₦airaland Forum

•Artificial Intelligence to take on more human jobs
•Big IT companies to grow even bigger

By Emeka Aginam & Laju Iren

Information and Communication Technology has grown in leaps and bounds in the past decade than ever before. However, experts say that 2017 will bring more changes than history can boast of.

All these are if the industry report recently released by Ericsson are anything to go by.


tech
It has also been predicted that the kind of revolution technology will herald from 2017, could even take up a large number of human jobs.

The report, tagged: ‘The Ericsson’s 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2017 and beyond’, also concluded that there is need for device manufacturers to produce low cost 4G enabled devices as these would boost broadband penetration in Nigeria. According to the report, smartphone penetration in the country is increasing at a fast pace, driven by increasing availability of devices at affordable prices.

The Managing Director and Head of Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Johan Jemdahl, unveiling the report to journalists in Lagos recently said that understanding the trends will help individuals, organisation and governments improve quality of education, economy, health, among others.

The trends are based on Ericsson ConsumerLab’s global research activities over more than 20 years, as well as data points from an online survey of advanced internet users in 14 major cities across the world. The survey was performed in October 2016.

Highlights of the 10 trends for 2017 and beyond:

*Artificial Intelligence Everywhere: Jemdahl said that consumers expect artificial intelligence (AI) to move from assistants to managers, adding that virtual reality will be indistinguishable from physical reality in only three years. 35 percent of advanced internet users want an AI advisor at work, and one in four would like an AI as their manager. At the same time, almost half are concerned that AI robots will soon make a lot of people lose their jobs.

*Setting the Pace for Internet of Things: Consumers are increasingly using automated applications, encouraging IoT adoption. Two in five believe smartphones will learn their habits and perform activities on their behalf automatically.

*Pedestrians Drive Autonomous Cars: Car drivers may not exist in the future. One in four pedestrians would feel safer crossing a street if all cars were autonomous, and 65 percent of them would prefer to have an autonomous car.

*Merged Reality: Almost four out of five virtual reality users believe VR will be indistinguishable from reality in only three years. Half of respondents are already interested in gloves or shoes that allow you to interact with virtual objects. Reflecting on the rise of virtual reality, Michael Björn, Head of Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, says: “Beyond real time, I believe we should be talking about reality time. In fact, what we call reality becomes ever more personal and subjective. Consumers not only surround themselves with the like-minded on social networks, but also are also starting to customize the way they experience the world with augmented and virtual reality technologies.

*Bodies Out of Sync: As autonomous cars become reality, car sickness issues will increase, and three in ten foresee needing sickness pills. One in three also want motion sickness pills for use with virtual and augmented reality technology.

*The Smart Device Safety Paradox: More than half already use emergency alarms, tracking or notifications on their smartphones. Of those who say their smartphone makes them feel safer, three in five say they take more risks because they rely on their phone.

Social Silos : Today, people willingly turn their social networks into silos. One in three says social networks are their main source of news. And more than one in four value their contacts’ opinions more than politicians’ viewpoints.

*Augmented Personal Reality: Over half of people would like to use augmented reality glasses to illuminate dark surroundings and highlight dangers. More than one in three would also like to edit out disturbing elements around them.

*The Privacy Divide: Two in five advanced internet users want to use only encrypted services, but people are divided. Almost half would like to have just reasonably good privacy across all services, and more than one out of three believes privacy no longer exists.

*Big Tech for All: More than two out of five advanced internet users would like to get all their products from the biggest five IT companies. Of those, three in four believe this will happen only five years from now.

The report also made a case for 5G networks adding that “consumers also want the future to remain fully mobile, the demand for battery-friendly, instant and fast connectivity is set to grow rapidly. In that sense, reality time means it is time for 5G networks.”

Haba. ....

Fliptunez is down right?
I've been trying to check it for some time but it's not going

ableguy:
lol funny you, na to activate ghost mode

Egg is for protein nah.

I'll pick the egg join

wonlasewonimi:
I was there he didn't steal the phones. He paid for some of the phones and wanted to get the remaining money from the pigeon hole and he mistakenly started the car so the sales boy raised unwarranted alarm. Seun Egbegbe is richer than e-money that's the fact. O have access to his account. He currently producing movie starring denzel Washington, he is not your average Nigerian producer. Even small doctor sang his praises in most of his albums

Mistakenly starts the car

Chai

Smellymouth:
My crush

Eyah, pele

I actually can't differentiate between NASA and Bishop Oyedepo nowadays

Edwinmason:
THANK YOU OP

Always welcomed

.

A man was sent to space and a different man comes back instead, nobody knows what happened

We have watched many films about the encounters between astronauts and aliens. We have read too many stories about encounters with spaceships, intergalactic wars, and abducted astronauts. Too much fantasy surrounds our relationship with galactic reality. Well, this time NASA reported a strange event and there’s nothing fantastic about the story.

A few weeks ago, NASA sent the astronaut Michael McCullough into space.


A few days later, the spaceship where Michael traveled came back to Earth and landed in the Atlantic Ocean, near the Florida coast. When the capsule was opened, a different man came out. Where was Michael? He didn’t come in the ship.


NASA performed a DNA test on the man who came, and the results showed in 99% that the man was not Michael. Despite the fact NASA assured they had kept the contact with McCullough during the whole mission, he was not the man who came back from space, but it was his spaceship the one that landed. They couldn’t contact the astronaut yet, and nobody knows where he is and what happened.


Events like this one show the importance of the implementation of space programs.

I'm in
Daremiarchs@gmail.com

haba!

thesicilian:
Not everything requires a link, Miss Nutcase. He could as well have written the article himself.

And @ daremiarchs I think the write up is kind of inspired and very objective. Kudos.

Thanks ,it was actually copied though

I cry for you o eh

Here

WARNING! 6 tests to help you spot fake rice!

Reports indicate that China produces fake rice which is mixed with plastic for exportation to African countries including Nigeria.

China has a history of making fake food items and the fake rice phenomenon has been there for a while.

A reputable English-language newspaper in Korea, The Korea Times, reported that “China famous for having all, making all, has now been reported to have made rice out of plastic and has distributed it.


The ‘plastic rice’ is reportedly made by forming potatoes and sweet potatoes into regular rice grains shape, then adding industrial synthetic resins. It remains hard after cooking and can cause serious health issues.

Experts have raised the alarm of possible flooding of the Nigerian market with the ‘plastic rice’.


As Christmas draws close, a lot of people will be getting bags of rice from their employers, friends and well-wishers.

You can determine if your rice is fake by carrying out any of the simple tests below.

1. The mortar and pestle test

When molding a few grains of rice with a mortar and pestle, if the powder gives a quite white colour, you are good to go but it has a yellow discoloration, your rice must be fake.

2. The fire test

You know what plastic smells like right. So, get a lighter and burn a handful of rice. If it catches fire and smells like burnt plastic, you have fake rice.



3. The water test


Get a glass of cold water. Pour a tablespoon of raw rice in the glass and stir. If the rice goes to the bottom, it is all good. If it floats at the top, be careful because it means it contains ‘plastic rice’. Do not eat.

4. The mold test

Boil the rice. Leave it in a warm place for like 2-3 days. If mold does not appear in a few days, your rice is fake and should not be consumed. It will not get mold because plastic is not affected by the weather or temperature.

5. The boiling test

Observe the rice while boiling. If it starts forming a thick layer at the top of the pot, it is ‘plastic rice’.

6. The hot oil test

Just take some of the rice drop into some real hot oil. If it is plastic, it will melt or stick together or stick at the bottom of the pan.

Share these tips with your friends and family so they do not end up eating ‘plastic rice’. These tests are very simple. Do not eat plastic rice, be careful.

makdcash:
Pishure or idontbliveit

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, born in Otueke, a predominantly fishing community, presently in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is 59 today.


Jonathan, who was born on Wednesday, November 20, 1957, into the family of Mr. Lawrence and Mrs. Eunice Jonathan, has had a story described in many quarters as a journey from ‘grass to grace.’

This son of canoe makers, rose from a Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State to becoming Nigeria’s President, the highest office in the country.

Jonathan, who held sway as the country’s No. 1 citizen for 60 months/24days (5 May 2010 – 29 May 2015) is many things to many people.

The social media has been abuzz since midnight as torrents of tributes have continued to pour in for Jonathan, whom many described as a statesman and Nigeria’s hero of democracy.

Against this backdrop, Vanguard captures 59 quotable quotes of Ex-President Jonathan as he clocks 59 today.

Quote 1
The stronger the boat of (democracy), the more it is able to meet the challenges of its voyage and deliver on its promise to citizens.

Quote 2
The air of freedom we breathe today is the result of the sacrifices of thousands of pro-democracy activists, human rights campaigners and others who organised as civil society.

Quote 3
My political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Quote 4
No minister will be allowed to go on a mission of endless search for solutions.

Quote 5
In the comfort of our offices, let us not forget that majority of our people live below the poverty line.

Quote 6
Terrorism has no conscience and spares no one.

Quote 7
Any society or country that closes the vital valves of its democratic space cannot develop at a reasonable pace.

Quote 8
Where there is no opportunity for one man one vote, there will be no accountability and no responsibility.

Quote 9
Democracy is a journey that every nation mindful of advancing the liberty of its citizens must undertake.

Quote 10
Nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Quote 11
Our votes must count! One man, one vote! One woman, one vote! One youth, one vote!

Quote 12
Nobody should rig for me. I am assuring Nigerians that though I am contesting, nobody must manipulate votes in my favour. Our votes must count.

Quote 13
I congratulate the candidates of the other political parties. I regard them not as opponents but as partners.

Quote 14
In presenting myself for service, I make no pretense that I have a magic wand that will solve all of Nigeria’s problems or that I am the most intelligent Nigerian.

Quote 15
I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.

Quote 16
Democracy calls for sacrifice and tolerance an open ear and a strong voice.

Quote 17
For the PDP family, the contest for party offices does not produce winners and losers.

Quote 18
I believe in the politics of give and take.

Quote 19
Separation of power is not separation of government.

Quote 20
We are all Nigerians and I will be a President to all. This is the new dawn we crave.

Quote 21
Our unity is firm, our purpose strong, our determination unshakable.

Quote 22
Being a Nigerian is a blessing (and) a great responsibility.

Quote 23
We have a duty to be loyal to our country.

Quote 24
If God did not will it we will not be Nigerians.

Quote 25
Our founding fathers… did not dream of a country where neighbours and friends would exchange bullets in place of handshakes.

Quote 26
I prefer to see the silver lining in the dark cloud rather than the dark cloud in the silver lining.

Quote 27
We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us.

Quote 28
We are not sworn enemies… We are neighbours who sometimes offend each other, but can always sit down to talk over our differences

Quote 29
Over-dependence on oil has put an unpleasant bracket in our national economic freedom.

Quote 30
Economic diplomacy does not need to be a zero-sum game where the gain of partner automatically translates to the loss of the other.

Quote 31
Peace and security are the barest irreducible conditions for social and economic development.

Quote 32
I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad. All my children live and school in Nigeria.

Quote 33
The time of lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action.

Quote 34
Cynicism and scepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria.

Quote 35
The goal of achieving positive macroeconomic stability is no end in itself.

Quote 36
I have no intention to inflict pain on Nigerians. To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices.

Quote 37
While we may not have landed a spaceship on the moon or developed nuclear technology, our inventors and innovators have made globally acknowledged contributions.

Quote 38
Transformation in my view simply means taking what you have and making the best of it and in so doing produce results that can bring about a paradigm shift.

Quote 39
I want to assure Nigerians that crude oil is not our ‘Black Gold.’ The real ‘Black Gold’ of Nigeria are her people and they can grow in value from gold to diamond via education.

Quote 40
We must quickly move away from partisan battlegrounds and find the national common ground.

Quote 41
Let me put you on notice: the assignment of offices is not an allocation of privileges.

Quote 42
Nigeria is a nation of resilient people. We will never yield to the forces of darkness. Nigeria will never ever, disintegrate.

Quote 43
The quality of governance is as good as the quality of the civil service.

Quote 44
The best advertisement for good governance is its positive expressions of happiness in the lives of the governed.

Quote 43
In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school, but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day, but I never despaired. Didn’t have power, didn’t have generators, studied with lanterns, but I never despaired. In spite of these, I finished secondary school attended the University of Port Harcourt and now hold a doctorate degree.

Quote 44
I was not born rich and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up.

Quote 45
As the most populous black nation on earth it seems our manifest destiny is to champion the cause of African emancipation and integration.

Quote 46
African renaissance remains an unfinished business, but the work that remains should not stop us from focusing on new priorities and challenges.

Quote 47
I am happy that the black man has put the shame of dispossession behind him and is moving on.

Quote 48
The dark patches in the Niger Delta will give way to light.

Quote 49
On the football field, nobody cares who scores for Nigeria. You can be a Musa or a Moses; you can be a Christopher or a Mustapha, nobody cares.

Quote 50
We have a duty to stand firm against those who threaten the sovereign integrity of the Nigerian state. Our will is strong, because our faith lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria.

Quote 51
Nigerians are peace-loving people; these sad events perpetrated by those who do not wish our nation well have not changed the essential character of our people.

Quote 52
No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terror.

Quote 53
Africa must declare an end to the era of self-inflicted wars and conflicts.

Quote 54
Africa must turn its begging bowls into baskets of prosperity and opportunity.

Quote 55
It is the supreme task of this generation to give hope to the hopeless strength to the weak and protection to the defenseless.

Quote 56
We must develop a democratic culture in which the will of the people will be treated as sacred and be immune to subversion by anti-democratic elements.

Quote 57
As we strive to advance our democratic development, there will be times when our will shall be tested, our patience provoked and our belief questioned.

Quote 58
The beauty of democracy is that its practice is never final and always has room for improvement no matter how old a democratic society may be. Where we falter we must not fall. When we are weak, we must not surrender.

Quote 59
If Africa can’t yet send men to the moon, we should at least organize elections that are free and fair, of which the whole world will be proud.

The image of the Church as a hallowed building where Christians meet regularly to worship God is assuming a new meaning, especially in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The Church, as many of us know it then, is no longer, strictly speaking, what it is in the FCT. What may be a watering hole for Abuja revellers from Monday to Saturday may turn out to be a serious Church on Sunday.

And the trend, which has been on for a while now, is assuming more acceptability, especially with the proliferation of churches in the country, and the high cost of acquiring land in Abuja.

According to a long-time resident of the FCT, the practice of holding Church services in hotels in Abuja started more than 15 years ago but it assumed greater practice during the tenure of Nasir El-Rufai as FCT Minister when illegal structures were indiscriminately pulled down to restore the Abuja master plan. The resident, John Nwachukwu, said, in the mid-nineties, few churches held their services in hotels, especially five-star hotels as a mark of prestige and to draw a particular class of people.

“It started with the Family Worship Centre then founded and headed by the flamboyant pastor, the late Ina Omaku, who had returned to Nigeria from America and was making waves with the young men and women of the city. Since he had no permanent structure to conduct service, he used to hold service at the Congress Hall of the prestigious Hilton Hotel.




It was a huge attraction to young men and the women of Abuja then until the Church moved to its headquarters in Wuse District. So, in a way, it can be said that the Family Worship Centre pioneered worshiping in hotels in this city and other churches followed suit”, the resident who did not want to be named said.

At that time, several churches, especially the burgeoning Pentecostal churches that had no resources to buy land for new structures, resorted to converting whatever available spaces they found, especially those areas that were designated green area where buildings are not meant to be constructed on, to building makeshift structures to serve their purpose.

With the coming of El-Rufai as Minister, however, the story changed. With a clear mandate from then President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Abuja master plan must be restored, El-Rufai set about bringing down all those structures that were built in contravention of the master plan, both in terms of location and design. Sadly, churches constituted the highest numbers of structures that were pulled down by the FCT administration then. That particular incidence marked the beginning of the influx of churches into hotels to hold services.

But the destruction of structures in places designated as green areas also brought another dimension to how such areas would be put to use. The administration then created parks and gardens in such areas. Most of these parks and gardens became ready watering holes for Abuja residents. But while it serves this purpose from Mondays to Saturdays, many of them have become worship places on Sundays. It is the contradiction inherent in using a venue not meant for worshiping God in the first place that has raised the concern of some persons.

According to a client of one of the hotels in Central Area where one of the new generation churches uses its halls on Sundays for service, “the whole arrangement does not look real to me”. He continued: “A Church should be a church and not just one place to hire for any purpose. The ambience of a Church should uplift one’s spirituality; a feeling that you are in the presence of God. Conducting services in hotels gives the impression that God is being lodged in a hotel for the period that the Church service lasts.

Meanwhile, a pastor, whose Church premises was one of those destroyed during the El-Rufai administration, told Abuja Bulletin that if there are clear option, “using hotel (as a place of worship) may not be the best option considering the obnoxious events hotels are used for, but ifit is a case of being left without a choice, in such a circumstance there is nothing wrong with it.

He said that several reasons inform the decision for pastors using hotels or even gardens to hold services. “Some use hotel because government legislations prevent them from acquiring property for church purposes, and, or when they do, lands are located out skirts of the town, which makes it difficult for people to attend or open them up for attacks, particularly in most core northern states”, he stated.

“Others meet in hotel for security reasons; the security provided by the hotel makes it accessible to some class of people. The other reasons may range from the high taste of flamboyant preachers who are not committed to real evangelistic work, but choose to use hotel to attract patronage from high societal persons as status symbol. This last group hardly ever leaves hotel.

They are the ones I am not comfortable with their activities. Others only use hotel as launch pad, because of difficulty in securing property for church use and usually move as soon as they secure their own accommodation”.

Providing further justification on why the attention should not be focused on the physical structure of a Church, he argued: “The Church is not a building, but a body of believers with a specific nature and purpose. These biblical roles or ministries of the Church are foundational to it. What are these roles? They are many, but key to any Church are foundations in worship, edification and evangelism.

“Worship is God-centered and Christ-centered. It is not about entertaining Christians with flashy displays or presentations, but about expressing our love by worshiping our Creator. We are to praise and glorify God in worship” and if this can be done anywhere, then there should not be an issue”.

For as long as the price of properties in the FCT remains beyond the reach of many churches, using hotels and other premises as places of worship and service may continue for a while. What is important is that, if in doing so, it will hinder some people from seeking salvation, then the decision should be reconsidered by those who use hotels and other watering holes as places of worship on Sundays.

okenwa:
Sorry about the predicament you are passing through. The likely reasons she is behaving like this towards you can be that:

1. You might have been a Stubborn child or similar character.
2. She might not have much money to further your education.
3. She is not having financial support and assurances of your dad.
Etc

The ways in which things can work out for you are:

1. Get a reliable sales girl/boy who can help her remain in the shop all day.
2. You can always read in the shop, except that customers will be distracting your preparation.
3. Borrow money from a decent person to buy the jamb form.

You should not join any illuminati or other available measures to get cheap money which is meaningless.

God knows what is happening in your life.

I applaud your care bro, but I'm someone who won't do wrong unless my right got deterred.
My mum has got this money, it's just like she wants to inflict pain on me for a cause I don't understand
My dad, I haven't heard about him since my ears started functioning.
Your ideas are stunning sir, but I'm new here, I don't have anyone to lend me money.
And about the sales rep., my mum will oppose it.. I'm a hundred percent sure of that.

I'll kwukwuma burn it.. .melo Lara certificate

Hello all,I'm Damilare.. I want to share some bitter facts about myself which are actually hitting the bad sad of me..I need your advice badly..please help a fellow nairalander
Its all about my mum,she's not the type of mum a child will wake up in the morning and plant a kiss on her cheek. My mum cares not about my wellbeing, all she wants from me is to stay at her shop all day and come back home to start another round of hardwork. Ever since I relocated to Benin where she lives after finishing my ssce exams,I have never been chanced to be alone with my books,because its either I'm working or I'm sick. She shouts at me every now and then,causing shock in me... A recent happening actually made me come to a conclusion in which I need serious advice on...
I've been pestering her to give me money for me to start jamb tutorial since we've few months left, not that she doesn't have the money but what made her refused giving me the money is what I still don't understand, I had to call her mother(my granny) who I lived with in Ogun to help me beg her, and ever since 3weeks ago, I've been begging her to let me attend a tutorial, which she eventually allowed me after 3 good weeks of beg
Now again, she isn't allowing me attend the tutorial after I had paid, all she wants from me is to go sit in her shop all day while she stays at home, either sleeping or chatting with her worthless friends.
My dreams of becoming a medical doctor are actually becoming dim, because I couldn't picture how I'll even pass jamb without reading not to talk of been a qualified medical personnel when my mum isn't bothered about my future...
I've done many things to stop this, I've prayed to God but it seems God isn't ready to assist so I'm thinking of joining the Illuminati, maybe I'll find peace and still be able to pursue my dreams.. .

Advice me please

Adewhunmiiii:
Lwkmd. I'm waiting. Farri express would do.

No qualms

Adewhunmiii ,should we do ours in the express??