Uber pledges to go all electric
Uber, like rival Lyft, has pledged to operate only electric vehicles by 2030. While an admirable pledge, the problem lies in the fact that Uber is fighting states to convince them to rule that their contractors, and those peoples’ cars, are not Uber employees or property. For the company to deliver on their pledge, they will have to hire owners of electric cars. Currently less than 3% of cars sold are electric. Wired
dis-rup-shun: While the automotive world will change drastically in 10 years, will a substantial enough number of drivers own electric cars in a decade, to enable Uber to operate only EVs? Perhaps the rideshare companies are planning a change of strategy in which they will own their fleets and use contract drivers — but this will change the economics of the gig economy industry, making the companies more like, well taxi or bus charter companies.
GM invests in electric truck maker Nikola
GM has developed an innovative battery for electric vehicles. It will have the opportunity to use that technology in electric pickup trucks made by Phoenix-based Nikola, and will also make a fuel cell system. GM announced an 11% ownership stake in Nikola, a sign that GM is moving aggressively to transform its business, making EVs the heart of its future. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: Despite yesterday’s dip in Tesla’s share price, Wall Street has been extremely tough on traditional automakers, valuing them increasing like dinosaurs in waiting. GM is running quickly to avoid the endangered species label and to be perceived as an automaker with a future.
A dress that changes shape based on your mood
Fashiontech — the practice of incorporating technology into fashipn may be an acquired taste. Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht‘s 3D printed fashion dress, called the Pangolin dress, incorporates 1,204 tiny electroencephalography sensors that one wears over the brain, like a hairnet, to sense brand waves. The dress lights up, changes color and moves based on brain activity — reflecting calm and peacefulness or agitation. CNET
dis-rup-shun: It would, at times, be helpful to understand someone else’s mood before engaging in discussions or negotiations. We have all known people whose body language is a good indicator and warning system for their dispositions. Fashiontech could make this much easier on one’s community, or be far too revealing. Don’t expect to see this dress in boutiques in the near future.
Geofence warrants use your smartphone as evidence
What’s a geofence warrant? It is a new legal vehicle being employed by law enforcement. First, after police identify a time and location of a crime, they issue a warrant for location data from a tech company such as Google. Detectives then take anonymous data from the tech company and try to match it to a person. This practice has grown 1500 percent, according to Google, but recently two judges have denied warrants, citing them as clear violations of privacy rights. Wired
dis-rup-shun: The increasing battle between technology and privacy rights is getting more interesting and complex. While using personal data in investigations seems to be a clear violation of privacy, was the same said when DNA evidence first became a part of criminal investigations?