The scientists at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Attaur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB) have successfully established Molecular Diagnostic Assays for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These robust testing kits will cost one-fourth the current price for the kits used for detecting the COVID-19 and have been efficiently tested on laboratory controls and patient sample.
Microsoft’s founder and chairman Bill Gates has stepped down from the company’s board of directors for the first time in 44 years. He explains that he is stepping away from the company to focus more on his charitable endeavors such as global health, education etc. He added that he is by no means abandoning Microsoft and will maintain a passive role in the company as a leading advisor.
Zuhaib Ghauri, a fifth-grade studnet from Karachi, has developed a navigational hat for blind people which helps them walk without bumping into hurdles. The child prodigy came up with this innovative idea after completing his Arduino courses. Powered by batteries, the hat uses sensors and an Arduino board to identify the hindrances in the way.
A 34-year old space engineer, Justine Haupt who hates Smartphones and texting has built a unique screen-less, classical rotary dialing mobile phone. The phone is wireless and it took her 3 years to build the blue-colored phone fit with a rotary dial taken from an old Trimline phone and an antenna. The device is about 4-inches tall and works on an AT&T prepaid SIM card. Its battery lasts around 24 to 30 hours.
Alibaba, China’s Amazon, Microsoft, gaming developer, and healthcare network, all in one just came up with an AI system for diagnosing the COVID-19 (coronavirus). The AI system developed can review 300 chest CT scans in less than 20 seconds to determine if the patient is infected or not. Currently, at least 100 healthcare facilities in China are implementing the AI solution for Coronavirus screening.
Facebook has agreed to expedite information sharing with Pakistani authorities in connection with investigations in cyber crime cases. A team from Facebook’s Asia Pacific headquarters visited the office of Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Wajid Zia to discuss issues of cooperation and data sharing between FIA and Facebook. The two teams discussed mutual collaboration and cooperation in data sharing as well as cyber crime awareness among social media users in Pakistan.
A Karachi based company, Crown Group has introduced its own range of electric cars in Pakistan. The company displayed a number of environmentally friendly vehicles, including motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, cars and ambulances, which it says are energy efficient. The starting price for an electric car, a pilot project, is Rs400,000. It’s a two-door hatchback with a seating capacity of two persons.
The government of Pakistan is going to create Pakistan’s first artificial intelligence centre with China’s help for Rs1 billion in a bid to set up technology zones across the country. This is part of its Rs6.26 billion plan to digitise the country. Parliament is also going to be digitised. The IT ministry plans to use technology to record attendance, votes and quorum. This will cost Rs8 million.
Hacker creates a device called “Keyless repeater” which costs $9,000 allows users to unlock most luxury cars. The hacker also stated that his device can only unlock a limited set of luxury cars having frequencies between 22 and 40k such as Audi and Porsche models released after 2014. Popularly known as “Evan Connect”, the hacker demonstrated his device’s application in a video.
A hotel in China has employed robots as staff to serve food to guests to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The robots work on all 16 floors and glides across the hallway of the hotel and says. “Hello. Cute Peanut is serving meals. Bon appetit,” according to the translation. Guests wearing masks collect their food and go back to their rooms.