automation – Steven Savage

Link Roundup 9/24/2013

September 24, 2013 by Steven Savage

I need to name this don’t I?

So what’s up?

Valve is in the news for the SteamOS, but did you know they practice a low-hierarchy organization? As a manager, I’m curious to learn more . . .
Got an e-book? Apparently $1.99 is just about the worst price you can give it. There’s a lot of psychology to this business – as a lot of us here can tell you.
You may want to try out writing since it looks like a lot of jobs can be automated in the future, like about half of the ones we think of as safe. Big takeaway here is that a lot of those service jobs that popped up after the recession – can now just be removed. If we have an onslaught of automation, a lot of people will be doubly and triply hosed.
That may sound like science fiction. Perhaps that’s why folks should be reading more of it, like investors.

– Steven “$2.99 and up” Savage

McDonalds Jumps On The App Train

September 16, 2013 by Steven Savage

Mobile ordering app. Note of course there is a dollar limit because, well, yeah, you do the math.

Now the presence of apps isn’t surprising in the fast food sphere, I just think it’s becoming normalized. But as there’s the move towards more and more remoteness and automation, I keep an eye on trends. You might get called to build one of these – or the next generation.

Now if I can remotely order my automated pizza . . . .

– Steven Savage

What Vending Machines Mean For Progeeks And Their Careers

November 19, 2012 by Steven Savage

Last week I had my in-depth examination of where I think Coinstar is going, and why they could move into food. Not a geeky thing on the top, but very pro geek when you look at target audiences and the technology that will be employed. So, I want to expand on this theory, specifically . . .

If there’s an onslaught of automated vending, what does it mean for we professional geeks? What does it mean for our careers, beyond, you know, easily accessible coffee.

First, let me explain my pursuit of this in the first place:

As noted, I see Coinstar validating vending systems, often unusual ones, with their current plans.
There are a lot of vending devices out there. Be it Shop24, or the bizarre electronic vending machines here in Silicon Valley (really, want to get a DS? An iPod?), it seems vending machines are slowly becoming more and more common.
Vending machines, done right, offer benefits to the consumer: fast, automated service, known stock, constant availability, the potential for useful geographic access, and technical integration.
Vending machines, done right, offer benefits to the provider: predictability, 24/7 access, integration with existing technical systems, less human interface.
Japan, which is infamous for having vending machines for everything, may show potential for success of increased automation.
There is a cultural acceptance of technology that seems to only be increasing.
Changes in people’s living due to gas prices, de-suburbanization, etc. could be taken advantage of by companies providing automation. Or in short, throw the machines where demographics mean you can make money and where you can take advantage of the changes.
Machines can be deployed in many ways. They can be permanent, experimental, even temporary. They can be mobile – imagine strapping a bunch of vending machines onto a truck and driving that thing around to where it’s needed.
Timeshifting. As sad as it is, some people don’t want to take the time to cook, go to an Apple store, or whatever. Vending machines provide that.