Weekend In Tech Trends: Oct 10-11
Robotic selfie sticks, NASA patents, the world’s lightest material and more in this weeks ‘Weekend In Tech Trends’.
Tech Trends 1- Starbucks, KFC, Best Buy are the newest to accept Apple Pay
Apple Pay continues to grow as it moves into more stores and banks. Starbucks, KFC, and Best Buy have announced that they are the newest adopters of the mobile payment technology. Best Buy has already begun the rollout by enabling Apple Pay in around 1,400 stores. Starbucks will follow shortly after with plans to begin their rollout in 2016 starting with 7,500 stores. KFC will also join Starbucks by beginning their rollout in 2016. Apple Pay is likely to keep picking up steam as we move into the new year with more NFC enabled devices entering the market.
Source: TheVerge
Tech Trends 2-DJI releases a robotic selfie stick
DJI, the company famous for it’s world class drones, has released their newest piece of filming equipment. Instead of taking to the skies, they kept it on the ground with a 4K camera on a stabilizing arm called Osmo.
The Osmo works with a motorized three-axis gimbal that surrounds Osmo’s eyeball-shaped camera. this is able to keep shots level, even as your hand moves. But for $650, the Osmo can do a little more than just keep your shots steady. You can press and hold a trigger button on Osmo’s stick to tell it to fix on a point in the horizon, it will then focus on that point as you move around. Double tap the trigger and it resets itself. Triple tap, and the camera spins 180 degrees and takes a panoramic video selfie. So far, all of the reviews have been positive and it’s looking like DJI can develop more products than just drones. While the Osmo will run you $650, it may be worth the investment if you’re looking for the ultimate panorama camera.
Source: AllWatcher
Tech Trends 3- Startup NASA wants to help your business get started
NASA wants to help grow high tech businesses. So as part of the initiative, they have announced a project called Startup NASA. Startup NASA allows startups to license any of their 1,200 patents that they have made available. The patents include technologies such as multi-purpose humanoid robots, handheld laser torches, and even collapsible airplanes.
“The Startup NASA initiative leverages the results of our cutting-edge research and development so entrepreneurs can take that research — and some risks — to create new products and new services,” said NASA’s chief technologist David Miller in a press release.
The terms are that the patent must be used for commercial development. And while you don’t owe any upfront fees, you will be expected to pay net royalties once you begin selling a product. Even if your not interested in using a NASA patent, it is great to see them aid in the further development of some of their patents, rather than letting them go to waste. Be sure to keep an eye out to see if anything comes from Startup NASA.
Source: Arstechnica
Tech Trend 4- Boeing releases video of the worlds lightest material
Boeing created the worlds lightest material, Microlattice, and has just released a video displaying its potential uses and how it works. Microlattice is a 3D open-cellular polymer structure made out of small hollow metallic tubes. It consists of 99.9% air, making it so light, a dandelion can hold it up. The material is believed to have future uses in aerospace, making planes much lighter and more fuel efficient. Check out the video below the see Boeing break down the material and show you how it can be the solution to the age old science project of dropping an egg without breaking it.
Source: Boeing
