Now it's the turn for the 10 most interesting strange technology news of 2022. There are many news that are quite difficult to categorize because they are different from the rest. From an energy source using cow dung to a machine that detects cholera by listening to the sound of diarrhea. The year 2022 is filled with strange news.
1. CIMB Summoned for RM650 Million by Customers Due to Account Freezing Incident
Last January, CIMB suddenly froze the accounts of some of their customers due to a mistake in debiting a certain amount of money. CIMB has issued a statement that it was due to a transaction processing error that only involved a small number of customers.
CIMB was later class sued by 12 customers for this error and yesterday another class suit was filed with a demand for RM650 million in damages. According to the FMT report, a compensation payment of around RM1 million for each affected customer was requested together with instructions for their account to be closed 7 days after the decision was reached.
2. Human Body Washing Machine Developed by Japanese Firm
In Japan a prototype washing machine for the human body was produced by Sanyo for the Osaka Expo in 1970. It was never produced in the form of a commercial product. After 52 years, this idea still remains in the head of Yasuaki Aoyama who visited the same expo when he was 10 years old. After waiting for a long time for a product that never arrived, Yasuaki developed a human body washing machine himself.
This washing machine will clean the human body by using air bubbles. It can also play music to relax and has a built-in aromatherapy system as well. Artificial intelligence will clean the body in fifteen minutes. The machine is still under construction with it being launched in 2024 with it being showcased at the upcoming Osaka Expo in 2025.
3. This Device Listens to Diarrhea Audio to Detect Cholera Outbreaks
In the United States artificial intelligence has been used to detect the existence of cholera outbreaks earlier. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a device that listens to audio from defecating toilet users to detect cholera outbreaks. The audio of liquid diarrhea is easy to distinguish from normal defecation.
The artificial intelligence on the device has been trained to detect diarrhea audio from the user. Based on the audio that has been analyzed, the existence of a cholera outbreak can be detected early before it becomes more serious in the community.
Devices can be placed in public toilets used in communities that are often threatened by cholera outbreaks and also in elderly care centers for early monitoring.
4. This Rubik's Cube is Impossible to Solve Because It Has 43 Quintillion Combinations
The Rubik's Cube was invented by Erno Rubik in 1974 but it became a phenomenon in the 80s. It was a must-buy game at the time and sales are still high to this day for those who want to test their brains. The world record for the fastest time to solve a Rubik's Cube is 3.47 seconds! But world record holder Yusheng Du may not be able to solve the Rubik's Cube below.
This Rubik's Cube Impossible is produced by MegaHouse in Japan. It still uses the original 3X3 configuration where each face of the cube will change color according to the orientation it is held. This makes it nearly impossible to solve as it has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 color combinations. In Japan two Rubik's Cube champions are challenged to solve the Impossible Rubik's Cube. One gave up before finishing but the other took over 3 hours.
5. Electric Power Station Using Cow Dung Built in Japan
Cow dung is usually thrown away with only a few attempts to use it as a building material in Africa and as cooking fuel in India. In Japan cow dung will be used as an energy source to generate sustainable electricity.
Canadian firm Anaergia will build a cow dung electric power station in Okayama in collaboration with Toyo Energy Solution Co. A total of 250 tons of cow dung will be collected every day and the biogas produced will drive the power turbine used. A total of 1.2 Megawatts of clean energy can be generated per year for 2,200 houses in the nearby area.
In addition to generating electricity that is more environmentally friendly, it can also reduce the production of methane gas which has a negative impact on the atmosphere if cow dung is left alone. It is hoped that this technology will continue and not just warm cow dung.
6. Steve Jobs Interview Joe Rogan Podcast Produced Using Artificial Intelligence
It's been more than 11 years since Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer. Since he died before podsiar technology, artificial intelligence and metacity matured many must wonder what he would think about this technology if he were still alive.
Podcast.ai has used artificial intelligence to produce a podcast episode where the late Steve Jobs is interviewed by Joe Rogan. These two leading individual voices are completely generated using artificial intelligence using samples of previously performed audio recordings.
The result is a fake interview episode that sounds quite realistic but a bit awkward because the tone of voice sounds quite strange. The use of artificial intelligence to produce new audio that has never been spoken by a real individual opens up many ethical questions.
7. Used sandals belonging to Steve Jobs were auctioned at a value of up to RM990k
Various items owned by Steve Jobs are available for auction at high values before, due to his nostalgia. Interestingly, now a pair of used sandals belonging to Steve Jobs are being auctioned, and were bought at a value of $218,750 (~RM990,000).
These Birkenstock Arizonas brand sandals are said to have been used by Steve Jobs in the 70s and 80s when he started Apple. This auction is offered with the sandals, as well as an NFT that complements them.
These sandals were found out of the trash by housing manager Steve Jobs, and subsequently auctioned off to the public. It is not known who bought the sandals belonging to Steve Jobs.
8. Bulgari Sells The World's Thinnest Mechanical Watch At The Price Of RM1.8 Million
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra is the world's thinnest mechanical watch at just 1.8mm thick. To achieve this extreme thinness, the hour, minute and second displays are separated. On the face there is a QR code engraved directly on the rotating mechanical gear. If scanned, the owner will be shown a watchmaking video and various information about the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra.
Because the clock is so thin, it needs a special storage case that relocks the power loop (up to 60 hours) and to change the time display. Only 10 Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra threads will be sold with each one coming with its own NFT to make it even more exclusive. For those interested, the watch is sold at a price of €400,000 (~RM1.8 million) each.
9. Japanese Man's Marriage With Hatsune Miku Challenged After Gatebox Support Stopped
In 2016, Gatebox was launched in Japan to allow otaku to interact with virtual characters. Hatsune Miku is one of the virtual characters offered with the user using voice commands to interact like a real person. But Akihiko Kondo, a Japanese man went one step further when he married his virtual girlfriend four years ago.
But this "marriage" was challenged because he was no longer able to interact with his wife following the Gatebox developer stopping support for the device during the pandemic. Although virtual daily interaction with Hatsune Miku is no longer possible, Akihiko said he is still happy and will remain loyal to his virtual wife until the end of his life.
10. Luxury Jewelry Sets Using iPhone Components
Die-hard Apple fans who can only want to use the Apple ecosystem. Phone? iPhone. Computer? MacBook. Ear phone? iPod. If you are among the die-hard Apple fans, you can now buy a set of jewelry that is also Apple themed.
Designer Gab Bois collaborated with jewelry company Miansai to produce this stunning set. SIM cards, camera lenses, camera sensors and iPhone SIM trays are transformed into necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. All plated with gold or silver metal.
For those interested, this Gab Bois and Miansai jewelery collection is sold at prices starting from $195 for the SIM tray ring and rising to $3500 for the iPhone camera lens ring.