Thursday 28 Mar 2024
By
main news image

This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on December 26, 2022 - January 1, 2023

Malaysians will finally be getting a taste of 5G connectivity (fingers crossed). The rollout will be gradual, with urban folk getting access to it before rural areas. Nevertheless, the local tech scene is buzzing in anticipation of the potential innovations industries and individuals can expect.

Suffice to say, 5G applications transcend just the ability to seamlessly stream 4K-quality videos. The Digital Edge team has high aspirations for the country’s future connectivity capabilities, and here we share some of the technologies we are looking forward to.

 

A fantastical and immersive gaming experience

By Vanessa Gomes

The application of wearable technology within the gaming industry is something that has been talked about for a while now. Companies have tried to host virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) capabilities on smartphones with inexpensive wearables such as the Google Cardboard, which is compatible with almost any smartphone running Cardboard-enabled apps, but the experience did not live up to the hype.

Companies like Meta and Microsoft have invested heavily in the research and development of wearable technology, so much so that there are wearables that are cheaper than a smartphone — the new PICO 4 costs RM1,800, with other models costing as little as RM1,400. As the price continues to stabilise, reaching a point of affordability, I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these gadgets to start gaming with other players virtually.

5G’s promise of zero latency will allow for a proper immersive and experiential gaming experience. This means that whole game u niverses will have the ability to load all around me while I’m using a VR headset. Imagine playing games like Call of Duty, a first-person shooter video game, where I have to physically duck and hide from incoming bullets. Or exploring the various Grand Theft Auto cities as if they were right in front of me. Granted, gadgets like sensors, such as the ones available with the Nintendo Wii, will also need to be acquired to allow this to happen but as these technologies evolve, they will become affordable too.

I believe wearables will also allow for more physical movement while playing games, which is healthier than the current sedentary nature of console, PC and mobile gaming. I hope that games of this nature will not just be confined to gaming consoles, but also be accessible via mobile phones. This will spur the local and regional mobile gaming landscape as well as allow more people to access these games, making for a better gaming ecosystem and experience.

From here, it’s just a tiny leap for humanity into the metaverse and to get comfortable with the idea of a digital twin world. It is exciting to know that the virtual and physical worlds are about to meld, but whether it is going to be a healthy relationship between the two is a conversation for another day.

 

Life-saving remote surgery and telemedicine

By Tan Zhai Yun

I once followed a group of passionate volunteer doctors from the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) into an Orang Asli village as they provided free medical check-ups to villagers. They were also running a programme to train youth in the village in basic medical skills, enabling them to respond immediately in the event of a medical emergency before professional help arrives.

This programme was important because the path into the village is not the easiest to navigate. Villagers find it difficult to leave for a hospital visit, much less for doctors to go into the village and conduct any intensive medical procedures.

However, this could change with the ultra-reliable, low-latency connectivity provided by 5G. Telemedicine and remote surgery could be possible, if the right equipment is available. Most specialists are located in hospitals in bigger cities; imagine if these doctors could work with doctors in rural hospitals and guide them through complex procedures remotely!

Other possibilities are the use of virtual or augmented reality (AR) technologies during medical procedures to increase accuracy and help doctors make better diagnosis. Robotic surgery is another new frontier that could be enabled by 5G. Combined with advanced visualisation from AR — imagine computer-generated images superimposed on real-world surroundings — the robotic arms could conduct more precise medical procedures.

Huawei collaborated with several entities to run the world’s first 5G animal surgery at the Fujian China Unicorn Southeast Research Institute in 2019. The doctor was 50km away from the operating theatre and controlled robotic arms to remove a liver from an animal remotely. The delay was only 100 milliseconds.

Four years ago, Prof Prokar Dasgupta from King’s College in London performed remote prostate surgery using a robotic surgical system and AR. He sat in front of a console and controlled the robotic arms while viewing the procedure in real time.

Access to healthcare is incredibly important and a basic right for all people. If 5G is useful for anything, I want it to be in healthcare. It’s a huge ask, given that many rural areas do not even have stable 3G or 4G connections, but if we can make this happen, it would be a game changer.

 

5G, VR and the Anywhere Door

By Kuek Ser Kwang Zhe

It was after the nationwide lockdown that I started to appreciate human interaction more. All I felt during the lockdown was a cocktail of emotions. At first, I was happy as I didn’t need to drive almost 90 minutes to and from the office. But then I felt rather lonely, at times depressed, confined to the four walls at home for months. The reopening of the city made me realise that as much as I consider myself an introvert, I do enjoy human interaction.

If another pandemic were to hit us, 5G could make the situation more bearable. I was thinking about virtual reality (VR) enabled by high-speed internet and I could perhaps put on a headset, link it to the internet and interact with my colleagues in a VR setting for meetings, for instance. Or I could just jump into another virtual world — a virtual rock-climbing gym or co-working space — and interact with other individuals, be it friends or strangers.

Playing video games, an activity that was very much welcomed during the pandemic, could also be made so much better with VR. Before the pandemic, I visited a blockchain start-up that had an Oculus Quest headset in its office. After the interview, the CEO brought me downstairs to the gaming room, put the headset on me and tucked two controllers into my palms. And, wow, I was certainly impressed by the immersive experience, even though the graphics still looked a little pixelated and animated. Too bad I couldn’t do more in the game as the internet connection wasn’t stable and the controllers didn’t move when I waved my hands.

If 5G can enable VR, it would be like Doraemon reaching into his 4D pocket and handing me his Anywhere Door. The world might be hit by another pandemic, or another lockdown that’s more severe and longer lasting. But with 5G and VR, I would still be able to visit places even when I’m not going anywhere, or so I hope!

 

Real estate game changer

By Maleen Balqish Salleh

My family and I are planning to settle down on our plot of land by 2Q2023. As the self-appointed project manager of this move, my mum was busy all year round, searching for the best contractor to build our dream home.

At one point, she surely had at least 10 contractors in her phone book, but the process seemed unproductive to me because it involved calls for a meeting, followed by a visit to the office or the site of an ongoing project, which sometimes could be far from where we live.

Sure, the contractors did send over proposed floor plans, but she still needed to see their workmanship and because of that, we still haven’t found the right match until now.

With 5G, the process could be expedited by leveraging mixed reality (MR) where a holographic or avatar version of my mum could meet the contractors without having to leave our home. The contractor, who is physically at the site, could show my mum around the house and discuss the floor plan.

Looking at the bigger picture, contractors could also close deals and sign agreements digitally without having to travel, saving time for both parties. This might be a stretch, but it may be possible since digital signatures are legally recognised.

Through this “phygital” — a portmanteau word that is a combination of “physical” and “digital” — interaction, contractors would be able to impress their prospective clients by showing them the actual house model instead of miniatures.

I would not be surprised if real estate agents and developers take this route too. Instead of building a designated showroom or reserving one of the houses as one, they could invest in MR technology that would surely be cost-effective in the long run.

Since 5G will be widely accessible, consumers should be able to get their hands on affordable devices for MR. I’m not an avid fan of real estate, but I am certain that such applications would be revolutionary for the industry.

 

Bringing the experience of the stage to cinema

By Kiran Jacob

As a film and theatre buff, I have always dreamt of the day when the two could merge. Both provide experiences that are a world apart. With theatre, you literally feel the tension and breathe in the palpable drama. The actors, the music, the theatricality.

Film, on the other hand, is a different beast. Visuals paired with an impeccable script and a moving soundtrack could be life-changing. However, there is always a separation between the spectator and the art, a barrier which grounds you in reality.

This barrier could be lifted with virtual reality (VR), giving audiences a glimpse of the marriage between theatre and film. An example is Alejandro Inarritu’s VR film, Carne y Arena. The film recreates the experience of crossing the US border and challenges the audience by making them go through different sequences as they wear a headset.

With 5G, immersive experiences in the cinema could be a reality. Real-time rendering and interactive artificial intelligence (AI) could create impactful characters like never before. Extended reality (XR) and hologram experiences would also bridge the gap between theatre and film, as ultra-high resolution and capture technology would allow anyone’s likeness to be rendered and enable you to interact with your favourite actors.

As 5G revolutionises cinema, what would happen to theatre and the live arts? Personally, I don’t think cinema could ever replace the experience of seeing actors ply their craft on stage. Every night of theatre promises a different experience. I believe what will always set the two apart is the organic quality the theatre promises.

Theatre, meanwhile, could elevate its craft with technology. During the pandemic, theatre moved online. 5G could provide an avenue to expand and innovate a classical craft, ensuring it remains relevant to audiences.

Despite the technological advances that cinema has seen, bringing us films from Avatar to The Lord of the Rings, theatre will always have its place. Technology, no matter how advanced, could never replace the feeling of watching a dramatic monologue on stage.

The power of theatre lies in our imagination. An actor sitting on a box could enthral and pull you into the universe they created just by the power of their words. In our mind, they could be a peasant or a king, and all they would have to do is tell us that. The rest is up to us.

 

Personalising fashion with technology

By Ravinyaa Ravimalar

I have often wondered how it would feel to not have to go through the hassle of waiting in line to use the changing room at a clothing store. And not to forget, hurrying in and out of the room when I get the sizes wrong, or want to try the clothes in another colour.

I’m really looking forward to 5G being employed for virtual dressing rooms and make-up try-ons. I have wanted them since trying out Instagram and Snapchat filters. Of course, filters have their limitations and do not capture one from head to toe, but I was happy I could experiment with different hair colours, make-up styles and face piercings without having to actually get them.

I think it’s pretty cool how some e-commerce platforms already allow users to try on clothes without the need to wear or touch them physically. For instance, Amazon has launched a new feature called Virtual Try-On for Shoes, enabling customers to visualise how a new pair of shoes would look on them from various angles using their smartphones, without having to physically try them on.

Right now, virtual try-ons only exist through apps and designated platforms. The concept of virtual dressing rooms exists but is still scarce. Ultimately, I think it would be amazing if bricks-and-mortar stores could also use augmented reality (AR) technology via smart mirrors, where customers would be able to see themselves trying on apparel with just a swipe on the mirror.

The benefits I can see are, obviously, hygiene and convenience. Virtual dressing rooms would reduce actual contact with the clothes and the paranoia over how frequently they are washed or cleaned.

 

Closer to realising my DeLorean dream

By Pathma Subramaniam

There was a time when I believed flying cars would be my reality when I grew up. Back to the Future was all the rage then, and everyone wanted hoverboards and high-tech glasses that could do everything from making phone calls to letting you watch TV.

The five-year-old me ambitiously declared that a flying DeLorean would be my first car. I was old enough to understand that despite the relativity of time, there would be no changing of the past or hurtling into future (well not yet, at least), so I dreamt of flying cars instead.

Albeit a bit later than I had expected, flying vehicles — commonly known as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) — are a reality today and could be commercially available by 2024. One could be mine but I would need to save up about £535,000 or RM3.1 million by then, according to UK-based Pentagon Motor Group.

So, now I dream of owning an autonomous vehicle (AV) instead. Although it doesn’t quite fly (yet), at least I would not have to drive through hellish traffic that has got so much worse than before the pandemic.

According to the World Bank Malaysia Economic Monitor, Malaysians spent about one million hours of their time on the road in 2015, and this number is believed to have doubled by now — time which probably cost the country RM10 billion to RM20 billion since.

With 5G on the horizon, AVs are no longer a longshot. Most cars with cruise control have some level of autonomy, and Tesla is already using civilians to test out its fully autonomous cars. Although, some believe self-flying cars are closer to being realised than self-driving cars, either way, I would be extremely contented.

To make this happen, AVs would need networks like 5G to enable communication standards that allow them to communicate with everything around them.

Imagine a car that is entirely independent in responding to situations, including emergencies, with no driver and no external intervention needed — absolute bliss.

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.

      Print
      Text Size
      Share