Table of contents for Year-End 2020 in Innovation & Tech Today

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues and in-person events are being shelved into next year, the birth of the virtual venue has quickly become a growing commodity. Not only to stave off further infections, the online event has also become an effective cost-cutting tool for companies around the world. No more travel costs. No more logistical nightmares. The headache of travel and the financial limitations on businesses and their executives may soon become a thing of the past. Some of last quarter’s most prominent virtual events included: CEDIA Expo This premier trade event spearheaded one of the industry’s first completely virtual trade shows for the custom integration and design communities. The event took place Sept. 15-17 and saw 7,600 trade professionals come together to connect and discuss topics facing the industry…

With the biggest presidential election in recent history happening in November, most of us anticipated an edgy 2020 this time last year. But no one could have predicted COVID-19 and the subsequent pandemic closing markets around the world and claiming more than a quarter-million American lives so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the virus, the year wasn’t all bad. Between NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and SpaceX, there is a renewed vigor in space exploration and discovery. Right now, plans are being made to put the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024, while innovations in rocketry, vehicle, and communications technology is paving our way to Mars sometime in the next decade. Although there are many deserving candidates, especially in a…

Safari Trillium – $399 Outdoor Research Archangel Jacket and Bibs – $699 jacket, $699 bibs Rapid Raft – $400 Solo Stove Grill – $599 Shovelhead Jacket – the rain, skiing in the blowing snow, or need something warm and comfortable on a quick overnight trip, the Shovelhead Jacket from the Big Agnes’ SL Down Collection is an ideal addition to any winter wardrobe. It is water-resistant and comes in a regular fit for that extra room to move freely and layer underneath. $270 Matador SEG42 Travel Pack – $190 The Ranger Camera Crossbody – $50 Weatherman Umbrella – a meteorologist. Created by Fox News Chief Meteorologist Rick Reichmuth, the Weatherman Umbrella was born from experience. The umbrellas are made from fabric woven with Teflon for superior water resistance, and industrial…

Facebook is offering the perfect gift this holiday season with the launch of Oculus Quest 2. Even if the world wasn’t closed because of COVID-19, virtual reality has jumped by leaps and bounds since Palmer Luckey launched his Oculus startup in 2012. Oculus Quest 2 retails for $300 for the 64GB version, a full $100 less than the first untethered device launched in May 2019. The 256GB version retails for $400. Facebook has improved every aspect of the mobile Quest headset. It’s been redesigned smaller and approximately10% lighter, which is important for those long gaming sessions. It’s a headset designed to work for more people – it’s flexible to switch between all-in-one and PC VR gaming, with more accessory options to customize users’ fit and comfort. Facebook has updated the…

Odyssey G9 – second compared to its traditional counterpart. $1480 GAEMS Rail System – $100 Oculus Quest 2 – $299 GAEMS Hex Pac Backpack – out the latest game. This backpack offers console compatibility including the PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch, features laptop and tablet sleeves, internal headphone strap, and quick access document pockets. $70 Secretlab Titan 2020 – $500 8BitDo Arcade Stick – $90 Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 – $150 GUNNAR Optiks – Lightning Bolt 360 – $130 C40 TR Gaming Controller – $199 Logitech G403 – $70…

While most of us are looking to smartphones for the possibilities of 5G technology, the automotive industry is gearing up for a free ride. Self-driving vehicles were already on the scene before a fifth-generation innovation promised industry pros and academics a complete realization of autonomous driving. “The benefits of autonomous driving will be fully realized with supporting wireless communication offered by 5G,” Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury said, Ph.D. and professor of transportation at Clemson University. The technology will enable vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, which includes vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and vehicle-to-vulnerable road users, he said. An autonomous vehicle is equipped with different sensors such as camera, lidar, and radar, which can generate data at a rate of multi-gigabits per second. Currently, the telecommunication industry, which includes AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint have already deployed 5G…

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE; THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME. New President, new tech, new gaming content, same old COVID-19. At the end of the summer, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted a second wave of the virus was inevitable. In fact, The Washington Post reported in late October the U.S. hit an all-time high in new coronavirus cases, exceeding 80,000 in a day for the first time. While the pandemic remains an underlying narrative to everything we do, the surge in responsive technologies during the crisis is a testament to the human spirit to adapt and overcome. In the future, there will be other pandemics, maybe even other bouts with dreaded COVID-19, but we will not stop working, playing, or getting on with the business of living. We will persevere. Remote…

The Ice Melter The more scientists learn about Antarctica, the grimmer the predictions. Data compiled by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research shows sea levels around the world will rise about two and a half meters as the Antarctic ice sheet continues to melt. Although scientists expect the sheet of ice to be around for a few more centuries, there is an expiration date now as the global average temperature continues to rise. Researchers concluded that melting will likely take place over a long period but may be irreversible because of the way the ice cap is expected to melt. While the ice sheet has looked relatively the same for the last 34 million years, scientists from the Potsdam Institute say its future form will be decided within our…

In the 1970s, Sneaky Pete was the first chess-playing computer, paving the way for IBM’s Deep Blue — the first machine using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to become a Chess Grandmaster. And of course, ultimately, Alpha Zero has transcended all. AI has come a long way from those rudimentary chess matches, and the power of AI mandates a set of ethics be established to guide us into the future. Machine learning is a common term associated with AI. In simple terms, software developers write algorithms to sort through data. The algorithm has rules on how the data is sorted or analyzed. Based on the algorithm, the machine can make decisions. These decisions are rule-based and they consider a lot of data the human brain cannot process. Over time, the computer revises…

At one time, the automobile dealership was a relatively simple business. Salespersons in front needed to know enough about the cars and trucks they were selling to make a compelling case to a prospect coming into the store. Not a lot of technical knowledge was needed as you could put the person behind the wheel and let them experience how the vehicle worked in the real world. In the rear of the store, mechanics needed to know their way around an automobile’s inner workings to diagnose and fix largely mechanical problems. Others in supporting roles needed specific skills like working in the F&I Department, which requires more than a passing understanding of math and financial computations. There is now a significant shift happening, making more of these jobs require a…

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear; we need more good doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and medical technology innovators. As kids return to school, whether virtually or in-person, now is a great opportunity to teach them about the human body, the diseases that can affect it, and the medicines and devices to treat these ailments. Thanks to tech, learning biology and the life sciences these days can be a lot more fun than the plastic skeletons and cutaway heart models of yesterday. Here are some fun ways to teach kids about the body using gadgets that you might already own. 3D Printing In the Summer 2019 issue, we explained the potential for 3D printing to radically disrupt the medical technology industry by enabling rapid production and modification of all kinds…

On March 11, 2020, the NBA officially announced they would be suspending their season indefinitely. It was a pivotal point in the year, signaling to the masses that COVID-19, which at the time was still shrouded in mystery, was something to be taken seriously. For many, it was the pandemic’s beginning that kept us inside our homes for most of 2020. But not all was lost. While we were all locked in our homes this spring and summer, you know where people escaped? Video games. Video games, which still exist in the gray area between childish toys to some and technological artisanship to others, became a main source of entertainment for many this year. According to a study by Deloitte Insights, 34% of those surveyed, of all ages, tried a…

The contemporary home is already much different than what our grandparents were used to with the internet and smart devices laying around. As the COVID-19 crisis digs in for another turn, the home has become more than a place to lay your head, it is a sanctuary, it is an entertainment hub, it is the gym, and it is the office. Today, moving into your new house or apartment requires an understanding of integrated appliances and cost-effective gadgetry that is both smart and safe. Whether you want security, cleaner floors, or increased efficiencies with internet access for smart devices like an iPhone, gaming console, or television, the connected home and the people living there are plugging in to make it happen. As far back as three years ago, a survey…

It’s fast, super-efficient, likely to transform society and the business world in a way not seen since the automobile — and it’s already here. 5G is the fifth generation of broadband — instant mobile connectivity. The massive bandwidth increase brings far more data-processing and loading speed, and the delivery of services and technology we haven’t seen before. For those who think of it as an upgrade on 4G, think of it more like a stratospheric leap forward. 5G includes an entirely different set of protocols some estimate will eventually produce data speeds 100 times greater than 4G (right now, most companies report a 15- to 30-fold increase). With the rollout well underway, it will become the data and communications pipeline of the country within two or three years. Gary Shapiro,…

Since 2017, there has been a steady growth in online school attendance for students enrolled in post-secondary institutions. Each year, the spike in online platforms influences the market’s academic and employment strategies. Before the COVID-19 pandemic placed an even greater emphasis on innovating effective, distance technologies, two-year colleges and traditional brick-and-mortar universities were already expanding their curriculums to include virtual options. At their best, universities should not only prepare working professionals for the contemporary market, they should also resemble it in every function. As employees transition to online business for the long haul, so too, are educational institutions around the world.…

In 1962, John F. Kennedy told a large crowd at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, “We choose to go to the moon.” And we did, just seven years later. Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working alongside industry to ensure we not only return to the moon, but we use it as a springboard to Mars and beyond. With global firms like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman providing resources to the Artemis Program, NASA is expected to land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024. While Lockheed Martin will provide the space vehicle, The Orion, Boeing will supply the rocketry to propel the astronauts beyond Earth’s gravity and into deep space. Mark Nappi, Boeing’s Space Launch Systems Director, told Innovation &…

When’s the last time you really took a look around? Your yard, neighborhood, or nearby park might be familiar, but there’s a lot you don’t see. At a time when many people aren’t getting away, becoming a hometown explorer might be just the thing to break up the monotony. Day or night, at home or at a park, in the city, country, or suburbs, check out these technologies and learn about your neck of the woods. Detectors You could start with the ground under your feet, and “look” even deeper with a metal detector. While some people might associate them with lonely beach combers, they’re actually a gateway to a lesson in science. You’ll get a geology tutorial while researching your topsoil. Is it limestone, sandy hard-packed clay, or highly…

In July of 2017, the Drone Racing League set the Guiness World Record for the fastest drone. The top speed? 179.6 miles per hour. To put that in perspective, the 1.76-pound drone, called the DRL Racer X, can move faster than a Tesla at top speed in Ludicrous Mode. With such impressive speeds, it’s not surprising drone racing has become one of the most exciting new additions to the sports and entertainment catalogue. What began in Germany in 2011 as a handful of amateur pilots getting together for drone races has slowly become an international phenomenon. In fact, BMW held the Drone Racing League’s (DRL) 2018 Semi-Finals race at their automobile museum, selling out the event with 3,000 fans. Here’s what you need to know about drone racing. How Does…

Less than 25 miles north of Hollywood, the City of Santa Clarita is quickly becoming a valued extension of the movie-making business. Recently, LA North Studios announced plans to convert 113,640 square feet of space at The Center at Needham Ranch into a functioning satellite soundstage by early 2021. Prior to the expansion of LA North Studios, “our estimated economic impact from filming has been over $30 million dollars for each of the last six years,” Evan Thomason said, Economic Development Associate for the City of Santa Clarita. LA North’s commitment and investment will be a significant contributor to the local economy, he said. “The additional capacity for production will mean more jobs and millions more spent locally.” Currently, the city offers a local Film Incentive Program, smooth permit process,…

With millions of elementary, middle, and high school children, plus college students, learning from home this fall, who is powering their virtual classrooms and online learning platforms? Dozens of companies have seen customer demand skyrocket since COVID-19 descended on our shores in early March, with their platforms being elevated from learning options to absolute necessities. We surveyed learning platforms to find the most innovative, user-friendly, interactive, and collaborative experiences — as well as those offering the most valuable content to students. Here are some that we particularly liked: LearnWorlds LearnWorlds It’s ideal for individual instructors and educators — but also for entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, professional trainers, and internal employee training for companies. Udemy Udemy It makes course creation possible for teachers, instructors, educators and freelancers with the possibility…