Samsung’s new Galaxy S IV is reported to have a very cool feature: eye scrolling.  The phone will track a user’s eyes to determine where to scroll.  E.g. when a user reads an article on their phone or tablet, and their eyes reach the bottom of the page, the software will automatically scroll down to reveal the next paragraph of text.

In January 2013, Samsung filed for a trademark in Europe for the name “Eye Scroll” (No. 011510674). In February 2013, Samsung filed for the “Samsung Eye Scroll” trademark in the U.S., where it described the service as “Computer application software having a feature of sensing eye movements and scrolling displays of mobile devices, namely, mobile phones, smartphones and tablet computers according to eye movements; digital cameras; mobile telephones; smartphones; tablet computers.”

Samsung also filed for the trademark “Eye Pause,” without describing what the feature does.

But Samsung may not be the only player with this cool feature.  A tech company called Tobii, which received $21 million in funding from Intel last year, has been working on a technique that uses infrared sensors to track precise eye movements.

Although eye tracking systems have been in development for a while, it seems Samsung has finally cracked it. Current capabilities use the front-facing camera to know when a person is looking at the screen to keep the screen lit instead of 
automatically dimming.

Interested to see how practical and accurate this feature will be.

Source: "Samsung’s New Smartphone Will Track Eyes to Scroll Pages", New York Times, March 4, 2013.http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/samsungs-new-smartphone-will-track-eyes-to-scroll-pages/

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STMicroelectronics unveiled a screen-sensor technology which uses motion sensors to allow users to control a device without actually touching it.  Users simply hover their hand a few inches above the surface. The technology is expected to go into a tablet to go on sale this year.

The inspiration for this technology originated with a Russian invention from 1919, yes, nearly 100 years ago.  In 1919, a Russian named Leon Theremin (aka Lev Terman) invented the termenvox (aka theremin), an electronic musical instrument built around two antennas which allows users to play music by hovering their hands above the instrument without having to touch it.

STMicroelectronics' clients include Samsung, Apple, Nokia and Blackberry.

I do wonder how practical and accurate this technology will be.

Sources: 

1. "STMicro Lures Samsung With Hover Screen Amid Venture Exit", Bloomberg, February 27, 2013.
   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-26/stmicro-lures-samsung-with-hover-screens-amid-chip-venture-exit.html
2. "How an Old Russian Invention Inspired STMicro’s Hover Screen", Bloomberg, Febrauary 27, 2013.
   http://go.bloomberg.com/tech-blog/2013-02-27-how-an-old-russian-invention-inspired-stmicros-hover-screen/
   

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

In order to draw attention to environmental pollution in his area, Jin Zengming, a Zhejiang entrepreneur offered a RMB200,000 reward to the environmental protection bureau chief if he swims in the polluted Ruian river for 20 minutes.

By posting this on Sina Weibo, he is sure to garner a lot of attention from China's netizens.  He did 3 very smart things:

• Tapped into popular sentiments and emotions
  [China's chronic environment pollution and government official corruption]
• Headline grabbing amount of money
  [for China]
• A daring challenge which puts challenged person in a lose-lose situation:
  [the government minister with specific responsibility for the problem is in a lose-lose situation because if he does the swim, he will lose face; if he does not do the swim, he will also lose face.  In either situation, China's netizens are going to have a field day keeping attention focused on this.  Do not be surprised if this official is replaced shortly]

If you want to draw attention to your cause, this is a smart example to learn from.

Source: 
"Chinese official offered huge reward... if he can swim in polluted river", South Cina Morning Post, February 18, 2013.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1153028/chinese-official-offered-huge-reward-if-he-can-swim-polluted-river

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

A consumer's challenge in China: From contaminated milk to chickens fed with excessive amounts of antibiotics and hormones, a new food scandal seems to occur every week in China.  Consumers are rightly scared.

The solution:  Until "the system" changes, a food safety testing system which yield results in minutes.

Scientists at Tianjin University of Science and Technology created such a solution.  The food testing indicator paper will help consumers identify food products contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and excessive drug residues.  During tests, the paper was found to change color to suggest over 60 varieties of chemical factors in food samples during lab research conducted at university.  Food safety testing usually requires complex testing machines and procedures in laboratories. With this test paper, however, certain harmful substances can be identified in a few minutes.

Definitely a real solution for the real world.

Source: "Home kit to test food for toxins could be on sale soon in China", South China Morning Post, February 15, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1150879/home-kit-test-food-toxins-could-be-sale-soon-china

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

Coca Cola faced a challenge in India:  How to sell chilled beverages in India's hinterlands during the hot summer when there are frequent power outages?  

Coca Cola India's pragmatic solution:  Provide solar-powered coolers to women retailers.  The “eKoCool” solar coolers help retailers chill their drinks using solar power but also empowers women.  

Beverages remain chilled for at least two-and-a-half hours after sunset.  Besides cooling drinks, the "eKoCool" solar cooler can also charge lanterns and cell phones which helps the women earn a little extra money. 

During the initial test using 20 solar coolers in Agra, sales jumped nearly 5x for these retailers.  Coca Cola has installed 110 coolers so far and has plans to roll out over 1,000.

Definitely a real solution for the real world.


Source: "Coca-Cola focuses on growing with communities", The Hindu Business Line, February 14, 2013.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/marketing/cocacola-focuses-on-growing-with-communities/article4415385.ece

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.