In our
21st century technology world, it is hard to believe that public
payphones still even exist. New York City agrees that these old wired phones
are a thing of the past and they now have plans to replace all but 3 payphones
in the city. The 3 remaining phones will remain as part of the town’s “historic”
scenery.
The replacement
for the payphones will be a tall aluminum pillar that contains several features
from the new world of technology and connectivity. The main feature that will
replace the payphone will be a touchscreen that will enable users to make free
domestic calls and even video chat for free. Another feature will be usb ports
that will allow anyone to charge their mobile devices or tablets for free.
Finally, every tower will have free wifi hotspots with a radius of 150 feet.
This will make New York the largest municipal to ever offer free wifi
throughout a city
A few
people are already throwing doubt on the project saying that the towers will be
covered in graffiti and the touchscreens will be broken often. However the city
is saying that they will be checking every terminal twice a week to ensure that
it is clean and in normal operation.
Do you think this payphone replacement is a good idea?
What features do you see being the most useful with the new
technology?
You can find more information in this Wall Street Journal article.
With all the health apps out there there has to be one for swimming now. The Xmetrics is that new device. This device can do a lot of things like be your own personal trainer which tells them info as they are swimming. Other really cool things that you can do with Xmerics is that you can share your information on the web or your social media sites. On there Indiegogo web site you can read more information like who are the creators, about the device itself and what it comes with, and many more details.
There are two different types of Xmerics devices that you can chose from they are Xmetrics FIT and the Xmetrics PRO. For the Xmetrics FIT it will provide real time audio feedback and keep track of laps to swim efficiency. This device also comes with other options too. For the Xmetrics PRO it also has audio feedback and you can also review your swimming data with your coach. Besides these features their are other cool features about this device that you can read about on the different links, that I have provided for you. While they, the company, were working on making this device, they were wanting to "outshine" there competitors like Ucoach, Finis Stroke Lab, and Garmin.
Here are some questions that I would like for you to answer.
1. What do you think of this device, having a personal coach talking to you as you are swimming...
2. Would you get one if you were a swimmer or tell your friends that swims a lot?
If you have any other comments or opinions that you would like to add, please comment them.
The longstanding Ford Motor Company, whose "F-Series trucks have been the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for 37 straight years," is taking a new leap of faith for the coming year. Ford announced that it will begin production this coming Tuesday, November 18th at its Dearborn Truck Plant near the company's headquarters. It will arrive at U.S. dealerships in late December. The question is, will the new aluminum-sided F-150 set a new industry standard--or will it be a failed idea?
Ford's pitch is that the new F-150 is more full efficient and lighter, but also even more capable. Aluminum is a familiar metal in the auto industry; it's lighter than steel and just as a strong. However, this time aluminum will surround the entire body of a large vehicle. So what are the risks?
F-Series trucks have been the top selling truck in the U.S. for 37 consecutive years. In addition, they sold almost 100,000 more full-size trucks than General Motors. According to Morgan Stanley, an estimated 90% Ford's global automotive profits come from their F-Series. Any potential aluminum quality problems, production challenges, etc. could lead to customer doubts of the newly used metal, which will eventually lead to a reduction in sales.
On a positive note, Ford CEO Mark Fields to the Associated Press that the new 2015 F-150 has been through more than 10 million miles of testing--more than any vehicle in Ford's history. He claimed that the decision the idea "was a a very calculated and informed risk that gave us the confidence that we were going to get this done."
What do you think of Ford's strategic move in producing an aluminum F-150? Will it be successful, average, or mediocre in comparison to other trucks?
I can image that majority of us have all been to a cafe, bar, or restaurant that serves a variety of drinks whether that be coffee, tea, or alcohol. However, I highly doubt any of us have ever been to one that offers drinks and 3-D printing. The Proto Build Bar is a small, unique business that has combined the average cafe with the world of art.
Alex Todd, general manager of the Proto Build Bar, said it simply: "You can come in with an idea, just have something in your brain. If you know nothing about--design or you know nothing about soldering or something like that, you can come in and take some time, sit on our laptops and kind of take that idea and make something kind of just real and plastic out of it..."
A local customer said the new business feels "like it should be in New York or L.A. It's got that big city legitimacy." Another customer compared it to Silicon Valley: "I mean, even out in the Silicon Valley--I dream of being out there--but then when I heard this place was opening up...I got really excited that we're gonna have something like this right in Dayton."
According to the cafe, they are evaluating the interest in the idea of collaborating art and leisure. The Real Art Design Group, the company contracting with the bar to have their 3-D printer installed, said the team plans to take this prototype for a tech cafe to other bigger locations.
Do you believe this is a good or bad idea in the cafe/bar industry?
What service industries would be better suited for the integration/installation of a 3-D printer for consumer use?
A new start-up called Bluesmart is hoping to revolutionize the
way we see luggage. Bluesmart is developing a smart suitcase that will offer a variety
of features that will take away much of the hassle surrounding luggage when traveling.
As with most new technologies being developed, the Bluesmart carry-on will be
connected and used in conjunction with a smartphone. From the Bluesmart’s app,
users can lock/unlock their suitcase, use GPS to track the location of their
suitcase, view their travel history, and check the total weight through a built
the internal scale. Another very useful feature will be the built in battery
that is capable of charging a phone 6 times over. Check out the video below to see more of the features this smart suitcase will offer.
Bluesmart is using crowdfunding through indiegogo.com to launch
the new carry-on suitcase, where they have already received over $500,000 of funding. Funders who contribute $235 will receive one of the
first Bluesmart carry-on’s produced. However, according to their crowdfunding
page, the estimated delivery is not until August 2015.
Does this carry-on sound appealing to you?
What drawbacks do you see with this technology?
What do you think of giving $235 for a product that is not
even fully developed?
To learn more about the Bluesmart suitcase, click here.
With technology increasing now days, anything is possible from doors that unlock/lock by your phone, JIBO the new personal assistant, and many, many more. These are just a a few of what technology and the improvement that we have come from like the development of cell phones and now the smartphones. Philip Barnes, from The Walt Disney Company said, "Kids are digital natives and will demand excellency in
digital."
Walt Disney Company Parks & Resorts have started using bands that use RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The MagicBand wearable
devices started in the beginning of 2014. These devices can be read by short-range and long-range readers at Walt Disney World
Resorts.
Disney decided to invest $1 Billion Dollars in a new wearable technology experiment. With this new technology you will be able to do several things like to enter the Disney parks and hotel rooms. With this device you can also purchase food and gifts,
use fast-track services and even link Disney photographs to an online account with a swipe of their
arm. This is something that you would want to use "EVERYWHERE".
Here are some questions that I would like to be answered.
1. Would you spend more that a week (if you had the money) using the Disney Magic Band?
2. What do you think of Disney doing this?
3. Do you think that more people will use this with all that it can do?
Any other comments, thoughts that you have about this...
A newer
technology that’s getting a lot of attention this week is the Hendo hoverboard.
This product will not be to unfamiliar to those who have seen the hoverboard in
the Back to the Future series. However, the current prototype could hardly be
compared to the hoverboard that was seen in the films. The Hendo hoverboard
uses magnetic fields for hovering which means that it requires a smooth metal
surface to hover over. Arx Pax, the company that created the hoverboard,
believes that the technology could eventually be developed to work on any
surface. Here is a video that shows what the current hoverboard can do.
It is likely
that most of you have already heard of using a similar technology for bullet
trains. However, the change in technology that Arx PAx is presenting is to
bring this technology to more stationary objects and a system that will
eventually be able to operate on any surface. Arx Pax believes that there are
countless areas where this technology can be applied, and honestly, the hoverboard
for humans doesn’t seem to be where they are focusing. The idea originally
began with a hope of being able to levitate buildings to protect them from
earthquakes. Now they are also talking about solutions to help company’s move inventory
in warehouses and more efficient ways for aircraft to take off.
Undoubtedly,
this technology does have the potential to change the way we live and work. If
this technology is developed to the point where it can work on any surface, it
could likely change the way that we go anywhere.
What do you
think the potential for this kind of technology is?
Learn more about the Hendo hoverboard and the company in these articles:
Here is something that I found while reading this article, ""Two million people get locked out of their homes in New York every
year," Behar said in an interview with Business Insider. "The thing
Jason and I have heard constantly is 'I hate keys.' So it seems like a
good problem to solve.""
There is a new device that is called August. The article that that I was reading said, "August is another company exploring the buzzy "Internet of Things" trend..." There is another company called Nest which is the creator of the well known smart thermostat and the smoke detector. This is well known because Google bought it for $3.2 billion in January.
As of now, August is only making the smart lock, but they are planing to expand into "other smart stuff." The site is saying that, "The lock has been around for about a
year, but only in limited quantities." I was also told that they are going for $250. The August works by Bluetooth and the app on you cell phone. It is also really simple to instal.
The August web site said that it is a "safe, simple, and social way to manage your home’s
lock." The nice part is that it lets you control who can enter and who can’t enter your house, and you can do that from your smartphone or computer. So, this means that there is "no more giving out your keys/codes to your friends."
(WAIT, what if our phone gets stolen...) I am so glad that you asked. You just have to log out of your device. You can read about what to do by going to the link above.
For those who spend an endless amount of time price-matching items, Wal-Mart's new Savings Catcher service is the perfect tool for you. Wal-Mart has long been known for their low prices compared to their competitors, but this new shopping feature just may help you save even more!
HOW IT WORKS
Instead of filtering through the weekly sale ads to find the best prices, the Savings Catcher simplifies the solution to a complex problem. Rather than matching advertised sales prices at the checkout line, the customer can now download the Savings Catcher app from either Google Play or Apple's App Store (also available on Wal-Mart's website). First, there are two ways to discover whether you're eligible for any savings on the items you bought: (1) Scan the receipt with your smartphone or (2) Type the receipt number into Wal-Mart's shopping app.
Next, Wal-Mart compares you're recently bought items from their stores with the sales prices of its competitors. Once it finds a lower price from another competitor, it displays the difference between the prices and automatically funds the savings onto an electronic gift card. To redeem your gift card, either print your savings receipt or bring your phone with you and the cashier will scan the barcode.
Here's a video tutorial about Wal-Mart's Savings Catcher:
CONCERNS
However, there is a drawback to using the Savings Catcher in comparison to traditional price matching at the register. The service takes up to three days to notify the customer of any savings. To be equitable, this process is prolonged because it allows Wal-Mart to price-match on a consistent and effective basis. Another 'catch' to this innovative idea--there's a limit of seven receipts (scans) per week. Hopefully, no one needs to shop at Wal-Mart, or any store, more than seven times in a week. Some other important factors are in the fine print: the app mostly covers only grocery, health, and beauty items. Sorry, that 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD television that's overpriced at your local Wal-Mart won't be eligible. Also, store brand or private-label items aren't able to get you money back simply because they aren't sold anywhere else.
PRICE-MATCH SAVINGS
Sci-Tech Today writer, Michael Lee, made several small trips and one large trip to Wal-Mart to test out their new service. For the multiple small shopping trips Michael made, he saved $11.99 in price matching on approximately $300 spent. On the big shopping trip, he spent $214 and got back $7.92. Although the savings aren't eye dropping, it's an easy way to pay for your dinner that night.
IS IT WORTH IT?
The question that comes to mind is whether or not Wal-Mart's Savings Catcher is worth using or not. It's tough to say whether or not its meant for all types of customers, but for the casual shopper it is definitely an easy steal. Especially if you tend to diversify where you shop at. In conclusion, to be able to save money at the palm of your hand with the assistance of technology is remarkable.
The question is whether or not consumers as whole believe it is worthwhile? Also, should Wal-Mart look to expand the eligible product line beyond just the basic essentials such as grocery, healthy, and beauty items? What else could Wal-Mart improve with their Savings Catcher service?
In the market futuristic payment systems, it would seem that
Apple Pay and Google Wallet have gotten most of the hype. However, it would
appear that there is another form of payment emerging that could greatly
decrease the size of our wallets. Say hello to Plastc Card. Yes, that is the
real name and not just a spelling error. This new card can store the
information from up to 20 other cards. The cool thing is that not only does it store
debit can credit cards, but it will also work for gift cards, loyalty cards,
and access cards to buildings. They say that basically any card that has a
magnetic strip can be stored on the card. However, according to early reports
that will not include your driver’s license. Well, I guess we can't have everything.
Using the card will be quite easy for anyone familiar with
e-readers, since the card will come with a built in e-ink screen. This screen
will allow users to swipe to choose a form of payment. It will also show a
picture of you along with your signature directly after you make a purchase,
making it a lot scarier for anyone who tries to steal your card. But if your
card is stolen, the chances of them making it to a the checkout line with your
card is pretty slim since the card is automatically deactivated once it gets a
certain distance away from your phone. Additionally, you can elect to receive a
message on your phone every time a payment is made from your Plastc Card. These
features will likely make Plastc Card a safer card to have in your wallet than
a normal card, let alone the fact that it will just be fun to use. Check out the
video below for a rundown on Plastc Card.
Does having a card like this seem appealing to you?
To read the full article of Plastc Card click here
America's Richest vs Social Media
By: Jacob Gilmore
Social media is a Web service or activity that nearly every person engages in on a weekly or daily basis. Parents use it to connect to old friends, kids use it to create more friendships, and many more. However, what if I told you that a significant amount of America's richest people do not use social media of any form?
In a study of the wealthiest segment of investors, 2014 $25 Million Plus Investor, Spectrem found that 31% of investors do not use any social media platforms. Also, 57% of the previous 31% say they are concerned about the privacy of their information.
As mentioned earlier, age plays a significant role in whether people use social media, as well as how/what they use it for. Among the $25 Million Plus investors, 59% of those aged 65 or older don't use social media. For those investors under the age of 56, 23% say they don't use social media whereas only 16% of investors 55-65 live in a "social-media-free" life.
Only one-half (52%) of the $25 Million Plus investors use Facebook, 40% are on LinkedIn (a professional networking site), and about a quarter (24%) use YouTube. The last and most surprising statistic is that only 17% overall use Twitter for personal and/or professional use.
Now we come back to the question: does age matter when it comes to social media? Does wealth classification also play a role in the likelihood of social media use?
LTE Direct - The Future of Short Range Communications
by Kyle Gilligan
On the horizon in the information age is a new technology
that will allow your phones and other devices to connect without towers or
internet from over 500 meters away. This new technology dubbed LTE Direct, will
allow users to communicate with other devices and with beacons that businesses
can use without ever going through a cell phone tower.
The developers of LTE Direct believe that one of the
greatest benefits to the technology will be an increased awareness of the
environment around you. For instance, an airport could communicate directly
with smartphones to display flight information. Another use could be the
ability to communicate completely off the grid with other people that are
within the 500-meter range. This could be appealing to people who are tired of
having every move they make tracked by advertising sites.
Check out this video that summarizes some of the key benefits of LTE Direct:
Despite some of the excitement, some people are already
criticizing this as just another way to advertise. There is also speculation
that this could make it easier for hackers to steal personal information.
Finally, there is the question of how private personal conversations would be.
In the app firechat, which uses the same concept through Bluetooth and WiFi(max
range of 70 meters), the conversations are viewable by everyone within range.
So I guess the question at this time is, are people willing
to sacrifice their privacy just for the sake of being off the grid?
What do you think? Does LTE Direct sound like a
useful tool for individuals, or just another advertising tool for businesses? To learn more about LTE Direct click here
To learn more about FireChat and how it is being used in the Hong Kong protests click here
