New Florence. New Renaissance.

Remote Sensing accelerates during pandemic

American Scientist (sub required)

• Satellite images and other remote sensing technologies can provide information about global shifts and tiny phenomena—both the proverbial forest and the trees.
• These methods enable researchers to virtually visit regions that would otherwise be inaccessible, either because of the difficulty of travel or because of potential danger.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote sensing and monitoring technologies allowed researchers to continue their work while maintaining a safe social distance.

Holiday Trends during the pandemic from Google

"We’ve analyzed Google Maps data before and during the pandemic (for the purposes of this post, we analyzed data from March to October 2020) to see how people across the U.S. are getting ready for the holidays. Read on for top trends on how people are navigating, how they’re spending their time and what type of food they’re craving."

Google Blog

The history of maps

The map has no single origin or known inventor. But these breakthrough maps illuminate the milestones of science and discovery that guided civilizations—and define how we view the world today

Popular Mechanics (sub required)

BTW, Interesting lecture on the history of cartography

Microsoft FarmBeats

"Many of the grower’s decisions are based on guesswork today. By capturing large amounts of data from the farm and then using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to translate that data into insights, Microsoft is building technology that replaces the guesswork.

To enable data-driven agriculture, a seamless data collection system is needed. Our FarmBeats platform enables seamless data collection from a wide variety of sources, including sensors, satellites, drones, and weather stations. It then leverages machine learning, so partner ag tech companies can turn that data into actionable intelligence for farmers.

Because farms also don’t have great connectivity, Microsoft is investing in technologies such as TV white space, as well as the Azure IoT Edge for collecting data, which can then be ingested in FarmBeats."

Successful Farming

 

The NFL's big COVID-19 experiment

The NFL is not playing its 2020 season with a bubble concept like those the NBA and the NHL have used so successfully, so COVID-19 infections among team and league personnel are all but inevitable over the next five-plus months. That's the bad news.

The good news, based on early coronavirus testing results through August, is the NFL has managed to keep the number of positive tests relatively low. Which is remarkable given the massive number of people required to operate 32 NFL teams. It's a good sign for the viability season as long as players, coaches and everybody else involved can keep following the health and safety protocols established by the NFL, the NFL Players Association, teams and local governments/health experts.

Much more about the protocols at Sporting News

This video discusses the precautions (including the proximity device) and likely pivots as the season progresses in this unusual year.

Lidar - not just for AVs

Self-driving cars employ lidar, a remote sensing technology using pulsed laser light the way radar uses radio waves, and lidar makers waiting for the automotive market to take off are courting new customers who would use the technology for everything from monitoring cattle to helping a disc jockey synchronize dance music.

Ouster, a San Francisco tech startup, is tapping new markets including delivery robots, disaster relief and even an approach from the disc jockey. Another Bay area startup, AEye, is talking to a bank that wants to monitor cattle growth to ensure the financial health of a rancher who is a loan customer.

British Herald

https://britishherald.com/from-dance-competitions-to-self-driving-cars-lidar-laser-sensing-technology/

Video shows how Lidar is helping archaeologists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39ENPZ3Xe0I&t=163s

Smart pajamas

In her lab, Andrew is capitalizing on this softness to develop pajamas that monitor your sleep posture. It’s not as random as it sounds—bad sleep posture has been linked to chronic spinal pain, and there’s not currently a good way for doctors to monitor it over time. Andrew’s smart pajamas have five strategically placed RVD-based pressure sensors that track heart rate, breathing rate, and body position throughout the night. They’re all connected to a microprocessor hidden in a button that beams data to a receiver via Bluetooth.

Andrew is also testing the same pajamas with an REM sleep-sensing mask. Currently, when a doctor wants to diagnose sleep apnea or investigate insomnia, the patient has to travel to a sleep center, be wired to monitoring machines, and then try to fall asleep while a technician watches them over video. Andrew hopes her pajamas will bring sleep studies into a patient’s home, allowing doctors to collect data remotely while the patient sleeps in familiar surroundings.

Wired

2019 in review - Where were you last year? last decade?

These days, there’s more than one way to reminisce. Thanks to the modern surveillance state that is Google, and the marvels of modern data visualization, you can actually map the last few years of your life. The Location History Visualizer heatmap is a totally free and private tool that can import your location data stored by Google, then chart that onto a global map that shows where you spent the most time.

FastCompany

 

 

IBM's High Res Weather Model

IBM, in collaboration with its subsidiary The Weather Company, has developed a new high-resolution weather model it claims will cover the entire world with a resolution and update frequency unseen in other weather models in use today.

The new IBM GRAF, short for Global High-Resolution Atmospheric Forecasting system, will utilize a finer grid—giving users a more detailed view of the atmosphere—and a faster update speed than other global models currently in operational use. IBM GRAF boasts a grid of just 3 km and updates on an hourly basis, which would allow forecasters to quickly predict the development of small-scale weather

Forbes

 

 

 

Smart Cane

It comprises of a traditionally-looking cane, completed by a handle. The innovative device features dual sensors which vibrate to alert the user of upcoming danger at ground & chest level. The battery can be charged via a USB and it functions up to five hours.

WeWALK is mobile-integrated: connecting to apps via Bluetooth, it enables control with a touchpad or voice command, with no need to hold the phone in one’s hand.

The integration of apps like Uber and Lyft means access to easy urban mobility, while Google Maps provides an accurate navigation system when walking. WeWALK also features an LED light to assist partially sighted people.

Due to the rising interest in the segment WeWALK faces direct competition with other products such as the MIT awarded Smart Cane Device, the Malaysian engineered BAWA cane and the GPS integrated SmartCane.

DesignWanted

Thanks for Frank Scavo for pointer