Chapter seven (7) : Other emerging technologies

The main points to be addressed under this chapter are:-

 Nanotechnology

 Biotechnology

 Block-chain technology

 Cloud and quantum computing

 Autonomic computing (AC)

 Computer vision

 Embedded systems

 Cybersecurity and Additive manufacturing (3D Printing)

Nanotechnology
• It is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is
about 1 to 100 nanometers.

• Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small
things.

• They can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology,
physics, materials science, and engineering.

• The ideas and concepts behind nanoscience and nanotechnology started by

physicist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society during December 29,
1959, long before the term nanotechnology was used.
 Nanotechnology cont. ..
• Over a decade later,the term nanotechnology coined by Professor Norio Taniguchi
while his explorations of ultraprecision machining.

• It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is.

• One nanometer is a billionth of a meter or 10-9 of meters.

• Here are a few illustrative examples:

➢ There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch

➢ A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick

Nanotechnology cont. ..
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability to see and to control
individual atoms and molecules. Everything on Earth is made up of atoms.

• Nanoscience can be defined as the study of phenomena and manipulation of

materials at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales, where properties
differ significantly from those at a larger scale.

• Nanotechnologies defined as the design, characterization, production, and

application of structures, devices, and systems by controlling shape and size at the
nanometer scale.
Nanotechnology Cont..
• The properties of materials can be different at the nanoscale for two main reasons.

i. Nanomaterials have a relatively larger surface area when compared to the same
mass of material produced in a larger form. Which can make materials more
chemically reactive and affect their strength or electrical properties.

ii. Quantum effects can begin to dominate the behavior of matter at the nanoscale
particularly at the lower end which affecting the optical, electrical and magnetic
behavior of materials. quantum effects influencing how materials behave in
terms of their optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. These effects are
crucial for developing advanced nanotechnologies with tailored functionalities
Nanotechnology cont. ..
Biotechnology
• It is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular and
biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve
our lives and the health of our planet.

• Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes that fall within the concept
of biotechnology which is the traditional one.

• One example of modern biotechnology is genetic engineering ( the process of

transferring individual genes between organisms or modifying the genes in an
organism to remove or add a desired trait or characteristic.)

• Biotechnology covers many different disciplines (genetics, biochemistry,

molecular biology, Medicine, agriculture, industrial etc.)
Application of Biotechnology

Agriculture (Green Biotechnology):- contributed a lot to modify the genes of the

organism known as Genetically Modified Organisms such as Crops, Animals, Plants,
Fungi, Bacteria, etc.

 Medicine (Medicinal Biotechnology):- helps in the formation of genetically

modified insulin known as humulin and also in treatment of a large number of
diabetes patients. It also given rise to a technique known as gene therapy

 Aquaculture Fisheries:- improving the quality and quantity of fishes. They breed
them selfs by gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

 Environment (Environmental biotechnology):- used in waste treatment and

pollution prevention.
Block chain Technology
• Originally block chain is a growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked
using cryptography.

• Each block contains a cryptography hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and
transaction data (generally represented as a Merkle tree).

• Block chain is a time-stamped series of immutable records of data that is

managed by a cluster of computers not owned by any single entity.

• . Each of these blocks of data (i.e. block) is secured and bound to each other using
cryptographic principles (i.e. chain).
Block chain Technology cont. ..
• “Blocks” on the blockchain are made up of digital pieces of information.
Specifically, they have three parts:

i. Blocks store information about transactions like the date, time, and dollar
amount.

ii. Blocks store information about who is participating in transactions.

iii. Blocks store information that distinguishes them from other blocks.

• When a block stores new data it is added to the blockchain.

• Blockchain, as its name suggests, consists of multiple blocks strung together.

Block chain Technology cont. ..
• In order for a block to be added to the blockchain, however, four things must
happen:

i. A transaction must occur.

ii. That transaction must be verified.

iii. That transaction must be stored in a block.

iv. That block must be given a hash.:- once all of a block’s transactions have been
verified, it must be given a unique, identifying code called a hash. Once hashed,
the block can be added to the blockchain
 Block chain Technology cont. ..
• By design, a block chain is resistant to modification of the data.

• It is "an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties
efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way".

• The block chain network has no central authority; it is the very definition of a
democratized system. Since it is a shared and immutable ledger, the information in
it is open for anyone and everyone to see.

Assignment : Discuss the History of Block chain in details?

Block chain Technology cont. ..
• A blockchain carries no transaction cost but it carries the infrastructure cost.

• The blockchain is a simple yet ingenious(creative) way of passing information from A to B

in a fully automated and safe manner. The main activities performed are:-
 One party to a transaction initiates the process by creating a block.

 This block is verified by thousands, perhaps millions of computers distributed around

the net.
 The verified block is added to a chain, which is stored across the net, creating not just
a unique record, but a unique record with a unique history.

 Falsifying a single record would mean falsifying the entire chain in millions of
instances.
Block chain Technology cont. ..
Three Pillars of Blockchain Technology

 The three main properties of Blockchain Technology are:

i. Decentralization :-

 The information is not stored by one single

entity
 Everyone in the network owns the
information
 if you wanted to interact with your friend
then you can do so directly without going
through a third party.
 That was the main ideology behind
Bitcoins.
Block chain Technology cont. ..
ii. Transparency:- is hiddeing person’s identity iii. Immutability:- means that once
via complex cryptography and represented something has been entered into the
only by their public address. So, if you were
blockchain, it cannot be tampered with.
to look up a person’s transaction history, you
The reason why the blockchain gets
will not see “Bob sent 1 BTC” instead you
this property is that of the
will see
“1MF1bhsFLkBzzz9vpFYEmvwT2TbyCt7N cryptographic hash function. hashing
ZJ sent 1 BTC”. while the person’s real means taking an input string of any
identity is secure, you will still see all the length and giving out an output of a
transactions that were done by their public fixed length by using hashing algorithm
address
(Bitcoin uses SHA-256).
Block chain Technology cont.
 No matter how big or small your input is, the output will always have a fixed 256-bits
length. Consider the following example.

 This becomes critical when you are dealing with a huge amount of data and
transactions. So instead of remembering the input data which could be huge, you can
just remember the hash and keep track.
How Blockchain Works

 Picture a spreadsheet that is duplicated thousands of times across a network of

computers.

 Then imagine that this network is designed to regularly update this spreadsheet
and you have a basic understanding of the blockchain.

 Information held on a blockchain exists as a shared and continually reconciled

database(agreed databases by all nodes). The blockchain database isn’t stored in
any single location, meaning the records it keeps are truly public and easily
verifiable. No centralized version of this information exists for a hacker to
corrupt.
 How Blockchain works cont. ..
• The reason why the blockchain has gained so much admiration is that:

 It is not owned by a single entity, hence it is decentralized

 The data is cryptographically stored inside

 The blockchain is immutable, so no one can tamper with the data that is inside
the blockchain

 The blockchain is transparent so one can track the data if they want.
 How Blockchain Works cont. ..
Why do people use the peer-to-peer network?

 One of the main uses of the peer-to-peer network is file sharing, also called
torrenting. If you are to use a client-server model for downloading, then it is
usually extremely slow and entirely dependent on the health of the server. Plus, as
we said, it is prone to censorship(controlling).

In a peer-to-peer system, there is no central authority, and hence if even one of the
peers in the network goes out of the race, you still have more peers to download
from.

It is not subject to the idealistic standards of a central system.

 How Blockchain Works cont. ..
• Comparison between Traditional Centralized Downloading and Decentralized
Peer-to-Peer Downloading.
Application of blockchain
• Some of the application areas of blockchain are:-

 In the sharing economy

 Crowdfunding

 Governance(can enhance transparency, security, and trust in governance systems by providing

tamper-proof records of votes, elections, and decision-making processes. )

 Supply chain auditing(enables end-to-end transparency and traceability in supply chains by

recording every transaction)

 File storage
Cloud and quantum computing
• Cloud computing :- is a means of networking remote servers that are hosted on the
Internet. Rather than storing and processing data on a local server, or a PC's hard drive,
one of the following three types of cloud infrastructure is used.

i. public cloud:- Here a third-party provider manages the servers, applications, and
storage much like a public utility. Anyone can subscribe to the provider’s cloud
service, which is usually operated through their own data center.

ii. private cloud:- which is typically used by a business or organization.

iii. hybrid cloud:- Here private clouds are connected to public clouds, allowing data and
applications to be shared between them. It includes multiple service providers .
Cloud and quantum computing cont. ..
• a hybrid offers a business more flexibility and more computing capacity for a business
application when the need for its spikes.

• Hybrids also enable applications to keep sensitive client data in a private cloud but
connect to end-user software in a public cloud.

• Cloud computing services can focus on infrastructure, web development or a cloud-based

app.

• . Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) gives you management of the whole deal: servers, web
development tools, applications.

• Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers a complete web development environment, without

the worry of the hardware that runs it.
 Cloud and quantum computing cont. ..
• Finally, Software as a Service (SaaS) allows access to cloud-based apps, usually through a web browser
interface. Ex: Microsoft Office 365, and Google Workspace

• It’s only in the last 10 years ( around since 2000.) that major players like IBM, Amazon, and Google have
offered commercially viable, high-capacity networks.

Advantages of cloud computing

 Cheap computing power.

 Cloud providers have vast resources of computing power at their fingertips.

 Allows you and multiple users to access your data from any location

 A business processes its data more efficiently, increasing productivity.

 Maintenance is much cheaper, often free, so reliability is rarely a worry.

 Allows CEOs to focus on running their business, rather than managing IT infrastructure and technology. By
outsourcing infrastructure management to cloud providers.
Quantum computing
• Quantum computers truly do represent the next generation of computing.

• Unlike classic computers, they derive their computing power by harnessing the power
of quantum physics.

• Give clients access to a quantum computer over the internet, and you have quantum
cloud computing.

• Currently, the only organization which provides a quantum computer in the cloud is
IBM. They allow free access to anyone who wishes to use their 5-qubit machine.
Qubit is short for a sequence of quantum bits.

• With a quantum computer, the data is stored in qubits.

 Quantum computing cont...
• Thanks to the mechanics of quantum physics, where subatomic particles obey their own
laws, a qubit can exist in two states at the same time. This phenomenon is called
superposition. So, a qubit can have a value of 1, 0, or some value between. This enables
quantum computers to perform parallel computations and explore multiple solutions simultaneously, vastly
increasing computational power compared to classical computers.

• Quantum computer theory was first rooted in the 1980s and only now are the first
rudimentary machines being constructed.

• Quantum computing could help in the discovery of new drugs, by unlocking the complex
structure of chemical molecules. Other uses include financial trading, risk management,
and supply chain optimization.
Autonomic computing (AC)
• Autonomic computing (AC) is an approach to address the complexity and evolution
problems in software systems.

• It is a self-managing computing model named after, and patterned on, the human body's
autonomic nervous system.

• An autonomic computing system would control the functioning of computer applications

and systems without input from the user, in the same way, that the autonomic nervous
system regulates body systems without conscious input from the individual.

• The goal of autonomic computing is to create systems that run themselves, capable of
high-level functioning while keeping the system's complexity invisible to the user.
Characteristics of Autonomic Systems
• Self-Awareness: An autonomic application/system “knows itself” and is aware of its state and its
behaviors.

• Self-Configuring: An autonomic application/system should be able to configure and reconfigure

itself under varying and unpredictable conditions.

• Self-Optimizing: An autonomic application/system should be able to detect suboptimal behaviors

and optimize itself to improve its execution.

• Self-Healing: An autonomic application/system should be able to detect and recover from potential
problems and continue to function smoothly.

• Self-Protecting: An autonomic application/system should be capable of detecting and protecting its

resources from both internal and external attacks and maintaining overall system security and
integrity.
Characteristics of Autonomic Systems
Cont..
• Context-Aware: An autonomic application/system should be aware of its
execution environment and be able to react to changes in the environment.

• Open: An autonomic application/system must function in a heterogeneous world

and should be portable across multiple hardware and software architectures.
Consequently, it must be built on standard and open protocols and interfaces.

• Anticipatory: An autonomic application/system should be able to anticipate to the

extent possible, its needs and behaviors and those of its context, and be able to
manage itself proactively.
Computer vision
• It is an interdisciplinary scientific field that deals with how computers can be made to
gain a high level understanding of digital images or videos. From the perspective of
engineering, it seeks to automate tasks that the human visual system can do.

• Computer vision tasks include methods for acquiring, processing, analyzing and
understanding digital images, and extraction of high-dimensional data from the real world
in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g. in the forms of decisions.

• Computer vision is building algorithms that can understand the content of images and
use it for other applications.
How computer vision works

1. Acquiring an image: Images, even large sets, can be acquired in real-time

through video, photos or 3D technology for analysis.

2. Processing the image: Deep learning models automate much of this process,
but the models are often trained by first being fed thousands of labeled or pre-
identified images.

3. Understanding the image: The final step is the interpretative step, where an
object is identified or classified
Applications of computer vision
• Optical character recognition (OCR): reading handwritten postal codes on letters
and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR);
Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Machine inspection: rapid parts inspection for quality assurance using stereo
vision with specialized illumination to measure tolerances on aircraft wings or
auto body parts or looking for defects in steel castings using X-ray vision;
Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Retail: object recognition for automated checkout lanes.
Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Medical imaging: registering pre-operative and intra-operative imagery or
performing long-term studies of people’s brain morphology as they age;
Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Automotive safety: detecting unexpected obstacles such as pedestrians on the
street, under conditions where active vision techniques such as radar or lidar do
not work well.
Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Surveillance: monitoring for intruders, analyzing highway traffic and monitoring
pools for drowning victims;
 Applications of computer vision Cont..
• Fingerprint recognition and biometrics: for automatic access authentication as
well as forensic applications.
Embedded systems
• It is a controller with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical
system, often with real-time computing constraints(meaning they must respond to inputs or
events within strict timing constraints).

• It is embedded (integrated) as part of a complete device often including hardware

and mechanical parts. (e.g., microcontrollers, sensors, actuators)

• Embedded systems control many devices in common use today including automotive
systems, medical devices, industrial machinery, and more .

• Ninety-eight percent of all microprocessors manufactured are used in embedded

systems.
Advantages and disadvantages of embedded system
• Advantages of Embedded
• Easily Customizable
• Low power consumption
• Low cost
• Enhanced performance
• Disadvantages of Embedded systems
• High development effort
• Larger time to market
Basic Structure of an Embedded System

Fig Basic structure of an embedded system

Basic Structure of an Embedded System Cont…
• Sensor − It measures the physical quantity and converts it to an electrical signal which can be
read by an observer or by any electronic instrument like an A2D converter.

• A-D Converter − An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal sent by the sensor
into a digital signal.

• Processor & ASICs − Processors process the data to measure the output and store it to the
memory.

• D-A Converter − A digital-to-analog converter converts the digital data fed by the processor to
analog data.

• Actuator − An actuator compares the output given by the D-A Converter to the actual (expected)
output stored in it and stores the approved output.
Cybersecurity
• It is the protection of computer systems from the theft of or damage to their
hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or
misdirection of the services they provide.

• Cybersecurity is often confused with information security but it focuses on

protecting computer systems from unauthorized access or being otherwise
damaged or made inaccessible.

• The term cybercrime is used to describe an unlawful activity in which computer or

computing devices such as smartphones, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants
(PDAs), and etc. are utilized for malicious purposes.
Cybersecurity measures
• Staff awareness training

• Application security

• Network security

• Leadership commitment.

• Password management
Types of cybersecurity threats
• Ransomware: - It is a type of malicious software. It is designed to extort money by
blocking access to files or the computer system until the ransom is paid. Paying the
ransom does not guarantee that the files will be recovered or the system restored.

• Malware:- it is a type of software designed to gain unauthorized access or to cause

damage to a computer.

• Social engineering: - it is a tactic that adversaries(enemies) use to trick you into

revealing sensitive information. They can solicit (ask) a monetary payment or gain
access to your confidential data.
Types of cybersecurity threats Cont..
• Phishing: - it is the practice of sending fraudulent emails that resemble emails
from reputable sources. The aim is to steal sensitive data like credit card numbers
and login information. It’s the most common type of cyber-attack.
• You can help protect yourself through education or a technology solution that
filters malicious emails.
Benefits of cybersecurity
• Business protection against malware, ransomware, phishing, and social
engineering.

• Protection for data and networks.

• Prevention of unauthorized users.

• Improves recovery time after a breach.

• Protection for end-users.

• Improved confidence in the product for both developers and customers.

Cybersecurity vendors
• Vendors in cybersecurity fields will typically use endpoint, network and advanced
threat protection security as well as data loss prevention.

• Three commonly known cybersecurity vendors include

• Cisco

• McAfee

• and Trend Micro

Additive manufacturing (3D Printing)
• The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-“Additive
manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, uses computer-aided design to build
objects layer by layer.”

• Wikipedia- “Today, the precision, repeatability, and material range has increased
to the point that 3D printing is considered as industrial production technology,
with the name of additive manufacturing.”

• Author Deve Turbide puts it simply, suggesting that additive manufacturing is

“the industrial version of 3D printing”
Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) Cont..
• What’s the difference between 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing ?

• Actually, 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing are synonyms. There is no

difference between 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing, as those terms
both designate the process of creating an object by addition of material.
• They are referring to the exact same processes: layer based manufacturing
techniques. These appellations(terms) can be used interchangeably.
3D Printing
• It is often associated with filament-based plastic printers, which are the pride and
joy of many a hobbyist and self described maker. But there are also binder jet
printers, laser metal 3D printers, as well as glass and clay 3D printers.
Additive Manufacturing
• “Additive manufacturing” (AM) is a big-picture term more at home in the boardroom
than the factory floor or garage.(i.e. it is a strategic concept that is better suited for high-
level discussions rather than practical application on the production floor or in
individual workshops.)

• It is less about the 3D printer itself, and more about the manufacturing process
transformed by 3D printing.

• Additive manufacturing (AM) describes types of advanced manufacturing that are used
to create three-dimensional structures out of plastics, metals, polymers and other
materials that can be sprayed through a nozzle or aggregated in a vat(container).
?