TREND REPORTS
(Patent) Amazon to Equip Staff with Performance-Monitoring Wristbands
[Tech]
2018/02/04 10:10
n march 28, 2016, there were far less of us monitoring amazon’s plans for world domination, but those who saw the early signs remember these troubling documents — a patent, outlining a device, outlining a system that could be used to live-track warehouse workers every movements, down to where there hands are at all times.It took near two years, but as of january 30th, 2018, patent no. 9,881,2...
(Infographic) The Most Valuable Brand in Each Country in 2018
[Business]
2018/02/04 10:09
Today’s infographic comes to us from HowMuch.net, and it helps to make the international brand value picture a lot clearer. Using updated rankings from Brand Finance’s Global 500 Report, it shows the top brand for each country in 2018.[click to enlarge]It’s worth noting, however, that there are many countries that are not represented here, as they do not have a brand large enough to make the...
The Next Time You Order Room Service, It May Come by Robot
[Business]
2018/02/04 10:08
Hotels around the country are introducing robots to handle repetitive tasks like room service deliveries, entertaining guests, and even giving directions.Hotels across the country are rushing to introduce robots with the promise of enhancing the guest experience and increasing efficiency. The automated companions can do everything from make and pick up deliveries to help guests find their way a...
Americans are Logging Off Facebook
[Consumer]
2018/02/04 10:07
Lurking in Facebook’s stellar quarterly earnings report were some troubling numbers: The company added fewer daily active users than analysts expected, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that as a result of the company’s moves, the time people spent on the platform dropped by 50 million hours daily.More worrying, in Facebook’s most lucrative market, the US and Canada, the number of people who log...
(Video) Robotic Barista Serves Coffee to Customers at Shibuya Cafe in Central Tokyo
[Product]
2018/02/04 10:06
The success of the robot-staffed Henn na Hotel in Japan has now led to a “robot cafe” in central Tokyo. From February 1st, a robotic barista is serving customers at the Henn na Cafe in a branch of the travel agency HIS in Shibuya.Known for its humanoid and dinosaur robots, the Henn na Hotel (“strange hotel”) chain now has branches in Sasebo in southern Japan, near Tokyo Disney Resort, and i...
Can Craft Beer Continue to Tap Into Growth ?
[Business]
2018/02/04 10:05
As the thriving sector matures, new growth strategies will be necessary.In late 2016, AB InBev, the beverage goliath best known for its iconic Budweiser brand, acquired Houston’s Karbach Brewing. The tiny brewer, founded in 2011, was named for the street where it operates. It produced just 55,000 barrels annually. The deal was one among dozens of similar acquisitions by strategic bidders and f...
(Video) Nissan's Self-Parking Slippers Help with Hotel Clean Up
[Design]
2018/02/04 10:04
Nissan has adapted its ProPilot self-driving tech to work in footwear and other mainstays of a traditional Japanese inn known as a ryokan.Nissan's ProPilot tech will one day be the driving force behind the company's autonomous vehicles, but first, it's all about baby steps. For now, that means using the technology to create self-driving slippers and other objects that stow themselves away when...
(Infographic) How Much Privacy People Will Give Up for Personalized Experiences
[Consumer]
2018/02/04 10:03
The trade-off between hyper-relevance and trust. Poor personalization resulting from a lack of trust costs companies trillions of dollars a year.Consumers around the world get frustrated when brands fail to deliver relevant, tailored experiences, something they are increasingly demanding. They’re also concerned about giving companies too much personal information, which paradoxically is what b...
(PDF) PwC : 8 AI Predictions for 2018 - 8 Insights to Shape Business Strategy
[Business]
2018/02/01 11:23
The real AI jobs issue – plus 7 more trends you shouldn't ignore.Artificial intelligence (AI) is remarkably complex and advancing quickly. It’s impossible for anyone to give a precise vision of how the next several years will unfold.But it is possible to make specific predictions about AI trends for the next year, then share key implications for business, government, and society. Many of thes...
