Unit -13

New and emerging technologies

Objectives: Types and Impact of these technologies
Types:
• NFC (Near Field Communication)
• ultra-high definition television systems
• artificial intelligence
• augmented reality
• virtual reality
• robotics
• computer-assisted translation
• holographic imaging
• holographic and 4th generation optical data storage
• 3D printing
• vision enhancement
• wearable computing
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12.1 Types:
NFC (Near Field Communication)
It enables short-range communication between compatible devices. This requires at least
one transmitting device, and another to receive the signal. Sending information over radio
waves. It also standard for wireless data transitions.
 It is very convenient to perform payments and other transactions using smartphones
with the help of wallet app.
 It is used for multiple applications in various domains such as banking, reservations,
booking tickets, redeeming, entry/exit passes etc.
 It helps both customers and enterprises.
 It provides secured access for students and employees in their premises.
 It does not require search and pair procedure like Bluetooth and other methods to
establish connectivity.
 No special software is needed. Moreover it does not require manual configurations and
settings.
 It is compatible with existing RFID networks.
It can only works in shorter distances which is about 10-20 cm.
It offers very low data transfer rates which is about 106 or 212 or 424 Kbps.
It is very expensive for the companies to adopt the NFC enabled devices.
It is not so advantageous for users due to complex procedures compare to other easy
options.
The power consumption is comparatively more in NFC enabled devices.

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12.1 Types:
Ultra-high definition television systems:
A 4K TV means the TV has 3,840 horizontal pixels and 2,160 vertical pixels, for a total of
about 8.3 million pixels. ... Individual pixels collect together to make up the image you see
on the screen, so the higher the pixel count the higher the resolution.

 The greater the resolution is, the better the quality.

 The colour depth may reach 12 colour bits compared to the 10 usual ones of the Full
HD.
 Camera, television and mobile phone creators are opting more and more for the 4K.
 The H.265 Codec used to process 4k duplicates the compression relationship of the
H.264 (generally used for digital videos) but and the same quality.

The content recorded in 4K is still limited.

To transfer videos in 4K it is necessary to have a minimum bandwidth of 25Mbps.
The exported archives are very heavy and take up a lot of space.
The prices of 4K televisions are not accessible for all pockets.

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12.1 Types:
Artificial Intelligence:
Smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
 With Artificial intelligence, the decisions are taken from the previously gathered
information applying a certain set of algorithms. So errors are reduced and the chance of
reaching accuracy with a greater degree of precision is a possibility.
 Takes risks instead of Humans -going to mars, defuse a bomb, explore the deepest parts of
oceans, mining for coal and oil, it can be used effectively in any kind of natural or man-
made disasters.
 They can make machines work 24x7 without any breaks and they don’t even get bored,
unlike humans.
 Using artificial intelligence we can productively automate these mundane tasks and can
even remove “boring” tasks for humans and free them up to be increasingly creative.
 They can be used as digital assistants to interact with users which saves the need for
human resources.
 While taking a decision human will analyze many factors emotionally and practically but AI-
powered machine works on what it is programmed and delivers the results in a faster way.
High cost of creation, maintenance and software up gradation
Making humans lazy with its applications automating the majority of the work
AI is replacing the majority of the repetitive tasks and other works with robots, human
interference is becoming less which will cause a major problem in the employment
standards.
Machines can perform only those tasks which they are designed to do, anything out of
that they tend to crash or give irrelevant outputs which could be a major backdrop.
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12.1 Types:
Augmented Reality
It is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in
the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information
Examples : IKEA Mobile App, Weather Channel Studio Effects

 it can be used by anyone including mentally and physically disabled individuals.

 It almost takes away the difference between the virtual and real world, thus increasing
its usability and effectiveness in the area of application.
 It possesses a highly interactive nature which enable to assess several instances in
advance.
 Success or failure of an instance can be determined by using the computing power of
AR, thus saving a lot of money.
 It finds its heavy usage in the field of health, thus increasing the accuracy of diagnosis
for diseases.

It may lack in privacy

AR based applications or devices cannot be made the best use of without appropriate
training thus increase costs and time involved
There can be certain instances where such applications have recorded low
performance, thus reducing the overall appeal of the package.
It can get extremely costly to develop and maintain an AR based device or an
application.
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12.1 Types:
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is based on an advanced combination of both software and hardware.

 Creating a realistic world - you can feel that you are in what is happening around you
 Exploring places- any photo of any place can make you feel being a part of it.
 Effective communication- you can communicate with friends, family, and anyone has
the same tech with it.
 Better than reality-seeing things through VR glasses gives a great experience
 Entertainment- You can watch movies, videos and play games through this
technology and get a feeling that you are in another world.

Expensive equipment- people who cannot afford the cost will be left out from the
technology and they won’t be able to experience it.
Addiction To The Virtual World- people who generally pay games are addicted.
Feeling of worthlessness- The one who spends more time in VR might try to
escape from the real world and they might wish to live in the VR world all the time.

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12.1 Types:
Robotics
 In many situations robots can increase productivity, efficiency, quality and consistency
of products as robots don’t get bored, they can do the same thing again and again, they
can be very accurate.
 Robots can work in environments which are unsafe for humans – in the nuclear or
chemical industries for example
 Robots don’t have the same environmental requirements that humans do – such as
lighting, air conditioning or noise protection
 Robots have some sensors/actuators which are more capable than humans

The use of robots can create economic problems if they replace human jobs
Robots can only do what they are told to do – they can’t improvise. This means that
safety procedures are needed to protect humans and other robots
Although robots can be superior to humans in some ways, they are less with hands on
skills than humans, they don’t have such powerful brains, and cannot compete with a
human’s ability to understand what they can see.
Often robots are very costly – in terms of the initial cost, maintenance, the need for
extra components and the need to be programmed to do the task.

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12.1 Types:
Computer-assisted Translation
It involves the use of software programs to translate both verbal and written texts from
one language to another.

 Speed – speed of translation. The more repeat phrases in a document, the greater the
increase.
 Consistency – because certain phrases have already been translated once and checked
for accuracy, they’ll be drawn from the Translation Memory (TM) and be identical
wherever they’re used. Even across multiple projects and multiple translators.
 Ability to share –With a Cloud-based tool can maintain speed and consistency.
 Better for technical documents – large amount of repetition in technical, financial or
legal documents, TMs can be filled very quickly and have much greater utility when
used on this type of project.

Contextual errors – A machine cannot yet be programmed to fully understand the

context of how a certain word or phrase is being used. Human verifier is still needed.
Struggles with literary texts – The application can only perform literal translation and
not contextual translation.
Security can be an issue – if a document contains confidential information, so does the
TM generated during the translation of that document. So web-based Computer
Assisted Translation tools need special scrutiny to ensure information security is not
compromised.
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12.1 Types:
Holographic Imaging
It involves the use of software programs to translate both verbal and written texts from
one language to another.
Process: A hologram is created when a beam of laser light is split in two, with one of the
resulting beams focused on an object (object beam) then scattered onto a photographic
plate, while the other beam is directed directly onto the plate (a reference beam). A
holographic image is derived from the differences in the two beams.
 Production for the source of the holographic products takes time. But creating large
copies of this image is very economical.
 Holography records the reflective intensity on the object and the phase information.
So , even if the hologram picture is left with only a small part , It still can reproduce all
the scenery
 It improves the way of procedure and treatment in medical field. It provides
advanced imaging, effective learning, useful for multiple images & capacity of storing
those images. Moreover, it does not require any projection screen, saves cost in
processes. Increase the efficiency of doctors and surgeons, 3D visualization of products
and situations, do not require special glasses to view.
 Improve customer care
But…
Use of applying the concept of holographic projection in the design of products are
costly.
It is not easily seen in the presence of fluorescent lighting.
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12.1 Types:
Holographic and 4th generation optical data storage:
Holographic data storage stores bits in parallel. Hence many bits are stored layer upon layer.
 Holographic storage technology is based on writing data bits vertically instead of
horizontally. Hence, the entire volume of recording media is used for storing
information.
 Holography allows more than a million bits of data to be written and read in parallel
with a single flash of light.
 High 3D storage densities, fast transfer rates and durable media make holography the
most likely choice for next generation data storage and processing needs.
 Long‐term media stability and reliability is a compelling advantage for deep archiving
purposes
 Holographic technology also provides portability, allowing the distribution of dense data
that cannot be sent conveniently over networks, such as broadcast or high‐definition
video.
 Holographic storage also offers greater data transfer rates. Holographic storage can read
and write millions of bits of data in parallel & writes data using a flash of light.
But…
The long‐term reliability and readability of holographic drives is still unproven.
Lack of compatibility with existing formats, high costs and other disadvantages have
made the technology less attractive than tape and other alternatives.

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12.1 Types:
3D printing
Creating an object based on a blueprint made with modeling software by setting thousands
of cross section layers of heated plastic to produce a 3D object.
How does it work?
1. The 3D printing process turns a whole object into thousands of tiny little slices,
then makes it from the bottom-up, slice by slice.
2. Those tiny layers stick together to form a solid object.
3. Each layer can be very complex, meaning 3D printers can create moving parts
like hinges and wheels as part of the same object.
4. You could print a whole bike - handlebars, saddle, frame, wheels, brakes,
pedals and chain - ready assembled, without using any tools.
5. It’s just a question of leaving gaps in the right places.

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 12.1 Types:
Vision enhancement - These are tools that help with
vision assisting people with their seeing difficulties.
1. Vision Enhancement Using Audio- attach it to your
glass. This is communicated to the wearer through a
discreet ear bud, which tells you what it is you are
having difficulty seeing.
2. Vision Enhancement General- uses a high-speed
camera that captures the world around you in high
definition using algorithms to enhance the video feed.
3. Vision Enhancement Using Implants- the patient first needs a retinal implant. This
procedure takes about 4 hours under general anesthesia. The implanted device contains
an antenna that picks up signals from the video camera which is placed on the glasses
the patient wears.

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12.1 Types:
Vision enhancement
 Vision Enhancement is used to help people to see objects better by using zoom
facilities or enlarged text.
 Night-vision goggles can send images to ICT systems to be processed and enhanced.
 Night vision devices are compact in size and is easily portable
 It is widely used in military purposes. So it is reliable
 Car drivers who have poor vision can be helped by displays that point out important
objects when driving.
They are very costly, Lack of colour discrimination
Cannot properly used in rain and fog as it degrades its performance.

Wearable technology

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12.1 Types:
Wearable technology - Health:
1. Wearable fitness devices can be used to track physical activity, sleep, heart
rate, and even provide on-screen workouts. They are most often paired with a
smartphone or website to track and store data.
2. Wearable devices have proven useful in helping the patient and clinician create
a plan of care and track outcomes.
3. Wearable devices are also helpful in providing real-time data and promoting
self-management for chronic conditions.
4. Self-monitoring blood glucose meters and blood pressure monitors have been
around for a while, but with the ability for the data to automatically upload to
a smartphone app or website, it can help drive health outcomes. These
programs can provide instant feedback, track patterns, show progress, and can
be easily shared with a health care provider.
5. Wearables are likely more helpful when paired with other resources or tools
such as a health coach, personal trainer, health care provider, wellness
programs, social competitions, etc
6. Wearables are used to monitor patient activities along with subjective data
collection. The data collected will be used to research what practices are best
for recovery and to improve decision-making and health outcomes.

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12.1 Types:
E-Waste & its Negative Effects on the Environment - Electronic waste, also known
as e-waste, is any electronic product containing electronic components, that has
reached the end of its usable life cycle.
1. Contamination in the air occurs when e-waste is informally disposed by
dismantling, shredding or melting the materials, releasing dust particles or toxins
into the environment that cause air pollution and damage respiratory health.
2. The air pollution caused by e-waste impacts animals. Air pollution can hurt water
quality, soil and plant species, creating irreversible damage in ecosystems.
3. When disposal of e-waste in landfills, both heavy metals and flame retardants
can seep directly into the soil, causing contamination of underlying groundwater
or contamination of crops that may be planted near by. The crops absorb these
toxins, which can cause many illnesses as well as leaving the farmland less
productive.
4. Also, metals reach groundwater, in turn make their way into ponds, streams,
rivers and lakes thus making this water toxic which is unsafe for animals, plants
and communities even if they are miles away from a recycling site. Clean drinking
water becomes problematic to find.
5. The negative health effects of the toxins on humans include brain, heart, liver,
kidney and skeletal system damage. It can also affect the nervous and
reproductive systems of the human body, leading to disease and birth defects.
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Exam Questions (1)
Evaluate the use of 3D printing for manufacturing goods. (Exam question)
 Easier to customize products such as pills to users specific requirements/ genetic
makeup
 Printing can be done remotely so no need to transport the final product from
factory to destination
 Prototypes can be produced more rapidly for testing so production is speeded up
 Manufacturing of product may be faster than traditional methods so product is
available sooner
 Costs may be reduced due to reduction in tooling costs/ less need for specialist
machinery
 No need to store excess inventory/reduced warehouse costs
 Can produce items/spare parts in harsh environments where traditional methods
may not be feasible/possible

Limited materials available for printing so product range is restricted/materials may

not be suitable for product’s eventual use
Copyright issues arise as easier for anyone to print the product
Dangerous items can be more easily created e.g. Knives/guns
Useless items produced and thrown away these have an environmental impact
Limited size of products due to restrictions on size of printer
Printing can be quite slow compared to traditional manufacturing.
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Exam questions (2)
3D printing is used in medicine. Describe two benefits of being able to produce artificial blood
vessels by 3D printing.
 No need to wait for real & native blood vessels to grow into implanted or repaired tissue
 Allows oxygen to be supplied immediately to implant which is more likely to survive/ grow
 Vessels can be customised for the individual organ which is more likely to fit Less likely to be
rejected by recipient than real blood vessels.

Describe how 3D printing could be used, apart from producing drugs at home, to improve the
effectiveness of the manufacture of prescription drugs.
 Chemical components of the drug can be customised at molecular level to individual patient
 Drug can be customised to deal with patient specific issues/ethnic origin/DNA
 A chemical blueprint can be created so that the drug can be printed at any
pharmacy/druggist/drug store using specific components/compounds
 Drug can be personalised for/targeted to a specific illness/infection.

Describe the drawbacks of using 3D printing at home to produce prescription drugs.

Human errors in use of blueprints may be mislabeling can lead to incorrect drug being
created incorrect dosage being used
Difficult to validate & verify drug creation so, e.g. incorrect base materials may be used
Difficult to regulate use of the drug & printing machines across (international) borders
Difficult to regulate the supply of the drugs once blueprint is published/available to patient
Bio-safety – hygiene, sanitary, cleanliness of production difficult to control at home
Could be used & customised to produce illegal drugs.
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Exam Questions (3)
Wearable, or body-borne, computers are miniature electronic devices worn by the
bearer. Analyse the use of wearable computers by the police. (March 2017)
Ans:
Benefits:
• Body worn video cameras used to record incidents for later use in court/enquiry
• Optical head-mounted technology to display information is in a similar format to
a smartphone/act as a smartphone
• Operated hands-free via voice activation
• Wrist-worn computers/smartphones for access to communications systems
• Wi-Fi-enabled/wireless connected clothing to track movements in real-
time/connect peripherals to monitor vital signs of officer, in maintaining constant
communications with others
Drawbacks:
• Reliance on computers can remove elements of human judgment
• Implementation can be expensive since this is an emerging technology
• Can lead to invasions of privacy for user and third parties, location and other
details can be used to track the user
• Possibility of wearable computers being ‘hacked’ and data stolen/computers
manipulated
• Breakdown in communications systems can lead to system failure
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Exam Questions (4)
Describe how wearable computers can enhance health care. (March 2018)
• Help physicians/doctors monitor and diagnose illness/disease
• Data transferred directly by head up display/to retina of doctor/ surgeon during
medical procedures
• Less time spent on reading/tracking data
• Wearable systems (e.g. e-skin) on patients including sensors send data direct to
doctors, enhance patient-doctor interaction
• Patients have more access to data
• Doctors can monitor remotely
• Assist in medical procedures/surgery
• Access to digital images during procedures/overlay of images onto procedure
• Remote guidance during procedures/emergency assistance
• Assist/ allow patients to manage and control pain
• Implantable systems to control diabetes/blood pressure/food intake/activity
• Improve employment of personal fitness regimes
• Fitness bands to track activity/sleep patterns
• Educate patients in their health
• Patients can monitor own health and be aware of changes/conditions and make
decisions themselves.

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Exam Questions (5)
Holographic imaging is an emerging technology. Describe how holographic
imaging could be used in the field of medicine. (June 2018 p32)
• X-ray holography can be used for imaging internal organs of the body, no need
for invasive surgery
• Used for living biological specimens, with very high resolution without the
need for sample preparation
• Endoscopic holography is used for producing high resolution 3D imaging, with
no contact/ non-destructive measurements inside the natural cavities of
internal organs
• Ophthalmology use to correct problems with lenses implanted after cataract
surgery
• In dentistry to store dental records of tooth prints as training aids for students
• In otology (ear studies) to study the vibrations forces/how the inner ear
bones move
• In orthopaedics to measure strains/forces on fixation pins/rods
• 3D images of biological specimens can be created from a series of 2D
radiological images
• Using holographic stereogram techniques/conical stereogram/ multiplex
hologram
• Holographic contour generation is useful for measurements of biomedical
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Exam Questions (6)
Evaluate the impact on the environment of the use of robotics in industry. (Nov
2018 p32)
• More selective & accurate spraying of crops thus diminishing overspray of
chemicals on all crops
• Remote monitoring of global warming/oil spills/water pollution with use of
independent robotic submarines carrying sensors into dangerous areas
• Autonomous gathering of data in dangerous/hazardous areas to monitor
environmental factors
• Use in food packaging/production by reduction in contamination of product as
no human contact
• Use in industry to reduce environmental waste/resource use e.g. solar panel
cleaning robot uses less water than humans, less energy used in ‘dark’
factories where heating and lighting are not so important as few humans work
in them
• Leads to reduction in traffic so there is less pollution
But.. Negative impacts could include:
• Increased use of power over manual labour
• Increased use of scarce resources e.g. precious/rare metals to manufacture
robots
• Environmental damage caused by extraction of precious/rare metals.
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