We think of technology as flip phones and smartwatches, but it's also being used to stop poachers across the globe. We've got the scoop on the latest flip phone and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and update you on gadgets and innovations across the globe. If you like our podcast, please take a minute to review us on your favorite platform. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Flip Phone WinnerSamsung's Galaxy Z Flip phone just came out this past Friday, and so far, reviews are pretty favorable. The glass screen holds its own with just a slight, barely visible crease in the center when open. It's mostly noticeable be running your finger along the screen and feeling it there. Samsung says the fold is good for 200,000 flips, or approximately 5 years of use. What we don't yet know is how the fold itself will hold up. Samsung incorporated hairlike fibers to keep dust and debris away from the fold, but eventually, build up of dust will start to hamper the hinge mechanism. The tiny cover display allows you to view messages and your main phone icons like the Wi-Fi icon, missed call icon, other notifications, and the alarm. At only 1.1 inch diagonal, it isn't good for much else. The Galaxy Z Flip has two cameras, and the wide angle camera does a fantastic job of making selfies look natural. The phone has 2 battery cells, working together and the Flip is small enough that the charge could theoretically last all day, but two batteries are less efficient than one, so this may not be the case when you really start using the phone. Time will tell. Mobile World CongressThe tech show, held in Spain, has been canceled this year amid Coronavirus fears, leaving mobile vendors scrambling. The show had over 2000 vendors that were planning to attend. Smaller vendors use this conference to showcase their new products, send out press releases, and make deals with the large mobile networks who sell their products. While the show being canceled won't hurt larger companies like Samsung and Apple, smaller companies are going to have to find a new way to get deals with the big players like Verizon and AT&T. The conference was scheduled for Feb 24-27. Technology being put to good useSouth Africa's Kruger National Park has some technology being used to help guard its beloved animals. Poachers in the region work hard to try to get around what is known as Postcode Meerkat, a solar-powered, camouflaged system of radars, cameras, and sensors. These sensors can tell the difference between a person and an animal and have an infrared sensor attached. If the system senses a person in the park after dark, it alerts park rangers to their presence. The purpose? To keep out poachers that are looking to hunt the National Park's Rhinos. The Rhino horn is a sign of wealth in some counties, and in others, it is believed to have medicinal properties. Poachers get paid good money for these horns; however, Black Rhinos are on the endangered list and White Rhinos aren't far behind. Since launching the Meerkat's there has been an 80% decrease in poaching where the technology is present. There are plans to install more Meerkats throughout the park where needed, and since the technology is portable, it can be moved to the site of poacher activity. Saving the Rhino is helping the tourism industry in the park. And that brings us to the end of today's Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. Stay tuned next week for more developments in the product world, as we keep digging through the maze of technology that floods the web. Don't forget to drop your rating at the Alexa Skill Store, or your other favorite platform. Keep listening for shout outs as we start seeing your reviews roll in. Thanks for listening!

Tech Talk by LA NPDT

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E10: Samsung's New Flip Phone, Mobile World Congress, Technology Against Poachers

You'll soon be able to unlock your car - with your phone. Or track your health through your sweat. We've got the scoop on this and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each week, as we explore the latest and greatest. And if you like our podcast, please take a minute to review us on your favorite platform. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Unlock Your Car with Your PhoneApple just released its beta version of iOS 13.4 for developers with a unique, intriguing feature called CarKey. This feature lets you use your iPhone or Apple watch as a key to your vehicle. Lock your keys in the car? No problem with this feature. You can unlock your door without the key. If your car is NFC (Near Field Communication) compatible, you'll be able to set up your smartphone or smartwatch to open your car door. Simply hold the phone or watch up to the reader to unlock the door. Be aware though, you don't need Face ID to use Apple gadgets. This means you can open your door even when the phone's battery is dead. It also means that others may be able to open your door as well. Of course, you need an access code to set up your phone to connect with your car, but as with anything else, you'll want to be careful as to who you share that information with!Charging Station SolutionAnytime I try to plug in my phone, the outlet is full and I'm constantly unplugging something else to free up the outlet. But now there is a solution - The Socket Shelf. It plugs into a standard wall outlet and turns the 2 plug socket into a 6 plug socket. It has 2 USB ports as well and a shelf to set your gadget on while it is charging. No more setting your gadget on the counter or floor. It is a complete charging station and power zone in one, saving you precious space. The socket does have integrated surge suppression to protect your devices and is selling for $24.88Um, There's a wearable for that. . . . Smartwatches are becoming the norm. People wear them every day and use them in numerous ways, from checking the time to tracking their heart rate, to talking on the phone. And now there is a new wearable out there for you - to track your health through your sweat. While not a smartwatch itself, it is similarly worn around your wrist. Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a prototype that uses your sweat to determine your overall health. The wearable could be used for detecting dehydration, athletic recovery, and sports training. The wearable uses a replaceable test strip with chemical sensors to measure the amounts of metabolites present in your sweat. In the initial study, researchers measured four metabolites that could tell them about glucose levels, lactate, pH, and temperature of an individual. Once the data is collected, it is interpreted by hardware inside the device. The information is then routed to your phone, watch, or tablet. The researchers have been able to measure collected data against normal levels to determine the health of the person. For example, if a person's lactate levels are high, it could indicate health problems such as heart failure, sepsis, or liver disease. There are a few issues yet to be worked out with the small device. Because of the size, researchers must be careful that the strips are separated enough to analyze each metabolite separately, without affecting the other data. Also, there are certain metabolites that vary among people, based on their biochemistry and weight. But the initial results are impressive and the research is sound, so the team is now focusing on ways to enhance the product.

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E9: CarKey by Apple - Unlock Your Car with iPhone, Latest News about Wearables, The Socket Shelf

Hey Tech Fans. No, we didn't forget about you - our apologies for running late with this weeks' episode. But wait until you hear what Samsung just created - and it's not your typical electronics. Also, you may soon see a Cyborg Jellyfish racing around the ocean. We've got the scoop on this and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. And, if you like our podcast, please take a minute afterward to review us on your favorite platform. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Non-Invasive Glucose Testing on the HorizonThe company we know and love as a TV and phone company has now come up with a way to monitor glucose levels, without having to prick your finger. Samsung just announced that by using a technique called "Raman Spectroscopy," a system has been created that can use lasers for chemical composition identification. Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology, Samsung Electronics, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnered together on this project. When adjusting the system, the team was able to observe glucose Raman peaks, and the group "demonstrated one of the highest prediction accuracies among non-invasive technologies," according to Samsung. The team believes that this technology may be able to help people with diabetes test their glucose with non-invasive measures. As of now, no specific product has been called out, but I expect we'll see something coming down the pipe soon.Good Idea? Bad Idea? You decide!Colleges in the US have started testing a new way to track student attendance in class. Approximately 60 schools across the country are testing out apps as a way to take class attendance. Students are asked to download an app onto their phones, and then attendance is taken by tracking where the student is during class time. Some of the apps use local Bluetooth, while others find a Wi-Fi signal to tell if the student is in a certain room. Students across campus are being asked to volunteer for the trials and only about 2% of the student population at these schools are involved - for now. While it doesn't sound too invasive at the moment, and students are not currently required to participate, it does leave us wondering what will happen in the future with student surveillance. Cyborg JellyfishYou heard that right. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have created a cyborg jellyfish that swims up to three times faster than regular jellyfish. By attaching a swim monitor that enhances a jellyfish's natural pulsing motion, the scientists can use an electrical impulse to speed up the pulsing, moving the jellyfish faster. The swim monitor is a prosthetic that can be attached and removed without harming the jellyfish. Attaching the swim monitor to the jellyfish does have a valid purpose - there are no jellyfish races coming anytime soon. Scientists believe the jellyfish may be able to carry sensors into the ocean, gathering data along the way. Caltech engineer and research lead John Dabiri said: "If we can find a way to direct these jellyfish and also equip them with sensors to track things like ocean temperature, salinity, oxygen levels, and so on, we could create a truly global ocean network where each of the jellyfish robots costs a few dollars to instrument and feeds themselves energy from prey already in the ocean."Sounds like there could be some positives to the supersonic, cyborg jellyfish, even if we don't have the jellyfish races :)And that brings us to the end of today's Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. Stay tuned next week for more developments in the product world, as we keep digging through the maze of technology that floods the web. Don't forget to drop your rating at the Alexa Skill Store, or your other favorite platform. Thanks

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E8: Samsung's Non-invasive Glucose Testing, Cyborg Jellyfish, Tracking Student's Attendance with Apps

Driverless cars, devices that follow you around, and good old fashion video games are hot items this week, and we've got the scoop on all of them on LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. A new, useful gadgetSome of our technology today is fun, but it's just another gadget to throw in the drawer after you get bored with it - but this is actually a solution to a real-life problem. Imagine losing your luggage in the airport, before you even get on the plane - yes, it happens. But not any longer, thanks to Ovis. The AI-powered suitcase is designed to follow you anywhere you go. You wear a wristband, and the five cameras in the suitcase handle make sure that the piece of luggage follows you anywhere you go. Perfect for people with kids, or in wheelchairs, or just people with their hands full, this is one less thing you need to worry about while wandering through the airport maze. And to comply with TSA rules, the batteries are removable. A perfect solution for those who hate lugging suitcases around. Turn off your Bluetooth!We have all lost our phone or tablet, and many of us have relied on those cool apps that scan for Bluetooth devices to help us find it again. It's easy, convenient, and once we quickly locate our missing electronics, all is well with the world again. Unfortunately, you aren't the only one using that app. Car thieves across the nation are using Bluetooth scanners to find electronics hiding in your car. When your Bluetooth is on, it sends out a signal that can be picked up by anyone using a Bluetooth Finder app. If your Bluetooth is connected to your laptop, your tablet, or any other gadgets, a car thief will find them all. If you must leave your electronics in the car, just be sure your Bluetooth is turned off to help keep your items safe. Are you ready to go for a ride? In a car? Without a driver?The Cruise Origin is being hailed as the first driverless taxi. It has no steering wheel and no pedals. It is boxy and spacious, with plenty of room for passengers. Powered by a GM-sourced electric motor, the electric power train frees up room in the cab for four to six passengers. Sliding doors prevent collisions with pedestrians when you are getting in or out of the vehicle. And just how does the car drive itself? It has a host of sensors and autonomous software that has been tested and retested by Cruise over the past 3 years. It has sensors that track pedestrians and cyclists, as well as radars and lidars to help watch traffic. The sensors can see in the dark, and can see more than one place at a time, unlike humans. A release date has not been stated just yet, nor has a price for the ride, but stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on this latest technology as Cruise starts releasing more of the details. And on a sad note. . . . Remember Tetris?? The simple, slightly dated, but the well-loved game is set to vanish from iOS and Android devices in April. After April 21st, EA's versions of the game will be unavailable, even if they are already downloaded on your device. While the game is still available on Nintendo Switch and PS4, it won't be quite the same as strategically dropping a few tetrominoes on your mobile device. Enjoy the game now, while you still can!And that brings us to the end of today's Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. Stay tuned next week for more developments in the product world, as we keep digging through the maze of technology that floods the web. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E7: Sad News about Tetris, AI-powered Suitcase, Turn off your Bluetooth!, Cruise Origin Driverless Taxi

Akai is back in the limelight again. And hand warmers may soon be a thing of the past for those of you in the colder regions of the country. We've found some interesting updates to the product world, so stick with us through the latest version of LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each week, as we explore the latest and greatest. Now, let’s get to today’s news.New Music Production CenterBack in 1988, Akai rolled out their very first Music Production Center, forever, changing the way music is produced. Now, almost 32 years later, their latest version, the MPC One is set to hit stores. The standalone music workstation is a more compact version of its predecessors, with many of the signature features you are used to seeing. It boasts the 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads, network connectivity, MIDI input and output, a 7-inch multi touch display, and it is integrated with Splice. Some other features include four touch-sensitive rotaries that can manipulate sound, four CV jacks, USB flash, and SD card storage. The MPC One also has Air FX plugins for music mixing and mastering. It goes on sale in February for $699, The Race for Blood Oxygen Monitoring on smartwatches has been won by Fitbit.Fitbit has officially activated the blood oxygen monitoring feature on its devices. As of Wednesday, January 15, blood oxygen saturation information started appearing on the Versa, Versa 2 and Versa Lite, and also the Ionic and Charge 3 devices. The Fitbit devices have sensors on the back that can give users an estimate of the oxygen levels in their bloodstream, which can be useful in detecting sleep apnea by finding variations in your breathing while you sleep. As of now, Fitbit is the only wearables company that has activated this feature on any of their devices. Apple has a patent out for this same functionality but has not yet activated it on any of their devices. Keeping your hands warm in the coldWhen winter comes, we start to bring out our mittens to keep our hands warm, but that may soon change. Wearing gloves doesn't work well when you are trying to load ammo into your gun or save someone's life out in the field. Gloves restrict these movements too much, but when you take off your gloves, you lose dexterity in your hands.The solution? The US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine is working on a solution that will keep hands warm by heating the forearms. Our hands and feet stay warm by our body sending warm blood to them through natural circulation, so by heating the blood in the forearms, our hands will stay warm through our circulation processes. The biggest challenges for this project are a power supply small enough for someone to carry with them for long distances, and being able to get as much heat as possible to the forearm without losing it to the environment. A prototype is in the works and should be ready for testing soon.And while the military isn't expected to use this technology for a couple of years yet, a civilian version is expected soon after the military release. This could be a game-changer for people working outside in cold weather. That's it for today's Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. Stay tuned next week for more developments in the product world. Thank you to our new listeners for joining us this week! 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E5: Akai Music Production Center, Fitbit Oxygen Level Monitoring, Hand Warmers for the Military

Guess what's happened this (past) week? Is it the biggest, most important, tech show of the year? Stick with us on the latest version of LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe.CES was the big topic this last week. Held in Las Vegas, it is the gathering place for all people who thrive on consumer technology. For 50 years, it has served as a showcase for new technologies, and innovators have continued to bring next-gen technologies to the market.Just how important is CES? Well, to start with, there are over 170,000 industry leaders, experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs that attend this show each year. Some of the greatest inventions of our time have been introduced at this show, including the VCR, CD Player, HDTV, Satellite Radio, Microsoft Xbox, Tablets, 3D Printers, and Virtual Reality. So, what did CES have in store for us this year? Here are some of the things that popped up at the show this year.Fingerprint Keyless Entry - Kwikset now has a fingerprint reader for your door. If you're tired of remembering codes or changing them frequently, this may be perfect for you. Called the Halo Touch, the lock uses a fingerprint sensor on the deadbolt component of your door lock. It also has a Wi-Fi connected device with Bluetooth, so you can still unlock, or lock, your door with your phone.Suunto's Smartwatch - Called the 7, it is the first Suunto to run on Google's Wear OS. The smartwatch has features for both fitness tracking and daily use. Some of its key features are activity logging of over 70 sports and activities, music storage for offline use, compass readings while offline, heart rate monitor, and re durable construction. It's water-resistant and has a Gorilla Glass over the touchscreen display. The 7's battery will last about 12 hours in GPS mode, or 2 days in regular mode. The 7 goes on sale at the end of the month. Samsung's Really, Really Thin TV - The Q950 QLED has speakers inside, and rear subwoofers, yet is only 15 mm thick. The image quality is exceptional. The TV has software for voice commands and can adjust the sound automatically to outside noises, like your vacuum. The TV does not have a release date yet, but will be available in 65, 75, and 85-inch models. SmartBeds - That's right. Sleep Number revealed the Climate360. With two separate zones, this bed is designed to warm or cool the bed, depending on your body temperature as you sleep. It has the same key features of other Sleep Number beds including technology to measure your breathing and heart rate. It can track your movement and circadian rhythms, and it can provide you with recommendations on how to sleep better. The bed will be widely available in 2021. Foldable Laptops - Foldable gadgets do not seem to be going away in 2020. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is the first foldable laptop. It has a foldable screen, a digital keyboard, and Bluetooth keyboard. As with all foldable gadgets, there is still some skepticism as to how well it will work, but Lenovo has been testing this laptop for a few months now with good results. The laptop goes on sale mid-2020 for $2500. And the last little gadget we'll mention is the adorable little two-wheel robot that will fetch your toilet paper for you. Charmin's Rollbot is designed to carry a roll of toilet paper. By simply pressing a button on your phone, which is probably in the restroom with you anyway, restroom nightmares have become a thing of the past. 2020 is already proving to be an interesting year in the gadget world. Stick with us as we move through 2020, and we'll keep you updated on the newest technologies. Thank you for listening to Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Developmen

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - SPECIAL: CES 2020, Samsung's New REALLY thin TV, Suunto's Smartwatch, Smart Beds

If you aren't tired of shopping yet, we've got a new feature you can try on your next shopping spree. We also have a glimpse as to what 2020 may bring in the technology field.Google AI Can Spot Breast CancerGoogle has developed artificial intelligence that can scan mammograms and help detect breast cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Mammograms are currently the best way to detect this cancer, but a large number of false positives and false negatives are an ongoing issue. Google’s AI has been shown to reduce the number of false negatives by 9.4% and false positives by 5.7% in the US. In the UK, where radiologists double-check results, the AI was still able to reduce false negatives by 2.7% and the false positives by 1.2%. Google taught the AI to read the mammograms by training it to scan the images, and then look for signs of cancer by identifying changes in the breasts of 28,000 women. The results were matched against women’s’ medical outcomes.With all the nuances in the human body, it’s not perfect. During initial tests, there were instances where doctors flagged cancer that the AI missed, and vice versa. The hope is that the AI can work with radiologists in the future, to correctly determine the results of the scans, and get people the treatment they need. What to expect from phones in 2020The end of 2019 started to see a shift in cell phones. With people on the go, becoming more reliant than ever on their phones, companies are making the shift to keep up with consumer expectations. In 2020, we expect to see:5G taking over - 5G got a slow start in 2019, but with lightning-fast download speeds, seamless video calls, and gaming advantages, once this catches on, it will take off like wildfire. Companies are working now to make sure all phones are 5G ready or have a 5G variant. Flip phones - Only now they will be known as foldable phones, are coming back. We saw a hint of the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Fold in 2019, coming in with a price tag between $1500 and $200. In 2020, these phones are expected to get company from and TCL.Amazing Photography - Cameras are one of the biggest reasons people buy one phone over another. In 2020, expect to see more wide-angle sensors, periscope lenses, post-processing technology, and more 5x optical zoom.Companies are already working these angles into their phones, so expect to see rollouts throughout 2020 different options. Turn Your Toaster into a TouchscreenUltraSense, a startup in San Jose, CA, has created a new technology that could turn any surface into a touchscreen surface. They have created a super tiny sensor, about the size of a pen tip that can change the way we interact with the world. Imagine touching the side of your metal toaster, and adjusting the temperature and cook time, to get the perfect piece of toast. The sensor can turn anything into a touchscreen, including glass, wood, plastic, and ceramic materials by using their patented 3D ultrasound technology. TouchPoint, as the sensor is called, uses the ultrasound technology to detect how tiny soundwaves move through a surface. These waves can detect a finger touching a surface and can tell the difference between kinds of touches - think a finger moving, versus resting an entire hand on the surface. Mass adoption of a technology like this could lead to no longer having switches and buttons on our phones or temperature controls on our heat and a/c. This could open an entirely new world of possibilities for the future. Stick with us as we move through 2020, and we'll keep you posted on all the new technologies coming your way. Thanks for listening to Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E4: Google AI Can Spot Breast Cancer, New Phones in 2020, Turn Your Toaster into a Touchscreen

If you aren't tired of shopping yet, we've got a new feature you can try on your next shopping spree. We also have a glimpse as to what 2020 may bring in the technology field. Smart CartsAmazon started a new fad with its Go stores - grocery stores without checkout lanes - and others are starting to jump on board. Two startup companies, Caper and Veeve, have created Smart Shopping Carts, with AI embedded in the carts. These carts can weigh your produce, and other items needing weighing. Cameras and sensors note what items are put in or taken out of the cart. Cameras are pointed down, so a customer's privacy is not invaded while they are shopping. How do you pay for your groceries with these carts? Simply enter a credit card, or use your Google Pay or Apple Pay accounts. When you get to the door of the store, a green light will give you permission to go ahead, and you will be charged. If there is a question about something in your cart, a red light will so off, summoning a store employee to help iron out the wrinkle. Caper is currently running a test program in New York City and Canada, while Veeve is hitting the Seattle market with its pilot program. While this is still in pilot mode, there has been a lot of interest in these carts, according to both companies. I expect we'll see them around soon. Best Wearable Tech Device of 2019MUSE: The Brain Sensing HeadbandThis headband actually uses its technology to improve your quality of life, relieving tension and stress. Worn on your head, it connects with an app on your phone and provides you with real-time readings of an EEG. It then plays meditation music if needed, based on the readings. If your mind is calm, the headband will play relaxing sounds. If you are stressed, the sounds will be louder, more intense. These are designed to draw you back to reality, helping you focus on the task at hand. It sounds like a win for everyone!TeslaGloveTeslaSuit has created an individual glove, debuting in January. They are calling it the TeslaSuit Glove. The glove will be used for training and rehabilitation. Using several technologies, it creates the idea of touching and holding objects. It can capture hand motions and record biometric info. The glove has nine electrodes on each finger, allowing for the sensation of touching a nonexistent surface. It also captures wrist and finger motion from the user. The plastic exterior creates the feeling of interacting with objects and a pulse oximeter gathers heart rate. The glove is currently in the safety testing phase but expected to be widely available mid-2020. For around $5000 per glove, this could be an excellent addition to a rehabilitation center!Technology in 2020Big things are predicted for 2020 in the technology world, but we'll have to patiently wait to see how things unfold as we come into the new year. It's gearing up to promise manned space flight, possibly with civilian passengers, flexible screens on phones and tablets, 5G service across the globe, and big leaps with Quantum computing. Will it all happen? Time will tell, but stick with us as we move into 2020, and we'll keep you posted on Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E3: Smart Carts from Amazon, Muse - Best Wearable of 2019, Tesla Glove for Virtual Touch

Have we gone too far with AI that can analyze every step you take? Or with Robots that can feed you? This is the latest version of LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. AI Sport CoachesPIQ, a tech wearable startup from France, has introduced two new wearable products - GAIA and PIQ ROBOTTM. These products are designed to help athletes zero in on their key strengths, highlighting the factors that the athlete should focus on in order to succeed. Robots now making your smoothies. . . . . Blendid has rolled out another autonomous smoothie robot, this time at Sonoma State University. The robotic kiosk can make custom smoothies in about 2 minutes, and have the capabilities to blend 9 drinks at one time. By ordering your drink through Blendid's app, or on the nearby tablet provided at the location, your drink will be ready in just a few moments. For only $6 per smoothie, you can customize your drink in any way you choose - more of one flavor and less of another. Blendid is calling the robot Chef B, and is getting set to roll out some more of these machines in new locations. And with such strange, yet cutting edge technology hitting us every day, what will people think of next? And how do inventors even think through the idea once they have thought? People are never short of ideas - from edible spoons, so we can get rid of the cheap plastic ones, to Lego slippers (finally), to the Smart Coffee Mug, people have new and great ideas every day. While some of these ideas come from large think tanks, sitting around brainstorming ideas, many don't. Many of today's great inventions come from random people who have a fantastic idea. But once a person has an idea, how do they get it manufactured? Some inventors use an inventor's notebook to work through the idea process, focusing on truly understanding and fine-tuning their ideas, until the original thought turned into a viable product. Inventors since the beginning of time have followed a similar process, turning simple ideas, like the light bulb into reality. Critical thinking steps have created many great ideas, including the Tesla coil, which is the foundation for today's wireless technologies. But the inventor didn't stop at just an idea. They followed through with a prototype, making their idea into a real, tangible product. They shared their prototype with people and found manufacturers. They marketed their products to the masses, and slowly found their place in the invention world. Inventors of the past followed all the steps through until they were able to market their product to the public. As humans, we love our inventions, but we crave more. We long for the next big thing. In the words of Nikola Tesla, "We crave for new sensations but soon become indifferent to them. The wonders of yesterday are today common occurrences"So, inventors - keep thinking. And everyone, hang with us to see what the next big thing is on Tech Talk, brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT S2E2: AI Sport Coaches, Smoothie Robots, Inventors and Their Ideas

Hey Tech Fans. We're back with some new smart technology and a new product that puts super glue to shame. What will they think of next? This is the latest version of LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each week, as we explore the latest and greatest. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Smartphones, Smart TVs, and now. . . . Smart satellites. Aerospace engineers at the University of Cincinnati are developing technology that will allow us to repair and refuel satellites while still in space. Today when satellites break, they sit desolate in space, orbiting Earth until gravity draws them back into the atmosphere, many years later. The University of Cincinnati team is looking at robotic satellites that would be able to dock with other satellites when they need repair or refueling. The engineers are testing a satellite's ability to grab another satellite, without causing it to tumble into space. Testing robotic arms by using artificial intelligence called genetic fuzzy logic, the team is using strings to attach tokens to specific spots on a table. Each robot controls one string and must cooperate with other robots to complete each task. The team has been able to have up to 5 robots working together to complete tasks. While the technology is still being developed, it only makes sense that we would be able to fix a broken satellite in space. Let's face it, it's not often we build something that is work a half-million dollars with no way to fix it when it needs help.Is Super Glue a Thing of the Past?Glue is everywhere. Kids are using it for school projects and their parents use it to fix broken toys. Doctors use it so seal wounds. Everywhere we look, we can find examples, and it's now being taken to the next level. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria have developed a new 'hyper-glue' that is more resistant to corrosion. The team found a way of bonding plastics and synthetic fibers at the molecular level. Using heat or long-wave UV light, they were able to cross-link the materials, creating bonds that are impact-resistant and corrosion-resistant. The team found out that the adhesive is amazingly effective in the high-density polyethylene used in plastic bottles and plastic lumber. Commercial glues haven't worked at all on these materials, so the hyper-glue could be a solid foundation for a wide range of new uses. Some potential uses for this new glue? Paints that don't peel, waterproofing that only needs to be sealed once, fusing together plastics in recycling, and also fusing together different layers of fabric to create clothing for extreme environments. Deepfake TechnologyIn an effort to differentiate itself from Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, Snapchat just rolled out a test version of the app using deepfake technology, which basically allows you to put yourself into a video or GIF. They are calling the feature Cameo. Using this new feature allows you to put your face on a video and send it to friends and family.You'll find the new feature in the Chat sticker bar once it is live. To use it, you'll choose a body for your face to appear on, and Snapchat will manipulate your face onto the image, allowing it to display different expressions. You will also be able to appear in Cameos with your friends if they are on Snapchat. Deepfake technology has been under criticism lately because it could be used to produce fake videos with malicious intent. While the Snapchat version seems to be good, clean fun, we'll have to wait and see where it leads. The feature rolls out worldwide on Dec. 18.And that's a wrap of today's tech

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - S2E1: Smart Satellites, Hyper Glue, Deepfake Technology from Snapchat

Update from Konstantin, CEO of LA New Product Development Team about the future of Tech Talk.

Announcement from Konstantin - Update about Tech Talk

Hey Tech Fans. Check out the new social media site and the latest bionic arm here on LA NPDT Tech Talk. We bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each day. Now, let’s get to today’s news.WT Social: The New Facebook?Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales is launching a social-media site calle WT: Social. His hope is to create a social media site that will compete with Facebook and Twitter with one big difference. No big advertisers. Instead of funding the site through advertising, he will be following the Wikipedia model and will finance the site through donations from users. The site will post news articles, but will have a different algorithm than other social media sites. Instead of giving priorities to the posts with the most likes, it will show the newest content first. Wales says of his site, "Instead of optimizing our algorithm to addict you and keep you clicking, we will only make money if you voluntarily choose to support us – which means that our goal is not clicks but actually being meaningful to your life." 3D Printing AdvancementsOnce again 3D printing is in the spotlight, and as this technology continually improves, we'll see more and more of this. 3D printing has made a presence in manufacturing, health, and construction. This time around, a bionic hand was created and printed in just 10 hours. Experts from WMG worked with C Enterprise and Printed Electronics to print the hand with sensors built in. By embedding the electrical circuits into the hand, the wearer can move and control the bionic hand. A website has now been set up for people to order their bionic hand by entering certain dimensions of their arms.Cut the CordPay TV subscribers are quickly tossing in the towel and switching to various streaming services. In the third quarter alone, almost 2 million people cut the cord. With new streaming available more and more often, including the latest Disney +, this number is expected to keep climbing. As prices continue to increase for cable and satellite TV, streaming services offer a less expensive alternative to get the same or very similar TV options. Expect to see more of this coming in 2020.And that's a wrap of today's tech talk. Leave a comment with your thoughts, and stay tuned for tomorrow's Tech Talk brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - E21: WT Social: The New Facebook? 3D Printing Advancements, Cut the Cord

Hey Tech Fans. Today we're talking musical sneakers on LA Tech Talk, as we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each day. Now, let’s get to today’s news.Sneakers that GrooveYou know how sometimes you can feel the beat of a song in your feet? The bass drum rhythm and the melody that seems to float down to your toes while you're listening? You will soon actually be able to feel the beat, and more, in your toes. DropLabs has created a shoe that takes audio to a whole new level. The EP01 is a slightly bigger sneaker that is equipped with Bluetooth, a speaker-grade transducer, and a power source, allowing it to sync with your music, movies, and games. You'll be able to feel the vibrations in the souls of your feet when playing games or while watching movies on your favorite gadgets. The shoes cost just over $500 - a steep price for something you can't currently try before you buy.Mac Pro to be Available SoonApple announced that its new Mac Pro and Apple Pro Display will be available in December. It will be able to be ordered with up to an 8TB SSD, and can handle up to six streams of 8K Pro Res video, something Mac fans have been asking for. Blackmagic Design will have an SDI to 8K converter for productions that use a serial digital interface workflow on set or in studio, according to Apple. If buying the base configuration, you're looking at a price tag of $5,999 for the Mac Pro, but Apple fans usually find the machine well worth the price tags. The Mac is back. Wi-Fi CookingWeber has paired up with June, an appliance startup, to create a new SmokeFire grill. The grill burns wood pellets and is Wi-Fi enabled. This is the first time Weber has made a pellet grill, but with their strong history in the outdoor cooking market, a solid product is expected. The smartgrill can provide step-by-step instructions on recipes and an end cooking time for what you put on your grill. As will all smart electronics, it can be controlled and have information delivered to your smartphone.And that's a wrap of today's tech talk. Leave a comment with your thoughts, and stay tuned for tomorrow's Tech Talk brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - E20: Sneakers that Groove, Mac Pro to be Available Soon, Wi-Fi Cooking

Are you a robot? Looking to buy a new electric car? We've got the scoop on that and more on LA NPDT Tech Talk, where we bring you the latest developments in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Join LA New Product Development Team for the most recent, up-to-date tech news each day. Now, let’s get to today’s news.BMW's i4 Electric CarBMW has been testing its i4 electric car for a while now, and it's starting to look good for the release in 2021. BMW says it has made advancements in its electric powertrain and expects the 80kWh battery pack to get about 373 miles between charges. The 530 horsepower car has one 390 kW electric motor. Here's to hoping we see the release of the i4 in 2021 from the German automaker.I'm Not a RobotNo, you aren't a robot, but it's getting harder and harder to prove that. Ever wonder why the CAPTCHA images are sometimes so difficult to interpret? Why you can't always get it right on the first try? Or figure out what is actually in the image shown in front of you? It's because when the image is that plain and simple, a computer or robot, can also see exactly what the images are. The artificial intelligence that has come so far in helping us is actually better at figuring out what the images are then a person is. In fact, in 2014, Google ran a test on the most distorted images, to see if a computer could figure it out. Computers got it right 99.8% of the time. Humans - only 33% of the time. Different CAPTCHA tests are being looked at for the future, but many companies are looking at redesigning this all together, by defining what it is to be human. Instead of selecting a picture, it may be how we move through the world, and the internet. As of now, no one has the answer, but this will certainly remain a hot topic for the next few years. Cortana Contraction Microsoft has been steadily reining in its plans for Cortana, its personal productivity assistant, and has now announced the shutdown of this product in several markets across the globe. After Jan. 31, 2020, the assistant as it is today will no longer be available in Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Mexico, China, Spain, Canada, and India. Cortana users will still have access to their reminders and lists on Windows. As of now, the US is not affected, but expect to see that change as 2020 rolls in. And that's a wrap of today's tech talk. Leave a comment with your thoughts, and stay tuned for tomorrow's Tech Talk brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - E19: BMW's i4 Electric Car, CAPTCHA I'm not a Robot, Cortana Contraction

Inspector Gadget is back! Stem cell research is moving along, and ghost imaging is becoming more prominent today on LA NPDT Tech Talk, where we bring you the latest developments in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe. Remember Inspector Gadget?MIT engineers recently developed a robot designed to extend it's "arms" to complete more difficult tasks. The robots have a chain-like appendage flexible enough to twist and turn, allowing the robot to complete tasks such as reaching for a product tucked behind another or unscrewing an oil cap after reaching around the car's engine. The appendage is rigid enough to support heavy loads and applies torque to assemble parts and when the task is complete, it simply retracts the appendage. It can then extend it at a different length to fit the next task. Go, go Gadget arms!New Stem Cell ResearchA team from Rutgers has created new biosensor technology featuring high-tech imaging. This new technology may help lead to safe stem cell therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease treatments. The team created this technology to monitor the gate of stem cells by detecting genetic materials involved in turning such cells into brain cells. By developing accurate sensing platforms, the group hopes to facilitate treatment of macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease and more. Ghost Imaging Researchers from The Optical Society have found a way to capture moving objects using ghost imaging. It is a technique that produces an image of an object by combining information from two light detectors. One is a multi-pixel detector that does not view the object, while the others a single-pixel detector that does view the object. In the past, ghost imaging has been limited to stationary objects. This new method could make the imaging technique practical for biomedical imaging, security checks, and video compression.And that's a wrap of today's tech talk. Leave a comment with your thoughts, and stay tuned for tomorrow's Tech Talk brought to you by LA New Product Development Team. 

Tech Talk by LA NPDT - E18: Inspector Gadget - like Robot from MIT, New Stem Cell Research, Ghost Imaging

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