Link
http://www5.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/Forschung/Publikationen/2009/Mwangi09-EOV.pdf
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Is Telepresence The Future Of Global Business?
From the recent trends in the industry, the answer is definitely a ‘yes’. Telepresence offers more than simply a hassle-free alternative to delayed flights and security checks. As companies become increasingly global in scale, and gas prices reach unprecedented highs, telepresence promises to drastically cut travel costs while greatly improving productivity and reducing harmful gas emissions. Travel industry – air travel, marine travel and car travel - is one of the sectors that has high rate of carbon dioxide emissions. According to British Airways, a 747-400 plane cruises at 576 mph (927km/h), burns 12,788 liters of fuel per hour, and carries 409 passengers when full. This means that on average each passenger burns approximately 31 liters of fuel per hour. What if there was a way of averting the burning of thousands of liters of fuel by travelers? For instance, in business traveling, traders need to travel to source for commodities, meet potential clients, close deals and attend trade fairs. With modern telecommunications technology business persons can replace the hassle of travel and carry out their duties without causing damage to the environment.
Telepresence, which integrates life-size High Definition (HD) video with high-quality sound in a room setup, creates the feel of actually being in the same room as participants at other locations. The technology can be implemented anywhere in the world utilizing the global Internet Protocol (IP) network, as simple as walking into the conference room next door. Establishing a virtual meeting place, however, isn’t the only application of telepresence technology. With its high definition cameras and huge projection screens, systems are also able to illustrate physical characteristics and cues, such as a sweaty brow, in great detail. Communication is mostly non-verbal than verbal and this renders telepresence an ideal vehicle for business negotiations and sales pitches. Then there is telepresence’s potential for allowing human resource executives to interview job candidates from afar while still getting a feeling for an applicant’s personality. The technology is also employed in other sectors such as education, health, military and government. In the not-so-far future, it’s likely that telepresence will aid geographically scattered engineers and product managers in the product development process.
In technical terms telepresence is similar to video conferencing, only that it gives an immersive experience. It provides stimuli such that the user perceives no differences from actual presence of the counterpart. As the screen size increases, so does the sense of immersion, as well as the range of subjective mental experiences available to viewers. The stimuli depends on the application and bandwidth used. Consider a person watching television, for example, the primary senses of vision and hearing are stimulated giving the impression that the watcher is no longer at home. Similar capabilities give telepresence a level of visual and acoustic realism that encourages active usage. The quality of experience also may be influenced by room customization. While high-end telepresence users might have many of these added services, other users may have simple rooms outfitted with plug-and- play, high definition technology. Indeed, any room can be a telepresence room.
The fundamental methodology used in a telepresence system is digital compression of audio and video streams in real time. The audio and video signal is sampled and quantized, a process called encoding. This process results in a digital stream of 1s and 0s is subdivided into labeled packets, which are then transmitted over the global IP network. The receiving telepresence system decodes the digital stream to display the visual and generate the audio. The hardware or software that performs this compression is called a codec (coder/decoder). To create a vivid, compelling and natural experience a resolution of between 720p and 1080p at 30 frames per second is deployed, giving a crystal clear video stream. For audio standards-based wideband codecs are implemented to improve the voice quality carried over IP networks. Wideband codecs provide clearer, more lifelike voice communications and markedly improved intelligibility because of the additional voice data included in the audio stream. They also double the voice signal range, in the range of 30 hertz to 7000 hertz or higher, while using the same network bandwidth as narrowband codecs.
Telepresence, which integrates life-size High Definition (HD) video with high-quality sound in a room setup, creates the feel of actually being in the same room as participants at other locations. The technology can be implemented anywhere in the world utilizing the global Internet Protocol (IP) network, as simple as walking into the conference room next door. Establishing a virtual meeting place, however, isn’t the only application of telepresence technology. With its high definition cameras and huge projection screens, systems are also able to illustrate physical characteristics and cues, such as a sweaty brow, in great detail. Communication is mostly non-verbal than verbal and this renders telepresence an ideal vehicle for business negotiations and sales pitches. Then there is telepresence’s potential for allowing human resource executives to interview job candidates from afar while still getting a feeling for an applicant’s personality. The technology is also employed in other sectors such as education, health, military and government. In the not-so-far future, it’s likely that telepresence will aid geographically scattered engineers and product managers in the product development process.
In technical terms telepresence is similar to video conferencing, only that it gives an immersive experience. It provides stimuli such that the user perceives no differences from actual presence of the counterpart. As the screen size increases, so does the sense of immersion, as well as the range of subjective mental experiences available to viewers. The stimuli depends on the application and bandwidth used. Consider a person watching television, for example, the primary senses of vision and hearing are stimulated giving the impression that the watcher is no longer at home. Similar capabilities give telepresence a level of visual and acoustic realism that encourages active usage. The quality of experience also may be influenced by room customization. While high-end telepresence users might have many of these added services, other users may have simple rooms outfitted with plug-and- play, high definition technology. Indeed, any room can be a telepresence room.
The fundamental methodology used in a telepresence system is digital compression of audio and video streams in real time. The audio and video signal is sampled and quantized, a process called encoding. This process results in a digital stream of 1s and 0s is subdivided into labeled packets, which are then transmitted over the global IP network. The receiving telepresence system decodes the digital stream to display the visual and generate the audio. The hardware or software that performs this compression is called a codec (coder/decoder). To create a vivid, compelling and natural experience a resolution of between 720p and 1080p at 30 frames per second is deployed, giving a crystal clear video stream. For audio standards-based wideband codecs are implemented to improve the voice quality carried over IP networks. Wideband codecs provide clearer, more lifelike voice communications and markedly improved intelligibility because of the additional voice data included in the audio stream. They also double the voice signal range, in the range of 30 hertz to 7000 hertz or higher, while using the same network bandwidth as narrowband codecs.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Is Kenya Becoming A Virtual Money Economy?
Mobile Money Transfer and Mobile Banking have become very popular products in the Kenyan market. In fact, approximately over 12 million mobile phone subscribers make mobile payments and as mobile phone penetration continues to grow, these products are becoming more relevant to the market. Once a mobile subscriber registers for either of the products, a virtual wallet enabled for them on their phone. The subscriber can then use the mobile phone for various transactions. Person-to-person money transfer has boosted incomes of rural recipients through the ease, security, and affordability that allow their relatives or friends in urban centers to send money home more frequently. Another important consideration is that Kenya is one of several countries in sub-Saharan Africa where remittances from members of the diaspora living in Europe, the Middle East and the US form a crucial source of foreign currency. Mobile phone-based money transfer and banking solutions have been recognised as the avenue to take banking services to people outside the formal financial industry. The services are cheaper than conventional banking, which comes with expenses the poor could not afford. The informal sector of the economy thus has the potential to save money formally and to do so in a safe and productive way, earning interest, and not sitting idle and vulnerable under mattresses or at the bottom of dustbins.
In essence, “Mobile Money” is cash converted to electronic form, stored in a virtual account in the SIM card. Mobile Money solutions such as M-PESA, ZAP, YU Cash and Orange Money run on a SIM Application Toolkit, commonly referred to as STK. STK is a standard of the GSM system which enables the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) to initiate actions which can be used for various value-added services. The SIM Application Toolkit consists of a set of commands programmed into the SIM which define how the SIM should interact directly with the outside world and initiates commands independently of the handset and the network. This enables the SIM to build up an interactive exchange between a network application and the end user and access, or control access to, the network. The SIM also gives commands to the handset such as displaying menus and/or asking for user input. Designed as a single application environment, the STK can be started during the initial power up of the SIM card and is especially suited to low level applications with simple user interfaces. Mobile money transfer systems are already being used to allow bulk disbursement of payments from organizations to employees, and have been used to allow the disbursement and repayment of micro loans.
On the other hand, Mobile Banking such as KCB Connect, Hello Money and Easy24, utilizes a unique platform known as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). USSD is a protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the service provider's computers. USSD can be used for WAP browsing, prepaid callback service, location-based content services, menu-based information services, and as part of configuring the phone on the network. USSD messages are up to 182 alphanumeric characters in length. Unlike Short Message Service (SMS) messages, USSD messages create a real-time connection during a USSD session. The connection remains open, allowing a two-way exchange of a sequence of data. This makes USSD more responsive than services that use SMS. It is highly user-friendly, and provides an extremely convenient system for customers to access virtual account in real time. Services available with mobile banking include: Check their bank balance; View a mini bank statement; Change PIN; Request Bank Statements; Transfer of Funds in-between personal accounts and nominated accounts; Pay utility bills – Pay your Power/ Water /Satellite TV; Enquire on FX rates; Top-up their mobile phone balance; and Request a cheque book. Mobile banking services have various benefits to the population, including increased productivity and capital flows, helping to manage cashflow as well as enhancing management of erratic incomes.
Another growing trend in the Kenyan market is development of e-commerce and Internet banking solutions such as Rupu, Jambopay, PesaPal, Straight 2 Bank and Barclays Integrator. These solutions increase efficiency since the merchant is a technology solution rather than a physical person or premises, allowing exchange of goods or services in a virtual environment. Services available through the Internet Banking solution include: Inter Account transfers; EFT payments; Local EFT payments to other banks; Cross Currency payments; Direct Debit Payments; Recurring Payments; Urgent Payments (RTGS); and Electronic Cheque Payments. Commercial banks that have already deployed Internet banking are; Barclays Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, African Banking Corporation, Bank of India, Chase Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa, Consolidated Bank, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank, Oriental Commercial Bank, Paramount Universal Bank, Prime Bank, Standard Chartered, Trans National Bank, CFC Stanbic Bank, Ecobank Kenya Ltd, Equatorial Commercial Bank Ltd, Equity Bank Ltd, Family Bank, Fidelity Bank, I & M Bank, Middle East Bank (K) Ltd, National Bank of Kenya and NIC Bank. Judging by the enthusiasm in the market, Kenya may be heading to an economy where less tangible money is in circulation.
In essence, “Mobile Money” is cash converted to electronic form, stored in a virtual account in the SIM card. Mobile Money solutions such as M-PESA, ZAP, YU Cash and Orange Money run on a SIM Application Toolkit, commonly referred to as STK. STK is a standard of the GSM system which enables the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) to initiate actions which can be used for various value-added services. The SIM Application Toolkit consists of a set of commands programmed into the SIM which define how the SIM should interact directly with the outside world and initiates commands independently of the handset and the network. This enables the SIM to build up an interactive exchange between a network application and the end user and access, or control access to, the network. The SIM also gives commands to the handset such as displaying menus and/or asking for user input. Designed as a single application environment, the STK can be started during the initial power up of the SIM card and is especially suited to low level applications with simple user interfaces. Mobile money transfer systems are already being used to allow bulk disbursement of payments from organizations to employees, and have been used to allow the disbursement and repayment of micro loans.
On the other hand, Mobile Banking such as KCB Connect, Hello Money and Easy24, utilizes a unique platform known as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). USSD is a protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the service provider's computers. USSD can be used for WAP browsing, prepaid callback service, location-based content services, menu-based information services, and as part of configuring the phone on the network. USSD messages are up to 182 alphanumeric characters in length. Unlike Short Message Service (SMS) messages, USSD messages create a real-time connection during a USSD session. The connection remains open, allowing a two-way exchange of a sequence of data. This makes USSD more responsive than services that use SMS. It is highly user-friendly, and provides an extremely convenient system for customers to access virtual account in real time. Services available with mobile banking include: Check their bank balance; View a mini bank statement; Change PIN; Request Bank Statements; Transfer of Funds in-between personal accounts and nominated accounts; Pay utility bills – Pay your Power/ Water /Satellite TV; Enquire on FX rates; Top-up their mobile phone balance; and Request a cheque book. Mobile banking services have various benefits to the population, including increased productivity and capital flows, helping to manage cashflow as well as enhancing management of erratic incomes.
Another growing trend in the Kenyan market is development of e-commerce and Internet banking solutions such as Rupu, Jambopay, PesaPal, Straight 2 Bank and Barclays Integrator. These solutions increase efficiency since the merchant is a technology solution rather than a physical person or premises, allowing exchange of goods or services in a virtual environment. Services available through the Internet Banking solution include: Inter Account transfers; EFT payments; Local EFT payments to other banks; Cross Currency payments; Direct Debit Payments; Recurring Payments; Urgent Payments (RTGS); and Electronic Cheque Payments. Commercial banks that have already deployed Internet banking are; Barclays Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, African Banking Corporation, Bank of India, Chase Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa, Consolidated Bank, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank, Oriental Commercial Bank, Paramount Universal Bank, Prime Bank, Standard Chartered, Trans National Bank, CFC Stanbic Bank, Ecobank Kenya Ltd, Equatorial Commercial Bank Ltd, Equity Bank Ltd, Family Bank, Fidelity Bank, I & M Bank, Middle East Bank (K) Ltd, National Bank of Kenya and NIC Bank. Judging by the enthusiasm in the market, Kenya may be heading to an economy where less tangible money is in circulation.
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