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.
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”
Lucy, a 1 year old Burmese Mountain dog and her owner Alfred Pretrone.
There’s “something special” about Lucy, says Alfred Pretrone about his female companion. She’s good-looking, “chill” and she makes the stress melt away at the end of a long day. But Lucy isn’t Mr. Petrone’s girlfriend. She’s his dog.
Continue reading… “Growing trend among young singles who treat pets like girlfriends and boyfriends”
This process can generate small amounts of electricity.
Last year, MIT researchers discovered that when water droplets spontaneously jump away from superhydrophobic (water-repelling) surfaces during condensation, the droplets can gain electric charge in the process.
Continue reading… “Generating electricity from jumping water droplets”
Mobile tech will help squash millions of annoyances we encounter with traveling.
Our lives have the potential of becoming completely automated because of beacons. The tiny transmitters will seamlessly give companies information about us that help them provide better service; control real-time opportunities for us to save or enjoy; and simplify the exchange of funds. They will remove the many steps we go through to get something done today. Steps which are so engrained in us that we don’t yet even realize how much they are interrupting our lives. Traveling in particular is full of millions of annoyances that beacons, sensors, and other advances in mobile tech will soon help to squash. Just imagine a 36-hour business trip:
Continue reading… “Mobile and beacons will power travel in the future”
Nimbus microbus
The Nimbus is a funky little hybrid that looks like a retro-styled SUV, but its actual story is even more intriguing. The Nimbus concept car is a microbus that can take electric hybrids off-road. The concept comes from Brazilian designer Eduardo Galvani who claims it offers a greater driving range and better fuel economy than any hybrid currently on the market. (Pics)
Continue reading… “Nimbus – a retro-futuristic off-roading electric SUV”
Democratization of funding is changing the VC landscape.
The venture capital and funding market has changed dramatically over the last ten years. In the past venture capitalists were the go-to-guys in the playground, there are new players giving entrepreneurs with many choices. One used to focus their efforts in the famed VC offices on Sand Hill Road, but today it is happening in every corner and coffee shop around the world.
Continue reading… “Democratization of funding is disrupting the venture capital landscape”
Energy storage
On paper, California’s push to transform the market for grid-scale energy storage is working even better than expected.
Continue reading… “Project proposals nearly double California’s energy storage target”
A maglev train at the Pudong International Airport.
High-speed rail (HSR) will connect not only cities, states and countries in the future, but also far-reaching continents. In about 15 to 20 years from now, one could travel seamlessly from London, UK to Beijing, China and even have a detour within the Gulf countries using the global high-speed rail network. In the next 15 years, while UK would have built its new HSR2 that covers 332 kilometers, China will have completed over 25,631 kilometers of high speed track to seamlessly move people in its country.
Can money buy happiness? Only up to a certain point. But just how much you need to get to that threshold really depends on where you live, according to a new analysis by Doug Short, vice president of research at investment group Advisor Perspectives.
Continue reading… “The salary at which money won’t make you any happier in each state”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
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