So we all remember the Google Glass flop from the early 2010s. They didn’t look good. They were too expensive. Also, there was huge issues about privacy invasion. However, one company is giving this smart glass thing another go. Well smart glasses work this time?
In Canada, about 65 miles west of Toronto, there is a IT service company they call North. Their main product is Focals. They look just like regular eyeglasses. Let’s say you walk down the street and see somebody in glasses. You won’t be able to tell if it’s regular glasses or smart glasses. Also, the only physical difference is the smart glasses will weigh more. But don’t let them fool you. These eyeglasses do everything any smart device can do.
If you do wear them, then you can expect notifications on your right lens all day every day, literally. We’re talking everything from texts, emails, notifications, phone calls, appointments, even sports scores of your favorite teams. It comes with a ring to help you scroll through this information. It even has Alexa software you can talk to. But you can’t just get these anywhere, and it’s a process to get these North glasses. They’re only two of them: one in Brooklyn, one in Toronto. Then, through 3D and AI cameras, they examine your head so your glasses have a perfect fit. Your glasses are custom made and takes 3 weeks to get.
If you choose to go through this process, North’s smart glasses will cost you at least $600. At least they look like human glasses, and not some monstrosity out of a horror movie like Google Glass. But I do see problems. How would you like it is you’re wearing glasses, then distractions come on the right lens every second? Not only could this be an annoyance, but it could lead to all kinds of accidents. Think of how crazy you look when talking to Alexa in these glasses. But it looks like you’re talking to yourself. Then look at the process and expenses you’ll go through even wearing these glasses. Will smart glasses work this time?
So by now, we all know about the Hong Kong crisis. We also know communist China wants to further impose their will on free Hong Kong. But this shouldn’t surprise anyone. China is neck deep in things like surveillance technology. Let’s look at China’s facial recognition problem.
Yet a new report exposed China’s government using more facial recognition on minority groups. It came out last week on Tech Crunch. They found a web browser without a password. Then, on that browser, they found hundreds of face images, most of them from ethnic minority groups. The data even uses labels to describe which race the person comes from. Then, human rights groups exposed how police use a smartphone app to spy on the Muslim Jighur population.
And this app captures everything; from car licence plates to where they shop. Not enough surveillance for you? Then more data exposed that two minority communities in Beijing were under constant surveillance watch. This data includes face recognition. And it’s enough to follow them everywhere they go. We also learn that Alibaba, China’s answer to Amazon, is the main host and maker of this tech. But when asked about this, they seem to dance around the issue.
Also, like the US, China is going through a great political and cultural divide. Their IT service issues is only going to add to that. And boy, do they have a lot. As far as this exposure, it can’t come at a more turbulent time. First you have the trade wars with the US, then add the Huawei controversy. If that’s not enough, then add the Hong Kong protests. And now, the exposure of China’s facial recognition problem. And it is a problem. First of all, this kind of intense surveillance is never a good thing. Then, when a nation adds unfair treatment like this, then it’s a recipe for outright disaster. What do you think?
So I know what some of you are going to say. Why are you talking about Huawei again? Because it’s what so many in business and IT support talk about. In fact, someone posted a looming question. Is Huawei dead?
So I just say a Yahoo podcast. They interviewed Chinese best selling author and economist Gordon Chang. Already, Huawei had to cancel their laptop debut, thanks to US restrictions and this US vs. China trade war. Huawei also wants Verizon to pay fees on over 200 patents. That’s probably not going to happen anytime soon, if ever. Then you also have Google moving business out of China. But Chang believes this is only the beginning.
Chang reminded us Oracle is closing down their research facilities in China. That alone is going to cost China 1,600 jobs. But what does this have to do with Huawei? Chang said if President Trump doesn’t give more exemptions from his executive order, then Huawei is a dead company. Those are his words, not mine. Because if they don’t resolve this trade issue, then laptop debuts and patents might be the least of their worries. Chang says this will affect their server business. Oh, I almost forgot. Huawei is putting their PC on hold as well.
Also keep in mind, Huawei will have little, if any support, from American tech companies if this keeps on. This mean Huawei won’t get software, chips, anything from Silicon Valley. But wait…there’s more. Chang doesn’t see this trade war stopping any time soon. Neither does anybody else. Then look at the Hong Kong protests this week. We can expect more American businesses to leave China before too long. Plus, most insiders believe this trade war is more than about money. It’s about pride and nationalism. And how much conflict starts over that? Can Huawei come back? Or is Huawei dead?
So we have another major merger to talk about in the IT service world. It’s been a while since the last big one. But in the 2019 world, you know one is coming, and it’s now here. Salesforce buys out Tableau.
Salesforce is a huge, major customer-manager software making firm based in San Francisco. Tableau is an interactive visual data software firm, located in Seattle. So the deal is this: Salesforce Buys out Tableau for 15.7 billion dollars. All of it will be in stocks. However, Tableau will keep it’s name. Also, their headquarters will remain in Seattle.
So what is so special about Tableau, a company not many people ever hear of? One is, they help people on any skill level work with analytics and data. Therefore, it’s a great teaching tool in this ever changing industry. They also have great clientele, like Netflix and Verizon. Both companies approved this deal. And as it appears, one side of stocks is taking it better than the other side. I say this because Tableau stocks are jumping over 30% so far today. Meanwhile, Salesfore stocks are slipping slightly. However, both CEO’s are glowing about this plan.
Tableau CEO Adam Selipsky says this merger will help people everywhere help people see and understand data. Also, Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff said this move will help both companies engage and serve customers. I hope they are right. But I will give them credit. This doesn’t sound like a merge of domination like some of the others do. When you read mergers like Disney buying up Star Wars and Marvel Comics. To me, that reads like Disney is trying to own the world. I don’t see that happening with Salesforce and Tableau. Instead, I see both companies really trying to do what’s best for it’s employees and customers alike. Or am I being naive? Is this merger more about domination and less about the greater good?
So in the IT support world, few things are more controversial than facial recognition technology. Some say we need it for security. But many say it’s a blatant privacy invasion. However, Microsoft tackles it’s own facial recognition.
They do so by wiping out it’s MS Celeb database. So their database used to contain 10 million facial images of around 100,000 people. But not anymore. Because they’re deleting these images even as I speak. Maybe Microsoft did this on their own power. Or maybe others are pressuring them to take these images down. Because FT.com ran a scathing article recently.
They ran an investigation not just on Microsoft, but on all facial recognition technology. They argued MS Caleb had the faces and other info on people like security journalists and authors. In fact, they’re even cynical about this deleting of MS Caleb. Because FT.com argues these photos will never go away. Because they will always be floating somewhere on the Internet, especially during this social media era. However, Microsoft responded to FT.com. They say deleting their data is a matter of protocol. They also say MS Caleb was for academic purposes. But here’s the question I have. If it’s for academic purposes, then why were 100,000 people on your database? Well, at least they’re coming off now.
But this isn’t the first time Microsoft stood up to facial recognition technology. Because last year, Microsoft President Brad Smith asked US Congress to better regulate this kind of IT tech. Smith testified of the abuse it could lead to if it’s not regulated. That’s what so many Americans are worried about. I include myself in that. In this age, crooks and sociopaths can abuse any kind of technology. Look at some of these events of this past decade. I’m glad Microsoft tackles it’s own facial recognition. What if it gets into the wrong hands?
So over the last several years, we hear stories of people getting fired over a bad social media post. We also hear of China’s social credit score. But now, it seems Big Brother is digging his shovel a little deeper. US screens social media for visa applicants.
So from now on, US visa applicants must submit their social media pages, all emails, and smartphone on their applications. This new law will affect over 15 million upcoming visa applications. The US State Dept. insists this is a move to fight terrorism. A statement said they’re doing this for ‘extensive security screening’ and “…to protect US citizens”. I hear that one a lot.
But this new law isn’t for everybody. It’s mostly for people who traveled to high terrorist countries. Or at least that’s how the State Dept. explains it. For them, they must provide every social media username they had over the past five years. They also must provide emails and phone numbers over the past five years. Then, they must give their status of the nation as well as whether their families are with terrorists organizations. Many insists we must do this to keep America safe. But many others beg to differ.
The Economist magazine says this is the wrong thing at the wrong time. Because we’re in the midst of this trade war with China, we need all the good international labor we can get. Also, other publications remind us the USA isn’t the only candy store in town. Immigrants are already turning to other countries like Canada, Germany and Australia. Because in these nations, visa issues are less of a factor. Also, keep in mind how many of these immigrants in the IT service field. But the US screens social media for visa applicants anyway. Is this a means of safety or protection? Or is this another evasive big brother move?
