More Singaporeans
More Singaporeans visit online banking
SINGAPORE (DPA): Almost one in three Internet users in Singapore are banking online, but spending less time at these sites than previously, a NetValue survey showed.
Banking websites in the city-state attracted 293,500 home Internet users in July, a 50 percent jump from the 195,000 registered in January, according to latest statistics from the French firm.
Users spent less time on average at these sites, the survey also found, about 27 minutes compared with 31 minutes six months ago.
"Perhaps people are getting used to the sites and could quickly locate their source," said Jack Loo, NetValue's manager for Singapore on Monday.
Although more high-income customers are visiting bank websites, the survey disclosed fewer women are banking online.
Loo suggested banks beef up their efforts at targeting working women by incorporating shopping, beauty or fashion-related content in their offerings.
Sweden topped the list in the survey on online banking usage in 12 European and Asian countries. Singapore emerged eighth, behind South Korea but ahead of Hong Kong.
;DPA; ANPAc..r.. Inbox-Britain-Animals Voice box will make dogs bow-wow-lingual JP/13/INBOX
Voice box will make dogs bow-wow-lingual
LONDON (DPA): Dog lovers may soon enjoy Dr Dolittle's ability to talk with the animals by using a device developed by Japanese scientists to convert barks, growls and whines into human language, according to a British press report Sunday.
From "I can't take much more of this" to "I'm annoyed" or "this is fun", man's best friend will tell his owner what he thinks of him, or the food and entertainment on offer, when the device is launched in February, said the report in The Sunday Times.
Costing about US$100 the device -- to be marketed under the name Bow-lingual -- consists of a unit attached to the dog's collar to decode the animal's sounds. The results are sent to a hand-held display and to a speaker in the form of phrases such as "I've done it", "I'm happy" or "I'm bored".
Researchers analyzed 2,000 sounds made by 100 dogs from 14 breeds. Using voice print analysis these were divided into frustration, amusement, sadness, intimidation, aggression and desire and were then converted into 200 words and 100 phrases to relate canine feelings in human terms.
Takara, the manufacturer, expects 90 percent accuracy and says Bow- lingual will express a dog's emotions in a way that owners will easily understand.
"We are getting a lot of interest," manager Norio Suzuki told the paper. "Pets are important friends for many people. We hope Bow-lingual will lead to better communication between owners and their pets."
People who work will be able to find out what sort of day their dog had by using a "Bow-wow diary" to provide a summary such as "today was a good day" or "it was boring".
If Bow-lingual is a success Takara plans a feline version.
;DPA; ANPAc..r.. Inbox-US-RealNetworks RealNetworks introduces RealOne Platform JP/13/INBOX
RealOne Platform introduced
SEATTLE, Washington (DPA): RealNetworks, Inc., the global leader in Internet media delivery, unveiled RealOne Platform, a new integrated media platform for connecting consumers to content.
At the core of the platform is its media engine, RealOne Player, which combines and reinvents the industry-leading RealPlayer and RealJukebox and adds to them a powerful new media browser to give consumers an unmatched, multi-dimensional media experience.
RealOne Platform enables content providers to easily author content using standard Internet languages, extending their current Web sites to create an immersive multimedia experience which features audio and video playback with contextual information.
The new platform is compatible with a wide-range of development tools and services that enable content providers and technology partners to create secure, compelling digital media content, and to supplement it with contextual commerce.
More than 150 content providers and technology partners worldwide have already announced their endorsement of the RealOne Platform, the Company reported Monday.
"RealOne Platform will empower our partners to create a new generation of digital media businesses," said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc.