What if you could follow visual GPS directions simply through glasses?
You wouldn’t have to look down at your phone while crossing the street. That’s one reason for the appeal of a new breed of augmented reality (AR) glasses. Epson, for instance, will release its BT-300 headset line late this fall. Uses could include helping a doctor do surgery, or a mechanic repair a car. Or enable you to read notifications or e-mails without having to look down at a device. It’s still a emerging technology, yet Epson’s BT-300 glasses are surprisingly light and sleek – unlike bulky VR headsets. While they must still be connected by wire to a controller, they do bring AR one step closer to daily wear.
-DigitalTrends
The day a robot hands you a pink slip isn’t as far off as you think.
As robots and artificial intelligence (AI) mature, the number of jobs that humans can handle better than machines is dwindling. From 1975 to 2011, US manufacturing output more than doubled. Yet humans employed in manufacturing jobs decreased by 31%. And that’s just one example of a growing trend. The turn of the 20th century saw machines start to take over manual labor. Now machines that can think are taking over white-collar jobs. So while the George Jetson pushbutton lifestyle has its appeal, how will you earn a living in this new era? Think of it this way: you can’t outrun a horse, but you can learn to ride one.
-PCmag
Gartner predicts customer experience will be the key battleground for companies by 2020.
And data will play a pivotal role. Will your company be ready? Here are three ways to tap into this brave new world: 1) Build trust. Customer data can be hard to get, especially for new brands. Yet 46% of Americans said they divulge more data with brands they trust. 2) Cocoon customer data for them in a shared platform. Apple’s iCloud, for instance, helps users sync bookmarks, notes, to-do lists and even files across their Apple devices. 3) Make your world fit each customer like a glove. Picture a vacationer booking an Airbnb home on her laptop. As she walks in, a nest-enabled air-conditioner checks her ID, then sets her preferred temperature, mood lighting and coffee blend.
-Entrepreneur
Want to really nail it next time you present your company publicly?
Do these three things: 1) Tell the whole story. It may seem scary to speak in front of bright, important people. But we’re all people at the end of the day. People love stories. And a nuanced story helps them see how you can improve their lives far better than a bullet list of features does. 2) Brag authentically. You may have been taught to avoid talking in terms of “I/me/ my” – forget it! Speak confidently about your professional journey. Also, it’s okay to soak up “best practices” from mentors. Just use them in ways that are true for you. 3) Challenge the status quo. No matter your industry, there are huge challenges – and opportunities. People really appreciate it when you address them head-on.
-Inc.