Weekly Tech Recap - № 143 - Amazon Key, Otohiko fork, Waymo in Michigan, Walmart’s bots, etc.
Amazon Key
Amazon Key. © Amazon.
If you are an avid Amazon shopper and have experienced the aggravation of packages going missing, Amazon has a new program for you (alas, only available at the moment in 37 cities across the US where Amazon Logistics handles the drop-off). Amazon Prime customers can get their packages delivered right inside their homes. An internet-connected security camera and accompanying “smart” lock allow previously-vetted delivery staff to open your front door and leave the package just inside the door, under the watchful eye of the camera. An app alerts customers of imminent deliveries, which can be watched in real-time. The camera-and-lock package starts at $250 and can be used to allow others to access your home, like guests or service providers.
⇨ Recode, “Amazon will start delivering packages into the homes of Prime members.”
First-world problems
Otohiko fork. © Nissin Foods Products.
Ramen noodles are supposed to be slurped, preferably loudly, but Western ears are easily offended. Perhaps in a bid to enhance sales, Nissin, the Japanese company that makes Top Ramen and Cup Noodles, has come out with the Otohiko fork, which cancels out offending noises. Sensors in the fork detect slurping, sending a signal to your smartphone to play white noise or some other cover sound. The fork is priced at $130, but only 5,000 will be made, and only if enough of them are pre-ordered.
⇨ Cnet, “New noise-canceling ramen fork hides slurping sounds.”
New and improved Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus. © Landsec.
London’s Piccadilly Circus is known for its colossal lighted billboards, which had never been turned off since WWII, until this year. The power was switched off in January for a major overhaul and renovation, and switched back on again this fall to reveal a state-of-the-art interactive screen made up of 11.6 million LEDs covering 780 sq m (8,400 sq ft). The new technology supports live streaming and context-based content, depending on environmental factors such as temperature.
⇨ BBC News, “Piccadilly Circus lights switched back on after renovations.”
Robots coming to a Walmart near you
Shelf-scanning robot. © Walmart.
Walmart is no stranger to technology, having acquired online shopping sites to grow it's e-commerce business, tested straight-to-the-fridge grocery delivery and worked with Google to create a voice shopping assistant. But its latest foray into technology is much more visible to customers, with robots roaming the aisles to scan for out-of-stock items, check prices and fix labels. These towering white columns on wheels will perform repetitive, mindless work, freeing up human staff to perform more challenging tasks. The robots will be deployed to 50 stores in the near future.
⇨ The Verge, “Walmart is using shelf-scanning robots to audit its stores.”
And speaking of Walmart…
First it seemed that Walmart was going with Apple, but then it wasn’t. In a bizarre turn of events, Joe Park, senior director of Associate Digital Experience at Walmart, contradicted his colleague Miles Leacy, technical expert for Apple technologies at Walmart, shortly after a post was taken down from the site of the Jamf Nation User Conference, one of the largest gatherings of Apple system administrators in the world. Leacy said that Walmart would be going from 7,000 Mac computers to 100,000 Macs world-wide in just over a year to cut IT support costs for employees; Park later said that no such program had been rolled out. Happily, both agree on cost savings to customers.
⇨ Cnet, “Walmart not ready to add employee Macs to reduce costs.”
Waymo way north
© Waymo.
Autonomous driving is one thing in ideal conditions; but what about when it’s snowing, or the roads are icy, and drivers are out of their element? Waymo is testing its self-driving vehicles in Michigan, one of the few American states with both a real winter and laws allowing autonomous vehicle testing. But never fear, every autonomous vehicle will still have a test driver on-board, just in case.
⇨ Ars Technica, “Waymo starts testing in Michigan to master snow and ice.”
