Important Innovations

Just Unveiled at CES 2020 Source:  Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold:  New Innovation 4 Years in the Making Lenovo just unveiled at CES 2020 its ThinkPad X1 Fold, a foldable PC that has been developed over the past four years. This is Lenovo's first foldable screen PC.  Lenovo says it's ready to launch and the starting price is $2,499 with its folding OLED display.  It's particularly targeted at businesses to provide employees more mobility options.  Lenovo offered a fascinating example of use:  live videoconferencing on the top of the screen and using a pen to take notes on the bottom of the screen. Launches in 2020 The foldable PC, which weighs just 2.2 pounds & is extraordinarily thin when folded, will be launched in the second half of 2020.  It can be ordered in early summer and will ship in early September.  Among some key points about the new device: Multiple operational modes including going fully flat as a 13.3 inch display, which is standard for

Debuting at CES 2020 Source:  Samsung What Is It? One of the most anticipated debuts at the annual CES trade show in Las Vegas this week is Samsung's AI project "NEON".  The South Korea tech giant has been marketing it as an "Artificial Human" and "Artificial Intelligence Being".  Samsung has been doing teases over social media to drum up anticipation and suspense about NEON.  For the first time, some information is leaking out on exactly what NEON is. Artificial Intelligence Being that May be AI Computing Samsung says NEON is nothing you've ever seen before.  There are some indications that it may be an AI computer.  The Dutch site, LetsGoDigital, that specializes in detailing tech patents, reports based on Samsung's patent filing, that NEON will be able to deliver the following: Augmented reality video production Creation of computer generated characters Computer generated imagery, animations, simulations and models

Next-G Refrigerator With Internal Cameras & AI Tracking Your Food Samsung's Highly Intelligent Refrigerator Samsung's Family Hub Fridge This is the next generation in highly intelligent, functional refrigerators.  And, it's nothing like your Mom's refrigerator.  Samsung Electronics has incorporated advanced AI and internal cameras, plus other advanced technology, into the new, Family Hub fridge that it's going to unveil at the CES in Las Vegas next week.  The array of advanced technology and functionality is very impressive.  It brings a whole new level of intelligence and meaning to a fridge. Monitors Food Inventory, Generates Meal Planning Using the cameras and advanced AI, the fridge monitors the food inventory, spots changes, updates you on what's been added and depleted and creates a shopping list of what's needed at the supermarket.  It has a Quick Plan function to recommend meals for the week to save money and cut food waste.  The meal

Next G Rollable TV Display Source:  LG's Rollup TV Display Unveiled at CES 2019 Unveiling at CES 2020 Next Week South Korea tech giant LG has invented a 65 inch, UHD OLED TV that rolls down from the ceiling just like a projector.  The new design form means it's not visible when not in use and it doesn't take up space or require any furniture.  This is breakthrough technology that will be unveiled at the annual 2020 CES trade show in Las Vegas next week.  No pictures of the new TV have been released as of now. More Innovations At CES 2020, LG will also introduce other innovations including a laptop sized rollup TV screen for cars and a transparent screen for airplanes.  LG has been developing the rollable display TV concept for the past several years.  At CES 2019, it introduced its first commercial rollable TV display concept that rolled upwards from a specialized rectangular speaker box by pressing a button.  It's called the LG Signature OLED TV R.  Appare

Mercedes-Benz Autonomous Taxi Fleet Deployed in San Jose, CA Source:  Mercedes Benz - Autonomous Taxiing in Style Level 4 Autonomous Driving Daimler's Mercedes-Benz and the German tech giant Bosch have launched a self-driving car project in San Jose, CA. They're using a fleet of 30 autonomous MB S-class vehicles as a hailing taxi service.  You might call it autonomous taxiing in luxury style.  The program just got underway and initially only a select group of users can hail the self-driving vehicles.  These vehicles are capable of Level 4 driving.  Level 4 is fully automated navigation with little to no human input or oversight needed.  Daimler is testing the vehicles for reliability and safety. Separately, Bosch just announced a breakthrough, less expensive lidar sensor that could accelerate widespread use of autonomous cars. (News details in my previous blog). Mercedes Car2Go To summon a ride in San Jose, the user connects to Daimler's Car2Go car-sharing servi

German Tech Giant Bosch's Lidar Sensor Source:  Bosch Putting Autonomous Cars in the Fast Lane German tech giant Bosch has developed a sensor that enables autonomous cars to see a 3-dimensional view of the road as part of the autonomous system.  The company adds the lidar sensors are not expensive.  This technology breakthrough could accelerate the development and widespread use of self-driving cars.  Bosch believes this sensor could make mainstream cars self-driving a lot sooner than predicted. Sensor Sees Short & Long Distances, Providing 3D View of Highway Bosch says it will launch the lower cost lidar sensors and showcase the breakthrough technology at the annual CES in Las Vegas next week.  The sensors "see" both short and long range distances on the highway and work in tandem with camera and radar technologies.  Lidar uses light to generate a 3D view of the road.  Bosch is not providing timing on the actual launch date other than to say t

2020's:  Royal Decade to Repair CC thru Innovative Remedies Source:  Kensington Palace Earthshot: Multi-Million Pounds Challenge for Remedies Prince William is launching what's being called the most prestigious environmental program in history.  It's called Earthshot and it runs for the 2020's decade.  The purpose is to focus and reward doable remedies to address Climate Change.  Prince William is putting significant money, what Kensington Palace is calling "multi-million pounds" behind the Earthshot Prize Challenge. Awarding Climate Change Innovation Prince William's Earthshot program is betting on human innovation to turnaround the massive environmental damage that Climate Change has caused globally to the planet.  Starting in 2021, 5 CC remedies will win substantial monetary prizes.  The Prince hopes that by 2030 those yearly five prizes will yield 50 new Climate Change solutions. Moonshots The Prince likens his program to other historic