What technologies have helped businesses in 2018

Each year, the authoritative edition of MIT Technology Review published the shortlistBREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES 10 2018 the major technological breakthroughs of the coming year. the list of heroes strong lead in online discussions, newspaper column and futuristic news. However, rapidly leave the laboratory and get into successful start-ups are destined not for everyone.

Among last year's finalists included artificial embryos, sensory city convolutional generative controversial network deep learning (phew!), headphones and interpreters, non-carbon natural gas, predictive genetics and quantum a computer. We chose the three areas from the list of MIT and added one more from himself. I get a list of technologies that in 2018 really good show themselves.

3D-press metal

Sometimes it seems that the 3D-press - like love: all talk about it, but almost nobody met. Reasons standard: expensive, long time, it is not clear. Printing on metal and that more specific: metallurgy has traditionally been associated with large-scale production.

Almost a year ago, Markforged market cheered the release of the first 3D-printer that works with the metal for 100 thousand dollars. Reduce the cost of the production process has helped the software using artificial intelligence. Metal parts that the printer is printing, steel and lighter, and more durable, and more complex form.

Another major manufacturer of 3D-printers such company Desktop MetalAt the end of 2018 he announced the release of two decisions: Studio System + and Studio Fleet. They are, in fact, constitute "office options» 3D-printer for small-scale productions.

Here is the "office version» 3D-printer printing metal. Three large drawers - is the printer itself, and two graceful stove

Artificial Intelligence in the cloud and analytics for business

Until recently artificial Intelligence there seemed only among the giant conglomerates like Amazon, Google, Microsoft. A matter of money and other resources. The introduction of AI solutions requires significant spending on infrastructure, able to collect and process large amounts of data. Simply put, businesses require powerful hardware, but it is yet requires significant financial investments.

The process of "cheapening" of artificial intelligence goes in several directions. The first is connected with the data: the more they become, so, oddly enough, is cheaper, they are mined. With the fact that we voluntarily leave exabytes (that's a lot) of data on the Internet by logging on social networks and video on pouring hosting everything seems to be resigned. However, this is not the only available source.

For instance, surveillance systems, common everywhere, generate more traffic than YouTube.

Surveillance cameras - is the "eyes" of artificial intelligence. By themselves, they (and human) are not able to analyze what he saw - to analyze the need brain, in the case of AI - neural network. And thanks to the development of cloud computing services and the opportunity to place the "brain" in the cloud, that is in a remote data center.

When a business decides to contact the provider of cloud services, the latter takes over the lion's share of the costs to equipment and data centers, providing the customer with the so-called packaged solutions (payment, download the application, connected service). The quantity and quality of cloud services in 2018 reached its peak, so deep learning, computer vision, video analytics and other areas related to AI, he was truly breakthrough.

Video analytics helps, in particular, chain stores, for example, to fix and prevent the queue to determine when items in stock on the shelves, to record violations of cash transactions. The required software is loaded into the cloud, the camera is connected to it and a signal if something is wrong. Availability cloud services increases, so the service becomes available and a supermarket, coffee shop and a network, and a small pharmacy.

Face Detection

One of the most "haypovyh" passing year technology by inertia continues to be associated with government control, Big Brother and Spyware thrillers.

Nevertheless pilot facial recognition technology in late 2017 launchedAs facial recognition technology helps businesses and intelligence agencies [ the largest Russian retailers X5 Retail Group, «Dixie" and even standing alone "Vkusvill". And in 2018 they were joined by, for example, the pharmacy "Asna". World cases even clearer: Hotel Mariott and Alibaba Group in July 2018 launched the registration service offers based on facial recognition.

Business uses facial recognition not only to track the thieves, but also to improve customer loyalty with regular guests can greet by name and offer bonuses.

Blokcheyn and security of personal data

In the media blokcheyn He has earned a reputation for technology which can be deployed almost anywhere. Nevertheless, we have to admit that up SMEs distributed database will reach not so soon. But blokcheyn-oriented solutions on the protection of intellectual property are developing quite successfully, and to businesses in the creative industry, for example, is very important. example - Binded, Blokcheyn service to fix the copyright holder of the image.

Blokcheyn promising for educational projects: MIT students (MIT) receivedDigital Diploma debuts at MIT official diplomas directly on their smartphones through Blockcerts Wallet More blokcheyn application in 2017. Digital certificates and certificates registered in Blockcerts, Protected from unauthorized access and thus are available for sharing.

Sister branch blokcheyn-making regarding the development of verified portfolio for creative professionals. The first experiments with lists of career achievements and case studies on blokcheyne, for example, IndorseTraditionally focused on programmers. A journal Ledger Journal It uses digital signatures and timestamps on blokcheyne for scientific publications.