Rebirth 08: Rise from copycat phones

Chapter 548 Brain-Computer Interface Bionic Hand

Vcool Electronics officially announced its entry into the virtual device industry and announced that its virtual device development is progressing smoothly and is expected to be officially released next fall.

Vcool Electronics' proactive announcement of its foray into the virtual equipment market has triggered a chain reaction.

The following day, a senior executive from the fruit company revealed some details about their virtual equipment during an interview with reporters:
"Our virtual device development is progressing smoothly and has now entered the late testing phase. Trust me, we will not disappoint consumers. Next summer, we will be able to bring consumers a huge surprise!"

Two days later, Four Stars officially announced their virtual device plan and even showed a somewhat obscured CG image. However, it was just a VR headset; there was no omnidirectional treadmill or host machine on display.

This has led many to believe that the VR virtual reality device developed by Samsung is simply an upgraded version of a VR headset...

That's indeed true!
In the current virtual reality device field, only the Yun VW series virtual reality devices from Zhiyun Group have omnidirectional treadmills and mechanical walls, which can provide not only visual and sound effect simulation, but also posture simulation, and also feed back the real-time movements of the human body into the game.

However, the virtual devices developed by other companies are actually just large VR glasses that incorporate the Zhiyun Physics Simulation Engine released by Zhiyun Group to better simulate physical effects... The control methods are also limited to keyboard and mouse or joystick.

The VR virtual reality devices being developed by many companies, such as Vcool Electronics, Fruit, Sixing, Gugou, and Huawi, all belong to this type of VR virtual reality device.

The differences between these two devices are enormous!

However, there's nothing other manufacturers can do about it, since they can't master the underlying technology of VR omnidirectional treadmill virtual devices: artificial intelligence!

Therefore, the only way to achieve a certain level of virtual visuals is through clever tricks.

Even the software development is actually based on the Zhiyun Physical Simulation Engine, which is released for free by Zhiyun Group... otherwise it would be no different from VR glasses.

According to information gleaned from some supply chain manufacturers, reporters have also determined that next year should be the period when major manufacturers release VR virtual reality devices on a large scale.

One of the key pieces of news is that CSOT, a core supplier of VR display screens for virtual reality devices, has been successively announcing the expansion of its fifth-generation Micro OLED screen production capacity.

It can be basically confirmed that by next summer, the production capacity of CSOT's fifth-generation Micro OLED screens will likely increase to more than one million units per month, which is enough to meet the production of 500,000 virtual devices.

Such a huge production capacity cannot be consumed by the virtual equipment of Zhiyun Group alone... Zhiyun Group's virtual equipment is still too expensive, and it cannot sell so much.

If all goes according to plan, this extra production capacity will be purchased by manufacturers such as Apple, Four Star, and Vcool Electronics to produce their VR virtual reality devices.

The fifth-generation Micro OLED screen is a core component in virtual devices... Regardless of the mode or performance of the virtual device, the user must first see a high-quality picture. Currently, only CSOT's fifth-generation Micro OLED screen can meet this requirement.

Of course, other screen manufacturers are also striving to catch up in this field... trying to get on the fast track of the virtual era.

The virtual industry has exploded. Many analysts believe that the market size of the entire virtual device hardware industry is expected to reach more than $100 billion next year, and this growth rate will continue for several years, potentially reaching more than $200 billion within the next three years.

Although the majority of this market will be captured by Zhiyun Group, it will still leave enough market space for other manufacturers to survive.

In fact, many people outside the industry have overlooked the fact that even low-end VR virtual reality devices produced by other manufacturers still have to pay money to Zhiyun Group or other companies controlled by Xu Shenxue!
For example, Huaxing Technology, which provides fifth-generation Micro OLED screens, is controlled by Xu Shenxue.

There's also the crucial computing power of the graphics cards, and currently only Zhiyun Semiconductor can provide them with APO series graphics cards... and they can't do without APO graphics cards.

This would prevent the running of a range of virtual content software, such as crucial virtual games.

Currently, all kinds of virtual content software, such as virtual games, use the Zhiyun Physics Simulation Engine, which is released for free by Zhiyun Group, as well as other virtual content development software... and these virtual content development software are all part of Zhiyun's unified development architecture.

The Zhiyun Unified Development Architecture, often referred to as 'YUDA' by industry professionals, supports a range of chips from the Zhiyun Group, including desktop or server CPUs, consumer-grade GPUs, server GPUs, and various smart terminal SoCs.

The unified development architecture contains a vast amount of software, covering numerous industries. For example, in the electric vehicle industry, even when R&D personnel at major automakers are developing their own intelligent driving systems, they use the YUDA architecture and the PX computing platform.

Various smart terminal content manufacturers, when developing various software, especially mobile games, also need to develop based on YUDA, because Zhiyun Semiconductor's SOCs ship more than one billion units annually...

In the GPU field, especially in the server GPU field, it goes without saying that YUDA must be used, otherwise APO graphics cards cannot be used.

And all the ecosystem content developed based on YUDA can only use GPU chips from Zhiyun Group... and vice versa, using Zhiyun Group's GPU chips can only be developed using the YUDA architecture.

Furthermore, various open-source AI models only support YUDA.

This is a closed-loop architecture that Zhiyun Group has painstakingly built over the years, consisting of an open-source artificial intelligence model, the YUDA development framework, and various APO computing chips.

Now, we also need to add a virtual industry!
To use the Zhiyun Physics Simulation Engine, you must use the computing chips from Zhiyun Semiconductor!
Therefore, the more virtual devices other manufacturers develop and sell, the more APO graphics cards Zhiyun Semiconductor can sell.

Otherwise, Zhiyun Group wouldn't spend so much manpower and resources every year to continuously update the various development software under the YUDA development framework... You know, these development software are all free and open to the public, and anyone can use them for free.

But Zhiyun Group is unlikely to do charity work!

The Zhiyun Physics Simulation Engine is a very typical ecosystem product... It was developed by Zhiyun Group and is provided free of charge to various virtual content manufacturers. However, virtual content products developed using this product can only run on Zhiyun's computing chips... It does not support computing chips from other semiconductor manufacturers such as AMD or Qualcomm.

Therefore, even if Apple wants to develop virtual devices, it still has to use this Zhiyun physics simulation engine and needs to purchase APO graphics cards from the Zhiyun Group...

In this way, Zhiyun Group can also obtain substantial returns from other manufacturers' virtual equipment businesses by selling computing chips.

This is also why Zhiyun Group doesn't actually rule out other manufacturers developing virtual devices... Anyway, their technology is inferior, and they can't possibly threaten Zhiyun Group's virtual device market. Supporting them can even help sell graphics cards.

--------

Just as the outside world was experiencing some turmoil due to VR virtual devices, Xu Shenxue saw another new research result from the virtual business division of Zhiyun Group: a bionic robotic arm based on non-invasive brain-computer interface technology!

What appeared before Xu Shenxue was a volunteer with a missing right hand... Although called a volunteer, he was actually an employee of the Zhiyun Group.

There are many employees at Zhiyun Group, including some with disabilities, among whom are many highly skilled engineers.

After all, research and development is all about brainpower, and physical disabilities don't really matter... As long as someone's mind works well enough, even if their physical disability makes it difficult for them to work, Zhiyun Group can provide them with a dedicated assistant to help them.

Now, a company employee with a missing right hand is wearing a prosthetic robotic arm on the severed part of his right hand.

And the prosthetic robotic arm is still performing various movements, with its metal fingers moving flexibly and freely.

A staff member explained, "This bionic robotic arm is based on our latest non-invasive brain-computer interface technology. After strictly controlling the signal feedback module, we only retained the human neural output module, and then created a commercial product!"

"We have improved the flexible electrode material to better collect and analyze neural electrical signals within the human body!"

"Most importantly, we used some of the underlying AI algorithm technologies from the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute to train the algorithm for this intelligent bionic robotic arm, which can more accurately identify and execute neural computer signals!"

"Mr. Xu, look, our robotic arm can achieve the same performance as a normal human arm!"

At this moment, Xu Shenxue also saw the employee wearing the robotic arm. The robotic arm moved very flexibly and looked very natural... If it weren't for the obvious difference in appearance, it would look no different from a human hand.

Following that, the volunteer staff demonstrated a series of operations, such as writing with a pen and typing on a keyboard!
The operation process is very comfortable to watch, and you can't see any unnatural or uncoordinated feeling from the robotic arm.

Xu Shenxue said, "This bionic robotic arm is quite well made!"

He also picked up another sample and looked at it. The tail of this robotic arm was hollow, so it could be inserted into the arm.

The robotic arm is also lightweight, likely due to the use of many lightweight materials, which reduces the burden on the human body.

"Our robotic arm also uses a high-capacity solid-state battery, which provides excellent overall battery life."

"In terms of precision, our robotic arm is very good at controlling motion posture. Its accuracy is no worse than that of a human hand, and it is even more stable and precise!"

Xu Shenxue said, "Has this bionic robotic arm reached the standards for mass production and market launch? If so, making it would provide a better option for people with disabilities!"

The project leader said, "There are no more problems with the core technology. Our next step is to continuously optimize the algorithm and train the model. However, this is a long-term project. We can push system updates to upgrade the algorithm for the existing product later!"

"There are no hardware problems, but for mass production, the solid-state battery will have to wait for Hailan Battery's large-scale mass production!"

"From a technical standpoint, this product is already problem-free!" "After all, in order to reach the level of mass production and market launch, we have actually made significant compromises to our non-invasive brain-computer interface technology to ensure that no problems arise!"

"Our fully non-invasive brain-computer interface technology includes both the output and input of human brainwave signals!"

"However, the technology for directly inputting signals into the human brain is not yet mature enough and there are still certain unknown risks. Therefore, we have not applied a neural input module to this bionic robotic arm for the time being!"

"However, we have already verified the feasibility of model input in our non-invasive brain-computer interface technology through numerous previous animal experiments!"

"Next, we will continue to conduct in-depth research and development on this neural signal input technology, and continue to adjust and enhance the algorithm and the security of the entire system to avoid the risk of unauthorized data intrusion!"

"However, it will still be quite a long time before it is safe and practical!"

Brain-computer interface technology, whether invasive or non-invasive, carries risks to personal data security.

Data privacy and security are easy to understand. If everything a person is thinking can be analyzed through brainwave patterns, including memories, this would lead to huge data privacy risks.

Then there's the issue of unauthorized intrusion... What if some junk or illegal data gets through this system and invades a person's brain? It could potentially create an idiot... or directly alter their memories or worldview.

The potential risks are actually very high!
This is because it treats the human brain as a computer... and no matter how good the security level of a computer is, there is always the possibility of it being hacked, which could lead to data leaks, data deletion, or even system crashes!
Why do I say this? Because when Zhiyun Group conducted animal experiments, they produced quite a few similar results... During their animal experiments, they successfully and directly altered the cognition of the experimental animals many times by inputting brain-computer signals.

This terrified them. This technology is even somewhat similar to the memory deletion techniques in novels. If it is widely released and misused... the consequences will not be good.

Therefore, Zhiyun Group is actually very cautious when conducting brain-computer interface technology research and development.

Especially in the area of ​​technology that directly connects to brainwaves, research is being conducted with extreme caution. Human trials are now strictly prohibited; each experiment requires a special application and is carried out under rigorous protection and oversight.

Furthermore, the non-invasive brain-computer interface technology they've developed is actually quite advanced, but Zhiyun Group hasn't even dared to release it publicly...

Even the researchers are afraid of unexpected things happening!

If the system is massively compromised after a large-scale release, and then a large number of users' minds are formatted, then everything would be completely ruined.

Therefore, brain-computer interface technology needs further research and development, especially in terms of ensuring safety.

However, genuine non-invasive brain interface technology is too risky to use... but it would be a waste to just put the product on display after it's been developed.

So they took a part of the non-invasive brain-computer interface technology, mainly the human neural output module and signal analysis technology, and then created this bionic robotic arm... It not only has a hand, but also a mechanical leg!

The resulting object wouldn't be so scary; it would just be a robotic arm that mimics limbs.

When Xu Shenxue saw this thing, he felt that it was of course useless to ordinary people, but it could help a large number of people with physical disabilities.

So after reviewing this product, I instructed the supply chain and marketing departments to follow up and explore the possibilities of mass production and commercialization.

Xu Shenxue then approached the person in charge of charity work and asked them to set up a charity project to provide bionic robotic arms for 'impoverished people with physical disabilities'!
Xu Shenxue has a large number of charitable projects under his management. With his business at this level, whether he likes it or not, he has to keep up with the charitable projects.

This can also be considered another way of fulfilling social responsibility.

For example, in China, Zhuyun Group has established the largest scholarship fund for outstanding but impoverished college students, providing financial assistance to at least 100,000 such students annually, enabling them to complete their studies smoothly in a relatively relaxed environment without worrying about tuition and living expenses.

It is worth noting that many of them joined Zhiyun Group after graduation!

There are also many in the medical field, which provide financial assistance to a considerable number of impoverished patients every year, and there are many medical charitable foundations.

For example, Galaxy Pharmaceuticals has a dedicated charity project for cancer patients from impoverished families.

For impoverished cancer patients with indications for Xelocta, the out-of-pocket portion of Xelocta after medical insurance coverage will be waived!
Xeloda is a very expensive drug. The cost of it under the domestic medical insurance is 100,000 yuan per month, and most people's medical insurance cannot fully reimburse it, so they still have to pay a portion out of pocket... For ordinary families, tens of thousands of yuan in out-of-pocket expenses are not a big deal.

However, for impoverished families, the tens of thousands of yuan in out-of-pocket medical expenses could be overwhelming. Therefore, Galaxy Pharmaceutical will waive the out-of-pocket medical expenses for these extremely impoverished families.

Of course, only impoverished families can apply... Basically, any family that owns a commercial property, has a working adult, or has a history of high consumption will be ineligible to apply.

After all, Galaxy Pharmaceuticals is using its own money for charity, so the review process will be very strict.

Then there are all sorts of other miscellaneous charity projects... Xu Shenxue spends billions of yuan on charity every year in China!
Not only in China, but also abroad there are many charitable projects of various kinds... Of course, charitable projects abroad are more complicated, some of which are genuine charities, especially in the medical field.

Some are just putting on a show, using charity as a pretext for advertising.

Others involve the transfer of benefits... donating money to charitable foundations controlled by important figures in certain countries, and not caring what the money is used for!

In short, Xu Shenxue has been involved in a great deal of charity work!
Now, they are preparing to add a special charity project for impoverished people with physical disabilities, donating bionic robotic arms or reducing some of the costs for them.

This is both to help people and to advertise and gain favor!
After completing the preliminary preparations, Zhiyun Group established a brand new subsidiary and held a small press conference in the name of the subsidiary to officially release the intelligent bionic robotic hand/leg.

However, pre-orders are only being accepted now, and official sales and shipping will not begin until April next year... because by then, Hailan Battery will be able to provide solid-state batteries on a large scale.

And the price is relatively cheap... According to the tradition of Zhiyun Group, such high-tech products are usually extremely expensive, and it is normal for them to cost millions.

However, for this intelligent bionic robotic arm product, a low-price strategy was adopted for the first time. The standard version of the intelligent bionic hand is priced at only 260,000 yuan, while the high-end version is priced at 360,000 yuan.

This price is already considered very cheap. Some foreign companies have also developed similar bionic hands, but their technology is worse, yet their prices are hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Zhiyun Group directly priced this product at over 200,000... effectively reducing the price by a quarter or even a fifth.

Of course, even at this price, Zhuyun Group can still make a profit, just not as much.

At the same time, this price also leaves room for domestic high-tech companies, especially startups, to survive in the same product market... More than 200,000 yuan is still relatively expensive.

Several other domestic companies that make bionic hands breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the price: thankfully, there are still companies that can produce them at this price.

Once we develop the product, even if we price it at around 100,000 yuan, there will still be a market for it.

This also spurred them to accelerate research and development... Zhiyun Group has already begun to pave the way, opening up the market and getting potential consumers to accept the concept of intelligent bionic hands.

Furthermore, Zhuyun Group's products are expensive, with the standard version costing 260,000 yuan and the high-end version costing 360,000 yuan... This puts a lot of pressure on many potential consumers.

If they can quickly launch a product with similar functions, even if its performance is slightly inferior, as long as the price is kept below 100,000 yuan, there will still be a market for it, enough for the company to survive.

The successful development and release of the intelligent bionic hand is not a significant business for Zhiyun Group; it is merely a byproduct of its research and development in the field of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces.

The development of Zhiyun Group's non-invasive brain-computer interface technology is not for making robotic arms... but for making truly meaningful virtual device products.

They want a truly groundbreaking virtual reality helmet or pod that connects directly to the virtual world using brainwave patterns – a cutting-edge, high-tech product!

Otherwise, Zhiyun Group wouldn't have invested so heavily in the field of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces... The R&D expenses for the entire project are also very large, with billions of dollars being poured into it.

The combined R&D investment of all other research institutions or companies worldwide in the field of brain-computer interfaces does not equal the investment of Zhiyun Group alone.

As long as Zhiyun Group succeeds in the virtual industry and foresees the huge market potential of truly virtual devices and virtual worlds... plus the scientists at Zhiyun Group are quite confident that as long as the funding is in place, they will definitely be able to develop it.

That's why there's such a large investment in research and development!
Other companies are unlikely to invest such a large sum... It's not that they don't have the money, but that they lack the confidence to develop a practical, non-invasive brain-computer interface technology.

Therefore, many research institutions and companies are doing small-scale, low-investment exploration of technical theories, but only Zhiyun Group is conducting large-scale research and development.

Even if Zhiyun Group wanted to do it, it wouldn't be easy!
But if it can actually be made, the economic benefits and even social changes it will bring will be enormous!

(End of this chapter)