Computex 2020 is officially cancelled

Taiwan-based tech show Computex joins several major tech conferences that have officially cancelled their 2020 events because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The next Computex event will be pushed back to June 1 to 5, 2021. In March, the Computex organizers initially delayed the trade show from June to late September. 

With travel restrictions imposed in many countries still because of COVID-19, the organizers know a lot of participants won't be able to attend the show in Taipei this September. Computex 2019 drew almost 43,000 visitors from around 171 countries. Taiwan is one of the countries that imposed travel restrictions early and isolated coronavirus patients, resulting in fewer than 500 cases and seven deaths in the country. It is prudent not to attempt to hold the tech show this year.

Source: The Verge

Federal govt. will not adopt Montreal AI institute's COVID-19 contact-tracing app

Montreal-based artificial intelligence institute Mila's COVI app for iOS and Android was ready to roll out last month, but a new report from The Logic says the government opted out of using this COVID-19 contact-tracing app. 

Mila CEO Valérie Pisano told the publication that the government is choosing to use other contact-tracing technology. But the institute is ready to help if they are needed.

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Google's new Sodar AR tool helps enforce social distancing

While establishments try to help customers maintain social distancing, sometimes the markers and signs used aren't where they should be (like people can walk over them or get blown over). And so, Google released a new augmented reality-based tool called Sodar to mark what two metres away from you is like—this distance is the recommended minimum for social distancing. Sodar doesn't need an app to run; users just need to head to sodar.withgoogle.com or goo.gle/sodar in their Chrome browsers on their Android devices. Tap through different permission dialogues, and then the site will load the AR experience.

You need to give the tool a view of the ground to calibrate and give you a clear curved line of what two metres of space in all directions look like. It's not entirely accurate, though, so treat it as an estimation. You must know that it doesn't work on iOS and some Android devices. As Android Police points out, your phone might need to be ARCore-compatible. But if it does work on your device, it's a handy tool to have these days.

Trudeau says govt. working with Apple, Google to help develop COVID-19 contact-tracing app

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the government is "working closely" with Apple and Google when it comes to the development of a COVID-19 contact-tracing app. The two companies have partnered to develop an interoperable Exposure Notification System and API to assist with contact-tracing efforts. Apple and Google have started rolling the system publicly through software updates on May 20. Trudeau claimed the system the companies are working on would serve as an essential base for effective contact tracing or exposure notification app. He said the government is working with different partners to develop the app, suggesting that they are collaborating with other organizations and companies.

"We're working closely with Apple and Google on the update that they will be bringing forward, and it is our expectation that when the time comes for that to be released, we will be able to recommend strongly to Canadians a particular app that will help us manage the spread of COVID-19," he said. The prime minister didn't give a timeline regarding when the app might be released, but we're hoping it will come out sooner.

Source: MobileSyrup