Google building driverless cars in Detroit

Perhaps the Motor City is making a well deserved comeback? Google are apparently already in the process of building driverless cars in Detroit:

 

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/26839/20150115/google-already-building-self-driving-cars-in-detroit.htm

 

Google: Driverless cars on the road by 2020

Another big step by Google: they now plan to have test cars on the public roads by 2020. Naturally, such cars will be driverless.

 

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/27236/20150119/google-pushing-for-driverless-cars-in-the-market-by-2020.htm

 

Google Translate... in real time?

It sounds like the realm of science fiction, but Google claim that their Translate tool can now be used in real time:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30812277

 

I will download the app when I get home and trial it to see if it is really as good as it seems. The possibilities are endless.

World's Biggest Cargo Ship

The amazing information on The Globe, currently the world’s biggest cargo ship:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30696685

 

The article also points to around 22,500 tonnage being the maximum ships can carry, not down to anything other than the ability of modern ports to accommodate them.

Tesco closing stores

Troubled Tesco have announced they are going to close 43 stores:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30712762

 

Nick is no more!

Lord Sugar’s trusty advisor, Nick Hewer is leaving The Apprentice after 10 years. Nick was an original member of the BBC show, who has gained a reputation for pulling some incredible faces at some of the silly schemes and behaviour of the candidates. Nick has branched out and now presents Countdown on Channel 4.

 

Nick who is 70, has blamed the hectic and gruelling filming schedule on his decision. It does beg the question of whether will Alan Sugar step down at the same time as his old friend?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30527547

 

Son of HOTOL

Skylon is a new aircraft/spacecraft with an improved design from that very British concept, HOTOL (Horizontal Takeoff and Landing). HOTOL once promised London to Sydney in less than an hour by taking off like a plane then heading into orbit, before descending back down to land on an airport runway.

 

More information on the latest developments here:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/08/tech/innovation/spaceship-reinvented/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

 

Flying Car is on its way!

Once thought the preserve of Science Fiction, it now seems there is a genuine race to create the world’s first flying car. This article goes into more detail:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/14/tech/innovation/tomorrow-transformed-race-to-build-flying-car/?cid=ob_articlesidebarall&iref=obinsite

 

Are comments moribund?

Thanks to online trolls it now seems websites are now being phased out:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/tech/web/online-comment-sections/?cid=ob_articlesidebarall&iref=obinsite

 

How to get ahead in China... if you are a brand!

Top brands in China share the secret of their success:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23364230

 

How to win over customers in South Africa

KFC boss gives tips on how to win over South African consumers:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29953000

 

History of Tesco Clubcard

Good article on the Tesco Clubcard’s origins:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30095454

 

Billionaires did well at school!

This article has some evidence that is reassuring in a way for pupils and students who are motivated and want to do well… the vast majority of billionaires went to university and are highly educated.

 

Sometimes pupils are misled a bit by the success stories of Richard Branson and others who left school with no qualifications… but no everyone is lucky enough like Branson to have a millionaire relative who financed his early failures.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29786836

 

Hearts go for the "Living Wage"

Scottish football club Hearts are introducing a living wage at the club. This will affect staff employed on a part-time and contract basis.

 

Hearts owner Ann Budge told the Edinburgh club's website: "We believe it is entirely in keeping with the values we hold dear as a club."

 

The living wage is updated annually and calculated according to the cost of living in the UK.

 

As of October 2014 the living wage is £7.65 an hour, while the minimum wage for over-21s is £6.50.

Supermarkets and Suppliers

Great article on the supply chain of supermarkets:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29629742

 

Major brands to slash their TV advertising budgets

Apple, Pepsi and McDonald’s are among the major companies who are cutting their TV advertising budgets as they now recognise the increasing value of social media and online advertising. This also comes hot on the heels of Kraft who have seen a big deal with Google gain valuable returns.

 

However, the daddy of them all, Coca Cola, is not mentioned. And as we know, Coca Cola’s distribution and advertising methods are second to none.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/omnicom-tells-advertisers-to-shift-tv-spend-to-online-video-2014-10

 

Hewlett Packard to split into two

Another example of a demerger in action.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29501235

 

Young people lack skills for work...

Says this survey.

 

Hopefully this skills gap can be addressed.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29454002

Tesco in South Korea

Tesco’s incredible virtual store in Seoul:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJVoYsBym88

 

Future City 2020?

This interactive page outlines what the future high street may look like in a few years. Many of its concepts seemed inspired by the sci-fi movie Minority Report. Others are concepts in the prototype stage.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28461134

 

Impact of protests on Hong Kong Tourism

The first week in October is a national holiday in Hong Kong called “Golden Week”. This article highlights the issues surrounding the potential for a dip in tourism.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29438025

 

Technology: A welcome return from an old frriend!

Microsoft’s Windows 10 is here and our old friend the START menu is back!

 

http://mashable.com/2014/09/30/microsoft-windows-10/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link

 

Business Books That Changed the World... and inspired entrepreneurs

The likes of Warren Buffet and Donald Trump have been inspired by books that changed their life and gave them a head start in business:

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/30/business/best-business-books-entrepreneurs/

 

Google Glass in Action!

Edinburgh Airport staff are using Google Glass for real! The workers are using the innovative technology to deal with customer enquries.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-29425349

 

Ebay Demerger

Another good example of demerger… Ebay splitting off PayPal from its operations:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29423251

 

Innovate or Die!

 

Great article on how businesses need to keep moving forward or face extinction.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28865268

 

Rollable TVs

This was from earlier in the year, the advent of paper thin, rollable TVs:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28245659

 

The arrival of the smartwatch

It has been long in the offing but now Samsung and LG have introduced their new gadget: the smartwatch.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28966866

 

Apple are due to enter the fray with the launch of their own smartwatch sometime next month.

 

De La Rue

A fascinating article looking at De La Rue, the company who has the lucky job of printing money!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27888665

 

Polar Explorer Craig Mathieson

Today our pupils met Scottish Polar Explorer Craig Mathieson. Craig told of his experiences and ordeals as he led the first ever Scottish Antarctic expedition to the South Pole. He was incredibly interesting and motivating. Our pupils were enaged for the entire time and you could hear a pin drop when he told of some of his more difficult challenges… which he just brushed off with a steely determination.

 

 

I will not spoil the talk here, but I am sure you can find more about Craig and his charity Polar Academy at his website: http://mathiesonexplorer.com/