Taichung, west-central Taiwan's hub city, is a dynamic place long known for universities and intellectual ferment as well as for blue-collar industrial dynamism. Its factories and major port played a key role in Taiwan's famed "economic miracle" of the past century, and they remain the driving force behind central Taiwan's economic elan, the scholastic institutions playing a key supporting role. Over the past two decades, however, a third actor has entered the play - the city has been reinventing itself as a destination of cultural and recreational enticements, creating an ever-widening array of resident- and tourist-friendly cultural and green-space attractions.The city's central area is in a basin. In this article we visit its coastal area, on the Taiwan Strait, separated from the core by the low-elevation Dadu Plateau. The north-south National Freeway No. 3 rides high up on the western side of this plateau, providing marvelous bird's-eye views over the coastal districts and the freighters and fishing boats riding atop the waters out to sea.Heritage Culture - Old Dajia TownThree major rivers run through the city to the Taiwan Strait: the Da'an and Dajia rivers in the north and the Dadu River in the south. We first visit Dajia District, centered on what was called the town of Dajia up to 2010 (when Taichung City and the former Taichung County were amalgamated), located between the Da'an and Dajia rivers. The people of Dajia take great pride in its title as one of Taiwan's "Top 10 Tourist Towns."Inform any Taiwan citizen that you've been to Dajia and you'll likely be asked if you visited Dajia Zhenlan Temple, Dajia's key attraction (also often spelled "Jenn Lann"). Taiwan, an island nation, venerates Mazu - the Goddess of the Sea - like no other deity. She is worshiped at almost 900 temples. Zhenlan Temple, which dates to the 1700s, is among the most famous and powerful, and the annual Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is the best-known event celebrating her springtime birthday. This is one of the world's three largest religious celebrations. The Dajia goddess celebrates with a pre-birthday visit to over 80 temples in central Taiwan, traveling 300-plus km in a nine-day round-trip journey joined by thousands of devotees and otherworldly minions/protectors, marching bands, and lion dancers.Over one million line the route seeking her blessing, touching her palanquin and - the most powerful blessing - braving firecracker blasts to lay under it as she passes. Over 100,000 crowd Dajia for her send-off and homecoming celebrations. She is regaled with puppet and opera shows, float parades, and lion/dragon dances, massive firecracker explosions protecting temple and town by frightening off demons and other nasty supernatural types.Right beside the temple is a spacious, brightly-lit basement-level showroom with a heavenly trove of exquisite freshly-minted carvings of religious theme, large and small, inexpensive and very dear. Walk away wearing a protective amulet for just a few hundred New Taiwan dollars, or have a large, intricately crafted work shipped to you at a price ending with many zeroes.A short drive from the temple (too far to walk) is another freshly-minted gem, the grandiose Dajia Zhenlan Temple Cultural Museum. Designed in the style of an ancient Chinese fortress, it was recently opened as a dedicated venue for display of the magnificent collection of priceless heritage artworks accumulated by the wealthy temple over the years, commissioned and donated. The works are important enough that they have even been on tour overseas.All around Dajia Zhenlan Temple are eateries of venerable pedigree that have long been satisfying the needs of pilgrims - and locals - who have come to the temple to fulfill their spiritual needs. Dajia Ma Mianxian, just a minute away on foot, is specially recommended. Taiwan's central-south coast is renowned for plump, meaty oysters, and the signature dishes here, oyster rice noodles and oyster omelets, are indeed especially good. While eating, enjoy the wall-decoration photos of the area from the 1895-1945 Japanese colonial period.The Taichung region has also long been known for high-quality traditional weaving crafts. In the early 20th century the Japanese colonial government promoted the commercialization of straw hats, and by the 1930s Taiwan panama hats, commonly called Dajia hats, had a global reputation, in 1936 becoming Taiwan's No. 3 product after sugar and rice.Eco-Exploring - Gaomei WetlandsThe Gaomei Wetlands, 3,000 hectares in area with a seawall stretching 3.5 kilometers facing the Taiwan Strait, is a popular birdwatching hotspot. Members of over 120 species reside here, among the most conspicuous from the heron, ibis, goose, and godwit families. This is also an important migratory-bird stopover point, and if lucky you'll go home with a wall-mountable photo of the endangered black-faced spoonbill, a species for which Taiwan is working as a key protector.A long, meandering boardwalk brings you far out into the wetlands, beyond the sedge-grass marsh into the intertidal zone, putting you just a few feet above the teeming world of busy fiddler crabs, mudskippers, and other tiny local denizens. The birds swoop in when the tide is out, feasting on the exposed buffet. When the tide is out, visitors are permitted to step off the end of the boardwalk in the intertidal zone, where the footing is comparatively firm and the mud thickness limited, to explore the animal goings-on on the mudflats (back on dry land there are facilities available to wash off your shoes/feet).Breezy pavilions top the shore-protecting seawall, but otherwise there is no protection from the sun, so prepare yourself with a big hat and sunblock. Be aware as well that yummy handmade popsicles bursting with flavor are to be had at a grandma-run shop just a few steps up Gaomei Road, just off the boardwalk entry-point seawall, all healthy-sweet and made with fresh regional ingredients: pineapple, papaya, and taro among them.Fresh Catch & Harbor Tours - Wuqi Fishing HarborWuqi Fishing Harbor is just off the north end of massive Taichung Port. The latter is busy with much, much larger craft. The former's different draws are enjoyed at varying times of the day.There's a lively, raucous daily fish-auction market. Most boats come in during the one or two hours before sunrise; the scene is cacophonous, to say the least, and photo-captivating. If not a night-prowler, fret not; individual craft continually chug-a-lug in during the day, knowing local buyers punctually appearing to provide you with unposed photo opps among the weary sailor folk.Directly before the fish-auction area you'll see sleek white-painted tour-cruise craft and their joint-operation ticket office. These cruises are surely different from anything you've previously experienced - an intimate fly-by past Taichung's thick, broad-shouldered powerhouse world of port refineries, crayon-style painted smokestacks, docks and warehouses, Gaomei Wetlands on the north, and small-craft Lishui Fishing Harbor on the south, at the mouth of Dadu River.Directly behind the fish-auction area is a daytime-operation market that will test your knowledge of the marine-creature world. It's not likely that, like Taiwan locals, you'll be heading off with ice-filled styrofoam boxes of fresh catch; the scores of stall-owners, however, make life easy for you by providing the freshest prepared seafood delicacies, from grilled squid to deep-fried oysters to sashimi platters with the best from Taiwan's waters and unexpected treasures such as salmon from as far away as the Faroe Islands.Looks Into the Past - Qingshui DistrictNiumatou Cultural Park, an important archeological site, is on a terrace on the Dadu Plateau in Qingshui District, on what is called Aofeng Hill. The people of the neolithic Niumatou Culture, dating back to 4,500~3,500 years ago, lived predominantly by farming, supplemented with hunting. It appears the settlement was established here because the plain below was prone to flooding during typhoons, and enemies could be more easily spotted. The site was discovered by the Japanese during their colonial rule, on the site of a Shinto shrine, some remnants of which remain in place. The displays on the finds, explaining dwellings, graves, farming techniques, and more, are housed in the old cement-built barracks buildings of a recently-closed army camp set up after WWII.For even better views over the coastal region, head higher up Aofeng Hill to the park area immediately beyond, where two visually enticing architectural works await, Aofeng Jade Bridge and, higher still along the park's pleasing pathway, Aofeng Hill Viewing Platform. The former is a curving waterway-leaping pedestrian bridge, the latter is perhaps the coastal area's best spot for sunsets and star-viewing.Nearby, back down on the coastal plain, is the heritage-status Zhao Family Ancestral Residence, a lyrically pretty traditional courtyard-style residential complex with the green slopes of the mountain plateau at its back. Built in the late Qing Dynasty in the old south China style brought over by the ancestors of the Taiwanese, before it is a pond entirely covered with lotus pads. According to fengshui principles, such ponds deflect evil spirits from entering the gates of a complex, because they cannot travel over water. From the lotus pads a world of pastel art bursts to life in summer, drawing photo buffs aplenty.Old Meets Cultural-Creative New - Shalu DistrictHow best to describe Shalu Dream Street? Let's say an old shop street made something brand-new. Located right beside the pretty, foliage-profuse campus of Providence University, this is a short, now-covered lane converted into a dynamic "living incubator" for youth-oriented enterprises. The shop/bar/studio façades are designed as artworks in themselves (one original sausage shop hangs on), and 3D street art covers the ground. A constant stream of young folk line up for dynamic-background selfies. The street's design-focused nightspots make this the coolest – and hottest – of after-dark gathering-spots.Not far from Dream Street, explore the narrow lanes of Meiren Borough Painted Village. Meiren Village was long ago eaten up by the burgeoning urban agglomeration. Taichung has been on a wall-mural painting spree over the past decade, inspired by heritage-celebrating creations of a retired veteran in what is now called Rainbow Village, and here the murals - of an old grocery store, tailor shop, fruit shop, etc. - transport you back into the slow-paced, tight-community feel of Taiwan in the 1950s.Getting AroundTaichung's high-speed rail station and Taichung Railway Station are local bus-route hubs. The taichung.guide website provides helpful local-bus assistance with highlighted hotspots. Since this article's highlighted sites are distant from each other, however, a rented car or scooter is recommended. The English-speaking staff at the two aforementioned stations can provide guidance. Details on area Visitor Information Centers can be found at eng.taiwan.net.tw.Gaomei WetlandsDajia Zhenlan Temple Cultural MuseumWuqi Fishing HarborAofeng Hill Viewing Platform

Memxpro, a leading DRAM module and SSD solution provider for defense, industrial, in-vehicle, and enterprise markets, today announces availability of its new PT33 SSD series: U.2 PCIe SSD and M.2 2280 PCIe SSD. PT33 series is paired with the latest NVMe 1.3 protocol and uses original quality 3D TLC flash with 10K endurance and longevity support. U.2 PCIe and M.2 2280 PCIe SSDs are up to 3 times faster than SATA SSDs.End-to-end Data Path Protection is used to ensure the integrity of every bit of data as it is transmitted between the host and SSD, and between buffer memories and NAND flash. Enterprise-class reliability and write endurance should also be improved due to the inclusion of the advanced ECC engine. In addition to network communications and server applications, PT33 series is the ideal solution for upgrading and migrating SATA-based systems to better performing PCIe SSDs for the next generation of industrial systems like in-vehicle surveillance, edge devices, and smart platform upgrades.PCIe 3.0x4 interface unleashes the power of NVMePCIe is a standard connection protocol aimed at bringing storage I/O closer to the system processor for both faster IOPS performance and lower average latency. PCIe debuted with up to 8GB/s of bandwidth in full duplex mode and now PCI Express 3.0 reaches 32GB/s of bi-direction bandwidth (16GB/s in each direction). With full channels, the read/write speed of Memxpro M.2 280 PCIe and U.2 PCIe are up to 2100/1500MB/s. When booting, downloading software, or transferring large files, the new PCIe SSDs accomplish data transmission quickly and effectively.New storage options M.2 and U.2 give more flexibility within your systemCompared to traditional HDD, SSDs come in a variety of product design types and interfaces. MEMXPRO M.2 2280 PCIe and U.2 PCIe PT33 series employ the popular M.2 and U.2 interfaces supporting NVMe 1.3 standard with PCIe 3.0x4 channels. The advantage of M.2 is its compact size, light weight, outstanding performance, commonality, and proliferation; ideal for using in space-conscious server chassis and as industrial control platforms that need more computing and storage resources. The 2.5-inch U.2 PCIe SSD has the performance you would expect from an NVMe device and many servers and storage equipment makers have started to include one or more U.2 slots. U.2 PCIe 2.5" SSDs are able to be installed in drive bays on the front of the host for simple maintenance and do not require any motherboard space. They can be stacked in rows or vertically mounted in one or two drive banks to deliver higher capacity in networking enclosures.All together with high capacity, enhanced endurance, improved data integrityMEMXPRO M.2 280 PCIe and U.2 PCIe PT33 series are equipped with original quality flash chips with 10K endurance and up to 2TB of storage capacity. Advanced PCIe controllers support 3D TLC NAND and with the latest full end-to-end path protection, no error data will be sent to the host. Built-in LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) ECC engine with RAID and SRAM ECC upgrades increase data write stability and product durability, satisfying the requirements of various industrial and embedded applications.M.2 2280 PCIe and U.2 series can be supervised through Memxpro's mSMART intelligent device monitoring toolbox for disk health status, temperature, lifespan, and read/write speed. For industrial operation, MEMXPRO mSMART 4.0 provides real-time information about when abnormal conditions occur. When it detects high risk conditions, warning notices are given out to remind operators to take preventative action and reduce the maintenance burden and enhancing operational efficiency. Addressing the unique needs of the industrial SSD market, MEMXPRO strives to provide our customers with products and services which meet and exceed their expectations. For more information on PCIe Gen3x4 products, visit the Memxpro official website at: memxpro.com.Memxpro M.2 2280 PCIe and U.2 PCIe PT33 series - SATA to PCIe idea option

Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation has opened registration for its VOICE 2019 developer conference and announced the full keynote speaker line up for the US program. The conference will be held in two new locations - Scottsdale, Arizona on May 14-15 and Singapore on May 23 under the unifying theme "Measure the Connected World and Everything in It".As in past years, the focus of VOICE will continue to be the learning and networking opportunities offered through technical sessions, kiosk showcases, keynote speeches, the partners' exposition and social events.US Keynote SpeakersThe second day of VOICE in Scottsdale will begin with a keynote speech by Wally Rhines, CEO emeritus of Mentor, a Siemens business, whose innovative electronic design automation (EDA) products and solutions help engineers conquer IC design challenges. Rhines is a recognized spokesperson for the semiconductor and EDA industries.Hugh Herr, professor and leader of MIT's Center for Extreme Bionics, will follow with his keynote address on "The New Era of Extreme Bionics." Herr is not just developing smarter, more capable bionic limbs, he is redefining human potential and designing a world in which technology erases disability. For additional information about both US keynote speakers, visit https://voice.advantest.com/keynotes/.Attending VOICE 2019Online registration is now open at https://voice.advantest.com/register. For the event in the US, a 20% early registration discount is offered through March 8. Registered VOICE 2019 attendees are encouraged to make their hotel arrangements early. The deadline for reservations at the Boulders Resort & Spa in Scottsdale is April 10.

The annual CES 2019 already started on January 8, 2019. ThroughTek, a first-time exhibitor at the Las Vegas Sands Expo, is proudly showcasing the world's first 4G LTE-M IP Camera, a product of a partnership with module maker, Sierra Wireless, and video solution provider, LOCT. The device supports LTE-M standards for data transmission, which allows video streaming in real-time without Wi-Fi connection. With a device that does not require Wi-Fi network to transmit video images, the market for video surveillance devices will expand in its applications and revolutionize products in other industries, such as security, connected car, smart industry, and smart agriculture.4G LTE-M camera module accelerates the adoption for innovative smart surveillance applicationsIn the past two years, telecom operators have invested in Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) technologies to support the IoT infrastructure. The market has yet to come up with a surveillance device that is both affordable and reliable in providing video streaming services due to the high cost of modules and bandwidth. The LTE-M camera released at this year's CES is a battery device designed to have low-power consumption to extend its battery life. The device is not limited to indoor environments, as it has an IP65 rating, meaning it is both waterproof and dustproof, and has a solar charging panel that is available for purchase. The device is suitable for use in large-scale outdoor fields such as farms, fish farms, or remote areas. It provides seamless video streaming service over 4G connection to effectively help operators reduce the cost of network connectivity and building power lines. The LTE-M camera module will be extending its video applications to other areas and forms, such as dashcam recorders and police in-car camera systems.Seamless integration of security devices and sensors with enhanced data streaming privacy and securityMore recently, smart home devices have gradually integrated into entire family systems. In the past, manufacturers would need to collaborate with narrowband and wideband data solution providers to connect with a variety of devices such as motion sensors, IP cameras, and gateway to provide remote access and monitoring control, as well as achieve automation through custom settings and other functions. This type of collaboration leads to a significant increase in time and labor costs. ThroughTek, originally focused on integrating wide bandwidth data transmission and video streaming solutions, has since changed course to provide narrowband data solutions to meet market demands. With data security as a primary concern, ThroughTek uses a decentralized design for its solution, using end-to-end encryption to enhance privacy protection for users. It also supports IFTTT (short for IF This Then That) for automating tasks and smart voice assistants such as Amazon's Alexa to enable users to easily manage their devices and create custom scenarios.The world's first LTE-M camera, developed through a partnership with Sierra Wireless and LOCT using ThroughTek's advanced video streaming technology, will be exhibited at the four-day CES show. The LTE-M solution is expected to further expand its application to other industries and products in the near future. Visit our booth at #46646MR.OCT, video solution provider, releases 4G LTE-M camera powered by Kalay platform

Throughout 2018, 5G mobile communication technology remains a hot topic frequently featured in technology and business news media. It has grabbed attention from leading makers of semiconductor chips, network communication equipment and smartphones as well as solution providers around the world. Furthermore, 5G communication made its worldwide debut at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games 2018, enabling immersive sports viewing experiences through sync view, time slice, 360-degree VR and omni-view delivered on ultra-fast networks. Demonstrations also included innovative smart agriculture and traffic applications.The work on creating 5G standards is being pushed forward rapidly as well. Release 15 completed in December 2017 defined the non-standalone (NSA) mode and new radio (NR) technologies while the standalone standard (SA) was finalized in June 2018, allowing telecom operators to engage in initial deployment plans.Global high-tech giants have been leveraging their specialty and expertise to secure critical market positions. Governments worldwide, particularly the US, China and Korea, are preparing to open up 5G spectrum for auction and looking forward to receiving record-breaking bids that will replenish their public coffers. For example, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held its first 5G spectrum auction on November 14, 2018 and started directly with the 28GHz band. The government and the industry are working together to drive 5G developments at a much faster pace than public expectation.To usher in the 5G era and help the Taiwan network communication industry gain a better understanding on the latest developments in 5G system verification and testing, LitePoint hosted a forum titled "Getting ready to embrace the 5G era," comprising two sessions, respectively in Taipei and Hsinchu on November 27 and 28, 2018. In the opening speech, aside from extending a warm welcome to the participants, Richard Hsieh, Global Sales VP of LitePoint, pointed out 5G communication is advancing and expanding faster than we anticipated not only in China and US markets but also throughout Asia Pacific countries.LitePoint helps the electronics supply chain quickly grasp the technological elements of 5G standards for different stages along the commercialization process so that they can embrace innovative product planning strategies and emerging business opportunities amid the upcoming 5G era, said Hsieh. LitePoint provides faster, easier and more cost-effective test solutions to manage the product design and development cycle, from design verification testing (DVT) to mass production. With LitePoint's solutions, customers can guarantee premium product quality, accelerate time-to-market and build up their competitive edge in the wireless communication market.Hsieh added that IoT developments enabled by 5G communication are popping up everywhere and with them come a slew of intricate wireless communication standards. Committed to the principle "simple is the best," LitePoint designs solutions that enable speedy services to accelerate time-to-market, minimize production costs, guarantee efficiency and quality. Amid the 5G era, LitePoint works alongside partners to overcome rising challenges in testing and get ready for burgeoning market opportunities.A preview on new 5G products and services to debut in 2019A large number of 5G-enabled products and services are expected to enter the market in 2019, shedding light on critical development trends. Adam Smith, director of product management, LitePoint, talked about 5G developments from different perspectives. First, with respect to 5G standards, 5G NR and Multi-City Fixed Wireless have been officially released and 5G smartphone standards have a fast-approaching release date slated for 2019. Ultra-fast 5G networks are poised to usher in a new era of massive video data consumption. Video data will take up most of the network bandwidth to account for 73% of mobile data traffic in 2023, up from 56% today.The competition over spectrum is a high-tech arms race. According to 3GPP, 5G specifications cover support for low, mid, and high-band spectrum, from 1 GHz to about 50 GHz. As these frequency ranges overlap with 4G bands, the transition to the next generation communication technology will be gradual. 5G will use spectrum in the existing 4G LTE frequency range and build on the capabilities of 4G by gradually upgrading the technologies to increase data transfer performance and speed. Accordingly, instead of replacing 4G overnight, 5G services will have to run on existing 4G LTE network for quite some time to come.Smith thinks that data traffic over pure 5G networks will likely take off beginning 2021, so until then 4G will still play a dominant part. 5G communication uses a large amount of spectrum, for example, sub-6GHz bands (FR1) and the millimeter wave (mmWave) bands (FR2). Countries around the world are currently planning their own 5G spectrum allocation. In the initial stage, sub-6GHz bands will mostly be used for mobile phones or other mobile devices while the mmWave bands will be dedicated to data transfer.In analyzing the types of 5G devices to come on the market from the latest product launches by two American telecom giants AT&T and Verizon, Smith thinks there will be three main types of user equipment (UE) – 5G NR mobile hotspot routers, 5G smartphones and fixed wireless terminals (FWT). Among them, 5G mobile hotspot routers are taking the lead in entering the market with AT&T launching 5G network routers transmitting data in the 28GHz and 39GHz mmWave bands, which are expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2018.Verizon is engaging in trial operation of pure 5G-based mobile phone service. However, 5G mmWave-capable phones will only become available in the second half of 2019 and so will 5G FWT devices similar to fixed wireless broadband gateways that enable both 5G and Wi-Fi communication for users in suburban areas without access to fiber optical broadband network.5G technology promises such fast data speeds that it enables telecom operators to try to offer a new service model for high-end customers, wherein fees are based on the data transfer rate as opposed to the data traffic per month. That is, operators can still use existing 4G/LTE network until they come close to the end of the amortization cycle and then engage in full-scale 5G roll-out. However, how to come up with special 5G service plans to create new revenue streams is in fact where all telecom operators are attempting to make breakthroughs.OTA Testing Chamber makes array antenna tests easier and more efficientThe testing of array antennas on 5G mmWave devices for design verification and validation requires over-the-air (OTA) technologies. Middle Wen, product manager, LitePoint, presented LitePoint's OTA Testing Chamber, which performs intricate measuring and testing of the performance, parameters and signals for phased array antennas. The different requirements on OTA testing up to the mmWave frequencies with respect to far-field and near-field measurements introduce great challenges to both R&D and test teams.Wen listed the dos and don'ts when using LitePoint's OTA Testing Chamber. He suggested that after the testing chamber is set up for 28GHz and 39GHz frequencies, start by calculating the cable loss per meter based on the link budget of the antenna design spec and the test criteria. Then, you have a complete test plan. Keep in mind that OTA loss represents 90% of the overall loss while cable loss accounts for the smallest portion. Always figure out OTA loss before setting up test procedures so that you can obtain accurate efficiency between the transmitting end and the receiving end, noted Wen.Then, proceed to calibrate the OTA Testing Chamber. Only after calculating the cable loss and OTA loss can you start to test the 5G device, reiterated Wen. IQgig-5G is a truly single-box test solution and when used with the OTA Testing Chamber, it can quickly complete pre-test calibration, facilitating and accelerating antenna testing by saving the time required for setup work. Currently the testing chamber is suitable for 28GHz and 39GHz antennas. LitePoint will provide additional solutions to accommodate higher mmWave frequencies in the future. LitePoint also has wide-ranging products to meet the needs for high-volume multi-DUT production testing.Wen added that LitePoint's OTA Testing Chamber coupled with IQgig-5G enables easy setup and shortens calibration time. Users only need to first calculate the link budget, place the test item in the chamber for white-box or black-box testing, select DFF or CATR and begin testing applicable mmWave antennas.Cost-effective and time-saving tests for beamforming of mmWave antennasVito Liao, associate manager, field application engineering, LitePoint, extended the discussion on antennas by focusing on the methods to characterize and test beamforming performance of multiple antennas. By controlling phase shifts to steer the antennas in the desired direction, the technology boosts data transfer rates, saves energy with more effective power transfer and reduces interference, thereby eliminating bad connection problems for remote users. The increase in mobile data capacity and efficiency makes the technology a perfect fit for urban areas with large mobile data consumption and a critical element of 5G communication. Unlike 4G LTE, 5G communication uses two different approaches – massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and massive active phased array antenna (APAA). 5G NR FR2 covers the frequencies of mmWave networks, which use time division duplex (TDD) frames comprising uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) subframes. The base station can utilize uplink channel characteristics to estimate the best beam pattern for the downlink to UE.Liao pointed out that when characterizing beamforming of antennas, the key is to find the codebook. In the case of any changes to the device's casing materials, it is required to characterize the beamforming performance all over again, which is no easy task. As the traditional VNA-based method is difficult, LitePoint suggests an easy VSA-based test solution combining the use of its CATR Chamber and IQgig-5G.For DVT tests of UE and 5G modules, LitePoint's beamforming test uses its Direct Far Field (DFF) Testing Chamber, which measures the test item's characteristics in a more cost-effective and time-efficient manner by rotating the antenna in both the theta and phi axes.IQxstream series addresses the challenges in 5G phone and IoT device testingWeihua Tang, field application engineering manager, LitePoint Shanghai, started his presentation by drawing on global mobile phone penetration. As of November 15, 2018, the world has 5.1 billion mobile phone subscribers and 9.1 billion devices connected via machine-to-machine (M2M) or other wireless connections. By 2025 (2019-2025), there will be 1.2 billion pure 5G-based mobile phones and six billion 4G phones. In other words, 4G LTE devices will linger for some time in the 5G era.Referencing 3GPP TS 38.521 version Release 15 announced in October 2018, Tang pointed out FR1 specifically includes n77, n78 and n79, which are in the sub-6GHz range with maximum bandwidth 100 MHz and sub-carrier space (SCS) 15kHz, 30kHz and 60kHz. The EVM test needs to support higher modulation up to 256QAM. The test standards are similar to those for 4G LTE, with additional SCS and modulation requirements.In response, LitePoint's IQxstream-5G covers tests for 5G smartphones, UE, Small Cell base stations, wireless access point (AP) gateways and 5G modules in the sub-6GHz frequency range. These devices all have tremendous market potential in 2019.Among 5G applications are a large number of devices interconnected using Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWA) technologies for smart city and smart manufacturing applications. Bike-sharing services in China are particularly grabbing people's attention. However, with the rise and fall of some bike-share companies, the focus of LPWA applications is shifting to smart electricity, gas and water meters which are all popular topics in the industrial internet of things (IIoT) scope.According to Tang, 60% of IoT devices are installed using LPWA technologies with NB-IoT and LTE Cat M1 being the mainstream standards. China mostly adopts LTE Cat NB1 (NB-IoT), using 200KHz bandwidth for both downlink and uplink. On the other hand, North America and Europe largely opt for LTE Cat M, using 1.4MHz/5MHz bandwidth for data transmission. Additionally, emerging wireless technologies such as Sigfox, ZigBee and LoRa are also gaining market confidence and being used in specific applications.LitePoint's test solutions for LPWA devices mainly combine IQxstream and IQxstream-M. Its solution for testing LTE Cat NB1 devices has obtained approval by leading chipset makers and so has its solution for LTE CatM1 testing. The achievements are the results of long-term collaboration with global chipset makers. Going forward, LitePoint will continue to provide comprehensive support for IoT device development and facilitate widespread popularity of IoT applications.In giving a preview on test solutions for 2019, Tang spoke about the importance of test solutions for the mmWave spectrum, with 28GHz and 39GHz bands being the mainstream and 24GHz and 44GHz bands having emerging opportunities. Even solutions for the 77GHz frequency generally used by automotive radars will be gaining market attention. Through close interaction with the industry, LitePoint is committed to developing suitable solutions to help electronics supply chain partners tap into 5G opportunities.Test solutions for upcoming Wi-Fi 6 are an essential part of 5G testingChris Chao, field application engineering manager, LitePoint, highlights Wi-Fi 6 test solutions and their developments. The rivalry between Wi-Fi and 5G is nothing new. Wi-Fi Alliance has adopted a new naming approach. IEEE 802.11ax is now called Wi-Fi 6, previous generation 802.11ac is renamed to Wi-Fi 5 and 802.11n to Wi-Fi 4. By using a larger number in its name, Wi-Fi 6 is meeting 5G head on.Wi-Fi 6 AP and gateways currently on the market come with a large number of antennas on the outside, looking like awkward space crafts. These devices will flood the market late 2018 through 2019. They promise improvement to data transmission efficiency to eliminate congestions resulting from simultaneous access by a large number of users at public places. OFDMA and MU-MIMO are the major features of Wi-Fi 6 but also present the biggest testing challenges to system vendors. Wide-ranging test items for the mix of the two technologies as well as simulation tests involving multiple use scenarios create massive and complex combination tests which are error prone.Another big challenge in testing comes from power control and timing control, especially for AP, which generally controls everything to coordinate data exchange and transfer between end devices. As such, how to handle different test requirements on AP uplink and downlink, verify the Wi-Fi 6 Power Boost feature that enables consistent power for STA at different distances from the AP and conduct precise timing control of trigger base all present different challenges in testing. Only testers with precise power control can effectively simulate complex test scenarios. LitePoint's solutions are designed to lower these barriers, saving the time it takes system vendors to perform these tests. LitePoint's IQxel-MW series enables multi-DUT parallel testing, significantly boosting test speed and productivity. It is instrumental to testing Wi-Fi 6 devices.Software-based capabilities are essential to making test procedures even more hassle-free. Using its IQfact + software, LitePoint provides combo AP test sequence modes to help simply the test process. Multiple test items can also be combined to save even more time, helping system vendors stay on top of Wi-Fi 6 test technologies.Although the industry has initiated talks on the next generation Wi-Fi standards – the extreme high-throughput (EHT) spec including support for the 6GHz band, Chao thinks the market focus is still on when Wi-Fi 6 devices will become available in volume. Only after their products enter mass production will vendors have a chance to reap returns on investments and proceed forward.The market expects a boom to come in the second half of 2019 as Wi-Fi 6 chipsets will be included in 5G flagship phones to enter the market at that time, buoying the popularity of Wi-Fi 6 devices as well. Furthermore, costs also play an influential role. Low-cost Wi-Fi 6 devices such as 2X2 antennas being launched will also drive widespread Wi-Fi 6 popularity. Looking into 2019, both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will be the highlight of competition and system vendors will do everything they can to capture rising opportunities.Richard Hsieh, WorldWide Sales VP of LitePointAdam Smith,LitePoint Director of Prodict MarketingProduct Manager Middle WenVito Liao,Team Lead of ApplicationsWeihua Tang, Field Application Engineering Senior ManagerChris Chao, Manager of Applications

Demand response management (DRM) is the simplest way for users to understand and manage their energy consumption. In the past, users have had to purchase digital meters with DRM functionality to track electricity consumption and separately optimize contract capacity of power load. Due to limits in communication technologies, previous digital meters had low communications capability, rarely were connected to the Internet, and had high deployment costs, leading to low ROI and very low market adoption.To address these problems, Blutech has launched iDemand, an IoT solution to enable rapid adoption of DRM. iDemand combines the latest LPWAN technology, Blutech-patented machinelink LoRa, our use case experience and know-how within industrial grid system deployment, and edge AI/ML and IIoT into one DRM package. iDemand makes demand response management more intelligent, providing DR monitoring and warning, historic data analytics, and demand prediction. iDemand lowers the barrier to entry of DRM solutions, with a small package featuring low cost and quick deployment, suitable for deployment in small to mid-size factories, hospitals, schools, chain stores, and offices and commercial buildings.In a launch event held on December 21, we invited a broad audience of system integrators, focused on security and power load systems, who were impressed with iDemand's low cost and features, including simple maintenance, real-time monitoring, early warning, and demand prediction. Our system integrator partners placed pre-orders at the event and are expected to promote iDemand in various segments and markets.Blutech has deep experience in developing IIoT technologies, helping large factories deploy their own smart grid systems and IIoT infrastructures as a world-class commercial IIoT service provider. blutech is now stepping into AIoT with iDemand, marking a great milestone for blutech to serve the industrial and commercial market.

Affirmed by Best Choice Award, Taiwan Digital Signage Awards, Litemax's innovative solutions integrating high brightness display and mainboard are highly recognized in the market. We have rich industry knowledge in six application fields (Intelligent City; Intelligent Transportation; Industrial Automation; Self-Ordering; Outdoor Advertising; Gaming), all of these are shaping the concept of Smart City. Among them, the intelligent transportation system is important for people's daily lives. The intelligent transportation system includes passenger information system, ticket vending machine, self-service ordering system, central control monitoring, etc.Outlook of 2019: Tap into AIoT market and supply chainTo strengthen core competitive ability, Litemax team up with Intel SDM module platform, in combination with AI smart networking software to introduce next generation of AIoT Digital Signage. Smart City is not just a new IT such as IoT, cloud computing, more importantly, to build a new urban ecology characterized by social interaction, unmanned automation, and new media platforms through AI integration. To have above-mentioned features such as face recognition, smart bus stop, and smart shelf, the new generation digital signage needs to be evolved, no longer just a single display, but also need to be used in diversified environment and provides quick and simplified service and maintenance.Pioneer in smart digital signage (AIoT) integrationLitemax is the owner of the world-class patented - Advanced Brightness Technology (ABT) and has led the industry in developing the first series of 1,000-nit high brightness LED backlight panels. It has incorporated its innovative technology Advanced Optibond Technology (AOT) to prevent compromised brightness due to reflection when LCD panels are placed under bright lights or in direct sunlight.Smart expansion SDM advertisement system ISDM-5506In 2019, Litemax has led the industry in the introduction of integrated commercial display products which support Intel SDM specifications and feature the latest built-in computers equipped with ten-point touch capability, high resolution cameras, face recognition and the newest AI digital signage to replace conventional static LED monitors and displays. Litemax ISDM-5506 features a 1,200-nit high-brightness Max RGB (NTSC 94%), high picture resolution, with WIFI transmission and reception support (Figure 5). This monitor is the next generation of multifunctional, all-in-one digital signage designed for commercial advertising. It is suitable for a broad array of installation locations including offices, gaming arcades and can be used for a range of transportation systems including subways, train stations, airports and bus stops. This smart signage replaces static displays that only show fixed messages and provide single-directional marketing for the storefront where the display is located. With the smart expansion SDM, advertising systems can play a brief introduction to all the shops in a building as well as share updates on local traffic and transportation. These systems can also be used to support advertising for additional business opportunities.LitemaxLitemax

Nothing beats a theme park for thrills, excitement, magic and pure escapism. With global appeal, the world's top theme parks promise the experience of a lifetime.Take 2017 for example, 20.45 million guests passed through the gates at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Millions more have visited associated and competing theme parks in Asia, Europe and across the United States. Providing a positive customer experience for that number of guests is a logistical challenge. Every detail must be planned with precision to ensure optimal performance is maintained at all times.For many years, self-service kiosks have played a role in reducing queues, managing the flow of people and boosting revenue at Theme Parks. As technology evolves, some older systems no longer provide the service expected by park managers and more crucially by guests.This was the experience of one of our customers, a theme park management company. Their dated technology, used to process guests through their entrance gates, was no longer reliable. Re-occurring errors were causing frustration for guests and employees. They decided that investment in new technology was essential.Upgrades to self-service technologyWith expertise in kiosk and theme park technology, M&A Technology was approached for a solution. They were keen to work in partnership with Arbor Technology to manufacture the replacement system.Arbor Technology was delighted to work in partnership with M&A Technology to upgrade 300 of the customer's existing self-service kiosks at 30 theme parks. The original kiosks relied on an overly complicated IT infrastructure and the technology was both outdated and no longer dependable. Our task was to work in a partnership to create a viable alternative.The management company's brief included the replacement of existing technology with new hardware that would enable Windows 8.1 Embedded. It was also important that the single board computer could drive two screens. To further enhance performance, it was also decided that the power supply should be increased to 500 Watts and that barcode and biometric scanning would be implemented. They also wanted the original kiosk casing to be used.Steps to developing an efficient self-service kioskIn terms of the work carried out by Arbor Technology, the process is summarised below:- Arbor's EmCORE i230G-E3845SBC single board computer was selected to fulfil the demands of the application. It offered the capacity to support dual, independent displays and used an Intel Atom Processor.- We mounted the SBC boards into the existing kiosk enclosures. We also created custom cables and routed them to connect to every component to the board, including the barcode and biometric scanners.- To heighten safety, we incorporated a Lexan cover for the 500 Watt power supply. The power switch was also replaced by a reset switch that connected to the SBC. This enabled standby voltage, along with Wake-On-LAN (WoL) for remote management.- Finally, AD/Adapter boards were utilized in order to connect the kiosk's touch screen.- With manufacturing and rigorously testing complete, M&A Technology managed the rollout and installation of the 300 upgraded self-service kiosks across 30 theme parks.The benefits of upgrading self-service technologyBy working in partnership, Arbor and M&A Technology were able to provide a high-performance solution that met the customer's brief.The results are greater efficiency at the theme park gates. The guest experience is enhanced by a quick, convenient and reliable system which has reduced queuing times. The management company is rewarded by the increased revenue that has been generated by getting more people through the gates. The customer is also delighted that many of the complex maintenance issues associated with the old kiosks have been resolved.ARBOR modernizes theme park kiosks for a superior customer self-service experience

The Port of Antwerp in Belgium, Europe's second-largest seaport, handles massive cargo turnover and manages heavy shipping traffic to and from the port. The team of professional harbor pilots from BRABO plays an essential role navigating large vessels safely from lock to berth or vice versa. Pilotage is a venerable profession and is indispensable to the safe operation of international ports around the world.ChallengeBrabo specializes in maritime services and employs 300 employees among which 70 professional harbor pilots within the Brabo Pilotage & Mooring division. Brabo's team of harbor pilots provides around-the-clock service to guide ships safely into port regardless of weather conditions. Especially when strong winds and shallow waters make it difficult to keep the ship on course, harbor pilots must be careful to keep themselves and the equipment safe. In maneuvering ships safely into port, they rely on high-tech navigation tools to help them cope with unpredictable weather conditions and carry out highly specialized and critical tasks. They also need to communicate professionally with the lock and bridge operators, tug masters and captains of inland vessels to be able to deliver professional and efficient services.A harbor pilot is the first person to greet a ship coming into the docks. He has to ensure smooth and safe mooring and unmooring of ships. Situational awareness is important for the pilot. Ships traffic, weather and depth are monitored constantly. He also needs to be able to look up all digital information of a ship from arrival at port to berthing and timely report information to the online port registration system, which can be achieved through a portable rugged tablet computer. The captain of the ship navigates at sea, but maneuvering is different in each port, so the captain relies on the harbor pilot's knowledge of the local situation to successfully complete the first and last legs of their journeys.The environment at a port is generally humid, foggy, and the air is corrosive due to the salt. Computers operating on board a ship must be able to operate in an environment that could be exposed to combustible gases or chemicals and subject to impact, drop and drastic difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, especially in winter. These conditions put a computer's durability and reliability to the test. If they fail to perform, it could cause disruption to work, damage to company reputation, and in worst case scenarios, accidents resulting in property loss, injury, or death.SolutionBrabo began implementing a full-scale digital transformation in 2017. On system integrator Nextel's recommendation, Brabo now equips its team of professionals with Getac's third-generation F110-Ex fully rugged tablets, which combine mobility, performance and safety to meet the needs by high-end industrial applications. F110-Ex was the ideal choice because it is a Windows-based, ATEX-certified tablet with a large and clear sunlight-readable display.Featuring 11.6" display, 1.39kg lightweight, 2.5cm slimness, MIL-STD810G (including salt fog corrosion test) and IP65 water and dust resistance certifications, a wide operating temperature range between -21 degree C and 60 degree C, and a storage temperature range between -51 degree C and 71 degree C, F110-Ex is built to withstand harsh environments.Equipped with the 7th generation Intel Kaby Lake Core processors and multi-factor security mechanisms, F110-Ex provides exceptional computational power and secure authentication. It is particularly noteworthy that the intrinsically safe F110-Ex is certified to ATEX & IECEx Zone 2/22 standards.Intrinsic safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electrical equipment in high-risk environments with combustible gases and dust, by limiting the available energy to a level that is too low to cause ignition. Built on top of Getac's safety expertise, F110-Ex is designed with explosion protection compliant with ATEX standards and outstanding ruggedness so that harbor pilots can carry out their duties to perfection.BenefitsF110-Ex's 11.6" display guarantees clarity under direct sunlight and uncompromised touch sensitivity to fingers in heavy-duty gloves, allowing harbor pilots to work without a hitch. Brabo pilots carry the F110-EX to register real time data and consult harbor specific data to guide the ships safely from lock to berth. They are responsible for the ship's security and safety as they enter the harbor.Furthermore, harbor pilots can count on ATEX-certified F110-Ex to maintain reliable operation under the challenging environmental conditions at a seaport. Designed to be field-ready straight out of the box, F110-Ex needs no extra protective casing and lasts 8-12 hours on a single charge, fully supporting a harbor pilot's work for an entire shift. It's utterly important that a harbor pilot's tablet computer packs a powerful battery capable of lasting a full shift so he can complete the mission. Getac made flexible adjustments to F110-Ex to accommodate the needs of pilotage work, thereby boosting productivity and efficiency. By fine-tuning the display brightness as well as GPS and Wi-Fi modules, Nextel and Getac optimized the solution to meet Brabo's productivity requirements.Running Windows 10, F110-Ex supports glitch-free execution of Brabo's software systems, allowing Brabo to maximize ROI of its digital transformation. Fast wireless connectivity also enables F110-Ex to upload/download data to/from backend systems in a snap, achieving a seamless integration with Brabo's software systems.Getac F110-Ex provides a total solution fully supporting harbor pilots as they guide ships from lock to berth or vice versa at the Port of Antwerp.Customer quote:"The Pilots and Boatmen of Brabo are working under all type of weather conditions and different environmental situations including the presence of explosive goods. To support the digital transformation of Brabo, the Pilots and Boatmen must rely on tools to support their daily work. After rigorous evaluation, Brabo chose the Getac F110 fully rugged Atex certified touchscreen tablet that supports a full day shift and can be used in all weather situations and environments."Brabo's team of professional harbor pilots uses Getac F110-EX to guide ships in the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, Europe's second-largest seaport.

Internet of Things (IoT) applications are beginning to take shape in recent years. Especially starting from 2016, with advancing artificial intelligence (AI) developments, AIoT platforms combining AI and IoT technologies are rapidly gaining attention in the information technology (IT) sector. AIoT applications are also emerging in some sectors. ThroughTek chairman Patrick Kuo points out, "smartization" is a fundamental element to IoT design and with the incorporation of AI, the market will see growing AIoT applications across vertical applications.Today 80% of the applications on the market have something to do with image processing, which will also be the major area of AIoT applications onwards.Contrary to the popular belief that IoT emerged only in recent years, the industry has been making use of sensors and communication networks to allow systems to collect data and turn the data into applications through transmission, storage and analytical processes long time ago, indicates Kuo. However, the practice did not become popular because there were seldom of product types and communication protocols, making interconnections across machines and systems difficult.The term IoT popped up about a decade ago with growing market acceptance and industry-wide engagement. However, only with AI it became popular again in 2016; the synergy of the two started to bring IoT applications into reality. From an application perspective, AI is the last piece of the puzzle that enables IoT devices with intelligent computation capabilities, allowing them to make prompt and precise responses to be put in practical use.The three fundamental technologies supporting AIoT video analysis developmentCommenting on current AIoT technology trends, Kuo believes edge computing, cloud platforms and video analysis are the three major forces in driving AIoT advancement. They enable the development of complete AIoT systems with specific functions and target applications.Kuo explains that AI-based connected video analysis implement different types of computation at both the edge and back-end. Edge computing at the edge deals with data that require simple processing and instant responses while tasks that require more powerful computation capabilities such as machine learning or deep learning are carried out by upper-level cloud platforms at the back-end. Whether through edge computing or cloud computing, video analysis process video generally for recognition purposes so they can be used in a wide range of smart applications.Video analysis systems are already being used in a myriad of applications, including surveillance systems for smart cities, healthcare, elderly care, retail and logistics. Due to the nature of the use scenarios, video analysis systems come with very different functions and specifications and system integrators across different sectors base their product design on their own specialty and expertise. For example, face recognition or production volume, to meet specific industry requirements and accommodate different operating environments.Video transmission is instrumental to how well imaging systems can leverage the full potential of upper-level cloud computing. It ensures complete and seamless transmission of video captured on front-end cameras to back-end platforms to provide more precise cloud computing results. Transmitting video data over cloud may not be a big deal with today's technologies. However, the actual process entails highly-specialized know-how. Take ThroughTek for example, the company has more than 40 million cameras connected worldwide. As reliability and scalability are critical to video analysis, having built up such a massive network of cameras with proven data transmission quality, ThroughTek has established itself as a professional provider of cloud-based image processing solutions that are enthusiastically embraced by the market.Rapidly advancing technologies spur widespread applicationsKuo believes rapid developments and already widespread deployment of video technologies are the two key factors behind the applications of AIoT developments in imaging systems leading other areas. Since MPEG-1 first released in 1990, video standards have progressed to H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) published in 2014. The availability of H.264 makes video streaming an important feature of IT systems, spurring a new wave of developments for the industry and leaping advances of image recognition technologies. With these technological breakthroughs come burgeoning applications. For example, retailers can find consumer faces and determine their age and gender from image data. Traffic systems can monitor traffic flow and detect the make, model and color of vehicles violating traffic rules. With the integration of edge computing and cloud computing, the market can definitely expect more full-featured applications to become available in the future.Video surveillance has become part of people's daily life with cameras everywhere. For AIoT applications, these surveillance cameras provide ample data for analytical processing, enabling them to deliver immediate and substantial results, such as the applications in retail and traffic mentioned above. Being able to see the results, governments and businesses are therefore more willing to invest in and deploy AIoT applications.Judging from current developments, AIoT architectures used in surveillance systems have grown mature as solutions providers actively engage in edge computing and/or cloud computing research. Video data captured by front-end cameras is sent to back-end cloud platforms for storage and analysis. However, neither Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) suppliers nor camera manufacturers can provide the intermediary functions between the frond-end and back-end to meet the needs by specific applications. This is where Software as a Service (SaaS) comes into play.Managing cloud-based imaging systems using VSaaSTake ThroughTek's Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) for example. Designed with two-way communication, real-time data transmission and video surveillance, event and full-time recordings on cloud as well as support for multiple browsers, ThroughTek's Kalay platform allows system integrators to make flexible selections based on customer needs. For example, if video is recorded around the clock and the data is stored on cloud, the customer may run up a huge tab for cloud storage. In this case, system integrators can choose ThroughTek's event and full-time recording on cloud solution, which first keeps the recordings locally at the frond-end cameras and transmits the data to cloud for storage when an event is detected. Furthermore, ThroughTek's VSaaS also supports multiple browsers and devices and allows users to check video data in real-time using mobile devices including phones and computers.As opposed to FTP-based video data transmission to cloud, ThroughTek's VSaaS sends video data using Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), enabling more flexibility to support functions including event video upload mentioned above and live streaming while accommodating wide-ranging brands and types of devices. For instance, conventional DVR and IP cameras mostly use Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and can be integrated with ThroughTek's VSaaS to deliver all the benefits. In addition to supporting deployment over large-scale cloud infrastructure platforms such as AWS, ThroughTek's VSaaS also allows businesses with information security concerns, such as telecom operators, smart factory owners and large enterprises, to efficiently deploy image management systems on top of their own IT infrastructure. Moreover, businesses already using RTSP-based devices are able to integrate them with ThroughTek's VSaaS without having to purchase new equipment and thus save on costs.ThroughTek will showcase a 4G LTE-M IP camera launched by its partner at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES Las Vegas) taking place in January 2019. The product is the world's first LTE-M-based surveillance camera with an optimal cost-performance ratio. It enables reliable and seamless video data transmission at low costs and with low power consumption. Eliminating the need for Wi-Fi connection, the product will widen the applications of smart surveillance to dashboard cameras, outdoor and farm surveillance and police cameras.Going forward into 2019, ThroughTek will make continuing efforts to secure its current market position while endeavoring toward the enterprise segment. According to Kuo, ThroughTek supports integration with cloud services including telecom Independent Data Center, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and Aliyun and works with all types of system integrators to provide reliable, easy-to-use, high-performance cloud-based streaming video management platform.As an interlocking piece between the front-end and back-end of AIoT, SaaS is instrumental to cloud-based video management, says ThroughTek chairman Patrick Kuo (center).