Drones built by Canadian company SkyX may never have to return home now that the company has developed xStation, a remote recharging platform that allows drones to hop from station to station while working out in the field. These stations could give the drones a near-indefinite range, as New Atlas points out.
Continue reading… “Recharge station gives SkyX drones potentially unlimited range”
Dentists and patients alike want to know how to make dental work less traumatic — and one possible solution may be to combine it with virtual reality. That’s why researchers in the UK enlisted 80 people who needed a cavity filled or a tooth pulled, and separated them into three groups. They gave the first two groups VR headsets, but not the unlucky third control group.
The VR groups either got to explore a beach or navigate a city. The people in the control group just stared at the ceiling while the dentist yanked on their teeth. (Everyone in the study got pain meds or sedation if they needed it.) Patients were surveyed both immediately after their appointments, and a week later.
Continue reading… “Adding VR to you next trip to the dentist, will it get rid of the pain?”
First Amazon announced plans to fully automate its new brick and mortar store with robots. Then we learned that Foxconn plans to automate 30 percent of its factory workforce by 2018. And recently, Wendy’s announced plans to add automated kiosks at more than 1,000 stores. One thing is clear — robots are changing the way we live and work.
Continue reading… “A.I. killed 800,000 jobs in the U.K., but created 3.5 million new ones”
Starting as a niche technology, 3D printing has been around for a long time. And talk of how this technology could transform the construction industry, largely theoretical, has long circulated, too. But now, thanks to young entrepreneurs Chris Kelsey and Fernando De los Rios, we can expect to see 3D printing robots on building sites rather than hundred of masons in Dubai, and around the world.
The Silicon Valley-based duo has joined forces with the Dubai government, which has set a target for 25% of buildings to be 3D-printed by 2030 in the emirate.
Continue reading… “Dubai sets its sights on 3D printing 25% of its new construction by 2030”
Clothing manufacturing has always been a labor intensive industry with the advantage going to the country with the lowest cost labor. Automated sewing factories with SoftWear machines could change all that.
Continue reading… “SoftWear Automation introduces Sewbots”
Traditional electrical wires have had a good run since their development. But what if you could just slap some paint on a surface to create the circuit you’re after? Thanks to one London-based company, Bare Conductive, you can.
Continue reading… “This paint works as a liquid electrical wire”
Researchers at Bielefeld University have developed a grasp system with robot hands that autonomously familiarizes itself with novel objects. The new system works without previously knowing the characteristics of objects, such as pieces of fruit or tools. It was developed as part of the large-scale research project Famula at Bielefeld University’s Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC). The knowledge gained from this project could contribute to future service robots, for instance, that are able to independently adapt to working in new households.
Continue reading… “Germany developing a self-learning robot hand”
Iconic mall-based department chains, like Sears and JC Penney, are announcing hundreds of store closures in 2017. More chains are expected to announce shutdowns over the next decade. Experts say the shuttered locations could turn into other businesses that benefit from the large square footage, like fitness centers, churches, offices, public libraries, movie theaters, and medical clinics.
Continue reading… “Future of retail – what happens to the empty stores?”
When someone commits suicide, their family and friends can be left with the heartbreaking and answerless question of what they could have done differently. Colin Walsh, data scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, hopes his work in predicting suicide risk will give people the opportunity to ask “what can I do?” while there’s still a chance to intervene.
Continue reading… “Artificial intelligence can now predict suicide with incredible accuracy”
It’s expected that almost half of Generation Z, the generation following Millennials, will connect online up to 10 hours per day, and one-third will spend at least one of those 10 hours watching video. It’s no surprise then that the most-used app by Gen Z is YouTube, followed by the three other biggest social video apps: Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
Continue reading… “Generation Z: What are their top apps, brands & influencers”
Toyota plans to debut its futuristic flying car in its home city in 2020. The Japanese automaker is making a flying car with the ultimate goal of using it to light the torch at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.
Toyota recently unveiled a working prototype of its flying car to journalists. Here are some of the amazing photos.
Continue reading… “Toyota’s plan to build a flying car to light the Olympic torch in 2020”
Who are today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs? That answer is very different than it was 20 years ago.
Most new entrepreneurs are still white and male, but the U.S. entrepreneurial population is becoming much more diverse in terms of age, race and region. Cities in the southern half of the U.S., such as Los Angeles, Miami and Austin, have become hotbeds for startups and small businesses.
Continue reading… “The changing demographics of entrepreneurship”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.