Wal-Mart Robots

Wal-Mart has been testing robots that are designed to scan shelves for missing inventory, update stocks, and tag misplaced items. According to the article from MSN, these robots will be approximately 2 feet tall and are “50 percent more productive” by scanning the shelves “three times faster” than employees. This is a big concept for retailers because customers cannot purchase goods if they are not on the stock.

This is the first time I have heard of such technology. Can you see this concept working? What problems or concerns to you have with this innovative technology. Does this have the potential to disrupt the market of retail employees?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/wal-mart-launches-shelf-scanning-robots-in-about-40-stores/ar-AAu4ysK?li=AA4Zoy&ocid=spartanntp

Artificial Intelligence Talents

Adobe demos new imaging editing features in their Max conference. These new features are generated and powered by technology called Sensei. This article reviews some of the new featured demos that make your image editing skills look amateur.

For example, instead of filling Photoshop holes with patterns and texture, Adobe uses Scene Stitch to search a database of similar pictures to fill that hole. Similar to Scene Stitch, another featured called Cloak essentially does the same thing but for videos, allowing you to edit certain objects out of frame entirely. In addition to Scene Stitch and Cloak, a feature called Project Puppertron analyzes drawings and applies “that same look” to an original photograph. Adobe also demoed Project Scribbler, a feature that adds corresponding color texture to black and white images. And then there’s SonicScape. Unlike any other, this feature generates appropriate sound to 360-degree videos as you move around. the article describes it as, “literally surround sound, but reactive to your head movements.”

It is quite obvious that artificial intelligence is expanding at what seems like a drastic rate, but Adobe’s Sensei platform is every Photoshopers’ dream. Sensei is going to differentiate between amateur’s and professionals. However, with all these features, is it too much? Do you have trouble identifying what is real and what is fake?

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/adobe-is-training-ai-to-be-a-better-photo-and-video-editor-than-you/ar-AAtO5q9

Equifax: Round Two

Equifax is a credit reporting company that embeds massive amounts of consumer  information for banks and other firms. A couple months ago, Equifax had a system breach which resulted in letting go the CEO, CIO, and CSO. Fast forward to today (10/12), Equifax faces another potential cyber breach. The volume of this breach can compromise information from over 145 million consumers. The breach was in the form of “fraudulent Adobe Flash updates” that, once installed, would dispatch malware into the system.

In the early afternoon, Equifax stock dropped 1.2 percent after shitting down the site and releasing a statement. Randy Abrams, the analyst who spotted the breach (the Adobe updates) recorded a video of this interaction and proceeding to post it to YouTube.

As technology advances, so does hackers but also defense and prevention systems.  Do you see more companies being breached, or more companies stopping potential breaches?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/equifax-takes-down-web-page-after-report-of-potential-hack/ar-AAtmao4?li=AA4Zoy&ocid=spartanntp

Future of Home Audio

I love music and I listen to music all day, every day, unless I am reading or watching TV. Those two activities take up little to no time everyday. Music is more than a passion, but a way of life; it motivates you, picks you up, calms you down, gets you doing, puts you to sleep, and more. Music is everything and anything you want it to be.

I came across an article talking about home audio. A company called Comhear developed the Yarra 3DX, a $329 sound bar using a new technology they call “beamforming.” In short, this new technology gives you the ability to control the sound, directing where it travels. This is useful when there is a group of people because instead of just turning up the volume, you change where the sound is directed (even in all different directions) to enhance the audio “sweet spot.” The Yarra 3DX comes with an app that helps you customize the sound locations.

This technology sparked my interest not only because of my love for music, but it would enhance my user experience with music. After researching additional readings and reviews, I found the Yarra 3DX and added it to my cart. This beamforming user experience is one that I want to be involved in.

Article: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/this-3d-audio-soundbar-promises-to-beat-your-home-theater-setup/ar-AAsBiWC?li=AA4Zoy&ocid=spartanntp