new The engagement and support of customers in the above activities, as well as the continued execution of award-winning products, is reassuring. However, beyond the excitement surrounding EVs, there are also truly autonomous modes of transportation on the horizon. How far away that horizon is can be debated, but it is coming. This horizon will drive yet another leap in seating system requirements and technology. There is still much study and effort needed here specifically around configuration management and occupant safety. It will no longer be acceptable to say that seating is relatively agnostic to the vehicle environment. There will be new consumer expectations, legal requirements and vehicle formats that will require next-generation thinking and solutions. — Auto Tech Outlook, 10h ago

new Emissions from fossil fuel-powered motor vehicles adversely affect air quality and contribute to global warming. The manufacture and use of electric vehicles (EVs) is among the ways by which this challenge can be mitigated. This brief evaluates the best practices adopted by countries in the forefront of EV adoption, and outlines the lessons India can draw from them to inform its own EVs strategy. It finds that in addition to strengthening institutional capabilities, India should embark on the production of new EV models, develop battery supply chains, build charging infrastructure, provide purchase incentives for low-income communities and non-financial incentives for EV owners, and make the necessary spatial planning interventions. — ORF, 11h ago

new It cites a UK government report which believes the opposite is true. Claiming that driverless cars could increase congestion by 85% by 2060. Presently, it’s thought that drivers lose more than 80 hours a year owing to congestion and traffic-related issue. The RAC says this dramatically shoots up to 156 hours for people living in London, according to travel supplier Inrix. The report suggests that a wider adoption of driverless cars would increase traffic because they will increase the mobility of the elderly and of those who don’t have a driving license. As the cars take more control, people will gain the ability to work or relax while travelling in autonomous vehicles, making them, drivers and passengers, more “amenable to sitting in traffic”. — tu-auto.com, 1d ago

new Electric vehicles, and the infrastructure that powers them, are key building blocks of a sustainable future. However, in a 2022 study conducted by EVBox, one of the major uncertainties about switching to electric driving is the availability of EV charging stations. If this key barrier for drivers is removed, EV adoption will increase exponentially. EVBox aims to address this hurdle: By 2025, the company aspires to deliver one million charging stations to its customers and partners. — electronicspecifier.com, 1d ago

new A higher share of cycling in cities can lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a decrease in noise pollution, and personal health benefits. Data-driven approaches to planning new infrastructure to promote cycling are rare, mainly because data on cycling volume are only available selectively. By leveraging new and more granular data sources, I predict bicycle count measurements in Berlin, using data from free-floating bike-sharing systems and Strava data with Machine Learning. My goal is to ultimately predict traffic volume on all streets beyond those with counters and to understand the variance in feature importance across time and space. Therefore, also an interpretable analysis using SHAP will be discussed. — Hertie School, 1d ago

new Higher vehicle production rates in comparison to current rates is anticipated as experts project that the airline industry will need to triple its fleet to about 60,000 airplanes over the next 20 years, the company said. With respect to military applications, there is a similar drive towards balancing mission agility, sustainment, and vehicle cost; giving rise to emerging air vehicle concepts like the Low-Cost Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) program where there is a higher tolerance over limited life and loss of vehicles during operations. — Robotics World, 1d ago

new Construction is one of the biggest challenges an autonomous vehicle faces while operating on the highway, he added. New road signs, changing traffic patterns, and varying road blockages create situations that require a specific capability set. One of the most common situations faced is the need for a truck to deviate from the current lane due partially or completely to construction barriers, which may include driving on the shoulder of the road. — Inside Autonomous Vehicles, 1d ago

new ...analysis of deaths reported between 2018 and early 2023.In that time, the rate of gun suicides was 5.6 per 100,000 population, on an age-adjusted basis, and varied from 1.1 in the District of Columbia and 1.4 in Massachusetts to 15.5 in Wyoming and 13.1 in Montana.In Maryland, bill sponsor Del. David Moon, a Democrat, during floor debate called the measure “similar to what we in Maryland do for gambling, where a problem gambler can put themselves on a list.”“A person who is having a moment of clarity and wishes to place themselves on a list to prevent themselves from being able to purchase a regulated firearm, handgun, may do so,” he added.Although House of Delegates Minority Leader Jason Buckel, a Republican, during the debate said, “I like the word ‘voluntary,’” he ultimately voted against the bill during its 96-36 passage. He did not respond to a request for comment. The measure now goes to the state Senate for consideration.As in other states, Maryland’s registry allows people to take themselves off the no-sell list without leaving a trace in the public record. In Utah, the minimum time on the list is 30 days; in Maryland, it would be three weeks.“You’re basically creating a mandatory waiting period for yourself,” Moon said in the debate.The self-registry is meant to draw bipartisan support by respecting the Second Amendment right to own a gun, said Frederick Vars, a University of Alabama School of Law professor who also has helped draft model legislation for Donna’s Law.“I’m hoping bills get introduced all over,” said Vars, adding that he’s working with legislative staffers to prepare bills in Alabama and Michigan. He helped draft model legislation that Brees then helped promote.About 100 people have signed the existing registries, he said, a drop in the bucket compared with studies he’s helped conduct showing 30 percent of adults and 46 percent of psychiatric patients want to enroll in such a registry, he said. Similar laws have been proposed in California and Louisiana, but so far, they haven’t advanced.In Texas, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Democrat from the Dallas area, proposed a bill based on Donna’s Law in 2021, and again this year after reading about the idea in The Wall Street Journal. He’s optimistic that because the registry would be voluntary, it eventually will get attention from the Republican-dominated legislature.“In Texas, there’s a tremendous political and cultural climate in support of gun owner rights,” Johnson said. “This doesn’t even create the appearance of infringing on those rights. We can prevent suicide and promote personal autonomy at the same time — everybody has the right to say, ‘I don’t want to own a gun.’”States also are trying other options with the stated intent of cutting rising rates of gun suicide.A Colorado bill that passed the state House this month would require a three-day waiting period for delivery of a firearm, noting that “establishing a waiting period for receipt of firearms can help prevent impulsive acts of firearm violence, including homicides and suicides.”In Hawaii, a bill passed by the state House and under consideration by the state Senate mentions suicide prevention as a goal of required firearms safety training. And a North Carolina bill with Democratic sponsors, introduced early this month in the state House, cites suicide as the primary reason for a red flag, or extreme risk protection order, to restrict a person’s access to firearms after a court finding that they’re a danger to themselves or others.The most effective methods of preventing gun suicide have been strict licensing requirements, said Joshua Horwitz, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University focused on gun violence prevention, because the rules usually include waiting periods and the ability to screen for mental health issues. Gun safety legislation also plays an important role, he said.“Suicide is under-appreciated. It’s the biggest chunk of the gun violence problem,” said Horwitz. “We can’t stop all suicide, but if we make the means less lethal, we can save lives.”It’s too soon to say how effective Donna’s Law can be, he added.“It’s interesting. For some individuals, it could be the solution, but we need to know more,” Horwitz said.More mental health services also could help alleviate gun suicide rates, especially in the rural states most affected. But the return on investment would be much lower, said Thomas Wickizer, an emeritus professor of public health at the Ohio State University who has studied state firearm suicides and how the availability of mental health services can reduce them.He has concluded that restricting firearm access would be far more effective than mental health services alone.“For every firearm suicide death avoided, states would have to expend roughly $15 million to increase their mental health workforce,” Wickizer said. “Obviously, this is not practical.”Mental health services are more effective in preventing other types of suicide, he added.“Firearm suicide is impulsive and almost always lethal,” Wickizer said. “Other suicide methods are less lethal and afford the persons who do not die an opportunity to obtain help through the mental health services system.”... — Governing, 1d ago

new A traffic "Stop" sign on the roadside can be misinterpreted by a driverless vehicle as a speed limit sign when minimal graffiti is added. Wearing a pair of adversarial spectacles can fool facial recognition software into thinking that we are Brad Pitt. The vulnerability of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to such adversarial interventions raises questions around security and ethics, and many governments are now considering proposals for their regulation. I believe that mathematicians can contribute to this landscape. We can certainly get involved in the conflict escalation issue, where new defence strategies are needed to counter an increasingly sophisticated range of attacks. Perhaps more importantly, we also have the tools to address big picture questions, such as: What is the trade-off between robustness and accuracy? Can any AI system be fooled? Do proposed regulations make sense? Focussing on deep learning algorithms, I will describe how mathematical concepts can help us to understand and, where possible, ameliorate current limitations in AI technology. — ICMS - International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, 1d ago

new The recall is a setback for Tesla and Musk's ambitions to be at the forefront of autonomous driving technology. It also highlights the need for companies developing self-driving cars to prioritize safety over speed and to ensure that their technology is fully compliant with traffic safety standards. — interestingengineering.com, 1d ago

new Introducing AIOps to support desks, both for enterprises and for managed service providers (MSPs), is not a simple task. It requires business to understand that mapping applications to their underlying infrastructure remains the key challenge, especially as more workloads move to the cloud and applications can draw on hybrid resources. Support desks need to find the root causes of incidents and fix them fast. The application-function-to-infrastructure-component-map is a vital aspect of that and part of AIOps’ appeal is that it can help prepare and then use such a map, and realize that multiple incidents are aspects of the same problem, cutting the number of support tickets. — Blocks and Files, 1d ago

new In the 21st century, our societal challenges are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. We need to think differently about solutions in this new world of complex systems. Historically, for example, in my engineering world, the answer to traffic congestion was to build a new road extension, bypass, bridge or tunnel. But new technologies and the introduction of new thinking has led to a reassessment of the problem. In some cases where additional road capacity is required, smart motorways have been rolled out using digital technologies to increase road capacity, saving hundreds of millions of pounds in new infrastructure and many natural habitats from destruction. But a more fundamental solution for the future must be reducing the number of vehicles being used at any time. — Open Access Government, 1d ago

new Throughout the next few decades, the world’s population and urbanization is projected to increase significantly, driving the need for new residential and commercial buildings, The demand for concrete surface retarders is anticipated to rise in tandem with the expansion of the construction industry. Many building developers use concrete surface retarders to create an exposed concrete surface for aesthetic as well as practical purposes. The aesthetic applications include creating a beautiful exterior of a building as well as creating beautiful floors. Moreover, its practical applications include making the surface resistant to slipping. Exposed concrete surfaces are beneficial in areas such as pool decks, patios, driveways, walkways, and other outdoor public spaces, as well as indoor spaces. In addition, a slip resistant surface is also required in manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, the UN predicts that by 2050, the world’s population is projected to experience growth from its projected 8 billion in 2023 to more than 9.7 billion. If current demographic trends continue, there will be 11 billion people on Earth by the year 2100. Furthermore, the UN also projects that about 68% of the world’s population will be residing in urban areas, up from 55% in 2018. Most of the estimated growth in urbanization is expected to come from Asia and Africa. As a result, there is growth in the building construction sector of these regions. For instance, in October 2021, the governments of Dubai and India reached an agreement to construct various institutional and infrastructural buildings including college, hospital, logistic center, multipurpose hospital, industrial park, and various other infrastructure. Furthermore, there is a significant increase in the number of small and large retail stores, with developments in economic situation of the general population. For instance, IKEA is planning to open 30 stores in India by the year 2028. In addition, DLF and other groups are investing millions of dollars in the development of commercial building complexes. Similar trends can be seen in other parts of the world, especially the countries that are still expanding at a significant rate such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and others. In addition, there is a growing population of people who are becoming homeless as a result of rising unemployment and rising real estate prices. As a result, numerous governments across the world, including those of China, South Korea, Canada, UK, and others have developed policies to provide affordable housing. In affordable housing and infrastructure developments, concrete surface retarders are widely used for achieving a strong joint between two separate pours of the concrete. Such developments and expansion of the building construction industry is anticipated to fuel the concrete surface retarders market. — Allied Market Research, 1d ago

new Trucking is the backbone of our economy. It impacts everything. And we cannot realize the full power of our economy because we have a very disrupted supply chain that’s really not functioning. Through the pandemic, we saw how these issues could affect every single business, every single person. And what is the alternative? There are not enough human drivers in Canada; there are 26,000 truck drivers missing, and it’s getting worse and worse. So, it’s either automation or nothing. There’s also a huge impact in terms of greener cities and providing transportation for people who don’t have the means to go from point A to point B. — The Globe and Mail, 1d ago

new The New York-based outfit uses AI-powered technology and deep telematics data to create cost savings for fleet operators. Its platform rewards safer driver behaviours, which in turn create savings for customers and lead to safer roads. That last point is an important consideration for commercial fleet operators: in 2021, there were more than 5,600 deaths involving truck accidents on US roads, according to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA). Not only can crashes cause commercial losses for operators, they can result in costly and time-consuming litigation as well. — insurtechdigital.com, 1d ago

new The PAL-V Liberty can be used on short flights over natural obstacles, such as flying to the Isle of Wright or the Isle of Man. But can also be used as quick transfer cross country, independent from the major highways and the congestion. Robert Dingemanse, CEO of PAL-V, said, “The reservation of SkyAngels shows their trust in our product, and we look forward to further developing this partnership to make emergency response better. SkyAngels Air ambulance has a unique use case for the Liberty, which also helps us to develop the business and governmental markets. Besides emergency response, it is also a tool which can be used for coast guarding, border patrol, policing and many more applications.”... — HeliHub.com, 1d ago

new To improve the vision of far-away objects, perception systems have also started to implement novel edge hardware. All these vehicles are also ensured to fall in with new ISO standards for the safe operation of AVs. Perception systems also incorporate new technologies like 4D radar-on-chip digital imaging that is touted to help assist automated mobility. Research has also found that introducing heterogeneous computing platforms will contribute to the early realisation of autonomous driving. Within the context of autonomous vehicles, design transformation to data-driven vehicles is related to the concept of digital twins. Digital twins for AVs will build on a standard framework to remove safety challenges in AVs. — Analytics India Magazine, 1d ago

new ...“Given the high number of players in the EV market today, consolidation is highly likely – the OEMs that will have developed their capabilities the furthest and will have best adapted to the new mobility realities will grow market share at the expense of others. With ride sharing and autonomous driving becoming realities, successful OEMs will be the ones that are fundamentally rethinking their business models. Many OEMs are already embracing software development as a core capability along or even over vehicle manufacturing.”... — manufacturingdigital.com, 1d ago

new And so, they have to have plans. They’ve been looking at different technologies. I think some of the transit operators have trialed battery electric buses as well and have found, in some cases, that that technology has struggled to achieve the range and the performance they’re looking for depending on the duty cycle and climatic conditions of those transit operator experiences. So I think there’s a variety of factors that are leading to this, but it’s very clear. It’s frankly taking a little slower than we would like, but it’s very clear to us that the scaling is occurring. And I layer on top of this, as you think about the progress that’s going on, on the policy side for green hydrogen production, so the availability of low carbon, low-cost hydrogen in the U.S. and in the European markets, as you look out 2, 3, 4, 5 years from now, this really game changes the opportunity for the deployment of fuel cell vehicles because many of these applications fuel is a very significant part of the overall total cost of ownership, in some cases, between 30% and 60%. — Insider Monkey, 1d ago

new ACE will enable ‘lightweight’ ops with a small support footprint from austere locations but it must be resilient and not have a single point of failure. The battlecruiser traded armour for speed and firepower; the result was fragility. It is essential that the RAF applies ACE so as to avoid such a vulnerability. As for ‘hi-tech’, in a 2008 RAeS public domain air power conference, a then serving one-star RAF officer observed that “the Air Force has an unhealthy fascination with expensive technology”. What are the true potentials of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems? How much performance, and of what type, is required of the 6th Generation aircraft and systems now under development? Do we need ‘leading edge’ technology and performance or will the ’80 per cent solution’ (combined with excellent training) not only be more affordable but actually more effective in the real world? (Note that modelling and simulation can provide high quality training and mission rehearsal). No matter how advanced an aircraft may be, it can only be in one place at a time. The point may be obvious but it bears repetition. The ‘performance plateau’ applies in some military domains (warships have topped out at around 30 knots for many decades); what are those of the air domain? How much is enough? And how much can we afford?... — Royal Aeronautical Society, 2d ago

new VPorts Air Traffic Management Inc. (“VPorts”), is a global leader in the design, construction, and operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure for upcoming vertical aircraft. The company was founded by experts in transportation infrastructure design and construction, city planning, and airport operations and design. The firm’s mission is to “shape the future development of safe advanced air mobility based on sustainable infrastructure.”According to a recent press release by SkyDrive, the two companies have signed initial agreements to collaborate on the “technical and business” aspects of the upcoming Integrator Center, to leverage its use for the “businessdevelopment and market expansion” of both companies. This likely means that SkyDrive will have input into the Center’s design, so that it’s aerial mobility aircraft and flight services can be easily integrated.Said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, “We are pleased to be taking a part in the UAE government’s strategy for AAM, particularly in Dubai as it is one of the fastest growing and leading AAM markets in the world. we are committed to making AAM transportation affordable to all in a highly accessible way, helping commuters access city centers and mobility hubs. By collaborating with VPorts, we are able to secure an air traffic corridor for our vehicle testing with our eVTOL capabilities which would be essential to ensure its safety before deployment in the urban areas.”... — TransportUP, 2d ago

new As of 2023, no laws in the US, Canada, UK, and most of the EU permit self-driving vehicles on public roads. While some states and provinces have laws allowing testing, getting Level 4 or 5 vehicles approved for general use is a major uphill battle. Administrative hurdles are something Mercedes is seeing as they work to get their Drive Pilot Level 3 system approved, putting performance restrictions on Drive Pilot to appease lawmakers. — TechSpot, 2d ago

new While I support autonomous vehicles of all kinds it makes more sense to start by perfecting autonomous vehicles in controlled environments like warehouses and secure ports. Using locations with restricted public access rather than open highways where there are more risks involved is a better alternative. Considering the general public's safety, especially young drivers, is essential. — Commercial Carrier Journal, 2d ago

new We have built notable leadership in smart technologies as well as customer adoption of smart technologies compared with peers. We’re driving our technology road map and commercialization pathway to cross over the inflection point and reach an accelerated growth curve. While keeping high safety standards remains a top priority of our technology advancements, will also be focused on the development to improve scenario coverage, user experience and software and hardware cost optimization. In terms of scenario coverage, we have expanded the usage of the advanced technology from highway scenarios into city scenarios where ADAS are used at high frequency and even become an essential driving tool. Going forward, we’ll strive to further broaden ADAS usage to more end-to-end driving scenarios such as internal compound ways and non-public roads and expand our geographical coverage from three cities to more major cities nationwide beginning in the third quarter. — Insider Monkey, 2d ago

new ...“We are thrilled to join the EU Regulatory Committee for Driver Distraction, this important industry regulatory committee focusing on driver and vulnerable road user safety,” commented Ori Gilboa, CEO of SaverOne. “It is truly an honor to have been selected to take an active role in such an important governmental committee and to have the opportunity to contribute our deep experience and expertise. One of the primary causes of accidents today is driver distraction due to mobile phone use while driving, and controlling this is a crucial step for improving road safety. We have already taken the lead on this effort via our SaverOne Solution, which is today being implemented in thousands of vehicles in Israel, and we hope soon to expand internationally, which we believe has already helped save lives. We believe that way forward is the broad implementation by vehicle manufacturers of international regulation, and we applaud the efforts of the EU in advancing regulation to tackle driver distraction.”... — jewishbusinessnews.com, 2d ago

new Autonomous delivery drones may seem like a dream for the future, but companies like Amazon and Google are already testing them. These self-navigating delivery drones are the modern solution to the last mile, as they’re quicker and increase efficiency over current systems. There’s still some work to do on the regulations front before these can become commonplace, but we’re on the right track. As technology advances and autonomous vehicles of all kinds become more efficient and reliable, they will almost certainly become more accessible to businesses, big and small. — Supply Chain Dive, 2d ago

new ..., myFinHealth features the Your Money Personality™ financial behavior assessment that analyzes each user’s financial “personality.” The interactive, mobile-friendly platform also provides:● Financial education courses with personalized action plans on topics including budgeting, mortgages, healthcare, college savings, student loan repayment, banking, credit, financial planning and more● Geographically localized articles● Interactive tools and analyzersIntroducing the platform is timely in today’s landscape. Canada’s Financial Wellness Lab found that 60 percent of employed North Americans are more stressed about their finances today than they were a year ago and are experiencing the highest level of financial stress since the financial crisis of 2008.CCCU President and CEO Adrian Legin said myFinHealth is a great resource to help improve the financial health of the credit union’s members and clients.“At Coastal Community, we know that providing user-friendly, high-quality financial education helps build financial resiliency,” said Legin. “Our aim in partnering with Enrich is to reduce financial stress by helping our members and clients develop appropriate and personalized action steps within the four financial health pillars: spending, saving, borrowing and planning. This program is a great resource for all of our members and clients, no matter where they are in their financial journey.”Enrich is one of the only financial wellness programs to offer a global product that allows multinational employers to implement one consistent, highly personalized financial wellness solution for employees in different countries. Used by more than 20,000 employers and more than 300 financial institutions, Enrich is powered by artificial intelligence technology that engages each user with the most relevant content based on financial situation and stage of life.Enrich data from January 2020 to December 2021 found significant increases in financial wellness among its users:-35 percent increase in users who reported that they are on track with saving for their goals-14 percent increase in users who are contributing to their retirement savings plan-59 percent increase in users who had built up an emergency savings of at least three months of living expenses-28 percent increase in users who pay off credit card debt in full monthlyThe Enrich data showed that users who reported lower financial stress said that decrease was substantial–nearly 32 percent. Nearly 36 percent attributed that reduction in financial stress to using the Enrich platform.“Improved financial wellness can have a major positive impact on overall quality of life,” said Donna Miller, iGrad vice president of business development. “Many adults of all income levels all over the world are worried about their financial future. We are thrilled to be a key part of CCCU’s commitment to improving the financial wellness of its members.”About iGradiGrad is a San Diego-based financial technology company that provides artificial intelligence-powered financial wellness solutions to more than 2.7 million students at 650 colleges and universities, over 20,000 employers and over 300 financial institutions. iGrad’s Your Money Personality™ was recently recognized by the Institute for Financial Literacy with the 2020 Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Adults’ Education Program of the Year award. iGrad is one of three 2020 honorees in the inaugural Barron's Celebrates: Financial Empowerment, after being selected by a team of judges for its contributions to improving the financial health and security of Americans. iGrad recently received the 2022 Eddy Award for Financial Wellness by Pensions & Investments for its Enrich platform. For more information about the iGrad platform, visit https://www.igradfinancialwellness.com. For more information about the Enrich platform for employers and financial institutions, visit http://www.enrich.org. — PR.com, 2d ago

new .... “Advanced AI dash cams are no longer an industry ‘nice to have’’ but have become a necessity for companies who recognize that safety coaching is the best form of insurance. Traditional Accident Event Recorders (AERs) look back at harsh events, missing risky behavioral trends. The Driver•i devices being deployed with Cover Whale use AI and edge computing to capture and analyze every second of drive time, which will help policyholders quickly identify where to focus coaching to reduce risk and lower insurance costs.”... — ffnews.com, 2d ago

new Asset-sharing for commercial vehicles is another significant trend in trucking. It mirrors what has happened in the housing market with Airbnb and other providers of temporary quarters, according to Jones. “When a truck sits idle,” she says, “why not monetize that asset?” The practice is occurring for everything from small vans to 18-wheelers, although progress with the latter is slower because of the need to allay concerns about security, and the large investments that are required to maintain the equipment. — supplychainbrain.com, 2d ago

new When you think about smartphones, do you think of Simon?When I say fork, how many of you fearfully associate the utensil with the devil’s pitchfork?Better yet, when you think about vaccines, do you assume you’re receiving that vaccine directly from someone else’s body?My guess is that most of you answered “No” for the above three questions, but when looking at the history of these three innovations – the smartphone, the fork, and the vaccine – all of these facts are very relevant to their diffusion.The SmartphoneIn 1992, IBM announced the Simon Personal Communicator, the first smartphone, although it wouldn’t be called “smart” for another ten years. Simon included a touchscreen, email capability, and built-in applications. Despite these features, Simon was a flop and only stayed on the market for six months. To be fair, Simon did have multiple issues – it was heavy and bulky, the battery only lasted an hour, and it only had a 15-state service area [in the United States]. However, these issues weren’t solely to blame for the phone’s demise. In fact, Simon taught us a very valuable lesson: that the success of ground-breaking products heavily relies on its ecosystem.The modern day smartphone market truly took off in the 2000s, with the introduction of the iPhone. The success of the iPhone was in great part due to its capability to access the Internet and the ability to download third party applications. Web browsers simply weren’t available when Simon was conceived in the 90s, but when the iPhone came along in 2007 it had full access to the internet, and the ability to download many additional applications. What helped the iPhone succeed was the rich environment of fast networks, Web browsers, and Internet possibilities that weren’t yet available to the often forgotten, Simon.The ForkThe fork can be traced back to ancient civilizations, but it wasn’t widely adopted until centuries later. The fork was the most controversial of all the utensils. At first, its design was seen as anti-Christian and villainous, and later it was seen as too feminine. Society’s perception of the fork played a significant role in its adoption.The fork became more popular in the 16th century after a trendsetter of the time, Catherine De Medici, introduced and destigmatised the utensil in France. It went from being associated with the devil and unnecessary lavishness to being associated with wealth and refinement. Even then, many men refused to use the fork because it was too feminine. It took a design change, adding ruffled cuffs to the fork, to encourage adoption.What we learned from the fork is that the social aspect of an innovation, as well as the credibility that outside actors can lend to it can ultimately spur its widespread adoption and diffusion.The VaccineIn 1796, Edward Jenner successfully discovered the smallpox vaccine. Even though there was great need for this innovation – the world was experiencing a smallpox epidemic at the time – the Royal Society of London refused to publish Jenner’s discovery. It wasn’t until members of the medical field ran successful experiments using Jenner’s vaccine samples that the idea of vaccination began to spread. Even after these trials proved safe and reliable, it still took prominent members of society, including aristocrats, members of the royal court, and the Pope lending their support for this new discovery for the public to accept it. Then came the next hurdle: transportation.The vaccine was first distributed through body-to-body transmission. Young men would bring the vaccine to America in their bodies and when pustules appeared on their arms doctors would scrape the area to infect other people. From arm to arm the vaccine spread to America, Mexico, Macau, and Manila. In ten years, it went global.Similar to the smartphone and the fork, what the vaccine needed to succeed was social credibility and a rich ecosystem to support it. Members of the medical field, noblewomen, royals, and the Pope lent the necessary credibility. And although the rich supportive ecosystem of transportation didn’t exist yet, public health officials at the time found an ingenious workaround through body-to-body distribution. Eventually, a supportive ecosystem did emerge to diffuse smallpox and many other vaccines.What the stories behind these innovation evolutions teach us is that it takes a lot more than just an invention to create a market. Market creation starts out with an invention but over time, it requires other activities and actors to play key roles in its development. As is clear today, once the market is created the impact is immense. You may not all think of Simon, or pitchforks, or arm pustules but many (if not all) of you have a smartphone, use a fork, and have been vaccinated. — Financial Nigeria International Limited, 2d ago

new But if you look a bit past those headlines, you can see why 2023 is set to be such a pivotal year for those organizations but also for the entire sector. Underlying all of those developments and what countless others are working on is a question about the demand. Go back to that 2013 interview with Bezos, and you can literally see the “oh wow!” sensation that he pushed and the public subsequently embraced. That perception further evolved in a very practical way in 2020 when drones became the best and most practical way for certain goods to be delivered. But in our (somewhat) post-pandemic world, is either enough to further compel consumer demand for drone delivery?... — commercialuavnews.com, 2d ago

new .../ CBS/AP Rivian Automotive said Friday it is recalling almost all the vehicles it has delivered to customers in order to tighten a loose fastener that could affect drivers’ ability to steer. The Electric truck and SUV maker, which was founded in 2009, said it is recalling about 13,000 vehicles because a fastener connecting the vehicles’ front upper-control arm and steering knuckle may not be torqued enough. There have been seven reports potentially related to the issue, but no injuries have been reported, Rivian said. “If you experience excessive noise, vibration or harshness from the front suspension, or a change in steering performance or feel, you should call immediately,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wrote in a letter to vehicle owners. The company based in Irvine, California, said the fix would only take a few minutes, and it expects to have finished the repairs on all of them in about 30 days, with customer collaboration. Rivian is aiming to take advantage of a growing appetite among consumers and investors for electric vehicles. It is among a long line of companies, both new and old, trying to peel away market share from Tesla. It went public last year, and its market value quickly soared past that of Ford and General Motors to become the second-most valuable U.S. automaker behind Tesla. But that is no longer the case: The company’s stock is down 67% so far this year. In March, Rivian announced price hikes on its vehicles, then backtracked only two days later following a backlash from angry customers. In July, Rivian... — Inferse.com, 2d ago

new ...had improved over time. However, considering the slight deceleration observed in the rate of production ramp improvement over the past two quarters, Rivian’s output likely remains a function of supply availability rather than labour capacity on the floor – a “gating factor” that is well beyond Rivian’s control.With only three months left to the end of the year and close to 50% of its annual production target unrealized, execution risks have only increased at Rivian. Under a market climate where investors are allocating a stronger preference for profitable growth, Rivian’s fixed focus on achieving its production target set earlier in the year leaves it with little room for error. If Rivian disappoints at year-end, which there is a reasonable chance of given ongoing supply chain uncertainties and an added shift that is still in early stages of ramp-up, management’s recent decision to reaffirm guidance only risks leaving its shares to a steep tumble again.But Rivian’s improvements are worth applauding. Recall that it is ramping up three models with different trims at the same time, which is not an easy feat for any automaker, let alone a vertically integrated start-up within a still-nascent industry. While the company’s fixation on reaching its production target of 25,000 vehicles by the end of the year is well received by investors for now, we view that Rivian’s reiterated guidance only subjects its shares to higher risks of another steep selloff.While investors are primarily focused on Rivian’s near-term production ramp-up to 25,000 vehicles by year-end, there are also concerns over its 2023 production outlook that has gone largely unremarked. Recall that earlier in the year when markets were primarily focused on Rivian’s pricing mistake, the EV maker had actually also announced two updates:While both updates are meant to improve Rivian’s cost profile over the longer-term and potentially quicken its timeline to profits and positive operating cash flows, they are bound to stall ongoing production ramp-up efforts next year. The integration of the Enduro motors begin for the EDVs starting later this year or in early 2023, which implies potential disruptions to production ramp-up during the “switch-over” from externally sourced components. In addition, early-stage in-house production of the Enduro motors are expected to result in a transitory adverse impact on margins due to added ramp-up costs. The same idea goes for the introduction of the new trims fitted with standard battery packs, given the accommodative adjustments required to be made on the production line.In addition to temporary impacts to production volumes and elevated costs stemming from the two major vehicle configuration updates, Rivian is also looking to shift “75% of the 150,000 [vehicle] production capacity to the R1 which will result in a multi-week stoppage while it re-rates the [production] lines” in mid-2023. This means production volumes will again be stalled, risking muted improvements to ramp-up efforts next year, and pushing out the timeline for more evident improvements out to 2024.With an increasingly... — Inferse.com, 2d ago

new However, I believe that decentralization of the means of production can make lack of coherent security irrelevant for folks willing to create the means of providing their own security. Along with a network of decentralized makers ability to provide mutually redundant security from gangs of armed thugs are the potential to produce many, if not all, of the blessings of civilization, from food, shelter, and power production, to electronics, communications, and medical services. As decentralized production technologies like aquaponics, 3D printing, solar (and other) power, inkjet printing (which is able to print electronics on PET, including solar, LEDs, and logic circuitry, drugs by assembling molecular subunits, and even living cells), AI (not AGI, or anything more than is available presently, which purged of it's crippling politicization, would be very useful in automating household production, financial assets, even medical diagnostics, and much more) continue to develop, the ability of communities to themselves produce all the blessings of civilization is becoming inescapable. — LeoFinance, 2d ago

new ...: It could be some time earlier than all of us can entry totally autonomous automobiles. Earlier than we are able to attain this level in the way forward for the automotive panorama, car programs must discover ways to react to numerous conditions. Automotive VR can enable firms to simulate the test-driving expertise for AI and machine studying algorithms. This helps to chop bills on repairs and gas for testing in the actual world. — Crypto News Bay, 2d ago

new Fifth, the lack of good dirt roads along the line for quick access of vehicles and for the convenience of transportation or evacuation (on a Kamaz truck, the average speed along the line was 35 km/h, on a car about 20 km/h (after rain, even a pickup truck gets stuck in mud). The units occupying the strongpoints simply did not make markings in order to quickly navigate during the day and night. It is needed so that the driver, who is driving for the first or second time, could quickly bring ammunition and water to the 7th section, which he must quickly find, and not to the 3rd, from where the personnel will have to carry it themselves. In general, we are seeing a huge waste of funds on this line of defense. The involvement of civilian builders and equipment makes it possible to build these structures quickly enough, but the lack of participation in the planning of military engineers and infantrymen, who then hold these positions, leads to the fact that a significant part of these positions does not make sense. — Turcopolier, 2d ago

new Automakers are under more pressure than ever as the automotive and transportation industries continue to transform at a rapid pace. Technology advancements, such as automated driving systems, 5G connectivity, and electrified powertrains, are transforming the cars we know into more sustainable, accessible, and convenient transportation machines. At the same time, increasingly strong emissions and sustainability directives for vehicles and the production facilities in which they are made are coming into effect around the world. Finally, a rash of new entrants to the automotive market are driving up competition, putting pressure on product development and introduction cycle as both startups and legacy automakers compete to bring the vehicles of tomorrow to market today. — Metrology and Quality News - Online Magazine, 2d ago

new ...: It is perhaps some time earlier than all of us can entry totally autonomous autos. Earlier than we are able to attain this level in the way forward for the automotive panorama, car methods must learn to react to numerous conditions. Automotive VR can permit firms to simulate the test-driving expertise for AI and machine studying algorithms. This helps to chop bills on repairs and gasoline for testing in the actual world. — SB Crypto Guru News- latest crypto news, NFTs, DEFI, Web3, Metaverse news and more, 2d ago

new .... Current trends indicate overall operational expenditures could surpass revenue at SFMTA by 15 percent within five years.“With less revenue in place, we’re talking about a transit fiscal cliff in maybe one to two, three years for a lot of agencies around the state,” said Maguire.A goal has to be to recover “as much of that core network as possible” in terms of frequency and reliability, he added.Curb management technology could help to better monetize the curb, often described by transportation tech and other officials as one of transportation’s most valuable assets.“You have a finite supply of curb space, and you have an infinite demand for that curb space,” said Gene Oh, CEO of Tranzito, a digital curb-management firm.Tranzito has proposed the idea of reimagining bus stops as multiuse zones where packages could be delivered, as well as ride-hailing drop-offs.“The technology then creates the ability for someone taking the bus to pick up a package on their way home,” said Oh.It’s not clear how strongly transit agencies might embrace sharing their bus stops, however.“I think the real question is what are we optimizing for, and who are we optimizing for,” said Maguire, adding that a top goal in San Francisco is to make the bus system “100 percent reliable” with buses arriving every two to three minutes.“You really cannot have a vehicle there at all,” he remarked. “I think that’s the live question for us, as policymakers.”That said, there is still plenty of room for collaboration between the public and private sectors, which can meet a range of goals, said Connie Llanos, interim general manager at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT).“The days where cities and the private sector were opposing each other really should be behind us,” said Llanos in some of her comments on the panel.“We’re all interested in creating transportation that is more seamless, for everyone,” she added. “When you create a system that improves transportation for underserved or economically disadvantaged populations, we’re actually improving the system for everyone, across the board.”Government Technology... — Governing, 2d ago