Tech Companies Announce Exciting New Projects
Emerging Tech Roundup — May 27
The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.
This week in tech: An embodied AI platform launches to solve biomechanical problems, Google lets phone users ‘time travel’ with new Street View feature, Wired looks at everything you need to know about the future of Wi-Fi 7, researchers are using Google’s app to study the effect of phones on mental health, Mastercard tests face scans for payments at brick-and-mortar stores, Real Tone filters are starting to arrive helping everyone look their best in Google Photos, and Amazon tests having drivers make deliveries from local malls.
An Embodied AI Platform to Solve Biomechanical Problems
(Meta, May 23 )
Meta is releasing MyoSuite, an embodied AI platform that applies machine learning to biomechanical control problems which could have significant impact in developing post-injury rehabilitation and prosthetics. MyoSuite also has the ability to simulate the outcome of mobility, achieved by a given surgical procedure, and the impact it will have on the functional rehabilitation of the affected parts following the procedure. The musculoskeletal models in MyoSuite are up to 4,000x faster than other simulators at meeting the data requirements of modern machine-learning algorithms.
Google will let phone users ‘time travel’ with new Street View feature
(NYPost, May 24)
Google has plans to launch a new ‘time travel’ feature for its Street View application. This tool will let users see how landscapes have changed over the years, right from their phones. Google has curated a list of popular places that users can virtually visit, including The White House at Christmas, followed by The Taj Mahal, and then the Floating Market in Thailand; users can also take a ride in Space.
What is Wi-Fi 7? Everything You Need to Know
(Wired, May 24)
The 7th generation of Wi-Fi promises major improvements over Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and could offer speeds up to four times faster. It also includes clever advances to reduce latency, increase capacity, and boost stability and efficiency. It will likely be more than a year until we see the first Wi-Fi 7 devices and routers rolling out, but the new standard is beginning to take shape.
Researchers are using Google’s app to study the effect of phones on mental health
(The Verge, May 23)
The University of Oregon is doing a study on the effect phones have on mental health, using Google’s Health Studies app. The goal of the study is to see how people are using their phones and how that affects their well-being. A post on the company blog, written by one of the lead researchers on the project, says that the aim of the research will ultimately be able to help companies design better products and even shape policy and education for the future.
Mastercard testing face scans for payments at brick-and-mortar stores
(CNBC, May 23)
Mastercard is trialing facial recognition and fingerprint scanning for customers to make payments at physical retail stores. The company just launched a pilot program at some St. Marche supermarket stores in São Paulo, Brazil, with plans to roll out the feature to retailers globally later this year.
Real Tone filters are starting to arrive, helping everyone look their best in Google Photos
(Android Police, May 24)
Google announced it is bringing Real Tone photo processing technology (introduced with the Pixel 6) to more users. Anyone with a Google Photos account on iOS, Android, or the web, will soon be able to use Real Tone as a filter, matching the overall lighting with specific skin tones to create a more accurate photo. Two weeks after being unveiled, these filters are starting to roll out to users everywhere.
Amazon tests having drivers make deliveries from local malls
(The Verge, May 22)
Amazon has been running a program where its contracted Flex drivers pick up and deliver packages from malls, allowing Amazon to expedite and fulfill orders for same-day or two-day deliveries. Although it’s not clear which sellers are participating in the program or where Amazon is running the tests, drivers who spoke to Bloomberg about the program cite picking up packages from malls in Chandler, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tysons Corner, Virginia.
