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Virtual reality is emerging as a revolutionary technology. Albeit most people relate VR to gaming; in reality it is being used in numerous other domains these days. As the applications of VR are increasing, it is bound to create a huge impact in the near future.

Following are some uses of virtual reality:

• Military: VR is used by military forces all across the globe to train soldiers in varied activities like parachute jumps etc. The technology is also used to help them learn to cope up with dangerous & complex environments. VR makes it feasible to simulate the environment and perform without the risk of injury or death. 

• Healthcare: VR is widely being used in healthcare sector for skill training & performing robotic surgeries. Virtual Reality applications enable doctors from across the globe to interact with each other within a virtually interactive environment. VR can also be used for diagnostics to diagnose a condition in conjunction with other methods. 

• Entertainment: VR has made its way to the entertainment industry and is widely being used in virtual museums, discovery centers, virtual theme parks, galleries, theater, interactive performance studios, etc. People wear special glasses which enable them to see 3D objects from different angles. Virtual reality is also an important part of gaming as it adds 3D effects & improves the gaming experience.

• Real Estate: VR technology has also paved its way to real estate sector. It has enabled real estate agents to offer virtual tour of properties to the potential buyers for added convenience of viewing the properties without actually travelling. 

• Business: The business community can use virtual reality to train employees, design the product, offer 360 degree view of the product, etc. It helps in saving costs as well as time. 

• Education: Another field which has adopted virtual reality is education. It has enabled the students residing in different parts of the world to interact with each other in a three dimensional environment. Also, it helps in presenting complex data in a simple way which can be easily understood & learnt by the students.

• Construction: Virtual Reality has revolutionized the construction industry. It can be used to view a structure in 3D and experience how it would look in the real world. This enables the engineers to test a number of factors such as structure & design of the building, time & cost involved, etc. Engineers can also use it for simulated construction to maximize efficiency.

For more information on Virtual Reality and its applications, contact Centex Technologies at (972) 375 - 9654.

In order to thrive in the competitive environment, small businesses need to revolutionize the way they conduct themselves. It can be achieved by making the best use of technology. Let us discuss ways in which technology can help a small business:

• Cloud-Based Services: Small businesses can simplify their operations by opting for online cloud-based services. This will help them in improving productivity while reducing administrative costs. They can also incorporate cloud-based applications in their sales and marketing processes to make them efficient.

• Marketing: Businesses can formulate better marketing strategies as technology enables them to create user friendly portals, communicate with online clients using chatbots, track customer’s buying behavior, promote business on different platforms, reach out to customers through emails or messenger apps, have an effective customer support system, etc. which in turn generates more revenues.

• Accounting: Technology enables businesses to use an online invoicing service. This helps in significantly reducing the cost of collecting payments from customers. Also, businesses can keep a track of their expenses using software and apps specifically designed for this purpose. Technology has also enabled business to pay their taxes online, streamline business finances, share financial information & records online, etc.

• Mobile Working & Telecommuting: Devices like tablets, smartphones or laptops have enabled professionals to stay in contact with their customers, no matter where they go. This way they can interact with the customers and solve their queries as & when they arise.

• RFID: It is a technology that enables businesses to capture the digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels using a reader via radio waves. The technology is used to track mass objects and helps in saving time & effort.

• Communication: If communication costs form a large part of your monthly expenses, then resort to online communication methods like VOIP. Online communication solutions are highly functional and help in cutting communication costs.

• Better Customer Service: Technology has enabled businesses to have interactive websites, 24/7 customer service, online chat support etc. through which they can always stay in touch with their customers. This has helped in increasing customer satisfaction as their requests are attended at the earliest.

Businesses in every industry are benefiting from the use of technology as it has made business processes easier for the staff as well as made customer interaction hassle free.

Centex Technologies is an IT consulting firm providing technical assistance to businesses around the globe. It also offers myriad of other services like website designing, website development, search engine optimization, software development etc. For more information, call at (972) 375 - 9654.

Touch screen technology is known to have been invented in 1965, however the extensive use of the technology began with the commercial growth of computer industry. With rising craze of touchscreen, market for touchscreen gadgets such as phones, laptops, tablets etc. has significantly grown in the last decade.

Touchscreen is like an invisible keyboard; so when you press a key, it completes an electrical circuit through which the current flows. The variation in current from different keys is detected by the processor to differentiate and understand different commands.

Normally, layered on the top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system, it is an input device through which the user can control information with the help of a stylus or by merely using their fingers.

How Do They Work?

There are different kinds of screens, each of which works in a different way. Let us discuss them in detail:

• Resistive Screen – One of the most popular technology at the time, resistive touchscreens comprise of a normal glass panel covered with a conductive and a resistive layer. The layers are kept apart by spacers along with a scratch resistant layer placed on top. The upper layer comprises of polyester plastic which is bonded to a rigid lower glass layer. When a user touches the screen, the two layers make a contact in that exact spot. An electrical current runs between the two layers and as the polyester layer touches the glass, it completes the circuit like any other key on the keyboard. A chip is placed inside the screen which detects the coordinates of the point of contact between the layers and translates it into signals that are used by the device to understand and translate the command.

• Capacitive Screen – The screen constitutes multiple layers of glass. Both inner and outer layer conduct electrical charge. Thus, the screens behave like two electrical conductors separated by an insulator or capacitor. When the user touches the screen with his finger, , the electrical field of the outer layer is altered and the alteration point is detected by sensors placed on the four corners of the screen. The alteration point acts as One distinctive feature of capacitive screens is that they can be touched in more than one place at once.

• Infrared Screen – An infrared touch screen is characterized by a grid pattern of LEDs and light detector photo cells arranged on opposite sides of the screen. The LEDs shine infrared light in front of screen and specific beams are interrupted when you touch the screen at a certain point. This helps the sensors in detecting the exact location of the touch.

For more information about gadgets and devices, contact Centex Technologies at (972) 375 - 9654.

What is Wearable Technology?

It is an umbrella term used for all types of electronic devices that can be used as a material in clothing or worn directly as an accessory to record or provide access to specific user data. These devices are further capable of connecting to the internet and enable data sharing between network and the device. Data sharing has brought Wearable Technology to the forefront of Internet of Things (IoT).

Today, Wearable Technology has expanded its wings to a spectrum of types such as Implantable, Smartwatches, Smart Jewelry, Fitness Trackers, Smart Clothing, Smart Shoes and Head-Mounted Displays, to name a few. Increased scope of Wearable Technology has paved way for an array of advantages. The advantages span from offering easy connectivity to enhanced health and fitness tracking.

Here are some major advantages of Wearable Technology:

Fitness: Fitness bands, watches or fitness socks record data related to diet, physical activity, heart-rate, calories burnt etc. Companion fitness apps encourage the users to make healthy diet choices by providing information about content and nutritional impact of diet. These apps also offer personal benchmarks as well as challenges among the app users to encourage physical activity.

Health: People are more engaged in their own healthcare, if they can monitor themselves. Wearable Technology fills this gap. The bio-sensors allow people to keep a tab on their blood pressure, blood sugar levels, pulse rate etc. They help in adapting a proactive approach towards health issues to counter the problems at an early stage. Data can be used to detect emergencies and devices can be set to notify healthcare professionals and family members.

Lifestyle: Many high-end lifestyle brands have partnered with technology developers to launch trendy wearable devices like watches, jewelry, glasses or head-gear. These devices are equipped with LED screens to assist in calling, messaging, checking emails, recordings and camera functions. Devices like smart watch grant the freedom to set GPS navigation without stealing a look at your smartphone time and again, while driving. Some devices are capable of recording concentration and stress levels of the user.

Safety and Security: Functions of Wearable Technology have added security benefits. On-the-go GPS navigation and calling facility without accessing your phone can be a boon in tricky situations. Watches with GPS/WiFi positioning and worldwide connectivity offer location tracking of children. The devices can also be used to send an SOS alert to the family in a discreet manner. Some devices are capable of detecting any force applied to the user and automatically connect with the smartphone to turn on location detection and recording mode.

For more information, contact Centex Technologies at (972) 375 - 9654.

Our world has witnessed a revolution brought by the ever evolving technology. From smartphones, smartwatches and other such equipment, the market today is full of tech- savvy products we could have never even dreamt of. However, with each passing day the reports of increasing cyberattacks is taking over the world by storm. As per a study by Juniper Research, cybercrimes shall cost businesses over $2 trillion by 2019.

Modern technology has not been able to combat cyberattacks completely as such attacks are consistent with the growth of technology. Whenever a new technology is launched to overcome a cyber threat, attackers too come up with a new virus or ransomware to counterfeit it. Here are some ways in which evolving technology affects cybersecurity –

• IoT – Internet of Things is a prevalent concept that has made its way into our lives. However, it stands the risk of cyberattacks. If the security measures are weak then it may allow hackers to gain access to the entire network. Attackers might hack the software within the device or apps interface. This might impact the functionality of the device.

• Artificial Intelligence – AI technology being used by numerous businesses working in various sectors today. However, it poses a serious cyber threat. It automates the discovery of critical software bugs. Hackers might use this to attack insecure networks. It can also be used to launch a social engineering attack by using a Facebook style algorithm to lure users to click on a malicious link that might infect their system with virus. 

• 5G Technology – While we are on the brink of welcoming 5G, cybersecurity is still a question. With increased data speed, hackers will able to regulate malicious activities easily as the number of connected devices is quite high. Data piracy would be a serious issue as cybercriminals will be able to upload online content rapidly.

• Social Media Breaches – Social media has enabled people to connect with their friends and family residing all across the globe. However, people post even minutest details such as the places they check-in, personal information such as mobile number, address etc. on their social media accounts thus giving hackers a sneak peek into their lives.

• Mobile Security Breaches – Smartphones are the new cool, but with it there has been a rise in mobile security threats. From mobile phishing, ad and click fraud, dead apps etc. mobile security threats are something that technological growth has brought along.

• Digital Information – Everything is computerized today and most information is stored on a shared network. Even though it is secured with passwords it is not really difficult for hackers to gain access to valuable business information.

• Cloud Computing – More & more firms are shifting to cloud as it is a convenient method of saving & storing information. However, they must take stringent precautions to protect the information stored on cloud or else it might be misused by hackers thus leaving the company information vulnerable.

For more information, contact Centex Technologies at (972) 375 - 9654.