Digital resources are growing throughout libraries.
In libraries in the U.S. technology and digital resources are expanding rapidly, and important tech tools that serve entire communities are available at nearly all libraries across the nation.
Continue reading… “Top 5 emerging trends in America’s libraries”
Automakers are counting on the connected car.
Today’s cars are trying to replicate the smartphone experience. Touchscreen interfaces are common. Dashboard designers take UI tips from iPhones, and automakers want to build apps for cars. Large automakers like General Motors are taking the next obvious step and integrating 4G LTE service into their cars starting this year. Drivers pay a monthly service fee for in-car 4G that’s separate from their smartphones, and use it for an array of services from movies for kids in the backseat to sophisticated GPS-on-steroids solutions. It’s a win-win for automakers, the dealers who sell the 4G add-ons, and carriers like AT&T. But is it a win for consumers?
Continue reading… “Here’s why automakers want 4G technology in cars”
3D printed nuts and bolts from a MakerBot.
Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement chain, announced the start of a pilot program to sell MakerBots. They are described by the manufacturer as a type of professional-grade 3-D printing machine and will be in a dozen stores following a three-month period of online-only sales. (Video)
Continue reading… “Home Depot starts selling MakerBot 3D printers”
Lechal ‘smartshoes’
People in India will be the first in the world to get access to what could be the next big thing in wearable technology: the smartshoe. Ducere Technologies Pvt., an Indian startup, is going to start selling its Bluetooth enabled Lechal shoes for more than $100 a pair in September. The smartshoes sync up with a smartphone app that uses Google maps and vibrate to tell users when and where to turn to reach their destination.
Continue reading… “Lechal ‘smartshoes’ vibrate to point you in the right direction”
Human Longevity doesn’t aim to extend human life so much as to help keep people healthy as they get older.
Dr. Robert Hariri, who once worked directing cell therapy operations at Celgene, a biopharmaceutical company is teaming up with Craig Venter, and engineer Dr. Peter Diamandis, chairman of the X Prize Foundation. Karen Nelson, who headed the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), will lead the microbiome team. They launched a new company called Human Longevity Inc.
Bigelow Aerospace plan to build bases on the moon.
One day, a rocket carrying more than a dozen privately built probes touches down on the moon. The robots burst from the vehicle in a race to beam back high-definition video and other data while roving the surface of Earth’s nearest natural satellite. The people of Earth watch a broadcast of the race as the rovers roam (or stall) in the lunar dust. (Videos)
Continue reading… “The future of moon exploration”
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot new buzzword. Its purpose and definition are grossly misunderstood. When some people hear the term IoT they immediately associate it with a refrigerator reminding us to order milk or our Fitbit wearable device tweeting how we just ran 4 miles. Neither of those uses are very compelling to most of us which makes it hard to fathom how experts can predict that by 2020 there will be greater than a one trillion dollar market that vendors will be trying to claim a piece of.
Continue reading… “The future impact of the Internet of Things can’t be underestimated”
The 13 states that raised their minimum wages on Jan. 1 have added jobs at a faster pace than those that did not.
The Department of Labor released new data that suggests that raising the minimum wage in some states might have spurred job growth, contrary to what critics said would happen.
Continue reading… “Job growth is faster in states that raised minimum wage”
Futurist Thomas Frey: On a recent driving trip, my wife and I became immersed in the audio version of one of Tom Clancy’s last novels titled, “Threat Vector.” Without giving away too much of the plot, a Chinese super-geek villain has hatched a plan to hack into our most secure networks and blackmail people with their darkest secrets to subversively cause chaos and disruption for the American government.
Continue reading… “When Everyone Becomes Blackmailable”
The traditional fee-for-service approach to medicine that can lead to overtreatment and unnecessary medical tests and procedures.
The country’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans say they are spending more than $65 billion annually, about 20 percent of the medical claim dollars they pay, on “value-based” care that rewards better outcomes and keeps patients healthy. This is the latest blow to fee-for-service medicine.
Continue reading… “Blue Cross makes a $65B bet on value-based medical care”
Ultrathin zinc-polymer battery.
Imprint Energy is developing flexible, rechargeable batteries that can be printed cheaply on commonly used industrial screen printers. The California startup has been testing its ultrathin zinc-polymer batteries in wrist-worn devices and hopes to sell them to manufacturers of wearable electronics, medical devices, smart labels, and environmental sensors.
Continue reading… “Imprint Energy is developing flexible, printed batteries for wearable devices”
Mcor Iris 3D Printer
Most people think 3D printing involves a machine that either extrudes molten plastic, in a way similar to how a hot glue gun works, or think of one of the larger industrial level 3D printers manufactured by 3D systems or Stratasys. These huge machines print objects in a variety of materials, but come with price tags that are only affordable for a select few.
Continue reading… “Mcor Technologies improves their paper-based, full-color 3D printer”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.