Despite the ongoing shutdown, the roads will not be empty this summer, as AAA forecasts only a 3.3% drop in automobile trips compared to July-September 2019. Interestingly, for many rural states such as Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, AAA suggests that drivers are “More likely than not to run into ‘normal’ traffic congestion while traveling.”
Meanwhile, AAA is predicting a whopping 85.5% decline in cruise and rail trips, while people will take 73.9% fewer trips by airplane. It may not seem like it now, but eventually, air travel will return, perhaps in different forms. This issue of the Viodi View highlights a few unusual ways that people may someday “fly” in personal vehicles for both serious business and summertime fun.
A Flying Vehicle for First Responders and More
Could the George Jetson future of personal flying start with first responders, cargo delivery, and security applications? Although Stephen Tibbits, CEO & co-founder of ZEVA, envisions a day when his flying wings will provide mobility for the masses, the ZERO’s vertical take-off and landing capability, 50-mile range, and 160 mph cruising speed could be a boon for specific use-cases in the interim.
Improving Driving Today, While Building an Autonomous-Driving Future
Using only the camera and processing power of an iPhone, Phiar overlays directions on a live video shown on a driver’s smartphone display. As more people adopt their free app, which is currently in beta, their machine learning back-end will effectively learn how to drive. Phiar’s CEO, Chen-Pin Yu, sees a future where their technology integrates directly into vehicles, heads up displays, and smart glasses.
Surprising Findings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey by Alan Weissberger
And the prize for the highest ranking in the American Customer Satisfaction Index Telecommunications Report goes to video streaming services. With a rating of 76 out of 100, video streaming easily trounces subscription TV, ISPs, VOD, and fixed-line telephone, which have ratings of 64, 65, 68, and 70, respectively. To compare this to other ASCI measured industries, these four are at the bottom (breweries being number 1 with an 84 rating). Unfortunately, this survey doesn’t break out providers beyond the top 10 (there is a category called “All Others”). The survey also doesn’t seem to assess satisfaction with the overall value of a given service. Still, it is worth the read as it provides good insight and benchmarking data.
Respecting & Protecting Copyright in the Wild Wild Web
In a world where zoom has a new meaning and everyone is a content producer, what are the rules for respecting and protecting copyright? Noted author, educator, and entertainment & IP attorney Thomas A. Crowell and Donald R. Simon, JD/MA, Director, Member & Staff Education at National Cable Television Cooperative, discusses this and other questions related to content licensing, fair-use, joint authorship, and more in last week’s ViodiTV Real-Time Conversation. This is a must-watch for anyone who shares images, video, or audio on the Internet for the world to see.
The 5G Power Challenge
Is power an Achille’s heel of 5G? PowerRox’s Brian Zahnstecher, the co-chair of the IEEE, International Network Generations Roadmap (INGR) Energy Efficiency Working Group, provides an update to an earlier ViodiTV interview regarding the work of the IEEE 5G Energy Efficiency Working Group. Joining him is Marty Snyder of CICUSA, a system integrator that has built over 30,000 wireless towers since 1999 and is currently working with major carriers to roll out 5G cell sites. These experts discuss the challenge of power from the device to the cell site to the core network and the opportunities around energy harvesting and distributed energy storage to improve the resiliency and efficiency of the power grid.
Some Tweets and Short Thoughts
- 5G Americas has an informative report (PDF) on back/mid/front haul requirements of 5G and the cost and time-to-market advantages of DOCSIS and PON architectures.
- NEVS with its PONS Mobility Ecosystem is introducing an electric vehicle, Sango, designed for ridesharing for families or strangers. It is intended for city use (eventual maximum speed of 70 km/h). AutoX supplies the L4 (meaning it is driverless, but only in limited areas, such as pre-defined routes) autonomous driving technology. What makes it unique is the seating configuration which adapts to the passengers and includes dynamic dividing walls between seats for those situations where strangers are riding together; a must-have feature going forward.
- Terrific interview with @sbloomfield15. Lots of great insight for everyone. @mcglademichelle “Empowerment means you are lifting; you are amplifying someone’s voice.“
Is Apple’s headquarters RDOF eligible? In a series of Tweets, @MikeRomanoNTCA nails the challenges schools in urban and suburban areas in identifying the digital divide in their respective communities. “If we are going to solve the issues ASAP, we’ve got to figure out really fast which problem is where. Building a second or third or fourth connection to a family that already has several but can’t afford service doesn’t help – and it wastes resources that could help others. “
- From the “This can’t be right,” file.” According to the FCC’s RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) map, at least part of Apple’s headquarter campus is eligible (Census ID 60855081021) for RDOF funding. This doesn’t make sense as it is in the heart of the valley where there are upwards of 5,000 people per square mile. These RDOF islands appear in many places in Silicon Valley. It might have to do with addresses that have been rezoned into larger parcels. Or, maybe it is a matter of this author misinterpreting the maps.
The Korner – Flying in Water
New Zealand’s Manta5 may have the cure for the summertime blues with its hydrofoil bike. This electric-assist water vehicle allows one to glide above the water at speeds of up to 12 mph and with an electric boost of up to an hour. Just in time for summer 2020, the first shipments are set to arrive in America this month. Manta5 gave Viodi a sneak peek at CES2020 of this fun water toy.
