This: First NIH approved 3D printed respirator mask
Maker Mask’s device received certification by the National Institutes of Health for COVID-19 response. Source: As 3D printing of protective gear ramps up, a free mask designed in Seattle is…
Web site attacks
This blog has received over 300 probing attacks from an IP address in Singapore that is owned by a well known Chinese electronics manufacturer. Why? While it could be “harmless”…
Why a shortage of toilet paper?
Toilet paper, like all paper, is made using a chemical engineering process. That means manufacturing is a continuous process that runs 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Raw…
Fixing the Starbuck’s app “No stores nearby available” error
Just a tip to help users of the Android version of the Starbuck’s app. If you try to make a mobile order using the app, but you see no stores…
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 to move a self hosted #WordPress blog to WordPress.com
I migrated my coldstreams.com blog to coldstreams.wordpress.com and the old web site automatically redirects to the new URL. In theory, this process is simple – but getting it done right…
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…
Social media, confirmation bias and its use in marketing #FakeNews #Propaganda #SocialMedia
(I originally posted this on May 24, 2014, about 2 1/2 years before “fake news” became a popular meme. Since then, social media has become a friction-less platform for the…
McDonald’s testing mobile app ordering for its restaurants #Iot #Automation
McDonald’s has started testing mobile order-and-pay after acknowledging the ordering process in its restaurants can be “stressful.” Source: McDonald’s tests mobile ordering before national rollout | KATU Six months ago,…
Wendy’s to install self order kiosks in 1,000 stores #Robots #IOT #Automation #Wendys
This happens when wage and benefit requirements rise as capital costs (robots/automation) fall rapidly: “Wendy’s plans to install self-ordering kiosks in 1,000 of its stores — about 16 percent of…
Software Quality Assurance amusement of the day
I seem to run into many software defects, ranging from the amusing, like this one, to serious errors. I occasionally do screen captures and post them on my personal Facebook…
Hoversurf – human rideable #drone
I will wait for the version with prop safety guards!
Computer security
I lost Internet service for about 3 days this week. Bad timing! Once my Internet came back I discovered that while offline, malware took over one of my web sites.…
Bank of America testing fully automated bank branches – devoid of staff #IOT #Automation
Bank of America is designing bank branches that no longer have onsite staff. Interaction with the bank will be through automated systems and ATMs – with video conferences to remotely…
#IoT “smart hair brush”
#IoT has reached that point in the product life cycle when we see the launch of rather silly products: Beauty giant L’Oreal has launched a “smart” internet-connected hairbrush that analyzes…