Satellite Internet ? Not everyone realizes the implications of satellite internet and how it will change the way we perceive connectivity forever. It is a massive undertaking that only an impressive company like SpaceX could be expected to pull off splendidly.Elon Musk, famous for his interesting tweets, has been launching satellites into space non-stop. He even once launched his very own Tesla car.SpaceX and Elon Musk?s Starlink project is being deemed as overly ambitious not just by their competitors but as implied by Musk himself.Elon Musk has made outer space his playground as his satellites get launched with ambitious missions.Despite the many arguments, the Starlink project is expected to produce exceptional outcomes. In fact, if things go as planned, it will be a game changer in global telecommunications, with promised download speeds of 10 GBPS in the near future.Network providers shudder to think about how they will cope when Starlink finally rolls out broadband internet with speeds yet unmatched by the best ISP?s in the remotest corners of the earth.There?s so much scoop on Elon Musk?s Starlink, but for the uninitiated, let us paint a neat picture about what Starlink actually is and why you should care:All About SpaceX?s Starlink Project:Starlink is the name of Elon Musk and SpaceX?s satellite internet project. A satellite internet system is a network of satellites which can provide high-speed internet access to any corner of the Earth if successfully deployed in the Earth?s orbit; a feat not one of the global telecom companies or terrestrial (land) network providers have ever been able to achieve till date.But what is even more astounding about satellite internet is that it will be exceptionally affordable to everyone.Starlink is composed of a fleet of satellites with a total of more than 1000 satellites already having assumed their place in the constellation. The entirety of the Starlink project, aimed at covering the entire globe with blazing broadband connectivity will comprise a total of 42000 satellites, as per reports.When Starlink begins to provide public access to its services, it will offer high data speeds with low latency.The first batch of satellites, also known as Starlink?s ?first-generation? is already in the orbit and will soon be followed by its ?next-gen? batch of v1.5 and v2.0 satellites.What is the Starlink ?Constellation??There has been a lot of talk about Starlink?s ?constellation?, but how exactly can one envision this system? A ?constellation? in ?space-talk? refers to thousands of satellites, which in this instance are launched to create an interconnected internet network.These internet satellites form chains in their orbit and resemble large constellations.Satellite Internet ? Really?Satellite Internet is not exactly a novelty. Before Elon Musk and Starlink put the spotlight on it, Satellite Internet had been suffering a poor reputation. What was once considered an inferior option for internet connectivity has managed to come around as the exact opposite of what it was once perceived ? slow and expensive. Thanks to SpaceX?s Starlink project, the conversation around Satellite Internet has turned over a new leaf.What Superfast Broadband Internet in the Remotest Places Will Look Like?We are familiar with the term ?wireless hotspot?, but have you come across the term ?notspot?? Notspot refers to a geographical area where wireless connectivity or internet access is relatively too slow to function or close to non-existent. As we know, there are plenty of such remote areas with poor connectivity in every continent, and in every country.Starlink?s large, low-flying network of satellites expects to reach these untouched areas with superfast broadband internet.There is no dearth of paying customers in rural areas, contrary to popular belief. But due to the lack of investments by prominent service providers, the opportunity to avail high-speed internet is lost on them.The Starlink program?s highly publicized goal is to provide access to its services all across the earth?s terrestrial landscape, without excluding any rural area or remote village.Elon Musk will not rest until Starlink consumes the entire surface of the planet with its reach. The project has already launched a beta testing program, and users from the US, Canada, and Europe are already enjoying data speeds of up to 200 MBPS through the test kits received by them.Musk?s vision for the success of Starlink is to work in tandem with transceivers here on earth and provide universal satellite internet access to connect the entirety of the world.Current beta testers of Starlink?s service, primarily in rural UK, are enjoying anywhere between 50 MBPS to 150 MBPS, mostly ranging along the 80 MBPS mark.There have also been reports that the countryside is now experiencing download speeds of 100 MBPS and upload speeds of 15 to 20 MBPS with Starlink.We can imagine what connectivity will look like when Starlink is commercially rolled out all over the rural world.Musk Eyes Telecom:Elon Musk has always had an eye on the global telecom industry. Now that success is imminent, he is swiftly moving forward, taking telecom regulators on board. The United Kingdom?s ?Ofcom? has already issued the ?Earth Station Network License? to Starlink which, is costing them, ?200 a year.The satellites that make up the Starlink fleet are essentially small telecom satellites. Musk?s plans to break into the telecom sector is to identify places in the world where telecom providers have yet been unable to offer 4G or 5G connectivity. Owing to the unreachability of these areas, Musk views this as a great opportunity to market Starlink?s capabilities and quickly close the gap in the market.Amazon?s Jeff Bezos and Musk at Loggerheads Over Satellite Internet?The only other big tech firm that has managed to take on Elon Musk in the satellite internet game is Jeff Bezos?s Amazon. Where all other projects failed, Amazon?s Kuiper Satellite Internet project is rapidly developing, although its progress is still miles away from that achieved by SpaceX?s Starlink.The competition is evident as both companies are reportedly sparring openly over the other?s bid to become the sole ruling player in the arena. Amazon has reportedly called out Musk over Starlink?s aggressive overrun of space Wi-Fi.The India Connection:Who would have thought that a global venture would have its eye on India, but it is true! Elon Musk already has his goals set to acquire the huge Internet demand in India.The Indian telecom market is massive with tumultuous potential, and Musk is well aware of this fact. Currently valued at $1 trillion, the Indian telecom market is bubbling with high demand for superfast broadband internet. For India, Starlink has reserved specific plans of providing high-capacity, high-speed internet to non-urban areas which form most of the Indian geography.India has over 700 million Internet subscribers and if Starlink successfully cracks in, it will spell trouble for the big telecom players currently ruling the Internet scenario here.Conclusion:Starlink and Elon Musk are doing everything possible to make the project a raving success. Hiring is occurring at all levels, and as per their competitors, the company is aggressively trying to diminish other projects to become the single largest leader in space internet technology. But apart from all the misgivings that have come Starlink?s way, especially regarding the dangers and interferences arising from satellite constellations, Musk is not willing to let them pose problems to his launches. Nevertheless, the world awaits the outcome of yet another Elon Musk idea.

Anju V Nambiar

SpaceX and Starlink: Elon Musk's Ambitious Plans for a 10Gbps Satellite Internet System

NFT (Non-fungible tokens) have created quite the frenzy in the crypto world. Mainly because people want to know how to make big bucks out of it. More importantly, artists are rejoicing because they can unleash their creativity on digital art and auction it off for a big amount. They no longer have to wait for their canvas paintings to be physically sold at a gallery. Art has taken a digital route with NFTs. Creating wealth through NFTs is non-standardised as yet. It's also a very novel and innovative method for wealth creation that has gotten stakeholders very excited. The basics of NFT trading ?Non-fungible? essentially means that the tokens cannot be exchanged for real dollar bills or any other currency. NFT is essentially a piece of digital asset that possesses artistic appeal and intrinsic value and is bought and sold in exchange for cryptocurrency.Social media users, developers,media reps, designers, creators, and basically anyone can buy and sell NFT. Works of art, video and audio clips, musical compositions, and even doodles qualify as NFT assets and can be sold. NFT marketplaces have sprung up at top speed in India including those by India?s top crypto exchanges like WazirX and Binance. Exchange of NFTs ride on the concept of universal tokenization. Everything you need to know about NFTs: Although NFTs cannot be exchanged for real money, they are unique tokens. NFT tokens are encrypted. NFT technology was initially launched on smart contracts of the Ethereum cryptocurrency. NFTs are digital assets represented by code on a decentralized digital ledger (also called a ?blockchain?). NFT can be bought and sold, just like physical assets. However, the blockchain enables and tracks the ownership and validity for them. NFT tokens are created on the Ethereum blockchain. The Ethereum blockchain allows the tokens to store information about the asset linked to it. Use case of how NFTs are a massive wealth opportunity: One of the very first NFTs to be launched, a portrait of Homer from the The Simpsons as Pepe the Frog was initially valued at $500. However, one year later, this NFT was sold at $38,000 to a buyer. Trading in NFTs - Various Approaches <ul><li>You can independently create tokens by digitizing your artwork and then selling it.</li><li>You can also receive/purchase a ready-made NFT from a developer.</li><li>You can also win free giveaways or airdrops of a unique NFT. </li></ul>Repercussions of the NFT craze: As with crypto trading or any other form of trading, the craze can eventually turn into a gamble. Chasing NFT tokens eventually becomes similar to a raffle draw. It's important to stay safe online and protect your tokens from cyber criminals through end-to-end encryption. How does NFT exchange work on marketplaces? On popular NFT marketplaces, creators list their pieces for auction. Each of the items are available for ownership in exchange for cryptocurrency. You can also see the equivalent dollar value of the NFT. Bidders can place their bids for a particular NFT and the best bidder is transferred ownership. Artists and creators can create wealth with NFT digital art Coders and creators as young as 12 are selling their NFT digital art for millions of dollars in a matter of weeks. Some of the pioneering NFT marketplaces in India like WazirX sees talented artists, photographers, and graphic designers auctioning their best work to collectors who are willing to exchange cryptos to take ownership of these digital assets. Brands and businesses foraying into NFT The biggest brands including the likes of TikTok, Lakme, DC comics, are active in the NFT space. Also, the biggest personalities like celebrities, and even governments are minting NFT tokens. NFT sales have surpassed and skyrocketed all expectations with prestigious auction houses like Christies and Sotheby?s also benefiting from sales. Benefits for brands and businesses from investing in NFTs<ul><li>The main reason why big brands are choosing to invest in NFTs is to gain engagement and an audience with new-age talent. With hundreds of millions coming in from auctions, they are no doubt a massive wealth creation opportunity for creators and collectors within the NFT community. They also want to usher in a new generation of collectors as well as promote expansive and inclusive markets for art.</li><li>Governments are utilising the growing crypto and NFT craze to promote national tourism.</li><li>The biggest brands in the fashion and design industry are venturing into NFTs to sell their work in the form of digital assets, something that?s still very novel to these industries. Also, it will mark the merger of fashion and technology and encourage designers and artisans to move ahead in the world of NFTs. It will also be a gamechanger for the industry as well as a way to tap into new segments with NFTs. Independent designers will benefit from the new, additional revenue stream that NFTs provide.</li><li>Another big reason why brands and businesses are catching on to the trend is because crypto assets have value independent of market conditions. Size estimates for the NFT market vary. Sales on ?NFT art? at auction houses are considered ?off-chain? and are hence not a part of the data, but add to the size of the market.</li><li>Celebrities and investors are following this trend which leaves no room for brands and businesses to stay out of it.</li><li>Since NFTs are such a novel way of engagement, brands are going this way to unlock new ways of getting audiences to interact with their products and services. NFT giveaways are now the best way to attract audiences both online as well as for physical events. NFTs are thus part of the new-age marketing strategy for brands and businesses.</li><li>For any business, NFTs are an opportunity to earn additional revenue outside their business. As an entrepreneur, smart wealth creation strategies are necessary and NFTs provide that channel to earn extra income outside the business. NFTs are a boon from the possibilities of the internet which businesses cannot afford to lose out on. NFTs are thus a modern wealth-building method for individuals, entrepreneurs, and brands.</li><li>Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are two exciting wealth creation opportunities and passive income streams that almost anyone can venture into. You can build an investment portfolio with NFTs that will pay off in the long-term. They are the newest in blockchain technology and the full-scale of opportunities they present are yet to come to light. NFTs are being used in multiple industries to certify authenticities which widen their scope in terms of the possibilities.</li><li>Artists creating NFTs on marketplaces can use them to turn their passion into a full-time revenue source. </li></ul>The traditional methods for wealth creation including savings and real estate stay but the avenue for wealth building are continuously improving and expanding. Investing in NFTs provides a sense of instant gratification and have ignited excitement among the masses regarding the innovations around money. NFTs are a technological advancement that allows for transfer of value in a very freeing, and hassle-free manner. There?s also a subtle hint of culture around the ownership of certain NFTs which make them more appealing as an investment asset. With upcoming technological improvements in NFTs, we can expect a future where items of cultural significance have intrinsic value and provide an authentic wealth creation opportunity.

The NFT craze in Cryptocurrency: Wealth opportunities for Creators and Collectors

<div>NFT (Non-fungible tokens) have created quite the frenzy in the crypto world. Mainly because people want to know how to make big bucks out of it. More importantly, artists are rejoicing because they can unleash their creativity on digital art and auction it off for a big amount. They no longer have to wait for their canvas paintings to be physically sold at a gallery. Art has taken a digital route with NFTs. Creating wealth through NFTs is non-standardised as yet. It's also a very novel and innovative method for wealth creation that has gotten stakeholders very excited.<span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The Basics of NFT Trading</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">‘Non-fungible’ essentially means that the tokens cannot be exchanged for real dollar bills or any other currency. NFT is essentially a piece of digital asset that possesses artistic appeal and intrinsic value and is bought and sold in exchange for cryptocurrency.Social media users, developers,media reps, designers, creators, and basically anyone can buy and sell NFT. Works of art, video and audio clips, musical compositions, and even doodles qualify as NFT assets and can be sold. NFT marketplaces have sprung up at top speed in India including those by India’s top crypto exchanges like WazirX and Binance. Exchange of NFTs ride on the concept of universal tokenization.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Everything You Need to Know About NFTs</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Although NFTs cannot be exchanged for real money, they are unique tokens. NFT tokens are encrypted. NFT technology was initially launched on smart contracts of the Ethereum cryptocurrency. NFTs are digital assets represented by code on a decentralized digital ledger (also called a ‘blockchain’). NFT can be bought and sold, just like physical assets. However, the blockchain enables and tracks the ownership and validity for them. NFT tokens are created on the Ethereum blockchain. The Ethereum blockchain allows the tokens to store information about the asset linked to it.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Use Case of How NFTs Are A Massive Wealth Opportunity:</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">One of the very first NFTs to be launched, a portrait of Homer from the The Simpsons as Pepe the Frog was initially valued at&nbsp; $500. However, one year later, this NFT was sold at $38,000 to a buyer.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Trading in NFTs - Various Approaches</h4><ul><ul><li>You can independently create tokens by digitizing your artwork and then selling it.</li><li>You can also receive/purchase a ready-made NFT from a developer.</li><li>You can also win free giveaways or airdrops of a unique NFT.</li></ul></ul><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Repercussions of The NFT Craze</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">As with crypto trading or any other form of trading, the craze can eventually turn into a gamble. Chasing NFT tokens eventually becomes similar to a raffle draw. It's important to stay safe online and protect your tokens from cyber criminals through end-to-end encryption.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">How Does NFT Exchange Work on Marketplaces?</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">On popular NFT marketplaces, creators list their pieces for auction. Each of the items are available for ownership in exchange for cryptocurrency. You can also see the equivalent dollar value of the NFT. Bidders can place their bids for a particular NFT and the best bidder is transferred ownership.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Artists And Creators Can Create Wealth with NFT Digital Art</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Coders and creators as young as 12 are selling their NFT digital art for millions of dollars in a matter of weeks. Some of the pioneering NFT marketplaces in India like WazirX sees talented artists, photographers, and graphic designers auctioning their best work to collectors who are willing to exchange cryptos to take ownership of these digital assets.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Brands And Businesses Foraying Into NFT</h4><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The biggest brands including the likes of TikTok, Lakme, DC comics, are active in the NFT space. Also, the biggest personalities like celebrities, and even governments are minting NFT tokens. NFT sales have surpassed and skyrocketed all expectations with prestigious auction houses like Christies and Sotheby’s also benefiting from sales.<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><h4 style="margin: 0cm; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Benefits For Brands And Businesses From Investing In NFTs</h4><div><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> </div><ul><li>The main reason why big brands are choosing to invest in NFTs is to gain engagement and an audience with new-age talent. With hundreds of millions coming in from auctions, they are no doubt a massive wealth creation opportunity for creators and collectors within the NFT community. They also want to usher in a new generation of collectors as well as promote expansive and inclusive markets for art.</li><li>Governments are utilising the growing crypto and NFT craze to promote national tourism.</li><li>The biggest brands in the fashion and design industry are venturing into NFTs to sell their work in the form of digital assets, something that’s still very novel to these industries. Also, it will mark the merger of fashion and technology and encourage designers and artisans to move ahead in the world of NFTs. It will also be a gamechanger for the industry as well as a way to tap into new segments with NFTs. Independent designers will benefit from the new, additional revenue stream that NFTs provide.</li><li>Another big reason why brands and businesses are catching on to the trend is because crypto assets have value independent of market conditions. Size estimates for the NFT market vary. Sales on ‘NFT art’ at auction houses are considered ‘off-chain’ and are hence not a part of the data, but add to the size of the market.</li><li>Celebrities and investors are following this trend which leaves no room for brands and businesses to stay out of it.</li><li>Since NFTs are such a novel way of engagement, brands are going this way to unlock new ways of getting audiences to interact with their products and services. NFT giveaways are now the best way to attract audiences both online as well as for physical events. NFTs are thus part of the new-age marketing strategy for brands and businesses.</li><li>For any business, NFTs are an opportunity to earn additional revenue outside their business. As an entrepreneur, smart wealth creation strategies are necessary and NFTs provide that channel to earn extra income outside the business. NFTs are a boon from the possibilities of the internet which businesses cannot afford to lose out on. NFTs are thus a modern wealth-building method for individuals, entrepreneurs, and brands.</li><li>Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are two exciting wealth creation opportunities and passive income streams that almost anyone can venture into. You can build an investment portfolio with NFTs that will pay off in the long-term. They are the newest in blockchain technology and the full-scale of opportunities they present are yet to come to light. NFTs are being used in multiple industries to certify authenticities which widen their scope in terms of the possibilities.</li><li>Artists creating NFTs on marketplaces can use them to turn their passion into a full-time revenue source.</li></ul><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The traditional methods for wealth creation including savings and real estate stay but the avenue for wealth building are continuously improving and expanding. Investing in NFTs provides a sense of instant gratification and have ignited excitement among the masses regarding the innovations around money. NFTs are a technological advancement that allows for transfer of value in a very freeing, and hassle-free manner. There’s also a subtle hint of culture around the ownership of certain NFTs which make them more appealing as an investment asset. With upcoming technological improvements in NFTs, we can expect a future where items of cultural significance have intrinsic value and provide an authentic wealth creation opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>

Premium reporting on technology, startups, VC funding, and software from Techfastly tagged with cryptocurrency. Read more on cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency

The NFT Craze in Cryptocurrency: Wealth Opportunities for Creators and Collectors

LiDAR is a next-gen system that?s an advanced replacement to the radar+sonar combination. It grants autonomous vehicles the ability to ?see? the roads and the surrounding just like a human would be able to. 

AEye LIDAR Technology For Autonomous Electric Vehicles

When we talk about self-driving vehicles, Tesla is the first name that comes to mind. Although other automakers like Cadillac and Toyota have also unveiled self-driving models. Tesla as we know is an Electric Vehicle. Self-driving vehicles have not achieved the level of finesse and capabilities that are expected of them to go mainstream in every corner of the world. But, electric vehicles sure are catching on quickly. AEye?s LiDAR technology may soon be the gold standard for autonomous EV vehicles. But before making sense of this, automakers need to understand what LiDAR technology is and who are AEye? <h3 id="first-up-what%E2%80%99s-an-av">First up, what?s an AV?</h3>Autonomous vehicles will soon become the new normal. Also known as self-driving cars, they do not require a driver or human input. On the other hand, they use sensors and computers that work together to see ahead to emulate a human driver on the road. <h3 id="basic-av-technology">Basic AV technology</h3>A technological combination of a ?radar? with a ?sonar? is commonly used in autonomous vehicles. This tech combination is mostly the basis of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles. <h3 id="purpose-of-a-radarsonar-technology">Purpose of a radar+sonar technology </h3><blockquote>It warns the driver about looming threats on the road that the driver may not be aware of.</blockquote><blockquote>It stops the vehicle just in time when a collision is about to occur. </blockquote><h3 id="introducing-lidar-technology">Introducing LiDAR technology</h3>LiDAR is a next-gen system that?s an advanced replacement to the radar+sonar combination. It grants autonomous vehicles the ability to ?see? the roads and the surrounding just like a human would be able to. LiDAR, abbreviated into ?light detection and ranging? is a technology that makes use of ?pulsed lasers? to map a 3D model of the surrounding environment. <h3 id="how-lidar-tech-works">How LiDAR tech works</h3>While the sonar technology uses sound waves and the radar technology uses microwaves, LiDAR uses light to quickly and accurately create a map of the surrounding environment where the autonomous vehicle will run. LiDAR technology can be thought of as the ?eyes? for an autonomous vehicle. It essentially creates a quick image of the area around the vehicle, encompassing the roads, street signs and signals, oncoming traffic, sudden obstacles along the path, pedestrians, and stray animals. LiDAR tech sends out laser pulses from the vehicle which in turn reflect off of an object and send the signal back to the system. The LiDAR system gets to work, calculating the distance between the AV and the object. It makes the calculation by considering the time elapsed between pulse emitted and beam received by the system. Now imagine this activity occurring in quick succession, with millions of pulses emitted and beams received. We now get full-fledged ?eyes? to the vehicle, the images from which are processed by algorithms to identify and navigate through various objects that the vehicle will encounter. <h3 id="use-cases-for-lidar-in-vehicles">Use cases for LiDAR in vehicles </h3>? LiDAR can monitor blind spots to detect vehicles before and during a lane change.? It is used in adaptive cruise control to maintain a consistent distance between vehicles behind and in front of your car.? It works in automatic emergency braking systems to stop the vehicle before the collision.? With accurate environment mapping and fast processing, LiDAR is a better option compared to radar/sonar systems.? It has 360-degree capabilities which provide high-quality and more accurate safety alerts to the driver. <h3 id="how-high-performance-lidar-enables-safe-autonomous-vehicles">How high performance LiDAR enables safe autonomous vehicles</h3>High performance LiDAR which are also long-range LiDAR systems obtain resolution at range required for Level 3 and higher, safe autonomous vehicles. Level 3 plus autonomy for vehicles is required for highway and urban use cases. By enabling faster, more accurate, reliable sensing, and path planning, high performance LiDAR can enable safety in autonomous vehicles. <h3 id="who-are-aeye">Who are AEye?</h3>AEye is a California-based automotive company known for their patented IDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging) platform and LiDAR technology. Although a small firm, they are working towards building hardware for driverless, autonomous, self-driven vehicles with the ability to perceive our world as close as possible to how a human driver would. <h3 id="how-aeye%E2%80%99s-lidar-could-be-the-new-gold-standard">How AEye?s LiDAR could be the new gold standard</h3>AEye?s LiDAR is speculated to be the new gold standard for autonomous EVs after an impressive demonstration recently at a test facility in Michigan. During the test, the level of sophistication of the system came to light. AEye?s LiDar system aced the test when obstacles and urban scenarios were simulated while entering a tunnel. <h3 id="what-sets-aeye-apart-in-the-lidar-world">What sets AEye apart in the LiDAR world?</h3>AEye?s LiDAR is different in the LiDAR world due to several reasons:? Choice of laser: AEye uses a 1550-nm laser when compared to the 905 nm laser which is preferred in the LiDAR world owing to its cheaper cost.? Eye safety: Lasers used by AEye?s LiDAR are safe for the eyes and do not cause retinal damage compared to the cheaper 905 mm lasers.? Obstacle detection distance is not compromised: Since AEye?s lasers are safe, their power is not compromised due to regulations. As such, the pulses emitted by them can travel farther distances than the cheaper, short-wave alternatives to detect obstacles.? Dual module system: Their LiDAR has separated the modules that send and receive the laser pulses. This improves the time taken to send and receive the pulses. The two-module system can send more pulses in a shorter time frame when compared to an integrated module.? More data: AEys?s LiDAR generates more data when compared to LiDAR from other companies.? In the case of AEye?s LiDAR, every returning laser pulse is followed by several repeat pulses sent to obtain a clear picture of an object in front of the vehicle.? Mimics human visual cortex: AEys?s LiDAR mimics the human visual cortex by conceptually focusing on and evaluating the environment.? It picks up everything: It doesn?t miss a thing including driving conditions, road hazards, and full field-of-view coverage.? Gleaning important data: It collects and analyzes only the data that matters resulting in the development of intelligent information using minimal data. <h3 id="how-aeye%E2%80%99s-lidar-will-make-autonomous-evs-mainstream">How AEye?s LiDAR will make autonomous EVs mainstream?</h3>AEye LiDAR will push existing technology for autonomous EVs well into the future within a shorter time frame. This is due to recent new developments and their latest successful tests which have pitted them in the same league against EV and self-drive giants like Tesla. Like its biggest competitors, AEye has passed high performance, aggressive tests for avoiding obstacles. Tremendous data has emerged from the test as well as from their earlier tests which produced similar results in the same conditions. Automakers and companies are swiftly moving through real-world test drives and need to know the importance of technologies like LiDAR for autonomous vehicles. LiDAR forms the league of next-gen sensors and technology that are awaiting adoption by automakers.

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