The document discusses three emerging technologies: 1) Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology used in their Amazon Go Grocery stores that allows customers to shop and walk out without waiting in line; 2) Augmented reality used for business meetings and collaboration through headsets from Microsoft and Oculus; 3) Extended uses of 3D printing like bioprinting human body parts and architectural structures from companies like Wake Forest Institute and WinSun.

1. EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
WEEKLY #4
JAN 27 2021 | Rufaro Musvosvi
ADVE709-A02 | Prof. Gauri Misra-Deshpandei

2. TASK
Research any 3 new technologies that are not
yet mainstream but show potential of becoming
customer facing. Write a 100 word paragraph for
each technology, who has developed it and what
kind of backing it has received.
WEEKLY #4
JAN 27 2021 | Rufaro Musvosvi

3. TECH #1
“JUST WALK OUT”
In February 2020, Amazon opened the first Go Grocery
store in Seattle, which is a variation of their Amazon Go
stores, made available to the public in a few cities in 2018.
When shoppers arrive at the store, they sign into their
Amazon account and the technology allows them to shop
around as they normally would. When they are finished, the
shopper can simply walk out of the store without needing
to wait in a line for a cashier or self-service kiosk to scan
their individual items. The charge for the goods is placed
on their Amazon account and they are sent a receipt
immediately when they leave.
JAN 27 2021 | Rufaro Musvosvi
The store uses what Amazon calls their “Just Walk Out”
technology, which utilizes computer vision, sensor fusion
and deep learning to track the shoppers. Smartphones and
geofencing technology allow streamlined use, inform
supply chain and manage inventory. Currently there are
less than 30 stores, but Amazon hopes to expand
significantly in the next few years. Initially, they planned to
open 3,000 stores by 2021, but they are admittedly still
learning. The tech itself is mostly well received, however,
many of the stores have had to integrate the option to use
cash in response to potential discrimination against people
who are low-income or are otherwise only able to pay with
cash.

4. TECH #2
AUGMENTED REALITY FOR OFFICE
Virtual reality is common knowledge, but its
actual usage is far less common. Typically, VR use
is associated with entertainment, more
specifically gaming. Part of the reason that it is
not as widely used is because it is not yet
considered essential technology. However, with
the increase in distance learning, remote work
and other forms of physical distancing, there has
been an increase in interest in augmented reality,
which overlaps the real-world environment with
a virtual or augmented one.
JAN 27 2021 | Rufaro Musvosvi
This finds its use in business meetings, learning
platforms and other collaborative/group spaces.
Altspace VR by Microsoft is an example of this
type of technological advancement. The
headsets allow meeting attendees with headsets
to meet in hologram form. Oculus (Facebook) has
joined the race to augmented reality with its
Oculus Quest 2. Their headsets have the
capability to run business-ready software, allow
companies and their employees to meet, train
and collaborate.

5. TECH #3
3D PRINTING (EXTENDED USES)
Like VR, 3D printing is common knowledge, but not as
commonly used by the average person. However, after the
patent on 3D printing expired in 2009, new uses of 3D
printing are on the rise and are potential game changers in
a variety of industries including health and architecture.
Regular 3D printers are available for individuals to
purchase, but the cost is quite prohibitive, but as with
every technology, the more they are used, the lower the
pricing is getting. Most 3D printers are used in
development for companies in manufacturing or research.
3D bioprinting is used in places like the Wake Forest
Institute for Regenerative Medicine to print human ears
from their own cells that can be sewn onto the patient.
JAN 27 2021 | Rufaro Musvosvi
There are currently many efforts to print functioning vital
organs like hearts and kidneys, but those require more
research. Architectural companies are also using 3D
printing to reduce time and material, by using 3D printing
for structures like bridges, offices, and homes. For now,
these are used in combination with other architectural
techniques, with the leader in the technology being
WinSun, a Chinese company that says they can print 10
houses a day (it is unclear whether or not the houses are
currently occupied).