In comes Blockchain with a befitting answer to all IoT security concerns. Blockchain facilitates countering data breaches with a decentralized database system accessible only through a tokenized window. Moreover, it further strengthens IoT networks through consensus algorithms and quarantining of nodes. Blockchain provides a verification-authentication-powered digital infrastructure to IoT devices to securely accumulate and analyze diverse datasets.

Upscaling IoT Security With Blockchain Technology

On average, instances of compromise on IoT devices have been reported to be triggered through Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. These DDoS attacks connect to various devices on the network, quickly forming a botnet that overwhelms the website with traffic. Ergo, making room to strike the website, breach and steal datasets, and spam site nodes.

With Blockchain in the picture, IoT services on devices are spooled under the layers of cryptography. This enables complete user anonymity and ensures data privacy, which when it comes to IoT devices, puts users in complete control. On side of the backend, developers would gain the ability to practice accurate monitoring of devices and identify devices carrying potential threats.

Benefits of Implementing Blockchain To IoT Devices

Rendering IoT devices upon a Blockchain architecture has benefits beyond just data security. For instance, businesses can identify loopholes in operations impacting finance using blockchain. Through an IoT device or sensor present at the junction of error, blockchain can be used to read and eliminate anomalies rectifying the system. To summarize the notion of incorporating IoT with Blockchain, the benefits can be enlisted as follows:

1. Blockchain provides a decentralized structure of data storage that can be accessed only through a tokenized system.
2. Tokenized system of accessing data to track potential threats and add real-time authentication and authorization process.
3. Help identify anomalies in datasets and purge single points of failure.
4. Establish authenticity and build trust between IoT processes.
5. Eliminate extra expenses on fixing data breaches and save costs spent on operations.

Implementation Process For Blockchain For IoT Security

Outside of its impact in strengthening data security, the list of utilities of Blockchain can prioritize the standardization of enormous data processed by IoT devices. This, alongside other supplements ensuring data autonomy and integrity, can help leverage IoT devices to suit enterprises the best.

On the other hand, equal emphasis on Blockchain app development to implement with IoT devices is required. For IoT manufacturers looking to make a shift toward blockchain technology, the following steps are worth noting –

• Define the Use Case: Determine the specific use case for which you want to implement the blockchain on IoT devices. This could be any scenario where you want to ensure data integrity, security, and trust.
• Choose the Right Blockchain Platform: Select the appropriate blockchain platform based on your use cases, such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, or IOTA.
• Design the Blockchain Architecture: Determine the blockchain architecture for the IoT devices. This includes designing smart contracts, consensus mechanisms, and transaction validation methods.
• Choose the IoT Devices: Select the IoT devices that will be connected to the blockchain. These devices should be able to communicate with the blockchain network.
• Connect IoT Devices to Blockchain Network: Connect the IoT devices to the blockchain network using the appropriate protocols such as MQTT or CoAP.
• Develop Smart Contracts: Develop the smart contracts that will be executed by IoT devices. These smart contracts will define the rules for transaction execution, data validation, and access control.
• Integrate with IoT Gateway: Integrate the blockchain with the IoT gateway to ensure secure and reliable communication between the IoT devices and the blockchain network.
• Test and Deploy: Test the blockchain implementation thoroughly and deploy it to the production environment.

It can be concluded, therefore, that Blockchain elevates the utility prowess of IoT devices, provides data privacy to users, and secures datasets with a tokenized authentication system – which is impossible to breach.

The post Why Blockchain Is The Missing Piece To IoT Security Puzzle appeared first on Datafloq.

Be it cloud computing, Web 2.0, the Internet of Things, or any other technology frontier, so to speak, software applications are dictating the pace of global change. The global market for software application development is growing at a frenetic pace. In fact, businesses are investing to develop such applications to gain a competitive advantage, create new markets, achieve efficiencies, optimize costs, and communicate efficiently, among others. It is expected to reach $206.38 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 26.92 per cent (source: The Business Research Company).

If, on the one hand, innovations in software applications are taking place, possibly touching every realm of the global economy, security concerns are following suit. Malevolent actors out to steal sensitive individual or business data are using every possible means to ferret out information. These may include malware, trojans, viruses, ransomware, phishing, and others. According to Cyber Security Ventures, the cost of cybercrime globally will reach a humongous $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. The growing menace leading to severe consequences makes application security testing a critical requirement for businesses to compete. Let us understand this in detail.

What is Application Security Testing?

Application security testing entails evaluating the security of a software application or system to detect bugs or vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by cybercriminals. A robust security assurance framework can help a business enterprise mitigate risks, prevent data breaches, protect sensitive data and information, comply with regulatory standards, and maintain the stability, integrity, and accessibility of critical systems.

Why Should Businesses Invest in Application Security Testing?

Global news is abuzz with reports of malicious attacks targeting software applications across industries and geographies. The implications of such attacks on businesses are always high, which may include reputational damage, costly lawsuits, high penalties, and so on. Many businesses have even collapsed and gone bankrupt on account of such hacks. To counter these threats, there is a business case for investing in application security testing.

In today's business landscape, addressing security concerns with measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention technologies is not enough. Further, application hacks have become more complex and dynamic and look like standard Internet traffic, which is difficult to detect. So, businesses need to invest in security testing, either through in-house resources or by outsourcing the job to a professional security testing company. The compelling reasons for investing in cybersecurity assurance are as follows:

1. Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Several industries have strict regulatory norms that must be adhered to by businesses. These norms have been established to protect sensitive data, and any failure on the part of businesses to comply can invite severe penalties. These penalties can dent the reputation of businesses and hit their bottom lines. With application security testing, such businesses can ensure compliance with industry-specific regulatory norms.

2. Protect Data

Hackers can access sensitive customer and business information, leading to the loss or theft of such information. It goes without saying that such security breaches can result in customers losing trust in the business. Employing security testing services, on the other hand, can detect and fix bugs or vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by threat actors.

3. Prevent Reputation Damage

A security breach can adversely impact the reputation of an organization. The latter could lose the trust of customers, clients, partners, and shareholders. In a competitive business environment where having high brand equity is critical to success, damage to reputation can turn out to be catastrophic.

4. Risk Mitigation

It is very difficult to regain the trust of customers, partners, and shareholders for any organization hit by a security breach. Application security testing identifies and fixes vulnerabilities before an attacker can exploit them. Thus, by mitigating risks, organizations can prevent the costly implications of a security breach.

5. Improved Customer Trust

Customers are known to trust businesses that have a robust cybersecurity framework. By employing professional security testing services, businesses can gain the trust of customers and improve their revenue streams.

Conclusion

Investing in application security testing can go a long way in helping businesses establish trust with customers and other stakeholders, protect critical assets, mitigate risks, meet compliance requirements, safeguard reputation, and achieve success.

The post The Business Case for Investing in Application Security Testing appeared first on Datafloq.

ML to read and observe context means digital assistance could browse emails and extract the essential information. Intrinsic in this learning is the capacity to predict the future behavior of customers. This will guide you to understand your customers more intensely and don't just be responsive but active.

It is used in many industries and sectors, and it possesses the capacity to grow better with time. Many sectors have already implemented ML in it.

Here are some real-life instances of machine learning.

Real-world examples of ML

• Image recognition
• Speech recognition
• Medical diagnosis
• Statistical arbitrage
• Predictive analysis
• Extraction

Image recognition

Image recognition is one of the best and most used examples of Machine Learning that is used in the real world. It is an example that everyone is aware of and has used once in their lifetime. It is used to recognize an object as a digital image based on the intensity of the pixels in black and white photos or color images.

Real-world examples of image recognition are:

• A label on an x-ray, whether cancer or not
• Assigning a name to a face in photographs, for example: tagging people in social media through image
• Identifying handwriting by separating a single letter into small images

Machine learning is generally used for facial recognition through an image. Using a database of people, the system can easily identify the commonality and match it to the faces. This is commonly used in law administration.

Speech recognition

With the help of Machine Learning, you can easily translate speech into text. Such kind of software applications can convert live voice or recorded voice speech into text files. The voice can be separated based on the intensities and on the time-frequency band as well.

Real-life examples of speech recognition

• Voice search
• Voice dialing
• Appliance control

Here is some commonly used speech recognition software like Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, Cortana.

Medical diagnosis

ML can also help in disease diagnosis. Many of the physicians use chatbots that too with speech recognition ability to detect the patterns in symptoms.

Real-life examples of medical diagnosis

• Guiding in formulating diagnosis or recommending a treatment option
• Oncology and pathology uses Machine Learning to identify cancer forming tissue
• Interpret bodily fluids

In the case of rarest diseases, using facial recognition and Machine Learning together can help scan the patient's photo and identify phenotypes that correspond with rare genetic diseases.

Statistical arbitrage

Arbitrage is a type of automatic trading strategy mostly used in finance that manages a large number of securities. The strategy uses a trading algorithm to interpret a set of security using economic correlations and variables.

The real-world instance of statistical arbitrage

• Algorithm trading that analyzes a market microstructure
• Analyzing large data sets
• Identifying real-time arbitrage opportunities

Machine learning optimizes it to enhance the results of trading.

Predictive analytics

Machine learning can segregate available data into groups, which are later on defined by rules that analysts set. Later on, when the classification is completed, the analysts can then calculate the probability of a fault.

Real-life instances of predictive analytics

• Analyzing whether the transaction is fault or appropriate
• Improving the prediction system to identify the fault

Predictive analysis is one of the most promising instances of ML. It is applicable for everything from product development to real-estate pricing.

Extraction

Machine learning can easily extract structured data from unstructured data. For example, organizations assemble vast volumes of data from customers. Machine learning algorithms automate the development of adding datasets for predictive data tools.

Real-world examples of extraction

• Set up a model to assume vocal cord disorders
• Establish methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disorders
• Help physicians to diagnose and treat problems quickly

These processes are very tiresome. But ML can track and extract the information to obtain tons of data samples.

Conclusion

Machine learning has entered many sectors that are making life easy and fast. In the future, it will also be used in many more industries to provide convenience to us. You can hire a company that will provide you machine learning app development services with the development of applications based on machine learning or AI.

In this blog, I have given some real-world examples and usage of applications based on Machine Learning. You can go through the example and modify it as per your requirement and industry. I hope this blog will help you to select the industry in which you want to develop your application.

The post How can Machine-learning Apps Help us in the Real World? appeared first on Datafloq.

What do we know by application security?

Application security refers to security measures implemented at the application level to prevent data or code included inside the app from being stolen or hijacked by a third party. While it covers the security concerns that occur during application development and design, it also includes methods and techniques that are used to safeguard applications after they have been deployed.

Application security may involve hardware, software, and processes that are designed to detect and mitigate security risks in software applications. It is possible to implement hardware application security by using a router to prevent anybody from seeing a computer's IP address from the Internet. Nonetheless, security protections at the application level are also usually incorporated into the program. For example, an application firewall that tightly specifies what actions are permitted and forbidden is frequently included. Procedures may include items such as an application security routine that incorporates procedures such as frequent testing, among other things.

Lets us know some cyber-security problems

1.DDoS (Denial-of-Service) attacks

DDoS assaults, also known as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, have risen to become one of the most prevalent types of cybercrime in recent years.

2.Malware

Malicious software, which is a traditional type of cyberattack, may be delivered into a system in several different ways. When it comes to malware distribution, the most frequent sources include email attachments, software downloads, and operating system vulnerabilities.

3. Phishing

Scammers send you emails or text messages in an attempt to mislead you into divulging your personal information to them. They may attempt to get your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. Phishing emails and SMS messages may seem to be from a business you are familiar with or believe to be trustworthy. They may have the appearance of being from a bank, a credit card business, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online retailer.

4. Misuse inside the organization

It is the use of information in ways that it was not meant to be used that are known as data abuse. User agreements, business policies, data privacy regulations, and other similar documents are all available. It investigates user knowledge of security rules, security-awareness programs, computer monitoring, and preventative security software, as well as their impact on user intentions towards the misapplication of information systems (IS).

Solutions to implement them

1. Predictive Insights

Forecasting future consequences based on past information is the goal of data analytics. Data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning methods are used to make these predictions. The ultimate aim is to be more about understanding what has occurred and to provide the most accurate forecast of what will occur in the future.

2. Make a backup of important data

For businesses to be successful in the face of DDoS and ransomware assaults, it is critical to have a data backup strategy in place. It may be the difference between bringing solutions and technologies back up quickly with minimum downtime and experiencing a catastrophic server outage when you have access to mission-important data.

3. Cyber-insurance

A specialized lines insurance product designed to protect businesses, as well as individuals who provide services to such businesses, from World Wide Web risks and, more broadly, from risks about information technological infrastructure, data privacy, information management responsibility, and events connected with these risks. Industrial public liability plans generally exclude or at the very least do not explicitly describe hazards of this type, and conventional insurance plans do not specifically specify risks of this nature.

4. Knowledge and attentiveness

There is an epidemic of data breaches now taking place, and the harm and costs associated with these breaches are continuing to increase. The majority of data breaches are easily avoidable. One research showed that more than 90 percent of data breaches might have been prevented based on an analysis of more than 1,000 data breaches in total. Recognizing the dangers, your workers must be trained on how to use these gadgets safely and responsibly in the course of their jobs. This effective security subject should be covered in your training, and instances of removable media should be used to illustrate the point.

The post How the Best Cyber Security Firms Counteract Their Clients From Cyber Threats? appeared first on Datafloq.

The intra-oral scanners imaging devices use light for capturing the surface of the anatomical structure of a patient's mouth and the project pattern of the mouth is measured by imaging sensors; creating an accurate 3D point cloud. Obtained 3D point cloud shows the geometrical profile of tooth and gingiva in high spatial resolution (30-80 points per mm2) and equally high spatial accuracy. For AI implementation, this 3D point cloud data is further used for orthodontic planning and treatment planning in modern dentistry. This also enables providing a detailed view of the anatomical structure of the clinical dental application.

AI and Deep neural networks in modern dentistry

The same methodologies have been used so far for the segmentation of individual teeth using imaging sensors and 3D point information. Such a methodology is IOS Segmentation methods and deep learning approaches are also used in the implementation of the same. Under the OS Segmentation methods, the projecting the 3D IOS mesh on 2D plain and applying computer vision algorithm on the obtained data, which is used for projection in 3D space. On the other hand, the deep learning approaches include two methodologies for segmentation.

Each methodology is then viewed as a separate set of approaches to teeth segmentation. In the first approach, the teeth are taken as a multi-class segmentation problem and every tooth is viewed as a separate semantic class. While in a second way, the tooth is segmentation is done as per the semantic instance segmentation problem. Simultaneously, a deep learning model for instance segmentation is also used for teeth segmentation, wherein a hybrid framework is used. This framework used 2D image data for detection and project 3D point cloud information in the preceding stage.

Furthermore, a new instance of segmentation model based on deep learning Mask MCNet is applied to irregular 3D point cloud information to predict 3D bounding box for object instances. Mask MCNet is an end-to-end deep learning framework, assuring maximum accuracy in computational dentistry with diverse clinical applications.

Along with this, in another instance, deep neural networks were utilized for detecting caries lesions on annotated data of single tooth segments. Converting the annotation in binary class level, CNNs – Resnet18, Resnext50 models were trained to predict the neural networks. Both the models successfully detected areas on teeth affected by caries lesions.

Computational dentistry: What's ahead

Dentistry, as a branch of medicine, is changing form in the 21st century. More than detecting common dental deformities or decay issues, in the past few years, the increased application of Artificial intelligence has accelerated research and development of advanced procedures for patients. Machine learning approaches like computer vision are being endorsed widely for predicting treatments and active diagnosis of various dental diseases.

Driven by imaging data, deep neural networks like Mask MCNet are also proving efficient in predicting diseases and related treatment with precision. The scope for investigation and finding out results with relation to dental conditions in dental subfields like dentistry, cariology, endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics, and forensic dentistry. A wave of augmented intelligence, courtesy progress in AI, and Deep Learning is making use of computational processes to build models which can provide results and improve dentistry as a practice, in the coming years. Such

progression will also be evident in handling the patient load, writing elaborative observations on paper, and performing a multitude of tasks on suggestive dental treatments

The post Computational Dentistry with 3d Point Cloud Segmentation appeared first on Datafloq.

The robust website design is a dominant factor in creating this reliability. By offering an online platform that is facile and trouble-free to direct, users will have a more convinced and positive experience throughout your website, that encourages them more likely to complete a purchase.

To make your presence unique, in the marketplace, there are a few reliable designs components that will convert the website visitors into loyal customers. A proficient and clean website is vital for every business to do well in the online field. The web design services mainly focused on the nature of the company and what a business wants for a productive online presence to eventually impel profits ahead.

Which is the best web design and UX trends that will help to raise your business rapidly?

Below are the top trends that will boost your business-

1. Video landing pages

Having a video into website designs is very common. Like 80% of internet users watch these videos online every day. But a business does not rely only on this traditional concept of videos. Instead of it, the designers have to take their website designs to the next level by making video landing pages.

With the help of these video landing pages, they can easily target a direct call to action on a specific web page, i.e. Salesforce. The designers can create an enticing video that auto-plays on the homepage of your website. This approach can be fruitful for the business as it either offers the essential information and displays the brand. Still, it will enhance the user impression of your business entirely.

2. Animation

Many times, the users are not able to explore all the features of your website unless you openly tell them. Though only conveying them, the features are not enough anymore. Today, every user expects additional features from websites; thus, every company requires to put more creativity and uniqueness in their sites to achieve their respective goals.

Adding a little animation to highlight the essential features and services of your company is a practical step. The animation can be of the simple effect that catches the user's attention or a micro-interaction. Users are always looking for creativity and innovation; they will be more interested in the sites which grab their attention and offers them effective solutions according to their requirements.

For example, Airbnb uses its animation application, Lottie, to integrate refined graphics throughout its website and app designs.

3. Custom layout

Gone are the days when fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri or other basic fonts have been used. Today, every website requires text which fascinates the users towards it. The custom fonts will take your website one step forward that includes your brand identity at the same time it will attract the visitors to site.

This exclusive typography can take many forms or be found in different sections of your design. Companies can use this feature to build their creative logos, while some businesses use these custom fonts in throughout their web design to grab attention to essential contents. Lastly, the use of these custom fonts will depend upon the companies.

4. Parallax scrolling

Undeniably, the digital era has changed many facets of our daily lives. Still, it had its negative impact too- it makes people lazy in a way, that they find the clicking a button option hectic.

The introduction of Parallax scrolling has resolved this issue too. This ultimate scrolling effect has reduced the customer's usual laziness while remaining attractive and visually tempting. With an easy swipe like Tinder, users can quickly go through the information of your website according to their requirements.

It will help the companies to prioritize and manage their content quickly and enhance their user's prospect of perceiving the site.

The post 4 top Web Design and UX trends that will Grow your Business Exponentially appeared first on Datafloq.

If you always have your phone handy, you should consider apps to track your energy usage. This way, you can save some money and be more eco-friendly. Take a look.

1. Nest

Nest works alongside the Nest Learning Thermostat and other Nest products. As a user, you can control your thermostat from any device. It shows a digital thermostat with buttons to adjust the temperature. Nest also shows users their energy consumption history.

This app can be a useful resource when you're away from home. If you need to quickly change your thermostat's schedule, you can. Plus, you have a way to analyze your heating and cooling habits. Nest's data will help your household conserve more energy.

2. Meter Readings

With Meter Readings, you can track your home's meters via your phone or tablet. Add your electricity, water, gas and more to see information about your meters, like usage and costs. It's much easier to read your meters when they're all in one place.

If you don't want to go outside to analyze your meters every time you need information, Meter Readings will be a smart choice.

3. Dropcountr

How much water do you use every day? If you're like most people, you probably don't know. Dropcountr will help. This app connects users to their water utilities so that they can track their usage. As a result, you can see various related analytics that indicate how much water you use daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

All in all, Dropcountr offers an accessible way to reduce your water consumption.

4. Breaker Panel

How fast can you find your fuse box? This board contains your electrical panel, which controls everything electric-related in your home. If you don't have these buttons organized, you can waste unnecessary energy and encounter potential hazards.

Breaker Panel allows you to add, edit and delete virtual breakers that mimic your house's fuse box layout. Then, you just have to look at the app to know which switch connects to which source. This system simplifies everything so that you can reserve electricity easier.

5. Energy Cost
Calculator

It's tough to cut down on electricity usage unless you know how much energy your appliances use. After all, you need to know which ones to target. Energy Cost Calculator lets users input hours used per day, power use in watts and price in kilowatt-hours to see helpful data points.

For example, you might say you use your 1,000-watt microwave for 30 minutes every day. If you paid around 13 cents for electricity per kilowatt-hour, like the national average, you'd be able to see what you pay to operate that appliance. This information should help you cut back.

6. JouleBug

If you want to turn saving energy into a game, you should try JouleBug. This app awards users points and badges whenever they complete sustainable actions. As a user, you'll connect your utility account to JouleBug. The software uses that data to see how you adjust your habits.

There's even an option to compete in challenges against local and national users.

7. Energy Consumption
Analyzer

Energy Consumption Analyzer lets people input their home's meters into a profile. Afterward, you can see endless information regarding your meter readings. There are also options to add color-coded labels and comment on data. As a result, you'll have an organized page that details your meter usage.

Download These Apps to
Be More Energy-Conscious

It takes effort to reduce your energy consumption but you can make your efforts more impactful by using technology. Many apps exist to help users track everything from water usage to thermostat temperature. Try a few different options to save energy today.

The post Best Apps for Tracking Home Energy Usage appeared first on Datafloq.

Computer graphics teaches us how a pixel on a screen can be manipulated to draw beautiful shapes, artistic typography, eye-catching illustrations, make-me-look–good‘ photo-filters, and a lot more. Hardware manufacturers, researchers, software developers work together to build great products: smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs, cameras all with the study of computer graphics.

Despite the fact that computer graphics has evolved so fast and the development of softwares like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch has made our lives easier to a great extent, we still cannot generate images on-the-fly with them. In order to do that, we'll need to reach a level where there is no drag and drop, no fancy select-all-make-bold keyboard shortcuts, no cropping, and no copying-pasting.

And we cannot get there by time–travel, but surely with code!

Getting Started

Come along, open your favourite text editor, follow me and I'll help you draw dynamic text data on images. I assume you have Python and pip installed on your computer, but if not, follow the steps in the links to set up the development environment. After you've done setting up, from the shell, execute the below command to install Pillow (more details here) and its dependencies.

As you now have installed all dependencies, let's move forward and write some code. Pillow is an extensive library, but for our purpose, we'll be using the following classes:

• Image: to create an image object for our greeting background
• ImageDraw: creates a drawing context
• ImageFont: font of the text we will be drawing on the greeting

Let's take the following background image and initialize it with the following code:

Code:

# import required classes
from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
# create Image object with the input image
image = Image.open('background.png')
# initialise the drawing context with
# the image object as background
draw = ImageDraw.Draw(image)

# create font object with the font file and specify
# desired size
font = ImageFont.truetype('Roboto-Bold.ttf', size=45)
# starting position of the message
(x, y) = (50, 50)
message = "Happy Birthday!"
color = 'rgb(0, 0, 0)' # black color
# draw the message on the background
draw.text((x, y), message, fill=color, font=font)
(x, y) = (150, 150)
name = 'Vinay'
color = 'rgb(255, 255, 255)' # white color
draw.text((x, y), name, fill=color, font=font)
# save the edited image
image.save('greeting_card.png')

With some fonts, you might have to pass an optional parameter encoding which tells the ImageFont module which encoding to use while opening the font file.

Computer graphics have an inverted coordinate system, the origin(0, 0) that lies at the top-left corner of the image. x here represents the distance of the text box from the left (x=0) and y represents the distance from the top (y=0).

While you save the image, you can pass optional parameters like optimize and quality to control the size of the output image.

image.save('optimized.png', optimize=True, quality=20)

This generates an output image optimized.png with reduced quality but smaller size.

Where Are We Using Pillow With Python?

While at work, I recently developed a feature that demanded the creation of a leaderboard image on-the-fly, with user-specific quiz score data. And just with a few lines of code, I was able to create an image like this:

Haptik Weekly Quiz Leaderboard

Voila! It looked great and we decided to use the idea of creating images on-the-go, for other use-cases as well. We currently use Pillow to generate images for Jokes, Motivational Quotes, Horoscopes, Word of the Day, etc. in real-time, and with data from different API responses.

Haptik Motivational Quote & Word of the Day

The code we used in this post is not sufficient to draw text boxes as shown in the images above. I'll be writing another post that will focus on text alignment, splitting long text into multiple lines, controlling space between two lines, and more.

Please do give us your feedback if any in the comments section below. Haptik is hiring. Do visit our careers section or get in touch with us at hello@haptik.ai.

The post Putting Text on Image Using Python appeared first on Datafloq.

At Haptik, we have our flagship mobile app built for Android & iOS. We have also built our SDKs (both Android & iOS) which could be plugged into any other app out there in the market and they could make use of Haptik chatbots inside their apps.

There is actually a lot happening inside a mobile app. There is storage, network, computation, handling user messages, giving back responses via API calls, etc.

On our apps we make use of WebSockets to send and receive messages, make various API calls for handling various features on the app, and a lot more. To find issues in our app and make the end-user experience better we wanted to test out different scenarios like bad network connectivity, WebSockets not working, slow third-party API responses, etc.

We wanted a tool that would make testing & debugging these scenarios easier and give more visibility into the app performance. After a lot of searching online, reading blogs & getting our hands dirty with a few tools we shortlisted two tools: Fiddler and Charles.

We compared Charles Proxy to Fiddler and observed that Charles Proxy is comparatively easier to use. In terms of UI, Charles Proxy is more user-friendly and easy to use. You can read about fiddler here. In this blog, we will discuss how to get started with Charles Proxy and how it helped us in mobile testing.

Charles Proxy

Some features of Charles Proxy are

• Records all traffic between your browser and the Internet.

• Reveals the contents of all requests, responses, cookies and headers

• Supports SSL and HTTPS

• Saves valuable time

• Simulates slower internet connections. Yes, Charles Proxy handles this on the go. This is how you can enable handling of slower connections

• Download statistics

• Easily Configurable

• Find and eliminate bugs quickly.

How to download and set up?

Charles Proxy can be downloaded using their website.

If you want to set it up to handle HTTPS traffic, that can be done under the tools menu > SSL Proxying Settings.

Testing different scenarios using Charles Proxy

• Throttle network to test WebSockets & APIs
• Create error scenarios by modifying APIs
• API reviews

Throttle network to test WebSockets & APIs

Throttle functionality helps to adjust the bandwidth and latency of the internet connection.

This helps to simulate 2G/3G/4G over a high-speed network like WIFI. This enables us to test the app's behavior in poor network connections. Testing on slow networks is a very important scenario for a chatbot app like ours as there are functionalities that require the user to be notified without any delay. For eg: Reminders bot: We have a flagship bot on our platform where users can chat with the bot and set:

1. Wake up call, reminder to call someone2. Set drink water or medicine reminders.3. Reminder notifications to Play quiz every day on a specific time.

Along with a personalized message, the user also receives a personalized call from Haptik to remind him/her about the event. We needed to test what happens during network latency, or interruptions and how the app handles it. We were definitely able to test all that using the network Throttle feature.

Create error scenarios by modifying APIs

We can create multiple different error scenarios by rewriting the response of different APIs. This is a very handy feature when it comes to empowering the QA Engineers at Haptik as it allows them to reproduce error scenarios by using the below features :

1. Manipulating any URL requests and trigger the request again

2. Rewriting API URL

3. Modifying & Rewriting authentication headers

4. Altering user agent, to test different browsers, etc, for web-views, etc.

By adding headers we can understand how the app would react if it receives this from a server. Steps to use the rewrite feature:

1. Select rewrite option under tools:

2. Add the name and location:

3. Select the Rewrite rule type as shown below, or eg. Body, headers, response status.

4. After selecting replace and change the value of selected type and click on ok:

API reviews

Before shipping any major feature we try and do a basic API review to make sure no unnecessary API calls are being made by the app. Doing this is as easy as connecting the devices to Charles Proxy and observing and recording the API calls.

Charles Proxy is helpful in finding security bugs & loopholes. During API reviews this tool can help provide such insights:

• Verifying if API is working properly.

  This means that when we do an API call, what headers are sent, and is the response correct with correct headers as expected.

• Debug if API response is incorrect.

• Checking if any redundant API or web requests made.

For eg., We had an API to save some details on our backend. While testing the API on Charles Proxy, we came to know that the API call was being made multiple times which lead to false app behavior. Once detected, we asked the developers to make the necessary changes.

Charles Proxy can be very handy when it comes to integrating a backend with a mobile app. It helps to identify & eliminate a lot of issues and thereby improved performance & security.

Conclusion

The above three functionalities help developers and testers at Haptik while debugging mobile applications and native web views. It acts as a middleman and helps make these changes on the fly.

The biggest advantage is that one can get a peek under the hood of the application and quickly find and identify bugs and also improve performance. Charles Proxy definitely helps save time & money. Do give it a try and comment below if you liked what we shared.

The post Charles Proxy for Mobile Apps Testing appeared first on Datafloq.

With its market size poised to reach the 1.6 trillion mark by 2025, new and emerging businesses have also started to find opportunities to scale up with IoT solution implementation. It is important to note that IoT use cases will continue to expand in the years to come, however, in this article we have compiled the list of four IoT use cases/trends that are being leveraged in by a broad-range of industries.

• Predictive Maintenance

It is important to keep business assets “ power plants, solar panels, quality control machines, etc. up and running. However, in cases when the specific assets are non-operational or perform low, it increases the operational expenditure and affects the quality/performance of machines. By leveraging predictive maintenance engines developed by IoT solution providers, businesses address the performance issues much quicker.

IoT enabled solutions with sensors are used to relay warning signs from the connected equipment and send data to a centralized system so that preemptive maintenance is done on time. This allows managers to know which equipment needs maintenance and which are performing well. Based on the data received from machines, managers set the maintenance timeline for the future.

• Smart Metering

Smart meters are internet-enabled devices that measure energy, water or power consumption in a home or a building. While traditional meters measure total power consumption, smart meters are capable to monitor the overall power/energy consumption with detailed energy utilization insights.

Such IoT Services are incorporated by power companies to monitor consumer usage and to adjust prices based on the power consumption. The data received is used for reducing energy theft, enhancing power monitoring, improving forecasting, and to manage operations remotely. The use of smart meters are proving to be a game-changer for power companies as they monitor energy utilization levels of organizations/individuals.

• Asset Tracking

Asset tracking IoT services are indispensable for most shipping businesses and manufacturing firms. Efficiently tracking the location of goods and fleet in real-time, these asset tracking applications are the new normal for shipping businesses. By including an asset tracking application in business setup, logistics and supply chain operations are streamlined as delivery is done on time while the inventory levels are also maintained with ease.

Some shipment companies leverage internet-enabled asset tracking software that uses sensors to give real-time temperature information of containers. Thus with regulated temperature, perishable goods are kept fresh for longer durations. However, only a small proportion “ around 15% of those businesses actually have a proper asset tracking software in place, though the percentage is surely going to rise with more IoT solution providers raising the levels of their IoT services.

• IoT in Healthcare

Before IoT came into picture, patient's interaction with doctors was limited to physical visits, tele and text-based communications. There was no way to monitor a patient's health for continuous periods and give proactive recommendations. IoT enabled devices have made remote monitoring possible which is used by physicians to deliver superlative care to patients.

The data collected through IoT devices like fitness bands, glucometer and others allows physicians to decide the best treatment process for an individual. Based on the patient's calorie count, heartbeat count, blood pressure variations, etc the physicians give suitable feedback or ask for a medical visit in case of emergencies. Thus with faster disease diagnosis through IoT applications, healthcare professionals are delivering better services to vulnerable patients.

In a Nutshell

Incorporating an IoT solution in the business setup enables real-time data access and performance monitoring for enterprises. Moreover, with the use of other transforming technologies including AI and Blockchain with IoT enabled solutions, organizations experience more accurate and secure data access in an IoT network. However, the world of IoT enabled devices continues to expand as businesses come up with new industry-specific use cases. 

The post IoT Application Development Trends to Watch Out in 2021 appeared first on Datafloq.