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TECHNOLOGY SA’S FREE WEEKLY TECH AND INNOVATIONS MAG
COMIC CON Africa 2020 goes ONLINE Picture: Joey Nicotra \ Unsplash
CONTENTS Google Maps to alert users about Covid-19 related travel restrictions
Vodacom partners with Wits to ensure continued online learning
TymeBank rethinks unsecured loans after coronavirus
Robot built for Japan’s ageing workforce plays key coronavirus role
How to build a smart kitchen
NATO chief says on Huawei: UK review of 5G security is important
5 gadgets every car needs
Angry Birds maker Rovio launches puzzle game aimed at women
How WhatsApp can be an effective tool for SA businesses
Apple patent to help users take long-distance group selfies
From Gamer to Doctor and back again
Comic Con Africa 2020 goes online
MUNSIF VENGATTIL
GOOGLE MAPS offers Covid-19 travel alerts
GOOGLE is adding features on its Maps service to alert users about Covid-19-related travel restrictions to help them plan their trips better, the Alphabet Inc unit said this week. The update would allow users to check how crowded a train station might be at a particular time, or if buses on a certain route are running on a limited schedule, Google said. The transit alerts would be rolled out in Argentina, France, India, the Netherlands, the US and UK among other countries, the company said in a blog post. The new features would also include details on Covid-19 checkpoints and restrictions on crossing national borders, starting with Canada, Mexico and the US. “We’re also introducing driving alerts to notify you about Covid19 checkpoints and restrictions along your route, like when crossing national borders (starting first in Canada, Mexico and the US). “You’ll see an alert on
the directions screen and after starting navigation if your route is impacted by these restrictions. “When navigating to medical facilities or Covid-19 testing centres, we’ll display an alert reminding you to verify eligibility and facility guidelines to avoid being turned away or causing additional strain on the local health-care system. “Starting this week, alerts for medical facilities will be available in Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, South Korea, and the US, and testing centre alerts will be available in the US.” In recent months, the company has analysed location data from billions of Google users’ phones in 131 countries to examine mobility under lockdowns and help health authorities assess if people were abiding with social-distancing and other orders issued to rein in the virus. Google has invested billions of dollars from its search ads business to digitally map the world, drawing one billion users on average every month to its free navigation app. | Reuters
DATA BOOST FOR WITS STUDENTS Vodacom partnership to ensures continued online learning MASABATA MKWANANZI
TELECOMMUNICATION giant Vodacom has partnered with the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to keep students connected to higher learning activities and to successfully complete the 2020 academic year despite not being on campus. The university seems to be making all the right moves when it comes to their students. On Thursday the university partnered with the South African Post Office and delivered 5 000 laptops to the homes of disadvantaged Wits students. Vodacom will be providing each student with a 30GB data bundle to remain connected and continue their education while they are away from campus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown regulations in the country. “We can all agree that success begins with
education. For many students, remote learning is a challenge as they do not have the means to access online learning materials. As remote learning becomes a necessity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Vodacom Business is proud to partner with Wits to support education and the development of tomorrow’s future business leaders by keeping students connected. “Investing in education and improving connectivity plays a key role in fast-tracking our country into the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said William Mzimba, chief executive for Vodacom Business. The recurring data bundle provides Wits students with access to learning sites for up to a maximum of 30GB a month. Non-Vodacom Wits students were given the option to purchase a R5 Vodacom SIM card and then RICA it at any Vodacom-accredited outlet. To receive this allocation, students needed to update their new Vodacom phone number as part of their student record with the university. As part of the package and agreement with the university, Vodacom agreed to reimburse students for the cost of the SIM card with airtime to the value of R5. This offer is valid from June 5 on a rolling month- tomonth basis and is made up of 10GB any time URL data to access specific university sites for e-learning and home study, and 20GB night owl data, valid between midnight and 4.59am daily. Data bundles will be allocated to students monthly, with the full amount given at the start of each month. “Wits University is committed to ensuring that its students can access online teaching and learning through the provision of devices and data. This partnership with Vodacom provides our students with the data required to continue with their education and to move forward with their studies,” said Shirona Patel, Wits spokesperson. | IOL TECH
TymeBank rethinks LOANS PARTNERSHIP WITH CHURCH DISRUPTED EMMA RUMNEY
SOUTH Africa’s TymeBank is considering ditching an expansion into unsecured loans due to the coronavirus crisis, its owner, African Rainbow Capital Investments (ARC), said on Friday. TymeBank, one of the digital banks launched in South Africa in recent years in a challenge to traditional business models, was already piloting its unsecured term loan product. “The bank is considering alternative credit products which do not carry the same longer-term risk as an unsecured loan,” ARC said in a stock market update. TymeBank’s low-cost model targets lower-income consumers. Unsecured lending is not backed by any collateral, making it riskier than loans backed up by an asset such as mortgages. Two of South Africa’s big four banks have warned that bad debts could surpass the level seen during the global financial crisis as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak takes its toll on already struggling businesses and
consumers. It has also accelerated a shift to online banking, which was expected to benefit lenders like TymeBank. However, its would-be customers open accounts at kiosks, meaning growth in new clients fell by 20% in April, during South Africa’s lockdown. ARC also said a partnership with Zion Christian Church, which gives TymeBank access to about 6 million members, had been disrupted. Nevertheless, TymeBank’s customer growth was well above target, ARC said. By the end of May it had acquired 1.8 million customers, and was adding on average 100 000 a month. This meant it was now likely reach a 2 million customer milestone in August rather than December, ARC said. ARC added that the bank had secured one partnership that would enable it to offer insurance and was in advanced negotiations on another that would further broaden its products offering. | Reuters
ROBOTS join fight against the pandemic
Replenishing a workforce and battling a virus with technology MIRA Robotics developed its “ugo” robot to reinforce greying Japan’s shrinking workforce, but as the coronavirus threat persists, the Japanese startup is offering its machine as a tool in the fight against the outbreak, the company’s chief executive said. “The coronavirus has created a need for robots because they can reduce direct contact between people,” Ken Matsui told Reuters, at his company’s workshop in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. “We’ve had inquiries from overseas, including from Singapore and France.” The latest feature of the remotecontrolled or so-called avatar robot is a hand attachment that uses ultraviolet light to kill viruses on door handles. An unprecedented population decline that is shrinking Japan’s workforce by more than half a million people a year, as well
as a reluctance to bring in foreign labour to fill vacant positions, has spurred robot development in Japan. The emergence of coronavirus-related demand could further that work. Mira Robotics’ Ugo is a pair of heightadjustable robotic arms mounted on wheels, operated remotely through a wireless connection with a laptop and game controller. A range-measuring laser mounted on the base helps it navigate, while a panel at the top displays eyes to give it a friendlier appearance. It takes around 30 minutes to learn how to use the robot, said Matsui. Ugo, which costs around $1 000 (about R17 170.85) a month to rent, can be deployed as a security guard, carry out equipment inspections and clean toilets and other areas in office buildings, he added. | Reuters
How to build a SMART KITCHEN FLOYD MATLALA
THE world of tech has always allowed creative minds and innovators to broaden their horizons with new creations, as there has always been a room for upgrades and new gadgets to enhance how people live in every aspect of life. The birth of 4IR saw many businesses rely on technology to do things, and many people have also taken it on themselves to enhance their lives with home-made tech creations. Have you ever wondered how to build a smart kitchen? Well with these tech electronics you can easily do that. LG’s InstaView Door-n-Door fridge With LG Smart ThinQ, you can control and diagnose your refrigerator by smartphone even when you’re not at home. Easily set the refrigerator temperature, control HygieneFRESH+, and diagnose your refrigerator with a simple touch on your smartphone. InstaView Door-in-Door has a sleek mirrored glass panel that illuminates with two quick knocks, allowing you to see inside the easy access compartment without ever opening the door.
Bring technology to your cooking space
Samsung’s new wi-fi range brings a new era of connectivity and convenience to the kitchen The Samsung Flex Duo Slide-in range, with dual door, gives home cooks the freedom to control their meal prep times and temperatures without having to stay in the kitchen. The range lets you remotely monitor the cooktop and oven functions on your smartphone, using a simple app. You can preheat and adjust oven cooking temperatures, set a timer, receive real-time alerts on oven temperatures and turn the oven off – all from your smartphone. BNETA IoT Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb GU10 BNETA Smart Bulbs give you the ability to control lighting in your home remotely and set your room atmosphere for different occasions with your smartphone. Working with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, simply order Alexa and Google to turn your lightings on and off. Picture: Jonas Leupe | Unsplash
5G review is ‘important’ Nato chief weighs role of Huawei in its networks THE head of the Nato military alliance said on Wednesday that the West could not ignore the rise of China and so it was important that the UK had a review of the role of Huawei in its 5G network to ensure its security. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said China was coming closer to the West in various ways – in the Arctic, in cyberspace, and in critical infrastructure, including telecommunications. “I trust that the UK government will design their networks in ways that protect the networks and make sure that the UK has secure 5G networks,” Stoltenberg told BBC radio. “Therefore, also I think it is important that there now will be a new review looking at exactly how to make sure that should happen,” he said. As part of a broader reassessment of relations with China, Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre is analysing the impact of recent US sanctions on Britain’s decision earlier this year to allow Huawei a role in building its 5G network. | Reuters
Picture: Ralph Ravi Kayden | Unsplash
5 nifty gadgets EVERY CAR needs Kit out your vehicle accessories that will make all trips enjoyable. Whether you want to keep your coffee heated or simply enjoy the efficiency of wireless charging while you’re on the move, these handy gadgets are a must-have for every car.
YI Mirror dash Upgrade your rearview mirror with the functionalities of a dashcam. The YI Mirror Dash Cam provides a clear, high-definition image from the back and front of your vehicle, offering better visibility and a safer driving experience. Easy to set up, the two HD cameras, including a front facing 1 080p HD camera and rear 720p HD camera, fit comfortably over rearview mirrors.
SACHA VAN NIEKERK
Automotive Night Vision System When load shedding hits and you’re stuck travelling down a dark and winding road, the Automotive Night Vision System will display on-time images reflecting the real situation of the road without any lag. Able to form a full-colour image at 1 080P high resolution, you’ll be able to drive at night like it’s daytime. And the IPS screen provides consistent colour from all viewing angles, so you won’t have to move your head or the device for a better look.
Portable Electric Car Cooler/ Warmer Whether it’s coffee in the early morning or a refreshing cold drink on a hot day, the portable electric car cooler and warmer is exactly what you need when you’re on the go. The device’s temperature is 19ºC lower than the surrounding temperature and its inner temperature can more or less reach 60ºC. It does not take up too much space and it’s also very quiet when in use.
Magnetic Vent Phone Holder Attempting to hold the steering wheel and your cellphone while navigating busy roads and keeping an eye on Google Maps is not only difficult but dangerous too. With six super strong magnets to firmly hold your phone in place, this mount works for any size phone, with or without a cover, so it will follow you from phone to phone.
Snug In-Car Fast Wireless Charger Fitting perfectly in the cup-holder of your car, you can avoid the tangle of cables running back and forth between the front and back seat during lengthy road trips with Snug. The wireless charger fits devices up to 73mm and has a USB slot for cable charging. Two devices to charge simultaneously. You’ll never have to worry about being stranded without any battery life. | IOL TECH
WHODUNNIT SET TO FLY HIGH
ANNE KAURANEN
‘ANGRY BIRDS’ ROVIO Entertainment MAKER ROVIO launched Small Town LAUNCHES Murders, a new puzzle game aimed at women PUZZLE over 35, on Wednesday in GAME FOR its latest attempt to reduce its reliance on Angry Birds. WOMEN The Finnish firm’s new game combines a murder mystery narrative with so-called match three puzzles, a gaming trend originally initiated in 2012 by King’s Candy Crush Saga. Rovio has sought to diversify before, releasing three games that were not Angry Birds-themed since 2015, but none have become global hits in the same way as its 2011 blockbuster. “We see the Small Town Murders game as an opportunity to expand our portfolio for different kinds of players and to tell different stories,” Rovio’s Puzzle Studio head Miika Tams said. Rovio, which listed in 2017, has been making a steady quarterly games revenue of around €60 million (R1 billion) for the past few years, mostly from Angry Birds games. But earnings have been hit by rising marketing costs and by its 5G gaming platform, Hatch, which Rovio has not achieved the interest among investors that it had hoped for. Until now, Rovio’s games have been popular among children, but now it is targeting adults with more money to spend on in-game purchases, such as additional moves or lives to keep playing. “Women 35 years old and older are our Puzzle Studio’s main target audience. We have seen that women in this age group play this kind of game the most,” Tams said. | Reuters
TUNING into client needs How WhatsApp can be an effective communication tool for SA businesses AS FIRMS battle for customer attention, revenue and engagement, it has become increasingly important for organisations to make connections with their customers. The challenge is finding the right channels and ensuring that those channels are validated, secure and relevant. And what platform can do this better than WhatsApp, which enables businesses “to engage with their customers on a more personal level”, says Matt Grobler, presales engineer at INOVO. “This channel has more potential than email or SMS to increase trust and brand loyalty because it’s accessible, popular and relevant to the South African consumer.” WhatsApp has become the most popular mobile messenger app in the world with more than 2 billion monthly active users in more than 180 countries. Of those two billion users,
South Africans make up around 38 million. According to Digital 2020: South Africa, a report developed by HootSuite, 62% of the South African population is on the internet, 94% of those are engaged on social media, and most of them use WhatsApp. “Many people in South Africa don’t have access to, or are not active on, email, which makes WhatsApp a far more accessible and relevant choice,” said Grobler. South African customers want seamless self-service channels, better information and someone to help them when they get stuck. They also want on-demand support that’s relevant to their needs – and don’t expect them to wait for hours, listen to bad music or get transferred around a call centre. “There is an growing number of business-use cases for introducing self-service options via WhatsApp. People think about chatbots in
isolation, but they can be leveraged through a channel like WhatsApp to field repetitive customer queries. This provides a win-win situation – customers are able to quickly get the answers they need, while contact centres are improving their CX, reducing the cost of service and freeing up their agents to handle more complex queries.” While WhatsApp can be used to send updates on applications, deliveries or other important information through notifications, it also provides an opportunity for enhanced real-time engagement and on-the-spot resolution. Ultimately WhatsApp plays a significant role in creating customer communications that are relevant, accessible and targeted. If incorporated into your entire customer communications strategy, this messenger app allows for deeper control over customer engagement. | IOL TECH Picture: Rachit Tank | Unsplash
Apple’s new SELFIE software Users can be part of a long-distance picture or video IN THE physical distancing times, this may come as a boon for selfie lovers as Apple has won a new patent that would allow users to take long-distance group selfies by staying away from each other. According to the patent application, an Apple device user could invite others to take part in a group selfie and the software would arrange them together in a single image, reports The Verge. The patent describes a window that appears on a user’s screen that prompts him or her to participate in a selfie. The selfie could include still photos, stored video images, or live streaming images and one can also modify the
group image by changing the positions of people in the selfie. It is not clear whether the feature would be available on iPads, iPhones or both. Apple first filed for the patent in 2018 and it was granted recently, said the report. Apple files many patents and only some of its granted patents ever make it to the market. Patents don’t always result in actual products or services. Apple Inc plans to reopen about 100 US stores, mostly with curbside pickup but some with walk-in service, the company said. Apple shuttered stores worldwide
as the coronavirus pandemic spread but has slowly opened them based on local health data. Earlier this month, the company reopened a handful of stores in Alaska, Idaho and Alabama. Under Apple’s new procedures, stores with walk-in services will require customers and employees to undergo temperature checks and wear masks before entering. Physical distancing rules will limit the number of people in the store at one time, which could create delays. Apple plans to allow customers to handle display products, as before. | IANS and Reuters
OLDER GAMES TAUGHT DOCTOR PATIENCE, DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE DR SHAILIN HENRY
MY JOURNEY AS A GAMER
Dr Shailin Henry, an ardent gamer and IOL’s gaming specialist, with his favourite controllers. Picture: Ian Landsberg/African News Agency (ANA)
MY FIRST video game console was purchased in Cape Town, it was a “Golden China”. It was a famiclone of the SNES. I remember countless hours happily playing my 100-in-one game cartridges. Being the youngest of my cousins, I applied myself to gaming. Those of you born in the ‘80s and are reading this will know the dedication it took to complete the games of old, such as Contra or Megaman. These taught me patience, discipline and perseverance. Not like the instant-gratification, handheld games of today. Older games taught us to have pattern recognition, good hand and eye co-ordination, and discipline. Discipline to consistently improve, to overcome the hurdles thrown at us and never give up. To have self-confidence in one’s own abilities and carry that into adult life. Over the years, I had the consistent usual nagging from my parents of how “those games won’t get you anywhere”. But still I continued to game. I felt it was my escape, much
like you reading this, who perhaps read fantasy novels, or build model cars. It is as much a hobby as any other. A few Sonic The Hedgehogs, Quakes, Mortal Kombats, Silent Hills and Tomb Raiders later, I was accepted into medical school. That was about the time that I started online gaming. It seemed to be more than a hobby, it started to become competitive and social. I started building friendships with people around the world. Now that I had a job and didn’t have to skip lunch in order to save money to buy games, my gaming accessories and the quality of my purchases increased. So, all this is great. “But how do you have a job and game at the same time?” I hear you ask. My answer: hand-held consoles. I have fond memories of the fun I had in the uncomfortable, musty “on call rooms” when undertaking a 24-hour shift. Playing Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 portable on the PSP, Pokemon Black on the Nintendo DS, as well as Persona 4 Golden on the PS Vita.
These helped me escape the high stress environment that a young doctor is exposed to on a daily basis. Now we are in 2020, gaming has taken off more than it ever has, it has become what we now call “e-sports”. Pro gamers are worshipped as celebrities on YouTube, Twitch, Mixer and all streaming platforms. There are still those faint glimmers of old-school gaming in game design today. Notable mention goes to the Dark Souls franchise, of which I am a huge fan. I am excited to see what the future of gaming holds. So I do hope that you, reading this article, have a chance in the near future to pick up a controller once again and give it another try. In these uncertain times, it may be just what the doctor ordered. Dr Henry is ranked in the top 1% on the Activision Leaderboards. Check out his latest streams here: https://www.youtube.com/ playlist?list=PLAri42bsIpsxvmB5zi_ S4u8U0qtPdaCLQ
Prepare for the ultimate pop culture virtual festival in Africa
COMIC Con Africa 2020 goes ONLINE AFTER President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the indefinite ban on large gatherings is still in place, the 2020 edition of Comic Con Africa will be cancelled. But, as they say, the show must go on! But how will we still enjoy the convention? Lovers of geek and pop culture can look forward to four days of fun online. On the originally-planned dates of September 24-27,Comic Con Africa aims to break the internet, bringing a virtual Con to fans in their own homes. “Comic Con will share a wealth of exclusive interactive content over the weekend, including many of fans’ favourite elements of a real-life Con. “Live chats, Q&As, panel discussions and the opportunity to virtually meet celebs, fan meet-ups, live draws, talks, gaming tournaments and streams, artist panels, special exclusive exhibitor deals and more. Everything the Con would usually offer will still take place
YASMINE JACOBS
in exciting and unexpected ways,” the organisers said. “During a pandemic expected to peak in September, we simply can’t go ahead with hosting the tens of thousands of fans who attend Comic Con Africa annually,” said Carol Weaving, managing director of organisers Reed Exhibitions Africa. “Despite months of planning, diligent consideration of the state of the pandemic dictates a different way forward.” Comic Con Online hopes to be the ultimate pop culture virtual festival in Africa. “We work hard all year to bring our fans the best in pop culture entertainment and content,” said Carla Massmann, portfolio director for Comic Con. “By taking the Con online we know we’ll never be able to offer quite the same experience as connecting
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and engaging at the actual show, but we also don’t want to stop bringing our fans the fun and entertainment in 2020. “Covid-19 won’t stop the dedicated fandoms and communities Comic Con Africa engages with, so by offering an online Con experience we can not only keep our communities together, but connect more fans and grow, to ensure that our 2021 show is the biggest yet.” For pop culture fans who have bought tickets for Comic Con Africa 2020, organisers have prepared a plan to roll over the existing tickets to 2021, with a price freeze. They may also refund ticket holders who request it. All ticket holders will receive a direct communication from ticketing partner Howler over the next few days, outlining how that will happen. The 2020 ticket sales have closed. One thing is for sure: Comic Con Africa (the physical con) will be back in 2021. | IOL TECH