Meta has finally pulled the curtain back on what its plans for third-party chats in WhatsApp and Messenger will look like. The change, which is coming for users in the European Union, introduces new options to put Messenger and WhatsApp messages in the same inbox as third-party chats or keep them separate.

It’s building new notifications into Messenger and WhatsApp as well, which will let users know when they can link chats from newly-supported apps. Meta says it has “gone above and beyond the ‘basic’ features required for interoperable messaging,” and will offer rich messaging features, like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts.

It will also start including the option to create groups with other people in third-party chats next year. But Meta’s plan for interoperability goes beyond messaging — the company says it will roll out support for third-party video and voice calls in 2027.

Meta has been working on bringing third-party chats into WhatsApp and Messenger for users in the EU for quite some time. The company is considered a “digital gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which means it must comply with requirements to make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable with third-party apps, like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, Signal, and others.

There are some hurdles it will have to overcome, as other companies that want to integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger will need to use the same Signal Protocol to keep messages private. In a copy of the agreement third-party apps have to sign, Meta says it will make the Signal Protocol available to partners upon request.

Have you ever wondered how our brave soldiers deal with nasty stuff like chemical and biological weapons? Currently, it’s a risky and time-consuming process. Soldiers have to suit up in cumbersome NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protective gear and spend about an hour decontaminating a single vehicle. It’s not just uncomfortable, it’s downright dangerous, putting our troops directly in harm’s way.

However, that’s all about to change because the Army is rolling out some seriously cool robot tech that’s about to change the game. So, instead of soldiers suiting up in those bulky hazmat suits to clean contaminated vehicles, they’ve got smart robots doing the dirty work. 

This new system, called the autonomous equipment decontamination system, is all about keeping our troops safe. Let’s look into how this new technology is revolutionizing military operations and making the battlefield a whole lot safer for our men and women in uniform.

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The threat of NBC weapons

Nuclear, chemical and biological (NBC) weapons have long been a source of fear and deterrence in global conflicts. While their use has been limited since World War I, the potential for deployment by rogue states or in near-peer conflicts remains a constant concern. Countries like Iraq and Syria have demonstrated that these weapons still exist and can be used, prompting NATO and other military organizations to conduct regular anti-NBC drills to prepare for potential threats.

Autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

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The challenges of decontamination

Decontaminating vehicles and equipment exposed to chemical or biological agents is a daunting task that poses significant challenges. The process is not only time-consuming but also extremely dangerous for the soldiers involved. It can take up to an hour and require the efforts of 30 soldiers, all of whom must wear cumbersome NBC suits designed to protect them from exposure. These suits, while theoretically capable of being worn for extended periods, can be uncomfortable and restrictive, making the decontamination process even more arduous.

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Autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

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Enter the robots

To address these challenges, the Army is developing the autonomous equipment decontamination system. This innovative robotic system utilizes cameras and a mobile platform to identify contaminated areas and clean them without putting soldiers at risk. By taking on the dangerous task of decontamination, the system promises to enhance safety for military personnel in the field.

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Autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

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How it works

The autonomous equipment decontamination system employs a camera-equipped unmanned ground vehicle that scans the contaminated vehicle’s surface. As it circles the vehicle, the camera transmits contamination data back to operators who are safely positioned at a computer. A robotic arm then uses this data to apply a special cleaning solution to the identified hot spots. This approach not only protects soldiers from hazardous exposure but also conserves valuable decontaminants, which are often in limited supply during military operations.

Army personnel operating the autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

Soldier feedback

At a recent testing event called MSPIX (Maneuver Support and Protection Integration eXperiments), soldiers from the 1st Armored Division had the opportunity to operate the system and provide crucial feedback. Their insights will play an important role in refining the technology and ensuring it meets the needs of those on the front lines.

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The soldiers expressed their enthusiasm about the system, emphasizing that it allows them to remain safe while effectively managing decontamination tasks. They appreciated the user-friendly interface and the opportunity to communicate directly with the technology developers, ensuring that their requirements were taken into account.

Soldiers giving feedback on autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

The benefits

The autonomous equipment decontamination system offers several significant advantages. By keeping soldiers away from dangerous contaminants, it reduces the risk to human life during decontamination operations. Additionally, the system minimizes the time and soldiers required for these tasks, allowing military personnel to focus on their primary missions. Furthermore, by conserving water and decontaminant resources, the system enhances operational efficiency. What’s more, the ability to operate the system from a safe distance ensures that soldiers can maintain their safety while effectively managing potential threats.

Autonomous equipment decontamination system (U.S. Army)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The development of the autonomous equipment decontamination system is a game-changer when it comes to keeping our soldiers safe from the dangers posed by chemical and biological weapons. By harnessing the power of robotics and autonomous technology, the military is not only reducing the risks to human life but also making decontamination procedures much more efficient. As this technology advances, it’s becoming an essential tool in modern warfare. It allows our military personnel to operate safely and effectively, even in hazardous environments.

In a world where the threat of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons is still very real, innovations like this are vital for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our armed forces. It’s reassuring to think about how these advancements can help protect those who serve and keep them out of harm’s way.

How do you feel about the impact of technology on soldier safety? Do you think robotic systems are the future of military operations? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Google is rolling out a new ChromeOS update that makes it easier to keep your on-screen apps organized, copy text from images, and adjust camera and microphone settings on Chromebook devices.

The ChromeOS camera app now supports Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract text from captured images of letters or other documents. It allows users to copy or search the text in images, more easily convert images into searchable PDFs, and have the built-in ChromeOS screen reader speak image-based text. Google says its OCR supports both horizontal and vertical detection in 77 languages, and is disabled by default in photo mode.

Additionally, the Magnifier tool will now work with ChromeVox — allowing the screen magnifier to automatically follow words when text is read aloud, helping visually impaired users to keep their place. This is also disabled by default, and will require both Magnifier and ChromeVox to be enabled in the device settings.

Chromebook cameras and microphones are also getting some quality-of-life improvements — using them requires turning on privacy controls and app permissions in two separate places, but now Google has simplified this by adding software permissions to the apps section of the ChromeOS settings menu. There’s also a new Auto Gain Control (AGC) feature that allows apps like video calling software to automatically optimize microphone volume. This should improve the audio quality on calls and will notify users in the quick settings panel when the feature is overriding manual audio controls.