😀 Webcam filter, Evolving Wing Drone, EV5 Review #202 / March 24, 2023 (Fri) / Confidential
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Greeting!
In California, it's raining once again today, which is becoming typical. Instead of being enjoyable, the prolonged rain in California brings me more worries than joys. Homeowners are concerned about potential roof leaks and drainage issues with trees in the yard that could fall towards the house. Even those living in apartments prefer not to face such risks. For first-generation immigrants, purchasing a house is often viewed as a means of building wealth rather than renting. Nevertheless, buying a house in the US is not a straightforward process. What are the distinctions between purchasing a home in the US versus Korea?
1. Real Estate Agent
In Korea, the role of a real estate agent is to facilitate communication between the buyer and seller and oversee the contract. In contrast, the US has separate agents for the seller and buyer. While most housing conditions in Korea are standard and managed by a central office, in the US, there is a greater variety of individual houses, each with unique locations, sizes, and defects, making negotiations more complicated. It is interesting to note that in the US, the seller typically pays the agent's commission, which is typically 6% of the house's price, resulting in more work for agents than their Korean counterparts.
2. Mortgage
The word "mortgage" cames from French word, where "mort" means death and "gage" means a pledge. In essence, it means you have to pay off the loan until you die. Therefore, you should be more careful than ever when considering a mortgage. To buy a house, you must first pay about 20% of the house price as a down payment. The government offers loans of 3.5%, 5%, and 10% for first-time homebuyers, but if you don't have 20%, the risk of bankruptcy increases, so you need to take out insurance and pay insurance premiums separately. Most mortgage loans have a fixed interest rate (currently around 5.5% to 6.4%) and are repaid over 15 or 30 years. However, because you pay it off in 30 years, there are many cases where you have to pay almost as much interest as the house price.
3. Bidding War
Popular houses often have intense bidding wars. Those who win the bid usually have a higher contract priority if they pay in cash, bid higher than the listing price, or promise to buy the house regardless of its condition (as is condition). It is said that many (wealthy) people bought houses with all cash when the housing market was hot.
4. Location, Location, Location!
The most sought-after homes in America are those located in good school districts. Even if a home requires repairs, its value will be high if it's in a desirable school district. Elementary, middle, and high schools are informally ranked on a website called "greatschools," with a score of at least 10 out of 10 being considered competitive.
Standalone homes are the most popular, followed by condos and other types of shared housing. Interestingly, Koreans tend to value south-facing homes, while Americans prioritize kitchens that avoid west-facing positions, since people tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Both Koreans and Americans prefer a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a backyard, but homes facing other houses, roads, or freeways are typically avoided.
The term "real estate" is derived from the Latin words "real" (meaning "royal") and "estate" (meaning "property"). However, owning real estate is not an absolute possession, and property taxes must be paid to the government, typically 1.2-1.3% of the home's value. Failure to pay these taxes will result in the government taking ownership. In light of the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, homes are no longer viewed as assets for financial gain but rather as a place for families to live happily under one roof, with the added bonus of forced savings.
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🤗 March 24 Newsletter Summary
1. Tech Trend - More Authentic Video Calls with AI-Powered Webcams
2. Mobility Trend - Evolving Wing Drones for Delivery Services
3. Automotive news this week
- only 33% of American are considering EV
- Concept EV5 review
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TECH - Nvidia's filtuer, Eye Contact, for more authentic conversation
Nvidia has developed a feature called Eye Contact to maintain trust and connection during Zoom meetings where making eye contact is difficult. The AI-based algorithm renders eyes as if they are looking at the camera, even if they are not. If a person turns their head or looks away, the software imitates normal eye movements to provide a smooth transition. This feature is not only useful for Zoom meetings but also for reading prompts during presentations. The Eye Contact feature is similar to Apple's FaceTime feature but with more advanced technology.
#Realtimefakevideo
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Mobility - Evolving Wing Drone Delivery
Just 3-4 years ago, many companies drew blueprints for drone delivery, but significant progress did not seem to be evident. However, Wing, a subsidiary of Google, is advancing its service of delivering coffee, food, and small packages using autonomous flying drones, presenting solutions that overcome realistic hurdles for drone delivery, such as drone design, easy charging, and automatic product loading.
1) Drone Design
Unlike Amazon drones that must land, Wing's drones are excellent at reducing noise with two propellers for horizontal flight and 12 propellers for vertical ascent, without needing to land. They can carry a maximum load of 1.5 kg and can fly up to 120 km/h, reducing unnecessary flight time and energy by using lines for picking up and dropping off goods (maximum 45m height flight). |
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2) Battery Charging Station
Wing has designed a separate delivery/charging network to allow drones to perform continuous tasks without having to unnecessarily return for charging. This solution involves securing pads, such as parking lots where drones can land and take off to charge their batteries using unused land or building rooftop space. This requires hardware such as landing and battery charging pads.
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3) AutoLoader
A smart concept for an automatic loader has been developed to make picking up packages for delivery easier. The mobile Y-shaped device, designed to pick up packages from retail stores such as department stores or pharmacies at minimal cost, may not look sleek but it's quite clever.
Because existing parking spaces can be used, installation costs are low, and the stand does not take up much space, there is still room for small cars to park. When a drone delivery order is received, employees hang the package on the point where the Y meets, and the drone picks it up by dropping a line over the Y.
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The use of an AutoLoader has the potential to improve the speed and simplicity of deliveries, thereby increasing the likelihood of accurate and fast delivery.
While other drone companies are solely focused on conducting their own research, it seems that Wing's drone service is at the forefront of efforts to network delivery services more efficiently.
If the pace of innovation continues, it's possible that a drone delivery service like Yard Delivery, which safely delivers packages to front yards like Amazon's Key Delivery, could become a reality. According to statistics, 75% of Americans have a backyard, and 86% have outdoor living spaces that are accessible for delivery. |
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Automotive - EV market still has a long way to go in the automotive industry
BMW's M Division has announced a groundbreaking plan to increase the sales of BEVs and PHEVs over ICE vehicles by 2027 and reduce ICE vehicle sales to less than 10% of total sales by 2030. It's a remarkable initiative from the M Division, which has already launched two BEVs and is expected to add two more models by the end of this year.
Despite BMW's positive and environmentally-friendly announcement and the goal of making half of all new cars sold by 2030 EVs or other zero-emission eco-friendly vehicles, only 33% of Americans are considering an electric vehicle as their next car, with 31% not considering it at all, according to surveys. When viewed by party affiliation, 50% of Democrats are considering EV purchases, while only 26% of Republicans and 27% of Independents are considering purchasing an electric vehicle. Additionally, 56% of respondents said they would not buy an EV priced at over $50,000, and 36% said they want an EV with a minimum range of 500 miles (about 804km), while 37% want a range of over 300 miles.
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Why don't Republicans like electric vehicles?
1. Technical concerns: Some Republicans are skeptical about the technology and safety of electric vehicles, particularly regarding battery, charging infrastructure shortages, long charging times, and the performance and durability of EVs.
2. Economic issues: Some Republicans argue that the country is providing too much support for the EV industry, placing a burden on the country's economy, and lowering the competitiveness among companies, potentially leading to preference for certain companies.
3. Political reasons: Republicans in strong conservative areas are traditionally critical of environmental regulations and policies related to traditional industries like oil drilling, and have relatively less interest in alternative energy.
4. Other factors: Some Republicans may prioritize the interests of the auto industry, which is closely tied to local politics in some areas, and express concerns about the impact of new technologies like EVs on the auto industry.
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Automotive - Concept EV5 Review
A surprise unveiling of the Concept EV5, the little brother to the EV9 aimed at the Chinese market, has occurred. While maintaining consistency with the EV9, the EV5 design seeks differentiation in certain areas and has been a topic of small talk among Americans. Some expressed their hope for the body color added to the front grill area, where Tiger Nose was located, as an impressive evolution of Digital Tiger Nose. They also hoped that the cool front fascia and lighting elements, and the continuation of the green house area, would be retained in the mass-produced vehicle. Some disagreed, stating that the industrial design emphasized tech too much rather than playful Kia-style emotions, and the rear reminded them of Volvo or Polestar.
Regarding the interior, some felt that the clean design, which contrasts with Tesla's lazy design of simply placing an iPad in the middle of the dashboard, creates a cozy atmosphere and is a testament to the brand's leadership in the industry. The North American release has yet to be confirmed, but if it is released, it would be great to see the implementation of swivel seats and bold butterfly-style suicide doors.
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Kia Design Center America
Written by Jenna Chwee
Email: jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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