Innovation Inspiration Solutions

Wearables and the Worker

May 1, 2015 2 Comments Rick Makerson read

Earlier this year I wrote about wearable devices and the various devices I have worn over the years, ending with my decision to purchase the Apple Watch. With this post I wanted to take the time to highlight how wearables could make the enterprise workplace better; more productive, safer and smarter. With computing devices getting ever smaller, faster and providing more data; wearable devices will provide a unique opportunity to make work easier for some.

Enterprises are already looking for appropriate use cases within their business that can take advantage of wearable devices.

Advances in consumer mobile devices, the availability of next-generation ruggedized enterprise devices and the possibility of wearables are providing an array of benefits from notifications/alerts, health tracking etc. Now that smart phones are here to stay, the gap between enterprise ruggedized devices and consumer devices is narrowing. So much so that the same next generation devices used in industries can run the same applications that millions of us enjoy on our personal phones. With such a parody of technology it should be an easy transition for wearables to become common in the workplace.

I wanted to explore a few areas where efficiencies could be gained:

Labor

In the Warehouse workers could use wearables to track the steps and position in a facility while performing task. This could provide useful pattern data that could be analyzed for more efficiently planning and delegation of task. Think UPS no left turns for workers performing task.

Retail

Store associates could be notified of pending Buy Online Pick-up In-Store (BOPIS) orders, remove a task from the queue and mark it complete from a wearable watch device. Also, store associates could be notified of customers waiting to be helped in areas that require associate interaction to complete a purchase. Blinds, Carpet, Appliances, etc

Health

Accident Prevention and worker safety is a serious concern for some companies. Here are some statics from OSHA:

4,585 workers were killed on the job in 2013
Out of 828 construction deaths:
- 302 resulted from Falls
- 84 – Stuck by Object
- 71 Electrocutions
- 21 – Caught-in/between

I do not have a practical analogy but what I think would be interesting is a wearable that provided a ‘spidey sense’ haptic feedback to warn of potential dangers. Kinetic is working on a cool wearable to reduce the injuries caused by workers lifting heavy objects.

How can wearables improve quality of life? The Microsoft Band already detects stress and there are rumors that the Apple Watch could detect glucose levels. A company with an aging workforce or a workforce tied to products known to lead to health problems could leverage wearables to provide feedback and education to make workforce health a priority. Being able to detect stress, anxiety, overwork, irregular breathing or heart problems could provide timely alerts and/or notifications that suggest a resolving action/behavior.

Rising healthcare costs are a real problem for large organizations and our nation as a whole. There are some of us that wake up every morning and live life like tomorrow is not promised. But there are some that care about what they eat, how active they are and overall longevity of life. For those people tracking their fitness and body composition, providing additional data points allows for healthcare premium rates. For those that need improvement, the same data can be used to provide a plan and show potential savings. Think Progressive Snapshot for healthcare insurance.

Contextual Awareness

With a combination of natural disasters and violent episodes happening in schools, responding to random tragedies is a job requirement. Office safety is sometimes over looked and not taken seriously even when training or information is being disseminated. Having a discrete way to notify administrators of a possible dangerous situation or knowing how to account for (and potentially communicate with) victims after a disaster could be improved upon with the use of wearable devices.

In retail, possibilities include a contextual based watch face that knows where I am in the store and provides only the data that I need (current sales information, recalls, what items are out of stock). Even clienteling applications that provide store associates with customer data could provide valuable insight when making purchases.

Another interesting development is exoskeletons. Although, they are not what you typically think of when discussing wearables. I find them extremely interesting and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Mobile Technology

2016 Presidential Race to Mobile Technology

April 24, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

The 2016 presidential campaign is well under way now that Hillary Clinton and Senators Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio have all announced their candidacy. Even though there’s 500+ days until the election, news coverage is already a bit ridiculous (cue Hillary Clinton at Chipotle news cycle).

We are still pretty early in the election cycle so exact details on each of the candidates’ platforms are still minimal – especially since it’s expected that about 20 more candidates will jump into the race. This includes your Donald Trumps and Waka Flocka Flames. Jokes aside, I am a co-founder in a mobile consulting firm, so I’m naturally curious to see which candidates are going to leverage mobile technology in their run for our highest office.

It seems like each election brings another innovation or piece of technology that candidates can use to reach the American people. We’ve gone from radio, to television, to internet and most recently social media. These have been platforms that candidates have leveraged to set themselves apart. Now that Grandma is on Instagram, being clever on social media or having a “social media” strategy is par for the course.

Considering that presidential campaigns raise (and spend) more than a billion dollars in less than two years, they seem more like Silicon Valley start-ups. Given the amount of resources and visibility that candidates have, I wonder if there is more in mobile that campaigns could be doing to gain that slim advantage.

Let’s first take inventory of what the current candidates are up to:

Random Tips

What’s coding got to do with it?

April 15, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

With everything in our daily lives becoming more technical how important is knowing how to code? Grandma can FaceTime, my washing machine can send me text messages and Xbox only needs my voice for control. Should I take the time to understand what coding’s got to do with it?

Why not?!

If you’re the parent of a young kid, now is the perfect time to introduce programming and computational thinking. If you are able to help out and follow along, you may learn something too. If you’re looking to become more technical in your career, then there is no excuse to not learn coding as long as you have access to a computer.

I am asked quite often about how someone could become more technical, from people including family members, mothers and fathers, and from those just curious about learning the ins and outs of programming. Since I’m blogging, I figured I would write a post that I could refer to instead of having the same conversations over and over again.

For kids under the age of 15 there are some neat resources available online:

Code.org – Materials are available for students and educators. For students, there is a Code Studio, local classes and other online courses.
Crunchzilla.com – Has some interactive tutorials where kids and adults can play with code, experiment, build and learn.
Tynker.com – Tynker.com has a lot of guided, self-paced assignments that allow kids to build games and projects.

There are also different Makers and Robotics kits that provide an alternative to only interacting with a computer screen. Even Lego provides the ability to do some programming with their Mindstorms kits.

For those interested in technical careers or new challenges:

I have met quite a few people looking to make a career change— sometimes even because they needed a new challenge in life. The transition from a non-technical role/career to one that is very technical can seem like a daunting task for some people. However, even though it’s not easy, it can be done. There are a ton of success/failure stories online to learn from. Entire companies specialize in this type of transition. For the cavalier amongst us, there are free online resources that can be used to build your skills up.

The first step is to spend some time figuring out which technology you want to learn. My default suggestion usually is HTML/Web. There are a ton of examples and tutorials online. HTML runs on desktops, mobile devices and locally on computers. It is a very lower barrier to entry and something that does not require a huge investment (e.g. You can only program for iOS on an Apple Mac computer, which will set you back at least $1,000).

Some available options for those looking to learn how to code or for a career change.

The options listed here are really just the tip of the iceberg. There is currently an overwhelming array of choices (each with their own pros and cons) available for the interested learner. My advice would be to try a few and stick with what resonates with you.

The great thing about technology is that it is a great equalizer. You do not need a PhD or Master’s in Computation to have a rewarding career. The technology community is very helpful and filled with people that do not mind lending a helping hand. You just have to want it.

Hardware Random Tips Solutions

TV Subscription Services

April 3, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

For many, the term “cutting the cord” has become synonymous with “sticking it” to the Cable TV overlords. For some, cutting the cord is the fulfillment of a new year’s resolution to watch less TV. For these rare people in the world, cutting the cord helps them feel more intelligent. For others, by reminding everyone that, “I have not seen that television show,” you are implying that cable TV is beneath you.

Cutting the cord during the last few years did not leave you with great options if you still wanted to be entertained with new content on a nightly basis.

The previous options for cord cutters revolved around physical devices and streaming services. You needed a physical device such as a Smart TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, etc. In addition to the device, you needed access to a service to watch content such as Netflix, Hulu, Plex, Youtube, etc.

A digital antennae is also a must for local news and live broadcast television. Without a set of digital rabbit ears, how could you watch the local news in the event of a snow day or witness the zombie apocalypse as it unfolds?

After watching Iron Man 3 for the 42nd time you start to realize that these streaming services are not “really” designed to replace regular television.

I have been asked the following questions about the practical usability of streaming services:

What if I want to flip through channels and mindlessly surf TV until I catch a cramp in my thumb?
What if Netflix had an automatic shuffle feature so that I could just watch 6 hours of sitcoms based on my viewing habits?
What happens if there is a power outage and I lose internet? I lose the ability to stream, right?

All of these are valid concerns and some apps have tried to address the inherit challenges of using services like Netflix as a primary source of entertainment, e.g. Netflix Roulette.
That being said—this is the year (or at least should be) consumers will have TV subscription services that are true cable tv replacements. If you follow tech news, then you know that Apple has been negotiating for years with cable companies to bring a better TV experience to the masses (with little to no luck). There have been small apps like HBOGO and FoxNOW, but not an offering that could be a true replacement.

Apple is currently working on releasing new Apple TV hardware, but they are also preparing a service that will be available later this year. If you are a fan of HBO, they recently rolled out a standalone service called HBO NOW. I am really excited about what the folks at Dish Network have released—their Sling TV service.

Sling TV, a $20-a-month service for cord-cutters has made a welcomed debut earlier this year. There are a number of additional packages that you can add, ranging from $5—$15 per month. In Sling TV’s basic package there are familiar channels such as ESPN, HGTV, CNN, TBS, A&E, TNT, Food Network, History Channel and others.

Although, I am excited for subscription services to finally be available, I suspect there will be a race to the bottom—all of the big names in cable TV, i.e. Comcast, Time Warner, etc. will probably offer similar services at a slightly lower price point. Companies will continue to offer lower prices to gain or retain market share as prices continue to “race to the bottom.”

Innovation Inspiration

Virtual Reality, Not just a Hobby

March 26, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

When I was 12 years old, Virtual Reality was this mind-bending technology and experience that I just had to try. Reading articles about VR and seeing its applications in movies only spurred my curiosity. Through the eyes of a 12 year old, VR seemed like a life-changing experience. However, my only outlet to experience VR was a first person shooter game at a Dave & Busters. Eventually, after spending way too much money on said experience, I was left unimpressed and have not paid much attention to VR again, until now.

VR has been around for quite some time. Some of the first uses of the term virtual/artificial reality can be traced back to the 1970s. MIT created the Aspen Movie Map in 1977, which was a virtual simulation of Aspen, Colorado. The “goggles and gloves” systems that pioneered the systems we have today were created in the late ’80s by VPL Research.

Ok, enough with the history lesson. The issue today is why VR is not just a hobby or research project but has actually been adapted in various ways in order to have a more tangible impact:

VR systems over the years have become extremely powerful and sophisticated. Especially for institutions and enterprises that need to train a workforce to master a task that has inherit risk and/or expense. Some of our biggest institutions are leveraging VR to re-invent how we perform a task.

Medicine: VR combined with remote surgery can allow doctors to perform surgery anywhere while simultaneously being present in the same room.
Training: VR is being used to make certain training scenarios safer, affordable and scalable, e.g. flying an airplane, battlefield training, vehicle simulation, dealing with emergency/hazardous conditions.

My interest in virtual reality has been piqued by the VR renaissance in the consumer space. Sega and Nintendo tried to trick us with some expensive and crappy systems in the ‘90s. Now—thanks to the efforts from Oculus—people are starting to rethink how VR can be leveraged in the consumer space again. (Not to mention that Facebook’s $2 Billion [with a ‘B’] acquisition of Oculus sent a clear message to other tech giants about who thinks VR is back.)

Even as a developer, there are really affordable kits that allow you to start creating your own VR experiences.

Oculus Rift Development Kit ($350) https://www.oculus.com/order/
Gear VR Innovator Edition ($200) http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/wearable-tech/SM-R320NPWSXAR
Cardboard SDK https://developers.google.com/cardboard/overview

Entertainment is where, I believe, we will see the most VR-related augmentation. Sony and Microsoft are both working on projects related to VR and Augmented Reality (AR) that will surely leverage their console gaming platforms.

Google and Samsung are leveraging their mobile devices to provide VR experiences; today is the day that you can strap a pair of googles on a toddler as a babysitter.

So, for us everyday consumers, VR is back and this time around it will be more affordable, immersive and widespread than ever before.

That being said, I’m not sure if I can get over how ridiculous people look when wearing VR headsets in public:

Hardware Random Tips

What Time is It!?!

March 23, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

It finally happened…the wearable watch is the “new thing”—not just for early adopters.

This year will either make or break public perception of wearables as a watch. With the Apple Watch soon to hit stores, there are viable options for almost every consumer (some people will never be satisfied).

I have been ahead of the trend for about 2 years now, sporting a Samsung Gear 2, which proved difficult because my primary device is an iPhone. Let’s face it, I’m an Apple junkie and will never depart from my iPhone; however, I did have a Galaxy S5 to pair with the watch just to test out the compatibility.

My Fitbit Force was great for counting my steps, tracking my sleep and playing to my competitive nature by providing a leaderboard of active friends that I could always monitor. As part of our fitness challenge at BlueFletch almost two years ago, most of the company purchased a Fitbit. I always made my target goal but my team was ultimately crushed by our competition.

So, being a self-professed tech snob, I’m ready for a fresh device to play with and share my thoughts with anyone that will listen.

Now that the Apple Watch has arrived, all of the big players in the mobile space will have a watch wearable offering. Here are a few of the heavy hitters.

Google released the Android Wear Operating System (OS) last year. There are a number of companies that have released Android Wear devices, including Motorola, Samsung, LG, ASUS, etc. At the time, I did not want another Android-specific wearable, but with Google hinting at supporting iOS devices I could be persuaded.

Microsoft Band was released last year as well. The biggest feature that caught my eye the band’s ability to support the big three mobile OSs’ (Android, iOS, Microsoft). I had a chance to get a live demo from a Microsoft employee and I was surprised by all the functionality they were able to pack into the device’s form factor.

The next watch wearable I sport will be the Apple Watch. It seems like a natural progression from the FibFit Force and Samsung Gear 2. There are a plenty of built-in applications to be excited about, including: Apple Pay, Wifi & Bluetooth Support, Messages, Phone, Navigation, Activity Tracker, etc.

But I am most excited about the Third Party applications that will be available. Although the BMW and Telsa Apple Watch apps look cool and want to replace your key fob. I would need more than 18 hours of battery life if I am going to leave the house without my key.

Innovation Inspiration Random Tips

SXSW

March 17, 2015 1 Comment Rick Makerson read

South by Southwest Festival is this week in Austin, TX. Although I have too much work to attend this year, there are a number of confirmed sessions for SXSW Interactive that I would definitely attend if I was present.

There are a number of interesting technology topics and demonstrations ranging from security/privacy, drones, virtual reality and bionics. The year for me is starting off with enterprise companies embracing mobile UX/UI and a willingness to entertain usability suggestions. Below are a few sessions that I would definitely attend in the hopes of finding the next tidbit that will help me continue to deliver innovation solutions for other companies.

Interesting Topics

Hardware Inspiration Random Tips

2015 IOT Purchases So Far

February 25, 2015 2 Comments Rick Makerson read

Last year, I made my first official Internet of Things purchase when I bought a couple of Nest thermostats, which do a great job of keeping my energy bills low in an 85-year-old house. I also purchased a few WeMo light switches from Belkin and I love the new flexibility I have for my outdoor lights. I am looking to add to my IOT stable in 2015. Unfortunately, I will have to wait until some undetermined time to get (via pre-order) everything that I want to have today.

Amazon Echo

This is probably one of the more nonessential items on my list but it seems like it has a ton of potential. The Amazon Echo is essentially a physical device that is always on and is controlled by your voice. Ask it questions, play music, add items to a to-do list, etc. Since the device is powered by Amazon’s cloud service, the Echo is always getting smarter as Amazon adds new functionality.

Lockitron Bolt

To keep things simple, this bolt it is a smart door lock. I can unlock my door from anywhere and I can create temporary keys for house guests. I am not sure how much of an impact a smart lock will have in my life but the convenience factor is enough for me to spend $99.

LUNA

This purchase is the one I am actually the most excited about. (Probably because it’s February in Georgia and it will be 30 degrees tonight.) The LUNA smart mattress is billed as “the world’s first mattress cover that intelligently warms your bed, tracks sleep, and makes your bed smart.”

I was sold at automatic bed warming and Nest integration.

Hardware Random Tips

Why is Microsoft investing in Android?!?

February 25, 2015 1 Comment Rick Makerson read

Over the past several weeks I been stunned by some of the news about Microsoft. For all the flack that Microsoft takes about its OS, Mobile OS or devices, the company knows how to make a dollar.

Microsoft makes much more money from Android than its own Window Mobile platform. For every Android smartphone or tablet, Microsoft is receiving $5-$15 from the sell of that individual device. They likely generate at least $2 billion per year from Android.

So the following stories had me scratching my head.

January 29, 2015: Microsoft is investing in Android Startup Cyanogen
February 9, 2015: Microsoft, Samsung settle contract dispute over Android patent payments
February 13, 2015: Samsung is preloading the Galaxy S6 with Microsoft Apps

My initial thoughts after reading each article:

Microsoft is trying to body snatch Android away from Google.
If I was Samsung, I would be tired of paying Microsoft’s ransom too.
Ohhh, that is why Microsoft settled. I wonder if Satya Nadella is playing chess somewhere with Android vs. Microsoft themed chess pieces.

Microsoft is definitely big enough and has enough talent to make some serious noise in the Android world, but why not just focus on Windows Phone?What are your thoughts? Reach me on twitter @MakeOne. #WinDroid

Innovation Inspiration Random Tips

Electric Car – Thoughts

February 23, 2015 Comments Off Rick Makerson read

A friend of mine recently asked for my thoughts about electric cars: which one would I purchase? As a car guy at heart, I am constantly reading news about current cars and new companies looking to have the “next big thing.”

I am not in the market currently, but if I was to purchase an electric car, here are my thoughts:

What’s Your Range?

This is important because some people just do not do well with stress and lack of range could cause said person to spontaneously combust. I recently moved to Midtown Atlanta, Georgia; I work out of Midtown as well. On a quiet day, I probably drive all of 4-6 miles. On the weekends— even if I plan a day full of errands—I am probably not driving more than 60-70 miles.

No Compliance Cars

Compliance cars are a battery-electric vehicleS sold only to keep an automaker in compliance with California’s zero-emission vehicle rules.

As of right now, I would not consider purchasing the following cars:

Honda Fit EV
Fiat 500e
Toyota RAV4
Ford Focus Electric
Chevrolet Spark EV

I’m not saying that anything is wrong with the cars above, but they were developed only to meet a state’s regulation. The design, technology and passion that were a part of the car’s creation are not appealing to me.

What Features are Important?

This is not a complicated question, but think about what features in a car are most important to you. Also, think about what you would be willing to sacrifice if budget became an issue.

Do you need navigation?
Heated seats?
A mobile application so that you can monitor your car from halfway around the world?

Electric cars tend to cost more mostly because of batteries and the technology that supports the electric architecture. So, knowing what you can live without may make the final difference in price.

Contenders:

Chevrolet Volt (MSRP $34k): This is an all around solid car. For my needs I would rarely need to purchase gas and I could still drive this out of town if zombies ran us out of Midtown. Chevy put a lot of passion into this car and proved that Chevy could produce something innovative (and tangible). I dig its story and the fact that most of the auto journalists I respect have positive feedback about this car.

Nissan Leaf (MSRP $29k – $35k): This is almost a no-brainer for those who want an all-electric car but cannot afford a Tesla. Nissan has sold a ton of these cars and given federal and state tax credits, purchasing a Leaf is very affordable.

BMW i3 (MSRP $42k – $46k): I am a BMW guy at the core of my soul. I have been driving some form of the BMW inline 6 for the last decade plus. Although the i3 is not a great looker, it drives like a BMW and you are surrounded by all of the creature comforts that make a BMW special. Also, BMW has a loaner program through which you can checkout an X5 for the weekend when you need to drive out of town for those family visits.

Tesla Model S ($70k – $104k): I am really excited for Telsa and I love the Model S. Although it is pricey, it’s the most capable electric car you can purchase. As a tech and car guy, I have enjoyed watching Tesla grow and prove the car industry pundits wrong. The fact that they are constantly improving the car with over the air (OTA) updates and even creating an upgrade package for the out-of-production roadster is a testament to how committed Tesla is to creating wonderful products.

Since Tesla released the Model S with the autopilot feature, I feel like a Model S is worth every penny. If I am not willing to spend all of those pennies, then the BMW i3 would be my next choice.

Jack of All Syntax