Insights November 2nd, 2018

In our continuing weekly trends and signals article – ‘Security Robots and Knitted Concrete’ – we see that we still have a way to go when creating the perfect security robot, knitted concrete technology that will revolutionize construction, and the only choice we have to address climate change – independence from fossil fuels.
Read on…

Security Robot Works At Intersection Of AI And Crime

Knightscope is a private Silicon Valley company, founded in 2013. Company managers figure crime has a $1 trillion negative impact on the U.S. economy. Ultimately, they hope to cut that hefty figure in half by predicting and preventing crime.
So far, its robots have been deployed to parking lots, sports stadiums, office buildings and shopping malls. K5 is more Paul Bart than Robocop.
The K5 robot was built to fill in the gaps using sensors and artificial intelligence software.
For investors, the play at this stage is still picks and axes. There is gold in the hills of autonomous security robots. Unfortunately, the businesses invested directly are too young, too immature.
Read more at Forbes

Knitted concrete

3D-knitted shells save on construction materials and time. With just the press of a button, ETH researchers knit a textile that serves as the primary shaping element for curved concrete shells. Now they have used the new technology to create a five-tonnes concrete structure for an exhibition in Mexico City.

Read more at ETH Zurich

There are three options in tackling climate change. Only one will work

The world faces a near-impossible decision – one that is already determining the character and quality of the lives of the generations succeeding us.
It is clear from the latest IPCC climate report that the first and only effective course, albeit a deeply unpopular one, would be to stop using any fossil fuels. The second would be to voluntarily minimise their use as much as climate scientists have calculated would deliver some prospect of success. Finally, we can carry on as we are by aiming to meet the growth in demand for activities dependent on fossil fuels, allowing market forces to mitigate the problems that such a course of action generates – and leave it to the next generation to set in train realistic solutions (if that is possible), that the present one has been unable to find.
These are the choices. There are no others. Future generations will judge us on what we choose to do in full knowledge – accessories before the fact – of the devastating consequences of continuing with our energy-profligate lifestyles.
Read more at The Guardian


Related Articles from Nikolas Badminton:

Quick Opinions on Artificial Intelligence

Jeremy Rifkin on the Third Industrial Revolution


Nikolas is a world-leading Futurist Speaker that drives leaders to take action in creating a better world for humanity. He promotes exponential thinking along with a critical, honest, and optimistic view that empowers you with knowledge to plan for today, tomorrow, and for the future.
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Futurist Keynote Speaker and Consultant - Nikolas Badminton

CEO of EXPONENTIAL MINDS and an award-winning Futurist Speaker, researcher and author. His expertise and thought leadership will guide you from complacency to thinking exponentially, planning for longevity, and encouraging a culture of innovation. You will then establish resiliency and abundance in your organization. Please reach out to discuss how he can help you, and read on to see what is happening in the world this week.

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