A newly developed vine-like robot can grow across long distances without moving its whole body. It could prove useful in search and rescue operations and medical applications. Source: Stanford University News Date: April 20th, 2018 Link: https://news.stanford.edu/2017/07/19/stanford-researchers-develop-new-type-soft-growing-robot/ Discussion 1) Another day, another type of robot! What sorts of things could you use this robot for? 2) Imagine you… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Disruptive Innovation
Meet the robo-farmers that pick and plant
It seems there are few jobs robots can’t do these days, even the most delicate jobs, like picking asparagus or potting plant seedlings. But they’re only needed because humans can’t – or won’t – do the work, farmers say. Source: BBC Business Date: April 20th, 2018 Link to video: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-43824607/meet-the-robots-that-can-pick-and-plant-better-than-we-can Discussion 1) Robots that can pick and plant seeds… Read more »
Technology reveals fear and other emotions
The fear levels of an audience have been measured to show how machines are beginning to reveal people’s deepest feelings. The demonstration was part of a talk given by Dolby Labs chief scientist Poppy Crum at the TED conference in Vancouver. The ability to hide emotions is becoming “a thing of the past”, she said. The professor believes… Read more »
SoFi Plans to Start Rolling Out Deposit Accounts Next Month
Social Finance Inc. said it will start offering deposit accounts and debit cards to some customers next month, the first major new product under Chief Executive Officer Anthony Noto. The San Francisco-based company is looking to branch into various financial services Source: Bloomberg Technology News Date: April 6th, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-05/sofi-plans-to-start-rolling-out-checking-accounts-next-month Discussion 1) Look up SoFi and see what it… Read more »
‘Child porn links could make Bitcoin blockchain illegal’
Researchers in Germany have found hundreds of links to child sexual abuse imagery on Bitcoin’s blockchain. This could make using the blockchain, a digital ledger of crypto-currency transactions, illegal. The study, from RWTH Aachen University, also said other files on the blockchain may violate copyright and privacy laws. Researchers said they had found eight files with sexual content…. Read more »
IBM, Maersk Form New Blockchain Company for International Cargo
IBM and A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S have started a company that will use new technologies such as blockchain, a digital ledger best known for underpinning bitcoin, to track cargo movements and automate paperwork for shipping across international borders. Source: BusinessWeek Date: January 16th, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/ibm-maersk-form-new-blockchain-company-for-international-cargo Discussion 1) It is becoming more and more apparent that blockchain technology is going to… Read more »
Everything we knew about money is up for grabs. So will we end up smiling?
“Thanks to mobile payments, it is entirely possible that we will see a major country such as China become a predominantly cashless society in five years’ time, if not sooner.” Source: BBC Technology News Date: November 21, 2017 Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/The_disruptors_money_changing Discussion 1) What would it mean in your country to have it operate completely cashlessly? 2) Friction-free transactions… Read more »
Will Facebook kill all future Facebooks?
IN 2010, FOURSQUARE cofounder Naveen Selvadurai believed that his company, and several other social-media upstarts—Twitter, Tumblr, Path—could carve out successful niches against Facebook. But Facebook had other plans. That year the company introduced a feature that allowed users to “check in” at any location, Source: Wired Magazine Date: October 27th, 2017 Link: https://www.wired.com/story/facebooks-aggressive-moves-on-startups-threaten-innovation/ Discussion 1) “It’s really fun to work” on consumer Internet… Read more »
The Decade That Built the Next iPhone
When Steve Jobs launched the iPhone in 2007, he said it was 5 years ahead of the competition and he was right. But after a decade, it’s starting to feel like Apple needs something big again. And now, on cue, here comes something big. Source: Wired Magazine Date: September 7th, 2017 Link to 5 minute 44 second… Read more »
Banking On The Blockchain
Ever since Bitcoin was introduced in late 2008, the blockchain code that underpins the cryptocurrency has been the source of hope and fear—and much hype. In theory, agile startups could create software built on blockchain protocols with the hope of providing a safer, faster, cheaper and more transparent alternative to traditional financial intermediaries, such as… Read more »
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