Each year, crowdfunding offers us the best of innovative minds who come together to put out a brilliant idea. The current lot of crowd-funders have made interesting choices in bringing forth ideas that people can contribute to.

Here are some very unique products that are either currently under process of&nbsp;funding&nbsp;or have reached their final stage:&nbsp;

<h2>AER&nbsp;</h2>

AER leverages drone technology to bring you a whole new perspective. It allows you to throw your GoPro camera in the air for amazing aerial shots. It is a foam dart designed to fly straight and far while protecting the camera. The system is safe, although the user will have to fasten the kit well to the camera. The idea struck the founders when they wanted a cheaper alternative to make GoPros airborne.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1o4T24BoMIc" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Calla: Indoor Garden</h2>

Calla is born out of the need for an indoor garden that will keep your&nbsp;favourite herbs healthy and within reach, at all times. It takes care of plotted plants with appropriate lighting and controlled watering. The indoor garden is easy to use, keeps the herbs fresh&nbsp;for months and can be harvested several times. It was developed with an aim to fight food waste with different cuisine lovers not wasting the herbs they love and using only the needed quantity.

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Indoor garden (Pinterest)
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<h2>Head-Up Display GPS Unit</h2>

For all the hassles you face while driving to a new location, there is a genius navigation device under process. Head-Up Display Unit (HUD) GPS device can connect to any smartphone and will project a virtual image of the route onto your car&#39;s windshield. It aims to make driving safe, with people not having to shift attention to their phones for directions. It can be placed on the dashboard of the car and easily pairs with any smartphone. It can also project incoming calls, messages, and social media notifications.

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GPS display (Pinterest)
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<h2>Prisma&rsquo;s Cold-Brew Coffee</h2>

Coffee machines are readily available in the market, but Prisma&rsquo;s machine aims to change the way we drink our coffee. What&rsquo;s more, the machine will ready a cup of coffee in a matter of ten minutes. The Prisma Cold Brew requires no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or apps to function. It is simply a classic coffee making machine. It has a specialized vacuum infusion process, which speeds up the process to brew a fresh cup of cold-brew coffee.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/coffee-20170118070133.jpg" />
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Coffee machine (Pinterest)
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<h2>Travelmate Robotics&#39; Suitcase</h2>

It is a smart suitcase that can carry itself and follows your direction via GPS. For those who hate carrying baggage, this is all that you can ask for. The first truly autonomous suitcase, Travelmate is LED-lit and has omni wheels that weave through crowds and can be connected with any smartphone. The suitcase can be opened manually or via a fingerprint enabled lock system.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ai5haQmC97o" width="970"></iframe>

<h2>Vi: Artificial Intelligence Personal Trainer</h2>

Artificial intelligence continues to make our lives easier and&nbsp;Vi&nbsp;takes it a notch above. Imagine working out with a personal trainer who reads, understands and communicates with you, at your beck and call. There are many fitness tracking devices in the market, and with this new AI, health and fitness can get a gradual boost. Still under the initial stages of funding, Vi offers a look into the future of the fitness industry.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/vi-20170118070431.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
AI personal trainer (Pinterest)
</div>
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<h2>Smart Pillow</h2>

The ZEEQ&rsquo;s smart pillow comes with a promise to make sleeping enjoyable and productive with less disturbance to anyone sleeping close-by. It works for all kinds of sleepers, like those who snore or are motion-sensitive. It has REM-Fit audio so that you can listen to music without causing any noise, a snore alarm, a smart wake mechanism and much more. It can also be connected to any smartphone, which allows the pillow to track your sleep trends, habits and can even track diet and exercise.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/pillow-20170118065957.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Smart pillow (Pinterest)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

From aerial cameras to a suitcase that follows you, these are kickass products of the future

Each year, crowdfunding offers us the best of innovative minds who come together to put out a brilliant idea. The current lot of crowd-funders have made interesting choices in bringing forth ideas that people can contribute to. Here are some very unique products that are either currently under process of funding or have reached their final stage: AER AER leverages drone technology to bring you a whole new perspective. It allows you to throw your GoPro camera in the air for amazing aerial shots. It is a foam dart designed to fly straight and far while protecting the camera. The system is safe, although the user will have to fasten the kit well to the camera. The idea struck the founders when they wanted a cheaper alternative to make GoPros airborne. Calla: Indoor Garden Calla is born out of the need for an indoor garden that will keep your favourite herbs healthy and within reach, at all times. It takes care of plotted plants with appropriate lighting and controlled watering. The indoor garden is easy to use, keeps the herbs fresh for months and can be harvested several times. It was developed with an aim to fight food waste with different cuisine lovers not wasting the herbs they love and using only the needed quantity. Indoor garden (Pinterest) × Head-Up Display GPS Unit For all the hassles you face while driving to a new location, there is a genius navigation device under process. Head-Up Display Unit (HUD) GPS device can connect to any smartphone and will project a virtual image of the route onto your car's windshield. It aims to make driving safe, with people not having to shift attention to their phones for directions. It can be placed on the dashboard of the car and easily pairs with any smartphone. It can also project incoming calls, messages, and social media notifications. GPS display (Pinterest) × Prisma’s Cold-Brew Coffee Coffee machines are readily available in the market, but Prisma’s machine aims to change the way we drink our coffee. What’s more, the machine will ready a cup of coffee in a matter of ten minutes. The Prisma Cold Brew requires no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or apps to function. It is simply a classic coffee making machine. It has a specialized vacuum infusion process, which speeds up the process to brew a fresh cup of cold-brew coffee. Coffee machine (Pinterest) × Travelmate Robotics' Suitcase It is a smart suitcase that can carry itself and follows your direction via GPS. For those who hate carrying baggage, this is all that you can ask for. The first truly autonomous suitcase, Travelmate is LED-lit and has omni wheels that weave through crowds and can be connected with any smartphone. The suitcase can be opened manually or via a fingerprint enabled lock system. Vi: Artificial Intelligence Personal Trainer Artificial intelligence continues to make our lives easier and Vi takes it a notch above. Imagine working out with a personal trainer who reads, understands and communicates with you, at your beck and call. There are many fitness tracking devices in the market, and with this new AI, health and fitness can get a gradual boost. Still under the initial stages of funding, Vi offers a look into the future of the fitness industry. AI personal trainer (Pinterest) × Smart Pillow The ZEEQ’s smart pillow comes with a promise to make sleeping enjoyable and productive with less disturbance to anyone sleeping close-by. It works for all kinds of sleepers, like those who snore or are motion-sensitive. It has REM-Fit audio so that you can listen to music without causing any noise, a snore alarm, a smart wake mechanism and much more. It can also be connected to any smartphone, which allows the pillow to track your sleep trends, habits and can even track diet and exercise. Smart pillow (Pinterest) × (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

7 unique crowdfunding projects that will make the world a happy place

100 Years: The Movie You Will Never See&nbsp;is a film that, as the name says, you will not be able to see in your lifetime. The movie, which is inspired by the 100 years it takes for a bottle of Louis XIII to get ready, is scheduled to be released in the year 2115.

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A general view of Louis XIII 100 Year - &#39;The Movie You Will Never See&#39; installation on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Getty)
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Inspired by the drink, which is literally &lsquo;One Century in a Bottle&rsquo;, the movie is directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich, who also happens to be the writer of the film.

On November 18, 2015, the duo released three teaser trailers of the film. The teasers show three different possible futures that we are moving towards, from a dystopian world to one that is technology-driven.

However, the filmmakers have not included any actual footage from the movie in the teasers. In fact, they have gone at great lengths to keep the movie&rsquo;s plot a secret.

For instance, they&rsquo;ve kept the final product locked in a high-tech safe, which is itself inside a bulletproof glass casing. The case is time-proof and will automatically open for access on the premiere release date, which is November 18, 2115.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T1ka20sR-o8" width="970"></iframe>

Although the event is nearly a century away, nearly 1,000 invites have already been handed out to people, who will pass them on to their descendants.

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

100 Years: The Movie You Will Never See is being kept in a high-tech safe till its release in the year 2115

100 Years: The Movie You Will Never See is a film that, as the name says, you will not be able to see in your lifetime. The movie, which is inspired by the 100 years it takes for a bottle of Louis XIII to get ready, is scheduled to be released in the year 2115. A general view of Louis XIII 100 Year - 'The Movie You Will Never See' installation on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Getty) × Inspired by the drink, which is literally ‘One Century in a Bottle’, the movie is directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich, who also happens to be the writer of the film. On November 18, 2015, the duo released three teaser trailers of the film. The teasers show three different possible futures that we are moving towards, from a dystopian world to one that is technology-driven. However, the filmmakers have not included any actual footage from the movie in the teasers. In fact, they have gone at great lengths to keep the movie’s plot a secret. For instance, they’ve kept the final product locked in a high-tech safe, which is itself inside a bulletproof glass casing. The case is time-proof and will automatically open for access on the premiere release date, which is November 18, 2115. Although the event is nearly a century away, nearly 1,000 invites have already been handed out to people, who will pass them on to their descendants. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

This movie will release 100 years from now

Island City, a recent Hindi movie, makes an interesting statement about the technology-driven world we inhabit. Winner of the FEDORA prize for the Best Young Director at the Venice Film Festival 2015, the film gives a sly nod to the greater-than-ever influx of technology in our lives and its ramifications. 
 
Director Ruchika Oberoi has managed to capture the changing dynamics of human relationships and isolation vis-a-vis advanced interaction with digital products and services. The contrived mirth in the automated alerts from the &lsquo;Fun and Frolic Committee&rsquo; is grim and farcical at the same time. 
&nbsp; 
Whether it is Uber&#39;s plan to roll out driver-less taxis or robots replacing workers in factories across the world, human beings are being made dispensable by technology. With the launch of Apple Nike + watch last fortnight, human beings are not needed even for nagging. &quot;The Nike+ Run Club app offers daily motivation through smart run reminders, challenges from friends and even alerts informing when the weather is right to get outside&quot;, reads the description on Apple&rsquo;s website. &nbsp;If you miss a run, you get nagged by your wrist-watch instead of a running partner, physician or a family member. A recent article on the internet called the device a &quot;dystopian nagging machine&quot;. Does digital really spell dystopia? 
 
Ashwin Mushran, Mumbai-based actor who was part of Island City, has an interesting take on this. &quot;The film engages with technology at a subliminal level. It is more about the isolation. Technology is what we make of it. There are apps and services that make lives much easier. On the other hand, there may be unhealthy dependence. The good thing is that users can control their level of engagement with technology. I can easily tweak my Facebook settings as per my privacy requirements,&quot; he says. 
 
In the first story of the film, Mushran plays a boss straight out of a nightmare whose insistence on structure and organisation eventually leads to a catastrophic climax. The actor says, &quot;The first story could be set anywhere in the world. It is about how we are conditioned to be from anywhere. Technology brings us together but it also flattens individualism, local character. It is also about our unthinking response to technology which becomes tyrannical.&quot; 
 
Technology aids in organisation but how far? Mushran says, &quot;I use an app to track my monthly expenditure. It is a great help to my accountant and I can manage my money better. The voracious reader in me has found salvation in Kindle. The catch lies in questioning the technology and not taking orders mindlessly. The latter comes close to living in the Nazi Germany. It will certainly spell disaster eventually. The future belongs to technology, the earlier we understand and adapt to it the better. There is no getting away and we shall all be forced to go digital without understanding it. Why not prepare ourselves for it then and use technology on our own terms?&quot; 
 
&quot;My fitness apps don&#39;t nag me. I&#39;ve become fitter because of them. Digital becomes dystopic only when you want to make it so,&quot; he stresses. 
&nbsp; 
Abhishek Aggarwal, the CEO of Bold Kiln - a solution provider for startups - is a deep consumer of technology. &quot;Technology is an enabler. It amplifies the latent behaviour within an individual. If you are a recluse, it allows you to do activities on your own. It is an exaggeration to say that certain behaviours emerge only due to consumption of technology. Technology facilitates these behaviours but rarely causes them,&quot; says Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi. 
 
On technology replacing human interaction, Aggarwal says, &quot;Technology does not take away from relationships. A skype chat can be more intense than a physical one. Maybe the dynamics of relationships undergo a change because of digital intervention. But look around, we are able to stay in touch with our school friends through networking sites. Families spread across continents connect through communication technology.&quot; 
 
&quot;When we speak of the hazards of overexposure, we must realise that it is our own inability to prioritise. Digital platforms play on our insecurities and attention deficit. It is easier to blame technology than take responsibility of our own excesses. Technology does offer an easy escape. But so do newspapers and books! How much you want to remove yourself from your surroundings is up to you,&quot; he adds. 
 
However, Shilesh Chandra, a businessman from the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is still sceptical about most things digital. He carries a basic mobile phone and uses it only to make or receive calls. He endearingly squabbles with his seven-year-old granddaughter over phone lock passwords. &ldquo;It is just cumbersome. I do not have the patience to deal with so much happening inside my phone. I love my afternoon nap and that&rsquo;s when I switch even this phone off. I find the alarms and reminders quite inconvenient and obtrusive,&rdquo; he shares. 
&nbsp; 
Convenience has a different definition for everyone, and so does dependence on technology. 
 
(WION)

While a technology-aided world is a great place to live in, there is much scope for an unhealthy dependence on it

Island City, a recent Hindi movie, makes an interesting statement about the technology-driven world we inhabit. Winner of the FEDORA prize for the Best Young Director at the Venice Film Festival 2015, the film gives a sly nod to the greater-than-ever influx of technology in our lives and its ramifications. Director Ruchika Oberoi has managed to capture the changing dynamics of human relationships and isolation vis-a-vis advanced interaction with digital products and services. The contrived mirth in the automated alerts from the ‘Fun and Frolic Committee’ is grim and farcical at the same time. Whether it is Uber's plan to roll out driver-less taxis or robots replacing workers in factories across the world, human beings are being made dispensable by technology. With the launch of Apple Nike + watch last fortnight, human beings are not needed even for nagging. "The Nike+ Run Club app offers daily motivation through smart run reminders, challenges from friends and even alerts informing when the weather is right to get outside", reads the description on Apple’s website. If you miss a run, you get nagged by your wrist-watch instead of a running partner, physician or a family member. A recent article on the internet called the device a "dystopian nagging machine". Does digital really spell dystopia? Ashwin Mushran, Mumbai-based actor who was part of Island City, has an interesting take on this. "The film engages with technology at a subliminal level. It is more about the isolation. Technology is what we make of it. There are apps and services that make lives much easier. On the other hand, there may be unhealthy dependence. The good thing is that users can control their level of engagement with technology. I can easily tweak my Facebook settings as per my privacy requirements," he says. In the first story of the film, Mushran plays a boss straight out of a nightmare whose insistence on structure and organisation eventually leads to a catastrophic climax. The actor says, "The first story could be set anywhere in the world. It is about how we are conditioned to be from anywhere. Technology brings us together but it also flattens individualism, local character. It is also about our unthinking response to technology which becomes tyrannical." Technology aids in organisation but how far? Mushran says, "I use an app to track my monthly expenditure. It is a great help to my accountant and I can manage my money better. The voracious reader in me has found salvation in Kindle. The catch lies in questioning the technology and not taking orders mindlessly. The latter comes close to living in the Nazi Germany. It will certainly spell disaster eventually. The future belongs to technology, the earlier we understand and adapt to it the better. There is no getting away and we shall all be forced to go digital without understanding it. Why not prepare ourselves for it then and use technology on our own terms?" "My fitness apps don't nag me. I've become fitter because of them. Digital becomes dystopic only when you want to make it so," he stresses. Abhishek Aggarwal, the CEO of Bold Kiln - a solution provider for startups - is a deep consumer of technology. "Technology is an enabler. It amplifies the latent behaviour within an individual. If you are a recluse, it allows you to do activities on your own. It is an exaggeration to say that certain behaviours emerge only due to consumption of technology. Technology facilitates these behaviours but rarely causes them," says Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi. On technology replacing human interaction, Aggarwal says, "Technology does not take away from relationships. A skype chat can be more intense than a physical one. Maybe the dynamics of relationships undergo a change because of digital intervention. But look around, we are able to stay in touch with our school friends through networking sites. Families spread across continents connect through communication technology." "When we speak of the hazards of overexposure, we must realise that it is our own inability to prioritise. Digital platforms play on our insecurities and attention deficit. It is easier to blame technology than take responsibility of our own excesses. Technology does offer an easy escape. But so do newspapers and books! How much you want to remove yourself from your surroundings is up to you," he adds. However, Shilesh Chandra, a businessman from the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is still sceptical about most things digital. He carries a basic mobile phone and uses it only to make or receive calls. He endearingly squabbles with his seven-year-old granddaughter over phone lock passwords. “It is just cumbersome. I do not have the patience to deal with so much happening inside my phone. I love my afternoon nap and that’s when I switch even this phone off. I find the alarms and reminders quite inconvenient and obtrusive,” he shares. Convenience has a different definition for everyone, and so does dependence on technology. (WION)

Does digital spell dystopia?

NASA scientists have chosen five green technology concepts that have the potential to transform the aviation industry in the next decade by reducing aircraft fuel usage and emissions by 75 per cent. 
 
The concepts were selected under NASA&#39;s Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme in the US for a two-year study. 
 
The topics, including three specifically targeted at electrically-propelled aircrafts are the use of alternative fuel cells, three-dimensional (3D) printing to increase electric motor output, lithium-air batteries for energy storage, new mechanisms for changing the shape of an aircraft wing in flight and a lightweight material called aerogel in the design and development of aircraft antenna. 
 
These five concepts, in addition to three of the six selected last year, address NASA&#39;s green aviation initiatives to cut fuel use by half, lower harmful emissions by 75 per cent, and significantly reduce aircraft noise, scientists said. 
 
&quot;There definitely was an emphasis in our selections on bringing forward activities that addressed a NASA aeronautics goal to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation during the 21st century,&quot; said programme manager Doug Rohn. 
 
(PTI)

The scientists have chosen five green technology that were selected under NASA's 'Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme' in US

NASA scientists have chosen five green technology concepts that have the potential to transform the aviation industry in the next decade by reducing aircraft fuel usage and emissions by 75 per cent. The concepts were selected under NASA's Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme in the US for a two-year study. The topics, including three specifically targeted at electrically-propelled aircrafts are the use of alternative fuel cells, three-dimensional (3D) printing to increase electric motor output, lithium-air batteries for energy storage, new mechanisms for changing the shape of an aircraft wing in flight and a lightweight material called aerogel in the design and development of aircraft antenna. These five concepts, in addition to three of the six selected last year, address NASA's green aviation initiatives to cut fuel use by half, lower harmful emissions by 75 per cent, and significantly reduce aircraft noise, scientists said. "There definitely was an emphasis in our selections on bringing forward activities that addressed a NASA aeronautics goal to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation during the 21st century," said programme manager Doug Rohn. (PTI)

NASA aims to reduce aircraft fuel use, emissions by 75%

A newly-launched&nbsp;US-based tech startup, HoloVit,&nbsp;claims to enhance&nbsp;viewers&#39; experience by turning videos into&nbsp;three-dimensional holograms.&nbsp; 
 
With the tool that&#39;s also called HoloVit, the Miami-based company seeks to bring the futuristic technology of &#39;holograms&#39;&nbsp;into everyone&#39;s homes so that users can watch &#39;holographic&#39;&nbsp;videos using smartphones, laptops or tablets.&nbsp; 
 
The startup has created three&nbsp;types of screens: small screen for phones and tablets, medium screen for laptops and large screen for television. 
 
WION Edge interviewed the co-founder of HoloVit, Sibel Stanz, to understand how the holographic technology works. Excerpts:&nbsp; 
 
How did HoloVit start? 
 
Miami-based HoloVit Holography Systems is the brainchild of a tech-freak Jeff Deleon.&nbsp; 
 
He grew up in Israel and has been researching holography systems with several physics professors since 2002. Deleon developed his first holography system in 2006. 
 
In 2015, he made his in-home holographic entertainment system to change the course of the home entertainment industry. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/a-20160908125150.jpg" />

<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>
 
How does the holographic system work? 
 
The system is designed to work with devices and does not require a projector or any other special equipment. In a sense, a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or TV becomes the projector as it faces a HoloVit screen. 
 
When set at the optimal distance (for best results), images and videos come to life, even in brightly-lit rooms. 
 
Holographic technology can be used as a medium for film-viewing. Do you think this can happen on such a large scale? How? 
 
In order for the films to be viewed as a hologram, they have to be produced with a black background. 
 
How much do your products cost?&nbsp; 
 
Screens come in three different sizes, with pledges starting at $79. 
 
What according to you is the best use of the holographic technology? 
 
The most innovative part of our project is the new Hologram Recording Set, where you can turn yourself into a hologram. It is a modular set that comes with a stand and a special laminated background. 
 
Once you record your own hologram, you &nbsp;can share the holographic videos with your friends on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/zx-20160909035104.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>
 
Do you think your product will be able to impact people&rsquo;s lives? 
 
We want to bring the fun and excitement of futuristic technology into every home with our patent-pending holographic systems. 
 
Is there anything that you feel is currently lacking in your product? Will you fix it in the next generation? 
 
One thing that we are lacking is the content. We need to produce more holographic videos that will cover the attention of all age groups. 
 
 
(WION Edge with contributions from&nbsp;Ashna Mishra and Karanveer Singh Arora)&nbsp;

With HoloVit tool, you can also record your own videos and turn them into three-dimensional holograms

A newly-launched US-based tech startup, HoloVit, claims to enhance viewers' experience by turning videos into three-dimensional holograms. With the tool that's also called HoloVit, the Miami-based company seeks to bring the futuristic technology of 'holograms' into everyone's homes so that users can watch 'holographic' videos using smartphones, laptops or tablets. The startup has created three types of screens: small screen for phones and tablets, medium screen for laptops and large screen for television. WION Edge interviewed the co-founder of HoloVit, Sibel Stanz, to understand how the holographic technology works. Excerpts: How did HoloVit start? Miami-based HoloVit Holography Systems is the brainchild of a tech-freak Jeff Deleon. He grew up in Israel and has been researching holography systems with several physics professors since 2002. Deleon developed his first holography system in 2006. In 2015, he made his in-home holographic entertainment system to change the course of the home entertainment industry. How does the holographic system work? The system is designed to work with devices and does not require a projector or any other special equipment. In a sense, a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or TV becomes the projector as it faces a HoloVit screen. When set at the optimal distance (for best results), images and videos come to life, even in brightly-lit rooms. Holographic technology can be used as a medium for film-viewing. Do you think this can happen on such a large scale? How? In order for the films to be viewed as a hologram, they have to be produced with a black background. How much do your products cost? Screens come in three different sizes, with pledges starting at $79. What according to you is the best use of the holographic technology? The most innovative part of our project is the new Hologram Recording Set, where you can turn yourself into a hologram. It is a modular set that comes with a stand and a special laminated background. Once you record your own hologram, you can share the holographic videos with your friends on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Do you think your product will be able to impact people’s lives? We want to bring the fun and excitement of futuristic technology into every home with our patent-pending holographic systems. Is there anything that you feel is currently lacking in your product? Will you fix it in the next generation? One thing that we are lacking is the content. We need to produce more holographic videos that will cover the attention of all age groups. (WION Edge with contributions from Ashna Mishra and Karanveer Singh Arora)

A gadget that lets you turn videos into floating holograms

Italy&#39;s data privacy regulator said today that Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google had met its requests to change the way it treats and stores user data to bring practices into line with Italian rules. 
 
Two years ago, the watchdog told Google its disclosure to users on how their data was being treated was inadequate, giving it 18 months to comply fully and indicating a series of measures that needed to be carried out. 
 
The move was one of several privacy challenges against the US Internet giant in the European Union (EU), highlighting the bloc&#39;s desire to ensure its citizens data is treated according to EU law, even when held in foreign jurisdictions. 
 
In a note, the watchdog said it was pleased with the agreement but added the monitoring of Google would continue. 
 
&quot;We will continue with checks, in tandem also with other European regulators, so that users data are increasingly protected and their rights recognised by web giants,&quot; watchdog president Antonello Soro said. 
 
Under the changes agreed, Google will have to make clear to users how their data is used and will not be allowed to use data to profile users without their prior consent. Users will be able to withhold or grant partial consent. 
 
Google will also need to improve how it stores data and guarantee its deletion within a specified timeframe. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re pleased that the Garante (watchdog) has acknowledged the steps we have taken to ensure compliance with Italian law and improve user control,&quot; a Google spokesperson said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Two years ago, Italy's data privacy regulator told Google that its disclosure to users on how their data was being treated was inadequate

Italy's data privacy regulator said today that Alphabet Inc's Google had met its requests to change the way it treats and stores user data to bring practices into line with Italian rules. Two years ago, the watchdog told Google its disclosure to users on how their data was being treated was inadequate, giving it 18 months to comply fully and indicating a series of measures that needed to be carried out. The move was one of several privacy challenges against the US Internet giant in the European Union (EU), highlighting the bloc's desire to ensure its citizens data is treated according to EU law, even when held in foreign jurisdictions. In a note, the watchdog said it was pleased with the agreement but added the monitoring of Google would continue. "We will continue with checks, in tandem also with other European regulators, so that users data are increasingly protected and their rights recognised by web giants," watchdog president Antonello Soro said. Under the changes agreed, Google will have to make clear to users how their data is used and will not be allowed to use data to profile users without their prior consent. Users will be able to withhold or grant partial consent. Google will also need to improve how it stores data and guarantee its deletion within a specified timeframe. "We're pleased that the Garante (watchdog) has acknowledged the steps we have taken to ensure compliance with Italian law and improve user control," a Google spokesperson said. (Reuters)

Google meets Italy's demands on data use practices

Chinese tech giant LeEco led by billionaire Jia Yueting announced a deal yesterday to buy US television manufacturer Vizio for $2 billion. 
 
The deal expands the US presence for the company, formerly known as Letv, which operates a streaming television service, makes smartphones and other electronics, and has been working on research for autonomous cars. 
 
&quot;LeEco believes in breakthrough technologies, a complete ecosystem and disruptive pricing,&quot; Jia, the founder and chief executive of LeEco, said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Acquiring Vizio is an important step in our globalisation strategy and building our North American presence.&quot; 
 
He added that Vizio`s business model &quot;changed the industry and aligns with our vision of breaking boundaries to deliver consumer-focused products, software and services.&quot; 
 
Vizio, founded in California in 2002, has been a major maker of smart TVs and related products. 
 
The deal calls for Vizio`s data business called Inscape, to be spun out and operated as a separate, privately owned company. 
 
In April, LeEco announced plans for a North American headquarters in San Jose, California, dedicating a facility that can support as many as 800 employees, and which will be the home for its autonomous driving research centre. 
 
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, LeEco announced plans to rapidly expand its global footprint by entering India and the US market with technology and content offerings. 
 
Jia is estimated by Forbes magazine to have a fortune worth some $4.1 billion, making him the 22nd richest person in China. 
 
(AFP)

The deal calls for Vizio`s data business called Inscape, to be spun out and operated as a separate, privately owned company

Chinese tech giant LeEco led by billionaire Jia Yueting announced a deal yesterday to buy US television manufacturer Vizio for $2 billion. The deal expands the US presence for the company, formerly known as Letv, which operates a streaming television service, makes smartphones and other electronics, and has been working on research for autonomous cars. "LeEco believes in breakthrough technologies, a complete ecosystem and disruptive pricing," Jia, the founder and chief executive of LeEco, said in a statement. "Acquiring Vizio is an important step in our globalisation strategy and building our North American presence." He added that Vizio`s business model "changed the industry and aligns with our vision of breaking boundaries to deliver consumer-focused products, software and services." Vizio, founded in California in 2002, has been a major maker of smart TVs and related products. The deal calls for Vizio`s data business called Inscape, to be spun out and operated as a separate, privately owned company. In April, LeEco announced plans for a North American headquarters in San Jose, California, dedicating a facility that can support as many as 800 employees, and which will be the home for its autonomous driving research centre. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, LeEco announced plans to rapidly expand its global footprint by entering India and the US market with technology and content offerings. Jia is estimated by Forbes magazine to have a fortune worth some $4.1 billion, making him the 22nd richest person in China. (AFP)

Chinese tech giant LeEco to buy Vizio for $2 billion

Former refugees Massoud and Mahmud Hassani stunned the world three years ago with an invention like a dandelion puffball that sought to rid the world of landmines. 
 
Now the Afghan brothers are back with their latest creation: a low-cost drone to detect and destroy mines, which each year claim thousands of lives.&nbsp;Ridding the world of their childhood horror has become the life work of the Hassanis, who now live in the Netherlands. 
 
In 2013, they won worldwide acclaim for the &quot;mine kafon&quot;, a giant ball shaped like a dandelion seed head that rolls around with the wind, its plastic stalks tripping landmines in the process. 
 
Inspired by their childhood toys, the kafon, short for &quot;kafondan&quot; which in the Hassanis&#39; native Dari language means &quot;something that explodes&quot;, drew high praise from anti-landmine organisations. 
 
 
Flying blue octopus&nbsp; 
 
Now their latest mine-hunting device combines drone technology, 3D printing and robotics with a metal detector to find and ultimately destroy landmines.&nbsp;Hinged on six arms with rotors that creates lift, the 4.5 kilogram (10-pound) drone consists of a blue hard plastic casing that contains batteries, computer hardware and software and a global positioning system. 
 
A robotic arm slung underneath is fitted with pincers that can remotely be opened and closed. The pincers can carry a metal detector or a small explosive charge, which the brothers say can be used to destroy a landmine.&nbsp;The on-board GPS allows it to plot its course via computer. 
 
Massoud explains that the drone works in three stages: mapping, detecting and destroying. 
 
When deployed, a 3D mapping system scans the section that needs to be demined. Secondly, the mapped area is meticulously sweeped by the drones carrying a metal detector on a pre-programme path. 
 
&quot;This way the mine field in question can be scanned inch-by-inch,&quot; Massoud told AFP at his workshop in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. 
 
Finally, the plan is to destroy the mines by using the drone to place a small charge on every mine to detonate it.&nbsp;&quot;We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now,&quot; Massoud said. 
 
 
&#39;Time-consuming process&#39;&nbsp; 
 
So far the duo have built three working prototypes, and have carried out demonstrations before the Dutch military, who say they are willing to help with further testing. 
 
&quot;Clearing minefields is an incredibly time-consuming process,&quot; Major Fred de Vries of the Dutch army&#39;s explosives ordnance disposal unit told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;We see many possibilities to use drones&quot; to save time to map and detect landmines in a given area, De Vries said. 
 
The key phase will be to carry out field tests in Afghanistan, which the brothers hope to finance by crowd-funding.&nbsp;If all goes well, the pair believe the drone can be made for as little as 1,000 Euros ($1,100) each. 
 
Other opinions are guarded.&nbsp;One of them is the Halo Trust, the world&#39;s largest humanitarian mine-clearing organisation.&nbsp;It said despite having carried out some &quot;small-scale trials with aerial mapping drones&quot; it did not believe &quot;drones will contribute significantly to the future of mine clearance&quot;. 
 
Drones are of limited use in areas covered with vegetation and in poor weather conditions, the trust said.&nbsp;And even if the drone did find a landmine &quot;a trained human being will still be required to excavate and destroy it,&quot; the trust said in a statement. 
 
The brothers are using the Kickstarter online crowd funding platform in the hope of raising 90,000 Euros ($100,000) for the final tests.&nbsp;They want to take it to Afghanistan for testing within the next two months, the first time the brothers will be back in their native country since fleeing the Taliban-ruled Kabul in the late 1990&#39;s. 
 
Three years ago a plan to return to Afghanistan to test the original kafon failed.&nbsp;The &quot;puffball&quot; idea, while praised for its low technology and cheapness, meant the device was at the mercy of the winds and could not cover a minefield systematically to guarantee it was cleared, as humans would. 
 
&quot;The mine kafon invention did a lot to create awareness of landmines,&quot; Massoud Hassani said.&nbsp;&quot;We felt that it was now time to do something even more concrete to destroy landmines,&quot; he said. 
 
Massoud, 32, fled Afghanistan in 1998, followed two years later by Mahmud, 30. After arduous treks through Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the brothers finally made their way to the Netherlands and today hold Dutch citizenship.&nbsp;Landmines are scattered in 78 countries, and each year kill between 15,000 and 20,000 people and maim countless more, according to UN figures. 
 
Despite huge progress in mine-clearing, Afghanistan remains one of the most mined countries in the world.&nbsp;Since 1989, around 703,000 anti-personnel mines, 29,000 anti-tank mines and more than 18 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance have been collected, according to the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA). 
 
There were at least 1,296 Afghan casualties in 2014 resulting from mines, victim-triggered improvised explosive devices and other ordnance left over from the Afghan war, the Geneva-based Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor research group said. 
 
&quot;Our whole life is dedicated to the fight against landmines. As children we saw our friends lose limbs and die,&quot; said Massoud.&nbsp;&quot;It will be great to go back to our country bearing this gift.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

'We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now', said creator Massoud Hassani

Former refugees Massoud and Mahmud Hassani stunned the world three years ago with an invention like a dandelion puffball that sought to rid the world of landmines. Now the Afghan brothers are back with their latest creation: a low-cost drone to detect and destroy mines, which each year claim thousands of lives. Ridding the world of their childhood horror has become the life work of the Hassanis, who now live in the Netherlands. In 2013, they won worldwide acclaim for the "mine kafon", a giant ball shaped like a dandelion seed head that rolls around with the wind, its plastic stalks tripping landmines in the process. Inspired by their childhood toys, the kafon, short for "kafondan" which in the Hassanis' native Dari language means "something that explodes", drew high praise from anti-landmine organisations. Flying blue octopus Now their latest mine-hunting device combines drone technology, 3D printing and robotics with a metal detector to find and ultimately destroy landmines. Hinged on six arms with rotors that creates lift, the 4.5 kilogram (10-pound) drone consists of a blue hard plastic casing that contains batteries, computer hardware and software and a global positioning system. A robotic arm slung underneath is fitted with pincers that can remotely be opened and closed. The pincers can carry a metal detector or a small explosive charge, which the brothers say can be used to destroy a landmine. The on-board GPS allows it to plot its course via computer. Massoud explains that the drone works in three stages: mapping, detecting and destroying. When deployed, a 3D mapping system scans the section that needs to be demined. Secondly, the mapped area is meticulously sweeped by the drones carrying a metal detector on a pre-programme path. "This way the mine field in question can be scanned inch-by-inch," Massoud told AFP at his workshop in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. Finally, the plan is to destroy the mines by using the drone to place a small charge on every mine to detonate it. "We believe this way mines can be cleared almost 20 times faster than what they are now," Massoud said. 'Time-consuming process' So far the duo have built three working prototypes, and have carried out demonstrations before the Dutch military, who say they are willing to help with further testing. "Clearing minefields is an incredibly time-consuming process," Major Fred de Vries of the Dutch army's explosives ordnance disposal unit told AFP. "We see many possibilities to use drones" to save time to map and detect landmines in a given area, De Vries said. The key phase will be to carry out field tests in Afghanistan, which the brothers hope to finance by crowd-funding. If all goes well, the pair believe the drone can be made for as little as 1,000 Euros ($1,100) each. Other opinions are guarded. One of them is the Halo Trust, the world's largest humanitarian mine-clearing organisation. It said despite having carried out some "small-scale trials with aerial mapping drones" it did not believe "drones will contribute significantly to the future of mine clearance". Drones are of limited use in areas covered with vegetation and in poor weather conditions, the trust said. And even if the drone did find a landmine "a trained human being will still be required to excavate and destroy it," the trust said in a statement. The brothers are using the Kickstarter online crowd funding platform in the hope of raising 90,000 Euros ($100,000) for the final tests. They want to take it to Afghanistan for testing within the next two months, the first time the brothers will be back in their native country since fleeing the Taliban-ruled Kabul in the late 1990's. Three years ago a plan to return to Afghanistan to test the original kafon failed. The "puffball" idea, while praised for its low technology and cheapness, meant the device was at the mercy of the winds and could not cover a minefield systematically to guarantee it was cleared, as humans would. "The mine kafon invention did a lot to create awareness of landmines," Massoud Hassani said. "We felt that it was now time to do something even more concrete to destroy landmines," he said. Massoud, 32, fled Afghanistan in 1998, followed two years later by Mahmud, 30. After arduous treks through Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the brothers finally made their way to the Netherlands and today hold Dutch citizenship. Landmines are scattered in 78 countries, and each year kill between 15,000 and 20,000 people and maim countless more, according to UN figures. Despite huge progress in mine-clearing, Afghanistan remains one of the most mined countries in the world. Since 1989, around 703,000 anti-personnel mines, 29,000 anti-tank mines and more than 18 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance have been collected, according to the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA). There were at least 1,296 Afghan casualties in 2014 resulting from mines, victim-triggered improvised explosive devices and other ordnance left over from the Afghan war, the Geneva-based Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor research group said. "Our whole life is dedicated to the fight against landmines. As children we saw our friends lose limbs and die," said Massoud. "It will be great to go back to our country bearing this gift." (AFP)

Afghan brothers launch new mine-hunting drone

Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will set up a 1.2 billion yuan ($180.38 million) fund to invest in private technology, media and communication startups and diversify its business.&nbsp; 
 
ZTE and other investors will set up the Suzhou Partnership fund to invest in shares, equity or assets of firms with good growth potential, &quot;enhancing the competitiveness of the group&#39;s main business,&quot; ZTE said in a statement late on Wednesday. 
 
ZTE will control about 25 per cent of the fund, while 75 per cent will be owned by other investors. 
 
The Chinese tech giant saw first-quarter profit rise 16 per cent despite an ongoing US probe into allegations the firm broke sanctions against Iran by shipping millions of dollars worth of American-made hardware and software to the country. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

ZTE Corp will control about 25 per cent of the fund, while 75 per cent will be owned by other investors

Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will set up a 1.2 billion yuan ($180.38 million) fund to invest in private technology, media and communication startups and diversify its business. ZTE and other investors will set up the Suzhou Partnership fund to invest in shares, equity or assets of firms with good growth potential, "enhancing the competitiveness of the group's main business," ZTE said in a statement late on Wednesday. ZTE will control about 25 per cent of the fund, while 75 per cent will be owned by other investors. The Chinese tech giant saw first-quarter profit rise 16 per cent despite an ongoing US probe into allegations the firm broke sanctions against Iran by shipping millions of dollars worth of American-made hardware and software to the country. (Reuters)

Chinese tech giant plans to invest $180 million in startups ?

Google&#39;s newest mobile operating system will be called Nougat, continuing a tradition of naming Android software after sweet treats, the tech giant said on Thursday. 
 
Google had invited people to send in suggestions at its annual developers conference in May, and revealed the winning Android name at a playful ceremony at its campus in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View. 
 
Nutella was thought to be a favorite, but Nougat won the day. 
 
Google shared the event in a Twitter message tagged #AndroidNougat and containing a looped snippet of video of the undraping of an Android statue standing atop giant nougat and nut bars. 
 
The technology giant has been letting developers work with the new mobile operating system, which is expected to be released later this year. 
 
Alphabet-owned Google&#39;s Android operating software is a computing phenomenon that powers the vast majority of smartphones sold across the world. 
 
There were 1.16 billion smartphones shipped in 2015 that are powered by Android, according to research group Gartner. That accounted for 82 per cent of the market, dwarfing the 225.85 million for Apple&#39;s iOS. 
 
Cupcake, the first version of the operating software to carry the name of an enticing desert, was released in 2009. 
 
It was followed by Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop and current-generation Marshmallow. 
 
(AFP)

This continues a company tradition of naming software after sweet treats

Google's newest mobile operating system will be called Nougat, continuing a tradition of naming Android software after sweet treats, the tech giant said on Thursday. Google had invited people to send in suggestions at its annual developers conference in May, and revealed the winning Android name at a playful ceremony at its campus in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View. Nutella was thought to be a favorite, but Nougat won the day. Google shared the event in a Twitter message tagged #AndroidNougat and containing a looped snippet of video of the undraping of an Android statue standing atop giant nougat and nut bars. The technology giant has been letting developers work with the new mobile operating system, which is expected to be released later this year. Alphabet-owned Google's Android operating software is a computing phenomenon that powers the vast majority of smartphones sold across the world. There were 1.16 billion smartphones shipped in 2015 that are powered by Android, according to research group Gartner. That accounted for 82 per cent of the market, dwarfing the 225.85 million for Apple's iOS. Cupcake, the first version of the operating software to carry the name of an enticing desert, was released in 2009. It was followed by Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop and current-generation Marshmallow. (AFP)

New version of Android crowned 'Nougat'

Lloyds Banking Group plans to axe about 640 jobs, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday, as Britain&#39;s largest mortgage lender continues to scale back its branch network and workforce. 
 
All affected employees working in information technology and back-office roles and are being told of the decision on Wednesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to discuss the plans. 
 
Lloyds, who rescued in a 20.5 billion Pound ($27.4 billion) taxpayer bailout during the financial crisis, is in the midst of major restructuring as part of an aggressive cost-cutting programme. 
 
&quot;The continuation of the bank&#39;s major job loss programme will bring disappointment as staff feel they have already faced two years of endless workforce cuts,&quot; said Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union. 
 
A statement from Lloyds said there will be a net reduction of 525 jobs where newly created roles are included. The bank also said it is closing 23 branches by October because customers increasingly bank online and more functions are automated. 
 
The bank, more than two thirds of the way through three-year plan to cut about a tenth of its workforce, could now consider deeper cuts than originally targetted because of the programme&#39;s swift progress, two separate sources said. 
 
The latest cuts coincide with the biggest upheaval for British banks since the financial crisis. 
 
British voters&#39; surprise decision, last week, to leave the European Union is forcing bank executives to reconsider business models amid uncertainty and earnings downgrades that prompted rattled investors to offload billions of pounds of shares. 
 
Sources close to Britain&#39;s government say it has put on hold plans to sell stakes in Lloyds because market volatility has made it too difficult to judge whether disposals represent value for taxpayers. 
 
The employees affected by Wednesday&#39;s job cuts work in cities including London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, the sources said. 
 
So far this year, Lloyds has announced plans to cut about 3,580 positions from its 75,000-strong workforce. 
 
The Unite union has said the drawn out process job losses are taking a toll on Lloyds staff, with three quarters of its employees reporting symptoms of stress and four out of every five working unpaid overtime every week. 
 
(Reuters)

Four out of every five employees at Lloyds, who received a $27 bailout in 2009, were reportedly working unpaid overtime every week

Lloyds Banking Group plans to axe about 640 jobs, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday, as Britain's largest mortgage lender continues to scale back its branch network and workforce. All affected employees working in information technology and back-office roles and are being told of the decision on Wednesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to discuss the plans. Lloyds, who rescued in a 20.5 billion Pound ($27.4 billion) taxpayer bailout during the financial crisis, is in the midst of major restructuring as part of an aggressive cost-cutting programme. "The continuation of the bank's major job loss programme will bring disappointment as staff feel they have already faced two years of endless workforce cuts," said Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union. A statement from Lloyds said there will be a net reduction of 525 jobs where newly created roles are included. The bank also said it is closing 23 branches by October because customers increasingly bank online and more functions are automated. The bank, more than two thirds of the way through three-year plan to cut about a tenth of its workforce, could now consider deeper cuts than originally targetted because of the programme's swift progress, two separate sources said. The latest cuts coincide with the biggest upheaval for British banks since the financial crisis. British voters' surprise decision, last week, to leave the European Union is forcing bank executives to reconsider business models amid uncertainty and earnings downgrades that prompted rattled investors to offload billions of pounds of shares. Sources close to Britain's government say it has put on hold plans to sell stakes in Lloyds because market volatility has made it too difficult to judge whether disposals represent value for taxpayers. The employees affected by Wednesday's job cuts work in cities including London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, the sources said. So far this year, Lloyds has announced plans to cut about 3,580 positions from its 75,000-strong workforce. The Unite union has said the drawn out process job losses are taking a toll on Lloyds staff, with three quarters of its employees reporting symptoms of stress and four out of every five working unpaid overtime every week. (Reuters)

Lloyds to axe 640 jobs in cost-cutting drive

In delaying its IPO by two years, Japanese messaging app company Line Corp bought time to correct weak financial reporting controls, work on its business plan, bolster staffing - and left billions of dollars on the table as its valuation shrivelled. 
 
Line&#39;s initial public offering in the next three weeks is set to raise about $1 billion, which given a global drought of such deals could make it the biggest tech listing this year, but sceptical fund managers point to tepid growth in Line&#39;s home market and doubts about its prospects for regional expansion. They also question whether its advertising revenue strategy will work. 
 
In seeking to earn more from its major Asian markets of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan, Line will try to generate more revenue from services such as advertising and offer more localized products, its IPO filing said. 
 
The bulk of Line&#39;s revenue comes from games and sales of emojis and electronic stickers, including Brown the bear and Cony, his flatulent rabbit girlfriend. 
 
&quot;Localisation of the service, of the marketing, of the stickers that we provide - this is very important,&quot; CEO Takeshi Idezawa told Reuters in April. 
 
Fund managers who have watched Line&#39;s growth slow in a crowded global messaging app market assess the plan with caution. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m not interested,&quot; said Yasuo Sakuma, portfolio manager at Bayview Asset Management, which manages 270 billion yen ($2.64 billion). &quot;Its growth outlook is very poor.&quot; 
 
&quot;Among the four countries that it&#39;s focusing on, only Indonesia has big room for growth in use,&quot; he added. &quot;Even there, the business outlook is not that easy.&quot; 
 
Growth in Line&#39;s monthly active users has tailed off after tripling across the world over the past three years. Last year, user numbers rose just 13 million to 218 million at the end of March, the IPO filing showed. The company isn&#39;t providing much visibility about the future either - it says in its filing that limited operating history makes it &quot;difficult&quot; to forecast future results. 
 
Globally, Line is the seventh-most used messenger app, data from researcher Statista shows, behind the likes of Facebook&#39;s WhatsApp and Tencent&#39;s WeChat. 
 
Earthquake Aftermath 
 
The company will fix its IPO price range on Monday. There is no change to the listing&#39;s schedule following Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union, a Line spokeswoman said on Friday. 
 
The dual New York and Tokyo listing, set for July 14-15, would value Line at about 588 billion yen ($5.75 billion) and make it the country&#39;s largest listing since Japan Post&#39;s $12 billion offering last year. 
 
Line&#39;s likely valuation is far less than the $10 billion-$20 billion that was expected by investors when South Korean parent Naver Corp previously talked of a Line listing in 2013-2014, although Line may not have had much choice but to wait. 
 
Line declined to comment, citing a media blackout period ahead of the IPO. 
 
Line&#39;s messaging app was launched as NHN Japan in the aftermath of Japan&#39;s 2011 earthquake and tsunami to overcome downed communications, growing unexpectedly to become the country&#39;s dominant mobile messaging platform over the next few years. 
 
However, in that period, it identified what it described in its IPO filing as &quot;material weaknesses&quot; in controls over financial reporting. 
 
Line has now tightened board and management approval for major transactions, it said in its prospectus, and crafted a strategy focusing on Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan, which account for more than half its users. 
 
Line has also bolstered staff numbers by recruiting over 750 workers between December 2014 and March, its IPO filing shows, with designers and engineers among the recruits. It has around 2,540 full-time employees. 
 
Pushed as value pay 
 
Idezawa, who became Line&#39;s chief executive in March last year, has been key to tightened procedures, a person familiar with the matter said. Idezawa is known for his strictness on compliance-related matters, the person added. 
 
Idezawa was previously chief executive of, internet company Livedoor, joining that company a year after it was hit by a high-profile 2006 accounting scandal. 
 
&quot;When Line was first seriously considering an IPO around 2013, the overall company was pretty disorganised,&quot; said a person involved in the IPO. &quot;It was very much still a venture in terms of mindset. So a lot of people were hired to strengthen the company.&quot; 
 
Line has pitched its IPO to investors in terms of value and steady returns instead of explosive growth potential. 
 
While that story has been met favourably by Japan&#39;s risk-averse retail investors - Tokyo brokerages including Daiwa Securities say retail investors have shown strong interest in Line shares - fund managers are wary of Line&#39;s ad-driven growth push. 
 
&quot;I went to the company&#39;s meeting with investors... but nothing moved me,&quot; said a fund manager at a major Japanese asset management firm who declined to be named because of company rules against discussing individual shares. &quot;It&#39;s not clear how it can make money out of its advertisement business.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Line's likely valuation is far less than the $10 billion-$20 billion that was expected by investors

In delaying its IPO by two years, Japanese messaging app company Line Corp bought time to correct weak financial reporting controls, work on its business plan, bolster staffing - and left billions of dollars on the table as its valuation shrivelled. Line's initial public offering in the next three weeks is set to raise about $1 billion, which given a global drought of such deals could make it the biggest tech listing this year, but sceptical fund managers point to tepid growth in Line's home market and doubts about its prospects for regional expansion. They also question whether its advertising revenue strategy will work. In seeking to earn more from its major Asian markets of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan, Line will try to generate more revenue from services such as advertising and offer more localized products, its IPO filing said. The bulk of Line's revenue comes from games and sales of emojis and electronic stickers, including Brown the bear and Cony, his flatulent rabbit girlfriend. "Localisation of the service, of the marketing, of the stickers that we provide - this is very important," CEO Takeshi Idezawa told Reuters in April. Fund managers who have watched Line's growth slow in a crowded global messaging app market assess the plan with caution. "I'm not interested," said Yasuo Sakuma, portfolio manager at Bayview Asset Management, which manages 270 billion yen ($2.64 billion). "Its growth outlook is very poor." "Among the four countries that it's focusing on, only Indonesia has big room for growth in use," he added. "Even there, the business outlook is not that easy." Growth in Line's monthly active users has tailed off after tripling across the world over the past three years. Last year, user numbers rose just 13 million to 218 million at the end of March, the IPO filing showed. The company isn't providing much visibility about the future either - it says in its filing that limited operating history makes it "difficult" to forecast future results. Globally, Line is the seventh-most used messenger app, data from researcher Statista shows, behind the likes of Facebook's WhatsApp and Tencent's WeChat. Earthquake Aftermath The company will fix its IPO price range on Monday. There is no change to the listing's schedule following Britain's vote to leave the European Union, a Line spokeswoman said on Friday. The dual New York and Tokyo listing, set for July 14-15, would value Line at about 588 billion yen ($5.75 billion) and make it the country's largest listing since Japan Post's $12 billion offering last year. Line's likely valuation is far less than the $10 billion-$20 billion that was expected by investors when South Korean parent Naver Corp previously talked of a Line listing in 2013-2014, although Line may not have had much choice but to wait. Line declined to comment, citing a media blackout period ahead of the IPO. Line's messaging app was launched as NHN Japan in the aftermath of Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami to overcome downed communications, growing unexpectedly to become the country's dominant mobile messaging platform over the next few years. However, in that period, it identified what it described in its IPO filing as "material weaknesses" in controls over financial reporting. Line has now tightened board and management approval for major transactions, it said in its prospectus, and crafted a strategy focusing on Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan, which account for more than half its users. Line has also bolstered staff numbers by recruiting over 750 workers between December 2014 and March, its IPO filing shows, with designers and engineers among the recruits. It has around 2,540 full-time employees. Pushed as value pay Idezawa, who became Line's chief executive in March last year, has been key to tightened procedures, a person familiar with the matter said. Idezawa is known for his strictness on compliance-related matters, the person added. Idezawa was previously chief executive of, internet company Livedoor, joining that company a year after it was hit by a high-profile 2006 accounting scandal. "When Line was first seriously considering an IPO around 2013, the overall company was pretty disorganised," said a person involved in the IPO. "It was very much still a venture in terms of mindset. So a lot of people were hired to strengthen the company." Line has pitched its IPO to investors in terms of value and steady returns instead of explosive growth potential. While that story has been met favourably by Japan's risk-averse retail investors - Tokyo brokerages including Daiwa Securities say retail investors have shown strong interest in Line shares - fund managers are wary of Line's ad-driven growth push. "I went to the company's meeting with investors... but nothing moved me," said a fund manager at a major Japanese asset management firm who declined to be named because of company rules against discussing individual shares. "It's not clear how it can make money out of its advertisement business." (Reuters)

Line struggles to demonstrate its growth plan

It&#39;s tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. &nbsp; 
 
Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. &nbsp; 
 
To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. &nbsp; 
 
A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother&#39;s body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. &nbsp; 
 
All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a &quot;real&quot; relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don&#39;t know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.&nbsp;

New communication help housewives share deeply personal things in ways unthinkable just years ago, but it can be tough too

It's tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium. Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother's body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a "real" relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don't know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.

Modern technology has enabled badly-needed intimacy between perfect strangers

Need hair? Just press print, say Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)&nbsp;scientists who developed a new way to 3D print thousands of hair-like structures within minutes on various surfaces, which can perform useful tasks such as sensing and adhesion. 
 
Instead of using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) software to draw thousands of individual hairs on a computer - a step that would take hours to compute - the team built a new software platform, called &quot;Cilllia&quot;, that lets users define the angle, thickness, density, and height of thousands of hairs, in just a few minutes. 
 
Using the new software, the researchers designed arrays of hair-like structures with a resolution of 50 microns - about the width of a human hair. 
 
Playing with various dimensions, they designed and then printed arrays ranging from coarse bristles to fine fur, onto flat and also curved surfaces, using a conventional 3D printer. 
 
The technology could possibly be used to print wigs and hair extensions, the researchers said. But their end goal is seeing how 3D-printed hair could perform useful tasks such as sensing, adhesion, and actuation. 
 
To demonstrate adhesion, the team printed arrays that act as Velcro-like bristle pads. Depending on the angle of the bristles, the pads can stick to together with varying forces. 
 
For sensing, the researchers printed a small furry rabbit figure, equipped with LED lights that light up when a person strokes the rabbit in certain directions. 
 
To see whether 3D-printed hair can help or move objects, the team fabricated a weight-sorting table made from panels of printed hair with specified angles and heights. 
 
As a small vibration source shook the panels, the hairs were able to move coins across the table, sorting them based on the coins&#39; weight and the vibration frequency. 
 
Jifei Ou, a graduate student at MIT in the US, said that the work is inspired by hair-like structures in nature, which provide benefits such as warmth, in the case of human hair, and movement, in the case of cilia, which help remove dust from the lungs. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re just trying to think how can we fully utilise the potential of 3D printing, and create new functional materials whose properties are easily tunable and controllable,&quot; Ou said. 
 
To 3D print hair using existing software, designers would have to model hair in CAD, drawing out each individual strand, then feed the drawing through a programme that represents each hair&#39;s contour as a mesh of tiny triangles. 
 
The programme would then create horizontal cross sections of the triangle mesh, and translate each cross section into pixels, or a bitmap, that a printer could then print out, layer by layer. 
 
Ou said designing a stamp-sized array of 6,000 hairs using this process would take several hours to process. 
 
To design hair, the researchers built a new software platform to model first a single hair and then an array of hairs, and finally to print arrays on both flat and curved surfaces. 
(PTI)

The innovative software developed could be used to print wigs and hair extensions

Need hair? Just press print, say Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists who developed a new way to 3D print thousands of hair-like structures within minutes on various surfaces, which can perform useful tasks such as sensing and adhesion. Instead of using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) software to draw thousands of individual hairs on a computer - a step that would take hours to compute - the team built a new software platform, called "Cilllia", that lets users define the angle, thickness, density, and height of thousands of hairs, in just a few minutes. Using the new software, the researchers designed arrays of hair-like structures with a resolution of 50 microns - about the width of a human hair. Playing with various dimensions, they designed and then printed arrays ranging from coarse bristles to fine fur, onto flat and also curved surfaces, using a conventional 3D printer. The technology could possibly be used to print wigs and hair extensions, the researchers said. But their end goal is seeing how 3D-printed hair could perform useful tasks such as sensing, adhesion, and actuation. To demonstrate adhesion, the team printed arrays that act as Velcro-like bristle pads. Depending on the angle of the bristles, the pads can stick to together with varying forces. For sensing, the researchers printed a small furry rabbit figure, equipped with LED lights that light up when a person strokes the rabbit in certain directions. To see whether 3D-printed hair can help or move objects, the team fabricated a weight-sorting table made from panels of printed hair with specified angles and heights. As a small vibration source shook the panels, the hairs were able to move coins across the table, sorting them based on the coins' weight and the vibration frequency. Jifei Ou, a graduate student at MIT in the US, said that the work is inspired by hair-like structures in nature, which provide benefits such as warmth, in the case of human hair, and movement, in the case of cilia, which help remove dust from the lungs. "We're just trying to think how can we fully utilise the potential of 3D printing, and create new functional materials whose properties are easily tunable and controllable," Ou said. To 3D print hair using existing software, designers would have to model hair in CAD, drawing out each individual strand, then feed the drawing through a programme that represents each hair's contour as a mesh of tiny triangles. The programme would then create horizontal cross sections of the triangle mesh, and translate each cross section into pixels, or a bitmap, that a printer could then print out, layer by layer. Ou said designing a stamp-sized array of 6,000 hairs using this process would take several hours to process. To design hair, the researchers built a new software platform to model first a single hair and then an array of hairs, and finally to print arrays on both flat and curved surfaces. (PTI)

New system to 3D print hair-like structures

&ldquo;When the earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible.... To heal ourselves we must heal our planet, and to heal our planet we must heal ourselves&rdquo; --Bobby Mcleod, Aboriginal poet and activist,&nbsp; 
 
These words provide us with a poignant reminder about what needs to be done to save our planet. Fast-paced consumerism and insatiable materialism have come to define our species and in the process set our planet on the path to destruction. Our rapacious greed has put a question mark on the future of the only known planet in the universe that can sustain life. 
 
The time could not be more ripe to launch aggressive self-correction measures. Unfortunately, our leaders are still in a game of establishing onus on the basis of traditional responsibility, rather than coming together to take strong and decisive measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While the political economy of climate change goals has led to some sort of a stalemate in the international arena, there are solutions which can be adopted by cities to rein in rising air pollution levels without much dependence from political leaders. These solutions can be implemented by business models that inherently support environmental goals.&nbsp; 
 
For example, one of the biggest sources of pollution is automobiles. While moving to cleaner and more efficient fuel-operated vehicles is the most ideal option for curtailing city pollution levels, in emerging economies considerable time is needed before complementary infrastructure can be created to support this move. Thus, there is a dire need to think of short-term solutions that can address the challenge of rising car ownership and pollution levels in the city. 
 
Recently, the role of transporting people from point A to point B in a city has been assumed by technology aggregators. A complex innovation displayed in the simplest form is solving the inefficiencies that have haunted the urban transportation sector for centuries. But do these players solve other challenges through their technology? In particular, aren&rsquo;t the aggregators simply adding more cars on the road and adding to traffic snarls and city pollution levels? The answer is no!&nbsp; 
 
The sophistication of technology has allowed them to build products that marry innovation with traditional concepts aimed at reducing congestion and pollution. One such product is &ldquo;carpooling&rdquo; or &ldquo;ridesharing&rdquo; as these aggregators are calling it today. Simply put, the idea is aimed at efficient utilisation of existing assets while directly impacting a city&rsquo;s space availability and carbon emissions generated by vehicles. The concept is old but the advancement in technology has navigated the challenges the idea encountered in a non-digital space such as optimising conflicting schedules, making sharing a ride comfortable, et cetera. However, amid all the talk about decongestion of cities and cheaper transport options that have been generated by these options, a quiet revolution has the potential of making significant value additions to our climate change goals. 
 
Ridesharing promotes more people in fewer cars and results in the reduction of emissions, because the number of kilometres driven across a city and fuel burned are reduced significantly. Further, as more people embrace this means of transportation, a wonderful and complementary relationship is created between public transport and these services, which disincentivises car ownership substantially. At a time when cities like Delhi have a vehicular density of 80 vehicles per kilometre and 27 lakh personal vehicles with 1,463 new vehicles added to the city every day, one is compelled to think of scenarios which can reverse this trend. 
 
A &ldquo;stick&rdquo; approach would entail levy of congestion charges and other related taxes, but a more innovative solution comes in the form of people using their existing personal vehicles to offer rides to other people travelling to the same destination or nearby. The experiment has already generated positive impact from both a decongestion and environmental perspective. 
 
For example, Uber&rsquo;s study of ridesharing in LA revealed that in eight months it managed to reduce 1,400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. In San Francisco, the monthly reduction totalled 120 metric tonnes. As this model is scaled, it will further benefit the environment not only because of reduced emissions but also because of the opening up of urban space which would otherwise be earmarked for public parking or extension of road lengths. The free space could be used for environmental goals, such as the creation of public parks.&nbsp; 
 
It is estimated that every carpool helps remove four cars from the road, which is as good as planting 4,000 trees. Imagine the impact we can have on Delhi&rsquo;s abysmal air pollution levels if we turned on the private ridesharing switch on each of its its 27 lakh personal vehicle. 
 
This is essentially the way forward for ensuring sustainable development &ndash; building profitable business models led by technology-driven solutions that also benefit collective environmental goals. Such ideas require public and government support. An enabling regulatory landscape would help environmentally-conscious companies to scale their business and effect momentous transformation in the way we have traditionally operated. 
 
To this end, while we continue to bicker over the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), there is a real opportunity for local government, citizenry and businesses to come together and bring about incremental changes to reduce emissions.

As climate change worsens cleaner transportation is essential, but waiting for politicians to act is taking forever...

“When the earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible.... To heal ourselves we must heal our planet, and to heal our planet we must heal ourselves” --Bobby Mcleod, Aboriginal poet and activist, These words provide us with a poignant reminder about what needs to be done to save our planet. Fast-paced consumerism and insatiable materialism have come to define our species and in the process set our planet on the path to destruction. Our rapacious greed has put a question mark on the future of the only known planet in the universe that can sustain life. The time could not be more ripe to launch aggressive self-correction measures. Unfortunately, our leaders are still in a game of establishing onus on the basis of traditional responsibility, rather than coming together to take strong and decisive measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While the political economy of climate change goals has led to some sort of a stalemate in the international arena, there are solutions which can be adopted by cities to rein in rising air pollution levels without much dependence from political leaders. These solutions can be implemented by business models that inherently support environmental goals. For example, one of the biggest sources of pollution is automobiles. While moving to cleaner and more efficient fuel-operated vehicles is the most ideal option for curtailing city pollution levels, in emerging economies considerable time is needed before complementary infrastructure can be created to support this move. Thus, there is a dire need to think of short-term solutions that can address the challenge of rising car ownership and pollution levels in the city. Recently, the role of transporting people from point A to point B in a city has been assumed by technology aggregators. A complex innovation displayed in the simplest form is solving the inefficiencies that have haunted the urban transportation sector for centuries. But do these players solve other challenges through their technology? In particular, aren’t the aggregators simply adding more cars on the road and adding to traffic snarls and city pollution levels? The answer is no! The sophistication of technology has allowed them to build products that marry innovation with traditional concepts aimed at reducing congestion and pollution. One such product is “carpooling” or “ridesharing” as these aggregators are calling it today. Simply put, the idea is aimed at efficient utilisation of existing assets while directly impacting a city’s space availability and carbon emissions generated by vehicles. The concept is old but the advancement in technology has navigated the challenges the idea encountered in a non-digital space such as optimising conflicting schedules, making sharing a ride comfortable, et cetera. However, amid all the talk about decongestion of cities and cheaper transport options that have been generated by these options, a quiet revolution has the potential of making significant value additions to our climate change goals. Ridesharing promotes more people in fewer cars and results in the reduction of emissions, because the number of kilometres driven across a city and fuel burned are reduced significantly. Further, as more people embrace this means of transportation, a wonderful and complementary relationship is created between public transport and these services, which disincentivises car ownership substantially. At a time when cities like Delhi have a vehicular density of 80 vehicles per kilometre and 27 lakh personal vehicles with 1,463 new vehicles added to the city every day, one is compelled to think of scenarios which can reverse this trend. A “stick” approach would entail levy of congestion charges and other related taxes, but a more innovative solution comes in the form of people using their existing personal vehicles to offer rides to other people travelling to the same destination or nearby. The experiment has already generated positive impact from both a decongestion and environmental perspective. For example, Uber’s study of ridesharing in LA revealed that in eight months it managed to reduce 1,400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. In San Francisco, the monthly reduction totalled 120 metric tonnes. As this model is scaled, it will further benefit the environment not only because of reduced emissions but also because of the opening up of urban space which would otherwise be earmarked for public parking or extension of road lengths. The free space could be used for environmental goals, such as the creation of public parks. It is estimated that every carpool helps remove four cars from the road, which is as good as planting 4,000 trees. Imagine the impact we can have on Delhi’s abysmal air pollution levels if we turned on the private ridesharing switch on each of its its 27 lakh personal vehicle. This is essentially the way forward for ensuring sustainable development – building profitable business models led by technology-driven solutions that also benefit collective environmental goals. Such ideas require public and government support. An enabling regulatory landscape would help environmentally-conscious companies to scale their business and effect momentous transformation in the way we have traditionally operated. To this end, while we continue to bicker over the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), there is a real opportunity for local government, citizenry and businesses to come together and bring about incremental changes to reduce emissions.

Technology and business must combine to help commuters navigate congested cities

India and the US welcomed preparations that could lead to the building of six nuclear reactors in India by US-based Westinghouse, in what would be the culmination of some 10 years of work to resolve civil-nuclear issues. 
 
The joint statement said India and the US&nbsp;Export-Import Bank were working to complete a financing package for the project and that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Westinghouse had confirmed engineering and site design work would begin immediately. 
 
It said Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India would work toward finalizing the contract by June 2017 - a year later than Westinghouse&#39;s chief executive&nbsp;Daniel Roderick&nbsp;said he had hoped for.&nbsp; 
 
The text of a logistics agreement, which will allow the countries&#39; militaries to&nbsp;use each other&#39;s land, air and naval bases, would be signed soon, a US&nbsp;official said. 
 
Modi&nbsp;told an event organized by the US&nbsp;India Business Council that relations between India and the United States were &quot;closer than ever&quot;. He said the planned reactor purchases would mark new era in nuclear and scientific cooperation. 
 
Modi&#39;s address to a joint session of Congress will be a significant personal step. Although this has become a&nbsp;tradition for Indian prime ministers, he was once banned from the United States for his alleged involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots. 
 
More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002 when Modi&nbsp;had just become the state&#39;s chief minister.&nbsp;Modi&nbsp;has denied any wrongdoing, and India&#39;s Supreme Court in 2010 ruled there was no case. 
 
In the joint statement, the United States said it now recognized India as a &quot;Major Defence Partner&quot; and would work on technology sharing &quot;to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners&quot;. 
 
Tensions between the United States and Pakistan, as well as regional concerns about China,&nbsp;have served as a backdrop to increased security cooperation. 
 
Senator John McCain, chairman of the US&nbsp;Senate Armed Services Committee, said the address to Congress was &quot;entirely appropriate&quot; given the new partnership. 
 
&quot;There&rsquo;s no doubt there are significant tensions and challenges in the region, which argues for closer coordination between our militaries,&quot; he said. 
 
While&nbsp;Modi&nbsp;is generally popular with the US&nbsp;lawmakers, they criticize what they see as lingering unfriendliness to US&nbsp;firms and a stifling bureaucracy, in spite of&nbsp;Modi&#39;s pro-business image. They also question New Delhi&#39;s record on human rights. 
 
Modi&nbsp;got a boost on Tuesday when Amazon Inc&nbsp;Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said his company will&nbsp;invest an additional $3 billion in India, increasing&nbsp;its committed investment in the country to over $5 billion.

The US said it now recognized India as a "Major Defence Partner" and would work on technology sharing "to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners"

India and the US welcomed preparations that could lead to the building of six nuclear reactors in India by US-based Westinghouse, in what would be the culmination of some 10 years of work to resolve civil-nuclear issues. The joint statement said India and the US Export-Import Bank were working to complete a financing package for the project and that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Westinghouse had confirmed engineering and site design work would begin immediately. It said Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India would work toward finalizing the contract by June 2017 - a year later than Westinghouse's chief executive Daniel Roderick said he had hoped for. The text of a logistics agreement, which will allow the countries' militaries to use each other's land, air and naval bases, would be signed soon, a US official said. Modi told an event organized by the US India Business Council that relations between India and the United States were "closer than ever". He said the planned reactor purchases would mark new era in nuclear and scientific cooperation. Modi's address to a joint session of Congress will be a significant personal step. Although this has become a tradition for Indian prime ministers, he was once banned from the United States for his alleged involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002 when Modi had just become the state's chief minister. Modi has denied any wrongdoing, and India's Supreme Court in 2010 ruled there was no case. In the joint statement, the United States said it now recognized India as a "Major Defence Partner" and would work on technology sharing "to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners". Tensions between the United States and Pakistan, as well as regional concerns about China, have served as a backdrop to increased security cooperation. Senator John McCain, chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, said the address to Congress was "entirely appropriate" given the new partnership. "There’s no doubt there are significant tensions and challenges in the region, which argues for closer coordination between our militaries," he said. While Modi is generally popular with the US lawmakers, they criticize what they see as lingering unfriendliness to US firms and a stifling bureaucracy, in spite of Modi's pro-business image. They also question New Delhi's record on human rights. Modi got a boost on Tuesday when Amazon Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said his company will invest an additional $3 billion in India, increasing its committed investment in the country to over $5 billion.

Obama and Modi talks touch on nuclear power, military cooperation and Big Business

DETROIT (Reuters) - Automotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young. 
 
About 52 per cent of senior auto industry executives that were surveyed said they planned to pursue an acquisition within the next 12 months, down from 59 percent in October 2015 and 70 percent in April 2015, Ernst and Young found. The consulting and accounting firm said it surveyed more than 100 senior auto industry executives for its twice yearly Automotive Capital Confidence Barometer.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;They are trying to spread out and minimize their risk,&quot; Mark Short, global automotive and transportation industry leader for Ernst and Young&rsquo;s transaction advisory services, told Reuters. Those risks can be political, economic and technological, he said. 
 
Some recent high profile automotive deals, including Toyota Motor Corp`s investment in Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], reflect automakers` efforts to get a foothold in new technology or business models, such as self-driving cars and ride hailing. 
 
The United States, the UK, Germany, India and Brazil are the top countries targeted for investment among auto executives surveyed, Ernst and Young found. 
 
&ldquo;For the first time in a very, very long time China&rsquo;s not in our top five market destinations for deals,&rdquo; Short said. 
 
Auto makers and suppliers poured money into China as it grew to become the world&rsquo;s largest auto market by vehicle sales. Now, there is concern that the Chinese economy may be slowing. 
 
In Brazil, vehicle sales are slumping with the rest of the economy, but assets &ldquo;are very, very cheap,&rdquo; Short said. 
 
Companies are doing &ldquo;a lot of scenario planning&rdquo; for the possibility that British voters will opt to exit the European Union, Short said. So far, Ernst and Young has not seen potential deals get put off because of uncertainty over Britain&rsquo;s future in the EU, he said. 
 
About a third of executives surveyed said they are looking for alliances with other companies to make money from underused assets or reinforce research and development. Short said automotive companies and technology companies can ally themselves to explore ventures without committing significant cash.

utomotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Automotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young. About 52 per cent of senior auto industry executives that were surveyed said they planned to pursue an acquisition within the next 12 months, down from 59 percent in October 2015 and 70 percent in April 2015, Ernst and Young found. The consulting and accounting firm said it surveyed more than 100 senior auto industry executives for its twice yearly Automotive Capital Confidence Barometer. "They are trying to spread out and minimize their risk," Mark Short, global automotive and transportation industry leader for Ernst and Young’s transaction advisory services, told Reuters. Those risks can be political, economic and technological, he said. Some recent high profile automotive deals, including Toyota Motor Corp`s investment in Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], reflect automakers` efforts to get a foothold in new technology or business models, such as self-driving cars and ride hailing. The United States, the UK, Germany, India and Brazil are the top countries targeted for investment among auto executives surveyed, Ernst and Young found. “For the first time in a very, very long time China’s not in our top five market destinations for deals,” Short said. Auto makers and suppliers poured money into China as it grew to become the world’s largest auto market by vehicle sales. Now, there is concern that the Chinese economy may be slowing. In Brazil, vehicle sales are slumping with the rest of the economy, but assets “are very, very cheap,” Short said. Companies are doing “a lot of scenario planning” for the possibility that British voters will opt to exit the European Union, Short said. So far, Ernst and Young has not seen potential deals get put off because of uncertainty over Britain’s future in the EU, he said. About a third of executives surveyed said they are looking for alliances with other companies to make money from underused assets or reinforce research and development. Short said automotive companies and technology companies can ally themselves to explore ventures without committing significant cash.

Auto executives going soft on acquisitions, says E&Y.

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Modern technology has enabled badly-needed intimacy between perfect strangers

Modern technology has enabled badly-needed intimacy between perfect strangers

New system to 3D print hair-like structures

Technology and business must combine to help commuters navigate congested cities

Obama and Modi talks touch on nuclear power, military cooperation and Big Business

Auto executives going soft on acquisitions, says E&Y.