Japanese Companies Planning To Develop A Data Centre In Space

Data centres such as those owned by Google and Microsoft are known to use a tremendous amount of energy for processing information. This in turn usually leads to a high number of carbon emissions which increases the risk of climate change, especially with so many of these facilities available around the world.

Realising this, Japanese telecommunications company NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) is partnering with local broadcasting firm SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings to develop a solution that will hopefully eliminate the issue from the face of the Earth, literally too. Both companies aim to launch a satellite system that can process and store data in space by 2025, with hopes for it to be fully operational in 2026.

According to a report by Nikkei, each satellite will be equipped with computing functions and connected by NTT-developed IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) communication technology to act as a pseudo data center. The system will gather a wide range of data from Earth, process and analyse them, and then send back only relevant information.

NTT says that the satellite network, combined with its IOWN tech, enables for reduced exchange of massive data between space and earth, therefore speeding up its transfer process. It is also claimed to reduce power consumption to one-hundredth of what it is now, and will also contribute to decarbonisation efforts as the electricity used for data processing originates from solar energy. Both NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT are hoping to operate hundreds of these satellites in the future.

The idea of utilising space infrastructure for data preservation isn’t entirely new. As we previously reported in October of last year, Microsoft launched its own off-planet data processing system known as Azure Space. However, unlike the two Japanese companies, the US-based tech giant’s satellite network aims to provide fast and easy access to its Azure cloud computing solution for customers, especially those in remote locations.

With projects such as SpaceX’s Starlink and those mentioned above, companies are literally taking data processing to greater heights. Perhaps it’s time to update the term “cloud computing” to something more relevant, now that it has reached to the realm of infinity and beyond. 

Japanese star ranking...

 

Japanese Supercomputer Finds Double Masking Doesn’t Significantly Improve Protection Against COVID

Simulations generated by a Japanese supercomputer found that double masking provided little added protection against COVID-19 compared to donning a single, properly fitted mask. The finding from the study by Riken and Kobe University seemingly contradicts the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but of course, things are slightly more complicated than that.

Generally, a properly fitted surgical mask blocked up to 85% of the viral particles but simulations showed that adding another mask on top of that only bumps that up to an unremarkable 89%. “The performance of double masking simply does not add up,” declared lead researcher Makoto Tsubokura, according to Reuters.

In the graphics above, the red mask is a loosely worn non-woven mask while the green mask is being worn tightly around the nose and face area. Double masking is being represented by the green and brown mask combo, which consisted of a non-woven mask with a polyurethane mask on top.

The results of the research are shown in the bar graph next to it, in the form of “droplet collection efficiency”. The blue bar represents the red mask while the red and purple bars are for the green mask and double masking, respectively.

On another hand, the CDC recently recommended double masking based on the findings of its own research which said that the mask combo can reduce cumulative exposure by up to 96.4%. The whole idea is to push and hold the edges of the disposable mask against your face, securing it tightly in place and sealing gaps better.

The Japanese researchers should agree – they found that a loose-fitting surgery mask blocked only 69% of the particles. In short, the CDC hasn’t necessarily been proven wrong.

That being said, the US government has added to the confusion by taking seemingly different positions. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the administration isn’t officially recommending wearing two masks according to CNN, even though the CDC is carrying that recommendation on its official website.

Nevertheless, we reckoned that both research generally showed the importance of wearing your face mask properly. So, make sure that the mask can fit snugly on your face as well as able to cover your nose and mouth at all times.

Japanese Games Store Cancelled PS5 Sale Due To Rowdy Fans

The PS5 is a rare console despite it being still so new. This is thanks to limited supply of the machine, many of which were swept away by scalpers. So demand for one is understandably high. So much so that a store in Japan had to cancel the sale of its new batch of the console thanks to its rowdy customers.

According to Japanese outlet, Matomebu, the Akihabara branch of electronics chain Yodobashi Camera faced such an incident. Over the weekend, the outlet had planned fir its latest batch of PS5 stock to go on sale. Customers were already waiting outside before the store opened. And once it did, they all went straight to the video game section.

As soon as an employee came with the allocated raffle tickets, the customers started getting unruly, in their desperation to potentially own a PS5. Things got bad enough that the police were called to calm the situation down. The sale of the console was also ultimately cancelled because of this.

It’s certainly a strange image, and especially so now that Japan is currently under a state of emergency thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it just goes to show the extent of the limited availability of the PS5.