< Previous10 edge_ july 2023 VINTAGE TECH W ho can forget the beeps and whirs of the dot matrix printer? Back in the day, these clunky machines made their mark in every office, school, and home, translating digital data into paper with every tiny, precise dot. One of the earliest printer technologies, the dot matrix printer made its debut in 1968 courtesy of the Japanese manufacturer OKI, who introduced it as the “OKI Wiredot.” This printing method relies on the direct impact using a fixed set of pins or wires to strike an ink-coated ribbon, imprinting tiny dots on paper to form characters and images. Operating much like a typewriter, a dot matrix printer employs a print head that moves either horizontally or vertically. This print head strikes a carbon ribbon, leaving behind an impression on the paper, accompanied by the distinctive noise reminiscent of classic 1940s movies. However, unlike typewriters or daisy wheel printers, dot matrix printers form characters and graphics by assembling dots, allowing for a wide array of fonts and arbitrary graphics to be generated. These devices enjoyed significant popularity during the 1970s to the 1990s, serving as the primary printer choice for both home and office computers. While their popularity waned with the emergence of laser printers, dot matrix printers are still in use today with applications such as ATMs, cash registers, and point-of- sale (POS) terminals. As the technology evolved, the pin count in printheads increased to achieve superior print quality, essential for printing complex characters. While its distinct clattering sound and unique charm are but a distant memory, the dot matrix printer will forever be a distinct icon in the technology space for how it reshaped the way we put ink to paper. 10 edge_ October 2023 vintage tech By Adelle Geronimo A symphony of mechanical precisionevent 12 edge_ october 2023THE FUTURE WITH ‘AI EVERYTHING’ Discover the forefront of technology and the visions of tech firms at GITEX Global 2023 EVENT By Arya Devi edge_ october 2023 13 event14 edge_ october 2023 event T he global technology landscape is abuzz with eagerness as GITEX Global 2023 draws near. GITEX, has consistently been a beacon of innovation and collaboration, bringing together some of the brightest minds and pioneering companies in the tech industry. This year promises to be no different, with a myriad of technologies, industry leaders, and thought- provoking discussions on the horizon. With the overarching theme of ‘the year to imagine AI in everything,’ GITEX Global 2023 is poised to unite trailblazers in artificial intelligence, designers of future urban environments, and protectors of cybersecurity, all converging to mould our collective future. Going along with the theme, one of the co-located events of GITEX is ‘AI Everything’. The Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy & Remote Work Application Office of the United Arab Emirates is the event’s patron. GITEX Global this year offers attendees a glimpse into the latest developments in technology and its transformative potential. In this article, let’s take a closer look at what to expect from GITEX Global 2023, highlighting key companies and their opinions about the event. GITEX Global Stands as the stage where industry giants, startups, and visionaries convergeedge_ october 2023 15 event Steven Yi, President, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia Huawei The tech giant is the gold sponsor of GITEX Global 2023 HUAWEI Huawei is the gold sponsor of GITEX Global 2023. This year Huawei offers to foster new partnerships and explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence in a time when it is becoming an integral part of daily lives. This year, the company is participating under the theme, ‘Accelerate Intelligence,’ Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East & Central Asia, said, “This year, our theme, demonstrates our commitment to delve into the transformative power of AI, networks, and cloud technologies. Together, we will explore how these converging forces are reshaping our world and how we can unleash the full capabilities of AI-powered solutions to reshape industries worldwide with cybersecurity, privacy protection and safeguarding our customer’s digital transformation journey remaining our top priorities.”event BARRACUDA NETWORKS At GITEX Global 2023, the company aims to showcase their Cloud Application Protection and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions, empowering organisations to securely embrace the cloud paradigm. Toni El Inati - RVP Sales, META & CEE, Barracuda Networks, said, “The industry is at a critical moment – the widespread implementation of AI will introduce new threat vectors but also new applications and opportunities to help security professionals. To combat cybercriminals, we must treat AI as an operating system, where certain foundational components are monitored and constantly validated in operations. Any tampering with the models and data involved in training the models should trigger alerts.” DATAIKU “Maximising business value with AI: Scaling across the organisation”, is the theme of participation for Dataiku at GITEX Global 2023. At the trade show, the company will demonstrate how they enable organisations to reap the most benefits from their AI investments by making AI accessible to users with a variety of skill sets and roles at a time when the region is exhibiting a noticeable uptick in adoption rates of a range of AI technologies. Sid Bhatia, Regional VP & General Manager, Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Dataiku, said, “We believe that in order to stay relevant in today’s changing world, companies need to harness Everyday AI as a widespread organisational asset instead of siloing it into a specific team or role.” Toni El Inati - RVP Sales, META & CEE, Barracuda Networks Sid Bhatia, Regional VP & General Manager, META at Dataiku 16 edge_ october 2023 AI in the spotlight The 2023 edition’s theme is ‘The year to imagine AI in everything’edge_ october 2023 17 event MINDWARE Mindware’s GITEX participation this year will be centred around the theme of ‘Emerging Technologies’ with the aim of supporting business partners to access NextGen technology. The company, in its evolving role as an IT distributor, is taking a unified approach to assist its partners and ecosystem through consulting services. They emphasise digital transformation’s role in industry growth, offering a range of digital solutions. Philippe Jarre, President, Mindware Group, said, “This year marks our transformation into a comprehensive one-stop-shop for all technology solutions. Our presence this year spans the entire technology spectrum. But what sets us apart are the key announcements we are gearing up for launching our new services.” cyber threats that could compromise vital infrastructure. A key differentiator this year is OPSWAT’s partnership with StarLink, a value- added distributor, offering a comprehensive cybersecurity approach to the region. Under the ‘AI Everything’ umbrella theme, OPSWAT aims to support organisations by delivering AI- enhanced security solutions tailored to critical infrastructure needs. Sertan Selcuk, VP of Sales, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan, at OPSWAT, said, “The ‘AI Everything’ theme at GITEX signifies a transformative era in securing essential systems. The challenges include safeguarding critical infrastructure against evolving AI-driven threats. The opportunities lie in leveraging AI for proactive threat detection and resilience.” PALO ALTO NETWORKS Palo Alto Networks will focus on its cybersecurity innovations at GITEX. According to the company, “AI Everything” signifies harnessing AI’s power to process data rapidly, detect threats efficiently, and protect systems. For Palo Alto, AI is not new and has been integrated into their solutions to solve cybersecurity issues for years. They leverage AI to stay ahead of threat actors, identify patterns, and block 8.6 billion daily attacks. Tarek Abbas, Senior Director, Systems Engineering at Palo Alto Networks, MEA, CIS and Turkey, said, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that helps perform tasks to stimulate human intelligence, supporting the growth of key industries, from transport to education. Organisations can leverage the latest AI and automation tools to process and analyse large volumes of data faster, better detect threats, and protect their systems and data resources.” OPSWAT With its theme “Modernising critical infrastructure protection (CIP),” OPSWAT will address the evolving cybersecurity challenges in the Middle East critical infrastructures. It highlights the need for proactive measures in defence against Philippe Jarre, President, Mindware Group Sertan Selcuk, VP of Sales, META and Pakistan, OPSWAT Tarek Abbas, Senior Director, Systems Engineering, Palo Alto Networks, MEA, CIS and Turkeyevent POSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES Positive Technologies is participating at GITEX Global this year under the theme “result-driven cybersecurity”. This approach differs from the traditional and somewhat outdated risk-based methods currently in use. Cybercriminals have been employing AI to create more sophisticated and targeted malware that can evade traditional security measures. The company believes that organisations must go through an extreme change to their approach to cybersecurity due to the escalating nature of cybersecurity threats and think like hackers. Evgeniya Popova, Director of International Business Development at Positive Technologies, said, “The possibilities of AI are truly endless - it continues to expand and advance extremely rapidly, allowing for new applications. With AI, defenders can protect against cyber-attacks in several ways. AI can help solve a multitude of problems in the cybersecurity.” SOPHOS This year at GITEX, Sophos introduces the Sophos Incident Response Retainer, offering rapid access to fixed-cost incident response services, including 45 days of MDR. They envision ‘AI Everything’ as the widespread integration of AI across industries and commits to providing responsible AI-driven security solutions to address emerging challenges while fostering collaboration and ethical AI practices. Harish Chib, Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Sophos, said, “To us, ‘AI Everything’ signifies a future that involves the integration of artificial intelligence across industries, sectors, and even many aspects of our lives. ‘AI Everything’ represents AI’s ability to enhance efficiency, productivity, and decision-making across all domains, and it encompasses our vision to contribute responsible AI to the cause.” Evgeniya Popova, Director, International BD, Positive Technologies Harish Chib, Vice President, MEA, Sophos MEET TEAM EDGE/ AT GITEX GLOBAL 2023: HALL 18-2 18 edge_ october 2023Next >