Google’s Project Gameface: Revolutionizing Gaming Accessibility with Facial Gestures and Head Movements

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May 16, 2023

Google has announced an exciting new project called Project Gameface, aimed at improving accessibility in PC gaming. The new tool uses facial gestures and head movements to replace traditional physical controllers. This will greatly help folks who have trouble playing their favourite games using a mouse or gamepad.

As PC gaming continues to expand worldwide, many users find that traditional gaming peripherals do not meet their needs. For instance, some people have difficulty naturally using a keyboard and mouse. To address this issue, Google has developed a new tool that relies solely on facial movements.

Project Gameface uses standard webcams without facial recognition hardware to detect facial gestures and head movements. The tool then translates these movements into cursor movements on the user’s computer. This new tool was co-created by Lance Carr, who has muscular dystrophy that makes fundamental muscle tasks impossible. Carr had to use specialized gear to play games that fit his condition.

To develop this technology, Google created a tool to detect 468 points on a user’s face using the company’s open-source machine learning library, MediaPipe. These dynamic points allow the software to detect and distinguish between basic facial gestures and dramatic movements. The user can assign different actions to each facial expression using this program. For example, assigning a smiling face to a left mouse click and raising the left eyebrow to a right mouse click is possible. The tool can be tuned according to the user’s preferences, so they can set their comfort zone.

Project Gameface is still in the works and can potentially serve many people in the future. The project is now open source and can be downloaded from GitHub. Hopefully, this tool will be realized soon, and other projects derived from it will be born. This new tool is a great step toward making PC gaming more inclusive for all users.

Former TikTok Executive Files Lawsuit Alleging Company Stole User Content from Other Platforms

By

Adwaith

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May 16, 2023

India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok and UC Browser

Former TikTok executive Yintao Yu has filed a lawsuit against ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, alleging that the company engaged in a “global scheme to steal other people’s content for profit” without permission.

Yu was the head of engineering at ByteDance before being fired in November 2018. He alleges he was fired after informing top management that the company was taking user information from sites like Instagram and Snapchat. The allegations date back to five years ago, but they are likely to fuel more scrutiny of TikTok, which faces the prospect of a nationwide ban in the United States due to growing concerns about national security and data privacy.

Yu’s lawsuit also claims that ByteDance had a “special unit of Chinese Communist Party members” who “led how the company advanced its core communist values.” It further alleges that ByteDance employees manipulated China’s version of TikTok, Douyin, to suppress content about protests in Hong Kong and promote content expressing hatred of Japan. Additionally, Yu speculates that ByteDance created fake users to boost metrics and serve as a useful propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The lawsuit is a significant blow to TikTok, which has been under intense scrutiny from US officials and lawmakers over concerns about national security and data privacy. The Biden administration has demanded that ByteDance sell its stake in TikTok or face a potential nationwide ban. The administration has expressed concerns that the Chinese app poses a national security threat, and with TikTok having more than 100 million US users, the administration has decided that the app’s user data is not secure in China.

In the past, the use of TikTok on government-issued mobile devices has already been banned in the United States. Still, this incident is the first to mention the possibility of a nationwide ban, which could have severe consequences for TikTok’s future in the United States.

Yu’s lawsuit is just the latest example of the growing concern over TikTok’s practices. For now, it remains to be seen how the lawsuit will play out in court and what impact it will have on TikTok’s operations in the United States.

Oppo to Shut Down Chip Design Business Zeku Due to Weakening Mobile Industry

By

Adwaith

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May 16, 2023

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has decided to shut down its chip design business, Zeku, according to a Bloomberg report. The company founded Zeku in 2019 to design various smartphone components, such as the MariSilicon X image processing chip found in its flagship phones. However, declining demand for smartphones has forced Oppo to rely on more commodity hardware going forward.

The shutdown of Zeku will lead to downsizing at Oppo and affect employees who have worked in locations as diverse as Shanghai, Xi’ an Beijing and Chengdu. The exact number of job cuts has not been disclosed.

Oppo’s decision to close Zeku comes amid a challenging period for the global economy and the mobile industry. According to IDC data, Oppo appears to be struggling year-over-year in smartphone shipments. In the first quarter, only 27.4 million units were shipped, compared to 29.3 million units in the same period last year. Smartphone inventories are piling up as people refrain from spending extravagantly to cover rising mortgages, rent, and food costs.

Oppo’s intention with Zeku was to design its own hardware to separate its smartphones from the competition. However, with the current market scenario, the company must rely on more common components to manufacture its devices. This move could significantly impact the company’s future product strategy.

The shutdown of Zeku highlights the challenges that even established companies such as Oppo are facing in a volatile market. The ongoing pandemic has hit the mobile industry hard, and the demand for high-end smartphones has slowed down. Companies such as Oppo are facing rising borrowing costs and must closely monitor their expenses.

While the company’s downsizing is unfortunate for its employees, it is a necessary step for Oppo to stay competitive and adapt to the changing market conditions.

Millions of Mobile Devices are Shipped with Malware Directly from the Factories, Warns Trend Micro

By

Bhasker Das

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May 15, 2023

Trend Micro experts have issued a warning stating that millions of smartphones — primarily low-cost Android devices, smart TVs, smartwatches, and other gadgets, are shipped with malware in the firmware directly from the factories.

According to researchers, the number of infected devices is measured in millions, most in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Installing malicious code into the firmware of mobile devices is comparable to introducing an infection into the root of a tree that spreads throughout the trunk, down to the last branch and leaf.

The introduction of malware into mobile devices began when prices for firmware for mobile phones collapsed. The competition became so fierce that, at some point, the firmware was offered for free, leading to the practice of installing so-called silent plug-ins. Trend Micro experts analyzed dozens of firmware samples for malicious code and found more than 80 such plug-ins, some sold through closed channels, while others sold openly through social networks and blogs.

Malicious software allows attackers to intercept SMS messages, hack into social networks and instant messengers, and monetize through ads and click fraud schemes. The attackers access data about keystrokes on devices, users’ geographic locations, IP addresses, and other information. Sometimes devices become proxy servers and exit nodes leased for up to 1200 seconds.

The report’s authors did not directly indicate the source of the threat but invited the audience to think about where most OEMs are located and draw conclusions. Malware has been found on the devices of at least 10 vendors, and about 40 more are at risk. The number of infected devices is increasing rapidly, and researchers characterize it as a “growing problem for ordinary users and enterprises.”

To protect against the threat, it is recommended to stick to the products of large brands, although it is not a guarantee of safety. Users should also be cautious about purchasing low-cost mobile devices from unknown or small brands and vendors. Regular firmware updates and the installation of anti-malware software can provide additional protection against this growing threat.

IBM Unveils End-to-End Quantum-Safe Technology for Post-Quantum Era

By

Adwaith

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May 15, 2023

The emergence of quantum computers poses a significant threat to data security since the cryptographic algorithms used today could be broken by quantum computers.

IBM announced its end-to-end quantum-safe technology at its annual Think conference in Orlando, Florida. The suite of tools and features is designed to help clients prepare for the post-quantum era. It includes quantum-secure cryptography that uses algorithms like lattice-based cryptography and hash-based cryptography, as well as post-quantum key exchange protocols.

The IBM Quantum Safe Explorer can scan source and object code to identify crypto assets, dependencies, and vulnerabilities to build a Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM). This allows teams to view and aggregate potential risks in one central location. The IBM Quantum Safe Advisor creates a dynamic view of the client’s crypto inventory to guide remediation, analyze their crypto posture and compliance, and prioritize risk. The IBM Quantum Safe Remediator enables the deployment and testing of quantum-safe remediation patterns based on best practices, understanding potential impacts on systems and assets in preparation for the deployment of quantum-safe solutions.

IBM has been working on quantum-secure cryptography for over a decade and has contributed to the development of many of the algorithms that are now considered quantum-secure. IBM Quantum Safe is not just a theoretical concept but a practical solution tested and validated in real-world scenarios. The suite of features is especially important for government agencies and businesses that handle their most valuable and sensitive data. In the post-quantum world, this data could be compromised if not protected by quantum-safety techniques.

IBM Quantum Safe also offers organizations a way to future-proof their security and ensure their data remains safe in the face of quantum computing advances. IBM is also announcing the IBM Quantum Safe Roadmap to understand and support this security transition. It is IBM’s first blueprint for technology milestones toward increasingly sophisticated quantum-secure technologies, enabling organizations to meet anticipated cryptographic standards and requirements through cryptographic agility and to avoid emerging vulnerabilities.

With IBM’s deep security expertise and commitment to developing practical solutions, IBM Quantum Safe has the potential to become the gold standard in quantum safety technology. The suite of features offers a practical solution to protect sensitive data in the post-quantum world. Organizations can rest assured that their data is safe even with the spread of quantum computers.

Epic Games Releases Unreal Engine 5.2 with Major Upgrades and Native Support for Apple M1 and M2 Chips

By

Avinash A

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May 15, 2023

Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.2, which comes packed with many exciting features and improvements. The new engine boasts an updated anti-freeze system, new lighting features, and the Nanite geometry virtualization system, among other improvements.

One major upgrade in Unreal Engine 5.2 is the experimental PSO pre-cache system that reduces freezes in DirectX 12 games. The system has been enhanced to improve performance and stability and now supports skipping the rendering of objects. Epic has also improved the Nanite geometry virtualization system, enabling support for custom depth and stencils, lighting channels, and a global clipping plane.

Another significant feature of Unreal Engine 5.2 is Lumen, which improves global illumination and occlusions for subtle geometry. The engine now supports high-quality translucency reflections for material roughness and uses asynchronous calculations for consoles by default. Hardware ray tracing is also enhanced to support two-sided foliage and approximate secondary bounces for better reflections.

Unreal Engine 5.2 has also introduced new tools, such as the Procedural Content Generation (PCG) framework, which will be useful for quickly populating large areas or even entire worlds after defining rules and parameters. Substrate, an experimental tool, is another exciting feature that allows developers to control the appearance of elements in real time.

Perhaps most notably, the new version of the Unreal Engine now natively supports Apple M1 and M2 chips, eliminating the need for a code converter called Rosetta that was previously required. With full compatibility with Apple ARM chips, developers can now leverage the full power of these processors without losing performance-to-code conversion.

The update also includes new tools for creating virtual content, and the full list of changes can be found on the official Unreal Engine website. Despite the delay in implementing native support for Apple’s chips, Epic Games has finally resolved the issue and delivered a robust update to their flagship engine. Overall, Unreal Engine 5.2 is set to revolutionize the gaming industry with its exciting new features and enhanced capabilities.

Italy Launches Antitrust Investigation into Apple’s Restrictive Policies on Third-Party Developers

By

Adwaith

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May 15, 2023

Italy’s antitrust agency, AGCM, has opened an investigation into Apple, alleging that the tech giant’s restrictive policies harm third-party developers. This move comes after similar investigations were launched in Australia and South Korea.

The root of the problem is Apple’s privacy regulations for third-party apps. Apple has implemented stricter rules for third-party developers compared to its apps. This has disadvantaged third-party developers, as they cannot obtain the same level of private data as Apple.

The usage of tracking IDs for personalized ads is one of the major causes of dispute. Previously, app developers were allowed to use anonymized tracking IDs to sell personalized ads within their apps, earning them more than standard ads. However, with the introduction of App Tracking Transparency, users now have to explicitly permit tracking, and most users decline. This has significantly reduced third-party developers’ capacity to offer personalized ads.

The problem is that Apple’s apps can use tracking IDs without permission, giving them access to valuable data that third-party developers don’t have. This has led to accusations that Apple is using its dominant position to unfairly advantage its apps over third-party apps.

AGCM’s investigation is focused on whether Apple is providing enough data to third-party developers about the success of their advertising campaigns. This case may be interpreted as an attempt to keep competitors out of the App Store, benefiting Apple’s apps.

Apple may face fines of up to 10% of its yearly revenue if it is found to have violated antitrust rules. Which is a considerable sum of money, and it’s evident that Apple’s antitrust siege is tightening.

In addition to the investigation by AGCM, the European Union authorities have also stepped up their investigation into Apple. They are looking into claims that Apple has severely restricted the use of NFC chips in iPhones with Apple Pay, making it impossible for third-party companies to enter the mobile payments market.

Finally, the US Justice Department is also investigating Apple to determine whether its App Store rules are against competitors. This is an escalation of an ongoing antitrust investigation, showing that Apple is under intense scrutiny from regulators worldwide.

Google and Taito Partner to Bring Space Invaders to AR: Space Invaders World Defense

By

Vishak

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May 14, 2023

Fans of the classic retro game Space Invaders will soon be able to play an augmented reality version of the game, thanks to a partnership between Google and Taito. The AR version of the game, titled “Space Invaders: World Defense,” was announced at the Google I/O conference and will be released this summer.

The game uses Google’s augmented reality toolkit ARCore and the Geospatial Creator production tool to bring the classic game to life in the real world. The gameplay will feature giant dot-painted invaders attacking the real world, and players will operate a state-of-the-art spaceship to protect the planet.

The game’s website promises an “epic adventure” using the latest AR technology and Google’s Geospatial Creator, allowing for an immersive real-world experience. The game’s modes and settings are yet to be revealed.

The partnership between Google and Taito shows the potential of combining classic retro games with modern AR technology to create new gaming experiences. The game’s release this summer will surely generate excitement and nostalgia among fans of the classic game.

Overall, Space Invaders: World Defense is a great example of how AR technology can create immersive experiences for gamers in the real world. The game’s release will undoubtedly bring back fond memories for longtime fans of the classic retro game while also introducing a new generation to the fun and excitement of Space Invaders.