London, December 13, 2016 : Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has signed a new global franchise with Sierra Wireless, further enhancing their market-leading linecard and providing access to the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of 2G, 3G and 4G embedded modules and gateways.

The agreement will specifically support electronics design engineers working in markets such as automotive & transport, energy & industrial, residential & healthcare, retail & payment and the growing Internet of Things market.

Premier Farnell has the broadest range of semiconductor and passive inventory on the market with 650,000 products available for same day dispatch and access to over four million more on demand. Now, as part of the Avnet family, the combined business can support customers at every stage of the product lifecycle – ideation, design, supply chain and production.

Sierra Wireless is building the Internet of Things with intelligent wireless solutions that empower design engineers to innovate in the connected world. For OEMs and System Integrators, Sierra Wireless products take the complexity out of adding wireless so that users can develop, deploy, and maintain their connected products and services for years in the field.

Simon Meadmore, Head of Semiconductors at Premier Farnell, said: “We are delighted to be announcing this new global franchise with Sierra Wireless. The development of the Internet of Things provides huge opportunities for startups and experienced design engineers alike. As The Development Distributor we have invested in our product range and inventory to provide our customers with the latest products, enabling them to develop their designs and businesses. We believe the addition of Sierra Wireless products to our linecard adds real value for our customers. ”

Premier Farnell is also manufacturing the mangOH IoT enablement platform for Sierra Wireless.

Andrew Suttle, VP, Global Distribution, OEM Solutions at Sierra Wireless said, “Developers from the global engineering community can now easily purchase the full line of Sierra Wireless industrial-grade AirPrime® cellular modules from Premier Farnell to invent their own solutions that push sensor data to the cloud, turning their ideas into products and services faster than ever before. We are excited that Premier Farnell is also manufacturing and selling the mangOH IoT enablement platform and a suite of associated IoT connectors.”
For more information or to buy Sierra Wireless products please visit Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

LG유플러스는 인천 청라 신도시에 국내 최초 홈 서비스 전문 체험 매장 ‘U+ 스퀘어 홈(U+ SQUARE home)’을 오픈해 홈 IoT와 IPTV 등홈 서비스의 실제 사용 환경과 유사한 이용 경험을 제공한다.

‘프리미엄 홈 서비스 전문 체험 매장’을 컨셉으로 한 U+ 스퀘어 홈은 홈 IoT와 U+tv 등 홈 서비스 시연존을 거실과 주방 등 실제 가정집처럼 꾸몄다. 110㎡ 규모로 기존 직영대리점 평균보다 넓다.

U+tv 시연존은 75인치 대형 UHD TV와 소파로 거실 분위기를 냈고, IoT 가스락과 열림감지센서, 플러그 등 홈 IoT 서비스는 주방으로 꾸며진 공간에 설치했다. 매장 곳곳에는 태블릿PC가 설치됐다.

내방한 고객이 안심하고 홈 서비스를 체험할 수 있도록 매장 가운데에 안전매트, 동화책, 장난감이 구비된 키즈존을 구축했다.

TV에서는 U+tv 유튜브 채널 서비스의 902번 ‘캐리와 장난감 친구들’이 상연된다. 가족형 4인 상담석, 카페형 2인석, 키즈석 등 가족 고객을 위한 편안한 상담공간도 마련됐다.

매장 오픈을 기념해 방문 고객을 대상으로 ▲UHD TV ▲어린이 전동자동차 ▲온수매트 등 다양한 경품을 증정한다.

17일 오후 2시부터는 겨울 간식 호빵 등을 제공하는 룰렛이벤트를 포함한 추첨행사가 진행된다.

Munich, Germany, December 14--The following announced from the Smart Payment Association.(SPA)
In recent months, we’ve seen the payment industry’s innovation agenda take a significant step forward. After much work, the standardization initiatives, and regulatory and authentication frameworks, are at last coming together. Spurred on by this, we are likely to see new players entering the payment value chain - not to mention the evolution of existing business models. It all heralds a dramatic change in the current financial services ecosystem.

With the foundations now in place, it’s time for the real work to begin – particularly if the tight implementation dates set by the regulatory bodies are to be met.
So, as banks embark on planning, designing and deploying innovative new online and mobile payment services, and developing new banking interfaces and authentication techniques, it is useful to take a step back – to see how we got here, what more needs to be done, and how the SPA can bring its considerable expertise to bear to help.

A key cornerstone for the move to ‘frictionless’ online payment is now in place. In October, EMVCo finally published its 3DS 2.0 Protocol and Core Functions Specification for app-based authentication and integration with digital wallets, as well as traditional browser-based e-commerce transactions. The principles rely on risk-based authentication, and the use of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) only when required. However, this latter functionality must always be used to conform with the EBA Regulatory Technical Standard on SCA.

The landmark EMVCo specification provides a globally interoperable framework that will promote a consistent authentication user experience across all e- and m-commerce channels and connected devices. Reflecting current and future market requirements, the specification delivers the flexibility the payment industry needs to support new online authentication technology developments. But it must do so within the boundaries of the recent requirements set by the EBA.

For our part, SPA members will be on hand to provide advice, guidance and technical expertise every step of the way. SPA Members have been strongly involved in developing ISO standards to support the interoperability of new open payment infrastructures which are regulated under the European Parliament’s revised payments directive (PSD2). The challenging 2018 implementation deadline of new functional and security requirements is pushing banks to actively explore how to develop standard APIs. These APIs will enable Third Party Payment Providers (TPPs) to access information on bank-held payment accounts, a major breakthrough.

Over the past few months the SPA has undertaken a detailed evaluation of a number of new European schemes within the SEPA framework, including Instant Credit Transfer Payments and Mobile P2P payments. As the payment market continues to evolve, SPA is committed to keeping its finger on the pulse of emerging innovations to ensure such payment mechanisms represent an appropriate yet complementary option to today’s proven secure card payment technologies and infrastructures.

Meanwhile, as a review of recent market data confirms, contactless card transactions continue to grow dramatically around the world. [See SPA's Paper: Contactless Payment Benefits & Worldwide Deployments - Food for thought for US issuers - April 2016]. Despite this impressive growth, fraud levels on contactless cards and devices remains impressively low.

Indeed, consumer use of payment cards continues unabated. European Central Bank statistics point to double-digit growth in card transactions compared to other payment instruments such as credit transfers, checks, direct debits and cash. This unstoppable move towards card adoption has been fuelled by the recent US migration to chip card technology, and completion of the long envisioned global EMV infrastructure.

The increasing acceptance of contactless cards and readers is paving the way for the adoption of mobile payments. Representing a vital first step in consumer and merchant education, familiarity with contactless payment is proving highly effective at preparing the way for user acceptance and take-up of “The Pay” options: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay.

SPA is teaming up with the financial industry to better understand the regulatory requirements in terms of customer authentication, and to anticipate the development of fit-for-purpose contactless payment products.

For example, in August the European Banking Authority (EBA) published its consultation paper on draft technical standards for strong customer authentication and common and secure communication for remote electronic payment transactions under the PSD2.

SPA has also been working with the European Card Stakeholders Group (ECSG)* to review the PSD2 compliance implications for banks and provided the EBA with a set of constructive comments to facilitate strong customer authentication implementation.

With the ‘new’ ECSG now an independent organisation, SPA is channelling its input through a very active participation in the Vendor sector of the organization.

The first priority for the ECSG has been to focus on the publication of the next release of the Volume Book of Requirements, which will take into account the new regulatory provisions for visual and electronic identification of co-branded payment cards.

Through its ECSG Board membership, SPA has also been heavily involved in management tasks; the creation of governance rules and frameworks for the new entity to ensure maximum levels of collaboration while protecting the intellectual property of vendors. SPA intends to continue to play its leadership role of the Vendors Sector of the ECSG and to actively push for innovation, while supporting appropriate standards that add value for banks and their customers.

As we move into 2017, regulations will continue to evolve as new ways to pay are developed and adopted. SPA is committed to ensuring that such regulations do not negatively impact on banks or over complicate the user experience.

Looking ahead at the major challenges facing our industry in 2017, one cannot ignore the complexities of this fast evolving environment. The crucial issues surrounding the roll-out of instant credit payment transfers, initiated with different personal devices, and the implementation of the interfaces required for the provision of Third Party Payment Providers according to the PSD2, must be effectively addressed. SPA will remain active in the standardization process of APIs, protocols and security architectures to protect all the actors involved in these new payment circuits.

Throughout 2016, much of the discussion centered on the financial industry real use cases for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). The challenge now, SPA believes, is to reach a broad consensus between banks and fintechs to solve existing operational problems. We must come together as an industry to build and implement the financial Blockchain solutions of the next decade. It’s a major task, and SPA will continue to monitor and contribute to those standardization initiatives intended to improve financial Blockchain interoperability and security.

In all, 2016 was a very successful year. Agreement of the various payment regulations and standards was long in coming. Now we are here, it’s time the real work started.

SPA based in Munich, Germany, addresses the challenges of the evolving payment ecosystem, offering leadership and expert guidance to help its members and their financial institution customers realise the opportunities of smart, secure and personalised payment systems and services both now and for the future.

SEOUL, Dec. 14, 2016 / Korea IT Times― Already an industry leader renowned for integrating cutting-edge technology into its premium, high-resolution monitors, LG Electronics (LG) is pushing the industry to the next level with plans to introduce a HDR-compatible 32-inch UHD 4K monitor at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month.

The availability of HDR content continues to expand, covering a wide range of fields from movie to games. The enhanced picture quality offered by HDR technology is instantly recognizable to even the most casual user and manufacturers are already pushing this promising technology to its fullest potential. With professional-grade picture quality and exceptionally vibrant colors, HDR compatible monitors will appeal to creative professionals, gamers, and anyone else that takes image quality seriously.

To stay one step ahead of the rapid proliferation of HDR content, LG’s 32-inch UHD 4K monitor (model 32UD99) with 3840 x 2160 pixels supports the HDR10 standard, which delivers enhanced brightness levels and a wide color gamut image. Compatibility with the HDR10 standard increases the monitor’s peak brightness, enabling users to edit movies and photographs much more comfortably.

In addition, the 32UD99 is equipped with an IPS panel and displays over 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color space, making it ideal for media content creators of all expertise who will appreciate features such as True Color Pro for color reproduction accuracy unmatched in the industry. With the recent introduction of a new generation of HDR capable game consoles, the 32UD99 is well-equipped to meet the increasing demands of players world over as HDR gaming becomes the new standard in home entertainment.

Along with its elegant, stunning profile, the 32UD99 turns heads even when powered off. The monitor’s USB Type-C port minimizes the number of unsightly cables while its borderless edges and slim ArcLine stand complete its refined image. Requiring only a single cable to stream images to a 4K display, charge a connected laptop and execute data transfers simultaneously, the 32UD99 is able to reduce cable clutter, which adds to its streamlined appearance. And the monitor’s built-in speakers pack a punch with LG’s Rich Bass technology for a full-bodied audio experience.

At CES 2017, LG will also be showcasing the 34-inch 21:9 UltraWide™ Mobile+ Monitor (model 34UM79M). The 34UM79M is the world’s first Chromecast-enabled multimedia monitor, allowing users to seamlessly stream their favorite movies, music, games and more from mobile devices directly to the monitor. And LG’s UltraWide monitor allows owners to simultaneously multitask between the PC and the mobile device using a single screen. Similarly, the Dual Controller Plus feature allows users to control both a PC and a smartphone/tablet via a single keyboard and mouse. What’s more, the LG Mobile+ Monitor application allows for the control of many of the monitor’s settings such as input, volume, aspect ratio, PBP/PIP, etc. remotely and conveniently.

Also on display in Las Vegas alongside LG’s UltraFine™ 5K and 4K displays will be LG’s 34-inch 21:9 UltraWide gaming monitor (model 34UC99), equipped with AMD FreeSync technology, 1ms Motion Blur Reduction, Dynamic Action Sync, Black Stabilizer and other features to maximize the PC gaming experience.

“To maintain our market leadership, LG engineers work tirelessly to incorporate emerging technologies and trends into our newest monitors,” said Brian Kwon, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “From high-resolution displays compatible with HDR technology to UltraWide monitors optimized for multitasking and gaming, LG is committed to delivering the most innovative, premium monitors in the industry today.”

“아…친척 아기가 엎드려 자다가 하늘나라로 갔대. 경찰이 혹시 몰라 조사까지 하겠다고 집에 온다던데 아이도 잃었는데, 가혹하게 조사까지… 애엄마는 얼마나 맘이 아플까. 오늘 퇴근하고 가봐야겠어.”

예전에 근무 중 동료가 한 말에 가슴이 내려앉은 적이 있었다. 열 달 동안 배에 품고 있던 엄마, 그리고 아기를 보고 행복을 느꼈을 가족들은 얼마나 맘이 찢어질까 하는 생각에 가슴이 먹먹했다. 누군가가 이를 먼저 보고 조치를 취했으면 얼마나 좋았을까 하는 생각도 스쳤다.

이런 염려 때문인지, 미국에서는 최근 유아를 대상으로 한 사물인터넷(IoT)기기의 개발이 활발하다. 그 중 스타트업 '해피이스트 베이비'가 개발한 스마트 요람 '스누'는 이러한 불상사를 막기 위한 기능이 있다. 아기가 엎드려 자는 것을 방지하는 강보가 붙어있는 것. 강보는 요람에 고정되어 있으며, 아이가 움직이지 못하도록 잡아준다. 또한 요람이다 보니 우선 아기를 부드럽게 흔들어준다. 아기를 재우려고 할 때에는 비오는 소리, 아기가 울음을 그치지 않을 때는 태어나기 전에 엄마 뱃속에서 듣던 소리 등을 들려주기도 한다.

제작사는 상황에 맞는 소리로 아기를 안심시킴으로써 침착하고 조용하게 되는 효과를 얻는 것을 기대한다. 해피이스트 베이비는 현재 스마트요람인 스누를 116달러, 강보를 38달러, 침대보를 24달러에 팔고 있다.

다음으로 잠자는 아기의 모습을 모니터 하는 카메라인 '웨어리스 테크'의 코쿤캠도 있다. 집이 넓은 편인 미국에서는 떨어져 있는 방의 아기가 울고 있는지를 알고 싶은 수요가 있고, 보통 아이를 많이 안아주지 않고, 아주 어려서부터 자기 방에 혼자 재우는 문화가 있기 때문에 이러한 종류의 모니터 카메라는 이미 많이 제품화 되어 있었다.

하지만, 최근에는 아이 모니터링 목적이 아니라 베이비 시터의 아동학대를 감시하는 용도로 모니터 카메라의 수요가 늘고 있다. 이런 모니터 카메라의 진화한 형태가 코쿤캠이라 할 수 있다. 이 제품의 특징은 카메라이면서, 아기의 호흡과 심장박동, 체온을 알 수 있다는 점이다. 기존의 카메라는 단지 '모습'을 볼 수 있었지만, 코쿤캠은 외양 뿐만 아니라, 신체 상황도 알려주기 때문에 미리 필요한 조치를 취할 수 있게 돕는다.

또한 아기의 피부에 웨어러블을 부착하지 않더라도 호흡이나 수면 분석을 해주기 때문에, 아기 피부에 상처가 생길 위험이 없고, 전자파의 위험에서도 벗어날 수 있다. 웨어러블 테크는 코쿤캐을 현재 200달러에 판매하고 있다.

아기용 웨어러블 장치도 진화하고 있다. 스타트업 '레스트 디바이스'의 미모가 대표적이라 할 수 있다. 미모는 아기의 옷에 장착하는 기기로 호흡이나 체온, 자세, 활동 수준, 수면여부 등을 스마트폰앱으로 확인할 수 있게 해준다.

아기 침대의 시트에 센서를 넣은 '스마트 시트'로도 아기의 움직임을 감지할 수 있는데, 시트 위에 그려진 패턴 모양의 센서가 아기의 움직임을 파악하며, 일정시간 내에 움직이지 않을 경우, 경고를 보내기도 한다.

미모는 다른 사물인터넷 제품과도 연동되는데, 학습을 통해 에어컨의 가동을 최적화하는 스마트 온도 제어기기인 '네스트'와의 연동은 육아의 편의성을 높여줄 것으로 기대되고 있다.

아기가 열이 있다고 판단하면, 미모는 네스트와 연계해 에어컨의 온도를 낮추며, 이 과정을 통해 네스트는 '아기가 원하는 온도'를 학습하게 되는데, 웨어러블 장치를 부착한 아기가 실내온도를 제어하는 매개가 되는 셈이다. 레스트 디바이스는 미모를 현재 200달러에 팔고 있다.

유아용 웨어러블이나 스마트 요람은 아기의 숙면과 양호한 건강상태 유지를 지원하면, 부모의 불안을 해소하는 동시에 육아의 스트레스도 줄여 줄 것으로 기대된다.

그러나 정보통신기술진흥센터 ‘아기의 컨디션을 모니터링 하기 위한 IoT 장치 개발 활발’에 보고서에 따르면, 아기가 울어도 부모가 안아주지 않고, 기기의 힘을 빌려 해결하는 것이 아기의 성장 발달에 부정적인 영향을 미치지 않을까 하는 우려의 목소리도 있다. 또한 사물인터넷은 사람과 사람 사이를 기술이 매개해서 직접적인 교환작용을 생략해주는 것인데 오히려 아기 간의 상호작용을 줄게 하는 폐해도 있지 않느냐는 지적을 피할 수 없다고 설명했다.

하지만, 보고서는 “육아의 수고스러움이 줄어드는 만큼, 생기는 심신의 여유를 아이에게 쏟는다면, 더 좋은 상호작용을 할 수 있는 가능성을 연다는 점에서 긍정적인 면도 있다. 결국, 중요한 것은 사물인터넷을 적절하게 활용할 수 있는 이용자의 지혜가 필요하다”고 조언했다.

출퇴근 시간 카풀 이용자들을 실시간 매칭하며 인기를 얻고 있는 카풀 앱이 불법 논란에 휩싸였다. 최근 동아일보는 ‘카풀앱이 사실상 택시와 다를 바 없다는 민원에 대해 국토부와 지방자치단체가 카풀 앱을 불법으로 잠정 결론 내리고 운영이 계속되면 해당 지자체를 통해 카풀 앱 운영업체를 고발할 방침’이라고 보도한 바 있다.

이에 70여 개 스타트업으로 구성된 코리아스타트업포럼은 '카풀 앱의 여객자동차 운수사업법 위반 여부에 대한 의견 발표'를 통해 카풀 앱은 적법한 사업 모델이라고 정면 반박에 나섰다.

코리아스타트업포럼 법률지원단은 "자가용 자동차 운전자가 카풀을 목적으로 유료로 승객을 운송하는 행위는 여객자동차 운수사업법에서 허용하고 있는 적법한 사업이므로 카풀 앱이 이를 중개한다고 불법이 될 수 없다"는 입장이다.

코리아스타트업포럼은 우아한형제들, 야놀자, 네이티브, 한국NFC, 이음, 온오프믹스 등 70여개 스타트업 기업들로 구성된 단체로 김봉진 배달의민족 대표가 의장을, 구태언 태크앤로 변호사가 법률지원단을 맡고 있다.

포럼은 해당 근거로 여객자동차운수사업법 제81조(자가용 자동차의 유상운송 금지)를 내세우고 있다. 해당 조항은 자가용 자동차의 유상 운송을 금지하지만 출퇴근 시간에 함께 타는 경우에 한해서는 허용한다. 카풀 앱은 제1항 단서 제1호가 허용한 ‘출퇴근 때 승용자동차를 함께 타는 경우’에 해당, 자가용 운전자들과 승객을 연결해주는 방식으로 영업하고 있다는 것이다.

아울러 중개가 불법이 되려면 중개의 대상이 되는 행위가 불법이어야 하나 플랫폼사업자는 운전자와 승객을 중개해 주는 일을 사업내용으로 하고 있고, 자가용 운전자가 카풀을 목적으로 유료로 승객을 운송하는 행위는 여객자동차 운수사업법에서 명문으로 허용하고 있는 적법한 사업이므로, 카풀앱이 이를 중개한다고 하여 중개행위만 불법이 될 수 없다고 설명했다.

포럼 측은 "법률에서 카풀을 허용한 취지가 ‘자가용 자동차의 유상운송 금지의 예외’이므로 당연히 카풀을 제공하는 자가용 자동차 운전자가 카풀 승객으로부터 일정한 실비를 받을 것을 허용하고 있다“고 해석했다.

카풀 앱은 앱에 등록한 신용카드로 운행 요금을 결제하면 차량 소유주가 요금을 받게 되고 이들을 중개한 카풀 앱 운영업체는 수수료를 받는 구조로 이뤄져 있다. 현재 풀러스, 럭시 등의 카풀 앱은 여객자동차 운수사업법에 따라 출근 시간대인 평일 오전 5~11시, 퇴근 시간대인 오후 5시~다음날 오전 2시까지 서비스를 제공한다. 운전자별 1일 운행 횟수도 제한하고 있다.

카풀 앱 관계자는 “카풀 앱은 여객자동차 운수사업법 제81조 제1항 단서의 요건을 구비한 자가용 자동차 운전자를 승객과 연결해 주기 위해 운전자 모집 시에도 이를 분명히 안내하고 교육하고 있다”며 “운전자가 적법한 사업 취지를 정확히 이해하고 운행할 수 있도록 ‘올바른 카풀 이용 캠페인’도 하고 있다”고 설명했다.

하지만 카풀 앱에 대한 기존 운수업계의 성토도 끊이지 않고 있다. 특히 판교테크노밸리가 있는 성남시 등지에는 관련 민원이 여러 차례 접수된 것으로 알려졌다. 이름만 카풀이지 사실상 택시 운행과 다를 바 없어 잠재적 고객을 빼앗기고 있다는 것이다.

나아가 카풀 앱이 성행하면 배차시간에 맞춰 운영되고 있는 기존 대중교통이 피해를 볼 수 있다는 지적도 있다. 카풀로 대중교통 영업에 영향을 받게 되면 배차간격이 늘어나게 되고 장기적으로 대중교통 사각지대가 생길 우려가 있다는 것이다.

이에 대해 국토부 관계자는 "이미 관련 법령에 따라 운영중인 서비스이기 때문에 별도의 규제를 검토하고 있지 않다"면서도 "만약 대중교통업계에서 고소를 한다든지 문제 제기를 하면 카풀 앱의 적법성을 따져보게 될 것"이라고 전했다.

“앵커로서 언론의 본분을 다하기 위해서 최선을 다했는지 무거운 책임감을 느낀다.” 박상권 MBC ‘뉴스데스크’ 앵커가 마이크를 내려놓았다. 박 앵커는지난 11일 방송된 ‘뉴스데스크’ 클로징 멘트에서 “시청자 여러분께서 MBC뉴스에 보내주시는 따끔한 질책 가슴 깊이 받아들이고 있다”며 이 같이 말했다.

앵커 보직사임에 대해 직접적인 설명은 없었지만, ‘뉴스데스크’의 논조에 대한 불만과 이명박 정부 당시 ‘PD수첩’의 광우병 보도로 촉발된 MBC의 내분사태가 직간접적인 영향을 미친 것으로 풀이된다.

서울대 신문학과를 졸업하고 지난 1997년 MBC에 기자로 입사한 박 앵커는 사회부, 경제부 등을 거쳐 지난 2007년부터 4년간 MBC '뉴스투데이'를 진행한 바 있다.

파리 특파원을 거쳐 2013년 11월 ‘뉴스데스크’에서 마이크를 잡은 그는 "진실 앞에 겸허하겠다는 소신을 갖고 있다"며 "편견 없이 뉴스에 접근하고 시청자를 바라보며 사랑과 신뢰를 얻어 나가겠다"고 말한바 있다.

3년여 만에 ‘뉴스데스크’에서 물러난 박 앵커에 대해 ‘만시지탄(晩時之歎)’이라는 평가가 나온다.

ITU News, December 14, 2016/ Korea IT Times--The key ICT trends and insights this week, to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the ITU Radio Regulations in conjunction with World Radiocommunication Seminar, local content is key to connectivity in emerging markets; Smart Cities may face data-talent shortage; and is the end near for some of Google’s ‘moonshots’?

More than 540 registered participants from 106 countries came to Geneva to pay tribute to the essential international treaty for governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits for ubiquitous wireless communications.

ICT Trends
Content: A key element for connectivity The proposed USD 85.4 billion AT&T-Time Warner mega-merger highlights the value of content for telco growth, and it could have regulatory and business implications for connectivity in emerging markets. Meanwhile, Hooq's 2017 expansion into Malaysia and Vietnam highlights the power of locally relevant content as Netflix continues to face tough competition in the region. Maybe Netflix's new content strategy will help? And Canada is leading a local content charge of its own.

China: the next AI powerhouse? The rapidly growing Chinese Internet giant Tencent’s entrance into the global AI race comes as China’s top search engine, Baidu recently reaffirmed that AI will be key to its future growth. Meanwhile, a new study finds China to be a close second to the U.S. in terms of the number of AI studies presented at top academic conferences in 2015.

Smart Cities: New study shows that 75% of global cities won’t take full advantage of smart city data. Meanwhile, New York’s new ‘CTO’ hopes to replicate his San Francisco smart city success. And Bluetooth 5.0 adoption ensures it will play a vital role in IoT connectivity.

Connectivity: ICT education for development Kenya has launched a KES 800 million (USD 780 m) project to link all secondary schools nationwide to high speed internet. Though fewer than 20% of households have Internet access, the country has 67% high school enrolment ? increased connectivity will support Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Pricing: The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has withdrawn support for mobile data price rises. Operators say current pricing is unsustainable and services would suffer as a result.

5G: ITU Focus Group delivers draft international standards to support 5G innovation.

Cybersecurity: As ransomware attacks show three-fold increase in 2016, Trend Micro have released their 2017 security predictions. Expect more sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks, and higher company admin costs due to data protection regulation compliance.

Autonomous vehicles: Fully automated trucking is coming soon, but are we ready for it? Safety, security and the technology itself remain key barriers.

Alphabet: The startup is growing up Alphabet’s new CFO is bringing financial discipline, limiting investment in the famous “moonshot” projects. How will Project Loon, Google’s effort to connect the unconnected with balloon-power Internet, be impacted?

Regulation: Philippines Senate plans major telco sector reform.

VR/AR: VR headset shipments will exceed 2 million units worldwide in 2016, predicts Canalys, which also forecasts the shipments to grow to 20 million units by 2020. Meanwhile, a new report indicates much-hyped AR firm Magic Leap may have oversold what it can do.

Mobile: Singapore will stop selling 2G-only devices from 1 January 2017. Meanwhile, two Thai operators must now provide low-cost 4G SIMs for disabled and low-income citizens.

Connectivity: Bharti Airtel will invest in a new fiber cable between India and Myanmar, but has Myanmar's 'hyper growth' era already ended?

Insights

Pushing boundaries The race to connect the next four billion highlights the continuing ascendancy of online giants who are better placed to capitalize on the on the opportunity than telcos, argues Nick Wood.

Why is Silicon Valley going renewable? Tech giants continue to invest in clean energy, as Google implements plans to be 100% renewable in 2017. Is this just to reduce electricity costs, or is there more to it? Chris Baraniuk investigates.

Geneva, Switzerland, 15 December 2016/ Korea IT Times -- The amount of global e-waste — discarded electrical and electronic equipment — reached nearly 42 million tons in 2014. By next year it is predicted that the world will produce approximately 50 million metric tonnes of e waste/year, according to a study conducted by a partnership of United Nations organizations, industry, governments and scientists

In an effort to increase consumer convenience and reduce e-waste, the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission/ www.iec.ch ) is now enabling a smart charging solution that allows chargers to be re-used for many different consumer portable devices. The IEC has published new International Charging Interoperability Standards that open the way for a new generation of smart and eco-friendly charging solutions that can be used in every country in the world.

Chargers for products ranging from smartphones to high power devices such as notebook computers, will not only be compatible with the same types of devices from different manufacturers, they will also be able to charge a wide range of other kinds of electronics. Consumers will be able to use their notebook charger to charge a tablet or a smartphone or any other portable consumer electronic device. Likewise, if need be, a smartphone or tablet charger can be used to give a boost to a notebook, albeit at a slower rate.

This new smart charging approach relies on a standardized charging interface defined by the following new IEC International Standards:

- IEC 62680-1-3 and 62680-2, based on the latest USB Type-C™ and USB Power Delivery specifications. These Standards specify the common technologies needed to support charging of devices up to 100 watts
- IEC 63002: Identification and communication interoperability method for external power supplies used with portable computing devices defines interoperability guidelines for chargers and devices that implement the latest USB technologies. In particular, it defines the data parameters for communicating power adapter characteristics and capabilities.

Global market adoption of these International Standards is expected to significantly increase charger re-usability well beyond smartphones and other low power devices, which were enabled by legacy USB technologies and related IEC International Standards IEC 62680-1-1, IEC 62680-2 and IEC 62684.

The standardization of this smart charging interface is supported by global industry as the best approach to enable broad re-usability of different chargers with different products. It ensures charging reliability and provides the flexibility needed for future innovations.

Chargers can be designed to optimally match the power and functional requirements of the target product while being able to charge many other products as well. Devices will be able to communicate with the smart charger to accurately identify its capabilities before safely drawing power. The expected broad adoption by industry will exponentially increase interoperability, compatibility and re-usability of chargers and as a result significantly increasing consumer convenience while contributing to global e-waste reduction.

Says Frans Vreeswijk, IEC General Secretary and CEO: “The IEC continues to be committed to reducing e-waste for developed and developing countries alike. These important new IEC International Interoperability Standards will further advance global environmental goals by substantially increasing the re-usability of chargers for consumer electronics and ICT devices.”

Says Shin Eguchi, Technical Area Manager TC 100/TA 14: “This innovative charging solution is the result of unprecedented global cooperation and industry participation. Its broad adoption will truly benefit consumers world-wide.”

Says Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO: “The continued cooperation between IEC and USB-IF on IEC 63002, that supports USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery specifications, aligns with USB-IF’s belief that consumer satisfaction, product functionality and reducing e-waste are paramount. USB-IF is supportive of this significant step towards a new generation of interoperable, smart chargers.”

The IEC brings together 170 countries, representing 99.1% of the world population and 99.2% of world electricity generation, and more than 20000 experts who cooperate on the global, neutral and independent IEC platform to ensure that products work everywhere safely with each other.
The IEC is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes globally relevant International Standards for the whole energy chain, including all electrical, electronic and related technologies, devices and systems.

According to a new released on December 2 by a blue ribbon Presidential Commission based in Washington to protect and continue to expand the digital economy, the next U.S. president must strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors before, during and after cybersecurity events

“When it comes to cybersecurity, organizations cannot operate in isolation. It is impossible to stop all attacks. Resilience must be a core component of any cybersecurity strategy,” the commissioners said their report.

The Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity was established by President Obama (Executive Order 13718 (link is external)) with the explicit purpose of making recommendations to strengthen cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.

The report emphasizes the need for partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as international engagement. It also discusses the role consumers must play in enhancing our digital security. The report categorizes its recommendations within six overarching imperatives focused on infrastructure, investment, consumer education, workforce capabilities, government operations, and requirements for a fair and open global digital economy.

Noting that “the attacker has the advantage,” the commission laid out actions that government, industry and consumers can take to more effectively address a range of cybersecurity threats, from nation-state breaches of government infrastructure to denial-of-service attacks that exploit the “Internet of Things” (IoT).
Given “the urgency of the challenges facing our nation,” the commission said many of its recommendations should and could be initiated in the new administration’s first 100 days.

Examples of specific recommendations include:
creating a new civilian component agency, or repurposing an existing one, to serve as a fully operational cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection agency that would, among other things, administer a consolidated federal network;
forming a national public-private initiative to improve digital identity management;
launching a new cybersecurity awareness and engagement campaign to help consumers better protect themselves, including the “equivalent of a cybersecurity ‘nutritional label’ for information technology products and services” to drive product innovation and improve purchasing decisions; and
starting a new workforce program to train 100,000 new cybersecurity practitioners.

Other recommendations focus on areas such as critical infrastructure, IoT, cybersecurity innovations, public awareness and education, state and local issues, insurance, international norms, and the role and vulnerabilities of small and medium-sized businesses.

The commission identified and considered broader trends affecting each of these topics, including the convergence of information technologies and physical systems, risk management, privacy and trust, legal and liability considerations, the importance and difficulty of developing meaningful metrics for cybersecurity, and consumer responsibilities.

President Obama established the commission in February 2016, with a 10-month deadline to make detailed recommendations that strengthen cybersecurity while also protecting privacy, fostering innovation and ensuring economic and national security. The commission’s 12 members included four recommended by leaders of both parties in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and the rest selected by the president.

To develop their recommendations, the commissioners consulted technical and policy experts, solicited input from the public through open hearings and a request for information, and reviewed existing literature. The report also highlights the work of several government agencies, including the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the departments of Homeland Security and Defense, as well as private sector organizations.

AI 컴퓨팅 분야의 세계적인 선도 기업인 엔비디아(www.nvidia.co.kr, CEO 젠슨 황)는 올해 초 버클리 인공지능 연구소(Berkeley AI Research Lab)에제공한 자사의 AI 슈퍼컴퓨터인 엔비디아 DGX-1이 자율주행차와 로봇 등 다양한 분야 내 AI 연구에 활용되고 있다고 밝혔다.

엔비디아는 전세계 최고 수준의 인공지능(AI) 연구기관에 가장 빠른 속도를 구현하는 AI 컴퓨팅 시스템을 제공하고 있다.

버클리 인공지능 연구소 소속 교수진 20여 명 및 대학원생100여 명은 멀티모달 딥 러닝(Multi-modal deep learning)과 인간-호환 AI와 관련한 최첨단 기술들을 연구하며, AI와 다른 과학 분야 간접목을 위한 연구도 진행하고 있다. 이렇게여러 분야에 걸쳐 다양한 AI 관련 연구를 진행함에 있어,버클리 인공지능 연구소소속 연구진은 최대한 다양한 접근법을 활용하고있다. UC 버클리 전자컴퓨터공학과의 피터 애빌(Pieter Abbeel)조교수는이러한 방식으로 연구를 진행하기 위해서는 속도가 매우 중요하다고 강조했다.

피터 애빌조교수는 "연산 능력의 강화는 더 많은 아이디어를 조사하고,시도하고 조정함으로써 해당 아이디어를 실질적으로 적용할 수 있게 됨을 의미한다”며, "현재로선 하나의 실험을 진행하는데 대체로 수시간에서 많게는 하루 이틀 정도 소요되는데, 이 속도를 10배 정도 향상 시킬 수 있다면 소요 시간을 획기적으로 단축하고다음 아이디어를 곧바로시험하는 것이 가능해진다”고 밝혔다.

<>AI와 자율주행차

이처럼속도는 딥 러닝 기술에 새로운 돌파구를 제시하는 핵심요소로,방대한 양의 데이터를 처리할 수 있는 능력을 일컫는다.UC 버클리 전자컴퓨터공학과의 존 캐니(John Canny) 석좌 교수는공공 도로와 같이 사람들이 활동하는 일상적인 환경을 컴퓨터가 탐지할 수 있도록 지원하는 핵심적인 기술역시 빠른 속도의 데이터 처리 능력을 기반으로 한 딥 러닝이라고설명했다.

존 캐니 석좌 교수는 "운전자는 수년 혹은 수십년에 걸친 운전 경험을 통해 스스로의 운전 실력을 향상 시켜나간다"며 "머신 러닝 분야에서 딥 러닝은 아직 그 정도 규모의 데이터셋을 실질적으로 관리하지 못하고, 따라서우리는대규모의 데이터셋을 수집, 처리 및 활용하는 작업에 주목하고 있다"고 밝혔다.

한편,UC 버클리 전자컴퓨터공학과 트레버 다넬(Trevor Darnell) 교수는특정차량이해당 차량의 경험뿐만 아니라 수백만 대에 달하는 다른 차량의 경험까지 함께 학습할 수 있다면 주행 시의안전성이 놀라운 수준으로 향상될 것이라고 설명했다.

트레버 다넬 교수는 "이는 빙산의 일각에 불과하다"며, "앞으로는 운송 및 물류 분야에서도 혁신이 등장할 것으로 전망되며,상품과서비스모두를실어나를수있는다양한크기의자율주행차의등장으로인해주어지는생산성향상은상상할수없을만큼클것"이라고 말했다.

<>AI 기술이 탑재된 로봇

피터 애빌 조교수는기계가 경험을 통해 스스로 학습할 수 있는 능력을 습득하도록 하는 것은 로봇을 기존 생산 시설뿐만 아니라 가정, 사무실 및 병원처럼 예측하기 어려운 환경에까지도입하기 위한 핵심 작업이라 설명했다.

피터 애빌 조교수는"과거에 접한 바 없는 새로운 상황에 이 로봇들이 적응할 수 있을지 여부가 중요해질 것"이라며 "여기에서 가장 중요한 도전과제는 어떻게 AI 기술을 적용해야 이 로봇들이 생소한상황을 이해하고 파악해 적절한 행동을 하게 만들 수 있는가에 달렸다"고 덧붙였다.

딥러닝은 이미 대중적인 웹 서비스의 일부로서, 음성 및 이미지 인식을 포함해 기계가 정보를 분류하는 작업을 지원하고 있지만, 피터 애빌 조교수를 비롯한 연구진은 여기서 더 나아가 기계가 스스로 의사 결정을 내릴 수 있도록 지원하는 방법을 모색하고 있다. 피터 애빌 조교수는,이른바 ‘강화 학습(Reinforcement learning)’으로 불리는 새로운 접근법을 통해 기계가 스스로 복잡한 환경을 파악해 탐색할 수 있게 될 것이라고 예측하고 있다.

UC 버클리 전자컴퓨터공학과 세르게이 레빈(Sergey Levine)조교수는 주변 환경으로부터 스스로 학습하는 것은 물론 마주칠 수 있는 위험에 대해 스스로 판단을 내릴 수 있는 기계를 제작하는 작업이 보다 스마트한 로봇을 제작함에 있어 핵심적인 사안이라고 설명했다.

일례로 비행 로봇의 경우, 빠르게 변화하는 환경에 적응해야 하는 것은 물론, 비행 도중 처하게 될위험에 대해서도 인지할 수 있어야 한다. 세르게이 레빈 조교수는 "가능한 불확실성을파악함으로써 결과를 판단할 수 없는 행동은 하지 않는 방향으로, 딥 러닝 기술 기반의 비행용 딥 뉴럴 네트워크방침을 세우고 있다"고 말했다.

<>AI 혁명의 엔진

이 같은 새로운 접근 방식은 궁극적으로 연구자들이보다 유용한 기계를 개발하는데 기여할 전망이다. DGX-1에 탑재된 GPU와 통합 소프트웨어의 속도, 그리고 이들 간의 연결에 힘입어, 버클리 인공지능 연구소는 새로운 아이디어를 보다 빠르게 탐색해나갈 것으로 예상된다.

트레버 다넬 교수는 "연산 능력의 수준과 실행 가능한 실험 횟수 간에는 어느 정도의 선형 관계가 존재한다"며 "또한실행 가능한 실험 횟수는 습득및 발견 가능한 지식의 총량을 결정한다"고 전했다.

엔비디아 젠슨 황 CEO는 버클리 인공지능 연구소에서 진행된DGX-1 전달식에서 “엔비디아에서 최초로선보인 AI 슈퍼컴퓨터를 버클리 인공지능 연구소에 제공하게 되어매우 기쁘다"고 소감을 밝힌 바 있다.

Analysys Mason’s analysts and consultants have released on December 15, their predictions for IoT in 2017 as belows

1. Telecoms operators’ strategies for IoT

Telecoms operators will be under pressure to grow IoT revenues faster, possibly through acquisitions. Currently, revenue from IoT accounts for less than 1% of most operators’ total revenue. It will take until 2025 for IoT to exceed 5% of operators’ total revenue, even starting from 1% and growing by 20% per annum (assuming flat top-line revenues), which is roughly in line with current growth rates for operators’ IoT businesses. Senior management may view this as too long a timescale and some operators may explore acquisitions or investments as a result. Verizon was one of the few operators to make bold moves in 2016, spending over USD3 billion on its acquisitions of Fleetmatics, Telogis and some other smaller firms. Other operators may follow Verizon’s lead in 2017.

2. 5G and IoT

IoT will become less important to 5G. Almost all presentations on 5G mention IoT, but the reverse is not true – few presentations on IoT mention 5G. IoT firms are already developing solutions and are not waiting for the launch of 5G. Massive machine-type connectivity (in other words, IoT) has been one of the key use cases proposed for 5G, but we think this aspect will receive less attention in 2017. The focus for 5G may instead be on nearer-term use cases, such as high-speed access in the final mile, as proposed by Verizon. 5G will need to be significantly cheaper than NB-IoT to transform IoT and this is unlikely in the near term.

3. NB-IoT, LoRa and other LPWA network technologies

The first truly commercial NB-IoT networks will be launched. There was a flurry of press releases on NB-IoT in Q4 2016, but no truly commercial NB-IoT networks (where customers would be charged for their usage) were launched. We expect to see the first customers paying for access to NB-IoT networks in 2017, possibly even in Q1. However, we do not expect a significant increase in numbers until the end of the year, as more modules become available and network coverage increases. We may even see the first contracts for more than 1 million NB-IoT devices – this is certainly possible, given the interest from large gas and water utilities.

We expect to see heavy promotion of NB-IoT technology. Few outside of the telecoms sector are aware of NB-IoT technology and how it can be used, and even some within the sector remain unaware. We expect to see lots of activity from both vendors (such as Huawei) and operators (such as Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone) to raise awareness of the technology among a broader audience. Developer days, hackathons, competitions and other activities, such as the release of developer starter kits, will all be used to widen access to the technology

More unlicensed LPWA and LTE-M networks will coexist in 2017. No announcements have been made on NB-IoT in the USA. AT&T and Verizon have committed to nationwide LTE-M networks and a number of companies are building LPWA networks in unlicensed bands, most notably Comcast using LoRa. KPN in the Netherlands is also planning an LTE-M solution to complement its LoRa network. We may see this combination of unlicensed LPWA and LTE-M networks in more countries in 2017.

More fixed operators may build IoT networks. 3GPP technologies (such as NB-IoT and LTE-M) have high barriers to entry, which gives cellular operators an advantage. However, technologies in unlicensed spectrum (such as LoRa) have lower barriers to entry, which opens the market to new competition. Fixed operators in particular have brands, customer bases and other assets to leverage, which may encourage them to compete in this market. Predominately fixed operators Comcast (USA) and Dr. Peng (China) have both recently announced LoRa networks. Further announcements from fixed players may come in 2017.

4. Spectrum and IoT

Spectrum needs for IoT and Radio LANs (RLANs) will increase in prominence. Spectrum requirements will receive more attention, as the industry and regulators determine how to deliver ultra-reliable, ultra-low-latency RLAN and IoT applications. The spectrum required to support particular applications, will be an important issue, and any additional requirements for both dedicated spectrum (for intelligent transport, for example) and shared spectrum will be a key debate.

5. IoT Regulation

Regulators will consider increased oversight of IoT. Regulators will almost certainly take a greater interest in IoT, given its increasing importance and recent high profile DDoS attacks. However, the impact of any regulation is likely to be limited in the near term. New regulation will take time (perhaps years) to agree and implement and millions of potentially-vulnerable devices have already been deployed. Players in the IoT industry will strive to agree frameworks and self-regulate in 2017 to stem the need for imposed regulation.

6. Connected cars

We expect to hear much more about V2X and network connectivity for autonomous vehicles. Most autonomous vehicle announcements in 2016 (such as those from Google, Tesla, Uber and car manufacturers) have focused on the vehicle as an independent entity that is driven using a combination of on-board sensors and, in some cases, highly detailed maps. We expect to hear much more in 2017 about how the overall transport system can be improved by real-time information from vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) and other types of vehicle communication (V2X). Much of this remains uncertain – the benefits, business case, and technology are works in progress. However, we will see developments in 2017 as operators and network vendors attempt to answer these questions, as Vodafone (Note:1) and others have already begun doing.

7. Smart energy

More utilities will embrace ‘energy transition’ fundamentals and adopt new operational and service models, supported by new technology. Advances in technology have fundamentally changed the economics of providing energy and are disrupting the historical model for distribution through development of the distribution service operator or ‘on-demand utility’ model. We expect more utilities to embrace this new model in 2017.

8. Smart cities

There will be an increased focus on investment models to support the implementation of city-wide energy efficiency systems. Cities represent 78% of global energy demand at present, placing the smart-city concept at the heart of the climate change agenda. The UN projects that an investment of USD53 trillion in city infrastructure and operations (Note 2) is necessary by 2035 to achieve the COP 21 objective of holding global average temperature increases below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. New investment models will be critical in transitioning from trials to full-scale smart city operations and we expect this area to attract much attention in 2017.

The Manulife Asset Management(www.manulife.com) has released on December 15, the market outlook in 2017 as belows

Emerging markets in Asia are expected to continue to grow in 2017, offering opportunities for investors amid ongoing global political and market volatility.
Despite considerable political uncertainties in the near term in the US, the UK and Europe, as well as potential changes to US trade policy under the coming Trump administration, modest improvement in global economic momentum is expected to continue in the year ahead.

Strong fundamentals in Asia

The introduction of trade protectionism risks derailing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could in turn negatively impact global growth. Investors may also see a gradual rise in inflation, flatter yield curves and a higher federal funds rate in 2017. This may lead to a more cautious stance by the Asian central banks due to market volatility. Nevertheless, with long-term interest rates in advanced economies expected to remain low in the year ahead, growth and strong fundamentals in the Asian market will present opportunities to those investors willing to diversify across asset classes and geographies.

Against this global backdrop, opportunities can be identified in riskier, higher yielding asset classes, including Asian equities, which can offer better returns for investors seeking to manage market volatility.

Geoff Lewis, Senior Asia Strategist at Manulife Asset Management, said: "Despite the political uncertainty following Brexit and the US Presidential election, we're cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. US fixed investment is expected to pick up and global monetary policy is likely to remain accommodative which will alleviate pressures on the equity markets. There are significant opportunities in Asia for investors. The region hasn't been immune to the challenges facing the global market economy, but it's still, in our opinion, the highest quality emerging market in the world and likely to draw increased interest in 2017."

Asia (ex-Japan) is expected to outpace the US, Europe and other emerging markets such as Latin America, with 6% gross domestic product growth forecast for 2017[1]. The latest Manulife Investor Sentiment Index (MISI)* also reveals that Asian investor sentiment for investing in Emerging Asia has jumped from 19 in 2015 to 34 in 2016.

2017: A Turning Point for Asian Equities

2017 looks to be a turning point for Asian equities, which will generate opportunities for investors. While Asian stock earnings were soft in recent years, earnings are expected to be revised up in the coming year as a result of an improved economic environment as well as supportive fiscal and monetary policies.

More broadly, when compared to 2016, capital flows, exchange rates and bond spreads across most of the region are expected to continue to stabilise in 2017, creating a more positive macro environment for equities. Real interest rates in Asia, which constitute the improving inflation outlook, are increasingly more favourable, indicating a lower vulnerability for Asian stocks to future interest rate increases from the US Federal Reserve.

Among the Asian markets, opportunities should become available in Chinese equities, as evident by the improving private investment landscape and the first positive Producer Price Index (PPI) reading in 55 months[2]. North Asian markets, such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, are also expected to perform better in the early part of 2017 due to the perceived positive impact of fiscal stimuluses and increased economic activities in the US. The uncertainty over forthcoming elections in Europe may result in an increased volatility in global markets and Southeast Asia should therefore perform relatively better given that its economies are driven largely by domestic consumption and policies, as was observed in 2016.

The MISI survey revealed that 80% of investors indicate that the next six months will be a "neutral to good time" to invest in equities. The top three reasons cited by those investors that favour Asian stocks were signs that market conditions are improving (41.5%), a stable market place (38.5%), and low interest and lending rates that drive the asset class (35.8%).

Ronald Chan, Chief Investment Officer of Equities Asia (ex-Japan) at Manulife Asset Management, commented: "We believe 2017 could prove a turning point for Asian equities, particularly if China's gradual economic rebound presents positive knock-on effects for other regional economies. As the economic outlook brightens, valuations are also expected to improve, which could offer meaningful gains for opportunistic investors. At Manulife, we see constructive opportunities in Indonesia, China and India equities."

Capturing Asia Fixed Income Opportunities amid Downside Risks

Volatility in rate, credit and currency markets should remain in 2017. The outlook for Asian fixed income will also depend on the new Trump administration's trade and fiscal policies, as well as their impact on US and global growth, rates and monetary policies. The pace and magnitude of the Federal Reserve's rate hike will also impact on Asian fixed income.

Asian economic fundamentals are expected to remain stronger than other emerging markets in the year ahead. Over the past ten years, a rating upgrade trend was seen for most Asian countries, enabling them to achieve investment grade status. Countries in the region also enjoy stable economic growth, stronger balance sheets, and a better macroeconomic position than in previous years. In 2016, credit spreads remained tight and certain local currency markets saw some dramatic sell-offs. Opportunities may arise in local markets if and when stability in global rates and currency markets is seen, and when corporate bond spreads widen. The MISI also showed that 84% of investors see the next six months as "a neutral to good time" to invest in the fixed income asset class.

Endre Pedersen, Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income Asia (ex-Japan) at Manulife Asset Management, said: "Against a backdrop of ongoing market volatility, there is still a role for fixed income investment as part of a diversified portfolio. The fundamentals for Asian fixed income are still there and supportive. Looking ahead in 2017, if the credit spreads widen and stability of rates and currencies kick in, there will be potential to generate positive returns in some local markets."

It was morning assembly at a middle school.
The principal stepped up to the podium to introduce a new teacher.
The students weren’t interested in listening to the principal; the din of the students began.

The principal watched the scene, and seeming to think for a moment, opened his mouth.
"Our new teacher here has only one left arm."
At that moment, in surprise, the students suddenly quieted.
The eyes and ears of the students were directed at the podium.

Then, the principal smiled broadly,
And after a deep breath, he started to speak again.
"Ah, of course he has only one right arm, as well.”

따뜻한 유머

어느 중학교의 조회 시간이었다.
교장 선생님이 새로 부임하는 선생님을 소개하기 위해 단상에 올라섰다.
학생들은 도통 들으려 하지 않았고, 떠들어대기 시작했다.

이 광경을 본 교장 선생님은 잠시 생각하는 듯하더니, 이내 입을 열었다.
"여기 새로 오신 선생님은 왼쪽 팔이 하나밖에 없습니다."
순간 학생들은 놀란 듯 갑자기 조용해졌다.
학생들의 눈과 귀가 모두 단상으로 모아졌다.

그러자 교장 선생님은 흡족한 미소를 띄우며,
호흡을 가다듬은 후 다시 말을 이었다.
"아, 선생님은 물론 오른팔도 하나밖에 없습니다."

지난달 9일 오후, 정부는 긴박하게 움직였다. 정부뿐만 아니라 시장조차도 예상치 못했던 도널드 트럼프가 미국 대선에서 당선 가능성이 높아지자 정부는거시경제금융회의, 대외경제장관회의, 금융시장상황점검회의 등을 열고 ‘트럼프 쇼크’가 한국경제에 미칠 영향을 논의했다.

유일호 경제부총리는 “트럼프의 당선은 금융시장은 물론 경제전반에 부정적인 효과로 이어질 수 있다”고 우려했다. CNN 등 미국 유력매체들이 클린턴의 당선을 ‘확실시’한 만큼 정부의 충격은 컸다.

국민들도 혼란스럽기는 마찬가지. 우리국민들은 미 대선 후보중 누구를 지지했을까. ‘갤럽 인터내셔널’이 실시한 여론조사에 따르면, 트럼프를 지지하는 한국인은 3%에 불과했다.

지난 8월 16~18일 전국 성인 1,007명을 대상으로, 미국 대통령 선거에 투표한다고 가정할 때 누구를 지지할 것이냐는 질문에 한국인의 82%가 힐러리 클린턴을 지지했다.

다른 나라 사정은 어땠을까. 전세계 45개국을 대상으로 실시한 설문에서 러시아인들이 유일하게 트럼프(33%)를 클린턴(10%)보다 지지했다. 중국인들의 44%가 트럼프를 지지했는데, 53%를 기록한 힐러리에는 뒤졌다.

“민주주의에 대한 인식이 낮을수록, 시장경제보다 계획경제를 구사하는 국가일수록 트럼프 지지율이 높다”는 분석이 나왔다.

재계는 초비상이 걸쳤다. 트럼프가 ‘보호무역주의로의 회귀’를 선언하자 수출기업들이 발을 굴러야 했다. 때아닌 트럼프 인맥 찾기를 통해 미국의 새 정부에 줄을 대기 위해 분주히 움직였다. 코트라(KOTRA)는 한국의 주력업종인 IT 자동차 석유화학 항공해운 철강산업에 먹구름이 낄 것이라고 예상했다.

코트라는 그러나 방위산업은 ‘맑음’으로 전망했는데, 트럼프 당선으로 각국의 방위비가 증대될 것이라는 이유를 들었다. 트럼프 당선으로 국제 정세가 불안해져 '세계의 화약고'로 불리는 중동을 비롯해 미국의 라이벌인 G2 중국과 전통의 라이벌, 러시아가 군비확충에 나설 것이라는 전망이다.      

그렇다면 국내 수혜기업은 어디일까. 일반인들에게는 “풍산~ 동파이프~”라는 CM송으로 익숙한 풍산그룹은 국내 최초, 대표적인 방위산업체다. 파이프를 만드는 회사 같지만, 동전과 탄약제조가 주력인데, 신용카드와 전자화폐 등의 확대로 동전 수요가 급감함에 따라 탄약 등 무기제조 분야에서 돌파구를 모색중이다.

<>탄약, 안 만드는 것 빼고 다 만든다

풍산은 대공포탄, 박격포탄, 곡사포탄, 전차포탄, 무반동총탄, 함포탄, 항공탄 등 다양한 종류와 구경의 탄약을 생산하고 있다. 탄약 종류로는 못 만드는 것 빼고 전부 만든다. 나아가 이중목적탄약 등 신형탄약의 개발과 재래식 탄약의 성능개량에서도 큰 성과를 거두고 있다고 회사 홈페이지에 올려놓았다.

이런 까닭에 미국 대선으로 풍산그룹은 지옥과 천당을 오가야 했다. 힐러리는 ‘총기 규제’를 대선공약으로 내세운 반면, 트럼프는 수정헌법상의 권리라며 민간인의 무기소지를 지지했다. 대선 직전까지만 해도 힐러리의 당선 가능성이 점쳐지자 미국 내 총기 판매량이 급증했다. 힐러리가 대통령이 되기전에 총기를 마련해야 한다는 구매심리가 작동한 것이다.

그런데 결과는... 누구도 예측하지 못했던 트럼프 당선으로 풍산의 방위산업에 청신호가 켜진 것.

<>수입된 탄약, 軍 아닌 민수용 '불편한 진실'

총기뿐만 아니라 미국의 탄약 수입량도 최고치를 경신했다. 최근 국제무역정보업체 판지바(Panjiva)의 발표에 따르면 지난 11월 미국의 탄약 수입량은 전년대비 200% 증가했다.

판지바는 2,865톤의 실탄이 지난달에 수입돼 지난 12개월 동안 총 1만7,850 톤의 수입량을 기록했다고 밝혔다. 주목할 점은 이 같은 수입량 증가는 군(軍)이 아닌 전량 민간 바이어들에 기인한 것이다.

미국의 탄약 수입량은 증가 추세인 총기 판매량과 맞물려 증가세를 유지해 왔다. 이번 통계는 탄약 수입량 증가세가 가파르게 상승했음을 보여준다.

판지바 관계자는 CNN과의 인터뷰에서 “미국 수입산업에서 이 같은 급증세를 보는 것은 흔한 일이 아니”라며 “이는 미국내 탄약 제조업체 공급량만으로는 구매자 수요를 따라가지 못하고 있다는 것을 의미한다”고 밝혔다.

그렇다면 미국은 탄약을 어디에서 가장 많이 수입할까. 바로 한국이다. 판지바에 따르면 미국으로 수입되는 탄약은 풍산그룹이 제조한 것이 가장 많았다. 풍산이 생산한 각종 탄약들이 민간이 총기 소지자들에게 판매되고 있는 것이다.

그 뒤를 이탈리아의 피오치 뮤니지오니(Fiocchi Munizioni), 세르비아의 프르비 파르티잔(Prvi Partizan)이 잇고 있다. 풍산그룹의 탄약은 캘리포니아에 위치한 탑쓰(Topth)가 수입, 미국 내에 유통중이다.

스미스 & 웨슨(Smith & Wesson)이나 스텀 루거(Sturm Ruger) 등 미국 총기 제조업체들은 증가하는 수요를 맞추기 위해 공격적으로 생산량을 늘려 두 자리 수의 판매 증가세를 기록하고 있다.

<>총기 사고로 아동, 이틀 걸러 1명 사망... 군사정권와 끈끈한 인연

풍산그룹은 그러나 이같은 미국 내 총기 판매량 급증 현상을 마냥 즐길 수만은 없는 처지다. 다름아닌 급증하는 총기 사고 때문.

“美학교 총기사고 '1년 1건'→'1주일 1건'이상으로 급증”, “美헤로인으로 숨진 사람, 총기사고 사망자 앞질러”, “상반기 미국서 총기 사고로 사망한 아동 ‘이틀 걸러 1명’” 등의 기사는 풍산에게 불편하기 짝이 없다. '전쟁 나야 흥하는 기업'이라는 오명도 불사해야 할 지경이다.

풍산그룹은 군사정권과 인연이 남다르다. 창업자인 고 류찬우 회장의 첫째 아들, 그러니까 류진 풍산그룹 회장의 형은 1982년 박근혜 대통령의 동생 박근령 씨와 결혼했다가 6개월만에 이혼했다. 이혼 사유는 알려진 바가 없다. 첫째 아들은 근령 씨와의 이혼으로 창업자의 눈밖에 났고, 둘째 아들이자 막내인 류진 회장이 가업을 승계했다는 게 재계의 분석이다.

풍산그룹은, 역시 쿠데타로 집권한 전두환 정권에도 공을 들였다. 노무현 전 대통령은 지난 1988년 5공 청문회에서 류찬우 회장에게 “군부에는 5년간 34억500만원을 갖다 주면서 풍산에서 일하다 죽은 노동자에게는 4000 주느냐, 8000 주느냐 그런걸로 싸워야 겠냐”고 질타하기도 했다.

풍산은 또 전두환 전 대통령의 차남 전재용 씨가 결혼할 때 대통령의 ‘축의금 사절’ 지시를 어기고 재용 씨의 외할아버지에게 1억원을 전달했다. 1987년, 지금으로부터 30년전 일이다. 풍산그룹이 기업 가운데 가장 많이 냈다. 

NIST, U.S. Department of Commerce, December 15, 2016/ Korea IT Times--According to NIST’s National Software Reference Library, an essential tool for digital forensic investigators, is about to become a lot more powerful.

A group of computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working for more than 15 years on an impossible task: to maintain an up-to-date archive of the world’s software. Because the amount of software in circulation keeps growing, they will never enjoy the satisfaction of completing their assignment. But they have succeeded in creating the largest publicly known collection of its kind in the world.

Called the National Software Reference Library (NSRL), the collection is about to get a whole lot larger. On December 15, 2016, the NSRL will expand to include its first batch of 23,000 mobile apps for Android and iOS. Another 200,000 are expected to be added during the coming year.

The NSRL is a critical tool used in law enforcement and national security investigations. Every file in the NSRL is run through a computational procedure that generates a unique digital fingerprint for that file, expressed as a string of 40 letters and numbers. NIST publishes those fingerprints in a Reference Data Set (RDS) that is updated quarterly and freely available to the public.
Software applications often include hundreds or even thousands of files—think of all the graphics files and templates that are placed on your computer when you install a word processing application. The RDS contains fingerprints for all the files in the NSRL, more than 50 million so far.

The NSRL is jointly funded by NIST and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s Cyber Forensics Project (link is external), and the addition of mobile apps was done in collaboration with their Mobile App Security R&D project (link is external).

An Essential Tool for Forensic Investigators
“When we seize a computer or hard drive as part of an investigation, we need to eliminate files that are irrelevant to our investigation and focus on those that might contain evidence,” said Sam Brothers, a digital protection specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In homeland security investigations, time is of the essence, so Brothers and his colleagues use the RDS to filter out known files. “It allows us to separate the wheat from the chaff very quickly.”

Occasionally, investigators use the RDS not to exclude known files, but to find them, even if the filenames have been altered. For example, after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in March 2014, the FBI called NIST. “They wanted every hash of every file associated with every flight simulator we had,” recounted Doug White, the NIST computer scientist who runs the NSRL. “All the maps. All the routes. They wanted every flight path the pilot might have practiced on, so they could figure out where he might have gone.”

To assist the FBI in their investigation, White and his colleagues updated the NSRL with more than 120,000 flight map-related files.
Much of the software in the NSRL is donated by the companies that publish it. Another segment of the collection is composed of free software. After that, White decides which titles to purchase with limited funds.
“Our goal is to help investigators, so we prioritize the software they are most likely to encounter in the field,” White said. “We also focus on what we consider dual-use software—things that can be used for good or bad,” including keystroke loggers and network monitoring tools.

A Unique National Resource
The NSRL is unique not only because of its size, but also because the original files are kept under evidence-locker conditions. For software that was distributed physically, the original discs are kept under lock and key. For software that is distributed electronically, the original distribution files are archived on secure servers. That means that the original software can be retrieved, if necessary, as evidence in court or to verify the provenance of a title.

Although NIST generally does not distribute the software in the NSRL—only the software fingerprints—researchers can come to NIST and use the NSRL to develop and test forensic and security tools. Researchers also use the NSRL to study how software evolves over time and to trace newly discovered security vulnerabilities back to their first appearance.

Beyond the world of law enforcement and national security, the NSRL also functions as a cultural repository that is used by historians and other scholars.

How large the NSRL will ultimately grow is anyone’s guess. Perhaps centuries from now, NIST scientists will still be feeding it software. On the other hand, archaeologists might dig up its discs and set them spinning to unlock a record of an earlier civilization. But for now, the NSRL is a potent tool for forensic investigators, and with the addition of mobile apps, it just got a whole lot more powerful.

USA, NIST had an interview with a Baldrige examiner, Chris Mitchell from Georgia.
A quality advisor within the Georgia Department of Human Services, Chris has served on the Board of Examiners with competitively selected, these volunteers hail from many states, sectors, and professions for the past two years.
Korea IT Times release the original interview article of Chris Mitchell by Christine Schaefer as follows--Ed.

1. Would you please share how you first became interested in becoming a Baldrige examiner?

In 2012, I accepted a new position as the quality advisor for the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Aging Services. In this role, I’ve served as the organization’s Baldrige champion.

While researching resources for assessing an organization’s performance, I discovered many great tools that helped familiarize me with the Baldrige process; those tools of course included the Baldrige Criteria [part of the Baldrige Excellence Framework]. The more I learned, the more I understood the importance and value of the Baldrige framework to an organization and how using the Criteria can empower organizations to reach performance excellence.

2. What were your impressions and highlights of your first training [the Examiner Preparation Course]? What have been highlights for you of annual examiner training in subsequent years?

In the beginning, I soaked up all things Baldrige through reading (and occasionally watching a YouTube video). After gaining a strong foundation, I began surrounding myself with individuals with knowledge of the Criteria.

Soon thereafter, I applied for my statewide program [the Georgia Oglethorpe Award Process, Inc., a member of the nonprofit Alliance for Performance Excellence, a national network of state-level and regional Baldrige-based programs] and was given the opportunity to serve as an examiner. That process was very rewarding.

Afterward, I was given the privilege to serve as an examiner at the national level. My first training on the national level was intense; however, it was extremely rewarding. I was most impressed by the talent level of all of the selected examiners at the training. This was especially true for the senior and alumni examiners. It is not often that experienced individuals get to train alongside those with little to no experience. For me, the opportunities to network and learn from seasoned professionals was extremely valuable.

It has been a pleasure to serve as a national Baldrige examiner. For me, a major highlight of this experience is the opportunity to build relationships with other examiners. All the examiners I have met have been willing to share their knowledge and help out in any way possible. On numerous occasions, I have contacted senior examiners via email and telephone to ask Criteria-related questions. I’m always pleased with their receptiveness and willingness to help.

3. Without naming applicants, of course, would you please share some memorable learning experiences you’ve had as an examiner on Consensus Review teams?

Consensus Review (CR) may be my favorite stage of the application review process. During CR, examiners have the opportunity to truly learn the applicant at a pace they can control. It is also a great time for new examiners to bounce ideas off more seasoned examiners and ask questions.

The CR process is a truly integrated learning process. Many examiners even contact each other via telephone outside of scheduled CR calls to make sure they understand how a particular process within an organization works or how processes within the organization align with each other.

A memorable learning experience for me during CR is seeing firsthand the benefits of a well-organized CR call, which included structured meeting roles. For example, a recent team I served on had an excellent “Criteria cop.” This person ensured that all discussions and comments were limited to what was specified in the Criteria.

4. Similarly, would you please share some memorable learning experiences you’ve had as an examiner on a site visit?

The site visit (SV) is very enjoyable for an examiner when he or she has a good understanding of the Criteria and the applicant. SV is very fast paced, with little time for learning on the fly. However, each team will have senior members that are always willing to help.

A very memorable experience for me was being able to serve on a team that was tasked with reviewing an organization that conducted business over a large geographical area. Each team member went above and beyond to learn the complexities of the organization and supplied maximum effort to speak to a large number of the organization’s employees from many of its locations. It was truly a team effort. We were challenged with learning the complexities of the organization, speaking with a large number of the employees, and producing an excellent report for the applicant. The work resulted in a well-written report that added value for the organization.

5. How have you applied learning from your service as a Baldrige examiner to your work in a public-sector organization?

Overall, understanding the Baldrige Criteria through my experience as a Baldrige examiner has been invaluable. It has changed the way I think about continuous quality improvement and performance excellence.

It starts with Baldrige’s Core Values and Concepts. These concepts can be modeled by any organization. In fact, my organization’s values were developed and have been reviewed and revised with Baldrige’s Core Values and Concepts in mind.

Additionally, the Criteria have given me a greater appreciation for data and results. Many organizations (like mine) have what are perceived to be excellent programs and processes. Being an examiner has taught me that in order for the programs and processes to truly be excellent, they must have results to support the claim.

Baldrige has also taught me that an organization’s pursuit of excellence doesn’t stop with having data—having comparative data that are segmented to display strengths and opportunities for improvement in specific areas is also important.

6. How do your colleagues/family/friends view your service as a Baldrige examiner?

It is very important for Baldrige examiners to protect the privacy of the program’s applicants. Because of this, we can’t share applicant information--not even with close family or friends. Since I am unable to share much Baldrige info. (while serving on an evaluation team) with my family, the running joke at my house is that I’m moonlighting for the FBI. While it has been a privilege and honor to serve the good citizens of America domestically, in future years as a Baldrige examiner I may request to analyze information on an international level.

태광그룹이 금융계열사인 흥국생명과 흥국화재의 대표를 교체한다. 흥국생명은 조병익 전 삼성생명 법인영업본부장을, 흥국화재는 권중원 전 LIG손해보험 업무총괄 전무를 각각 신임 대표이사로 내정했다고 16일 밝혔다.

조 내정자는 지난 1985년 삼성생명에 입사해 30년 간 재무·기획·영업 분야를 거쳤다. 권 내정자는 LG화재에 입사해 26년간 재무·기획업무를 다뤘다. 두 사람은 내년 3월 주주총회를 거쳐 대표이사에 취임할 예정이다.

The Korea IT Times(www.koreaittimes.com) is a bilingual publication (Korea and English) with an eye on Industry & Technology, including the ICT field. We provide daily online news and a monthly printed magazine with a comprehensive forward thinking guide to global economic leaders and business people.

Each issue covers industry analyses, technology reviews, company spotlights, interviews, Reporter's notes, feature stories, events coverage, and up-to-date information on the latest global happenings.

Korea IT Times is in the business of real-time information delivery. It is a leading provider of content analytics, content syndication services, content management technologies and press release distribution.We are leaders in highly targeted, custom news and articles packages that deliver content relevant information to the industries.

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The specialized reporters at Korea IT Times aim to produce engaging content with their in-depth analyses of industry and technology news and to maintain high standards by avoiding the tabloid material that has permeated other publications. We are constantly striving to improve the storytelling techniques in our articles to stimulate analytical thinking for our readers around the globe.

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Korea IT Times has been focused on three important areas:
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Industry leaders and hundreds of other global companies, organizations, and institutes turn to KITT's customized news and business intelligence services. We provide our contents to tens of millions of business customers related to large enterprises and small businesses including government policies in Korea and worldwide

PR Global Division

Korea IT Times’s “PR Global Division” disseminates content through twenty of the top world portal news sites, including Google, Naver, Yandex.ru, Yahoo, Bing, Baidu, Ask, Excite, GoTo, HOTBOT, Looksmart, Lycos, and Netscape, making it one of the most effective ways for clients to quickly reach their target audiences across the world. PR Global Division's distribution service is also available for clients who need referrals for PR services around the world, or for clients who need to create global promotion materials.

Korea IT Times has been focused on three important areas:
1. Highly targeted, customized services that create added value
2. Original articles by specialized reporters
3. Global news release and advertorial promotion: accurate, fast, and in-depth

Our Influence
Industry leaders and hundreds of other global companies, organizations, and institutes turn to KITT's customized news and business intelligence services. We provide our contents to tens of millions of business customers related to large enterprises and small businesses including government policies in Korea and worldwide

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