![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/SKYF02.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
\u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
\u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Volkswagen Bank\u2019s products and services such as payment solutions via smartphone app, vehicle products bookable online, fleet management or just classic banking are now available anytime and in most places around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
With the competitive environment continuously changing, providing customers with a seamless experience is imperative. Creating modern solutions for the clients, such as implementation of new payment methods, is key to giving clients their needed flexibility and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volkswagen Bank\u2019s products and services such as payment solutions via smartphone app, vehicle products bookable online, fleet management or just classic banking are now available anytime and in most places around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
With the competitive environment continuously changing, providing customers with a seamless experience is imperative. Creating modern solutions for the clients, such as implementation of new payment methods, is key to giving clients their needed flexibility and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volkswagen Bank\u2019s products and services such as payment solutions via smartphone app, vehicle products bookable online, fleet management or just classic banking are now available anytime and in most places around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
With the competitive environment continuously changing, providing customers with a seamless experience is imperative. Creating modern solutions for the clients, such as implementation of new payment methods, is key to giving clients their needed flexibility and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volkswagen Bank\u2019s products and services such as payment solutions via smartphone app, vehicle products bookable online, fleet management or just classic banking are now available anytime and in most places around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla also pioneers autonomous vehicles which is becoming more and more popular mainly because of its convenience. This new technology can dictate what products or services auto finance companies can offer their customers. For example, much of the traditional financing model may remain in place as autonomous vehicles are still likely sold to individuals. But individual loan size may increase as the preference shifts from traditional to a more luxurious autonomous car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met extraordinary people in terms of the perception, vision, and vision execution. What is really nice they were all passionate in what they do, believers who are not concentrating on failures, but concentrating on what they can learn in order to improve for the future,\u201d said Miko?aj Wo?niak, Chairman of the Board at Volkswagen Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The captive industry may face disruptive changes today, but Volkswagen Bank demonstrates that these changes also provide tremendous business opportunities. As leaders in this field, Volkswagen Bank will continue to strive for innovation in this digital era to ensure the continuous success of Volkswagen. In the end, the future belongs to those who are open to change and willing to take bold decisions to continuously develop a relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen Bank: Financing the Cars of the Future","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-bank-financing-the-cars-of-the-future\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":718,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-08 14:13:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-08 21:13:00","post_content":"\n An one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley<\/a>, which included visits to Google, Tesla, and other auto-industry companies, was just the tune-up Volkswagen Ireland needed when they came to visit us last week. This was an eye-opening experience for the top executives that made the visit. Concepts that were once abstract were suddenly brought to life: artificial intelligence, automation and the sharing economy all came together throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Startup engagement was definitely high on the agenda. Like many other international companies, Volkswagen is grappling with digital transformation. Looking for partnerships with early stage companies, as a means to accelerate the process of innovation, plays a key role in its strategy. With the help of SVIC, Volkswagen executives were able to fully immerse themselves in Silicon Valley. They were connected to plenty of start-ups and given a chance to see what their competitors are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No trip to Silicon Valley for car industry heavyweights would be complete without a visit at Tesla. Tesla is a key player in the race toward autonomy on four wheels. Tesla describes its Full Self-Driving Capability as \u201cable to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver\u2019s seat\u2026 which we believe will be a probability of safety at least twice as good as the average human driver.\u201d The Volkswagen team were given the opportunity to test drive the new Model 3 and Model X. This provided Volkswagen with a clear insight into the field of electric vehicles, something they are interested in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did the Volkswagen team get a chance to visit Tesla, they also got to visit Google, where they learned about Waymo. Waymo is Google\u2019s self-driving car project which has been in development for the past couple of years. This experience gave Volkswagen Ireland a glimpse into the internet giant\u2019s plans for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Google and Tesla, the team of executives attended a presentation at Waze. Waze is a transportation app that uses a community of 100-million users to crowd source information and create driving maps that identify traffic. Waze also provides a carpool functionality to connect drivers and passengers heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rise of the sharing economy has prompted Volkswagen to create a ride-sharing offering of its own. The product is to be called MOIA, and is scheduled to launch this year in Germany. This smartphone app will connect human drivers and electric vehicles to bring together passengers traveling similar routes. MOIA bills itself as \u201cthe new mobility concept of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key concepts the Volkswagen team learned about was Digital Transformation. Achieving digital transformation is not just down to utilizing new technologies. It requires innovative thinking. When it comes to big corporations, this is much easier said than done. These companies often face well-established people and processes that prefer orthodox functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome these internal obstacles, many companies look beyond themselves. By establishing partnerships with startups they can jumpstart the innovation process. This technique has become a prominent trend here in Silicon Valley. When it comes to the creation of disruptive startups Silicon Valley is still the world leader. For incumbents everywhere this is a double-edged sword; both a potential source of collaboration and a threat to business. Startup engagement doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bringing in outside partners, it can also involve fostering innovation from within. This concept is called intrapreneurship, which is key to the Silicon Valley ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group of executives finished their adventurous day by visiting Menlo Park Ventures where they were put into the hot seat. The team heard pitches from early stage companies at the cutting-edge of the latest technologies. The presenting startups vied to win attention and investment with their impressive computer vision products as well as customer service automation. The process benefited everyone, Volkswagen was given a chance to ask founders about their thoughts on the future of the automotive industry. With current experts predicting that all corporations need to be more entrepreneurial to survive digital disruption, the session proved to be an excellent chance to put that advice use. Internalizing this idea was perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for the carmaker. Taking it back home to Ireland was crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information that Volkswagen Ireland learned this week is sure to help them with their future development as a large company. We know that this knowledge is pivotal in the face of global trends such as decreasing car ownership and the rise of the shared economy. For today\u2019s carmakers, there is no single solution to avoid such disruptions. It is up to their commitment to having an open mindset and coming up with creative ideas. We are excited to see how Volkswagen\u2019s partnership with SVIC will affect their success in the future.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Volkswagen sees opportunities, competitors in Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/volkswagen-sees-opportunities-competitors-in-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":723,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-06-05 16:46:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-06-05 23:46:00","post_content":"\n Transport will become increasingly social and autonomous; that was the key takeaway for top South Korean executives following a one-day immersion tour of Silicon Valley with SVIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour group hailed from GS, a Seoul-based conglomerate with subsidiaries in the energy, retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the challenges now facing the conglomerate\u2019s leadership is to get to grips with autonomous vehicles. GS is especially interested in understanding their value in supply chain operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silicon Valley proved to be a rich source of information and inspiration. The executives\u2019 tour shed light on a number of fast-developing areas in the world of high-tech transport and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often described as one of the most important components of autonomous vehicles: lidar \u2013 also known as laser vision \u2013 maps the world in three dimensions. The technology is a close cousin to radar. But where the latter emits radio waves to measure distances, lidar relies on lasers invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the world\u2019s leading manufacturers of the technology is Velodyne. For more than a decade the company has been refining its lidar offerings. Today its users include well-known names like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the GS executives discovered during a meeting at Velodyne\u2019s San Jose offices, autonomous cars are just part of the story. Lidar also has applications in drone-based aerial data collection, industrial vehicle navigation and three-dimensional mobile mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velodyne is not alone in what is an increasingly crowded laser vision market. Competitors include the Silicon Valley-based Luminar and Israeli startup Innoviz. Both say they are set to manufacture and ship thousands of lidar units this year. Both believe their products offer significant advantages over those currently available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while lidar may be gradually moving the world closer to truly driverless cars, for now it appears to be most applicable to industry. That\u2019s down to the relatively high cost of the technology, something which has prevented it from becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream automobile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, lidar still needs to get more sophisticated. Although today self-driving vehicles are capable of seeing many obstacles on the road, there are still some which cause problems. Luminar CEO Austin Russel has described these as the last \u201cone per cent\u201d of \u201cedge cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of people make it seem like autonomous vehicles are just around the corner,\u201d he said in a May 22 interview. \u201cBut the reality is that this is a really hard problem as a whole and a lot of things need to happen to solve that last one per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, as long as cars and trucks still require human drivers, it seems crowdsourcing and the sharing economy will take centre stage. Both trends are set to play big roles in the future of transport through a slew of new apps; experts say Uber and Lyft are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a meeting with venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, the GS team from South Korea heard how a novel set of apps is rising to prominence. That includes Outdoorsy, an RV rental marketplace, and communications platform Realine, described as the \u201cSlack\u201d of the logistics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, Waze is perhaps one of the brightest examples of how the sharing economy is transforming transport. The app\u2019s 100-million strong network of users crowdsources information to build driving maps. Real-time reports on traffic and road conditions give motorists the best chance of stress-free travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Waze showed GS\u2019s executives how the app also has social elements. Among them is integration with Facebook, which means drivers can see when their friends are heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GS group also caught a glimpse of the future. They saw how ridesharing via a \u201ccarpool\u201d feature is set to form a growing part of Waze\u2019s offering. Currently only available in selected cities, the company intends to expand ridesharing in a big way. It hopes to connect more and more of the world\u2019s drivers and ride-seekers. Describing itself as \u201cthe social navigation pioneer\u201d Waze states that its mission is get extra cars off the road and put an end to being stuck in traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For GS, even spending just one day in Silicon Valley proved to be a worthwhile trip. As a large conglomerate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is essential. Failing to do so only increases the likelihood of having a core business disrupted by a new market entrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But aside from the threats, Silicon Valley also presented huge potential opportunities. Interacting with companies like Velodyne and Waze, the GS executives gained insight into how next-generation transport could transform their business. They heard the insider view on areas like autonomous drones and crowdsourced mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team from South Korea went away filled with thought-provoking ideas. They were also armed with knowledge essential for doing battle in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lasers and Apps: the Future of Smart, Shared Transport","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/lasers-and-apps-the-future-of-smart-shared-transport\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":825,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-01-17 05:17:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-01-17 13:17:00","post_content":"\n There was a buzz in the air at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Both large companies and startups filled the convention centers to show off and demo their new products. After spending a few days walking among the endless booths and talking to some guests and exhibitors three key trends became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trend is best shown by Ford, who highlighted their transformation from being a car manufacturer to a software company developing a system to coordinate autonomous vehicles in city streets. During his keynote address, Ford CEO Jim Hackett announced the Ford Transportation Mobility Cloud<\/strong><\/em>. Through an investment in Silicon Valley startup Autonomic, Ford\u2019s vision is to build and maintain a cloud system that would manage all the mobile transportation needs in cities. Ford has already partnered with food delivery service Postmates<\/strong><\/em>. And it is important to note that Uber<\/strong><\/em> is already using self driving cars to pick up passengers in Arizona. Perhaps Ford\u2019s clouds will be the backend solution to all self-driving vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it. Driving to the mall, parking your car, and walking from store to store to try on clothes is much more time consuming than pulling out your phone or putting on your VR headset<\/em> and trying out new clothes on your virtual avatar. Tech entrepreneurs feel this too. Several startups offered 3D scanning<\/em> devices that will capture your dimensions and make a virtual model. Once this model is loaded inside an app you can try on different outfits or even \u201cbe yourself\u201d in virtual reality<\/em> or other mobile or desktop software environments. The reach of such possibility extends to shopping as well as video conferencing and beyond. The replication of yourself in virtual world takes you one step closer to singularity - a moment projected to be around 2050 where it will be difficult to differentiate the physical world from the virtual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drone pavilion at CES was massive. Underwater drones showcased by stunning mermaids. There were countless small drones that can be used for personal photography or gaming. However the most impressive drones were the big guys. Volocopter<\/strong><\/em> from Germany gave a demonstration of its ability to transport people like a flying taxi. A Russian company called SKYF<\/strong><\/em> presented a cargo drone that can carry 550 lbs and fly for 8 hours. Most interesting the FAA had a representation where they were happy to talk to drone makers and enthusiasts about the regulatory environment surrounding the use of large and small sized drones.<\/p>\n","post_title":"3 Industry Trends from CES","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3-industry-trends-from-ces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/3-industry-trends-from-ces\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
What Volkswagen Bank learned from the two companies can be a great addition to their ongoing \u201ccomprehensive digitalization offensive\u201d which aims to provide all essential mobility-related services online in the near future. Volkswagen Bank has initiated ROUTE2025 to respond to consumer demands and changes in the automobile financial services industry. From financing or leasing, insurance or vehicle services, ROUTE2025 will cement Volkswagen Bank\u2019s reputation as a mobility service provider with innovative and helpful offers for their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the competitive environment continuously changing, providing customers with a seamless experience is imperative. Creating modern solutions for the clients, such as implementation of new payment methods, is key to giving clients their needed flexibility and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volkswagen Bank\u2019s products and services such as payment solutions via smartphone app, vehicle products bookable online, fleet management or just classic banking are now available anytime and in most places around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the company continuously harnesses new opportunities offered by digitalization,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oracle showed Volkswagen Bank how this modernization can deliver the experiences the customers expect. Oracle also stressed the importance of transforming business practices for operational excellence. This method is best shown in Volkswagen Bank\u2019s new Digital and Innovation unit that combines digital and strategic activities to deliver new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a visit to the Google campus enabled the team to discuss how to create and nurture an innovation culture. They met with Google\u2019s engineering director who \u201cspecializes in bringing order to chaos making services faster, structured, efficient, and talking to the business in their language.\u201d The discussion was especially helpful as new concepts and ideas are developing at Volkswagen Bank\u2019s newest unit at full speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding future vehicle trends provides a foundation for understanding potential trends in auto financing. Volkswagen Bank visited electric vehicle pioneer Tesla. The California-based company is committed to be the best in safety, performance and reliability of all its cars while accelerating the world\u2019s transition to sustainable energy through affordable electric vehicles. With 180,000 vehicles on the road worldwide, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems to ultimately get consumers to use 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Naked-scanner-3D.-3D-body-scanner-applications-for-fitness-3D-scanner.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Ford-Mobility-CES.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_6314.jpg\")
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n
Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n
Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
The road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MVIMG_20180601_141114.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n
Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
Innovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MVIMG_20180601_112617.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Social rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MVIMG_20180531_161141.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
![\"Executives](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MVIMG_20180601_111312-1.jpg\")
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Meeting Customers\u2019 Expectations through Modern Financing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
![\"Executives](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MVIMG_20180528_160602-1.jpg\")
Meeting Customers\u2019 Expectations through Modern Financing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4Tp_m68zx8U\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSocial rides, electric cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInnovation or stagnation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe road ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laser vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social, app-based transport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Disrupt or be disrupted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Vehicles will become connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. More real world shopping will happen in VR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Expect to see more drones everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Latest
Meeting Customers\u2019 Expectations through Modern Financing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Financing the car of the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
