Jason Martell

Jason Martell is an entrepreneur in the tech space. For 15+ years he has cultivated a unique skill set in UX, UI, Mobile, Creative and Interactive technology. He primarily focuses on the fintech and gaming sectors. In addition to his career in tech, Mr. Martell independently pursues research in ancient civilization technologies. He has written successful books, lectured around the world, guested on Ancient Aliens (The History Channel), and even created one of the top paranormal websites online: XFacts.com.

[kartlad]

Ripple wants to invest in startups that will put its XRP cryptocurrency to work

Payments company Ripple says it plans to invest in startups and technology companies to develop more uses for XRP, its cryptocurrency that is currently the third largest digital token behind bitcoin and Ethereum based on total market cap.

[futurescope]

9 massive banks just teamed up to take the technology behind bitcoin mainstream

Nine of the world's top banks have formed a partnership with New York startup R3 to develop the "fabric" of blockchain in banking.

Yep. That was quick. In a certain way.

[jasonmartell-blog]

Blockchain Technology and Its Impact on CryptoCurrency

Jason Martell originally published this post on his website. 

The meteoric growth of Bitcoin last year saw cryptocurrency break into the mainstream. Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed to $1,000 per coin in early January of 2017, and peaked at around $20,000 in mid-December. Those who bought into Bitcoin early were rewarded with dividends beyond the most optimistic stockbroker’s wildest fantasies. Mortgages were paid off, Bugattis were bought, and fortunes were made overnight, giving rise to the phenom of the “Bitcoin millionaire.”

In the aftermath of Bitcoin’s mainstreaming, economic analysts who once mocked cryptocurrencies’ potential were forced to reevaluate their stance. Although some remain wary–perhaps rightfully so–it’s clear that, for many investors and alternative currency enthusiasts, digitized money holds an undeniable allure. Much of the appeal stems from cryptocurrencies’ use of blockchain technology–a method of digital bookkeeping in which anonymous transactions are conducted and verified without the involvement of a third party.

In contrast to crypto’s newfound spotlight, the origins of blockchain are somewhat shadowy. Bitcoin–and the blockchain tech used to trade it–was invented in 2009, by a person or group known only by the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto.” Nakamoto characterized blockchain as a safe, efficient, and cost effective way to exchange Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Blockchain functions as a highly encrypted, decentralized ledger. When an anonymous user requests a transaction, the exchange is broadcast to all computers, or nodes, in the network, and validity is confirmed via the completion of consensus algorithms. Each transaction is then recorded in a page-like database, or “block,” and shared across a peer-to-peer network, creating a “chained” together series of entries. Once a block is verified and added to the chain, its data is locked in place.

The result is a public record of all transactions; completely decentralized, yet accessible to all. Blockchain’s system of registers is equally distributed and connected, so it doesn’t suffer from traditional human and machine errors. No exchange can take place without the consent of involved parties. Blockchain’s lack of a centralized weak point also dramatically reduces the likelihood of data corruption and hacking.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have proven what blockchain can accomplish so far. Bitcoin’s success is evidenced by its widespread adoption, not to mention the fact that crypto’s daily trading volumes have managed to rival the New York Stock Exchange. But Bitcoin’s original foray into blockchain was only the start; now, the technology has been refined and redistributed in the form of cryptocurrencies like ethereum. Generated by an open-source, blockchain based platform, ethereum offers a public source code that can be adapted to conduct transactions involving any digital asset. Many of today’s digital tokens are ethereum-based.

[jasonmartell-blog]

The Nintendo Switch and its 3 Upcoming Guaranteed Wins

Jason Martell originally published this post on his website. 

When Nintendo first announced the Switch in October of 2016, many weren’t sure what to expect. Details were sparse, and the flagging sales of their previous console–the arguably half-baked Wii U–left doubt hanging heavy in the minds of even the most diehard Nintendo fans. But when the Switch finally arrived, it brought in tow such masterpieces as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Odyssey. Both games were heaped with flawless reviews, and in their wake, it was much less shocking to hear that the Switch had sold faster than any previous console in US history.

For how well it’s served them, Nintendo’s strategy has always been deceptively simple. Appeal to the franchise faithful with creative and well-crafted instant classics, while attracting a new crowd by presenting Nintendo offerings as a friendlier, simpler experience more suited to the “casual” gamer.

Traditionally, Nintendo’s blueprint for prosperity has also been its greatest weakness–because it depends on the success of a few big-name franchises to fuel sales, the company can suffer following a slow release season, or a poorly received major title. With the blockbuster launches of Zelda and Marioalready behind them, concerns have arisen that Nintendo may have front-loaded their launch schedule. However, those worries are easily dispelled when considering three upcoming games that are all but guaranteed to be fantastic editions to the Switch’s library.

Mario Kart 9

It may be a while before a new Mario Kart arrives on the Switch, since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just released this past April. Nonetheless, it’s a near certainty that the Switch will be graced with an exclusive Mario Kart. The series is among Nintendo’s top performers, and one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. Mario Kart is adored by fans of all ages; many think of it as Nintendo’s prime multiplayer title. Mario Kart 6, for instance, sold an incredible 37 million copies, becoming the sixth highest selling video game of all time.  

Super Smash Bros. Switch

The Switch version of Smash Bros. could debut relatively soon, considering Nintendo shows no indication of remastering the franchise’s last title, which was released in 2014 for the 3DS and Wii U. With the Switch, Nintendo seems to be expanding its repertoire of original titles, and games like Splatoon and Arms boast a brand new talent pool for the character lineup of Nintendo’s iconic brawler. Nintendo also won’t have to waste efforts porting Super Smash Bros. across handheld and home consoles this time around.

Pokemon Switch

Every new Pokemon release is almost guaranteed to be a sales juggernaut, but–aside from a few spinoffs–past releases of Nintendo’s famed creature catcher were relegated to handhelds exclusively. The Switch, however, is both portable system and home console, and Nintendo’s revelation that the eighth generation of Pokemon is being developed only for the Switch changes the game. A fully realized, graphically superior Pokemon could unite Nintendo’s console players and handheld faithful alike, and spur Switch sales like no title before it.

Honorable mentions include Metroid Prime 4, a title already confirmed by Nintendo, as well as the inevitable Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Star Fox releases we should expect down the line. But if anything at all is predictable from past Nintendo trends, the titles listed above are sure to achieve wild success and unprecedented sales.

[jasonmartell-blog]

Augmented Reality on iOS 11

Originally published by Jason Martell on his website.

Augmented Reality (AR) technology is no longer the stuff of science fiction movies. With the recent Apple release of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, augmented reality is now available to consumers in the palm of their hands, and customers aren’t the only ones who are excited.

Now that there are devices that are AR compatible, the next step is development of apps and programs that will make use of AR technology, and businesses large and small are taking notice and starting to respond.

To the average phone user, the addition of AR might not mean much or carry much significance, but for the number of businesses and brands who have been excitedly waiting for devices able to host AR programs, this is a dream come true.

With the release of the new iPhones, Apple added numerous updates to their software that will make AR compatibility a reality. The phones’ cameras are capable of handling 60fps video which is high enough quality to generate these augmented environments. Also included are accelerometer and gyroscope technologies as well which are crucial for accurately tracking motion.

While AR development is no simple feat, Apple is taking steps to make creating AR apps easier for developers. At the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this year, Apple first hinted at the focus they’d be placing on AR technology in the future when they introduced ARKit, a “cutting-edge platform” to develop AR apps for iPad and iPhone.

A beautiful example of this is how Major League Baseball is looking to utilize this technology for its fans. The MLB At Bat app on the iPhone 8 will give fans more access to data and stats; by simply pointing their phones at the field during games, iPhone 8 users will be able to see stats and information for each player on the field.

Even non-tech businesses are catching onto the trend and looking for ways to implement AR technology; just look at Ikea. The furniture and home decor giant released an app through ARKit called Ikea Place which will allow customers to visualize what furniture will look like in their homes before they purchase it.

As more and more brands look for ways to capitalize on this emerging technology, we’ll undoubtedly see more and more ways that AR technology is implemented into our lives.

[virtual-reality-dimensions]

Take the guesswork out of furniture buying with IKEA’s new AR app

IKEA’s new app allows the user to directly insert furniture into a picture of the room so there is no more guessing if it fits or looks alright.

[analyticisms]

#FridayFunFact: VR & AR are fast becoming the latest digital trend (and next marketing platform target). This is an interesting projection of what the market could be like for VR/AR apllications.

[prostheticknowledge]

AR Spatial Audio Recorder

Another smart AR experiment from Zach Lieberman proving Augmented Reality is an interesting creative platform: this one visualizes audio as it is recording and plays back as you follow the path both forwards and backwards:

A post shared by zach lieberman (@zach.lieberman) on Sep 6, 2017 at 5:55am PDT

Quick test recording audio in space and playing back – (video has audio !) #openframeworks 

Link

[earthstory]

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mightyfossils Mobile application with augmented reality. Ordovician sea (workn in progress)

[prepaidafrica]

Africa is the world leader in mobile money (and related innovation)

[futurescope]

9 massive banks just teamed up to take the technology behind bitcoin mainstream

Nine of the world's top banks have formed a partnership with New York startup R3 to develop the "fabric" of blockchain in banking.

Yep. That was quick. In a certain way.

[jasonmartell-blog]

Twitch Announces Extensions & API for Developers

Jason Martell originally published this post on his website.

Video games are an immensely popular pastime not only in America but across the globe. There are now over 1.8 billion gamers in the world, with 64% using a PC and 56% using a console as their preferred platform; as playing video games continues to grow in popularity, people are finding new ways to enjoy them outside of actually manning the controller. Because of the vast universes and seemingly unlimited possibilities and options available to players, watching players livestreaming their games as they play them has grown in popularity.

Perhaps the most prominent platform that gamers use regularly to stream their playing is Twitch. Launched in 2011, Twitch is leading global social video platform and community for video game enthusiasts to connect. Twitch sees over 100 million unique monthly users and 15 million visitors each day with 2 million different creators broadcasting on a monthly basis. Through this site, users watch skilled players navigate various games, explore new games they’re considering purchasing, and chat with other gamers and creators as they’re playing and developing various games.

However, for as much as Twitch offers its users, interaction between the livestreamer and their audience has been very limited, at least until now. On September 1, Twitch announced that it would be introducing extensions to the platform that will benefit livestreamers with the help of developers — these extensions will enable developers to create interactive overlays that will allow the audience to engage with the gamer in new ways.

These extensions are being released in an effort to boost how the livestreamer is able to interact with their audience. So far, interactions have been limited to watching and commenting in a chat with whoever else happens to be watching, but with the help of developers, Twitch is looking to develop overlays that will appear on the video as you watch it. For now, what these interactions will look like and consist of is rather up in the air until developers have a chance to create these overlays.

Alongside the unveiling of these extensions is the announcement of the new Twitch API (Application Programming Interface), which is available now and puts necessary data into the hands of developers to help them build the required tools to help gamers and creators grow their audiences. As Dallas Tester, a Product Manager at Twitch.tv, said, the Twitch API “is our love letter to developers,” and a way for those in the developer community to help the site build and grow.