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Day: August 25, 2017

Brave New World; Amazon’s Health Care Strategy

Posted on by Staff Writer

The biggest tech companies are developing their own health care units. Google Health and Microsoft’s HealthVault are notable attempts, but have not had significant success. Apple seems to be on the path to victory with their Apple Watch and different health apps.  Furthermore, Amazon is now working with their own secret development team. It’s a bold idea, that has caught on across the board.

Telemedicine will enable users to consult with virtual doctors, as well as with remote physicians and specialists.

Amazon’s team is called 1492, an obvious play on “New World, and Columbus.” It is based in Seattle, WA, and until recently, had its members listed in LinkedIn under “ a1.492..” The in-house development team has machine learning experts, a user interface designer, and strategic initiative leads.

With the way Amazon is developing right now, it would not be farfetched to think that they are working on both software and hardware health care innovations. There are already several health care apps for the Echo and Echo Dot. However, these have been created by third-party developers called “Skills”, which are extensions for the AI capabilities of Alexa.

Earlier this year, the British Red Cross launched a “Skill” which provides Echo owners with step-by-step instructions for first aid. The Skill gives clear, easy to understand instruction for people to follow in case of emergencies like severe bleeding, a burn, or a seizure.

Amazon Goes for Hospitals and Pharma

Amazon has already hired health experts who can help the company win contracts from large hospitals and pharmaceutical firms. These are the very same companies in which Google and Microsoft are aiming for. However, with the brain trust Amazon has recruited, the updated software is going to be a lot more than just another “Skill”. Although it is not yet clear if Amazon will create a new hardware, they do have the capability to develop one.

cell phone and question mark with pills.

Amazon, through Alexa, has the capability to collate data from users, as well as from legacy medical documentation systems. With that capability and the big data set, it can serve as an intermediary between the patient and their doctors.

According to reports, one reason why the Affordable Care Act (ACA) seems to be hard to use is due to the lack of data flowing between patients and doctors, as well as from hospitals and other health care providers. Experts have claimed that with the right technology, people can use ACA data to search for cheaper hospitals and services – something a cash-strapped individual can make use of.

The value of information is tremendous. With big data access, Amazon can create an electronic medical record repository of their own, as well as be able to do remote diagnostics (also called telemedicine). Telemedicine will enable users to consult with virtual doctors, as well as with remote physicians and specialists.

Although not completely related, Amazon is also rumored to want to join the health care industry by delivering medicines across the US. Amazon already delivers medical supplies through its stores. As the largest online marketplace, it can include drugs to its product line, creating a pharmaceutical business.

Amazon Cloud Services is also in a unique position, where it can create cloud services specifically tailored for hospitals and doctor’s clinics. And that is a bold action that has the potential for huge impact.

Fast Food Robots: Robots and Apps to Upsell Fries

Posted on by Staff Writer

A new self-service kiosk added to McDonald’s restaurants across the United States is set to cut more than 2,000 jobs over the next few years. Experts say the age-old debate of whether computers can take the place of humans is becoming more of a reality each day. These bold actions, are going to have a big impact on society. They promise faster, better service, but also dislocation and challenges.

Author of “Rise of the Robots,” says more fast food restaurants will adopt the technology in the very near future — leading to fewer jobs.

According to CBS News, the new computers will be used by 2,500 McDonald’s restaurants by the end of 2017, and more than 14,000 by 2020.

The fast food giant has said that the new computer-generated ordering systems are part of its goal for the future, and skipping the traditional cashier is part of a better and faster experience.

The new system will allow the customer to order food through the firm’s app, then pick it up at the drive-through, or even get table service in-store.

CBS News spoke with McDonald’s customer Jonathan Alvarez. He only has 30 minutes break at lunchtime, so self-order kiosks near his work have become a valuable time saver. “It’s superbly faster, it’s almost 50 percent as fast,” he said.

It’s not just McDonald’s who are using the service in their restaurants. More and more fast food joints up and down the country are adopting self service lanes, kiosks, and pre-order apps. Chilis, Panera and Applebee’s have recently introduced electronic ordering and payment systems to speed up their operating process.

Flippy, the Robot Burger Chef

What’s more, a new burger flipping robot called “Flippy” has been produced which could see yet more humans lose their jobs. The machine is already being used by Caliburger and uses artificial intelligence to identify ingredients and cook foods properly.

ordering food and smart phone

Bold Business recently revealed how artificial intelligence is changing everything from the healthcare industry to education. Robots are creating a stir and not always for the right reasons. They are already starting to dominate our world, propelling us forward at a rapid rate. Now they are taking over the food industry.

Robots are invading restaurants around the world, not just fast food but also pizzerias. Zume recently developed a new robot to make the perfect pizza. Up until now, the complications of working with ingredients that vary in shape and size have troubled robots. Now Zume has created a robot that spreads and flattens the dough, as well as tops it and bakes the pizza to perfection.

We also revealed how Momentum Machines, a company that developed the first robot grill master, plans on opening its first fast food restaurant after securing $18 million in funding. Momentum Machines made its name in 2012 after launching the Autonomous Grill Master, a robot that slices, grills, assembles, and bags burgers in just an hour. The firm is made up of roboticists from Tesla, NASA, Stanford, and Berkeley, and has been the guiding light for the use of machines in the food industry.

Martin Ford, author of “Rise of the Robots,” says more fast food restaurants will adopt the technology in the very near future — leading to fewer jobs.

“For me it’s easy to imagine a fast-food store employing maybe 30 percent fewer employees, or maybe even half as many employees,” Ford told CBS News.

Pods, The Self Driving Car Technology Can Be The Cure to Traffic Jams

Posted on by Staff Writer

An innovative new start-up from the Middle East is set to go global with its driverless electric pods after receiving a $350 million cash injection from investors. Experts are hailing the designs, produced in collaboration with a Californian-based firm, as the answer to traffic congestion. This is a bold idea that could change transportation not only in the Middle East, but every major city across the world.

…driverless pods will revolutionize urban transport in the region, creating an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mode of transportation where passengers can be picked up on demand…

Founded in 2012, Careem is now the Middle East’s leading car-booking app service. Its customer base is constantly growing across the Middle East and has expanded into Turkey and Pakistan. Its current six million users are growing at a rate of 30% a month.

In June 2017, the company announced the close of the second round of its Series E investment fund to develop driverless electric pods that coincide with their online and app presence. Building on the $350 million recently invested, the company plans to develop the services in the Middle East and then push them as far as the United States

“This latest round of funding provides Careem with an opportunity to further expand and deepen our presence in the region’s markets,” Mudassir Sheikha, Careem’s CEO and co-founder, tells ZDNet.

“Most importantly, the knowledge and global expertise that these strategic investments bring will allow us to accelerate our technological innovation, including the rollout out of our driverless electric pods, which are set to hit the road in Dubai shortly, and help move us further along in our mission to establish Careem as a center of excellence for research and development,” he adds.

$1 Billion Valuation to New Self Driving Car Technology Firm

Careem is now been valued at over $1 billion and has received funding from US-based firms; DCM Ventures, Coatue Management, Kingdom Holding Company and Daimler.

Illustration of Pods, self-driving cars

The firm’s driverless electric pods will be produced in collaboration with the Californian based NEXT Future Transportation, which aims to bring self-driving technology to the Middle East. The company has made a bold statement, that by 2030, a quarter of all journeys within the nation will be taken in driverless cars.

“The introduction of these driverless pods will revolutionize urban transport in the region, creating an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mode of transportation where passengers can be picked up on demand and dropped off to different locations,” Sheikha tells ZDNet.

“Building our research and innovation capabilities is a focus area for Careem, and we’ve been investing big in the development of autonomous cars, which we believe will shape the future of surface transportation,” he adds.

Careem’s services are also integrated with Google Maps, and they have signed a contract with Digital Barriers for a new facial recognition software to identify drivers and passengers inside the pods or cars. The company is certainly forward-thinking.

Bold Business recently reported how self-driving technology is becoming more widespread and growing around the world. The technology is becoming more advanced thanks to companies like Alphabet.

Alphabet’s Waymo is being tested more often and for longer hours compared to other autonomous vehicle manufacturers. BMW, Ford, and Nissan are also perfecting autonomous vehicle systems, as are Uber and other leading tech firms. The race to produce the best driverless car technology is becoming bolder, and the technology is already hitting the streets in cities right around the world.

The Future of Robots Taking Over Fast Food Chains Cartoon

Posted on by Staff Writer
Family ordering food at a robot run fast food joint.
Robots of The Future Take Over Fast Food

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