A humanoid Robot called Kaspar has been designed to engage specifically with children with autism, helping them to interact and communicate with adults and other children. Matthew Stock reports.
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has invited the United States to invest in projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to achieve its regional peace objectives and ensure a prosperous and peaceful south Asia.
“A number of western countries have shown their interest in projects under CPEC and we want the United States to also make investment in the development schemes,” Pakistan’s Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said.
In his first public appearance at a US think tank, Aizaz Chaudhry displayed his strong diplomatic skills and expertly answered some extremely provocative questions from the Afghan participants at an event at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
He said Pakistan wanted to work with the United States, China and Afghan government to bring lasting peace in the war-torn country as an unstable Afghanistan was creating immense problems for Pakistan.
Chaudry said Islamabad attached extreme importance to its ties with Washington and hoped that relations would improve under the current administration. He said that perception about Pakistan in Washington needed to change in accordance with the ground realities as the country had made a lot of progress on economic and security fronts.
When an Afghan student asked him why Osama Bin Laden and Mulla Omar were killed in Pakistan and why Pakistan was sending militants who were killing Afghan nationals, he said, “We know that you have been fed this which is unfortunate and that is precisely the point I was making that the systematic nurturing of hatred in people of Afghanistan was not a wise investment. It’s not us denying you need to come out of this. Who was Osama Bin Laden? How was he made? What was he doing in Afghanistan and after Tora Bora bombing why did he come to Pakistan, we don’t need him. We wanted him dead yesterday and we are happy that he got killed but we are unhappy the way he got killed. Pakistan should have been taken into confidence so there are perspective you see the glass from this side we see from other side. As far as Mulla Omar is concerned, his son and his brother went to Zabul and exhumed the grave to make sure he never left Afghanistan and presidential palace fed BBC a wrong news that he died in a Karachi hospital,” said the ambassador.
He said this kind of propaganda was spreading hatred and was not a wise investment as the reality on the ground was totally different. The ambassador said Pakistan’s current leadership had made a commitment with the nation that no terrorist would be allowed to operate in Pakistan and the country’s soil would never be allowed to be used for planning militant activities in any other country.
Another Afghan student said she had been an Afghan refugee in Pakistan and she was thankful to the US and United Nations for hosting her to which the ambassador reminded her that she lived on Pakistani soil along with three million other Afghan refugees who were hosted by the country for 37 years.
“No other country in the world has hosted three million refugees for that long time,” he said adding that Afghan government should now create an environment conducive for the return of refugees, especially when it had received billions of dollars in aid from the United States for the purpose.
The ambassador called for a dialogue between various Afghan factions to resolve the conflict. “We are waiting for the new US administration to announce outcome of its review of Afghan policy and based on that we will engage with US.”
The ambassador said US was the main player in Afghanistan with huge investment in peace efforts in the country. He said the idea that Pakistan was responsible for all Afghan problems was an over simplification of the issue and there was a need for the two countries to engage more on all levels. He assured that Pakistan remained committed to any Afghan-owned and Afghan-led reconciliation process to achieve lasting peace in the country.
The ambassador also informed the audience about the most positive developments inside Pakistan, including the ongoing successful security operations against the terrorist remnants and the great economic opportunities borne out of robust economic reforms.
1. Google Glass
Augmented Reality has already gotten into our life in the forms of simulated experiment and education app, but Google is taking it several steps higher with Google Glass. Theoretically, with Google Glass, you are able to view social media feeds, text, Google Maps, as well as navigate with GPS and take photos. You will also get the latest updates while you are on the ground.
It’s truly what we called vision, and it’s absolutely possible given the fact that the Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin has demo’ed the glass with skydivers and creatives. Currently the device is only available to some developers with the price tag of $1500, but expect other tech companies trying it out and building an affordable consumer version.
2. Form 1
Just as the term suggests, 3D printing is the technology that could forge your digital design into a solid real-life product. It’s nothing new for the advanced mechanical industry, but a personal 3D printer is definitely a revolutionary idea.
Everybody can create their own physical product based on their custom design, and no approval needed from any giant manufacturer! Even the James Bond’s Aston Martin which was crashed in the movie was a 3D printed product!
Form 1 is one such personal 3D printer which can be yours at just $2799. It may sound like a high price but to have the luxury of getting producing your own prototypes, that’s a reaonable price.
Imagine a future where every individual professional has the capability to mass produce their own creative physical products without limitation. This is the future where personal productivity and creativity are maximized.
3. Oculus Rift
Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift. This history-defining 3D headset lets you mentally feel that you are actually inside a video game. In the Rift’s virtual world, you could turn your head around with ultra-low latency to view the world in high resolution display.
There are premium products in the market that can do the same, but Rift wants you to enjoy the experience at only $300, and the package even comes as a development kit. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.
The timing is perfect as the world is currently bombarded with the virtual reality topic that could also be attributed to Sword Art Online, the anime series featuring the characters playing games in an entirely virtual world. While we’re getting there, it could take a few more years to reach that level of realism. Oculus Rift is our first step.
"THE PAKISTANI FILM INDUSTRY IS ON A REVIVAL COURSE. THERE IS SOME QUALITY WORK HAPPENING AND I AM GLAD TO BE PART OF IT," HE SAYS.
By Unknown - 04:54
"THE PAKISTANI FILM INDUSTRY IS ON A REVIVAL COURSE. THERE IS SOME QUALITY WORK HAPPENING AND I AM GLAD TO BE PART OF IT," HE SAYS.
Fawad Khan, one of the most popular actors in Pakistan, says the film industry in his homeland has evolved since the release of his debut film Khuda Kay Liye in 2007. Things are looking up now.
The actor forayed into movies at a time when Pakistan's film industry was in the doldrums.
"When I did Khuda Kay Liye, it was one of the few films being made in the country. The fact that it went on to earn so much recognition across the world was totally unforeseen," said the actor.
"It is only now that the Pakistani film industry is on a revival course. There is some quality work happening and I am glad to be part of it," he added.
It was the very evolved television industry in Pakistan, which helped him make up his mind about a career in acting.
"I got some wonderful opportunities on television and they helped me discover the actor within me. It was because I did television that I knew I wanted to be an actor.
"Even Shoaib Mansoor with whom I made my movie debut in Khuda Kay Liye has his roots in television. And it shows in his writing," said Fawad.
The star of hit TV shows like Zindagi Gulzar Hai makes his Bollywood debut alongside the very spirited Sonam Kapoor in Khoobsurat, releasing on Friday.
And he looks forward to a career in Bollywood, but admits he is new to the entire concept of promoting a film.
"In Pakistan, promoting films is yet to become a trend. I would shoot a film and be done with it. It's only now after doing Khoobsurat in India that I realise how important the promotion of a film is. And I'm trying to get a grip on the whole process. Film promotion is an entirely new science for me," he said.
So is he planning to balance out a career in Pakistan and India?
"I was never much of a planner. So, I really can't say what the future holds for me. Yes, I do hope to do other Bollywood films after Khoobsurat," said Fawad who has been a singer and actor for about 14 years.
"Yes! It has been that long. I was just a youngster in college trying to escape the drudgery of studies when I drifted into music and acting. At that time I wasn't sure I was interested in acting. I was only sure that I was disinterested in studies," he said.
Karachi: Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff is so keen to work in the Pakistani cinema that he has even made up his mind to charge less for those films.
