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Facial recognition technology: too risky for prime time

June 12, 2020by sbsikesLeave a Comment

The problem with facial recognition technology

Following IBM’s retreat from the facial recognition business, Amazon has announced that it will defer sales of the technology to police forces for one year, while the deficiencies of the technology are reviewed and potentially rectified. The black and brown communities have been aware of the inaccuracies of the technology for a number of years, as the tech is often used in those communities (housing projects in Brooklyn, for instance). CNET

dis-rup-shun: For those who feel that “the system” has long been biased against them, automating that bias is a reason for despair. The fact that researchers have proven that facial recognition is less accurate on types of people who were not test cases in building the technology, and yet it has still been installed in many public areas, is a small deal for some, and a very large deal for others. Automating law enforcement is a tricky issue, as police have found with body cameras.

Sony unveils the Playstation 5

In a flashy online presentation, Sony unveiled the Playstation 5. The presentation was more about the games that will eventually be available on the console, and less about the device, but the graphics look brilliant. The device comes with a disc drive or without, suggesting that Sony has eliminated some moving parts in an effort to squeeze a little price out of the device. The device is powered by an eight-core AMD Zen 2 processor and available will be a wireless headset with 3D audio support, an HD camera, a special remote (enhanced media player?) and a DualSense charging station to charge controllers. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: This device is cool, and the images are near movie quality. Sony will be bringing back the Grand Turismo car racing game, with much more beautiful car renderings than ever, making this device a lot less expensive than buying a classic sports car.

Is BMR the key to weight loss?

Calculating your basil metabolic rate, essentially your resting calorie burn rate, is the critical measure for weight loss, says this researcher on CNET. A number of calculators are available to compute your BMR and plan exercise and weight loss accordingly.

dis-rup-shun: For those who need to manage their weight closely, exercise and food trackers, such as MyFitnessPal, are critical in the journey. The free version provides most of what you need, and the premium version, aside from not showing ads, provides a number of helpful metrics.

Automation of basic tasks may be next surge in productivity

Basic tasks, performed by people, like reviewing the online files of thousands of applicants for a clinical trial can be easily automated with some basic software. These moves can reduce the time required to perform dozens of tasks, as determined by pharma company, Takeda. Robotic process automation software (RPA) has been available for some time, and does not require AI, but simply runs on commands to perform repetitive tasks. RPA not only increases efficiency, but potentially replaces administrative workers. Wired

dis-rup-shun: Recessions lead to change and increases in efficiency. Our current recession will likely, at a minimum, increase personal efficiencies by keeping many people working at home, potentially forever. Automating ordinary administrative tasks will, on a macro level, perhaps reduce the number of clerical office jobs, but increase the demand for software development and support staff. The labor economy continues, with every recession, to further bifurcate, with higher demand for knowledge workers, and less intelligence needed for repetitive tasks like preparing fast food.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

EU to file antitrust charges against Amazon

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EU to file antitrust charges against Amazon

While the US government (FTC, DOJ) continues its months long investigation of antitrust practices of Big Tech, including Amazon, the European Union moves to file charges against Amazon.com. The charges stem from Amazon’s use of third party seller information to develop its own private label brands. The charges may provide guidance to the U.S. commissions investigating Amazon. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Once again, the European Union regulators act decisively and (relatively) swiftly against U.S. based tech companies. While U.S. regulators continue threats against the same companies that are increasingly driving the tech economy, E.U. regulators are on the offensive, setting precedents for online commerce. Recall that the E.U. acted decisively more than two years ago in implementing the sweeping GDPR standard to protect and enforce data privacy — a move that U.S. regulators are yet to emulate.

GrubHub to merge with European Just Eat Takeway.com

GrubHub’s merger talks with Uber broke down amidst concerns of regulatory resistance, given that two of the three largest food delivery networks were planning to combine. The merger with Europe’s Just Eat Takeaway.com will provide scale, but will be less likely to be perceived as anti-competitive. Just Eat Takeaway.com’s merger with GrubHub will offer a premium over proposed terms of the Uber deal. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Food delivery, like ridesharing, offer significant benefits in convenience to customers, but are built on business models with thin margins. Scale is the only answer to long-term viability, and GrubHub has found a partner to provide the bulk it needs in order to compete in a cutthroat competitive environment. The company hopes it has found the thin line between sufficient scale and anti-competitive size.

Google, Facebook and Microsoft cooperate to end online child sex abuse

There are more than 4.5 billion people online, and content for every possible age and interest. Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter have formed a coalition called the Technology Coalition to provide more resources to detect and prevent the sexual exploitation of children on the internet. Predators have been detected on child-specific sites such as Roblox, and the Technology Coalition wants to make it easier to identify and block bad actors. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Despite the world wide web being around for thirty years or more, it still feels like the early days, in many ways. With ever more innovative devices providing households and all ages with access to content, protecting children is extremely difficult. With children receiving smartphones at young ages, the barriers to adult content and the sharks that swim with it are nearly non-existent. The Technology Coalition has much room to work here, as the parental controls industry seems to have failed to develop effective solutions that offer safety without making managed surfing highly frustrating. Perhaps this is the place for AI to help find that gray area between dangerous and edgy.

Oculus Quest: still the best VR headset

Virtual reality (VR) has come a long way, and Facebook’s Oculus provides the best experience, according to CNET. The experience is simple, requiring few cables, connectors and software drivers. For gaming, new concepts, and alternate worlds, the company is on the leading edge. The dilemma, however, is that the technology does not fit into current reality as a tool or extension of our current daily routines.

dis-rup-shun: What will it take for VR headsets to become a mainstream consumer technology? If VR provided an alternative, and more enjoyable way to perform ordinary tasks, like participate in social media or even check and answer emails, then the technology would become mainstream. For now, VR is the tool for specialists, be it for intense gaming or learning. It will likely be another year or two until VR makers learn how to appeal to the mass tech market.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

Apple splits with Intel

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Apple is leaving Intel

A number of years ago, Apple announced that it would begin using its own processors for some of its Mac models. Today the company has announced that it will be making the transition in 2021. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: This move is significant in that it represents the beginning of the end of Intel’s relationship with a very large customer and it also signals the opportunity for Apple to further differentiate its computer line from the PC world by changing the microprocessor foundation on which the product line is built. By using chips that specialize in graphics, or computations, or in power savings, Apple can differentiate its product line beyond the software which today makes the experience different. Apple, unlike the rest of the computing industry, is becoming more, not less, proprietary. The strategy seems to be working so far!

The new rental economy adjusts to pandemic business

Rental companies, offering furniture, cars and rooms are adjusting to new models and finding success. While Hertz filed for bankruptcy, Turo, the site for car owners to rent out their cars, has found demand from people who are avoiding public transportation. Room renters are finding that many people need some privacy and away time after many months of quarantine-ing. Furniture rental businesses are finding success renting home office furniture and equipment. Wired

dis-rup-shun: Our global economies are clearly reeling from an unprecedented shut down, unlike anything seen before, but the resiliency of creative, enterprising people who have never-before-seen-tools of the Internet and social media, are rising from the ashes. Re-purposing assets and transaction platforms to meet the latest demands, whether they are masks or medicines, is the definition of entrepreneurship and it is rescuing our economies with unexpected haste.

IBM exits the facial recognition business citing racial injustices

IBM’s new CEO, the man who will be responsible for saving the company from gradual irrelevance, has already initiated some changes. Arvind Krishna has called on Congress to take bold action on racial injustice, and has stated that facial recognition technology, with its inherent bias against minorities, is not a technology that IBM can build a business on. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Aligning social responsibility with growth opportunities can be challenging, as the heads of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and now IBM are finding on a regular basis. BigTech, despite its threats to competitiveness, is using its market strength to set new agendas — and more quickly than lawmakers can do. Consider that the new attitudes of corporate America are being set by a new tranche of leaders, many of whom are minorities themselves.

Microsoft rethinks gaming and XBox

Microsoft’s gaming leader, Phil Spencer, makes the point that the most popular forms of media, including Netflix, Kindle books, and Spotify music aren’t confined to a single platform. Games, and the ability to play with anyone on any platform, shouldn’t be locked into a single platform. With cloud gaming playing a larger role in the gaming space, the future of consoles is uncertain, but most likely more open and part of a bigger, cross-device ecosystem. Wired

dis-rup-shun: The examples Spencer uses underscore that successful media properties are rarely, in this time, locked into particular devices. With the intense competition between Apple and Android worlds, app makers have to create great experiences for both ecosystems, but only for two –making apps success across two platforms much easier. In the age of community created online, walls and barriers will be less popular, and cross platform experiences will continue to edge out walled gardens.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

States consider break up of Google’s ad business

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Attorney’s general consider breakup of Google’s ad business

Google’s ad business makes up the majority of its $161 billion in revenues. 50 state attorneys general are concluding that Google’s practice of bundling ad tools, along with its ownership of YouTube and Gmail, are anti-competitive. The Department of Justice is separately investigating Google and may combine its investigation with that of the states. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Like AT&T of old, great efficiencies have been created by the dominant service provider, and only government intervention can disrupt the ad machine created by Google. The U.S. government’s line in the sand is heavily influenced by political winds, and with the large issues of a pandemic, racial injustices and a sputtering economy, will Google escape the dismantling that some have predicted?

Apple adds features that make iPad a PC

Apple has quietly added a number of useful features into the latest iPhones and iPads. Features include better iMessage search, voice search, volume control, optimized battery charging, and more. One significant feature is the ability to pair a Bluetooth mouse to an iPad. CNET

dis-rup-shun: An interesting change has been occurring, with many people abandoning a laptop PC or MacBook as their primary personal computer, and using the ever more powerful iPad as their primary personal computing device. With the addition of a keyboard, this has made basic computer usage pleasant for many, however using spreadsheets and other mouse intensive applications (CAD hobby programs) has remained frustrating. Now, with the ability to use a mouse with an iPad, a full laptop is even less necessary.

Ready for an e-bike?

Cowboy is an e-bike maker that has released its second generation bike that has better gear ratios (making stop start riding in traffic even easier), has a removable battery, and updated software. The control app enables you to unlock the bike as you approach (for quick getaways), provides theft detection technology, and crash detection technology that calls for help if you wreck. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: Electric assisted bikes currently cost over $2000 and are made by only a handful of companies, but expect the technology to become standard across most brands in the their mid- and upper- level models. Prices will fall as the technology becomes widespread, and selection of the bikes will depend, in large part, on the quality of their app in addition to features and craftsmanship.

A guide to the best monitors under $200

CNETreviews a number of leading monitors for under $200. Suggested brands include BenQ, LG, Dell, and the Auzai portable. Except for hard core gaming applications, these models will provide strong additions to a home office and, in some cases, decent built-in speakers. The Auzai portable works well for people in small spaces or who need to move their monitor frequently.

dis-rup-shun: If you haven’t been working with an external monitor, you don’t know what you are missing, as the extra screen space seems to increase productivity and simplify multi-tasking.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

Zoominfo “Covid IPO” a smash

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Zoominfo (not Zoom) skyrockets in IPO

The first tech IPO since the beginning of the coranavirus lockdown soared on Thursday, with an 80% price increase over the opening on day one. The tool uses AI to help companies find contact information for their target markets – an essential tool for sales. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: It was a bold move to test the public markets during times of uncertainty, and especially during a week of tremendous unrest over racial injustices — when many businesses are closed or closing early. The IPO’s success shows, aside from the fact that quality companies are rewarded, that our online/virtual economy is functioning quite well. Businesses that rely on in-person transactions and physical locations are clearly suffering, but our virtual business transactions are carrying on.

Slack and Amazon form alliance

It’s all about scale, and the new alliance increases Slack’s footprint across the entirety of Amazon, while ensuring more business from Slack for Amazon’s Web Services, the cloud engine powering Slack. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Remember Microsoft Azure cloud’s alliance with Fedex to help counter the dominance of Amazon Web Services and growing delivery network? The Amazon empire strikes back as it allies with friend Slack in an effort to beat down Microsoft — both its cloud services (Slack runs on AWS) and its Teams shareware — an existential threat to Slack. There is no earthly power that can beat Microsoft’s advantage of bundling Teams for free into its still very dominant Office suite, but this buys Slack more runway to differentiate and find new business models.

WiFi: the standard that enabled the smart home generation

CNET offers a look back over the past 25 years of tech, and discusses that the barrier to growth of the smart home was a lack of a home wiring standard. That standard arrived in the form of no-wires, with the advent of WiFi and eventual deployment of the standard first by tech savvy consumers buying WiFi antennas, then by telcos building WiFi into home routers.

dis-rup-shun: It is hard to imagine life without WiFi. It has become a commodity only slightly less-important than electricity, and just as expected. Streaming video and cord cutting is causing the de-coupling of Internet services (and WiFi) from the cable and telco, which will only accelerate with 5G providers who will offer fixed-mobile 5G alternatives to wires-to-the-home WiFi. We will all benefit greatly from this new competition.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

Teleportation, time travel and the list of things to come

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CNET’s list of technology visions that haven’t happened

We are awash with utterly amazing technology that we use every day. But what about the ones promised that have yet to occur? CNET’s list includes: hoverboards, Microsoft’s original Surface (a computer that was a table), flying cars, housekeeper robots, food pills, time travel and teleportation are a few of the favorites.

dis-rup-shun: There are generally three reasons that these technologies are not mainstream, and the least of them is technology. Bigger hurdles are competition in a time when the tech giants are so big that reaching scale for, especially, hardware devices is extraordinarily difficult. The lack of good use cases is another hurdle that has caused many advanced products to simply not find their place in our culture. As technology advances allow, many more impractical solutions without a problem will be trotted out in hopes of commercial success and a few will stick.

Ring updates its home security system

The second generation of Ring’s security system is a lot like the first, according to CNET, and according to the same review, it is the best of the inexpensive, DIY security systems on the market. Professional monitoring is $10, and the system can be had for less than $200.

dis-rup-shun: As Amazon owns Ring, we now have a convergence of hit products in an integrated smart home system: Ring’s well-known doorbell plus Amazon’s Alexa come together. Look out SimpliSafe, that’s a lot of brand power to outsell. The vulnerability of Ring’s products has been the unreliability of WiFi in certain parts of many homes, and potentially the WiFi booster in the kit removes that barrier.

SpaceX’s next launch: more satellites

On the heels of the successful Dragon launch of astronauts to the International Space Station on Saturday, SpaceX will launch its next batch of the eventual 12,000 it plans as its Starlink low orbit Internet provider. This batch of 480 satellites includes one with a visor to block the rays of the sun at certain times in orbit in order to prevent reflecting light back to earth, as the shiny train of satellites has forever altered the earthly view of the heavens. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Scenic views, be they vistas of historic and important capitol buildings, or beautiful vantage points of nature, have almost always succumbed to commercial development, and Starlink is one more example. This obstacle, however, is hard to alter once it is airborne as a chain of 12,000 spacecraft, so let’s hope this blackout works so our grandchildren won’t ask what the night sky was really like when filled only with real stars.

A guide to buying a gaming PC

What’s a gaming PC? It is a super-powerful PC (not Mac) with the latest add-on GPU (graphics processor) that will likely cost well over $3000 and can, of course, make a great office PC. It has a number of important gaming peripherals and is often assembled from components, but increasingly can be purchased off the shelf and ready to compete. Wired

dis-rup-shun: With time spent on gaming up at least 10% during quarantine, serious gamers have reason to take another look at their home horsepower. The world has likely changed and some changes, like socializing with your gamer community from inside your home, are unlikely to change post-quarantine. Expect the sales of gaming peripherals, licenses, and accessories to remain robust through this calendar year.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

The internet of bees is saving crops

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BeeHero is providing the Internet of hives

Bees are critical to the pollination of crops, and are dying at an alarming rate due to infestation of damaging mites. To prevent loss of crop production, farmers are calling on bee keepers to set up and tend important hives on and around fields. BeeHero, an Israeli tech firm, has developed an IOT sensor that resides inside the hive to monitor health, activity and stress levels, and transmit the information to bee keepers who can act quickly if problems are detected. Hive management has resulted in 30% to 100% increases in crop yield. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: IOT and agriculture are a good fit. IOT technologies, at least for consumers, have been hampered by difficulties to demonstrate adequate ROIs. Agricultural yields are directly measurable and a great showcase for IOT. More successful demonstrations will inspire new developments and greater contributions to better living through technology.

Google Pixel phones include personal safety features

Google continues to differentiate its phones through personal safety features. Last year it shipped car crash detection features and this year it is providing features that enable a user to have the phone confirm their safety if they are on a run or walk alone. The phone pings the owner on set intervals and requires an “all okay” response and, if none is received, informed one’s contacts of potential danger. TheVerge

dis-rup-shun: Differentiation through software is more important than ever, as smartphone makers struggle to find new hardware features. Keeping people safer and healthier is a strong selling feature, and while Google is going deep into safety, Apple continues to go deep in healthcare.

U.S. Army considers using SpaceX’s Starlink network

Starlink is the chain of, ultimately, 42,000 satellites that SpaceX is launching into low orbit around the earth. The U.S. Army is testing the system as a way to deliver Internet services to hard-to-reach places around the globe. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: Truly global Internet service will be a game changer to communities, to first responders, and to the military. The disastrous situation seen in Lone Survivor is but one example of fatalities that could have been avoided with truly global, high-quality data connectivity.

AirBnB landlords face shakeout as small players sell at losses

Coronavirus quarantine, ending most travel for at least two months, has caused a fire sale among small, independent landlords who are selling properties to big operators. Mom and pop investors and real estate owners, often leveraging debt to purchase rental properties, are shedding debt payment and selling at discounted prices while large investors are consolidating their holdings, picking up bargains. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Technology has not caused this industry shake-out, but has enabled far more people to participate in the modern hotel-ing business — one that appeared low-risk until the pandemic. Real estate is an industry that has traditionally been wrung out every decade or two, so this is just the latest in what is a highly cyclical industry. The individual traveler, however, loses when the diversity of housing options and prices is consolidated into the hands of large operators who control supply and pricing.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

SpaceX crushes it for NASA

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Launch America a multimedia event

The successful launch of NASA’s contracted-to-SpaceX return of astronauts to space from U.S. soil proved a celebratory event. One of the best YouTube compilations is, ironically, from BBC.

dis-rup-shun: Bob and Doug’s excellent adventure is amazing in many ways, including the fact that mankind has the technology to safely deliver humans to a space station that is moving at the speed of 4.76 miles per second (17,136 mph), that the company entrusted to complete this mission, SpaceX, did not exist until 18 years ago, and that the video footage of this event is crystal clear, from many camera angels and narrated as if it is a promotional film for both SpaceX and the U.S.A.

Software bot tracks security flaws for Pentagon

ForAllSecure is a company spun out of Carnegie Mellon University. Its software vulnerability bot, called Mayhem, rapidly analyzes code to spot vulnerabilities that then must be fixed by human coders. The company is enjoying a $45 million contract to spot bugs in systems across the entirety of the U.S. military. Mayhem was born out of a Las Vegas hosted hacking competition sponsored by DARPA, with a $2 million prize. Wired

dis-rup-shun: A perfect application for artificial intelligence is to make AI more intelligent. With essentially all U.S. weapons systems having some software vulnerabilities, Mayhem’s value is, well certainly in the multi-millions of dollars.

Must read guide to 5G terms

5G is here and if you didn’t already know, it is the latest wireless transmission technology that is supposed to drastically increase data (and voice) transmission speeds over the air, create thousands of new jobs as people build new transmission facilities and develop software and service, and transform how we use mobile devices. CNET’s guide to understanding 5G lingo includes DSS, MIMO, small cell, and many others. CNET

dis-rup-shun: 5G is much hyped, and may be all of the things it is claimed to be, or simply may be an upgrade to our existing wireless infrastructure. What is certain, however, is that global governments are claiming that the country with the most 5G technology (providers and users), will gain technology superiority over its neighbors. So the 5G race, like the space race, will be intensely followed by the media.

Robots are replacing wheelchairs

Robotics continue to find important applications and one with great promise is for ambulatory impairments. Robot exoskeletons are providing relief and hope for people who can no longer walk. New examples are being developed by Caltech. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Commercialization of robots for impaired people will occur in only a handful of years, as enabling impaired persons to move around and exercise their bodies will provide any number of health and healthcare cost benefits, aside from the freedom and hope provided to those currently confined to wheelchairs.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home, Uncategorized

An app that powers the kitchen sink

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Finally an app for your kitchen sink

The Kohler Sensate smart kitchen faucet includes built in voice control — powered by your choice of Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant. And of course, there is an app to configure it, control it, and to view water consumption. Just tell Sensate that you want a two cups of water, and hold out the vessel. Power connection under the sink is required. CNET

dis-rup-shun: Smart home is here to stay and gaining traction fast. If you are worried about data security and privacy, you won’t like the fact that your kitchen sink is listening in on every conversation, but resistance is futile, as soon most every appliance and light switch in new homes and upscale hotels will be smart. For $895 to $1100 it should listen to your every command. Your grandchildren will be fascinated to learn that you once had to actually touch the handles on faucets around your home.

Cisco shells out $1 billion for Thousand Eyes

Thousand Eyes is a network health monitoring company providing diagnostic services to high-growth cloud businesses including Microsoft, PayPal, Slack and Lyft. Cisco, feeling left behind from slowing core network equipment growth has shelled out one billion dollars for the growth company, keeping things interesting. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: The John Chambers-era Cisco seemed adept at going where the action was and remaining highly relevant as it powered the growth of the modern Internet. In past years, the company has been less visible, milking many of its cash cows but seemingly less on the front line of innovation. CEO Chuck Robinson is making a smart play that will keep Cisco enjoying the growth of cloud providers.

GE sells lighting brand to Savant

There are few brands as familiar as GE for lightbulbs, and time will tell if Savant, the smart home systems provider that seeks to address a mid-market, somewhere between Crestron on the high-end and Ring on the low-end, will continue to sell under the venerable brand. GE continues to shed assets in order to restore its former high performance, and the transaction allegedly fetched $250 million. CNET

dis-rup-shun: This acquisition is a product strategy head-scratcher. It is akin to Ruth Chris offering Krystal burgers, or Apple selling burner phones. Perhaps the high ticket Savant business wants a low-priced commodity to keep cash flowing faster, or perhaps it will use GE’s smart lighting line to move people up the food chain from a simple smart light bulb to a complete smart home system.

Time to get serious about home WiFi

Google Nest mesh router is a big step up from Google’s WiFi. If you have an unexpectedly larger number of people working from your home, you may be ready to look at upgrading WiFi. CNET discusses the major differences between the new generation Nest mesh router, and the first generation which can be summed up as easy controls through an app, each “pod” is also a Google Assistant smart speaker, with greater overall range and speed.

dis-rup-shun: WiFi is definitely spottier when three or four people are working from home, each hammering on Zoom on and off throughout the day. Now more than ever, a WiFi makeover is in order. If we had only known, the $300 Google Nest WiFi investment would have been an easy investment on quarantine’s eve.

Consumer Electronics, IOT, Smart Home

HBO Max, yet another streaming service

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HBO’s new streaming service, HBO Max, enters the fray

HBO has entered a new option in the streaming wars, but their offering is more complicated. First, it costs $15 per month as opposed to Disney + for $7 and Netflix’s starting price of $9. Secondly, it doesn’t support 4K, nor is it available on the most common streaming devices — Roku and Amazon FireTV, and thirdly, if you already pay for HBO, you may have to pay for HBO Max separately. CNET

dis-rup-shun: The shape of TV continues to change quickly, and with more choices comes confusion. HBO’s entry into the fray will continue to up the ante for great original content, and consumers are the big winners in that battle. Currently, a great deal of cross-over exists among the streamers, with Amazon Prime offering access to HBO programs and STARZ select content for additional fees. The big question is, can the average household cut the cord, consume all it wishes, and still spend less than a pay TV service? For now the answer is yes, but the complicated future may put us on track to spend like we were still on DirecTV or Comcast.

Drones permitted to deliver protective equipment in North Carolina

Commercial drone flights remain heavily regulated by the FAA, but a special project of Zipline and Novant Health permits delivery of masks and front line health worker supplies during the pandemic. Drones are flying as far as 20 miles round trip to deliver packages of masks to health workers in Charlotte, NC. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Drones continue to face challenges of regulations, as interference with aircraft, with utility lines, and with neighborhood associations whose residents don’t want drones buzzing overhead and recording videos through their windows remains formidable. Drone companies are using Covid-19 to gain footholds in industries, and these opportunities will, no doubt, accelerate adoption into commercial activities, and will also likely lead to designated flight lanes and landing platforms.

Tesla cuts EV prices

In the U.S. and China, Tesla will cut prices for its production vehicles as it attempts to jump start both factories as well as demand for its electric vehicles. Production has resumed in its Fremont factory. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Much talk abounds about how the post COVID-19 world will look, and we can be assured that demand for cars will be reduced for at least three years, if not longer. More people have learned that they can work from home, reducing the wear and tear on autos, which should last quite a bit longer if commuting frequencies are reduced. We are likely already in a recession, and most people will defer auto purchases in these uncertain times. This leaves Tesla, and every other car maker, with no other choice than to start a fire sale that will likely last the rest of this year and into next until inventories can be reduced.

Boeing resumes production of its 737 Max

Despite Coronavirus induced airline slowdowns and layoffs of over 700 workers, Boeing is restarting manufacturing of its beleaguered airliner. The company is yet to receive clearance from the FAA to resume flying the aircraft. The Verge

dis-rup-shun: The company must see light at the end of the FAA testing tunnel, else deploying more capital into the program doesn’t make sense. The aircraft, assuming it becomes safe when revamped, is still an ideal configuration for the expected post-pandemic travel world, providing an efficient vehicle to optimize shorter-haul loads with a larger passenger capacity. If the aircraft is approved to resume flying, airlines may rely on it to play a bigger role in post-pandemic schedule restarts.