Technology Buzzwords: Buzzword Watch

Technology Buzzwords: Buzzword Watch

There are many buzzwords out there from leading analysts – Gartner Hype Cycle is very popular. IDC, Forrester, Frost & Sullivan etc. make similar predictions. Similarly, CompTIA.org is an IT Industry trade body.
This is an informal look at interesting concepts that may be worth paying attention to in the year ahead.

 

Buzzwords:

Cryptocurrency: A digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.

Device Mesh: The device mesh refers to an expanding set of endpoints people use to access applications and information or interact with people, social communities, governments and businesses.

Containers: Open platforms to build, ship, componentize, & run distributed applications & move them across platforms and clouds with greater independence (e.g. Docker).

Quantified Self: A movement to incorporate technology into data acquisition on aspects of a person’s daily life in terms of inputs (e.g. food consumed), states (e.g. mood), and performance (mental and physical).

Haptics: Haptics is the science of applying touch (tactile) sensation and control to interaction with computer applications.

Per Gaze: A Google-Glass patent for an ad system that allows real-world ads to be translated into digital behaviors.

Internet Of Things: A proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.

Sensorization: Sensorization is a buzzword to define the extent or the trend of embedding as many sensors as possible within a device or appliance.

Gamification: Applying game mechanics and game design techniques to engage and motivate people to achieve their goals.

Software-defined Networking: An approach to computer networking that allows network administrators to manage network services through abstraction of higher-level functionality.

Mobile Wallets: Mobile wallets use near-field communication (NFC) chips inside mobile smart phones and tablets to transmit payment information.

Machine Learning: Type of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed.

Wearable Technology: Category of technology devices that can be worn by a consumer and often include tracking information related to health and fitness.

Location-based Authentication: Goes beyond user-id, password & biometrics to prove an individual’s identity and authenticity based on location. Pre-authorizations, reduce CNP fraud.

Data Stewardship: Management and oversight of an organization’s data assets to help provide business users with high-quality data that is easily accessible in a consistent manner.

Flexible Display: A flexible display is an electronic visual display which is flexible in nature; differentiable from the more prevalent traditional flat screen displays used in most electronics devices.

Screenless Displays: Part of an emerging technology in the field of displays that are likely to be a game changer and would change the way displays are used. e.g. holograms (like Star wars), LCD panels, cockpit windows

Augmented Reality: A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. Augmented reality adds graphics, sounds, haptic feedback and smell to the natural world as it exists. Best example – Pokemon Go.

These are buzzwords that you will be seeing used in major Retail Banks across the world. Retail Banks have really developed over time as a dynamic workspace. Learn all about how Retail Banks function in our retail banking and wealth Management course.


Written by Alex Harrison.

Introduction to Capital Market

What Are Capital Markets?

Capital markets basically deal with stocks and bonds in general. In simple words, any firm is it private or government, is always in need of funds, so as to finance its various operations to achieve certain long-term goals. Thus every firm is supposed to acquire these very funds or capital; for which, it sells stocks and bonds. These stocks and bonds are basically like shares, all of which are in the companies name. For instance, when the government of any country, issues what are known as treasury bonds, it basically is tapping into the capital markets, thereby generating capital.
This process is basically known as the IPO or Initial Public Offering. Capital Markets are largely divided into two types, the primary markets, and secondary markets. The companies and governments sell their securities in the primary market, whereas the investors trade with these securities in what is known as the secondary markets. Thus, it is safe to say that the capital markets are an important area of the finance industry.

These markets are more like the foundations on the basis of which, various companies and governments are able to invest in businesses, generate employment as well as better infrastructure. One of the core responsibilities of any capital market includes getting the people who are looking to invest, in contact with those looking for capital. Put so simply, this sounds like a very easy task to do, but in reality, a lot of professionals, perform this high-pressure task, to get the desired results.
The private companies look to raise capitals for various reasons, other than just expanding their businesses. They could be looking to finance start-up business ventures, or to battle with the sudden decline in the turnover, or for buying out the competition. While it may seem like it is only those very companies, which are profited from this whole business, it is not so. The very reason someone would want to provide capital is that that person would be looking to gain profit from their financing efforts.
A lot of people know of capital markets as stock exchanges. These are places where anyone can invest and are more commonly known as the public markets. This is where the Initial Public Offering takes place, which is the first time when any firm, comes out into the public to sell their securities. The next step where securities are bought and sold by investors is known as secondary markets, as spoken about earlier.
These secondary markets take place, subsequently after the primary market proceedings are over. Just as there are public markets, there also exist the lesser-known private markets, which are also known as exempt markets. These can be called as more lenient as compared to the public markets, primarily because there are no regulations to be met. Also, this is seen as a more cost-effective way for companies to fund their financing needs.
Thus the arena of capital markets has come to garner more attention by a lot of people, which is why candidates look for programs, which can make them proficient in the inner workings of capital markets. Imarticus Learning one of the best education institute in India offers industry-endorsed courses in capital markets, finance, and investment banking.