Trends With Benefits

It's the 50th Anniversary of the NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing, one of the most monumental achievements in the history of technology. On today's episode we'll take a look back at that big moment, then take a look at where we are currently. Between SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and others, we seem to be on the verge of a new golden age of space travel. What will Space Tourism look like? Will all be staying in space hotels? The future of space tourism is the topic of today's episode.

IoT is a term you see applied to a lot of different tech products. The definition of what IoT is however, can be a little more fluid. On today's episode we'll take a look at the history of the products that started the whole movement toward internet connected....things. We'll discuss where it's gone, where it is now, and where it's going. All of this is to answer the question; WTF is IoT?

Artificial Intelligence is going to shape the future of a tremendous amount of our technology going forward. However, what actually quantifies "AI"? So many products and services now claim to include AI, that it might as well be as easy as slapping a sticker on the box. On this episode we'll dig into some facts, give some examples, answer some trivia and try to get to the bottom of the question; Is it AI, or BS?

With Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many more, the streaming content landscape is increasingly crowded. That doesn't even include Disney+, Apple TV+ and a litany of other platforms about to go live. On this episode we'll discuss how we got to this point and what's in store for how we get our content. Ultimately we have to ask ourselves; are there too many streaming services?

The term 5G is something you will only hear more over the coming years. On today's episode, we'll give you the breakdown of what it actually means. We'll walk through some of the potentials such as autonomous vehicles and connected homes, but we'll also cover some of the pitfalls. How soon will we actually have 5G? Will it work as promised? We'll give you the facts and then provide our opinions.

E3 2019 did not prove to be disappointing and could in fact be a watershed moment for gaming. Today we'll take a look at the overall trends, beyond the games themselves. Will Google's Stadia cloud streaming service be the new dominating platform of gaming? Or will consoles like Microsoft's Xbox with Project Scarlett and the PS5 adapt to the interloping gaming services and continue their domination? Or maybe PC is the secret leader. We'll let you know what we see happening and our thoughts on this year's E3.

Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google (Alphabet), have all come under increasing scrutiny from the Federal Government in recent weeks. Calls for further regulation and even for splitting the companies up are coming from both sides of the aisle. But should it happen? We'll discuss the issues of privacy and security, anti-competitive practices, monopolies, and more, to determine if we would benefit as consumers, or face the brunt of any resolutions.

Tesla is clearly the most well-known brand name in electric vehicles. However, in an op-ed, Adam Kaslikowski makes the case that it may not last much longer as a solo company. On today's episode we'll give you a history of EVs, walk through the article, and take a look at where and how electric vehicles will play a role in our lives in the near future.

How do you feel about Facial Recognition software? San Francisco just banned governmental agencies from using it and now other organizations are examining it's use. We'll discuss the potential benefits and flaws of this software and try to determine where we stand on this cutting edge technology.

Uber and Lyft drivers went on strike this week. Should Lyft and Uber drivers be able to eventually unionize, or should they remain contractors? There is a lot to unpack this week as we take a look at Uber going public, ride sharing, and the Gig Economy.

Facebook announced some major steps to changing their service at the F8 - Facebook Developer Conference. Privacy was mentioned a lot, along with a complete platform redesign and an emphasis on groups. What does all of this mean for the world's largest social media platform? We'll fill you in on the details and ask the question "What do you think of Facebook?".

With Earth Day this week, we decided to take a look at different issues surrounding the planet and how technology is being applied (or not). Large corporations like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and more are making some big promises. However, small innovative companies like Climeworks are figuring out ways to have a positive impact, while still turning a profit.

On today's episode we take a look at the advancements and technology involved with marijuana. From how it was grown, to the use of modern technology discovering different methods of cultivation, there is a lot to unravel. Whether you're pro, against, or somewhere in the middle, there is no denying that this industry is rapidly growing in the US and the world in general. It's too be to ignore, which is why we are discussing the technology of marijuana.

On today's episode we discuss internet access. For most of us, this is just part of our normal lives, but for a majority of the world access to broadband internet is sparse, if not non-existent. Amazon's announcement this week that they will be launching a satellite internet service reminds us that their is an intense competition to expand access, and by all accounts profit. From humble beginnings, to competition from Facebook, Google, SpaceX and more, we'll discuss the solution to crossing the internet divide.

On today's episode we discuss some of the recent developments in alternative food and the technology behind it. The Impossible Burger team up with Burger King could be a huge turning point in the evolution of food tech. We'll also discuss lab grown foods, 3D printing steaks, and even the idea of a Star Trek replicator.

Apple finally debuted what their big Apple TV Plus service will look like and...it's still a little confusing. We'll discuss the details of that, the Apple Pay card, Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus and a lot more on today's episode. *Of note, Drew Prindle and Caleb Denison were out for this episode, being filled in by Ryan Waniata and Parker Hall. Also, Greg was in NY, leading to some minor tech issues. 

If Google's new Stadia gaming platform becomes a success, it could completely upend the Game Developer industry. The concept of actually 'owning' technological items is rapidly changing. Examples include the slow death of the DVD, or how we now essentially rent software. The bottom line is we don't actually possess anything. We'll discuss the pros and cons of the situation, and speculate about what could be taken out of our hands in the near future.

On today's episode of Trends With Benefits, we take a look at the influence of technology on Law Enforcement. Whether it is body cams, drone surveillance, using facial recognition, AI algorithms, or even robot security guards, we'll examine them all. What do you think about each one of them?

MIT recently asked Bill Gates to name his top 10 breakthrough technologies for 2019. Naming everything from robotic dexterity, to advances in health tech, food tech, AI and more, there is a lot to unravel. We'll analyze a few of his choices today, including the Cow-less Burger from Impossible Burger, AI like Google Duplex, and even the advancements of nuclear power. What technology do you think will have the biggest impact in the year 2019?