you will not have to invest in a new handset often. With increased usability of a device, from 3-5 years, you can reduce up to 30% of your carbon footprint. The firm commits to eliminating hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing these devices such as phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, brominated flame retardants, making safer phones for users and the environment.

Manufacturing mobile phones require large quantities of natural resources – cobalt, neodymium, plastic, copper, gold, tin, tungsten, lithium, in particular. Depletion of these metals is bound to have consequences. Fairphone emphasizes using a new smartphone until it breaks, then turning over the device to recycling robots so that original elements (plastic, tungsten, tin, etc.) can be used in the creation of new laptops, cars, etc. As the demand for new phones outweighs its supply, it is crucial to encourage the reuse of the products to reduce e-waste and environmental footprint.

Beyond environmental concerns, Fairphone is also concerned about using fairer materials as they state in their materials scope study.

Downside 

For now, users face delays in the replacement of phone hardware. The company is trying to overcome the delays by making the hardware easily accessible through multiple vendors. 

To conclude 

Fairphone is a European company, started in 2013 with a mission to build a fairer electronics industry. Until now, Fairphones are available in the European market only, but expansion endeavours are on. We hope the firm can expand to many more territories in the near future.

Delete your WhatsApp account in simple steps 

With approximately 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is the most used messenger app across the globe. Recently, WhatsApp users planned to switch to other messenger applications due to privacy concerns. This article is for those of you who are wary about WhatsApp sharing your data with other advertisers and influencing ads. In case you are looking to delete your WhatsApp account, you may want to save your chats so that you do not lose them permanently.  

You can save WhatsApp chats and media manually before deleting your account in three simple steps: 

• Open the chat you want to export 
• Tap on the three dots on the top-right of the chat screen 

• Tap more and select export chat. (WhatsApp will ask whether or not to include chat media, you may choose to include media and export chat to G-mail, Google Drive, etc.) 

With the above-mentioned steps, you can export chats and save them in .txt format. However, these files remain solely in .txt format and are not retrievable on WhatsApp if you re-create your account. 

Once you have your chat backup, you can follow the steps below to delete your account: 

• Open WhatsApp. 
• Tap three dots on the top right corner. 

• Tap on Settings. 
• Click on Account. 
• Select Delete my account. 
• Enter your phone number. 
• Click on Delete my account. 

WhatsApp will ask you to select a reason for leaving – select a reason and tap ‘Delete my account’ for the last time. 

Your account gets deleted with these steps. Also, the in-app chat backup gets deleted once you delete your account. If you plan to make a WhatsApp account again in the future, you have to start from scratch. 

Once you follow all these instructions, the company takes 90 days to delete your WhatsApp account and information. It includes deleting you from WhatsApp groups, deleting WhatsApp backup, erasing message history, detaching your phone number from WhatsApp, and deleting your number from others’ WhatsApp contact list. You cannot access the account post deletion.