Several teams from agencies spent Tuesday and Wednesday participating in a “change for good” hackathon. The competition—organized by Huge, Amazon and the international advocacy group Global Citizen—aimed to raise awareness for international issues while also creating a platform for teams to develop ideas on the ground to become real products and services benefiting people around the world.

While ideas submitted included a way to assist Alzheimer’s patients in remembering daily routines, a “smart buoy” to test water quality and an interactive podcast, the winning submission focused on helping women arrive home safely at night. The concept, titled “Walk With Me,” uses Amazon Alexa to create the “first female AI bodyguard.” (The team cites the root word for Alexa, Alexandros, which means “defender of man.”)

Why It’s Hot

This is a platform that can be used to end poverty and hunger, improve health, promote gender equality and gain access to clean water.

Instagram announced Wednesday its plans to increase the time limit for video posts in an effort to pull users from its competitor, YouTube.

Currently, Instagram’s time limit for video posts is one minute, but the plans are to bump that up to 10 minutes. For accounts that get a larger following, like Kim Kardashian, videos will be able to go for a full hour. These could be viewed either through Instagram or the IGTV app.

YouTube is currently the top video app. According to Pew Research Center, 72% of US teens age 13-17 use Instagram vs the 85% that use YouTube.

Why it’s hot:

• Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, will have more opportunity to sell ADVERTISING!
• Facebook is lacking on the younger age demographic and this might help them out.
• Celebrity promoters have more of an opportunity.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/20/instagram-long-form-video-launch-youtube-rival

Co Founder and CEO of Instagram, Kevin Systrom announces new app in San Francisco

Facebook announced they are piloting a program to allow group administrators to start charging $4.99 to $29.99 a month for exclusive membership to their groups. The types of groups that will be involved in the initial testing are parenting, cooking, and home cleaning groups. Facebook will select a few of them to take part in the program.

Group admins have been looking for a way to earn money to deepen engagement with their members. Last year, Facebook helped set up a program to support video creators on their platform, and they believe supporting group administrators will lead to higher quality content overall. Participating consumers will enjoy the exclusivity of membership, but it may drive existing members away. At the moment, Facebook will not receive a cut of the subscription revenue, but that may change as the program advances.

Why it’s Hot:

Facebook will try to replicate the success of platforms like YouTube and Twitch who pay their creators to create good content. But it will be interesting to see if existing members will welcome a fee if their administrators decide to go forward with it.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/20/17484876/facebook-groups-monthly-subscription-service-fees-access

The Embrace sensor-laden wearable was designed to help epileptics monitor seizures. Modeled like a smartwatch, the FDA-approved device analyzes physiological signals to detect seizures. The CDC estimates that 1.2% of the population suffer from epilepsy. Empatica attempts to make living with the condition more manageable, while at the same time, using the study of epilepsy as a stepping stone toward an even bigger, more widespread issue: stress and how to deal with it.

Stress elicits responses in the sympathetic nervous system that can activate sweat glands, often turning your palms clammy. But even if you are not noticeably sweating, the current that runs through activated sweat still changes the surface of the skin, called skin conductance. “And that’s one of the signals we measure that changes with stress,” says Picard (co-founder and chief scientist of Empatica Inc.)

The Embrace by Empatica also monitors other physiological data—pulse, blood physical activity, sleep, and temperature. The device, which pairs via Bluetooth to a smartphone, alerts epileptics (or caregivers) when an attack occurs—or is on the horizon. Additionally, Picard began to use Empatica’s early sensor technology to better understand kids with autism, who, she says, are often misunderstood. “People with autism are often very stressed, and people surrounding them don’t notice it. By reading the skin conductance signal, people could see if the person was inwardly very agitated or inwardly very calm–even if outwardly they looked the same

Finally, one of the Embrace’s top selling points is customization. Empatica relies on machine learning to accumulate data on users’ habits and cycles, thereby improving its forecasting ability. The more data you have from each patient, the better the algorithm gets over time.

“A lot of these disorders are related to managing [daily] complexities in life,” Picard explains, adding, “so what we want to do with the monitoring technology is help people navigate better choices for their behavior . . . The idea is that you can sort of intervene and learn and change things over time.” Solutions can be achieved with sleep and breathing changes, counseling, or by adjusting diet, workload, physical activity, or “some complex mix of some or all these”.

Ultimately, the goal of Empatica is to further data analytics, specifically predictive analytics. The idea is that with enough information, the devices can suggest what people should do next to prevent panic attacks and other stress reactions. The company has launched another smartwatch sensor, called E4, just for scientific research (and not for sale).

Why it’s hot: Monitoring stress and its effect on mental health will only become more important int he future and I think this wearable tech is taking a step in the right direction at helping consumers understand their own mental states and help them be more mindful.

Source: FastCo

Article here via Futurism…

“A new paper published in Nature suggests that feeding electronic health record data to a deep learning model could substantially improve the accuracy of projected outcomes. In trials using data from two U.S. hospitals, researchers were able to show that these algorithms could predict a patient’s length of stay and time of discharge, but also the time of death.

The neural network described in the study uses an immense amount of data, such as a patient’s vitals and medical history, to make its predictions. A new algorithm lines up previous events of each patient’s records into a timeline, which allowed the deep learning model to pinpoint future outcomes, including time of death. The neural network even includes handwritten notes, comments, and scribbles on old charts to make its predictions. And all of these calculations in record time, of course.”

Why It’s Hot

What if we could use this technology to help drive patient identification (a key goal across GSK respiratory)? By syncing with EHR’s, HCPs would be able to identify the frequent exacerbators, pinpoint when their next exerbation may be and take preventative steps to avoid potentially deadly COPD or Severe Asthma exacerbations.

Amazon is introducing an alternative method of getting packages to your door. As pictured above, these Hubs are large metal locker units in a common area of an apartment complex in which people can pick up their packages 24 hours a day. Amazon Hub also notifies you when a package has arrived, and they access their package with their own code at their convenience, and can grant permission to property staff to handle common delivery tasks such as signing for packages (not just from Amazon).

Amazon Hub is being targeting at real estate companies- they already have signed major property manager such as AvalonBay, J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Equity Residential.

Why It’s Hot:

A cnbc article about Hub says: “It’s another hint that Amazon is eyeing a broader logistics play and the first time the company has ventured beyond its own transactions and shipments.” This is significant, specifically for MRM because it’s in direct competition to our USPS account, seeking to be a last-step delivery option for FedEx, UPS, and private mail.

AMC, the largest theater chain in America, has announced it will now offer a subscription service that lets moviegoers watch up to 3 movies a week for a monthly charge of $19.95.

Called AMC Stubs A-List, the subscription will function as a branch of AMC’s loyalty program, starting June 26. According to the AMC press release, the online and smartphone-based subscription will allow members to watch multiple movies a day and let you see movies more than once. Plus, you get discounts at the concession stand, there are no online ticketing fees, and you can make reservations in advance.

AMC temporarily blocked MoviePass access to big city theaters earlier this year. On Wednesday, MoviePass responded on Twitter.

Why It’s Hot

…it’s not looking good for MoviePass. Even at a higher price, AMC has the largest market share of all theaters. Unless MoviePass has large enough following, loyalty AND capital to open their own theaters; it’s going to be challenging to scale up to AMC.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/movies/amc-subscription-service-moviepass.html

Recently launched in the UK and announced at Cannes Lions, the NewsIQ tool by News Corp can target readers based on their emotions and opinions. It expands beyond simple click metrics and seeks to drive engagement metrics such as time spent engaging with an ad. The tool lets advertisers use first-party reader data, such as consumption habits and favorite news topics, to plan, optimize, and measure campaigns.

Why It’s Hot:

Research shows that readers who are emotionally stimulated by news stories are 45% more likely to subsequently watch a video ad and 32% more likely to watch the entire video than users who completed a non-emotional story. It also has become increasingly crucial for publishers to rely on advertisers and brands to monetize content. Personalization may be the solution to getting readers more engaged with brands and reviving the publishing business.

The Hub, Amazon’s new delivery locker for apartments, is now being offered to building management companies around the country. Last July, Amazon launched the program, which places a large metal locker unit in a common area of an apartment complex where people can pick up their packages 24 hours a day. Now (as of this past Tuesday) Amazon officially announced that over 500,000 residents across the country who live in buildings managed or owned by AvalonBay, Fairfield Residential, Pinnacle, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, WinnResidential and Equity Residential, already have access to the Hub, and thousands more are getting access each month.

How it works:

• A delivery is sent to shoppers’ usual address.
• Upon delivery to the Hub, the intended recipient gets a code sent via email or text.
• They then enter the code into the machine, and a door pops open to reveal the package.

While this might sound similar to the Amazon Lockers delivery storage that was launched back in 2011 at public pickup stations including grocery stores, gyms and convenience stores, the Hub, unlike the Amazon lockers, hold packages from any sender.

Why it’s hot:
Some of the biggest complaints that companies like USPS face, is that customers will stay home from work all day waiting for a package and in some cases, they still do not even get it. This issue is also a pain point for the sender, as they often have to resend a package that has been lost or stolen. Amazon is tapping into a massive market by offering the Hub as a solution for both the online shopper and the sender. Further, building owners also benefit, as the device could be useful for keeping hallways and package rooms relatively clear – in other words, who wouldn’t want this?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hub-receives-packages-at-apartments-2018-6

The brand, Everybody.World, has a staple product called the “Trash Tee,” a 100 percent recycled cotton T-shirt, made from meticulously processed waste fibers.

They shot new footage on vintage Kodak film, so it would match with 14-year-old stock footage. And for the voiceover, they spliced together snippets of PSAs from the 1950s.

“So, we invented a new fabric for our T-shirts that’s made from 100 percent recycled cotton, which means that we can use the waste that other companies disregard,” it continues. “We can use what others find useless to create something useful for us and less stressful for the environment. Because if we don’t care enough to change the way it’s done, who will?”

Why it’s Hot

This company is taking the old adage – the medium is the message – to a new level. The idea of the, not just the product being recycled, but the ad itself provides a whole new ad trend and, of course, reinforces a worthwhile message. 

Developer Diana A Smith has been working on using only code and style sheets to create digital artwork. Each element is coded separately to make up the composite image.

Smith created this with the Chrome browser in mind. When opened in older browsers however, the image can become distorted. Examples below:

Why It’s Hot: Users are frequently reminded to update the browsers, but it is often unclear why it matters and what the difference will be. On the other hand, it’s helpful to think about how we are designing experience for users who may be using different browsers, older computers, etc rather than designing for the newest, crispest, and fastest devices.

Source

We all know that in the near future humanity will come to a crossroads. With 99% of the world’s population currently tasked with creating memes and/or dank memes, what will happen when computers get better at it than humans? Researchers may have just found out.

Using machine learning, a pair of Stanford researchers, Abel L. Peirson V and E. Meltem Tolunay, have created a system that automatically generates memes including the ones visible above. Their system, they’ve discovered “produces original memes that cannot on the whole be differentiated from real ones.”

The system uses a pre-trained Inception-v3 network using the long short-term memory model to produce captions that are applicable to a particular picture. Humans then assess the humor of the meme, rewarding the system for true LOLs.

The researchers trained the network with “400.000 image, label and caption triplets with 2600 unique image-label pairs” including funny memes generated by actual humans. The system then recreates memes in a similar vein.

Why it’s hot:

The headline uses the word “dank.” And the application of machine learning is taking a turn into culture town.

One of the great things about Uber Pool is that it offers people who have had a few too many drinks on a Saturday night a safe and cheap alternative to driving home drunk. On the other hand, a sober ride sharer has to deal with a belligerent passenger who can create an uncomfortable situation for everyone.

Enter Uber’s plan to detect drunken behavior before users get into a Pool. They have applied for a patent for a keystroke system that tracks how a user normally uses the Uber app through AI; how often they make typos, how precisely they click on buttons, how often they drop their phone, their normal walking speed, etc. The algorithm will track changes in these factors along with where and when the ride was requested which then may result in notifying the driver that the passenger may have been drinking. Depending on their level of intoxication, they may be prevented from joining a Pool or could match with drivers trained to handle people in this state.

Why it’s Hot: There’s two obvious issues that could result. 1.) This technology will motivate drivers who don’t want their car ruined to decline drunk passengers, possibly resulting in people driving home drunk instead. 2.) Another, more disturbing possibility, are drivers who would use this information as a draw rather than a deterrent. A common theme in many of Uber driver’s past assault cases have been the passengers level of inebriation. This feature could essentially allow drivers to scan neighborhoods for passengers in a drunken state for this exact purpose.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/8/17441554/uber-drunk-passenger-ai

Uber has drawn up a plan for AI that detects a user’s drunken behavior to accommodate them before they get into the backseat. The system, described by members of Uber’s Trust & Safety team in 2016 and published yesterday, tracks how someone typically uses Uber’s app: how quickly they type (and with how many typos), how precisely they click on buttons, their walking speed, and the way their phone is typically held or dropped on any given day.

Someone who hails a car to get home after hitting the bars probably won’t be the best at typing out their home address or walking too quickly (if at all). Factors like these are plugged into Uber’s planned algorithm, along with details about when and where the ride was requested. A late-night Uber call or one that’s from an area loaded with bars, would tip the system off about a rider’s sobriety differently than a daytime call from the suburbs.

Why It’s Hot 

Although this could enhance the rider experience for those who carpool, and arm the drivers with information on the rider’s state before they get in the car, there are also some clear issues. It could deter drivers from picking up passengers, perhaps forcing them to drive, or could act as a draw for assault. It will be interesting to see how this unravels; it appears it could cause more issues than it could mitigate..

https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/8/17441554/uber-drunk-passenger-ai

So Twitter is definitely going to make an edit button because Kim Kardashian corned Jack Dorsey at some party and made a case for one.

So that means it’s definitely happening. Probably

I had a very good convo with @jack this weekend at Kanye’s bday and I think he really heard me out on the edit button.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2018

This is actually the second time Kim K has brought this up to Twitter’s CEO. The last time was in 2015.

I just emailed Twitter to see if they can add an edit feature so that when u misspell something u don't have to delete & repost Let's see…

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 25, 2015

So what’s different now? Well, probably not much. But Twitter would certainly love a quick win given how often they’ve been hammered in the press for how they handle banning abusive users, cleaning out phony bot accounts, and handing out verification check marks.

Maybe an edit button will be some easy positive press.

There’s also the power of Kim K. If she doesn’t get the edit button she wants, maybe she just tweets something negative about Twitter, delete her account, and tank their stock. Kim’s sister Kendall Jenner did it to Snapchat already!

Why it’s hot

Personally, I don’t want an edit button, but I think I am in the minority and people would rather have it than not. Threading tweets makes it possible to add context to amend previous tweets, but to be able to go back and change things you’ve tweeted could cause a lot of problems trying to hold powerful people responsible for their posts (ahem, Donald Trump). Perhaps the edit ability expires after 5 minutes or something like that. Could be a good compromise.

VR has been used on patients in medical settings before, from distracting nervous patients at the dentist to helping patients combat phantom pains. But now graduate students in France are working on bringing VR into a new territory: the emergency room.

Students at St. Joseph’s Hospital have designed an immersive VR program that has two goals: 1) to help patients calm down in the stressful setting, and 2) to help increase the patients’ pain tolerance without any drugs. It’s a simple implementation – basically the patient simply straps on a VR headset, and is transported via auditory and visual stimuli to a Zen garden or a tranquil forest setting.

The VR experiences help calm patients down just by nature of being calming settings, but the really interesting part is relating to the pain tolerance response. Patients exhibit increased pain tolerance because of several affects of the VR experience. Distraction is important, because the patient is less aware of what’s happening to their body when their focus is successfully held elsewhere. But also significant is the way the VR actually helps trigger changes in the patient’s brain and nervous system, which can slowly be reprogrammed to give the patient a lesser response to the pain. This neural reprogramming has already been studied and implemented for treatment of chronic pain and illnesses, and now the work of these French grad students is exploring the potential for VR as a tool in acute, immediate situations as well.

Why It’s Hot: An innovative new approach to pain management that has zero side effects -especially promising given the increasing dangers of addiction with many pain medications currently being used (and overused) in hospitals today.

Learn More: Engadget

It’s no news that newspapers have been on the downtick for years. But despite the uptick in news consumption in America, largely thanks to the Trump bump, the newspaper industry’s survival remains in jeopardy, according to the Pew Research Center’s newly-released newspaper fact sheet for 2017. (SOURCE: Axiom)