Virtual You – Coming Soon

Virtual You – Coming Soon

October 20, 2019
Lisa M. Spencer

Imagine using cloud supported technology and mixed reality headsets to create a virtual you, capable of using your own voice to deliver flawless speeches in languages you don’t actually speak!

This technology was recently showcased by Microsoft.  While the technology is currently expensive and requires some changes or improvements to be a reality in the business world, it holds interesting promise for the future of video conferencing, making it even more versatile and realistic than ever before.

Other companies have various holographic communications technology in the works as well.

Video Spotlight:

This post is based on the Video Conferencing Daily article, Azure Video Conferencing Impresses at Inspire 2019, by Ethan J., October 8, 2019; the Business Wire article, Double Me brings the Jedi Hologram Conference to every home by 2020, by Albert Kim, September 5, 2019; and the YouTube videos, Move over Tupac! Real Life-size Holograms set to Revolutionize Videoconferencing, by Human Media Lab, April 18, 2018, and Demo: The magic of AI neural TTS and holograms at Microsoft Inspire 2019 Continue reading →

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Safety, Ethics and Vaping

Safety, Ethics and Vaping

October 19, 2019
Lisa M. Spencer

Fruity flavors that sound like childhood candy favorites have lured many teens into vaping. Highly addictive nicotine vaping products have drawn in 3.6 million young users, many of whom find themselves hooked and unable to quit.

After a 2016 FDA ruling on the products, sales for Juul e-cigarettes, for instance, increased over 600%, and the trend of declining youth smoking was reversed.

In addition to long-term effects of vaping, some e-liquid flavors, like cinnamon, cotton candy, and bubble gum, are poisonous in high doses.  Recently, the CDC has linked 1299 lung injury cases and 26 deaths to vaping THC, the component in marijuana that delivers a high.  Twenty percent of the deaths were in users 18 to 20 years old.

Video Spotlight: Teens falling victim to the JUUL effect

This post is based on the LA Times article, The FDA tried to ban flavors years before the vaping outbreak. Top Obama officials rejected the plan, by Emily Baumgaertner, October 1, 2019; the USA Today article, Vaping-related lung injury cases jump to 1,299; deaths rise to 26, by Doug Stanglin, October 10, 2019; and the YouTube video, Teens falling victim to the JUUL effect, Continue reading →

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UPS Wins the Race for Drone Deliveries

UPS Wins the Race for Drone Deliveries

October 18, 2019
Lisa M. Spencer

Logistics master UPS has won the race to be the first Part 135 Standard certified operator of a drone airline.  This certification means UPS does not have size or scope limitations on its drone airline operations.

October 14 marked UPS Flight Forward’s first drone delivery flight under its new FAA certification, delivering medical supplies to WakeMed’s hospital campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. UPS’s certification allows its fleet to have as many drones and remote operators as it wishes, payloads in excess of 55 pounds, and permission to fly out of the line of sight both day and night.

Video Spotlight:

This post is based on the Robotics and Automation News article, UPS attains FAA’s first full approval for drone airline, by David Edwards, October 9, 2019, and the YouTube videos, UPS CEO David Abney on upcoming drone deliveries, by CNBC, October 1, 2019, and UPS wins approval to operate nationwide fleet of drones, by CNBC, October 2, 2019. Image source: Shutterstock/Mopic

Discussion Questions:

1. How did UPS position itself to be the first company granted the Part 135 Continue reading →

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