Kozminski Techblog

“Anything that can be connected, will be connected”.

Today I want to cover a topic concerning Internet of Things (IoT). Definition of IoT refers to constant wireless connection between physical devices that are sharing and collecting data from all procedures. Basically, it is connection of all electronic devices into one whole network where the are interacting with each other. Application of such a technology gives an opportunity to make work of devices more organic and simpler.

The best example of implementing such a technology is “smart home”. Let’s imagine you have TV, light, coffee machine and heating the are connected to each other. Isn’t it perfect when you set up alarm clock and it rings you wake up with started algorithm which turns on heating in shower, starts making coffee, opens window and so on. Sounds nice, but it is more convenient when you add sensors in this system. Now let’s assume you have your own garden which you have to water. With IoT it is so easy, sensors measure moisture in soil and if it is less then set level it turns on watering system which raises soil moisture and then sends all information on your phone. Moreover, collecting and analyzing all this data helps to make all these operations more precise.

Benefits:

Benefits of such a technology are saving time and money. Now you don’t need to control light, because it turns off and on automatically, don’t need to wake up earlier to do routine actions. In addition, devices that are connected to one network know how to work in more efficient and economical wat, thus it helps significantly in saving money.

Threats:

The main threat is security. Situation: you have cameras for security system that are connected for your phone and send signals if something suspicious appears. However, it is not a problem to hack your phone and receive all your private information from your life. What is more, when these devices are in one system, hacking one unit automatically gives you access to other devices. Potential criminal can set high temperature in your house, turn off the light and many other actions. Thus, crucial part of IoT is security of this system. Second thing that scares me are personal advertisements. This system collects all the data from your house, that’s why companies that produce parts for smart house can sell your personal data for more income.

Nevertheless, you have to keep in mind that IoT is not only about “smart home”. This technology can be easily implemented into cars to reduce traffic problems. Or, for instance, car has CPUs in every part of it and if any problem occurs it sends information to a service center to complete all the works faster.

Summing It all up, this technology will continue to grow up, especially in such a situation, but, firstly, problem with security has to be eliminated. not help to work smarter and with more control.

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things

https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-the-internet-of-things-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-iot-right-now/

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/internet-of-things-what-is-explained-iot

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/05/13/simple-explanation-internet-things-that-anyone-can-understand/?sh=3be52f061d09

https://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT

As unbelievable and drawn straight out of a science fiction reality it may seem, an Israeli company called Noveto Systems just proved it’s possible. The company is directed by dr. Christopher Ramstein and holds over 44 patents. Their new, long awaited device debuted last Friday and it enables a completely new and exciting way of listening to audio. For now, they presented a prototype, but there is a promise, that a consumer-ready device will be ready by December 2021.

So, what possibly new can there  be about listening to audio, you may ask? Let me introduce you to SoundBeamer 1.0. Simply put, it’s a device that thanks to patented by this company specific soundbeaming  technology, targets your ears and directs the sound directly at them. Only you can hear the sounds that are transmitted, but it does not cut you off from the real world- you can still experience voices from the surrounding. The feeling when enjoying this way of listening is, according to Associated Press journalists who tried it, as if it was playing in your head and happening all around you. According to company’s employee, Ayana Wallwater: ‘when you are inside the bubble, you get the sound, the volume, the immersiveness of it’. In Noveto’s opinion, SoundBeamer 1.0 represents a completely new way of sensory listening.

But let’s move to the technical aspects. Although, the sound beaming principle is nothing new, Noveto Systems managed to transform it into an extremely interesting technology that tracks your ears. SoundBeamer 1.0  is a stand-alone branded hardware which works by using ultrasonic waves and beamforming in order to create sound pockets just next to your ears. This is possible due to Noveto’s Digital Signal Processing algorithms, which are mathematical formulas that influence and manipulate digital signals. The ground of the product’s operating can be explained on the basis od directional sound. This term refers to the concept of creating fields of sound which spread less than usual loudspeakers (they create sound waves that diverge quickly-this is called diffraction- and aim to spread as much sound as possible and cover as much place as possible), by using many different devices. As those directional speakers need a minimum of diffraction, they use ultrasonic speakers. Owing to ultrasonic waves, which diffract less than acoustic waves, the sound can be aimed at more accurate locations. Here, in Noveto system, a custom-designed transducer array pushes the algorithm-designed waves into air and when those ultrasonic waves come across an object (you, to be exact) they convert into acoustic waves, which you can hear. But how is it possible that the waves don’t hit somewhere else, but the entire process of converting them happens just outside your ear? SoundBeamer 1.0 has a built-in 3D sensing module which locates and follows the trail of movements of your ears in real time. Then the ultrasonic waves target them and converts itself into small pockets of acoustic sound. What is amazing, is that the system does all of this in real time, so you can move your head freely, and the sound pockets will always remain next to your ears.  What’s worth mentioning, this product can be connected via Bluetooth to any device.

What are the benefits? To quote the Noveto company, this will be (or actually is) a world ‘where sound can be both private and spatially three-dimensional’.  Confidently, our comfort will increase, owing to the lack of headphones. We will have more freedom and more control over the sound. Also, we will always be “present” and focused, due to the possibility to experience  sounds from variety of sources.

I am more than sure, that at the moment we are not able to count even half of the device’s applications that may appear in the future. Just for now, it can prove to be extremely useful regarding conference calls- you will have a private experience, but won’t be isolated from your team. Another area this device could be used for is public speaking- it could help some people who are not that good at it, or do not have much time to prepare, to always sound and look (due to the fact that it is not visible whether you use it), professional. Maybe it is a mundane matter, but how many times when driving with someone in a car, you felt irritated because of the type of music they listen to, or navigation instructions that occurred from time to time, and as you wanted to talk, isolating yourself through headphones was not an option? Using this solution every passenger can have their own choice of audio and still enjoy the conversation. Another entertainment matter SoundBeamer 1.0  might contribute to are parties- not everywhere and not every time you can host them without interrupting your neighbours. Listening to music loudly might occur as an issue, but due to this device the problem could vanish. SoundBeamer 1.0 will revolutionize the audio market for sure, the question is whether it will happen in the short or long-run. Although most surveys show that we, as people, are resistant to change, this is usually due to uncertainty which comes along with it. I am positive, that we will let this solution play a significant role.  Yet still, I can imagine situations in which this technology could cause trouble. For example, it might prove to be a difficult nut to crack in examination situations. Checking if someone isn’t transmitting information via ultrasonic waves could be hard… However, as necessity is the mother of invention, a solution for that would probably also emerge quickly.

SOURCES;

http://noveto.com/

https://www.wraltechwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/soundbeamer-system-950×640.jpg

https://apnews.com/article/new-tech-device-sound-beaming-noveto-38327ae5fe116080a5eaf2374eb0f5c8

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8942299/New-device-puts-music-head-no-headphones-required.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/noveto-focused-audio-technology-could-make-headphones-obsolete-2018-6?IR=T

https://www.brainbridge.be/news/will-focused-audio-devices-disrupt-the-headphone-market-in-2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directional_sound

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/soundbeamer-1-0-price-noveto-systems-b1722403.html

Beautiful, functional retro-style game consoles from Analogue are a type of “archival quality”, a substitute to currently popular and less costly mini-consoles. The latest system the company is trying to revive is unfortunate but still thoughtful, TurboGrafx-16 or PC Engine.

The Duo, Analogue’s device: This name comes from a later version of the TurboGrafx-16 that comprised of costly CD-ROM add-on. New Duo supports both classic game cards and CDs, provided user must keep them scratch-free.

Like other analogue consoles, unlike Nintendo’s popular SNES and NES Classic Edition (as well as the new TurboGrafx-16 Mini), Duo uses no emulation. Instead, it is a tedious original equipment restore with tweaks that provide high quality video, wireless controllers, reliability improvements, and so on.

Everything is done in FPGA (A field-programmable gate array) ensuring hardware, a kind that is used for an exact console remake. The Duo is made for collectors who do not want to own their original equipment or want to improve the signal quality and play wirelessly without much fuss.

There are many pros and cons of buying new consoles that supports vintage system games, official and unofficial emulators and downloading classic games. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed below.

Vintage Systems: It provides authentic retro gaming experience. The games and controllers work how they are supposed to work originally. Most retro systems like Nintendo are readily available on the second-hand market with value less than $100. The controllers and other accessories are not expensive, but special items (like the Nintendo Power Glove) can cost high. Average price is $20 or less, however most popular older games, and rarer ones, are expensive. Nintendo systems endure damage and rarely get repaired and if required, repair is not costly. A few special items connect old system to modern televisions easily.

Pros

• Cost of system is low.
• 100% legal gameplay.
• Durability/repair-ability of systems. Often unspoken so no threat of pirating charges. In new Systems original games on original system are legal.

Cons

• Cost of games varies widely.
• Cost of accessories varies widely.
• Hooking up old systems to new technology TVs requires special equipment.

Official Emulating Systems: In the past decade, there have been numerous official emulating systems. Nintendo Classic Edition is a new system, with retro style accessories and look, with dozens of retro games loaded onto the hard drive. Sega Genesis Classic comes with games pre-loaded, and functions much like the Nintendo Classic Edition having reasonable price. However, Nintendo Classic Edition and Accessories are expensive. Repair of these systems is easy and cheap. However, these are small computers and can break irreparably and required care to hand.

Pros

• Comes with many games pre-loaded.
• 100% legal gameplay.
• Easy to hook up to modern TVs.
• Games do not lag or glitch.

Cons

• Some systems are tough to find.
• Less durable than originals.
• Cost for the systems varies widely.

Unofficial Emulators: These games can be played with emulator systems which are non-branded. There are websites which run old games and emulate them without the user needing to download either the emulator or the game. Lastly, there are a multitude of downloadable emulators and games. Systems like Retro Engine Sigma (RES) do not come pre-loaded. The Raspberry Pi system can easily handle retro gaming emulation.

Pros

• These systems are legal.
• No game is downloaded. Hence user is at low risk.
• These systems have accessories which are easy to use and cheap in prize.
• Some websites run emulators, with the games accessible for play without downloading. In case of breach of law these are responsible.

Cons

• Limitation is that these websites can run ads and attract potential malware.
• They are like modern computers and require parents to take care.
• Difficult to repair and not durable as the vintage systems.

Downloading Emulators: ZSNES, Nesticle, JNES, and Visual Boy Advanced are just a few of the dozens of easily available and free emulators to download in personal computer.

Pros

• Downloading the emulator is legal, easy to use and less costly. Accessories can easily be plugged into the USB port of a computer.
• Emulator can be replaced if it is not working by downloading it again. Hence no need to repair.
• There are options to save Retro games at any time and have many save files. Speed can be managed with tool Assistant.

Cons

• There is risk of corrupted files, viruses, and malware – so be sure to know your source, and scan of files are required before running them.
• Their system is not intended to run the older games.
• Some have various options like frame rate and colour within the settings to optimize gameplay.
• User unfamiliar with the multitudes may struggle to adjust.

Downloading Games: These games vary from game to game, company to company, and copyright to copyright. Some intellectual property and copyrights are highly guarded/enforced (Legend of Zelda for the NES) and others are not. Risk of prosecution is low if user is just playing game. That does not necessarily make it “right” though. The best advice is to go to route mentioned below:

• Know your source.
• Do not try to profit from it.
• Do not distribute the games to others.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Easy to set up to modern televisions and computers.
• Most accessories are inexpensive.
• Emulator websites and downloads are free.
• Accessories are easy to find.
• Tool assisted gameplay reduces the difficulty level of games.

Cons

• Legality of downloading the games varies widely.
• User may be prosecuted for a download. Most of the prosecution is done against mass distributors.
• Independent systems can be costly to repair.
• Independent systems are less durable than vintage systems.

In conclusion it is elaborated that Duo is a product that is for Professional gamers, reviewers and gamers who want to enjoy the nostalgia of playing retro games that they played in their childhood, hence Duo is not commercially viable product at large scale.

There is little reason to buy this product as so many alternatives can be found on top of that what is to say the specific game chosen to re-experience on this device is available, if that is not found chances are it will not be compatible for it as some old games are actually lost to time and technical advancements. The product itself sounds like an amazing idea for people who experienced those games once and want to visit them again however the amount of people that will actually buy it will be very small as user may go for latest system like PlayStation 5 or Xbox series X for better performance during gameplay. Old games are getting depleted. Latest developments are being made in each walk of life.

Sources

https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/16/analogue-takes-on-the-turbografx-16-with-its-duo-retro-console/

http://engagedfamilygaming.com/parent-resources/revisiting-retro-games-pros-cons-vintage-systems-emulators/

I believe that we are all familiar with Parcel Lockers as this is probably the most convenient way of delivery. For those who never used it, the mechanism of a parcel locker could not be easier . Your order your package online, and the instance it is placed in the locker by the currier you receive a notification about it. Then you can simply go near it, open the locker from a phone app and collect your parcel. Simple as that.

In 2019 there were more parcel lockers than Polish Post facilities, and now there are more than 9000 parcel lockers and their number is still increasing. The polish company that owns them is called InPost and it was developed by Integer, which was directed by Lukasz Nowiński in the years 2008-2012. Meanwhile, Nowinski developed another company known now as Retail Robotics.

Retail Robotics, which produced over 10 000 modules for InPost’s parcel lockers, has recently developed a device, which is basically a “parcel locker” for groceries. It is called Arctan and has from 12 to 15,5 square meters. It has two temperature zones, one for regular groceries and one for frozen food, it can store around 200 grocery orders. It has two or three panels for clients’ and couriers’ usage and from four to six bins where groceries can be collected.

The procedure, like the one of a parcel locker, is very simple, you order products online, receive a message when it is ready for you to collect, scan a QR code or type a code in the machine, and in less than 15 seconds your groceries will be transported to the collection bin. It offers simultaneous consumer pick-up and courier drop-off. And can serve 2-3 customers at a time. One courier can deliver even 200-300 orders a day. It is said it can reduce delivery costs by 70%.

The first Arctan had its premiere in Paris in August 2020. And the company that trusted Retail Robotic is Carrefour. Arctan can be implemented inside dedicated spaces in the city, next to the stores, or, as claimed to be the most efficient, a drive-through.

I, as a regular user of InPost’s parcel lockers, cannot wait for this solution to be implemented in Poland. Recently I have tried ordering my groceries from companies that offer to-house food deliveries, however, the nearest delivery time was in two weeks from that date. Arctan which can offer same-day deliveries would be a solution I will definitely use. However, for Arctan to enter the Polish market we will have to wait some time. For now, Nowiński wants to focus on e-grocery markets in France or England.

(Pickup Hero)

In Poland, we can observe the development of another Retail Robotics product- Pickup Hero. It is a small robotic parcel locker designed for places with limited space. The first one was already placed in one of Żabka stores in Poznań.

Sources

The premiere of Arctan in Paris: https://www.rrobotics.co/en/article/premiere-of-arctan-in-paris

PickupHero: https://www.rrobotics.co/en/product/pickuphero

Arctan: https://www.rrobotics.co/en/product/arctan

Domaradzki K., Forbes, November 2020, “Retail Robotics. Ojciec paczkomatów cyfryzuje “spożywkę”.”

01.07.2020, Komunikat Żabka,  „Żabka testuje automat do obsługi paczek”, https://www.zabka.pl/media/download/5efc70d30ba0b/2020-07-01-zabka-automatyczny-odbior-paczek.pdf

In the cosmetics industry, as in many others, it is important to gain customer trust. Thanks to this, the sale of a given product becomes easier and the customer is more willing to come back for another product. In the case of brands that offer facial cosmetics or beauty treatments it is particularly prioretic. Therefore, these brands have decided to create for themselves bots, which are supposed to personalize cosmetics. After all, as we all know, each skin is different and each reacts differently to the cosmetics given to it.

Bots created by the cosmetics industry provide you not only with a good selection of cosmetics but also with fun. What’s important is that you can learn a lot from them about a brand or a particular cosmetic. Bots are also able to send their customers advice on skin care thanks to the information we provide them through quizzes. During the promotion of products containing vitamin C, Kielh’s brand has created a short test of knowledge about this ingredient, thus combining entertainment with education and creating a brand image as an expert. What’s more important, conversations with Chatbots take place on platforms such as “messenger” or other chats, and thanks to this, consumers feel as if they are writing with their friends.

Chatbots also offer so-called “virtual makeup”. As many of us know the types of lipsticks or shadow colors we have a lot of, and very often it is hard for us to choose the right color for ourselves, even live. What’s more, buying over the Internet can be even more risky, because everything depends on the light in which a given color or skin type on which a given shadow is presented. That’s why the “virtual makeup” option has been created which, thanks to virtual reality, allows users to match cosmetics online. All you have to do is choose the type and color, turn on the camera, upload selfie, and chatbot will show you how you will look in it. Brands like Smashbox, Sephora or Estee Lauder have already implemented this type of solution. It is a hygienic and at the same time quick way to do a successful shopping or just try out a cosmetic product

Bots also try to provide us with a lot of knowledge and detailed information about the brand itself. They offer quizzes and tests that help them get to know users much better. The basic information is of course the gender of the user, but bots are able to group users and send them messages according to their needs by saving data. For example, the Tołpa brand, which offers a variety of cosmetics, allows you to check the type of skin that appears with a list of cosmetics that match your type. Bots also offer help in buying gifts for others through some information about their skin.For example, the L’oreal brand has prepared the Beauty Gifter bot before the Christmas huts, which, after answering a few simple questions, allowed to choose the perfect gift from the brand’s portfolio for a loved one.

Although they are a new tool, the Internet bots of cosmetic brands are becoming more popular every day. Users are more willing to buy products of brands that try to make shopping as easy as possible for the user and make them attract their attention. They are used by larger brands such as La Mer, but also brands that can be found in many drugstores. Thanks to the possibility of choosing modules and giving personality to chatbots by means of a well-thought-out communication, the conversation is able to meet the expectations of every customer, even the most demanding one.

https://artelis.pl/artykuly/74436/wykorzystanie-chatbota-w-branzy-kosmetycznej

When Rakuten Mobile exploded onto the telecom industry scene in Japan, they made it very clear to the public that this was a company planning on doing things differently. They were planning to keep reliance on traditional RAN hardware to the minimum which would lead to a far cheaper rollout. The main aim of the company is to enable a complete transformation in the telecom infrastructure buildout, not only for Japan, but the entire world. In April 2020, Rakuten Mobile launched their end-to-end fully virtualized cloud-native mobile network with a later announcement of the availability of their commercial 5G service in certain areas across six prefectures of the country.

The service, initially offered via Non-Stand Alone (NSA) 5G architecture, is already available in parts of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Hokkaido, Osaka and Hyogo. Rakuten is hugely popular for offering cheap contracts to their citizens, and is become one of the lead investors in the venue launched by AST & Science which is developing revolutionary space mobile technology. This basically means that every corner of the planet will have 100 percent coverage using space networks so any phone located anywhere in the world will have the possibility to connect, regardless of where it is. These rural networks and rural locations will have the same service that you get in capital citites or metropolitan areas.

Rakuten are innovating and bringing this to the market at a accelerated pace, they have introduced to the world just one single carrier plan which offers unlimted data within Rakuten network areas and unlimited domestic calls with the use of “Rakuten Link” which is the communication app developed by them. And for the first year, their “UN-LIMIT” plan which they like to call it will be free for three million subscribers, and from the second year onwards the company will start charging them 2,980 YEN per month excluding taxes. As new spectrum frequencies are assigned and more bandwidth becomes available, Nippon Electric Company (NEC) and Rakuten Mobile plan to upgrade and expand the 5G radio units. “The base technology will be similar, but there will be more things to work on in terms of performance, which is largely governed by the hardware” says Rakuten’s senior vice president Nozomu Watanabe.

With 5G, the focus is to not only improve convenience for their users, but also to utilize the technology in a variety of fields and create new business opportunities to solve social issues and support regional development. As for Rakuten’s rivals, and the global telecom market in general, it is the operator’s approach to its network and operations that will be of prime interest, such economies enable Rakuten to price its services lower than its rivals, while also claiming to benefit from a more adaptable, automated, agile, flexible network that can be more quickly and easily managed.

As the company moves forward to expand 4G and 5G coverage, it aims to reduce the household cost of mobile services, which in return encourages customer spending across various other goods and services, contributing to the sustainable growth of Japan’s economy. Rakuten cannot take all the credit for this resurgence, but its high-profile plans have certainly drawn attention to what Japan has to offer. As the e-commerce firm plots a bigger networks role globally, Japan’s tech firms are likely to be willing accomplices.

On the other hand, I’m worried about the negative aspects of 5G as it is more likely that carriers will target bigger cities with larger populations and then slowly expand to outer areas, so in this case people living in a rural setting will not necessarily benefit from the connection. Another downside would be complaints by users that their phones become increasingly hot when using 5G, it was later proven that 5G has a significant impact on the battery drain of a phone. Also, physical obstructions such as buildings, walls, trees or towers will either absorb, block or disrupt high frequency signals, and well the telecom industry is really working hard to fix this problem by increasing existing cell towers to extend broadcast distance. So, these are definitely things to consider before switching to a 5G connection.

Sources:

https://www.ft.com/content/f1513214-6e71-4f89-af43-4c4a7275a93e

https://www.telecomtv.com/content/5g/tada-rakuten-launches-free-5g-using-open-ran-39793/

https://www.fiercewireless.com/5g/rakuten-s-5g-network-will-be-built-containers

Yes, Rakuten will converge its 4G and 5G cores

I am not going to tell you about some new technology or AI implementation. I want to focus on the importance of using recycled materials in production.

Two years ago, I started evaluating the damage of trash to the climate and our environment. Looking thoroughly at how other countries are facing and dealing with trash, in order to take real-life examples. I found a Swedish model really fascinating. Just think about these numbers, they recycle 99% of waste and less than 1% ends up in landfills. More than 40% of Stockholm’s energy is provided by waste incineration.

In the late 1980e, their government has already started thinking about saving the climate. Year by year the society mentality had been changed dramatically by trash recycling education. The government has involved many aspects related to the population. Now even in kindergartens, there are lessons on recycling. One of the key aspects of such education is to teach the population to separate waste collection.

Additionally, Sweden does not have its own oil and gas reserves. Such alternative energy sources are the key to solving many problems. Sweden does not have enough of its own garbage to run incineration plants. Therefore, they began to import garbage from neighboring countries, such as Norway, Great Britain. And due to the received energy, more than a million apartments are heated. And almost seven hundred thousand more provide electricity. It is described by the phrase «Trash to treasure».

 However, there are negative sides to adapting the recycling system into reality. It refers to the countries which have not so advanced in terms of the recycling program. Recycling is not just a matter of recovering recyclable material. It’s a totally economic system that requires interest from the government, society, and business. At present, the cost of collecting and processing recyclable materials significantly outweighs their own value as a product that can be sold back to the industry.

Recycling means a lot for business and government. As Weine Wiqvist, CEO of the Swedish Waste Management and Recycling Association said that “reusing materials or products means using less energy to create a product, instead of burning one and making a new one from scratch”. As an example, top managers of companies like American Airlines, Bell Atlantic, and Coca-Cola inserted a fresh look on using recycled materials. They bought recycled products and invested them in green R&D as part of their business strategy. The result is impressive- they have closed the recycling loop, cut down on waste, and increased profit margins. They desire the public’s negative attitude towards recycled bottles to be changed. That means using recycled products gains a bigger profit and at the same time, the company can declare itself with an attractive side. Plus, there’s clearly consumer demand for green products, and Rubbermaid, Moore Business Forms, and International Paper, etc.

While the market has its uncertainty, corporations can start forming a strategic way by collaborating with public organizations and other business interests. That has an economic interest for the business side. But there is no way to work on creating that true value in long term, especially when it comes to economic problems that neither can solve alone. They must reinvent their relationship.

Emphasizing the recycling industry just might be one of the answers to an ailing local economy, provided corporate managers and government policymakers are willing to work as partners rather than sinister opponents. The Swedish model is a great and inspiring example, which emphasizes that successful teamwork is driven by the best intention.

Resources:

https://www.trtworld.com/europe/swedish-recycling-so-successful-it-is-importing-rubbish-24491

https://hbr.org/1993/11/recycling-for-profit-the-new-green-business-frontier

It is believed that Jaffe Bezos is peculiar god of our times and we shouldn’t be surprised by saying that especially in US where 57% of American households are members of Amazon Prime in comparison of 51% Americans who attend church. The question which came to my mind is – what is more impactful and powerful in our world, Jeff Bezos and his Amazon or religious ? For most young and hungry of success teens who dreams of  becoming entrepreneurs Jeff sounds like oracle  and his new vision of autonomous vehicles seems to be  a prophecy.

Delivering crucial good like groceries, medicines or cosmetics have never been more important than during the outbreak of COVID-19. A vast majority of consumers switch form going physically to the shop to ordering things on-line where they can easily find their precious commodities. This type of behaviour create a kind of a  rate-race in environment of delivering companies where Amazon wants to lead and dominate. In order to sustain constant delivers Amazon bought 100 million of masks and 31 000 thermometers for prize of  $4 billion to create a safe- space for the workers of warehouses and delivers.

• 
• https://www.therobotreport.com/amazon-autonomous-vehicle-invest/

While it’s a bit too late to develop new technologies for current challenge which is facing COVID-19, (especially when we see 2 prototypes of  vaccines on the horizon) CEO of Amazon things about autonomous vehicles in more extend way. He wants to replace people by self- driving vans, small bot and drones buzzing over our heads, not only to contain Amazon’s moves in future epidemic but also to increase an efficiency and speed of delivering goods.

Moreover, the costs of shipping commodities is exorbitant. In 2018 the company spends $27 billion which is 23% more in comparison to previous year. According to McKinsey & Company research Amazon can save over $10 billion per year on switching to autonomous vehicles.

To accomplish the goal of replacing delivers, Amazon already made a few significant steps. In 2016 they acquired a patent for system of autonomous vehicles which enable them to find proper way in suburban sprawl to deliver orders. Furthermore, in partnership with Toyota, Amazon is developing a concept of self- driving vehicle called e-Pallete which would be capable to move people and packages. They also invested around $530 million in Aurora – a Silicon Valley self-driving vehicle star up which develops an IA brain in in autonomous vehicles.

https://www.newsweek.com/how-amazons-bet-autonomous-vehicles-can-help-protect-us-viruses-1504169

While Amazon is still working on their concept, first self- driving delivery already appeared on streets of San Mateo, California. It was created by Silicon Valley start up Udelv for Draeger’s Market. It works quite similar as Uber. You order the package for certain address and vehicle  rolls up to your home. Whereas the van is getting closer to the destination you receive an SMS-s with a code which you later punches into the screen of vehicle. It opens door of van  which contain your delivery. So simple but complicated to create at the same time.

Speaking about delivering goods, let’s don’t forget about air zone and drones which may be very useful in shipping packages. Jeff Bezos said in one interview (CBS’60 Minutes in 2013) that they are thinking about deploying a fleet of drones which would deliver orders to 5 pounds (according to Amazon’s data, 86% of all packages weight under 5 pounds).In China, online retire JD.com has decided to use drones, cutting time of delivering orders is mountain villages  form day to minutes and reducing the costs dramatically.

Thinking about drones we take into consideration a numerous of advantage as speed of deliver or emit less greenhouse gas but we all know that every medal has two sides. A 2017 NASA study found that sound of heavily dense downtown is less annoying then group of drones buzzing over our heads. Moreover, there is many regulations and rules which Amazon has to respect to deploy a fleet of drones.

To sump up, a concept of autonomous vehicles in Amazon is a big deal. It’s a complicated process of buying licences, investing in many star ups, defeating obstacles and developing their own product. So if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, look at the oracle of Bezos and analyse his moves, decisions or pray to the god for good idea for your start up, the choice is yours 😉 .

Source: Newsweek Learning English 4/2020 ” Amazon’s Autonomous Vehicles” by Brian Dumaine

Do you know that every 5 seconds someone in the world loses their sight? There are approximately 45 million blind people in the world and 269 million with visual impairment. Due to significant disability, such people have serious problems with movement and everyday activities.  Nowadays blind people are looking for more autonomy and developing on their own.

To help them Diego Roel created a startup called Strap Technologies (ST) to replace the white cane. Thanks to it, the blind will be able to walk in unknown locations, have access to more work places and travel opportunities and to take care of themselves – what means to achieve greater independence.

Strap Technologies is developing a wearable pod that uses the same sensors what autonomous vehicles — radar, lidar, ultrasonic — to give blind people a clearer sense of their surroundings. Strap’s chest-worn device weighs less than half a pound and is scheduled to go on sale next summer for $750. (It’s currently available for $500 on preorder.)

How does it work?

Strap calculates the proximity of the hazards and then passes this information to the user using a haptic feedback – four vibrating strips according to the grammar the user must learn. The device is able to distinguish whether the obstacle  is a hole, a step, stairs or other people. Strap contains an audible warning that indicates an imminent significant danger, such as a potential fall or something that could cause serious injury. It also has a built-in intelligent motion detector that detects when a person is resting or moving, then it automatically switches on or off. For convenience and to reduce battery consumption, the motion detector activates when motion is sensed and switches off when no movement is detected. However, in my opinion, the greatest advantage is not having to use hands. Strap is a next generation wearable device worn around a chest that can replace the white cane and make hands free.

However nowadays there are many technologically advanced activities aimed at helping the blind for example a paper published in October outlining a system that would use ultrasonic sensors in ankle- and waist-worn modules to generate audio guidance for blind users. Toronto-based iMerciv, which received a grant from Microsoft last year, sells a wearable, ultrasonic collision-warning sensor: the BuzzClip. It may also be difficult to convince people to give up their existing solutions such as the white cane, which extends the sense of touch and whose technique of use has been developed over the years. In fact, it protects people well from obstacles. Another time-tested form is a guide dog, which can distinguish between indoor and outdoor places.

Overall, the product can be very helpful and may replace the white cane in the future. People who are currently testing this device praise it very much and claim that their lives will be much easier now. But for this to happen, Strap’s next step – according to Alexander Leonessa, director of Virginia Tech’s Terrestrial Robotics Engineering & Controls Lab – should be a very thorough study of the potential population.

sources:

https://strap.tech/index.html

https://www.fastcompany.com/90574130/this-startup-wants-to-replace-the-white-cane-for-blind-people?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss