The Importance Of An Emergency Fund

Posted on by Jake Stevens
The beginning of the month has come which means rent/mortage and other payments are due. For many unemployed or furloughed Americans, the thoughts on how to make these payments are questions without answers.

For many Americans this pandemic has forced us to worry about how we are going to pay our bills during these tough times. Not everyone can afford to pay for any emergency, in fact, “40% of Americans can’t come up with $400 in an emergency.” To combat these occurrences, abled Americans should start building up a fund for instances like this. A good amount to start with is 5% of your daily take-home income. That amount varies by person but the genuine consciences is to generate a fund large enough to cover 3 months of expenses. This reserve of money is to serve as a safety net for if God forbid you become unemployed in the future and still need to live your current lifestyle. Now fully-funding this account is not an easy task and will take some time. That is why any amount that you can contribute to this account is crucial. Once you put money into this account it shouldn’t be touched unless you actually need it. Good luck with saving, your future self will thank you!

Crystal Clear Cable

Posted on by Jake Stevens

Earlier this year in February, LG released a TV model like no other. The LG Transparent OLED Signage looks to revolutionize the future of television. As the name suggests, this 55” display is transparent with built-in touch screen features. All of the specifics are not yet available but the transparency ranges from 38%-45%. Currently, businesses are the major consumers of this product. In due time, consumer models will be made to the public. My concerns are its durability and reasonable pricing options.

H2OOHO

Posted on by Jake Stevens

Hoping to make the world more environmentally-friendly is a London based start-up company called Skipping Rocks Lab. They are the creators of OOHO; a biodegradable, edible water capsule aiming to reduce consumer plastic bottle usage. It is comprised of brown algae with a seaweed casing. What makes this product unique is if it is not consumed within four to six weeks it biodegrades naturally which is a plus for the environment. Currently, they have only water and sports drink options but they are venturing into alcohol also to target other markets. We will see if OOHO becomes an acceptable worldwide phenomenon like expected.

The One Shoe, Shoe Collection

Posted on by Jake Stevens

https://kulturehub.com/willow-smith-adidas-futurecraft-loop/

Willow Smith is the new poster child for the Adidas green movement. This company is partnering with Parley for the Oceans to create a renewable running shoe made out of plastic. Introducing the Futurecraft Loop. The material used is said to be from plastic that is collected from the oceans. One downside is the absence of traditional glues used in manufacturing so say goodbye to that new shoe smell. Adidas has already pushed for using renewable plastics in the past and in fact, have been looking for more ways to increase these numbers. Look out for these shoes and more to come like it starting the Spring of 2021.

iAirport

Posted on by Jake Stevens

http://koreabizwire.com/incheon-airport-introduces-airstar-passenger-aiding-robot/121298

If navigating through an airport seems like a hassle maybe this robot could be of assistance. LG’s AIRSTAR Robot is a passenger navigation aiding robot used in Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. It has a voice recognition system that understands English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. This robot has a built-in touch pad that allows passengers to maneuver their way around the airport. You can insert your boarding pass and it will display directions on how to get to your boarding area. It is primarily used for check in counters and baggage claim. In the next five years, US International Airports should consider using similar Artificial Intelligence bots to help with their terminals. 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Posted on by Jake Stevens

https://www.electricmirror.com/smart-mirror-savvy/

Savvy is a smart mirror that will transform the way people view their bathroom. It has a built-in touch screen that allows its users to control an array of functions. Whether it is an app you are looking for, the latest news updates, or changing the room temperature, Savvy is the mirror for you. This product is designed especially for the hospitality industry and also for the home. Some of the most popular features are traffic alerts, adjusting the thermostat, and listening to music. Imagine how long it will now take to get ready.

Fusion Lighted Mirror with Savvy app drawer

Sleight of Hand

Posted on by Jake Stevens

https://www.carolinaeyck.com/theremin

Interested in playing an instrument but are not so musically talented? Ever think you could play one without even having to touch it? What if I told you it was first used in 1919? Introducing the theremin. Created by Russian scientist Leon Theremin, this instrument is meant to be played without being touched. Patented in 1927, the theremin found its home producing eerie sound effects for movies and musical composers. Its two major components are comprised of an upright antenna controlling pitch and a metal loop for volume. Together these antennas create an electromagnetic field. To play, the musician stands so that the pitch antenna is to their right and the volume is to their left. The closer your hand is to the upright antenna and metal loop will raise the pitch but lower the volume. Alternatively, moving it further away lowers the pitch and raises the volume respectively. Popular songs that have used the theremin are “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys and “Please Go Home” by the Rolling Stones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KbEnGnymk

Up in Smoke

Posted on by Jake Stevens

An artist makes incredible two-in-one portraits using heat-sensitive ‘invisible’ ink

A Norwegian artist creates an illustration using invisible ink and heat. Dino Tomic uses a unique ink called thermosensitive ink to draw his portraits. The way this works is he first draws a picture using permanent ink. Then he draws another portrait onto of that one with his special ink. Next, he adds a flame to his canvas and the outer sketch disappears. No burns to the paper or anything. The one challenge behind all this is aligning two facials outlines with one another. Without this minute detail, the transition between pictures would not have the same effect. Tomic has sketched an array of people from Marvel Superheroes to Harry Potter to Pop Culture celebrities. Perhaps aspiring artist will use this technique or something similar for upcoming inspiration. Maybe someone will find a different natural element that causes a reaction to their artwork. 

Battle of the Bots

Posted on by Jake Stevens

The robot takeover or revolution as some may call it is near. George Mason University pioneered its food delivery robot through Starship Technologies. This fleet of 25 bots is changing the game for food delivery on this campus. While the time per order has not lived up to the hype it might eventually achieve its original goal. Delivery robots are not only limited to college campuses. Amazon and FedEx have released their own models as well. FedEx’s will not be implemented until this summer. Their creation is partnering with local retailers in Memphis to accomplish same day delivery. According to their data, 60% of retailer consumers live within 3 miles of a store. Lastly, we will discuss one of the leaders in the shipping industry, Amazon. Snohomish County residents are given the luxury as the first to test the new Amazon Scout. These 6 robots will be used to increase the shipping demands for the local Washington state consumers. Maybe robot deliveries are the mode of delivery of the future. But will the trucking industry really be impacted long-term by this?

  • Starship Technologies