Thursday, April 20, 2017 12:54:20 PM
9:12 am ET April 20, 2017 (Zacks) Print
Last year, Facebook FB had announced a 10-year roadmap focused on augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which will revolutionize the future. The second day of Facebook’s (FB) F8 2017 developer conference was a continuation of the same and was full of jaw dropping announcements, including typing with brain and superior connectivity that aims to change the way we live.
Key Takeaways
Connectivity: Facebook has consistently worked on offering faster connectivity across the globe. However, it is not working on a single technology in order to do so. Instead, it is “designing different technologies for different use cases.” These will then be combined to “create flexible and extensible networks.” Facebook also aims to bring down the cost of connectivity with these latest next gen technologies and make it available for all.
Terragraph, the company’s multi-node wireless system, is designed to boost connectivity in congested urban areas. After testing the system at its headquarters last year, Facebook tested its capabilities in San Jose’s downtown corridor. The company says that it has reduced the “failover rate" to a "blip” by “leveraging” its “software and networking expertise to create software that routes around obstructions in a split second, so the end user won't notice there was a lapse in connection.”
On the other hand, to boost connectivity in remote parts of the world, the company is working on solar powered drones and MMW technologies. Facebook’s solar powered drone, Aquila had a successful test flight last year. The company is currently working on conducting the second flight. As far as connectivity speeds are concerned, Facebook said that it has broken a few records. In case of wireless transfers, the company has achieved a point-to-point data rate of 36 Gbps over 13 km with MMW technology and 80 Gbps using the optical cross-link technology.
Facebook, Inc. Price
Facebook, Inc. Price | Facebook, Inc. Quote
More importantly, Facebook is working on Tether-tenna, a small helicopter “tethered to a fiber line” which can build an “insta-infrastructure” and beam Internet in areas affected by natural disasters, thus helping people stranded in those areas to remain connected to the world.
Silent Speech Communication: Regina Dugan, head of Facebook’s DARPA style research lab, Building 8, announced two of Facebook’s most ambitious projects that delve into the area of silent speech communication. This does look straight out of a sci-fi flick. Dugan said that in the future, people will be able to type with their brains at the rate of 100 words (almost five times faster than the typing speed on smartphone currently) per minute with the technology that Facebook is developing. For developing this technology, the company is working with non-invasive and wearable sensors. Apart from this, the company is working on another technology that will allow people to hear with their skin.
Surround 360 Technology: Facebook has added two new cameras—x6 and x24—to its Surround 360 camera line. With these, users can shoot the “most immersive and engaging content” for VR, says Facebook. Moreover, with these cameras, users can see the world from various angles, essentially called 6DoF or the six degrees of freedom.
AR Glasses: Oculus chief scientist of Research, Michael Abrash said that Facebook is working on AR glasses that will “show virtual images overlaid on the real world.” Facebook added that “The set of technologies needed to reach full AR doesn’t exist yet. This is a decade-long investment and it will require major advances in material science, perception, graphics and many other areas. But once that’s achieved, AR has the potential to enhance almost every aspect of our lives, revolutionizing how we work, play and interact.”
Conclusion
Facebook, like all other tech behemoths, Apple AAPL, Amazon, Microsoft MSFT, Intel and Alphabet GOOGL is pumping ample resources to develop the next gen technologies—AR/VR and AI. These are expected to prove lucrative business opportunities, with research firm IDC claiming that AR/VR market will grow to a whopping 143.3 billion by 2020, while that for AI would be close to $46 billion.
Zacks Rank & Stock Price Movement
At present, Facebook has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
In the past one year, the company’s shares generated a return of 26.55%, compared with the Zacks Internet Services industry’s gain of 6.95%.
And so we are told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage U2
Recent META News
- Alphabet CEO’s Billion-Dollar Wealth, Microsoft’s $1.7B Indonesia Investment, and More News • IH Market News • 04/30/2024 11:58:40 AM
- U.S. Futures Climb in Pre-Market Trading Amid Tech Gains and Upcoming Inflation Data • IH Market News • 04/26/2024 11:47:25 AM
- U.S. Stocks Climb Well Off Worst Levels But Close Mostly Lower • IH Market News • 04/25/2024 08:40:00 PM
- Futures Pointing To Sharply Lower Open On Wall Street • IH Market News • 04/25/2024 01:09:21 PM
- U.S. Futures Drop in Pre-Market Trading as Tech Stocks Plunge After Meta Issues Gloomy Forecast • IH Market News • 04/25/2024 11:53:54 AM
- Southwest Shares Tumble 9.6% Post $231 Million 1Q Loss, AstraZeneca Surges on 19% Annual Increase, and More on Earnings • IH Market News • 04/25/2024 11:52:46 AM
- BHP Bids $38.8 Billion for Anglo American; Biden Unveils Historic Micron Technology Deal, and More News • IH Market News • 04/25/2024 11:48:40 AM
- U.S. Stocks Finish Lackluster Session Little Changed • IH Market News • 04/24/2024 08:33:00 PM
- Meta Reports First Quarter 2024 Results • PR Newswire (US) • 04/24/2024 08:05:00 PM
- U.S. Futures Display Mixed Results Amid Earnings, WTI and Brent Crude Prices Dip in June Futures Trading • IH Market News • 04/24/2024 11:31:20 AM
- Stocks Close On Firm Note For 2nd Straight Day On Earnings Hopes • IH Market News • 04/23/2024 09:00:38 PM
- Apple Loses Market Share in China, GM Surges in Pre-Market Following Upward Revisions for 2024 Projections, and More News • IH Market News • 04/23/2024 11:25:34 AM
- Paramount’s Shares Surge Following Sony and Apollo’s Joint Bid; ISS Backs Berkshire Hathaway Director Re-election, and More • IH Market News • 04/19/2024 11:31:22 AM
- Apple to Invest $250 Million in Singapore Expansion, Oracle Commits $8 Billion to Japan Infrastructure, and More News • IH Market News • 04/18/2024 11:11:52 AM
- United Shares Surge 5.3% in Q1 2024 Earnings Beat; Take-Two Cuts 5% of Workforce, and More News • IH Market News • 04/17/2024 10:57:39 AM
- Ericsson Soars with 66% Net Profit Growth; Live Nation Under Antitrust Scrutiny in US, and More News • IH Market News • 04/16/2024 11:18:19 AM
- Meta to temporarily close Threads in Turkey • IH Market News • 04/15/2024 06:49:59 PM
- Samsung Surpasses Apple in Q1 Smartphone Market; Salesforce in Talks to Acquire Informatica, and More News • IH Market News • 04/15/2024 11:06:48 AM
- Paramount Global Board Shrinks, Morgan Stanley Faces Regulatory Probe, and More News • IH Market News • 04/12/2024 11:05:29 AM
- Costco Increases Dividend by 14%, Meta Introduces ‘Artemis’ AI Chip, and More News • IH Market News • 04/11/2024 11:24:54 AM
- Delta Generates US$37 Million Profit in Q1, Google and Intel Unveil Cutting-Edge AI Chips, and More News • IH Market News • 04/10/2024 11:13:48 AM
- Tesla Resolves Autopilot Lawsuit, JPMorgan Unveils Potential CEO Successors, and More • IH Market News • 04/09/2024 10:39:30 AM
- Boeing Down in Pre-Market Due to CEO Developments and Denver Incident; MicroStrategy Surges 11% with BTC Spike, and More • IH Market News • 04/08/2024 11:17:49 AM
- Apple Terminates 614 Employees, Disney Unveils June Crackdown on Password Sharing, and More Updates • IH Market News • 04/05/2024 11:38:57 AM
- Exxon Mobil Forecasts Earnings Decline, Twilio Seeks Board Tenure Changes, and More News • IH Market News • 04/04/2024 11:30:20 AM
NanoViricides Reports that the Phase I NV-387 Clinical Trial is Completed Successfully and Data Lock is Expected Soon • NNVC • May 2, 2024 10:07 AM
ILUS Files Form 10-K and Provides Shareholder Update • ILUS • May 2, 2024 8:52 AM
Avant Technologies Names New CEO Following Acquisition of Healthcare Technology and Data Integration Firm • AVAI • May 2, 2024 8:00 AM
Bantec Engaged in a Letter of Intent to Acquire a Small New Jersey Based Manufacturing Company • BANT • May 1, 2024 10:00 AM
Cannabix Technologies to Deliver Breath Logix Alcohol Screening Device to Australia • BLO • Apr 30, 2024 8:53 AM
Hydromer, Inc. Reports Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 • HYDI • Apr 29, 2024 9:10 AM