World Economic Forum top stories of the week for August 26, 2022 include: 0.15 Google’s Robot has thought itself how to follow your command 02.12 Video Voyage into Deep Space 03:22 Ants do a better job at protecting crops than pesticides 04:52 Drought has revealed several long lost relics to the world
Tag Archives: Technology
Technology: The Rise Of Touchscreens In Cars
Most cars now have touch screens in the middle of the dashboard. Some tech heavy cars – such as those by companies like Tesla and Rivian – rely nearly entirely on them. They’re also cheaper to make and maintain. But some people hate them. They say they are less safe, confusing, unnecessary, and take longer than a simple button or switch.
But touch screens in cars aren’t going away. Some innovations, such as those by suppliers such as Harman and Continental, may blend some of the best of the old with entirely new possibilities, while managing risks.
World Economic Forum: Top Stories Of The Week
World Economic Forum top stories of the week.
Video timeline: 00:16 Stamp-sized stickers that can see inside your body 01:44 Energy Crisis Lessons from Japan 03:21 Waterless toilet 05:09 US Climate Plan
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Opinion: The Despot In The Desert, Big-Tech Decline, Imperfect Is OK At Work
A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, MBS: despot in the desert, the era of big-tech exceptionalism may be over (49:05), and why it’s OK not to be perfect at work (55:30).
Transportation: Can E-Bikes Transform Cities?
Sales of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, as they’re better known, are booming. At the same time, innovations in battery technology have extended the range that an e-bike can travel. The FT’s Harry Dempsey explores the impact they’re having on commuting, deliveries, and the cities we live in.
Battery Tech: Storing Energy On A Massive Scale
As the planet gets hotter, engineers are racing to find ways to store energy on a massive scale, clearing the way for a transition to renewable electricity.
Preview: MIT Technology Review – July/August 2022

The Urbanism issue
July/August 2022
Is technology making cities better—or worse? A deep dive into what we stand to lose in the pursuit of efficiency and convenience.
Electric Transportation: GM Is Going All In (CNBC)
CNBC Marathon revisits General Motors’ shift into the electric vehicle market. GM is one of the largest automakers in the world with a range of models falling under its four brands, Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC.
Chapters: 00:00 Why GM’s all-electric future is a big gamble (Published September 2021) 15:17 The rise of electric boats (Published April 2022) 27:13 Why GM says its Ultium platform will drive EV dominance (Published May 2022)
The automaker made its name selling gas burning cars but in January 2021, it made a stunning announcement. The company said it “aspires to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035.” This means that GM intends to stop selling gas-burning cars. General Motors says it wants to lead electric vehicle sales in North America by 2025, and vows that its new Ultium battery platform will drive that dominance.
Not only are cars going electric but so are boats. General Motors recently invested $150 million in one start-up, Pure Watercraft, to build an electric pontoon boat. And several others are working to bring their own battery-powered offerings to market. CNBC Marathon brings together the best of CNBC on YouTube.
Aviation: Are Electric Air Taxis & Planes Ready Yet?
The aviation industry is keen to reduce its carbon footprint, and big money is being spent developing battery-powered aircraft. Last year, investors poured around $5bn into companies seeking to get manned electric VTOLs – vertical take-off and landing craft – airborne. The technology is improving, but as the FT’s Charlotte Middlehurst reports, there are still major hurdles to overcome.
Robot Design: Boston Dynamics ‘Spot’ Demo
Over the last few years, we’ve seen our customers make huge strides in what they’ve been able to accomplish with Spot – including collecting thousands of data points to drive predictive maintenance models, building comprehensive digital twins of their construction sites, and keeping workers away from dangerous or hazardous situations. We can’t wait to see what they’ll be able to do next.
Want to learn more about Spot? Discover Spot’s latest features: https://blog.bostondynamics.com/doing…