Maroc - THECEKODOK.COM - A La Une - 17/Dec 22:03

10 Weirdest Technology News of 2024

It's time for a list of the weirdest news stories of 2024. This is because free technology is being used for various other uses that seem appropriate. We've seen new technology used to kill prisoners in the last room, drones used by criminals and corruption causing smartphones to be banned from use by customs staff at KLIA. Here's a list of the 10 weirdest technology news stories of the year.1. Drones Used to Smuggle Drugs Into Tapah PrisonDrones have been used to smuggle drugs into Tapah Prison, Perak. According to a Bernama report, a police officer found a drone on the roof of the prison yesterday. Also found were plastic bags containing drugs believed to be heroin weighing 122 grams and amphetamine weighing 12.9 grams.In the photo shared by the PDRM, a quad-propeller drone was used to carry drug cargo into the prison. The Police believe this is the first incident of drones being used to smuggle drugs into a prison in Malaysia.Since 2020, there have been reports of drones being used to smuggle drugs across national borders. Meanwhile, in Mexico, drones are often used by cartels to smuggle drugs into the country's prisons. In all cases, commercial drones that were supposed to be used for recreation were modified for criminal activities.2. KLIA Immigration Officers Banned from Using Cell Phones to Prevent Foreign SmugglingLast September, a syndicate involving immigration officers at KLIA was uncovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Two low-ranking immigration staff were caught with nearly RM800,000 in cash at their homes, believed to be bribes received from a syndicate that smuggled foreign workers.The "Setting the Counter" syndicate ordered foreign workers to use special lane counters at KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2 to smooth the smuggling process even though they did not meet the criteria set by immigration. Therefore, immigration officers at both KLIA terminals are now banned from using cell phones while on duty.Immigration officers who have accepted bribes will send messages to the smugglers' bosses to direct foreign workers who want to be smuggled to use the counter where they are working. This is part of the changes that the Malaysian Immigration Department has made to prevent this smuggling tactic from continuing3. Six Malaysian Companies Impose US Sanctions for Dealing with RussiaSeven Malaysian companies have been placed on the sanctions list by the US State Department for dealing with Russian manufacturing operations. Since the technology sanctions were imposed on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict, Russia has been using third parties to meet its domestic technology needs, especially in the military sector.The companies are Jatronics Sdn Bhd, Zeolite Mansford Sdn Bhd (Zeolite), Centrina United Sdn Bhd (Centrina), Gyntec Carbon Sdn Bhd (Gyntec), Moralability Industry Sdn Bhd (Moralability) and Melix Global Sdn Bhd (Melix Global).Russia is believed to be using companies from Malaysia, China, India, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to circumvent the sanctions imposed by the United States. This is why, despite sanctions being in place for more than two years, components such as Western-made processor chips are still found in Russian missiles.4. Japan Finally Ends Use of Floppy Disks for Government BusinessJapan has finally managed to end the use of floppy disks for conducting business with government agencies. Japan's Digital Minister Taro Kono said the use of floppy disks will officially be discontinued on June 29. More than 1,000 regulations governing the use of floppy disks in government business have finally been amended.The move to digitize Japanese government business was initiated by Taro Kono in 2022. Tokyo became the first city in Japan to stop requiring physical storage for business in 2021. Surprisingly, the need to deal with government departments using fax machines was also only ended in 2021 but received objections from various agencies. For example, the older generation is not ready to make changes in the workplace and learning new technology requires time to train staff.5. Japan Wants to Replace Truck Drivers with a 500-KM Conveyor Belt SystemJapan has the problem of an increasing elderly population and a decreasing birth rate at the same time. Therefore, they are also facing a labor shortage. Among those affected is the logistics industry due to the lack of truck drivers. The solution to this issue is to build the Autoflow-Road which is a 500-km conveyor belt network connecting Tokyo and Osaka.Autoflow-Road can carry cargo weighing up to 1 ton to replace lorries. It will operate 24 hours a day and can replace the work of more than 25,000 human lorry drivers. Existing roads, tunnels and medians will be used to build Autoflow-Road. Large cargo will be transported using an underground tunnel system before a small above-ground conveyor system is used to deliver smaller packages to recipients.Japan has around 660,000 delivery drivers in 2020 but this will decrease to 480,000 by 2030. Unlike other countries, Japan does not use foreign workers to meet the labor needs of local industries.6. ATMs in Japan Play Special Videos If They Detect Users Who May Be Scam VictimsHundreds of millions of ringgit have been lost due to various online fraud schemes in Malaysia. In Japan, they are also facing the same problem but among the elderly. Therefore, the Japanese police with the help of Japan Post Bank have started an initiative to combat fraud with a video campaign.Using artificial intelligence and cameras, Japan Post Bank ATMs will play a video warning users that they may be scammed, complete with a loud police siren. In Japan, one of the techniques used is to call the elderly that a family member is in danger and needs money urgently. Once at the ATM, the scammer will give instructions to transfer money.AI on ATMs will play a warning video if it detects a customer using a phone while it is in use. This short video features celebrity Keita Tachibana telling customers to hang up the phone immediately to avoid being scammed.7. USB Drives Containing KPOP Sent to North Korea Using Balloons as Psychological WarfareThe Korean War that broke out in 1950 never actually ended. South and North Korea only agreed to a ceasefire in 1953 until now. Fighting on the battlefield may have stopped for 71 years, but the psychological warfare between Seoul and Pyongyang is now continuing using balloons.In June, the Fighters for North Korean Independence (FFNK) sent 10 balloons to North Korea containing 200,000 leaflets criticizing Kim Jong Un, US dollars and 5000 USB drives containing K-pop music and K-drama videos. This was in retaliation for North Korea sending 3500 balloons containing garbage and excrement to South Korea.This balloon war was started by FFNK on May 10 when they sent 2000 USB drives containing K-pop music videos using balloons. The use of balloons to send propaganda content has been done since the 1950s before being stopped by the South Korean government to maintain good relations.It was later continued by NGOs who sent books, videos and later DVDs containing K-pop and K-drama content. The use of USB drives is in line with the times where it is easier to send propaganda in digital form.8. Dadi Cinemas Will Open the First Cinema with Steamboat in MalaysiaPhoto – Dadi CinemasIn Malaysia, popcorn and chicken nuggets are common food in cinemas. Before that, fresh vegetables, pickles, corn and fruits were offered but are now becoming extinct in major cities. For those looking for something different and a new experience, Dadi Cinemas has opened the first cinema in Malaysia that offers a steamboat cooking station at every audience seat.Based on social media sharing, this first cinema is located at Dadi Cinemas Pavillion KL and it offers a menu offered by Shu Daxia Hot Pot, a chain of Chinese steamboat food shops. Each audience seat will have a steamboat stove with various foods that can be boiled provided in box-shaped containers.9. America First Country to Execute a Prisoner Using Nitrogen GasThe United States became the first country to execute a prisoner using nitrogen gas last January. Kenneth Eugene Smith (58) was sentenced to death in Alabama for murder in 1988. Nitrogen gas was used to produce a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) which caused Smith to slowly die.In 2022, he underwent a lethal injection but difficulty finding a blood vessel caused it to be stopped. Smith opposed the use of nitrogen gas on him, claiming it had not been proven to be humane. His appeal was rejected and the sentence continuedAccording to witnesses, Smith struggled for several minutes after nitrogen gas was pumped into a mask attached to his head. After a few minutes, his breathing slowed and he was finally pronounced dead by doctors.10. Japanese Senior Citizens Encouraged to Participate in E-Sports to Prevent SenilityOn social media we often see opinions that say when you grow up you should stop enjoying video games. These people believe that video games are only suitable for children because they waste time. But in Japan, there is a different opinion with seniors being encouraged to participate in e-sports events.Seniors living in Kumamoto Prefecture are encouraged to participate in sports events to prevent senility according to an NHK report. The game Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master was chosen by organizers who wanted to find the best players who would represent their region at the national level.Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master was chosen because it requires players to remember the drum beat pattern and at the same time move the player's body. With this, the mind and body will always be active even in old age. Japan has more than 30 million residents aged 65 and above. A worrying statistic because it is almost the same as the population of Malaysia which currently reaches 33 million.