Blog Category: Others

“Make good things together” was the first thing flashing on the screens at Google I/O 2018 developer conference.

Google I/O 2018 developer conference being the biggest event of the year kicked things off with jam-packed news. In spite of tight competition, Google has set its sight on becoming the world’s biggest artificial intelligence company, and CEO Sundar Pichai proved that at the conference.

He outlined its idea about the software plans for the coming year and aspects of Artificial Intelligence included in it.  During its I/O keynote, Google demonstrated the subsequent version of its Android operating system,

talked about the revamped Google’s news, and added features of personal assistant to it. Moreover, the company focused on making development easy and fast, helping developers to increase engagement and building the apps smaller in size.

Here’s a rundown of just about important things Google announced at the keynote:

Android Jetpack – Unified toolkit for Android developers

Android Jetpack is the next generation of Android components and Android support library that helps in managing things like background tasks, navigation, paging, and life-cycle management. Jetpack is divided into 4 components

• Foundation: Includes core system capabilities like app compat, Android KTX, Multidex, Test
• Architecture: Helps to search for the module that can further manage life-cycle, paging, navigation, data binding, work manager
• Behavior: Includes the module such as notification, permission, download manager
• UI: Contains UI-focused components like fragment and layout

Android developers can download Android Studio 3.2 or higher and start using Activity & Fragment + ViewModel template to include Jetpack in android app development

1. ML Kit to bring Machine learning to AI

ML Kit brings Google machine learning expertise to mobile developers in a powerful and easy-to-use package. It consists of API that will help Android developers to include image labeling, text recognition, face detection, barcode scanning, landmark detection, and many more.

The best thing is, it is available on both online and offline platforms and can be accessed in real-time. Developers can use API with little prior knowledge of machine learning and can be used on both iOS and Android platforms.

2. Introduced Android app bundle

Google introduced an Android app bundle that makes the app radically smaller. It enables users to install apps quickly and save space on their devices by downloading the code and resources required to run your app.

A developer can put everything needed for an app to run on multiple architectures and in multiple languages into the console and create bundles that contain only the files particular for user needs.

3. Koltin Performance improvements

Koltin is improving and this conference majorly focused on further enhancements. It has a collection of modules that contains extensions that optimizes the Android platform. Tooling continues to improve with Android Studio, Lint support, R8 optimizations, and Android runtime in Android P to build apps faster.

Using these extensions, developers can make minor improvements in the code. Koltin code snippet is available in the official documentation which is a great resource for developers who are new to Koltin.

4. Slices to increase engagement

Slices enable the user to interact with the apps that are already installed and provide users with a mini snippet of an app when searched in Google search and Google Assistant. Google has developed a new API that enables to the placement of snippets of the installed apps in Google search, Notification bar, etc.

This helps the users to get something done quickly and easily. For instance, if a user types “I want to book a ride” in a search box, they will see the mini version of the app over there without having to open the main app.

5. Android Instant apps to build apps with ease

Google launched a public SDK that is available to everyone for developing instant apps. Google has also built support for this feature into the new Android Studio and IDE enables the developers to modularize apps with ease.

For developing instant apps, they need to do is modularize the app properly on the basis of isolated features which can refrain them from creating a new app or maintaining a separate codebase. An official in-depth guide with code samples is available from Google that enables developers to build apps anytime

6. Android P is getting personal

Android P will also bring some new APIs which will let developers know how long the app is in use and how it’s used and can also advise them to put the phone down if it is a long time use. On Android P, device manufacturers will implement things like iris scanning through secure elements on the hardware easily. Moreover, UI elements, notifications, and assistants will look extravagant on Android P.

Other “AI” Announcements Made in Google I/O 2018

1. Google Assistant

Google came up with a new update in their Google Assistant service to create to-and-fro interaction with users. These include:-

• Six new voices, both male and female
• Continued Routines that enable users to design and activate with a preset phrase
• Continued Conversations that enables users to ask follow-up queries without tapping “Hey Google” for the second time
• A feature called “pretty please” aims to teach better manners to kids

This new service in Google Assistant just got better and more convenient for users. It aims to become completely realistic and simple for new and old Android users.

2. Google Photos

Google added new features to Google photos many of which are based on Artificial intelligence. The app will enable users to do things like colorize old black-white photos, fix the brightness of under-exposed photos,

and “pop color”, which colors the subject of the photo and sets the background to grayscale. Moreover, the app will also recognize when users are in the photos and will enable quick sharing with the tap of a button.

3. Google News

Google is putting emphasis on artificial intelligence for the new version of Google news. When app is opened, the user will see new headlines, local news, and more, and would offer a “full coverage”

section that will allow the user to see multiple stories from different sources. Users will be able to subscribe to content in an easier way without having to put in credit card information.

4. Gmail

Gmail will be able to write emails for users with only a few keystrokes. It will have a Smart Compose feature and would recommend phrases for the users when they start typing them, pulling from huge emailing history.

The feature will operate in the background and when the user types, grayed-out pops up will be recommended; the user needs to hit the tab button and suggestions will become a part of your mail.

Conclusion

Google I/O 2018, is all about Digital well-being! Understanding user preferences, Google focused on machine learning algorithms to do day-to-day tasks. The app development ecosystem will become flexible, adaptive, and quick;

however, mobile app development companies need to pace up with the evolving technologies for adapting to the changes being made on the technology front.

Blockchain technology is an answer to the question that, we have been asking since the dawn of the internet age –

“How can you trust everything that is happening online?”

Blockchain technology has popularly become buzz not only in the financial industry but also across other verticals ever since Satoshi Nakamoto published his invention in 2009.

What Problem Blockchain Can Solve?

Today, World Wide Web is no longer a place of content but a revolutionized place for interaction. We shop online, share or exchange information back and forth, and much more; but is everything that we do secured and error-free?

Databases merely cannot chat with each other; it needs fault-prone human administration or central authority to run every node. On the other hand, Blockchain technology is a decentralized database, shared by multiple users without any third party.

Blockchain records everything that happens on the internet – every digital transaction, exchange of goods & services, private data, etc. Data is encrypted into blocks that never get modified and get scattered into pieces across a worldwide network of distributed nodes.

And due to this:

• Electronic ledgers can become much cheap than traditional account systems as the number of head-counts can be reduced
• Distributed ledger system results in fewer errors and eliminates repetitive steps
• Minimize the processing delays so no risk of pending transactions

Let’s See More about How Blockchain is Used in Different Verticals:

• Internet-of-Things

IoT is integrated with sensors in the objects like vehicles, embedded electronics, and many more to communicate with the outside world, typically over an IP protocol.

IoT, when combined with Blockchain technology, will help to track the history of every device; it records a ledger of data between the devices, web services, and human users.

The connected vehicles enable the car or truck to behave as a super-giant smart app and with Blockchain, it will enable this device to be tracked on the digital ledger, providing inter-vehicle communication, automatic tracking of fleet insurance policies, vehicle registration renewals, etc.

Example: IBM and Samsung have teamed up for the concept of Autonomous Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Telemetry (ADEPT), which uses Blockchain for secure transactions. ADEPT would act as a public ledger, which eliminates the need for a central hub, operated at a low cost, and communicate autonomously to update bugs.

• Voting

What if technology allowed for a more secure and streamlined voting process during elections?

As per today’s voting scenario, when a voter submits a vote, it is passed through a publicly accessible vote forwarding server to the vote storage server where the data is encrypted and stored online until the voting period is over. Then the vote that carries all identifying information is cleaned and transferred to the vote-counting server which is disconnected from all networks. At every stage, the process is logged and audited.

But, what if malware is present on the client-side machine?  It can monitor the vote placed by users and later change votes with a different candidate.  Blockchain technology can be used for tracking and counting votes so that the question of voter fraud, lost records, or foul play never arises. Moreover, it can also verify that no votes get changed or removed, and no illegitimate vote gets added.

Example: In 2014, Liberal Alliance, a political party in Denmark, became the first organization to use Blockchain technology for secured and verifiable electronic voting in order to safeguard electoral integrity and encourage the public’s trust in their use.

• Digital Identity

Digital identity is very crucial in the digital world for many businesses as it provides ways to interact with billions of users in digital world.

How many login IDs and passwords do you have? Corresponding to the number of ids, your identities are fragmented and duplicated across the digital world, making them difficult to link together and the risk of being stolen, faked, lost, or altered occurs no matter how much security they are.

Blockchain technology empowers consumers to control their own identity and share between trusted entities with their consent. Blockchain ID is a single ID that can replace all other IDs enabling it to be the same everywhere and anywhere.

It can track and manage digital identities in a secure and efficient way, resulting in seamless sign-in and reduced fraud. With this, you can receive better service as all your information is integrated and consistent everywhere.

Example: IBM was the first company to study and test Blockchain technology to solve identity-related issues. They are working on creating a new digital identity and attribute-sharing network to make it easier for users to verify their data in a privacy-enhanced, secure and efficient way.

• Decentralized cloud storage

Cloud Storage enables the users to access the files from any location via the internet and is centralized which means you are giving control of your digital assets.

For instance: you are using Google Drive for storing your data on a cloud server. When you upload, Google saves it on its data center and when you want to access it, your computer sends the request to that data center and you are all done to access it.  But using such giant server farms involves risk.

It can be expensive, needs to have a controlled temperature, must be updated and maintained rigorously, and can have a high environmental impact. Although, Google provides rigorous safety, no matter how careful you are when humans interact with the system it leads to the human-error, privacy danger, and more.

Google already have stated in their privacy policy that they can legally access and share your data, large companies can look for encrypted files, and much more.

But, Blockchain, enables decentralized cloud storage which offers the facilities of safe, fast, and cost-effective cloud storage. Your data (what happened, who accessed it, how it was processed) can be verified by anyone who has the access to the Blockchain.

It has a time-stamped facility that freezes the computing platform time and cloud users can verify that the platform is in the correct state in real time. Such a system helps in giving complete traceability, accountability, and transparency for cloud storage.

Example: Storj Labs uses Blockchain technology to create a decentralized cloud system using open-source software to provide security, privacy, and transparency.

• Supply-Chain Communication

Most of the products that we purchase are not made from a single resource but from a chain of suppliers involved in that product. The supply chain industry is a complex process (varying with the size of the business and the number of items manufactured) and depends on multiple suppliers to deliver different elements.

This may result in a lack of accountability, transparency, lack of monitoring between supply chains. If any component fails in between the process, it results in affecting the final product.

By using Blockchain technology, it holds the record of digital transactions in such a way that it makes them accessible and visible to multiple suppliers in the network while keeping them safe and secure.

The digitally shared ledger is updated and authenticated with every transaction, resulting in a secure and permanent record exchange. The result is faster, more reliable, and auditable for B2B interactions between resources like buyers, sellers, and logistics providers.

Example: IBM announced that it is collaborating with key food producers and distributors Nestle and Walmart to reduce contamination in the global food supply chain. They intend to use Blockchain technology to create a “trusted environment for transactions”.

• Healthcare

Blockchain technology can allow hospitals, pharmacies, and other entities in a chain to share access with their networks without compromising data security and integrity. Prescriptions can be written electronically and every doctor in the network can see everything about medications and act accordingly.  Every healthcare provider will have an immediate view of the patient’s current medication ensuring accuracy and loyalty.

Example: SimplyVital Health is using Blockchain technology to give the healthcare industry a facelift. The company is using the Blockchain-based data storage and analytics platform with the goal to streamline medical data sharing and storage.

The Bottom line:

Blockchain technology is here to stay; creating a connected world by driving more and more values and transforming the way how our society functions. While the above applications do sound promising, a business would need a software development company to convert its ideas into reality.

So, are any thoughts whirling in your mind? Connect with us today!

As fast fashion has become a specific norm in the industry, it is difficult to get your products to the market quickly– quicker than the competition. However, in the global fashion market, getting all the things done on time is a mere nightmare.

Every day professionals have to deal with time and commitments to get the tasks done; however, some retailers can manage complex tech pack processes through the spreadsheet alone (once a garment is designed, its specification are stored in several spreadsheets, and design documents by creating a large folder of the one garment which is then emailed to the supplier) which leads to the risk of human error.

From technical designers – product developers – production managers to suppliers where no one is in the loop ends up with simple design flaws become big problems on both the technical and fiscal end.

The problematic questions that are likely to be raised are:-

• What sort of documentation should be crafted?
• How to communicate with all suppliers?
• What would you give to the pattern maker?
• What is returned to you? How much time it will take?

The trials and tribulations are plenty!!! Finding the right factory and communicating properly with them to make the right product is not something that you can just wing.

Factors that Prevent Efficient Operations in Tech Pack Without a System

• Lack of centralized data: Manual processes are prone to human error and data is not centralized or standardized. Hence document proof is difficult to achieve
• Version Control: Completed design passes through various milestones before the masterpiece is created. Managing this in a spreadsheet complicates the entire process.
• Compliance issues: Garment designs comprise different colors, sizes, and dimensional characteristics, which means that the margin for error is especially high – particularly if all these issues are accounted for separately, instead of in one single place.
• Encumbered collaboration: When external departments and team members (e.g. manufacturers or suppliers) can’t effectively collaborate within a central system to share ideas and insight, creativity and innovation is impeded.

Hence, there comes the need for a streamlined system with high integration of multiple business processes and accessibility of information at any given time.

So, how streamlined system can help you to develop a smart tech pack?

It simplifies collaboration and communication between product professionals, enabling them to effectively manage data throughout product development.

It helps developers, designers, and manufacturers to stay on the same page following the same schedule and interacting in real-time.

For instance:  A fashion professional wants to create a sheath-velvet dress; with this solution, everyone involved from design to manufacturing remains in the loop without necessarily being in the same location and can easily access the tech pack of sheath-velvet dress to determine who is doing what, which is the next phase of the project, etc.

What Does It Bring To The Table?

A lot actually. As it enables the team to work on the same page; it makes planning easier, stays updated with the recent version of the product, and finds out if the product is dropped from the line. More time is saved as there is no need for paperwork and manual work or e-mailing every supplier from time to time.

Basically tech pack consists of

• Drawing
• Measurement
• Description of fabric
• Trim Design
• Grading
• Prints
• Label
• BOX

With a tech pack on your screen, you can check out what the product’s agenda is and what modifications are to be made to the product. The ability to manage multiple aspects greatly reduces errors and you can review your product in less time compared to traditional product management.

So, with the streamlined system, everyone associated with the product can stay in the loop and works de facto between manufacturer and client

The benefits can be categorized as

#1. Shorter time to market: On having centralized control over the data, it is likely that product development can be completed more quickly. The product designer and the team associated with it can work faster and data transfer is also hassle-free. Faster development and shorter time to market are always quintessential to remaining competitive.

#2. Increase productivity: Implementing an autonomous system nullifies time-consuming activities like duplicity of data across different systems, multiple times checking of data for any irregularities, searching for missing data, etc. Product design teams who already have integrated this system are less likely to come across processing errors and reworks due to outdated information.

#3. Enhances product quality: As managing and controlling all the information is easy; it likely affects the overall product quality. By using the system, product managers, suppliers, and associated teams are able to implement all the processes which help to maintain product quality and result in customer satisfaction. This is important if the team is spread across different demographics to ensure that quality is not compromised.

#4. Connects design with data: Suppliers can upload new design concepts directly into the system and can quickly bring those concepts to the life by using advanced tools. By connecting creative design ideas to the system, you can increase accuracy and reduce waste.

#5. Enriches user experience: If you have an automated system, you will able to work smarter and faster than ever before with simple drag-and-drop functionalities. This would even require less training and speeds up adoption.

Helpful Tips to Look for…..

• Don’t make your information messy; spread the details so that everything is easy to read. Cluttered things won’t able to keep your instructions simple, clear, and direct.
• Add images to make it clear and detailed.
• There are chances that trim designers may not read the tech pack so it is recommended that you can provide a sample of the garment so that they can know how the final product should look.
• When you design a tech pack make sure there is no typo error, incorrect measurements, or fabric type which results in delays or other problems.
• Create a PDF of your tech pack so that it helps to protect and prevent others from editing it
• Think of creating a PLM system that helps to manage the entire life cycle of the product from inception, through engineering design and manufacture to service and disposal.

The bottom line…

Keeping a consistent tech pack from scratch to the development process will save your time and many headaches in the long run. The system for the tech pack that we craft is crystal clear and planned by industry experts.

We assure you that your production runs will be smooth and cost-effective. We do all the heavy lifting so that you can focus on your brand.

So, looking to develop management software for your tech pack with us? Let’s connect!