Swedish multinational manufacturing company, Volvo, is planning to launch the 2020 V60 Cross Country. The company is known for its boxy and safe wagons in the U.S. and the company is also known for its authentic Scandinavian designs, world-class engineering, luxurious and quality control features. The upcoming V60 Cross Country will be a luxury vehicle that will help people feel more charismatic. The V60 Cross Country will be a car for people who aspire to travel long distances.

The V60 Cross Country is based on the Volvo formula, with serious comfort and class-leading interior design at a reasonable price. The V60 Cross country will be equipped with T8 twin polestar engine which produces 302 kW of power and 670 Nm of peak torque. The exteriors of the V60 Cross country will feature unique front grille, DRLs, LED headlights with active bending lights, embossed rear bumper logo, tough body cladding, panoramic sunroof, 18-inches alloy wheels and optional 19-inches alloy wheels with diamond-cut. The V60 Cross country has higher ground clearance along with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) mechanism.

The exteriors of the V60 Cross country will feature the iron ore decor inlays, Nappa leather upholstery seating, Harman Kardon premium sound system, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with mounted controls, decent storage space, rear centre armrest with cup holders and glove box. Moreover, the V60 Cross country comes with active safety systems such as Hill Descent Control, electronic stability control, run-off-road mitigation, a 360-degree camera for reverse parking, brake assist, force limiters, safety belts with pre-tensioners and side-impact collision system. The V60 Cross country will compete with Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series. The expected price of the V60 Cross country is US$ 63048 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Researchers found that listening to music in high tempo could make exercise easier and also, it increases the heart rate and improve the benefits of physical training. Music helps people to exercise in an effective manner. Anyone can affirm the fact that listening to fast-paced music while jogging could help in improving the result, making the exercise a little easier.

Several studies published earlier have demonstrated how a person’s attention shifts away from physical discomfort due to exercise by listening to music. This study focused on understanding how a particular kind of tempo of music influences exertion in workouts among two different types of exercises.

This research was conducted on 19 female candidates, wherein each candidate completed several exercise sessions. In these sessions, they had to do endurance exercise or a high-intensity exercise. Researchers tested four different types of music, which includes no music, 90 to 110 bpm, 130 to 150 bpm, and 170 to 190 bpm, for every exercise type.

The study revealed that during endurance exercise, the benefits of high-tempo music were observed in candidates doing these exercises. According to the hypothesis of researchers, this difference might be due to extra cognitive fatigue caused due to endurance exercise. However, music has less influence on an individual’s perspective of effort during high-intensity exercises, as these exercises are of short duration when compared to endurance exercises.

This study was solely focused on the tempo of the music, which is a major limitation of this study. However, researchers noted that other musical characteristics have to be evaluated in researches in the near future, in order to better analyze any optimal aural accompaniment to exercise.

Korean Auto Company, KIA Motors India has unveiled a concept version of the Sonet at the 2020 Auto Expo. The Sonet will enter the extremely competitive subcompact SUV segment. The Sonet will be the third vehicle by the company in India. After the launch, the Sonet will compete against the Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. It is the fact that KIA has a relatively small network that allows it to offer its model in multiple configurations and variants, something that is inventory and a logistic nightmare for Hyundai, which has a considerably bigger network.

The production model of the Sonet will share its substructures with the Hyundai Venue. The Sonet will be equipped with a 1.2-litre petrol engine which produces 83 PS of power and 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which produces 125 PS of power. The vehicle will be also equipped with a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The Sonet comes with two transmission options; 6-speed manual transmission and 6-speed DCT automatic transmission system. On the outside, the Sonet features LED headlights with LED DRLs and projector lens, sculpted bonnet, the company’s signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, LED taillights and flush-fitting door handles.

The Sonet features a large-in-class 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, UVO Connect connected technology, climate control, push-button start-stop, wireless charging, and electric sunroof. The Sonet SUV will be manufactured at the KIA’s Anantapur facility in Andhra Pradesh. The showcased concept version previews around 90% of what people will see in showrooms and it is expected to offer BS-VI compliant engines. The Sonet subcompact SUV is expected to be launched in August 2020 in India. The company aims to sell around 70,000 vehicles of the Sonet in its first year of sale.

Indian Auto giant, Maruti Suzuki, is planning to launch the facelift version of Ignis hatchback by mid-2020. Maruti Suzuki is also expected to unveil the new model of Ignis at the Auto Expo 2020, scheduled on 5 February. After the successful launch of Ignis, Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch facelift Ignis in the Indian Auto Market. The Ignis was launched back in 2017, with its retro styling and unique design Ignis was aimed towards younger buyers. The price of the facelift Ignis is expected to start from US$ 7040.74 and US$ 9857.04 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end variant.

Moreover, Maruti Suzuki Ignis will be equipped with 1.2-litre BS-VI petrol engine which produces 61 kW power at 6000 rpm and 113 Nm torque. This petrol engine variant is currently being used in Maruti Suzuki Swift and Baleno except for BS-VI emission norms. The engine offers 5-speed manual transmission along with an automated manual transmission (AMT) system. The diesel engine is already pulled out of the market. The expected mileage of Ignis is 20.89 km per litre. Its front grille is inspired by Maruti Suzuki S-presso. The front bumper is also restyled with a separate fog lamps on each side and signature U-shaped LED headlamps (daytime running lamps) with new silver faux skid plate.

Ignis will be equipped with a new SmartPlay Studio infotainment system, co-driver seatbelt, parking sensor and high-speed alert system and expected to feature with the new color scheme in the Indian auto market. The current Ignis is available in 9 color schemes which include Glistening Grey, Nexa Blue, Silky Silver, Tinsel Blue and Uptown Red, Pearl Arctic White, Tinsel Blue with Peak Arctic White, Uptown Red with Midnight Black and Tinsel Blue with Midnight Black. Maruti Suzuki Ignis will compete with Ford Figo, Ford Freestyle, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Toyota Etios Liva and Mahindra KUV100 NXT.

Samsung announced artificial humans at the opening of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 in Las Vegas. Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Labs (STAR lab) unveiled AI-powered artificial humans, who are digital avatars that are expected to ‘converse and sympathize’ like real humans. The AI-powered Neons are expected to react and respond in real-time. In the demo part, the Neon avatar responded a few lines in Hindi, Chinese and Korean to a Neon employee.

According to Neon creator and STAR Labs boss, Pranav Mistry, “Neon will integrate with our world and serve as new links to a better future, a world where ‘humans are humans’ and ‘machines are humane.” Neon will be a new kind of life that makes it sound like a digital discussion partner of humans, where interactions will take place in real-time. Neon is the name of the company as well as the name of the avatars. The technology after this concept is divided into two versions, Spectra and Core R3. However, the recently leaked videos and teaser images of Neon are fake, as those were made only for promotions and illustrative purposes.

Neon avatars will be AI-powered and are expected to have an interaction with users while presenting intelligence and emotions. Neons are based on real humans with newly created dialogues, emotions and expressions. Each avatar, individually known as Neon, can be modified for different tasks and will be able to respond quickly. In future, everyone will have access to subscribe or license a Neon as a financial advisor, a service representative or a healthcare provider. In forthcoming years Neon will also work as movie actors, TV anchors, spokespersons, or a friend or companion.

Gentex Corporation, world’s major supplier of electronically dimmable aircraft windows (EDWs) has announced the latest generation electronically dimmable aircraft windows on the new Boeing 777X. The windows combine an electrochromic gel which is sandwiched among two thin glass panels. Through conductive coating of the glass a low-voltage current is applied to the gel, which causes the window to darken. However, the gel returns to its original transparent state once the current is removed. It’s possible to control all the windows from the plane’s cockpit or it can be operated manually by individual passengers.

These new electronically dimmable aircraft windows get dark twice and also get 100 times darker as compared to Gentex’s previous EDW models. At maximum setting EDWs can block 99.99% of visible light coming from outside. They can also block ultraviolet light and infrared light, protect passengers from UV rays to keep them cool and have a lower operation and maintenance cost compared to traditional window shades. The EDWs will be optional to the airline customers, but not on all Boeing aircrafts. EDWs were recently showcased at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES), in Las Vegas.

According to Steve Dowing, President, Gentex, “We’re proud to be a continued partner with Boeing as we look to expand and improve our dimmable glass product offerings. With careful design and collaboration with Boeing, our teams have developed a robust EDW system that easily integrates to the airframe for optimal control, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Gentex EDWs has heat control and sunlight solutions which can eliminate the traditional window shadows and will not depend upon AC systems. The Boeing 777X will be the first aerospace model to use a new electronically dimmable window technology.

]]> https://geekyupdate.com/latest-private-messaging-feature-on-google-photos-offer-users-faster-sharing-option/ Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:53:42 +0000 https://geekyupdate.com/?p=166 Google recently admitted that it has been offering users a quite cumbersome option of sharing photos, i.e. the shared album, with Google Photos services for many years now. However, Google is all set to launch a revamped photo sharing option that will enable quicker sharing of images. The new feature is reportedly a private messaging option included in Google Photos on both Android and iOS mobile and website, which is intended for much faster sharing of photos.

The new feature benefits users in a way that whenever one wants to share a photo, he or she will not be required to create a complete album. It thus helps to share a one-off message with friends, who have got Google Photos installed on their phones, just as a photo is shared on Snapchat, Instagram, or any other social media or multimedia application. According to tech industry experts, the fast sharing of photos has turned out to be a starting point for any conversation, just as photos have become a major form of communication on various social media platforms.

Janvi Shah, the Product Manager at Google, elaborated on the latest development, “This feature isn’t designed to replace any chat apps you already use, but we do hope it improves sharing memories with your friends and family through Google Photos. This is gradually rolling out over the next week and, as always, you can share these photos with your friends and family across all platforms, including Android, iOS and the web, without any loss in image quality from the photos you backed up.”

It is being assumed that the latest move by Google is a way bigger deal than it seems to be, as it is mostly intended to advance Google Photos as a social application, which, in turn, could earn it new users and more popularity. Thus, Google Photos is one of the best ways to preserve an online bank of memories, with no worries about storage or backup.

Andrew Petkus, assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of South California’s Keck School of Medicine, expounded on the latest breakthrough, “This is the first study to really show, in a statistical model, that air pollution was associated with changes in people’s brains and that those changes were then connected with declines in memory performance. Our hope is that by better understanding the underlying brain changes caused by air pollution, researchers will be able to develop interventions to help people with or at risk for cognitive decline.”

It has been reported that some fine particles, known as PM2.5 particles, are about emitted from traffic exhaust, dust, and smoke, and as they are really tiny in size, it helps them to remain airborne for prolonged periods, be inhaled very easily, as well as reach and get accumulated in the brain. Therefore, fine particle pollution is known to be significantly related to asthma, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and often premature death.

Petkus further added, “This study provides another piece of the Alzheimer’s disease puzzle by identifying some of the brain changes linking air pollution and memory decline. Each research study gets us one step closer to solving the Alzheimer’s disease epidemic.”

A research conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) evaluated Neuroimaging data of 36 adults, which firstly showed that drinking slows the aging process of the brain. It helps in improving a person’s mood and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It also showed that drinking tea on a daily basis helps in reducing the risk of cognitive decline by 50%.

The research team performed few tests to check effects of tea on the brain. The test involved 36 adults around the age of 60 years, where they collected data about their health, daily activities and psychological wellbeing for 3 years from 2015 to 2018. The participants underwent neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the results showed that people consuming any type of tea for the past 25 years had well interlinked brain connections and a faster brain working condition than other of the same age.

According to assistant professor Feng and his team, “The working of the brain is similar to working of traffic, where the brain regions are the destinations for functioning of the brain and the connection to the brain are the roads. If the roads are clear the traffic moves in a systematic manner; similarly tea smoothes the workings of the mind in an efficient way to take decisions faster.” Tea helps in improving the digestive system, and green tea and black tea, in particular, help in reducing weight and it is recommended by doctors and physicians. Tea contains antioxidants which helps the brain and keep the body young.

Conventionally, sleep is regarded as a homeostatic process that tends to defy deviation from equilibrium. Brief episodes of awakening are considered to be perturbations, which result in sleep fragmentation and certain relevant sleep disorders. At the time of addressing the aspects of sleep regulation pertaining to consolidated sleep and the cycle of sleep-wake, the homeostatic paradigm is not responsible for sudden sleep-stage transitions, as well as the micro-states in sleep stages. The team hypothesized that sleep is homeostatic at time scales of hours and days and non-equilibrium dynamics, and it underlies sleep micro-architecture during shorter time scales.

In order to test the abovementioned hypothesis, the team compiled EEG (electroencephalogram) recordings of brain activity for a large number of days in normal rats, and subsequently found a particular region of the brain in rats with parafacial injuries that helps in regulating sleep. They further examined the brain’s bursting dynamics that are called delta waves and theta waves, both of which are found in sleeping rats and humans.

Ivanov commented on the latest breakthrough, “Paradoxically, we find that the ‘resting’ state of healthy sleep is maintained through bursts in cortical rhythm activity that obey similar temporal organization, statistics, and mathematical laws as earthquakes. Our findings serve as building blocks to better understand sleep, and could help improve the detection and treatment of sleep disorders.”