Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/234240
40 Information Technology maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 DECEMBER 2013 A year in technology Mark Bishop PROBABLY one of the biggest technology breakthroughs of 2013 is 3D printing becoming more affordable and thus widely popular than ever before. 3D printing is the process of making three-dimensional objects out of a digital model designed on a computer. Thanks to the dramatic decrease in the cost of 3D printers in 2013, many companies and individuals adopted the technology and we saw several exciting projects and creative ideas coming to life such as online stores letting users design 3D printed gifts and jewellery, to fully functional 3D-printed prosthetic arms. Some companies also started exploring the possibility of manufacturing 3D printers aimed at the home user, and in case you are sceptical about this whole 3D printing business, suffice to say that General Electric have plans to start manufacturing jet engine parts using additive manufacturing, a fancy name for industrial-grade 3D printing technology. This year also ushered in the latest generation of the home entertainment console rivals Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, and Nintendo Wii U. Sony and Nintendo seem to be focusing more on the gaming aspect, while Microsoft are aiming to make the Xbox One more like a home entertainment hub. 2013 also saw a boom in smartwatches, the new-era wearable technology that replaces the good old fashioned wristwatch with a smarter device capable of most or all functions one would normally expect from a smartphone, such as the ability to take photos, play music, as well as making and receiving phone calls in a manner foreshadowed by David Hasselhoff in the 80s television series Knight Rider, where he would speak to his hightech supercar KITT through his wristwatch. Speaking of smartphones, 2013 also saw the introduction of many new smartphone models, some of which bear hardware specifications Burlesque performer Dita von Teese flaunts the very first 3D-printed gown: one of the technological breakthroughs of the year superior to those of some laptops and netbooks on the market. Apple have released their new iPhone model which came in two editions: the iPhone 5C – essentially a colourful replacement to last year's iPhone 5 – and the iPhone 5S, which is the flagship model with all the bells and whistles including the new biometric touch ID which recognises the user's fingerprints. Apple also released their latest version of the mobile operating system iOS 7 which saw a radical change in user interface design from previous versions. Unsurprisingly, Google has achieved a lot this year, such as the Android mobile operating system surpassing a market share of 80% of all smartphones and tablets sold worldwide. Of course this was substantially possible due to the fact that a lot of low to mid-range mobile devices sport Android as the mobile operating system as opposed to the next rival Apple iOS, which is only available on the pricey high-end range of Apple smartphones and tablets. Another Google achievement was that Google Play, the Android version of the App Store, surpassed 50 billion App downloads. Another interesting move by Google was the as yet secretive acquisition of advanced robotics company Boston Dynamics, which is synonymous with developing state of the art robots for the US military. Imagination is the only limit on what this venture holds for us in the future. Mentioning Google, one cannot leave out the launch of the pilot project for Google Glass in late February. The augmented reality eyewear is scheduled to hit the consumer market in early 2014 but has already received a great deal of attention throughout the year. Google have also updated their search engine algorithm this year, the first major upgrade in 12 years, which is designed to evolve with the users' search trends, among other important aspects. Of course there are many more technologies that have emerged in 2013 and these are just a few which are related to the IT sector. Looking forward to see the predictions for 2014 come true as well as other surprises it may have in store for us. Mark Bishop is the head of the Alert eBusiness Data Centre (www. alert.com.mt) Rotary Malta issues call for postgraduate scholarship worth $30,000 THE Rotary Clubs of the Maltese Islands have issued a call for applications for a Rotary Scholarship worth $30,000 for international, post-graduate studies during the academic year 2014-2015. This scholarship is YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt one of the most generous scholarships available in Malta. Scholarships are available for study in one of Rotary Foundation's areas of focus, namely Peace and conflict prevention and resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and other sanitation, maternal and child health, literacy and basic education, and economic and community de- velopment. Scholarships range from one to four years and therefore can include an entire degree program and can cover tuition, travel and accommodation. The Rotary Foundation is the world's largest private donor of scholarships with 800 scholarships granted worldwide annually. Rotary, active in Malta for 46 years, is a service club which enables members to provide services to the community and has supported many organisations such as Dar il-Kaptan, the Ghabex Centre and Caritas. Deadline for the proposal submissions is 9 January 2014. For more information log on to: www.rotary.org.mt/scholarships