2016 Internet trends
Yes. it\’s long – but a quick read. Synopsis: things are slowing, China and India are the hotspots for growth, Android outsells Apple about 5:1 (!) – voice is the future. Would have liked to see a deeper dive into IOT and data integration, and wearables as an extension of mobility.
Innovation in unexpected ways
https://youtu.be/W-2WiqOtlqg%20
Innovation isn\’t always grandiose, or complicated, requiring teams of badly dressed nerds in disheveled clothes working around the clock…don\’t know if that last bit applies or not in this case, but this elegantly simple solution to real problems caught my eye; edible disposable cutlery.
Cutlery you say? Innovative? – apparently India throws away 120 BILLION plastic spoons forks and knives a year. And that\’s a lot. Not just because I\’m a closet tree-hugger, but because India has a particular problem with trash disposal – and drought.
So this wonderful solution emerged: made from Millet (a grain that is highly nutritious and uses much less water than rice), they are flavored and baked and stay crispy even with liquids – but can be eaten afterwards. If they are, they are nutritious; if they aren\’t, they completely biodegrade within 45 days. They even have a shelf life of 3 years! No plastic, extra nutrition, little water…elegant and simple. Beautifully so.
Just wish they\’d make some bowls and plates. I might feel a bit like I\’m at the Mad Hatter\’s tea party, but the appeal of no dishes would be worth it.
Fewer than 1% of computers in the world can run virtual reality programs
…and the problem is that sub standard graphics display in a VR headset (the kind you might get with a computer that can\’t handle the graphics) can easily make you queasy, dizzy, or sick.
Read more at Business Insider.
Kayak for 3D Printing “3DPrintler” Turns Down 7-Figure Investment Offer
What an great idea! With the plethora of 3D printing services popping up, instead of having to upload a model to each, choose the materials and do a price comparison – this is brilliant. Of course 3D printing isn\’t generic though, if you\’re not printing on the same machine / resolution and quality. Still, what a fabulous idea.
Read more at 3D Printing Industry.
Getting away from it all
Every flight attendant\’s dream! Rows of people completely immersed in being somewhere else 🙂
Read more at Tech Crunch
Russian startup wins US face recognition competition
A Russian startup, N-Tech.Lab, just won a face recognition competition hosted by the Unversity of Washington. \”Their algorithm, which is based on a neural network, achieved a 73.3% rate of accuracy compared to 70.496% for Google\’s FaceNet v8.
Read more at Planet Biometrics
There\’s an Oculus Rift Room in the works
Reminds me of the short science fiction story where the children let the virtual reality room lion eat their parents when they try to take them out of the VR room (The Veldt by Ray Bradbury) …. from Upload VR: \”This could be an interesting twist in the upcoming VR wars but Palmer thinks room scale is \”fantasy that few games will utilize.”
More info @ Upload VR