Impact Lab – Page 480 – A Laboratory of the Future Human Experience

Business, facebook, Science & Technology News, Social Media

Facebook enter commerce with ‘shops’ to bring millions of small businesses online

May 20, 2020

Facebook is bringing 160 million small businesses online to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Shops starts rolling out today.

In a significant push for ecommerce and social commerce, Facebook is launching Shops to bring online millions of small businesses that have been struggling due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Shops, which enables businesses to set up free stores and live shopping tabs on Facebook and Instagram, is the tech giant’s attempt to restart the global economy by enabling commerce. “If you can’t physically open your store or restaurant, you can still take orders online and ship them to people,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained in a live stream.

“We’re seeing a lot of small businesses that never had online businesses get online for the first time,” he added.

Continue reading… “Facebook enter commerce with ‘shops’ to bring millions of small businesses online”

2020 Predictions, Entertainment, Movies, new technology, Science & Technology News

The future of movie theaters might look a lot like an apple store

May 20, 2020

From the people who brought you the iPhone: a whole new theatrical experience.

It’s no big secret that the movie theater industry is facing an existential crisis, with serious challenges coming from streaming platforms developed by technology giants like Apple, Netflix, and Amazon, and now a pandemic that’s forced cinemas to shutter around the globe. Weighing the future of movie theaters has become a favorite guessing game for media analysts. Last Friday, the New York Times asked: “Movie Theaters Are on the Brink. Can Wine and Cheese Save Them?”

Maybe not. But there’s reason to believe that the very tech companies threatening the industry could breathe new life into movie theaters.

Last week, rumors circulated that Amazon is interested in acquiring AMC, the largest theater chain in the United States. The news caused a sharp spike in AMC’s stock price. The company has had a rough year: The chain lost money in 2019, despite multiple billion-dollar tentpole releases such as Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, and Frozen 2. And that was before the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters worldwide. Now, some analysts have speculated that the company might file for bankruptcy. While the theater chain denied the speculation, it raised $500 million in additional debt to weather the current crisis.

Continue reading… “The future of movie theaters might look a lot like an apple store”

Coronavirus, Legal Issues, new technology, Science & Technology News

INSIGHT: How Covid-19 Changed the Future of Litigation

May 20, 2020

Covid-19 is proving to be the impetus the legal industry needed to embrace remote technologies, Merchant & Gould attorneys write. They look at how law firms are adjusting to new technologies now and how courts may adopt new technologies going forward.

In law firms, one might guess the graduation year of attorneys based only on the technologies employed in their practices.

Lawyers graduating in the last decade may have never even seen a dictaphone in person or have experienced paper cuts from thumbing through thousands of paper documents to prepare them for production in litigation. Only recently did a small number of litigators begin using tablets instead of paper documents in depositions. Nearly all litigators firmly believed it was not possible to effectively conduct a deposition or hearing remotely.

But the Covid-19 pandemic forced change in an age-old profession, nearly overnight. As courthouses around the country continue trials and hearings, and even close completely, courts and attorneys alike have been forced to adopt new technologies at every stage of proceedings.

Continue reading… “INSIGHT: How Covid-19 Changed the Future of Litigation”

Big Problems, Business, Coronavirus, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

Covid-19 could trigger ‘media extinction event’ in developing countries

May 20, 2020

Critical reporting under threat as revenue losses leave independent news outlets hostage to government subsidies or whims of billionaires

Press freedom groups warn that the integrity of independent journalism could be at risk.

Fake news laws and political interference along with growing financial pressures has left many independent media groups in developing countries fighting to survive during the pandemic.

News outlets around the world have faced measures to muzzle critical reporting in an environment that has already seen dozens of journalists harassed, arrested and censored by governments, according to editors and press freedom groups.

Continue reading… “Covid-19 could trigger ‘media extinction event’ in developing countries”

Business, Coronavirus, Economy, Science & Technology News

The Fed doesn’t believe in a V-shaped recovery and neither should you

May 21, 2020

The Fed is warning of several risks to the economic recovery process including damaged labor market dynamics and the potential for a long and deep recession.

Don’t underestimate COVID-19 and the global scale of the economic crisis.

We see the risks for stocks as tilted to the downside and expect a correction lower driven by a rotation out of the mega-cap tech leaders.

The FOMC met this week for its first Fed funds interest rate decision since the two emergency cuts in March. As expected, the policy rate was left unchanged at 0% with the markets focusing more on the various relief measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic and now looking ahead towards the economic rebound.

Continue reading… “The Fed doesn’t believe in a V-shaped recovery and neither should you”

Automation, Coronavirus, Healthcare, Robots, Science & Technology News

San Antonio robotics firm becomes first to prove its robots kill coronavirus

May 19, 2020

Xenex’s patented LightStrike robots have been deployed in more than 500 healthcare facilities worldwide to destroy pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 that can cause deadly infections.

San Antonio robotics company Xenex Disinfection Services has become the first to scientifically prove its robot can sterilize a room of the SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – and it can do so in less than two minutes.

The testing began in February after Xenex sought out a partnership with the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, which had acquired the SARS-CoV-2 contagion to begin research toward developing a vaccine. Xenex wanted to prove that its LightStrike germ-zapping robot could deactivate the virus using pulsating xenon lamps to generate bursts of high-intensity germicidal light, which kills viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores.

“Xenex is an evidence-based company; we’re focused on our claims being backed by scientific research,” Xenex spokeswoman Melinda Hart said.

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China, Coronavirus, Healthcare, Science & Technology News

Chinese scientists develop new test that detects antibodies against Coronavirus in just 10 minutes

May 19, 2020

Scientists from several institutions in Guangzhou, China, have developed a new test that is similar to a pregnancy test, that detects antibodies against COVID-19

The WHO’s war cry against the novel coronavirus pandemic was “test, test, test.” Such is the importance of extensive testing in a rapidly worsening global health crisis where time is not money but life. In such a scenario, accurate and quick testing methods are essential for tackling the spread of COVID-19. Providing hope in this regard, researchers from China have developed a test that can detect antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in just 10 minutes.

The new test is a result of the collaboration between scientists from several institutions in Guangzhou, China, and builds on a testing technique known as a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA). An example of such a test is a home pregnancy test. It is based on the detection of the antibody, Immunoglobulin G (IgG), produced by the body to counter the coronavirus.

Expressing confidence over the new testing technique, the authors wrote in the study, “We expect this assay to be highly useful for helping to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by allowing timely diagnosis through early detection of SARS-CoV-2.”

Continue reading… “Chinese scientists develop new test that detects antibodies against Coronavirus in just 10 minutes”

Big Problems, Business, Coronavirus, Science & Technology News

These 4 industries are going to die

May 18, 2020

We are not going back to our old economy. It’s over.

Right now, something incredibly positive is occurring in our society. It’s never happened before in world history (feel free to correct me if you can find an example).

Every scientist, health leader, politician, teacher, business leader, family member — everyone — is converging to solve one problem.

That’s incredibly powerful and gives me immense hope for our future.

In addition, I believe 3 factors will emerge going forward: convergence, disruption, and opportunity.

I’m seeing 2 convergences related to the American consumer that will have a massive effect on your business:

Continue reading… “These 4 industries are going to die”

Coronavirus, Food, Science & Technology News, Shopping

Walmart is piloting a pricier 2-hour Express grocery delivery service

May 18, 2020

Record usage of grocery delivery services amid the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delayed orders, fewer open delivery windows and, on occasion, an inability to even book a delivery time slot. Walmart now hopes to capitalize on the increased demand for speedier delivery with the introduction of a new service that allows consumers to pay to get to the front of the line. The retailer confirmed today it’s launching a new Walmart Grocery service called “Express,” which promises orders in two hours or less for an upcharge of $10 on top of the usual delivery fee.

The service has been in pilot testing across 100 Walmart stores in the U.S. since mid-April. Walmart says it plans to expand the service to nearly 1,000 stores in early May and it will be offered in a total of nearly 2,000 stores in the weeks after.

Some Walmart customers may have recently received a push notification alerting them to the launch.

Continue reading… “Walmart is piloting a pricier 2-hour Express grocery delivery service”

Aviation, government, Military, Science & Technology News

The Air Force is tired of waiting, so it’s kickstarting the flying car industry

May 18, 2020

The goal is to have a fully operational flying car fleet by 2023.

Agility Prime is the U.S. Air Force’s new commercial development program for flying cars. In part, the Air Force wants to create a healthy domestic industry for the vehicles to keep abreast of security concerns.

By 2023, the Air Force hopes to have an operational fleet of the vehicles.

It feels like the U.S. has been on the brink of a flying car revolution for half a century. Every so often, a company claims to be just two or three years away from the perfect avian vehicle. In 2011, it was rumored that a company called Terrafugia would have $227,000 flying cars “in a matter of months,” and even Uber has promised to have autonomous flyers by 2023.

Continue reading… “The Air Force is tired of waiting, so it’s kickstarting the flying car industry”

2020 Predictions, Big Problems, Coronavirus, Housing, Science & Technology News

Get me out of here! Americans flee crowded cities amid COVID-19, consider permanent moves

May 17, 2020

Ben Greenzweig is itching to move his wife and three kids South, a plan that may get accelerated due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The CEO and co-founder of conference company Momentum Event Group, says he’s looking to move to either North Carolina or South Carolina from the New York City suburbs in Westchester County, for cheaper costs and bigger living space amid fears that a deep and prolonged economic slump in the state could eventually force residents to pay higher taxes.

“It would be an unbelievable escape,” Greenzweig, 42, says. He typically works from home which gives him flexibility.

“Our children’s involvement in school is the single largest tether keeping us here. If there’s a hint that school won’t resume in the fall for my kids, then the biggest reasons for us staying here, which are friendships and school activities, evaporates.”

Continue reading… “Get me out of here! Americans flee crowded cities amid COVID-19, consider permanent moves”

Automation, Automobiles, China, Driverless cars, Science & Technology News

Cars could go completely driverless ‘very soon,’ says CEO of Chinese autonomous driving tech start-up

May 18, 2020

AutoX rolls out self-driving robotaxis in Shanghai’s ride-hailing market

KEY POINTS

Despite current regulations and safety concerns over self-driving cars, the time that cars could really go driverless is coming “very soon,” according to Jianxiong Xiao, CEO and founder of AutoX, a start-up developing autonomous driving technology based in Shenzhen.

It had received approval from Shanghai authorities to roll out a fleet of 100 autonomous ride-hailing cars in Shanghai’s Jiading district in September last year.

Backed by investors such as Alibaba, Shanghai Motor and Dongfeng Motor, AutoX is one of the players in the multi-trillion U.S. dollar Chinese autonomous driving vehicles market alongside others like DiDi Chuxing.

The time that cars could go completely driverless is coming “very soon,” according to Jianxiong Xiao, CEO and founder of AutoX, a Shenzhen-based start-up developing autonomous driving technology.

Continue reading… “Cars could go completely driverless ‘very soon,’ says CEO of Chinese autonomous driving tech start-up”