“If you want to go fast, go alone”

THE pandemic has made information easily available at the click of a mouse. But is it doing a disservice in terms of telling stories as a journalist?

While the information overload shows no sign of abating, it begs the question for how long does one have to attend “online” media briefings? Surely, there is only so much of Zoom or Microsoft Teams and any other video platform that one can take.

Joining the still fascinating Huawei’s Better World Summit for 5G + AR, earlier in the week, it still left me feeling that there were much too many talking heads when David Byrne, frontman of the band (Talking Heads), would have been a treat.

I missed the drudge of taking a Gautrain to the airport. The swift blast at 160km per hour as advertised by the speed train which is slow when compared to the machines in Asia, for example. I missed walking the long distance to check-in from the Gautrain. Then the wait at customs queues, first with security, don’t forget to dispense with the water bottle, before, finally, making it to the other side.

The boarding process, depending on whether one is flying business or cattle class, is always better for having made it this far. Then the long journey begins, and one is fed, depending on the class, either like Harry and Meghan or like a pauper.

Ah the joys of travel, arriving in a foreign land, whisked through their customs, where some are always difficult because it is in their nature.

To dream momentarily, this new normal while listening to Huawei experts on the joys of 5G, is not the same as seeing them up close and personal from Shenzhen, China where this event took place.

Please. No more online excitement. Let’s keep some in store when travel resumes. But, at least, Huawei are on the go, while others seem silent. Have you heard from Apple in years?

But it was fascinating about what is to come. Huawei Carrier BG chief marketing officer Bob Cai said that 5G will switch on (Augmented Reality) AR, and AR will light up 5G.

“AR will first see massive adoption in five prioritised industries: education, social networking, shopping, traveling and navigation, and gaming,” said Cai.

“AR can truly enable the convergence of the physical and digital worlds, making dreams a reality.”

At the event, Cai demonstrated how Huawei “produces” AR. Huawei’s Air Photo uses unique algorithms to convert a 2D photo into a digital 3D model, considerably simplifying AR 3D character modelling.

Cai also introduced Huawei AR Engine, the company’s AR development platform oriented toward mobile devices.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” said Cai, adding that the development of AR requires the entire industry to work together and create a prosperous 5G + AR value chain.

“AR and 5G are combining at the right time. 5G switches on AR, and AR lights up 5G.”