1 million of Galaxy fold might have been sold

According to Samsung Electronics President Young Sohn, “There’s a million people that want to use this product at $2,000”. This is a very shocking news for the tech communities as this is one of the most expensive phone there is. After the malfunction in the intial release, Samsung re-release the phone to compete among other foldable phones such as Motorola Razr and Huawei Mate X. (Carson, 2019) I believe that this might be a potential disruptive invention. However, its impact won’t be as big as iPhone until it drops the price. Image result for galaxy fold

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/news/galaxy-fold-exec-says-samsungs-sold-a-million-of-its-foldable-phones/

Honda autopilot cars are coming

According Nikkei Asian Review, Honda is planning to release a level 3 self-driving car next year in Japan. Like Tesla or any other automated cars, this will let the driver control the car without using the wheels. There are speculation of Acura’s Honda luxurious brand that this kind of vehicle will make it ways to the US first. The price of this car has been speculated to be 93000 dollars. (Szymkowski, 2019)

At this point, I am not surprised seeing another competition for Tesla. Auto pilot cars have been a go to project for a lot of automotive companies lately. I would still stand with my point that this is a good thing as it wont let Tesla become a monopoly.

reference: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/honda-self-driving-car-technology-japan/

New SpaceX’s progress to 2020 launch

Progress in SpaceX’s rocket called Crew Dragon completed a series of static- fire engine test on Wednesday, according to NASA. In the experiment, the capule’s thrusters are tested to see if it can sustain when the process of orbiting occurs. This experiment was an Intense for SpaceX and NASA, due to an explosion caused by the fail test in April, forcing a redesign for SpaceX, and the hard work paid off. The test is a huge positive sign as  the Crew Dragon will still need more work to do to prove it can handle launch emergency before we send human in space. SpaceX and NASA are hoping that they can launch astronauts to ISS in the beginning of 2020. (Kooser, 2019)

crewdragonstaticfire

This is a positive sign for commercial space traveling, as Elon Musk desired. The test is a huge milestone for the current progress. As 2020 is coming closer, we can look forward to see a new space launch ever since 2011.

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-passes-crew-dragon-test-that-previously-ended-in-an-explosion/

Mission Impossible’s masks are possible

mask

Mask technology in Mission: Impossible has been a joke due to how unrealistic it is. However, mask technology has been evolving to the point that the mission does not seem to be impossible anymore. Currently the Kyoto university is developing a hyper-realistic silicone that can mimic freckles and wrinkles that can be really deceiving. A study has been conducted with participants in the UK and Japan being showed pair of photos with a normal person an the other one in a mask, and they must get who is the real one. The result is the consistent 20% wrong. The developers believe that the percentage of errors will increase as more development will be put into the masks. The developers are currently pursuing the goal to make the invention affordable and widely use. (Kooser 2019)

This invention would be an asset in the filming industry. However, these masks should not be commercially used, as it would encourage acts of identity theft, pranks, and public disturbances, leading to serious damage to a person’s well-being.

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/news/hyper-realistic-masks-can-fool-us-just-like-in-mission-impossible/

Finding life in Mars

NASA currently stated that their project in 2020 will be researching for fossils on Mars. The scientists told Icarus Journal that the inner rim crater has concentrated carbonate mineral deposits. Similar to earth, carbonate helps form fossil, allowing these artifacts to survive for thousands of years. While scientists are not looking for skeletons, seashells, they are investigating for the signs of life forms in the planets, telling us how Mars might have been a habitable planet to a deserted one. The rover will reach the research site in February 2021. ( Kooser, 2019)

Image result for mars rover

This project will allow us to gain more astronomical knowledge. By having these kind of information, we can then explore more of the planet’s geography, which might allow us to send people there in the new future.

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-will-hunt-for-fossils-on-mars/

Volkswagen investing in electrical vehicles

Volkswagen group recently made an action that declares they will be investing heavily in the electrical vehicle industry. The company stated that they will spend $66 billion from now to 2024 in research and development, with $33 billion will be spent towards an electric vehicle. The company states that they want to start building electrical cars that run with MEB electric- car platforms, a high-performance electrical car, and 6 million of these models will be sold. The remain money will be spent toward hybrid vehicles and new technology. The German automaker is also setting up a new division to work on self-driving car. (Szymkowski, 2019)

From my perspective, after seeing Tesla opening a mass- production factory in China. This will allow more opportunities to improve the climate and allowing consumers to choose between more options rather than having Tesla growing as a monopoly.

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/volkswagen-electric-cars-technology-investment/

The Employee Protector

According to Occupational safety and Health administration, Healthcare workers have the highest rate of workplace violence, especially nurse, who are the most susceptible. Strongline, a company that decides to tackle this problem, invented a device with “a one-square-inch badge that nurses can discreetly pin to their name tags.” When pressed, the button sends a Bluetooth signal to the port, which can help from security and track where the alert originated. Currently, the company will be producing their products to the healthcare work forces, Strongline has signed with 14 hospital, making $2.5 million annually.

This invention is amazing as it protects people in the healthcare industry. The product has unlimited potential and can be utilized in other aspects as well, even in school, protecting children from bullies and pedophiles. The product should be essential in the workforce, as there are cases of unreported violence in the workplace happening around the world.

Reference: https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2019/11/13/strongline-security-badge/#460f23b93f40

The growth of Tesla

China buys the most alternative energy vehicles in the world. The electric cars automaker, Tesla has declared for mass production of Tesla Model 3 in China. This Wednesday, the Chinese government has approved Tesla for the production, and currently, the company is in the low scale preparation for the process. This move benefits both Tesla and China, as this company are entering a huge market with high demand for electric vehicle, and China can have the upper hand in the trade war against the US. Tesla is also announcing that they will construct a factory outside of Berlin, and that facility will be responsible for Tesla’s European production. ( Szymkowski, 2019)

Tesla Model 3

As Tesla is going global, this will play an important role in fighting against climate change, as this electric vehicle is becoming more accessible than ever. This is an outstanding move by Elon Musk as it benefits his company and the environment.

Reference: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-electric-cars-china-production/

The growth of Video game industry

Video game is one of the fastest blooming industry, it is expected to reach $300 billion in revenue by 2025. However, the gaming industry has changed from single player games to online free to play games. This kind of video games has contributed in the growth of video game industry, and the eSport industry as well.

Free-to-play games, as the name suggested, are games that are completely free to register to play, and these games are often online games. Because it is free to play, people often have misconceptions on how these games are not regenerating any revenue. However, the developers are making profits from in-game items such as skins, cars, weapons,… Fortnite, League of Legends, and Apex legends are the biggest names in this industry, and their business model is no different. Fortnite generated one billion dollars in revenue thanks to its sale of in-game items.

Newzoo: Global Esports Revenue Streams 2019

Prediction of eSport’s growth

This Free-to-play model also has a propelling the eSport industry as well such as Fortnite World Cup, League of Legends World Championships and such. In 2019, the global total viewership will exceed 453.8 million audience, which could generate one billion dollars in revenue by this year. These huge numbers of audience attract investors as well, and the relationship expands both ends. Video games industry is a huge industry, with no signs of stopping in growth.

Reference:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilkerkoksal/2019/11/08/video-gaming-industry–its-revenue-shift/#5adb9242663e

https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/newzoo-global-esports-economy-will-top-1-billion-for-the-first-time-in-2019/

 

Fighting Malaria with Drones

Tanzania, like every other country in Eastern Africa, is suffering from Malaria. This disease has been infecting 10 million people, and the cause of fatality of 80000 people annually. The efforts of preventing this disease has been proven to be ineffective, as manual spraying is costly and time consuming. (Wright 2019)

Training session on the DJI Agras MG1-S spray drone against malaria, in Tanzania.Radboud University ‘s entomologist Bart Knols, University of Nairobi’s Richard Mukabana, and entrepreneur Guido Welter have come up with the idea of using drones to spray control agent to kill mosquitoes’ larvae. This substance is Aquantain AMF, it is non-toxic and biodegradable which will be sprayed through out the rural Africa. This will also allow the locals to learn new techniques and applications to the usage of drones to perform business and technical practices as well. (Wright 2019)

This method is claimed to be the first-time human uses drones to fight against mosquitoes. Drone does not just benefit human’s health, but their productivity to produce commercial products, hence, higher GDP. It is also a lot more effective when it comes to price and time as well (Wright 2019). It is an outstanding way of using technology, and I hope this method will be applied to more countries that are suffering from such epidemics as well.

Reference: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwight/2019/11/10/how-do-you-fight-malaria-in-tanzania-with-drones/#20adb2155bab