Electronics news & updates

Electronics Maker provides electronics news and updates from electronics industries, technologies field where reader can get latest news about electronics sector & technology.

    element14 Celebrates Pi Day with fantastic offers

    Enthusiasts and hobbyists can dive into Raspberry Pi with exciting offers and resources

    Bengaluru, India – 15 March 2024: This Pi Day, Thursday 14th March, element14 has announced a special 10% discount promotion on selected Raspberry Pi products. From Raspberry Pi 4 Starter kits to PSUs, ABS and metal cases, Camera V2, and more. The discount will be available until 31st March.

    In addition to the existing Raspberry Pi 4 Starter kit, element14 is introducing the Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit, catering to both Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 enthusiasts. element14 has everything customers need to get started with the Raspberry Pi, all readily available in stock for fast delivery.

    element14 has also unveiled tailored Raspberry Pi solution bundles designed to facilitate AI projects on the Raspberry Pi. element14 offers comprehensive solution bundles to support your exploration from facial recognition to computer vision applications.

     “We're thrilled to celebrate Pi Day with our customers, offering exciting discounts and resources to explore the Raspberry Pi experience,” said Ankur Tomar, Regional Solutions Marketing Manager, element14. “Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, our extensive range of products and tailored solution bundles cater to diverse project needs, making it easier than ever to embark on your Raspberry Pi journey.”

    For more information and to take advantage of these exclusive Pi Day promotions, visit element14's dedicated Raspberry Pi solution kit page.

    Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi and is observed on March 14th, since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of pi. As part of element14's Pi Day celebrations, the element14 Community is buzzing with resources and content for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts.

    •  Test your knowledge with the Raspberry Pi Aficionado Quiz

    •  Delve into the world of Raspberry Pi Compute Module with live webinars

    •  Download a free Raspberry Pi 5 poster for your workshop

    •  Explore the history of Raspberry Pi Cameras

    •  Discover essential tools and accessories with the Raspberry Pi 5 Wishlist

    Join us as we celebrate Pi Day and discover the infinite possibilities of Raspberry Pi innovation with element14 and the element14 Community.

    Read more

    Enea Study : Two-Thirds of Enterprises Suffer Significant Losses to Mobile Fraud

    Bangalore – March 14, 2024  -  Research from Enea reveals 76% of enterprises lack sufficient voice and messaging fraud protection as AI-powered vishing and smishing skyrocket following the launch of ChatGPT.  Around two-thirds (61%) of enterprises still suffer significant losses to mobile fraud, with smishing (SMS phishing) and vishing (voice phishing) being the most prevalent and costly. That's according to a new global survey undertaken by Enea which gathered insights from more than 400 telecom operator and enterprise respondents about the state of mobile fraud and network security.

    The report, titled "Mobile Network Security: Bridging the gap between enterprise needs and CSP capabilities” sheds light on the extent of fraud perpetrated through vital telecom channels used by enterprises worldwide. Enterprises account for a significant share of communication service provider (CSP) subscribers and an even greater share of their revenues. They depend on their CSP to protect them from telecom-related fraud, with the absolute majority (85%) saying security is important or extremely important for their telecoms buying decisions.

    Publication of the report comes as the democratization of AI-based deepfake technology and easy access to number spoofing apps is lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals and increasing the sophistication of fraud-based attacks. Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, vishing, smishing, and phishing attacks have increased by a staggering 1,265%.

    The key takeaway from the survey was the discovery of a significant gap between the security needs and expectations of enterprises and the level of network security being offered by CSPs. This is a gap criminals are keen to exploit, evidenced by the soaring rate of fraud. A summary of the report's key findings is outlined below.

    Enterprises are being hit hard by voice and messaging fraud and expect their CSPs to take the lead in protecting them.

    •  61% of enterprise respondents said their mobile messaging fraud costs were significant, yet more than three-quarters don't invest in SMS spam or voice scam/fraud protection.

    •  Slightly more than half (51%) said they expect their telecom operator to protect them from voice and mobile messaging fraud, citing their role as more important than that of cloud providers, managed IT providers, systems integrators or direct software vendors.

    •  85% of enterprises say that security is important or extremely important for their telecoms purchasing decisions.

    CSPs lack sufficient capabilities to meet enterprise expectations for security.

    •  Only 59% of CSPs say they have implemented a messaging firewall, and just 51% said they have implemented a signaling firewall.

    •  Less than half (46%) report adopting some threat intelligence service, essentially leaving a majority blind to new or morphing threats.

    CSPs that prioritize security are better positioned to win enterprise business.

    •  Security leaders, characterized by better capabilities, better funding, and a higher prioritization of security, are less than half as likely as the followers to have a security breach go undetected or unmitigated (12% vs 25%).

    •  CSP security leaders are more likely to see security as an opportunity to generate revenues (31% vs 19%).

    "We've observed the rapidly evolving threat landscape with growing concern, particularly as AI-powered techniques become more accessible to cybercriminals," commented John Hughes, Senior Vice President and Head of Network Security at Enea. "The stark increase in mobile fraud, particularly following the advent of advanced technologies like ChatGPT, underscores a critical need for enhanced network security measures. This survey highlights a significant disconnect between enterprise expectations and the current capabilities of many CSPs, and our on-going mission is to help the sector bridge that gap and safeguard networks and users." Enea has evolved its mobile network security portfolio to help operators and CPaaS (Communication Platform-as-a-Service) providers increase their resilience amid growing threats. The portfolio includes the intelligence-driven Enea Adaptive Signaling and Messaging Firewalls, which leverages innovative and AI-enhanced capabilities to accurately guard against sophisticated smishing and vishing attacks.

    Read more

    Murata to invest in Apple’s Restore Fund, aimed at high quality carbon removal

    Hoofddorp, Netherlands: Murata has announced that it will invest up to 30 million USD in Apple’s Restore Fund, an investment fund aimed at generating high quality carbon credits1. The fund will be managed by Climate Asset Management (Location: London, UK; CEO: Martin Berg), a joint venture between HSBC Asset Management and Pollination.

    In recent years, it has become even more important for companies to adopt decarbonization strategies to address climate change. Meaningful action to promote energy conservation and utilize renewable energy is necessary to reduce emissions across industries, and achieve carbon neutrality on a global level.

    Murata has decided to invest in Apple’s Restore Fund as a new initiative to help achieve carbon neutrality through the acquisition of high quality carbon removal. Murata has been striving to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through energy-saving activities that reduce the amount of energy consumed by its business operations, as well as the procurement of renewable energy with additionality2 that will contribute to global carbon neutrality targets.

    Through efforts such as this investment, Murata aims to become carbon neutral for its entire operations and supply chain by securing high-quality carbon removal equivalent to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced by conventional activities.

    The Fund is managed by Climate Asset Management, an asset management company specializing in natural capital, and aims to secure cash returns and carbon credits through investment in natural capital and regenerative agricultural sectors.

    Murata is taking proactive measures to address climate change and considers it a crucial aspect of their operations. They strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a key management objective. It has been making ongoing efforts to conserve energy and generate solar power on-site, as well as promoting the large-scale procurement of renewable energy, including through virtual PPAs3 in recent years. This investment in a fund aimed at removing carbon from the atmosphere represents a new climate initiative for Murata.

    Murata will continue to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society through a wide range of environmental initiatives. For more information on Murata’s sustainability actions please visit https://corporate.murata.com/en-eu/csr/sdgs-initiatives/case2-mlcc

    ■Apple’s Restore Fund Overview

     Name: Apple’s Restore Fund, managed by Climate Asset Management

     Establishment: Apple Inc. leads the fund as an anchor investor with a commitment of up to 200 million USD.

    Main investment focus: Carbon removal, and agriculture projects

    Duration: 15 years

    Size: 280 million USD

    Management Company: Climate Asset Management, a joint venture between HSBC Asset Management and Pollination

    https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/03/apple-expands-innovative-restore-fund-with-tsmc-and-murata/

    Read more

    SemiQon announces successful testing and global shipping of its silicon-based 4-qubit quantum chip and ground-breaking transistors

    Research groups around the world are now using these first-generation silicon-based chips helping the industry step faster to the million qubit level of quantum computing.

    Espoo, Finland (March 13, 2024) Today, SemiQon, a Finland-based startup specializing in silicon-based quantum processors, has announced it has successfully manufactured and pre-tested a 4-qubit quantum dot array from the first production run at its manufacturing facility in Espoo, Finland. The new chips are now shipping to strategic partners around the world as a toolkit for further research and development. The aim is to help make building stable logical qubits easier and faster to accelerate the use of quantum computing for complex problems.

    First-generation quantum computers have already achieved impressive computational feats. However, solving highly specific problems related to pharmaceuticals, logistics, space, and material design will require increased computational power. As researchers, ecosystems, and companies around the globe lay out their ambitious visions for quantum computing, the computing power must still be scaled efficiently to address these challenges. Current methods do not make this possible.

     “We are gradually moving towards the million qubit era and the contribution of hardware is becoming more and more essential,” says Dr. Himadri Majumdar, CEO and Co-founder of SemiQon. “Our solution builds on the technological development and know-how of semiconductors and benefits from existing infrastructure and industry. Utilizing such infrastructure effectively and efficiently has allowed us to accomplish one of our first goals within a short period of time. The challenge is getting to quantum supremacy in a sustainable, scalable, and affordable manner. These new chips are our first step in a long journey to making quantum dreams a reality.”

    SemiQon's strategic path of combining classical and quantum elements at cryogenic temperatures also took a big leap forward through the demonstration of very low noise and better control over the channel using record low sub-threshold swing in the manufactured fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator metal-on-semiconductor (FDSOI-MOS) transistors. These transistors will be the backbone of realizing a cryogenic integrated circuit (IC), ultimately leading to quantum IC for scalable, efficient, and affordable quantum computers.

    The results will be communicated through a peer-reviewed international scientific article, which is currently under review.

    Since the launch of its production chip manufacturing line last year in the Micronova Center for Applied Micro and Nanotechnology in Espoo, SemiQon has established several university and commercial partnerships with organizations looking to move quantum computing closer to its goal of usable physical and logical qubits. The first-generation SemiQon chips are already shipped to strategic partners globally for further testing and experimentation, mainly for the advancement of research and development in the domain.

     “SemiQon’s prototype devices and their proposed fast iteration of the new generation of devices are beneficial and necessary for the research community to experiment on and push the boundary of public research,” says Professor Dominik Zumbühl of the University of Basel in Switzerland, one of SemiQon’s strategic collaborators.

    SemiQon will be attending the Quantum.tech USA event in Washington DC, USA, in April 2024, where they will share SemiQon’s vision and mission for their cost-efficient advancements in quantum chip manufacturing.

    SemiQon works closely with the quantum ecosystem from research groups to full-stack companies and is actively discussing with more partners to bring scalable quantum computing solutions to reality.

    Read more

    Tenstorrent and MosChip Partner on High Performant RISC-V Design

    March 13, 2024 — Tenstorrent and MosChip Technologies announced today that they are partnering on design for Tenstorrent’s cutting-edge RISC-V solutions. In selecting MosChip Technologies, Tenstorrent stands to strongly advance both its own and its customers’ development of RISC-V solutions as they work together on Physical Design, DFT, Verification, and RTL Design services.

     “MosChip Technologies is special in that they have unparalleled tape out expertise in design services, with more than 200 multi-million gate ASICs under their belt”, said David Bennett, CCO of Tenstorrent. “Partnering with MosChip enables us to design the strongest RISC-V solution we can to serve ourselves, our partners, and our customers alike.”

    MosChip brings commitment-to-success to this partnership with Tenstorrent. Throughout the engagement thus far, MosChip has demonstrated the flexibility, exceptional expertise, and resourcefulness required to quickly accomplish on-time and quality deliverables for Tenstorrent’s cutting-edge RISC-V core development.

     “Tenstorrent is delivering highly customized, high-performance AI and RISC-V chiplets”, said CEO of MosChip, Srinivasa Kakumanu. “In testing simulations done thus far, we’ve determined that Tenstorrent’s RISC-V core is one of the highest performing CPUs we’ve seen. We’re extremely excited to work with Tenstorrent on continuing to deliver groundbreaking AI hardware and solutions''.

    Read more

    Indium Corporation Celebrates 90 Years of Materials Science Innovation

    Indium Corporation, a global leader in materials science and electronics assembly solutions, will commemorate its 90th anniversary on March 13. Indium Corporation’s innovative products, especially its advanced soldering solutions, are found in many common consumer electronics and high-reliability technologies such as electric vehicles, mobile devices, life-saving medical devices, and emerging 5G technology to name just a few.

    Indium Corporation was founded in Utica, NY, U.S. in 1934 by Dr. William S. Murray who was instrumental in identifying and enabling the first commercially viable applications for indium metal. Today, the company is a premier materials refiner, smelter, manufacturer, and supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal management markets with facilities in China, Germany, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

    The company’s products include solders and fluxes; brazes; thermal interface materials; sputtering targets; indium, gallium, germanium, and tin metals and inorganic compounds; and NanoFoil®. Currently, over 5 million EVs are on the road with Indium Corporation’s proven solder and thermal management solutions for high reliability. Additionally, products such as award-winning Durafuse® LT and the company’s Reclaim and Recycle initiative are at the forefront of sustainability within the industry.

    “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees, the trust of our customers, and the support of our global partners,” said President and COO Ross Berntson. “It also provides a great opportunity to reflect on our achievements, celebrate our present successes, and envision a richer future enabled by Indium Corporation’s materials science.”

    “True to Dr. Murray’s enduring legacy, we continue to be motivated by curiosity to view materials in new ways,” Berntson added. “Fueled by a commitment to research and development, our industry thought leaders and cutting-edge products, Indium Corporation continues to innovate and grow.”

    Indium Corporation is committed to playing a leadership role in the future of the global electronics assembly industry. In 2023 alone, the company joined the American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition (ASIC), European Center for Power Electronics (ECPE), and India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA). Within the same year, Indium Corporation was also honored with CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY’s New Product Introduction Award, EM World’s Innovation Award, IEEE Malaysia’s Outstanding Industry Award for Innovation, Electronics Maker’s Best of Industry Award for Best Soldering Product of the Year, two Global Technology Awards from Global SMT & Packaging in Flux and Adhesive/Underfills/Encapsulants categories, Mexico EMS’ Mexico Technology Award for Solder Paste, and SMTA’s Technical Distinction Award bestowed upon Dr. HongWen Zhang.

    In addition to its industry-leading products and technical expertise, Indium Corporation also proudly supports the communities in which it operates through charitable contributions, advancing STEM education at all levels, and fostering workforce development in STEM industries. Indium Corporation also works with military veterans to make successful transitions to private sector careers. Through its outreach efforts, the company impacts more than 5,000 lives annually.

    “Just as we believe that materials science changes the world, we believe that today’s students will build our future successes,” said Associate Vice President of Human Resources Dawn Roller. “To that end, we are committed to bolstering community educational resources, especially those that advance the promise and vitally important work being done in STEM fields.”

    Learn more about Indium Corporation’s philanthropic efforts through The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, a philanthropic 501(c)(3) organization focused on primary needs including food, shelter, healthcare, and education.

    Read more

    Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav Rozgar Mela Successfully Concludes with ASDC Facilitating 1300 Job Placements

    New Delhi - The Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav Rozgar Mela, held at Lucknow University on March 9th and 10th, 2024, has drawn to a successful close, leaving a significant impact on the employment landscape of Uttar Pradesh. Organized with the aim of addressing unemployment challenges and fostering economic growth, the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from job seekers across various demographics.

    Among the key contributors to the success of the Rozgar Mela was Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), a leading organization dedicated to skill development in the automotive sector. ASDC's active involvement in the event resulted in the facilitation of 1300 job placements, significantly contributing to the region's employment drive.

    "ASDC's participation in the Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav Rozgar Mela underscores our commitment to empowering individuals through skill development and employment opportunities," stated Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, Vice President of ASDC. "We are delighted to have facilitated 1300 job placements, offering pathways to success for numerous individuals and contributing to the growth of the automotive industry in Uttar Pradesh."

    The Rozgar Mela featured a diverse range of job opportunities, with ASDC focusing on positions within the automotive sector. Through interactive sessions, skill demonstrations, and career counseling, ASDC aimed to guide job seekers towards lucrative career paths aligned with the evolving demands of the industry.

    The Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav, held over two days, emerged as a beacon of hope for job seekers in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, offering a multitude of employment opportunities across diverse sectors. Participating employers, including VISION INDIA, DISTIL, PRERNA GROUP, GOAL INDIA, YSF, 2COMS, and JBM, collectively shortlisted 1339 candidates, comprising 964 on the first day and 375 on the second. These candidates, encompassing both males and females, were presented with apprenticeship roles ranging from machine operation to mechanical engineering, with salaries spanning from ₹9,000 to ₹20,000 per month. The event's success not only addressed immediate unemployment challenges but also laid the foundation for sustained economic growth by bridging the gap between skilled workforce demand and supply in the region, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic development of Lucknow and beyond.

    "We believe in the transformative power of skill development and employment initiatives," added Mr. Gulati. "Participating in events like the Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav allows us to showcase the myriad opportunities available in the automotive sector and inspire the youth to pursue rewarding careers." The success of the Lucknow Kaushal Mahotsav Rozgar Mela underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing unemployment challenges and driving socio-economic progress. ASDC remains committed to its mission of empowering individuals through skill development and looks forward to continuing its contributions to the growth and prosperity of Uttar Pradesh's workforce.

    Read more

    Your Toilet May Soon Help Monitor Your Health

    (Source: Andrea Izzotti/stock adobe)

    On February 21, 2024 in All, General, IoT, Medical, Sensors by Matt Campbell

    Every day we flush away a wealth of information about our health. The idea of testing waste may be unpleasant, but these tests can provide information about infections, certain types of cancers, diabetes, and many more diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists tested wastewater for the virus and were able to monitor outbreaks by mapping the amount of the virus in the wastewater combined with where the wastewater was coming from.

    More Than Bells and Whistles

    Advanced toilets contain onboard waste-sampling equipment, such as cameras to monitor the consistency of stool or the flow of urine. Future toilets may even be able to capture and process stool samples. Automating sample collection at home could make getting routine screens more palatable. Automation would also simplify long-term patient monitoring by providing regular updates to a patient’s healthcare provider with no extra effort from the patient.

    For patients with food allergies or sensitivities, a smart toilet paired with a food journal provides detailed insights on triggering foods. Many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) keep food journals to help pinpoint the cause of flare-ups. If the food journal was in an app accessible by the toilet, then the toilet could compare what comes out to what goes in to give users important information on how their bodies respond to certain foods. With enough data, the application could even predict potentially triggering foods.

    Continuous health monitoring is also an exciting trend for health- and fitness-conscious consumers. There’s a popular joke in the running and cycling communities that if you didn’t track your activity with your smart device, it didn’t count. The kind of people who like to share every run and bike ride might even push for a social feed to share their bathroom activities and personal records with their followers.

    What Makes a Toilet Smart?

    Machine learning algorithms in smart toilets can build user profiles and learn each person’s norm to better understand deviations from the norm that might be worth alerting the user about. In addition to machine learning algorithms, traditional urinalysis strips provide instant tried-and-true results.

    Urinalysis strips contain a reagent that changes color based on the concentrations of parameters such as pH, glucose, protein, ketones, and blood. Urinalysis strips with multiple reagents are available off the shelf, offering ten or more different tests on a single strip. Optical sensors can interpret the color results of a multi-test strip, giving smart toilets the ability to quickly capture a wide variety of health metrics from urine. Users would get early notifications of conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs), diabetes, kidney disorders, and pregnancy.

    Designing for maintenance does present challenges. When a smart toilet malfunctions, should users call a plumber or an IT technician? Manufacturers will need to have customer support, trained technicians, and replacement parts. Installation may require electrical work, as many bathrooms do not have an extra outlet near the toilet.

    Challenges to Adoption

    A critical step in smart toilet operation is identifying users. One solution from researchers at Stanford University is as clever as it is unsettling—a scanner that identifies users by capturing a unique print of their hindquarters. But let’s not dwell on this.

    The point is that one of the biggest challenges for smart toilets is social rather than technological. People will have to be okay with their most sensitive data being analyzed. To put it simply, the ick factor will be the first major barrier to adoption.

    Data privacy will be more important than ever before. Because the information smart toilets collect will be shared with healthcare providers, it will be protected as medical information. The last thing smart toilet users want is a breach of sensitive data, or targeted ads based on their bathroom habits. Wireless transmitters in smart toilets will need to send encrypted information to the database they’re connected to.

    There are also ethical concerns with continuously monitoring people’s waste. Smart toilets could detect the presence of alcohol or prescription or illegal drugs that users may want to keep private. If you’re a guest in a home that has a smart toilet, is there a way to opt out of the smart features and turn it into a traditional toilet?

    Finally, sensitive electronics in a toilet will need to stay calibrated and clean to maintain optimal performance. Many would consider toilets to be a harsh environment, so electrical connections and components will need to be sealed for protection from moisture. Toilets are also not sterile, creating the potential for contaminated tests and false positives.

    Conclusion

    While we may not enjoy thinking about our waste, the real waste is flushing away valuable health information. Smart toilets offer exciting diagnostic and health metric opportunities, but one of the biggest barriers to adoption will be users needing to consent to having their most intimate data analyzed. To learn more about how smart toilets can provide advanced health metrics, check out Mouser’s companion article.

    Read more