The primary business of the Internet is surveillance
Similar to Uber’s “God View” scandal, Lyft staffers have been abusing customer insight software to view the personal contact info and ride history of the startup’s passengers. One source that…
Major demographic change could lead to more robotics, automation because fewer workers available
This discussion by Charles Schwab & Co highlights that the ratio of workers to non-workers is dropping and may reach 1 to 1 in another 20 years in many parts…
Increasing minimum wage leading to more automation
If workers can keep their jobs, they’ll enjoy higher wages. But rising labor costs are pushing employers toward robots. Source: California’s $15 minimum wage may mean more automated jobs |…
What if Blockchain is not that useful?
There are downsides to blockchain technologies and processes (blockchain algorithms power Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies): Each purported use case — from payments to legal documents, from escrow to voting systems…
Shake Shack restaurant trials self order systems to reduce labor costs #Robotics #automation
Having customers place their own order has been in trials – or already implemented – at many restaurant chains as a way to reduce labor costs. “We need to answer…
Workaround: Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader app no longer available for PC, Mac #BarnesAndNoble
I discovered after a Mac OS X update that my very old Nook e-reader app for Mac OS X no longer works – and that Nook discontinued the app for…
San Diego’s minimum wage experiment accelerating adoption of automation
San Diego raised its minimum wage very rapidly. Data suggests that while the wage hike benefits those with minimum wage jobs, it is also rapidly eliminating low wage jobs all…
How #IoT extends the product life cycle for manufacturers. #InternetOfThings
Once products ship, the manufacturer is unlikely to see the product again, except for a few returns. They have only a general idea of how the product is used, based…
Workplace surveillance common, invasive and intense
Employers are monitoring employees activities across a broad spectrum of functions – including your health, your physical activity, even attempting to measure your mood. At least one company required employees…
Google spies on you, recording your voice when you are not expecting it to
Android devices have an “Ok, Google” voice activation feature. This enables voice input of search and other functions on your Android device. Google also records a copy of the audio…