Secondary Education Robot Teachers from SoftBank. Danger, Will Robinson, Danger?
Question. Why do human capital (school children) need to be trained in STEM when humanoid robots can learn STEM, and in fact, teach it? Robots are currently teaching special needs children in the classroom and robots in the video (below) are in a secondary education classroom. Each student in the video has his/her own robot; think of the robot as an iPad for every student or individual teacher. Think how much ‘a robot for every child’ would cost a school district.
If indeed human teachers will become guides on the side, their salaries will reflect their diminished role, possibly allowing districts to provide every student their very own robot. Districts will be able to slash curriculum directors as common core curriculum will be downloaded directly into the robots:
Districts will tell taxpayers robots are necessary to teach students STEM, although there is a possibility that these STEM trained students won’t be needed in the global economy as the robots will replace humans in many of these same STEM jobs.
From NAO robot for Secondary Education and SoftBank Robotics Europe:
More on the robot and the Educator Pack offered by RobotLab:
Today, NAO is the leading humanoid robot being used in research and education worldwide.Robotics is the fastest growing and most advanced technology used in education and research. The NAO humanoid robot is the ideal platform for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts at all levels.By using the NAO platform, instructors and researchers stay current with major technical and commercial breakthroughs in programming and applied research. Using NAO guarantee students the best possible career and college readiness!
It is equipped with many sensors: Tactile Sensors, Ultrasonic sensors, A Gyro, An Accelerometer, Force Sensors, Infrared sensors, 2 HD Cameras, 4 Microphones and high accuracy digital encoders on each joint.
It has two processors on board: an Intel Atom 1.6Ghz (The main computer includes SSD drive, WiFi, Bluetooth and wired network) and an additional ARM-9 processor in its chest.
The advanced software package includes a full SDK and API in Java, C++, C# (.Net), Matlab, and Python. Every robot comes standard with Choregraphe, an award winning software that makes it easy to program the robot using a drag and drop interface which simplifies the programming for new and advanced users alike. The software package includes an advanced simulation software based on Webots.
Read the comments on the video link. Some readers think human jobs will disappear, others are more optimistic. A robot teacher is being utilized in a Kansas classroom and is described as a teacher. Robots could additionally be needed for equity purposes in education. It’s the same talking point on why technology is needed in today’s classrooms. From Nao The Robot Teacher Becomes Newest Edition To Kansas School’s Teaching Staff:
The Career and Technical Education Academy in Hutchinson, Kan., has hired a new teacher who may fit in perfectly at an institution with such a technological name. The Hutchinson News reports Nao, a robot teacher, has arrived mid-year at the high school but is already making a big impact.
The Hutchinson News visited Nao’s classroom, where a reporter spoke with students, Nao and Steve Stacey, the robot’s human coworker/caretaker. Students in the computer programming class were mainly sending typed messages to the robot, which would repeat them back seconds later. But Stacey told the paper that students can program the robot to do whatever they’d like, an asset he says will look great on résumés and will serve an an early introduction to advanced engineering before the kids head to college.
Nao was developed by the French startup company Aldebaran Robotics, which describes the robot as an autonomous and programmable humanoid. Aldebaran says Nao offers students interactive lessons; for example, rather than calculating the velocity of a hypothetical curve ball themselves, students can use Nao’s help to apply the mathematical formula in a computer program.
The company hopes high schools like the one in Hutchinson will incorporate its robots into their science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula to jump-start interest in these fields, especially among female and minority students.
Nao comes with a price tag of around $21,000, but the Career and Technical Education Academy was able to purchase the robot with a grant from the Cargill Corporation, according to the Associated Press. And it seems to be worth the investment: School staff told The Hutchinson News that enrollment in its advanced computer programming class is already up over last year’s numbers.
No information on why this robot is more expensive than the basic robot. WARNING, WARNING, IT WILL NOT COMPUTE! DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! Will more expensive robots be evaluated as more effective than its lower priced counterparts? Will the more expensive robots be transferred to lower performing districts because of equity concerns? Is that out of the realm of possibility in the new educational reform world we find ourselves in?


June 23: Round Table on Funding for Smart Systems & ECSEL (coordinator for SIE: Prof. E. Sangiorgi).
Protected: SIE2017 – Book of Abstracts
The SIE2017 – Book of Abstracts is password protected. You only will be able to download it after you enter a valid password.
The Round Table will be focused on the current situation of ECSEL JTI, with particular reference to the 2017 calls, its future evolution and the various funding possibilities at national and regional level. Ongoing projects and ideas under development for the 2017 calls will be mentioned with reference to those with Italian involvement.
Download the Program of the Round Table (last update: June 14, 2017)
Download the Accompanying Person Touristic Program (last update: June 14, 2017)
SIE2017 IEEE Distinguished Lectures
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
h. 14.30 – 15.10
CEA Research Director Past Chief Scientist
The Energy and Variability Efficient Era (E.V.E.) is ahead of us
Major power consumption reduction will drive future design of technologies and architectures that will request less greedy devices and interconnect systems. The electronic market will be able to face an exponential growth thanks to the availability and feasibility of autonomous and mobile systems necessary to societal needs. The increasing complexity of high volume fabricated systems will be possible if we aim at zero intrinsic variability, and generalize 3-dimensional integration of hybrid, heterogeneous technologies at the device, functional and system levels. Weighing on the world energy saving balance will be possible and realistic by maximizing the energy efficiency of co integrated Low Power and High Performance Logic and Memory devices.The future of Nanoelectronics will face the major concerns of being Energy and Variability Efficient (E.V.E.).
Simon Deleonibus, retired from CEA-LETI on Jan 1st 2016 as Chief Scientist after 30 years of Research on Micro Nanoelectronics Devices Architectures. Before joining CEA-LETI, he was with Thomson Semiconductors (1981-1986), where he developed and transferred to production advanced microelectronics devices and products. He gained his PhD in Applied Physics from Paris University (1982). He is Visiting Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan) since 2014, National Chiao Tung University(Hsinchu, Taiwan) since 2015 and at Chinese Academy of Science (Beijing, PRC) since 2016.
He is distinguished CEA Research Director (2002), IEEE Distinguished Lecturer (2004), Fellow of the IEEE (2006), Fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2015).
He was awarded the titles of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (2004) and Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (2011), the 2005 Grand Prix de l’Académie des Technologies. He is member of the ITRS since 1998, the European Research Council Panel (2007), the Nanosciences Foundation Board of Trustees (2007). He was Associate Editor of IEEE Trans. on Elect. Dev. (2008-2014) and Member of the IEEE Electron Devices Society Board of Governors (01/2009 12/2014) and reelected (2016-2018); Chair of IEEE EDS Region 8 SRC (2015-2016).
He is currently Secretary of IEEE Electron Devices Society (2016-2017).
SIE2017 Invited Lecturers
Thursday, June 22, 2017
h. 14.00 – 14.40
Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore
Energy-Quality Scalable Adaptive VLSI Circuits and Systems – The Way towards the Next 10X Energy Reduction
In this talk, the concept of energy-quality (EQ) scalable systems is introduced and explored, as novel design dimension to scale down energy in integrated systems for the Internet of Things (IoT). EQ-scalable systems explicitly trade off energy and quality at different levels of abstraction (“vertically”), and sub-systems (“horizontally”), creating new opportunities to improve energy efficiency for a given task and expected “quality”.
The concept of quality slack, a taxonomy of techniques to trade off energy and quality, and a general EQ-scalable architecture are introduced. The generality of the EQ-scaling concept is shown through several examples, ranging from logic to analog circuits, to memories and Analog-Digital Converters. Challenges, opportunities and expected energy gains are discussed to gain an understanding of the potential of the EQ-scalable integrated circuits and systems. Ultimately, EQ scalable systems are expected to substantially improve the energy efficiency of systems for IoT, compensating the limited energy gains that will be offered by technology and voltage scaling in the decade ahead.
Massimo Alioto is Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, where he leads the Green IC group and the Integrated Circuits and Embedded Systems area (60+ people). He has also held positions at the University of Siena, Intel Labs – CRL (2013), University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (2011-2012), University of California – Berkeley (2009-2011) and EPFL – Lausanne (2007).
He is (co)author of 230 publications on journals (80, mostly IEEE Transactions) and conference proceedings, and three books with Springer. His primary research interests include ultra-low power VLSI circuits, self-powered and wireless nodes, near-threshold circuits for green computing, widely energy-scalable VLSI circuits, circuit techniques for emerging technologies, and hardware cybersecurity.
Prof. Alioto was the Chair of the “VLSI Systems and Applications” Technical Committee of the IEEE CASS (2010-2012), and Distinguished Lecturer (2009-2010). He is currently Associate Editor in Chief of the IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems. He also serves or has served as Associate Editor of several journals (e.g., ACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on CAS – part I/II). He served as Guest Editor of various journal special issues (including the up-coming issue on “Circuits and systems for the Internet of Things – from sensing to sensemaking” on IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems – part I). He was Technical Program Chair of the SOCC 2016, PRIME 2016, ICECS 2015, VARI 2015, ICECS 2013, NEWCAS 2012, ICM 2010 conferences, and Track Chair in several others (ICCD, ISCAS, ICECS, VLSI-SoC, APCCAS, ICM). He is currently member of the IEEE CASS Board of Governors. Prof. Alioto is an IEEE Fellow.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
h. 8.30 –9.10
Senior Scientist at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Room-temperature blue emitting high-beta GaN nanobeam cavity lasers
Over the past few years recent advances in nanofabrication led to the emergence of dielectric nanocavities that can confine light to a nearly diffraction limited volume. By combining such cavities with a gain medium, the resulting nanolasers exhibit a peculiar emission compared to conventional lasers. In contrast to the traditional signatures of lasing—i.e., a sharp increase in the intensity in parallel with a narrowing of the emission spectrum, due to the amplification of stimulated emission—the lasing transition becomes blurred in the nanolaser case. This blurring occurs because spontaneous photon emission is efficiently coupled to the nanocavity mode. As a result, the conventional intensity increase and emission linewidth are not frequently observed in nanolasers. In this talk we will report on the main features of blue emitting high-quality factor (Q) III-nitride nanobeam photonic crystal cavities containing an InGaN/GaN quantum well (QW) gain medium. Transition from incoherent to coherent light emission is monitored using power-dependent second-order autocorrelation function measurements. Fabrication statistics performed on a second generation of blue nanobeam cavities show a twofold increase in the average Q value (> 4000) with a high fabrication yield thanks to the use of a single-step pattern transfer process. Interestingly, such statistical analysis also indicates that conventional disorder models could not explain the dominant contribution to experimental Q factors. Additionally, the introduction of a sidewall grating outcoupler increased the integrated far-field intensity of those structures by nearly one order of magnitude.
Raphaël Butté received the PhD degree from the University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France, in 2000 for his research on the structural and optoelectronic properties of hydrogenated nanostructured silicon thin films. After a three-year postdoctoral stay at the University of Sheffield where his research shifted to the optical properties of III-V semiconductors, he moved to Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2004 in a newly established laboratory directed by Prof. Nicolas Grandjean. In 2010, he became a permanent member of staff and was promoted to the position of Senior Scientist in April 2016.
His current research activity mainly deals with microcavities, planar waveguides and photonic crystals made from III-nitride semiconductors.
He is the author of more than 90 scientific articles published in peer-reviewed international journals (> 3000 citations, h-index: 28) and 6 book chapters. He has given 26 invited talks in international conferences.
In 2012, he was one of the 149 scientists recognized by the Outstanding Referee program of the American Physical Society (APS) selected from a pool of roughly 60,000 currently active referees.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
h. 9.10 – 9.50
Richard M. DE LA RUE
Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow
Array meta-surfaces for biomedical sensing at infra-red wavelengths
Richard De La Rue retired formally from the University of Glasgow in September 2010 and joined the Photonics Research Centre at the University of Malaya in April 2011, where he spent a year as Visiting Professor. In August 2012 he became Research Professor of Optoelectronics in the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow – and completed his tenure in July 2014. He currently has the status of Honorary Senior Research Fellow (Professor Emeritus) in Optoelectronics – at the University of Glasgow.
He is Fellow of the European Optical Society; Fellow of the IEEE; Fellow of the OSA; Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
His Hirsch index, according to Google Scholar, is 56.
SIE2017 IEEE Fellow Lectures
Friday, June 23, 2017
h. 08.50 – 09.30
Full Professor at the University of Catania
CMOS Multistage Amplifiers
CMOS multistage amplifier design has relentlessly drawn remarkable research attention. Indeed, growing applications demanding high-gain, wide-bandwidth and fast-settling amplifiers in heavy-load and low-power conditions provide motivations for challenging efforts towards global performance enhancement. In this framework, three-stage and four-stage operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) are attractive for high-gain high-accuracy buffering/amplifying operation, owing to their speed, area and power efficiencies under low-voltage and low-power constraints. Their design however is not trivial. In this talk, design and optimization of multistage CMOS operational amplifiers in terms of architectures, frequency compensation techniques, Slew Rate, and other relevant issues are discussed in detail to provide a look at the latest results and future trends.
Salvatore Pennisi received the laurea degree in Electronic Engineering in 1992 and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1997, both from the University of Catania, Italy. He is now full professor at the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica e Informatica of the University of Catania, where he teaches courses for first level and master laurea degrees and is presently the coordinator of the Laurea Magistrale Course in Electronic Engineering.
His main research interests include circuit theory and analog design with emphasis on low-voltage and current-mode techniques, multi-stage amplifiers with related frequency compensation, data converters and high-frequency distortion analysis in analog circuits. More recently, his research activities have involved driving circuits and techniques for liquid crystal displays and circuits for efficient energy harvesting. He is the (co)author of more than 90 international journal papers (mostly IEEE), over 130 conference proceedings, and is the co-author of the books CMOS Current Amplifiers (1999), Feedback Amplifiers: Theory and Design (2001) both edited by Kluwer Academic Publishers, and Liquid Crystal Display Drivers-Techniques and Circuits (Springer, 2009).
Prof. Pennisi is member of the IEEE CASS Analog Signal Processing Technical Committee and served as an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems-Part II: Express Briefs and of the Wiley International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications. He is involved in the technical committee of several conferences including IEEE ISCAS, IEEE NEWCAS, ESSCIRC, etc and has been the General Chair of PRIME 2017. Prof. Pennisi is an IEEE Fellow.
Friday, June 23, 2017
h. 09.30 – 10.10
Full Professor at Politecnico di Milano
DTC-Based Digital PLLs
Digital phase-locked loops (DPLLs) have emerged in last ten years as an important alternative to analog PLLs, also for fractional-N synthesis in wireless applications where a very demanding spectral purity is required. While in the initial implementations the key building block of DPLLs was a multibit time to digital converter (TDC), which is power consuming circuit analog to an ADC, record performance have been ultimately obtained by exploiting an architecture featuring a time arbiter, i.e. a single-bit TDC, driven by a multi bit digital-to-time converter (DTC). The key enabling idea is to exploit the dithering property of the thermal noise always present in a circuit.
The presentation reviews the path that has led to this approach, which epitomize how scaled CMOS technologies may enable powerful calibration techniques achieving unprecedented performance.
Carlo Samori received the Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1995, from the Politecnico di Milano, Italy, where he is now a professor.
His research interests are in the area of RF circuits, in particular of design and analysis of VCOs and high performance frequency synthesizers. He has collaborated with several semiconductor companies. He is a co-author of more than 100 papers and of the book Integrated Frequency Synthesizers for Wireless Systems (Cambridge University Press, 2007). Prof. Samori has been a member of the Technical Program Committee (TPC) of the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference and he is a member of the TPC of the European Solid-State Circuits Conference. He has been Guest Editor for the December 2014 issue of the Journal of Solid-State Circuits.
Carlo Samori is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society and an IEEE Fellow.


Robotic surgery is a highly advanced form of minimally invasive surgery that uses robotic imaging and navigation technologies. It allows doctors to perform the surgeries with more accuracy, precision, and flexibility. Over the years, robotic surgery in Dubai, as well as in other countries, has shown excellent results and success rates.
Robotic surgery involves high-definition 3D cameras and robotic arms that can rotate 360 degrees, which are operated by the doctor with the help of a computer console. The cameras allow a high-resolution and magnified view, whereas the robotic arms provide the surgeon with a greater range of motion and precision.
While performing robotic surgery, the surgeon gets an extra edge because of this microtechnology. He accordingly uses it to make tiny incisions in even smaller spaces. Then, they insert the miniatured devices through those incisions and manipulate them from the nearby console using their hands and feet.
As robotic surgery is less invasive and more precise, it comes with the following patient benefits when compared to traditional open surgeries:
Given below are the surgeries performed by Dr. Girish Juneja with the help of robotic technology:
Dr, Girish Juneja is a leading bariatric and highly skilled robotic surgeon in Dubai with more than 30 years of experience. He is extensively trained and has used robotic-assisted technology for many procedures. To this date, he has helped and successfully cured thousands of patients. Therefore, if you would like to learn more about robotic surgeries, contact us today.


Screw Compressor with Permanent Magnet Motor
Energy efficiency of our screw compressor can meet the GB19153-2009 energy saving product standards; it adopts permanent magnet motor rotor with high efficiency, and integrated structure of motor and shaft.
Finite Element Analysis
The main parts of JF series twin screw compressor adopt finite element analysis to ensure that the quality of each component can get the maximum level of optimization, which provide strong technical support for product stability, efficient and long-term operation. The continuous optimized rotor and internal structure of our air compressor provide the advanced power density, the exhaust volume reaches the advanced level of the world.
Permanent Magnet Motor
This rotary twin screw compressor is equipped with permanent magnet motor (PM motor), its energy saving performance is more excellent compared with ordinary high frequency motor, especially it can still maintain a high motor power at a low speed. The permanent magnet motor adopts integrated structure, its size is 1/3 of ordinary high frequency motor, so that it can save space and it is easy to install and disassemble.
Features of Permanent Magnet Motor
The permanent magnet motor uses high performance neodymium magnets (NdFeB magnets), which can not lose their magnetism at the temperature of 120℃, their service life is more than 15 years.
Stator wire adopts enameled wire which is dedicated to frequency converter, it has excellent insulation performance and long service life. This motor can achieve soft start, the motor current will not exceed full load current when the it is running, at the same time, it can greatly reduce the impact on the power grid equipment, and will not damage the electrical equipment. The permanent magnet motor does not equip with the motor bearings, the rotator of permanent magnet can be installed on the shaft of male rotor. This structure is not required to use bearings, so as to eliminate the fault point of motor bearings.
The microcomputer controlled full-color operating system is adopted with precise control, multi machine linkage, remote control and other functions.
2. RS485 Multiple Connections
3. LAN or Direct Connection
4. Air Compressor Package
Full color touch screen display, easy to operate.
Supports multiple models of machine.
Equipped with special GSM Modem, it will alarm.
Records 100 days of air compressor fault information
Supports to switch over the pressure unit and temperature unit
With RS-485 communication function, and supports MODBUSRTU.
Advantages of Permanent Magnet Motor
The permanent magnet motor maintains high motor efficiency at low speed; it has obvious advantages in energy saving when the air consumption is low. Variable frequency ranges from 25% to 100%, ordinary frequency conversion ranges from 50% to100%, it saves 22%~30% of electric energy compared with the fixed speed air compressor, and saves 5%~10% of electric energy compared with ordinary frequency conversion compressor, the more air consumption fluctuates, the more obvious energy saving effect.
Energy saving when system is unloading (frequency conversion)
The stationary air compressor has unloading time when the air consumption fluctuates, 45% electric energy is still consumed when it is running without load. But the screw compressor with permanent magnet motor is controlled by frequency conversion, it will not waste electric energy. The more air compressor units are used, the more obvious energy saving effect. The stationary air compressor has to set 1BARG pressure control zone (upper and lower limit of air compressor) to avoid the impact on power grid which cause by frequent start and stop, it needs a pressure gradient when several machines are working together, and the pressure of system is larger. But JF series air compressor is controlled by frequency conversion, it can start and stop at any time without limit, so it is no need to set a pressure zone, but only a pressure spot, it can save 0.14BARG pressure in each spot, and the system pressure is adjustable.
Energy saving when compressor is running (frequency conversion)
The starting current of air compressor is 3-6 times of rated working current, if it is started frequently that a lot of electric energy will be wasted, frequency conversion type compressor adopts soft start without frequent start and stop, the maximum current will not exceed the rated working current. At the same time, it will reduce the impact on power grid equipment, and will not damage the electrical equipment.


Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way since its inception, and it continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. As we stand on the threshold of the future, it's crucial to explore the trends that are shaping the trajectory of AI and the profound implications these trends have on our world. In this blog post, we will delve into the exciting developments in AI and discuss the far-reaching consequences they hold.
Trend 1: Machine Learning Dominance
One of the most significant trends in AI is the increasing dominance of machine learning techniques. Machine learning, a subset of AI, has proven to be incredibly effective in various applications, from image recognition to natural language processing. This trend is expected to continue as researchers develop more sophisticated algorithms and models, making AI systems smarter and more capable.
Implication: Machine learning's prominence means that AI will become an integral part of everyday life, with applications in healthcare, finance, transportation, and more. It will enhance decision-making, automate tasks, and improve user experiences.
Trend 2: Explainable AI (XAI)
As AI systems become more complex and integrated into critical systems, the demand for transparency and explain ability is growing. Explainable AI (XAI) is a trend focused on making AI algorithms and models more understandable to humans. This is crucial for building trust in AI and ensuring that decisions made by AI systems can be explained and justified.
Implication: XAI will be essential in fields where AI influences decisions, such as healthcare diagnoses and autonomous vehicles. It will help bridge the gap between AI capabilities and human understanding, promoting responsible AI adoption.
Trend 3: AI Ethics and Bias Mitigation
The ethical implications of AI have garnered increasing attention. Bias in AI algorithms, data privacy concerns, and potential misuse of AI are all challenges that need to be addressed. Organizations and governments are taking steps to implement ethical guidelines and regulations for AI.
Implication: The future of AI will be marked by a stronger focus on ethics and fairness. To harness AI's potential fully, we must ensure that it benefits all of society and minimizes harm.
Trend 4: AI in Healthcare
AI is poised to revolutionize healthcare in various ways. From early disease detection to personalized treatment plans, AI has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics will become more prevalent.
Implication: Patients will experience more accurate diagnoses and treatments, while healthcare providers will benefit from improved efficiency and reduced workloads.
Trend 5: AI in Autonomous Systems
The era of autonomous systems is approaching rapidly. AI-powered autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots are becoming more advanced and capable. These systems have the potential to transform industries like transportation, logistics, and manufacturing.
Implication: While autonomous systems can enhance efficiency and safety, they also raise questions about job displacement and safety standards. Addressing these issues will be crucial.
The future of artificial intelligence is filled with promise and challenges. Machine learning, explainable AI, ethics, healthcare, and autonomous systems are just a few of the trends that will shape AI's evolution. It's essential that we navigate this future with a thoughtful and responsible approach, ensuring that AI benefits society as a whole while minimizing potential risks. As AI continues to advance, staying informed and engaged with these trends will be key to harnessing its full potential.
Prof Indu Shrivastava
The Sage Bhopal


For customers running Sybase ASE 12.5 on Solaris 8, the long-planned end of support for that platform, by Sun as of March 2009, and by Sybase effective December 2009, means that they must move their workloads to a new environment or face special support contracts. For many customers, the resources and changes required to upgrade both the operating system and database server prompt a consideration of whether other alternatives can reduce costs and uncertainty for a comparable migration effort. Moving to Intel-based infrastructure brings immediate payback through lower support costs and reduction in power and cooling requirements.
Cost savings- Migrating to Intel platforms can save 50% of the costs compared to upgrading to new UNIX/RISC servers, according to a recent study by Alinean.
Energy efficiency- Intel Xeon processors automate energy consumption and provide industry-leading multi-core performance without increasing data center footprint or power demands. With the versatility to adapt performance to meet server workloads, Intel Xeon processors help lower IT costs by automatically allocating power based on your performance requirements while conserving energy during low-use periods.
Performance- Delivering new levels of processor scalability and memory capacity, Intel Xeon processors provide industry-leading intelligent performance for demanding, mission-critical server environments. Maximizing both energy efficiency and performance, Intel Xeon processors dynamically adjust server performance according to your application needs. Intel Xeon processors deliver more transactions per server for data-demanding enterprise applications.
Virtualization- Intel server processors combine industry-leading processor performance with integrated, hardware-assisted virtualization technology. Designed with Intel Virtualization Technology FlexMigration (Intel VT FlexMigration), Intel server processors allow you the flexibility to migrate workloads to fewer servers, increasing utilization while saving energy. These processors also allow you to combine multiple generations into the same virtualized server pool, extending failover, load balancing, and disaster recovery.


What is OCR? What is OCR? How can a beginner use it with Azure Cognitive Services?
What is OCR?
OCR stands for optical character recognition. It is the identification of alphanumeric characters within an image. These steps will help you understand the OCR process.
Get an image
Perform pre-processing of the image
Use algorithm to recognize characters
Scanners and cameras can produce images. Scanners and cameras can preserve the layout when done correctly. However, camera-based images can cause parallax to affect the positions and dimensions of characters and words. Pre-processing can help to alleviate these issues.
Figure 1: Print text offers a simpler image to work on
Pre-processing images is done mainly to make it easier for computer systems to identify characters in an image. Based on your requirements, there are many pre-processing algorithms that can be used. Some of these algorithms include
Pre-processing is primarily used to enhance an image but incorrectly applying these filters can compromise the validity of the data.
After pre-processing, the next step is character recognition. Pattern matching is one of the most fundamental algorithms for character recognition. The image is compared to a stored glyph and compared pixel by pixel. This procedure is invalid for handwritten text.
Algorithms can be used to match features and not pixels, which can help overcome the difficulties of handwritten text. Feature extraction can also reduce dimensionality, which improves efficiency.
Figure 2: Patterns in handwritten texts can be very diverse and pose a problem for machine learning algorithms
The confidence level is a measure that shows how optimistic the algorithm is about its predictions. You can increase the confidence level by using standard fonts and different font sizes. These four steps are the most important. You can also improve OCR accuracy by implementing application-specific optimizations.
OCR on Azure
OCR is a tedious and complex task that requires extensive domain knowledge. My perspective is that I come from a background in Computer Science. I didn’t have any technical support in OCR.
Azure’s Cognitive Services makes OCR possible for both novice programmers and programmers. The service uses a simple REST interface, which gives off a sense of familiarity and increases the ease of use.
OCR on Azure is available as a sub-service to the Computer Vision API. To implement Microsoft’s OCR service one must have a key to Azure. To test the OCR service, you can easily obtain trial keys.
Computer Vision is similar to the LUIS service but not available in all regions. These regions offer Computer Vision services:
East US 2
South Central US
West Central US
West US 2
Computer Vision is available in a variety pricing tiers, unlike LUIS.
TierFeaturesUnitPriceFree-Transactions5k/monthS110 transactions/sTransactions0-1 mil – INR 66/1k transactions
1-5 mil – INR 52.8/1k transactions
>5 mil – INR 42.97/1k transactions
S210 transactions/sTransactions0-1 mil – INR 99.15/1k transactions
1-5 mil – INR.66.10/1k transactions
>5 mil – INR42.97/1k transactions
S310 transactions/sTransactionsINR 165.25/1k transactionsThe Computer Vision API differentiates between OCR for printed text and OCR for handwritten text. Different nested routes can be used for each process. It is much easier to analyze printed text, as we have already discussed. This is due to the clear distinction between background font and foregrou in standard fonts.


Sono in programma il 19 e 21 settembre due Career Day, giornate di recruiting per facilitare l’incontro tra aziende e…
Master Programme in Computer Science and networking
The 2-year Master Programme in Computer Science and Networking (entirely given in English) has been designed to meet the growing demand for an emerging kind of professionals with high-level expertise in both a) computer and information science and technologies, and b) communication networking science and technologies.
This expertise is needed in the recent development of the Future Internet domain were parallel and distributed processing is integrated with communication and storage functions. The Master is a “full stack” proposal covering recent development such as Software Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization that are characterizing deployments such as the “5G” cellular network, the Industrial Internet of Things, Tactile Internet or the Internet of Vehicles and Drones.
The program will presents courses related to the design and implementation of both innovative software-hardware distributed infrastructures, service-based distributed applications and new in-network processing architectures characterizing future networking infrastructures. The program includes courses related to the design and usage of both parallel and distributed systems as well.
The Master Degree in Computer Science is held completely in English. Foreign students can find all the relevant information for enrolling in the following page:
14 1K€ fellowships available for Computer Science and Networking 2021-22 first year students
Students registered to the first year of the Master in Computer Science and Networking for Academic Year 2021-22 may apply for the assignment of 14 1000€ “fellowships” provided by different companies interested in the support of this specific International Master program of the University of Pisa. Applications will open next September and will close in October. Official dates and requisites (apart from being already registered) will be communicated in an “official” fellowship call, that will be published in September). Students that will receive the fellowship will be entitled to get a second fellowship (same amount) next year, provided they will complete part of the first year exams as stated in the forthcoming official fellowship call.
- Admission procedure:email@example.com
È disponibile la nuova edizione della guida ai servizi e alle opportunità per la comunità studentesca realizzata con la collaborazione… Choose the University of Pisa as the host institution for your EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship! You will be able…
È disponibile la nuova edizione della guida ai servizi e alle opportunità per la comunità studentesca realizzata con la collaborazione…
Choose the University of Pisa as the host institution for your EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship! You will be able…


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Professor of electrical engineering, public policy, law and management at UCLA as well as the co-director of the Institute for Technology Law and Policy; nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Previous Work: Developed methods of imaging the earth from space at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Degrees: B.S., University of Virginia; M.S. and Ph.D., Stanford University
Family: John and his wife Carmen have a son who is a graduate of Convent & Stuart Hall.


The USB port lets you link devices like your phone to the Ford Sync system. Although many Ford Sync systems have Bluetooth, they all include a USB port.
However, encountering issues where the USB port is not working can be frustrating, especially when you rely on it for entertainment, charging, or data transfer.
Suppose your Ford Fusion’s USB port is not working. In that case, you should check the cable, try a different device, or consider consulting a mechanic or dealership for a diagnostic and potential repair. You can easily resolve this issue by following the given troubleshooting steps.
Don’t need to worry! In this article, we will explore the common causes behind a non-working USB port in your Ford Fusion and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve the issue.
So stay with us till the end!
Usage Of A USB Port In Your Ford Fusion – Understand The Importance!
- Media Playback: The USB port allows you to play music, audiobooks, or videos from a connected device, providing entertainment during your drive.
- Charging: It serves as a convenient charging source for your smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices. This ensures they remain powered up during your journeys.
- Data Transfer: You can transfer files, such as music playlists or software updates, between your car’s infotainment system and connected devices. This functionality allows for seamless data sharing.
The Solution To The Problem Of Usb Port Not Working – You Must Try These 8 Fixes!
1. Check And Replace The USB Cable:
- Inspect the USB cable, including frayed wires or bent connectors, for visible damage.
- If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new, high-quality USB cable that is compatible with your devices.
2. Inspect and Clean the USB Port:
- Inspect the USB port for any visible debris, dust, or lint. Use a flashlight if necessary.
- Carefully remove any debris using a non-conductive tool or compressed air.
According to my experience, I quickly resolved this issue by carefully removing any dirt or bits of stuff from the port. I suggest compressed air to remove them while being gentle to protect the port.
3. Check and Replace Fuse:
- Consult your Ford Fusion’s owner’s manual to locate the fuse for the USB port. The manual will provide information on the fuse’s location.
- If the fuse is blown, swap it for a new one with the same amperage rating. Ensure you use a proper replacement fuse to avoid electrical issues.
4. Update the car’s Software:
- Check for any available software updates for your Ford Fusion’s infotainment system. (Manufacturers release updates to address bugs and improve system performance.)
- Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual or visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest software updates for your car.
5. Perform a Master Reset:
Sometimes, you can fix issues with your Ford Sync USB by resetting it. Here are the steps for a master reset on your Ford Sync:
- Start your car without putting it in accessory mode.
- On the Ford Sync screen, press “Settings.”
- Look for “General” in the settings menu and select it.
- Scroll through the options until you locate “Master Reset,” then select it.
- You’ll receive a message stating that your car’s sync will return to factory settings. Confirm by clicking “Continue.”
- After clicking “Continue,” the Ford Sync will turn off, and you might need to wait for a few minutes for the reset to finish.
6. Resolving the issue of low volume:
Sometimes, your Ford Sync and USB work fine, but there could be a technical issue with your car’s speaker system or phone. It’s easy to overlook that your car’s speakers or your phone’s volume might be set very low, resulting in very little or no sound coming from the speakers.
For example, even if your car’s speakers are set to maximum volume, if your phone’s volume is turned down low, you can simply increase the phone’s volume to fix the issue.
7. Restart your car:
Sometimes, all you need to do to get your Ford Sync USB slot working again is restart your car. Here’s how:
- Turn off your car completely, ensuring it’s not in accessory mode, to prevent the radio from staying on.
- Wait a few minutes to ensure everything has powered down.
- Turn your car back on to see if the Ford Sync USB works again.
8. Force close the app and unplug the USB:
Technology can sometimes be tricky, but a straightforward solution for fixing your Ford Sync USB problem is to unplug it. Here are the steps:
- Unplug the USB cable from your Ford Sync’s USB slot.
- Wait for about a minute.
- Plug the USB cable back into the Ford Sync USB slot.
As previously mentioned, unplugging and re-plugging your USB can often resolve your Ford Sync issue. However, in some cases, you may need to take additional steps
- When you plug the USB cable back in, you should see your phone’s app appear in your Ford Sync’s Mobile Apps Menu.
- If the app doesn’t show up, you should force close the app on your phone.
- Then restart your Ford Sync system.
- Once the Ford Sync is back on, reconnect your phone to the USB slot to check if it works.
Read the discussion of the audience on this forum-based community website and get an idea of the solution to USB port malfunctioning.
5 Common Causes Of A Non – Working USB Port – Let’s Take An Analysis!
1. Faulty USB Cable:
This is a frequent source of connectivity issues with electronic devices, including smartphones, computers, and car infotainment systems like the one in your Ford Fusion.
As time passes, cables can get damaged if they’re not handled carefully or used often. This damage can make the connection less reliable.
2. Dirty And Clogged USB Ports:
Over time, USB ports can get dirty because they easily collect dirt and dust. When they’re dirty, it can make it tricky for your devices to connect properly to your Ford Sync when you plug in a USB cord.
As per my experience, I’ve noticed that my USB port is not working well. When I inspected the problem, I found that my USB port was dirty.
3. Blown Fuses Are Also Considerable:
A frequently encountered issue contributing to a non-working USB port in various devices, including automotive electronics like your Ford Fusion, is blown fuses.
When a fuse blows in the circuit connected to the USB port, it can disrupt the power supply, resulting in a loss of functionality. Overcurrent situations, such as short circuits, power surges, or malfunctioning components, typically cause blown fuses.
4. Check The Software Issues:
Software-related problems, such as glitches or outdated firmware in the car’s infotainment system, can also cause USB port problems. Software updates are periodically released to address these issues.
Outdated or buggy software in your car’s infotainment system can disrupt the proper functioning of the USB port.
5. Hardware Malfunction Must Be The Cause Of This Issue:
Sometimes, the USB port itself may be damaged or malfunctioning due to wear and tear, electrical issues, or manufacturing defects. Hardware issues can disrupt the proper functioning of the USB port, leading to connectivity problems or other related issues.
Certainly, here are five common preventive measures to keep your Ford Fusion’s USB port working smoothly.
Preventive Measure For Long Validity Of USB Port – Must Consider It!
1. Use High-Quality USB cables:
- Invest in durable, high-quality USB cables
- Quality cables are less likely to fray or become damaged
- Ensures a stable and reliable connection
2. Keep The Area Clean:
- Regularly clean the area around the USB port
- Use a small brush or compressed air to clean the port.
- Maintaining a clean port helps ensure proper connectivity
3. Secure Devices During Driving:
For the longevity of the USB port, Ensure that devices connected to the port are securely mounted or stored while driving. Loose or shifting devices can put stress on the USB port and its connectors.
4. Safely Eject Devices:
Before disconnecting a USB device from the port, always safely eject it from the car’s infotainment system. Proper ejection ensures a clean disconnection and reduces the risk of data corruption.
5. Regular Maintenance Checkups:
Include the USB port as part of your regular vehicle maintenance checkups. Contact a professional technician if you notice any issues, such as loose connections or unusual behavior with the USB port.
Congratulations! You have resolved the problem of the USB port not working. Feel free to implement these factors and read this community website for further amazing results from avoiding this malfunction.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can I charge multiple devices simultaneously using the USB port in my Ford Fusion?
Yes, the USB port in your Ford Fusion is typically designed to support multiple devices simultaneously. However, a high-quality USB hub can help distribute power effectively if you have multiple devices to charge.
2. What should I do if my USB port stops working after a software update?
If your USB port experiences issues following a software update, it’s advisable to perform a master reset of the infotainment system. This can often resolve software-related glitches.
3. Is adding more USB ports to my Ford Fusion for additional device connectivity possible?
While the number of USB ports in your Ford Fusion is typically fixed, you can consider using a high-quality USB hub to expand the available ports. Be sure to choose a hub that can distribute power and data effectively to maintain stable connections.
In A Nutshell:
Let me conclude the whole discussion,
If your Ford Fusion’s USB port is not working, the main causes are a damaged USB cable, blown fuses, dirty and clogged USB ports, outdated software, and faulty hardware. You can quickly resolve this issue by troubleshooting all of these one by one. If the problem continues, you can refer to your car’s manual for detailed steps to fix it or get help from a professional.