Welcome Shelf Scanning Robots

Walmart has introduced shelf scanning robots into 50+ Wal-Mart stores across the country. They are gray, rolling boxes that are two feet tall. The devices will be able to report unsold items, missing items, and misplaced items. The robot will also be able to report if an item is not priced correctly. This information will then be sent to an employee who is responsible for re-stocking the items. But it’s not like Wal-Mart will be firing tons of employees. These devices are used to supplement the headcounting done by the human employees. What’s great about these robots is that they can work at all times, while the human employees only work a portion of the day. The implementation of these robots was due to keeping up with the retail giant, Amazon. They also have their own robots. What’s different about Amazon and Wal-Mart is that Amazon uses the robots to speed up the logistics and shipping process. Wal-Mart will use these robots to obtain accurate information and pass the information on directly to a worker.

Picture link: https://www.google.com/search?q=walmart+robots&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvpaydtJHXAhVE54MKHWYmA6sQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1278&bih=583&dpr=2#imgrc=VDamjGlGAyGZ3M:

Article link: https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/27/walmart-is-rolling-out-shelf-scanning-robots-in-stores-but-says-they-wont-replace-people/

Delta Implements Automated Check-In into Phone App

On October 12th, it became official that Delta would attempt to improve customer service by programing their app to check in customers 24 hours before their flight. One drawback to this is that it will be difficult for customers to verify that they don’t have restricted items with them. As our technology becomes more advanced, doesn’t it feel like customer/employee interaction has decreased? In my honest opinion, great customer service is when people interact with other people, not computers interacting with people. I worked front desk at a gym this summer, and I must say, my customer service and social skills have improved drastically since last year. Interacting with other people on a daily basis and helping them get answers is much better customer service than that provided by any computer or automated machine. Delta is also trying to implement free messaging into the application. While services such as automated check in may quicken the experience, there’s no better customer service than that provided by humans.

Link to article: http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/12/technology/delta-app-check-in/index.html

Link to Picture: https://www.google.com/search?q=delta+app&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjb-MPAye7WAhWB7yYKHS4mB7kQ_AUICygC&biw=1279&bih=619&dpr=2#imgrc=I_cJdvBuSdOSPM:

Are devices without a headphone jack the new trend?

Remember last year when Apple envisioned and created an iPhone without a headphone jack? Now, the Pixel has caught onto this trend. I am a huge supporter of the headphone jack personally because not everyone has bluetooth headphones/speakers to connect their devices to. What if your bluetooth headphones die? How will you listen to your music/watch videos that you like to watch? I always carry around my bluetooth headphones and my apple headphones just incase. We currently live in an age where wireless is everywhere. I own a pair of the Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats 3, and I love them. However, if my powerbeats die out on me, I always have my backup pair of headphones that I can plug into my phone. Apple has started a new trend where headphone jacks are rendered obsolete. Many different phone companies are hopping on the bandwagon, and I don’t like it. When the iPhone 7 just hit the market, Google was even making jokes about the lack of a headphone jack. But now, look at where google devices stand with a headphone jack. The argument for getting rid of the headphone jack is that it creates more internal space. In the long run, this is probably true, but I currently don’t see that vision. As time progresses, we will just become more and more wireless and devices will become more and more interconnected with each other, bringing us more toward the Internet of Things.

Link for article and picture: https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/5/16428570/google-pixel-2-no-headphone-jack-apple-wireless-future

Welcome to the Smart Speaker Age

We currently live in a generation where smart technologies are running the world. For example, with smart tv’s you can stream any tv show/movie/sporting event from the click of a button. Smart light bulbs allow the consumer to control the lights of his/her home from a smartphone. The list of smart technology goes on and on. But now, the Smart Speaker is taking over. Specifically, Amazon’s “Alexa.” Amazon’s smart speaker technology allows customers to play music, tv shows, control their lights, etc. just from talking to the friendly, and obedient, Alexa. Today, a whole new line of smart speakers has been released by Amazon, promising deeper bass and higher quality voice recognition technology. The Amazon Echo Spot is basically a tiny alarm clock with a touch screen that contains the same capabilities as Alexa. In addition, this device contains a front-facing camera which enables customers to make video calls anywhere in the United States and Canada. The Echo Plus is is the same size as the original Echo, but can operate as a smart home hub, being able to connect to smart appliances throughout the house.

Link to article used: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/27/16374254/amazon-event-2017-news-recap-echo-spot-fire-tv-hardware

Link to picture: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41417928