< Previous30 edge_may 2023 opinion The future of cognitive cities T he metaverse - or metaverse universe – has captured the imagination and presents multiple visions of the future. That’s why it is crucial that we qualify the current excitement around metaverse with an objective view of its real-world benefits. Gaming, entertainment and luxury retail may be the current focus of excitement but we can see real potential in enterprise, manufacturing, education and other verticals and in cognitive cities (one of the most distinctive features of urban development in the region and where we play a very active role). Cognitive cities mark the third wave of smart city evolution and modelling the impact of digital innovations is essential. Digital twins provide the opportunity to simulate, analyse data and predict innovation impacts quickly and cost effectively before applying them in the physical world, identifying potential issues, opportunities and minimising risk. Digital twins are guiding city planners through dynamic modelling and prediction, helping improve the management of everything from energy to waste, safety and security, mobility, and infrastructure. Gartner defines digital twins as “a digital representation of a real-world entity or system, an encapsulated software object or model that mirrors a unique physical object, process, organisation, person or other abstraction. Data By Sahem Azzam VP, META, Orange Business Services Cognitive cities offer the best hope to addressing societal challenges while fostering innovation SMART CITIESedge_may 2023 31 opinion from multiple digital twins can be aggregated for a composite view across a number of real- world entities, such as a power plant or a city, and their related processes.” Many of the world’s most ambitious projects are in the Middle East thanks to the vision and leadership here but they are still complex and costly and demand new thinking. Digital twins can model projects in a virtual world. They’re now being called the “building blocks of the metaverse”, which promises us immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, and a testbed for replication of real-world things in cities. The metaverse will rely on data to make improvements to trial models. Cognitive cities, with thousands of IoT-connected sensors, gather data 24/7 providing continuous insights to cities to make better-informed decisions about services for citizens. The metaverse can give cities a platform to more fully test services designed to improve things like air quality, energy consumption and supply, available parking spaces, pedestrian and bicycle traffic, the number of vehicles on the roads, and more. It’s an exciting prospect, and initiatives are already underway in forward-looking cities to become “metaverse cities”. Dubai recently announced plans to create a digital twin in the metaverse, designed to give companies and residents a virtual world where ideas can be shared and projects tested. This seems to present an ideal environment to test out new smart city services or smart buildings before moving in. This is a sensible way to reduce risk and ensure things work effectively before investing. And with spending on smart cities technology in the Middle East & Africa region set to double in the coming four years, from $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion, minimising risk looks like a smart move. I find it helps to focus on specific, potential use cases of metaverse universes. Cognitive cities seem like a perfect balance of virtual testing possibilities informing physical, real- world projects and represents the next logical step forward in digital twins and the evolution of building information modelling (BIM). BIM information tells you, for example, where a building is located on a site and how many floors, rooms, corridors, stairs, and other components it contains. BIM helps inform construction methods, deadlines, costs, maintenance operations, and so on. Digital twins give us constantly updated sources of information, ongoing intelligence about how a model is working and where we can make improvements to it. Combine this in an immersive virtual model that lets you walk around a smart building – or a cognitive city – and the potential for the metaverse could be significant, with a straight pathway from digital twins to the metaverse. Whether we view metaverse as an alternative or augmented reality, or as a model for a future physical reality, interest will grow with experience. Sustainable cognitive cities offer our best hope in meeting the next big societal challenge – climate change – and will play a vital role as incubators of human and digital innovation. Digital twin technology can help building owners, city planners and governments. According to recent EY research, digital twins could deliver significant savings on project and building costs and help track and reduce carbon emissions within our cities, while supporting energy transition. The metaverse is still being invented, as is the ‘Internet of the Future’ but we know that high-performance, low-latency, and resilient networks are a prerequisite for its development. Whatever the future holds, most importantly, we aim to help develop an open, safe, ethical metaverse that puts the user’s needs first and is socially and environmentally responsible. 32 edge_may 2023 gadget watch NVIDIA: GeForce RTX 4070 The GeForce RTX 4070 is the latest addition to NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series lineup. Ideal for 1440p resolution gaming and with the latest NVIDIA technologies, the GPU benefits from the NVIDIA RTX platform and DLSS 3, Reflex, Game Ready Drivers, Video Super Resolution, and more. Compared to the last generation’s RTX 3070Ti with DLSS 2, the GeForce RTX 4070 with DLSS 3 is 1.7x faster and has a 20 percent increase in traditional games, while reducing gaming power consumption by 23 percent. The GPU is now available for purchase, including in desktops from system builders worldwide. A limited time offer includes the Overwatch 2 Ultimate Battle Pass and 1,000 Overwatch 2 Coins with eligible purchases. The new 8th gen Yoga Slim 7 is perfect for those who want a stylish and lightweight device without sacrificing power and portability. It boasts a 14.5-inch, up to 3K PureSight OLED display and the next generation of AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, making it ideal for photo editing, presentations, and video conferencing on the go. The device also features TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Eyesafe6 Certification, which helps reduce the risk of eye strain. The Yoga Slim 7 is easily transportable at just 13.9mm (0.5 in) and has a newly designed keyboard and larger touchpad for a more efficient and productive experience. It also includes six speakers with exceptional audio quality, a higher capacity 70Whr battery, and Rapid Charge boost feature. With dual fans and 30-watt Thermal Design Performance, users can also enjoy a cooler and quieter performance. Lenovo: Yoga Slim 7edge_may 2023 33 review Sony LinkBuds S: small, sleek and solid sound T he Sony LinkBuds S are a sleek and stylish pair of wireless earbuds that offer a solid combination of sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life. With their compact design and comfortable fit, they are perfect for anyone looking for an unobtrusive and portable audio solution. Design-wise, the LinkBuds S are a bit understated compared to some of Sony’s other recent offerings, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They are made from recycled plastics and come in four different colours – black, white, ecru and Earth blue – with a minimalist design and a matte finish. The earbuds themselves are small and lightweight at 4.8g per earbud. It has a circular touchpad on each one that allows you to control playback, adjust the volume, and activate various features. The touch controls are pre-configured so that the right earbud can be used to pause, play, or skip audio, while the left earbud can be used as a toggle for active noise cancellation and transparency mode. However, users have the option to customise these controls according to their preference. In terms of fit, the LinkBuds S come with a selection of ear tips in different sizes, so you can find the one that fits best for your ears. The earbuds also have an IPX4 rating, which means they are resistant to splashes and sweat, making them a great option for workouts or outdoor activities. One of the standout features of the LinkBuds S is their noise cancellation. While it’s not quite as powerful as Sony’s top-tier WF-1000XM4, it still performs quite well. The noise-cancelling function is efficient at minimising external noises such as traffic, the hustle and bustle of people, and environmental sounds. That being said, I still heard some ambient noise but this can be remedied by switching the ear-tip size you use. The Transparency mode is also a useful feature, allowing you to hear your surroundings without having to take the earbuds out. When it comes to sound quality, the LinkBuds S don’t disappoint. They offer a balanced and natural sound that’s well-suited to a wide range of music genres. The battery life of the LinkBuds S is estimated to be around 6 hours when active noise cancellation is enabled, and the earbuds can be charged up to 20 hours using the case. During my review period, I found that these estimates were accurate. In terms of connectivity, the LinkBuds S use Bluetooth 5.2 and support SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. While walking in crowded areas, there might be occasional stutters in the connection, but they are minor and unlikely to interfere with your listening experience. The earbuds also come with built-in voice assistants in Google and Alexa, which respond promptly and hands-free when called upon. The Spotify Tap feature is also a nice touch, allowing you to start playing music with just a tap. Overall, the Sony LinkBuds S are a solid pair of wireless earbuds that offer great noise cancellation, good sound quality, and impressive battery life. AUDIO If you’re looking for wireless earphones with impressive noise cancellation, extensive features, and good sound quality, then the Sony LinkBuds S is worth a look By Adelle Geronimo34 edge_may 2023 Get ready for the AI-volution O ver the last decade or two, we’ve watched multiple sci-fi shows and movies on how artificial intelligence (AI) will take over the world. Every decade we expect the next one to be the one to look out for. But here is a time when we are not afraid of AI taking over but trying to make use of all the tools available to make ‘human’ life better. The worldwide acceptance of this technology shows in reports that predict the future. A recent report by GlobalData predicts that the worldwide AI market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4% from $81.3 billion in 2022 to $383.3 billion in 2030. According to the company’s report, ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Thematic Intelligence’, the growth of AI will be fuelled by the explosion in sensor data volume, as well as advanced deep learning models becoming more sophisticated, generative AI emerging, and the availability of chips designed specifically for AI processes. Yes, the technology is not by far the best. But, instead of aiming for the best, we should seek for the ‘good enough’. ‘Good enough’ is one such idea which varies across domains and industries. This will also be perfect for AI which is supposed to work as a colleague and not replace humans as a whole in any sector. Josep Bori, Research Director at GlobalData Thematic Intelligence said that despite the hype, artificial general intelligence (AGI), or the ability of machines to do anything that a human can and possess consciousness, is still decades away. However, ‘good enough’ AI is already here, capable of interacting with humans, motion, and making decisions. The predicted growth of the artificial intelligence market is a significant development that matters for businesses across all industries. With AI technology advancing rapidly, companies can leverage their capabilities to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and create new revenue streams. Companies that stay abreast of these developments and strategically invest in AI will be well-positioned to reap the benefits of this expanding market. By Arya Devi Commercial Editor, edge backlog “‘Good enough’ AI is already here, capable of interacting with humans, motion, and making decisions” Arya Devi breaks down some of the insights and trends from the tech industryWith Industry 5.0 on the horizon, how will manufacturing evolve? Scan to know howNext >