Applying a touch of humanity to machines

By introducing sensors and advanced computer technology to road vehicles, we can give them the ability of sight and decision-making. Through the Internet of Things (a system of interrelated machines), vehicles will thus be able to “interact” with the world around them, including other vehicles, traffic lights and speed detectors. In controlled environments, autonomous vehicles have proven to be exceptionally safe, outperforming people drivers, which are prone to human error.

But there is still a long way to go. Self-driving cars are still not available for end consumers, but they could slowly make it to market between 2020 and 2035, says a Vienna University of Economic and Business study.

“It is going to be a revolution but not a tragedy: more people will survive [on roads]; these vehicles will share their experiences and be even safer”Paul Newman. Founder of Oxbotica, a UK-based autonomous vehicle software company

Experts believe there are still about five to 10 more years before autonomous vehicles become as common, safe and practicable as taking a bike.

In reality, partially autonomous cars will become more common, representing a market of $36 billion by 2025, while fully autonomous cars will be worth just $6 billion by then.

Yet, despite numerous challenges – both technical and safety related – it is clear that the autonomous vehicle industry will only continue to grow for our benefit. In particular, supporters of the emerging industry say there is a natural opportunity to save countless lives.

The applications for autonomous vehicles are wide and global. China has already deployed autonomous vending machines that are smart enough to maneuver complex ecosystems. Google operates a self-driving car project called Waymo that has accumulated 338 patents. And big transport companies are talking about bold plans to build autonomous helicopters.

Truly, the driverless revolution has already begun. What the world needs now, ironically, are computer savvy pilots to develop the driver-less transport of tomorrow.

In Tempe, Arizona, a pedestrian was killed by one of Uber’s first fleet of driver-less cars during a test run on public roadways. The woman killed, Elaine Herzberg, 49, became the first recorded fatality from a self-driving car.

Uber reacted to the accident by creating a self-driving safety and responsibility advisory (SARA) board. The group of appointed experts that sit on this board are now charged with reviewing, advising, and suggesting changes to policies for the company’s autonomous vehicles.

Following this hard-learned lesson, Uber deployed a new fleet of autonomous vehicle tests in Dallas, Texas last September. Starting in the city’s downtown area, human drivers will be tasked to collect mapping data and capture driving scenarios that can later be used to reproduce simulations.

“The data we collect will inform our next steps. While we are certainly excited by this possibility, we are also committed to ensuring that every mile we drive on public roads contributes meaningfully to our development work,” said Austin Geidt, head of Uber ATG (Advanced Technologies Group) strategy.

No self-driving vehicle trips are on offer yet. But Uber’s test runs will surely help to greatly advance data sets that can be fed into Internet of Things systems. Following Uber’s example, any company that develops autonomous vehicles will likewise need to invest in how to safely integrate these new machines into our messy and complex world.

Photo: Uber

Shortly after the buzz of PokemonGo died down, the world of sports become one of the first arenas for AR disruption. Now, with AR glasses runners or swimmers can clock their work out stats, or even play a virtual game – not so different from PokemonGo.

Furthermore, the organizers of major sporting events are now catching on. Soon, attendees at soccer games may be able to rent AR glasses that feed them live game statistics and player interviews from the comfort of their couch.

“Your living room will transport you to wherever you want to be via augmented, virtual and mixed reality,” says Brendan Reilly, CEO of EON Sports VR.

The possibilities are massive and truly have only just begun to be understood.

The idea was simple: Combine Fitbit biometric data functions with the see-through smart displays of Google Glasses, then add the magic of augmented reality. The result was a groundbreaking aquatic AR experience.

“Swimmers can see their heart rate in our goggles’ display throughout their swim. This is a game-changer for swimmers, triathletes, and the coaches who train them,” says Form CEO Dan Eisenhardt.

While swimming, the goggles feed other real-time metrics of work out routine in front of the user’s vision, such as lap distances and integrals, and the device is built to detect what kind of style is being used, such as backstroke or freestyle. Never again will swimming laps be the same.

Photo: formswim.com

But although the bitcoin bubble popped, the technology still remains. Blockchain — a system of decentralized, encrypted ledgers — is a technology that poises appealingly disruption applications to a variety of industries, including digital banking, supply chain and healthcare. The possibilities of digital currencies have even piqued the interest of governments. To date, 20 countries have adopted or researched a national cyprtocurrency, a currency that is backed by blockchain technology.

Still the most common application, however, is making secure digital payments, which are possible with blockchain even if the receiver has no bank account. One of the most anticipated developments in this field is Facebook’s cryptocurrency, the Libra, which currently faces many obstacles to launch.

Thus, the ability to connect non-banked users to global finance has allowed for innovative applications, including “rewarding” participants to pick up plastic pollution in the Philippines and Indonesia, two of the top-three most polluted coastal nations in the world.

“French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed an open attitude towards blockchain and cryptocurrencies since serving as Minister of Economy and Finance in 2016, and it is this attitude that has allowed the country’s tech and startup scene to flourish”Corentin Denoeud, CEO and Co-Founder of Blockchain Studi