Cafe X robot barista

Robot arm. Coffee on the elevator, about to be lowered to the collection port. Black discs are parking spots for coffees awaiting collection. Touch screen at lower right for ordering, or entering PIN to collect coffee.
Credit: Cafe X/The Mercury News

● up to 120 coffees per hour

● order from the app (iOS & Android) or touch screen on the Cafe X machine

● order ahead or while you wait
● PIN notified to the app for coffee collection
● choice of coffee style, beans & syrup
● no decaf or skim milk choice yet



Wired – “This Robot Barista Makes a Dang Good Latte”
https://www.wired.com/2017/01/cafe-x-robot-barista/

Manufacturer's web site
https://cafexapp.com/locations / robot barista makes a dang good latte coffee unofficially pay morning rent your Starbucks office smell roasted beans five-minute pour-overs coffee is pure fuel jolt of caffeine kick sleepy doldrums Cafe X Cafe X no hipster bartenders no judgy glances half-and-half cafe small, rounded kiosk white on the bottom large glass panel lets you watch industrial robot pumps caramel into your latte iPad-powered kiosk use Cafe X app pick espresso drink choose from three kinds beans syrup super insane syrup pay press order robot barista spins around cup dispenser industrial-grade WMF espresso machine robot each takes about 20 seconds type in a four-digit pin code reach into the hatch white cup printed Cafe X’s logo Cafe X robot serving coffee Hong Kong Science Park first American kiosk Metreon shopping center San Francisco health department Cafe X classify food truck Stephen Klein Cafe X general manager add a sink set up Cafe X robot in half an hour coffee mafia San Francisco transit centers lot of people moving quickly Cafe X wants to be there avoid waiting in line at Starbucks every morning offer their morning fix without any hassle human interaction robot experience fun go back every day Cafe X isn’t just a vending machine you can watch the robot work as it makes your joe just make my coffee raised $5 million venture-capital funding received Thiel Fellowship in 2016 car-building factory robots incredibly precise programmable use the same arms tech applied throughout the food service industry other kinds of beverages robot-server idea political and technological debate over automation future of work jobs that are going away automation coffee robots coffee surprisingly delicious coffee cheaper than Sightglass Starbucks Cafe X location Metreon your daily routine /

billy barr spent 40 years alone in the woods – collecting compelling evidence of climate change

billy bar (“I spell it small b i-l-l-y, small b a-r-r”) has lived in a small cabin in a ghost town called Gothic, in the Colorado rockies, for over 40 years

“Picture this, it’s a snowy day, it’s dark & cold, & you make a fire & you’re sitting by the fire, & you’re reading with a cup of tea … & it goes on for nine months.”

“I started recording things just because it was somethin’ to do.”

“A researcher at the lab wanted to look at it, & then once he started looking at it scientifically, then all of a sudden, like, these decades worth of data were being used for more than my own curiosity.”

“The trend I see is that we’re getting permanent snowpack later, & we get to bare ground sooner.”



The Atlantic – “The Hermit Who Inadvertently Shaped Climate-Change Science”
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/billy-barr-climate-change/512198/ / he spent over 40 years alone in the woods and now scientists love him the Snow Guardian of the Rockies man named billy barr prefers name spelled all lowercase lived alone small cabin Gothic Colorado coldest most isolated places United States began recording snow levels 1973 main thing interacted with weather animals just started recording things just cause it was something to do short film The Snow Guardian Day's Edge Productions climate researchers Rocky Mountain Biological Lab discovered barr’s detailed records showed compelling evidence climate change data has been vital understanding severe impending effects global warming climate change the hermit who inadvertently shaped climate change science Billy Barr moved Rocky Mountains four decades ago bored one winter decided keep notebook has become the stuff of legend life alone Colorado Rocky Mountains Billy Barr began his recordings curiosity task busy his mind during winter skied down from his cabin use the nearest phone vital database climate change scientists climate change 1973 Barr had dropped out of college home abandoned mining shack base the Snow Guardian Gothic Mountain 12,600-foot stone buttress cold winds blew shack’s wood slat walls bare dirt floor skunk pine marten Barr moved from the East Coast Rocky Mountains solitude boredom measured snow levels animal tracks spring first calls birds returning filled notebook observations another notebook continued now for 44 years Barr’s data tinkerings amateur scientist close to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory RMBL most important phenology research sites in the world scientists RMBL become fascinated with climate change impact plants animals in the high alpines scale their discoveries into broader lessons about life warmer earth research long-term records Gothic spring snow seemed to melt a little earlier flowers blossomed a little sooner without historical context little changes understood RMBL 1928 biology professor summer pilgrimage of scientists researchers lab laboratory university department presidents students long-term conservation studies lab’s longest-running studies wildflower research project ecologist David Inouye Gothic’s only permanent resident research used in many studies particularly important understanding how climate change alters flower blooming times animals depend on them Gothic Mountain’s ecology high alpine environments RMBL Barr’s 40 years of data research student studying environmental science Rutgers University conservation RMBL eccentric mountain man stabilizing getting to be around quiet after a few years I had something to compare each winter with /

Making the world safe for USB-C devices

Belkin USB-A to USB-C cable
Credit: Belkin

How many different types of USB plugs do you own? There's a good chance you own, or have owned, USB A (above), USB B, mini USB & micro USB. There is a smaller chance that you also own a device or devices using the most recent member of the family, USB-C (also shown above).

Combined with the USB 3.1 specification for data transfer & power supply, USB-C is intended to combine the small size required by phones, data transfer rates required by fast discs & video, with the power required to charge laptops.

Unfortunately, some USB-C devices have surfaced, which do not comply.¹ Designers of an Indiegogo project took the view that there was not a sufficiently, “unified industry charging standard”, & postponed the USB-C version of their device.²

Whatever the source of problems, the Satechi USB-C Power Meter can check if a third-party charger, cable, or dock will damage your device.



Manufacturer's web site
https://www.satechi.net/index.php/satechi-type-c-power-meter
__________

¹ HitchHikers’ Guide 2 Tech: “Beware bad USB-C cables & adapters – Google engineer names & shames”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/11/beware-bad-usb-c-cables-adapters-google.html

² Omnicharge Team: “Omnicharge: Smart & Compact Portable Power Bank – Postponing USB-C Option”, https://omnicharge.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/project_updates?page=2

“Postponing USB-C Option – Due to the results of the survey & serious safety considerations, the team has decided to postpone the launch of the USB-C version of Omnicharge until there is a more unified industry charging standard.”

Omnicharge project on Indiegogo

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/omnicharge-smart-compact-portable-power-bank-smartphone-powerbank/x/9010251#/

/ USB-C innovation technology world single connection type transmit both data and power convenient docking charging solutions problem not all manufacturers adhere power delivery guidelines third-party charger dock could fry your laptop tablet smartphone USB cable Satechi release new product protecting your devices from damage Satechi USB-C Power Meter surge protector fuse dongle shows amps voltage USB-C power source plug your device prevent damage showing stats statistics educated decision continue using the charger choosing charger accessory device maximum voltage amperage do not permanently damage hardware Satechi USB-C Power Meter quickly and easily measures voltage real time Amps input device how much power your device charging manufacturer sleek design easy-to-read display Satechi USB-C Power Meter perfect solution monitoring USB Type-C port power ensuring counterfeit incompatible accessories destroy fry laptops tablets smartphones counterfeit accessories hitting the market accessories safe to use Satechi USB-C Power Meter users upgrade new MacBook ensure existing accessories safe to use life-saver protecting expensive USB-C device new MacBook Pro inexpensive way ensure third-party charger ruins your investment best practice should always stick to the the manufacturer's charger /

“I’d put my money on the Sun & solar energy” – Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison in 1911
Credit: Alevo

If the insight in the quote in the title makes it look like a modern fabrication, there is evidence that it was only one of the insights in a conversation between three extraordinary minds: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford & Harvey Firestone. All three seemed to understand that fossil fuels are a finite resource, & wind, solar & tides are suitable replacements.

The conversation took place in March 1931 – shortly before Edison's death on 18 October 1931¹ – apparently without a knowledge of the impact of fossil fuels on climate. Although discovered in 1896,² the role of carbon dioxide in climate was ignored until well after the time of the conversation between Edison, Ford & Firestone.

Quote Investigator – “I’d Put My Money on the Sun & Solar Energy”
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/08/09/solar/
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “Thomas Edison”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

² S.M. Enzler MSc, “History of the greenhouse effect & global warming”, http://www.lenntech.com/greenhouse-effect/global-warming-history.htm / We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy sun wind and tide Firestone responded that oil and coal and wood couldn’t last forever They’d been tackling rubber He wondered how much hard research was going into harnessing the wind for example Windmills hadn’t changed much in a thousand years Ford said there were enormously powerful tides for example the Bay of Fundy Scientists had only been playing with the question so far Edison said I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy What a source of power I hope we don’t have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that. I wish I had more years left /

Tesla to begin enabling fully autonomous driving in "3 months maybe, 6 months definitely"

Credit: Motor Trend/EV Annex

Tesla announced on 19 October last year, that they had begun fitting all vehicles produced with the hardware for fully autonomous driving. At the same time, they announced that full autonomy would not be enabled initially, in the interests of gathering statistics about human performance, for subsequent comparison with fully autonomous vehicles.¹

Something similar appears to have been used to gather the stats demonstrating the 40% improvement in the crash rate after Autosteer was enabled in Tesla vehicles.²

In an exchange of tweets, Elon Musk has provided a little more detail on the timetable.

@tsrandall 3 months maybe, 6 months definitely

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 24, 2017

This promises to make good on his prediction, in October last year, “Our goal is, & I feel pretty good about this goal, that we’ll be able to do a demonstration drive of full autonomy all the way from LA to New York, from home in LA to let’s say dropping you off in Time Square in New York, & then having the car go park itself – by the end of next year.”³

Electrek – “Tesla to transition from ‘Enhanced Autopilot’ to ‘Fully Self-Driving’ as soon as ‘3 to 6 months’, says Elon Musk”
https://electrek.co/2017/01/24/tesla-enhanced-autopilot-to-fully-self-driving-says-elon-musk/

Forbes – “Musk Wants To Begin Shifting Teslas To ‘Full’ Self-Driving Capability Within 6 Months”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2017/01/24/elon-musk-targets-full-self-driving-capability-for-teslas-within-6-months/#1e70154779ee
__________

¹ Hitchhikers’ Guide 2 Tech: “As of 19 October 2016, all Teslas produced will have the hardware necessary for fully autonomous driving (video)”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/as-of-19-october-2016-all-teslas.html

² Hitchhikers’ Guide 2 Tech: “NHTSA report on fatal Tesla crash makes a strong case for Autopilot safety – update”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/01/nhtsa-report-on-fatal-tesla-crash-makes.html

³ Tech Crunch: “Musk targeting coast-to-coast test drive of fully self-driving Tesla by late 2017”, https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/19/musk-targeting-coast-to-coast-test-drive-of-fully-self-driving-tesla-by-late-2017/ / Last year Tesla updated radar camera ultrasonic sensors electric cars CEO Elon Musk new hardware's capabilities would lag behind cars on the street already Musk has projected Hardware 2.0 cars surpass older generation Hardware 1.0 vehicles fully self-driving 3 to 6 months news owners Hardware 2.0 cars rollout Autopilot features over-the-air updates over the air updates bringing those models closer functionality older-hardware cars full self-driving capability features enhanced autopilot features Elon Musk arrival Autopilot newer cars behind schedule series tweets Musk slow rollout Autopilot features camera calibration software update buyers Tesla cars built after October 2016 newly updated hardware start surpassing old hardware soon Musk's plan two-tiered Autopilot system Hardware 1 cars capable of running Autopilot Hardware 2 cars feature Enhanced Autopilot Hardware 2 cars offer a fully self-driving system Autopilot Hardware 2-equipped cars fully self-driving option installed half of their sensors enabled possibility running Autopilot two different sets of cars Musk goal driverless Enhanced Autopilot fully self-driving trip Los Angeles New York small delay Autopilot rollout /

Identity – unique minimalist wallet

Identity card wallet
Credit: The Gadgeteer

Identity card wallet qualifies as a minimalist wallet by being only slightly wider & taller than a credit card, plus just 7 mm (0.28 inch) thick, before you start adding cards.

What sets it apart is
● aerospace-grade carbon fiber construction
● no provision for carrying cash
● most of all, its Z-profile construction


Identity card wallet Z-profile construction
Credit: The Gadgeteer


Identity card wallet with cards inserted
Credit: The Gadgeteer



The Gadgeteer – “Identity card wallet review”
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2017/01/26/identity-card-wallet-review/

Identity first appeared as a Kickstarter project
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/798110330/identity-a-wallet-like-you-have-never-seen-before / Identity Card wallet review EDC quality item simple to use minimal minimalist how much space they take up never use cash anymore. When I buy something easier swipe credit card unzip wallet pull out the required cash receive change back wallets tend to be bulky accumulate extra stuff receipts other paper Identity Card wallet minimal wallet Identity Card wallet ultra small and ultra light weight light-weight lightweight minimalist wallet aerospace-grade aerospace grade carbon fiber unique folded one-piece design separate your cards into two piles wallet hold four cards on one side of the wallet and four cards on the other side wallet hold four cards on each side footprint almost the same size regular credit card smallest wallet I’ve found so far sides are smooth to the touch no rough edges Identity Card wallet offers wallet with or without a logo badge on the front crowdfunding campaign wallet logo badge offering it without the badge badgeless version edges of the logo cards that I carry in the Identity Card wallet several regular plastic credit cards along few thinner paper cards business cards held securely in place by the sides of the wallet cards inserted into the wallet still very thin diagonal cutouts on the front and back easy to slide out the top card with your thumb Identity Card wallet fits very easily into my pocket so thin that I barely even notice that it’s there zero bad things to say about the Identity Card wallet can’t use it to carry cash perfect wallet for minimalists /

Not all of the news from the United States is bad (update)

California state Governor, Jerry Brown, speaking to the American Geophysical Union Fall​ Meeting (San Francisco 12-16 December 2016), on California’s plans to continue to act against climate change.



In the last few days (post Trump inauguration). Governor Jerry Brown, delivered the State of the State address, including a similar statement on climate change. To avoid lengthy procedural matters, the video starts playing at 19:30



If after watching the above, you are confused by the reference to, “alternative facts”, watch this



If the video above no longer works for you, try this:

/ President Trump President Donald J Trump climate change global warming science truth lies alternative facts state of the state address greenhouse gas carbon dioxide pollution /