Purpose-driven AI, utility scooters, Upcycling denim #227 / January 5, 2024 (Fri) / Confidential |
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The year 2024, the Year of the Wood Dragon, has begun.
Wishing all our subscribers and their families a healthy and prosperous year ahead. 😘
As we embark on this new year, it's a great time to reflect on New Year's Resolutions. My colleagues usually focus on...
-Committing to exercising at least twice a week, resetting the routine annually
-Opting for podcasts or audiobooks instead of music during commutes
-Avoiding phone use while eating alone (who knows if the fork is going in the mouth or the nose!)
-Staying informed
-Reducing sugar intake and achieving a 15% body fat goal
-Journaling
-Reading at least 10 books
-Traveling to a different country
-Avoiding phone use in bed, and more.
I also aim to stay awake while listening to podcasts (preferably like white noise), minimize my intake of drinks, level up on the piano, engage in regular exercise, and practice mindful spending by only purchasing essential items. However, the most important aspect is 'examining my emotions.' As the mileage of age increases, it feels like being caught in an uncontrollable whirlwind of emotions. Instead of passively attributing it to the hormonal roller coaster, I want to embark on a year of better self-understanding by asking myself, "Why do I get angry? Why do I feel melancholic?"
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
Interestingly, the rankings from Statista seem quite similar to those of Koreans.
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[This Week's Content Summary ]
01. Consumer Trend : AI Customized for Purpose
- CarePods, allowing immediate access to healthcare without waiting
- Google's Pixel 8 Pro, increasing the chances of reuniting families with stray dogs
02. Mobility Design
- Emerging form of mobility: utility scooters
03. Automotive Weekly
- Recycled Denim by Denim X
- Biogradable denim by Calik Denim |
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01. Consumer Trend : Purpose-Driven AI Adjustments
- CarePods: Meeting Doctors Without Waiting
In response to the challenges of limited healthcare professionals and financial constraints making it difficult for many around the world to access adequate medical services, the startup Forward has introduced CarePods, operated by AI doctors, attempting to innovate healthcare services through the option of self-care.
Within the standalone device CarePod, users can conduct vital sign measurements, body scans, and blood tests without waiting. Utilizing Forward's app reportedly aids in managing various diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. All the collected body data during visits is transmitted to a collaborative platform between AI and human medical professionals, aiding in disease risk identification and continuous health monitoring.
CarePods are intended for use in everyday locations such as shopping malls, gyms, offices, with plans to double their presence by 2024. Initial launches are scheduled to focus on major cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Forward has secured $100 million in growth capital to manufacture and distribute CarePods, with services operating through a membership model starting at $99 per month. Through this, Forward aims to pursue its goal of providing convenient and affordable healthcare services to a broader audience.
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Amidst the shortage of doctors experienced in various places from the United States to South Korea, Forward's CarePod offers a groundbreaking solution to alleviate this issue, allowing users to bypass the challenges of scheduling appointments. Placed in clustered locations like shopping malls or offices, CarePod provides convenient healthcare services integrated into users' daily lives.
While CarePod cannot completely replace human doctors, it can significantly reduce the waiting times and burdens of the initial stages of medical consultations by focusing on prevention and health monitoring. The AI-based solution utilizes advanced diagnostic technology and generative AI functions to more effectively transform a patient's medical journey. This, in turn, enhances communication between medical professionals and patients, presenting new possibilities by delivering fast and accurate healthcare services. |
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01. Consumer Trend : Purpose-Driven AI Adjustments
- Google's Pixel 8 Pro, increasing the likelihood of reuniting families with stray dogs
Google has unveiled the innovative Pixel Pawtraits Kit for animals awaiting new families in animal shelters. Aimed at addressing the challenge of sheltered animals, especially dogs, facing reduced adoption prospects due to blurry images or poor lighting, the kit provides tools to easily create high-quality photos and videos to help rescued animals find their lost owners more easily.
Each kit includes the $999 Pixel 8 Pro, a stand, background, tripod, and dog toys. Additionally, it offers a guide on using Pixel's AI-based editing tools to eliminate blurriness and create appealing images with features like Magic Erase.
Google Pixel is currently sharing portraits of adoptable dogs through social media channels and introducing the initiative to animal shelters nationwide. The Pixel Pawtraits Kit presents a new opportunity to increase pet adoptions from animal shelters.
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Humans are visual beings, spending a significant amount of time on visually rich social media platforms, becoming increasingly visual in nature. In this context, to enhance the adoption prospects of rescued animals, visually appealing images play a crucial role. Google recognized this concept and proposed the Pixel Pawtraits Kit, aiming to assist dogs in finding better caregivers by providing visually captivating images. This innovation underscores the shining capabilities of the AI-based photo features of the Pixel 8 Pro. Here's hoping that all pets around the world find warm homes during this cold season. |
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02. Design Trend
- Emerging Form of Mobility: Utility Scooter with Cargo Compartment
Canadian startup Scootility aims to create not just a simple means of transportation but a versatile solution for various purposes. Their utility scooter, equipped with a lockable storage pod of 140 liters, is an independent electric scooter designed for personal mobility and urban delivery tasks. Unlike upright electric bicycles, it provides riders with a higher position on the road, offering a broader view. The smaller wheels contribute to increased cargo space, and with the application of full suspension, the scooter is designed to significantly mitigate the impact and vibrations from the road. |
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03. Automotive Weekly : Weekly Highlights
1. Best-selling EVs in Specific Regions: California-led, Seattle, Vegas, Washington witnessing increased market share.
2. Fisker and Vinfast Shift Focus from Direct Sales to Dealerships: Opting for dealerships deemed more costly than contracting with dealers directly.
3. Chip Shortage Issue Turns into Chip Surplus: Mobileye and others impacted in Q1 due to chip oversupply, anticipating battery surplus by 2030. |
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03. Automotive Weekly : Recycled Denim by Denim X
After four years of research, designer Marc Meijers has developed a method called DenimX, utilizing denim waste to create high-quality lifestyle products for furniture, lighting, safety equipment, and the automotive industry.
The three-dimensional products, crafted by combining recycled denim fibers and biodegradable plastics, are both trendy and robust. The versatility of these products lies in the ability to freely adjust thickness using reinforced fiber materials. Each recycled fiber is designed to maintain unique visual characteristics, showcasing a blend of creativity and sustainability in the production of these lifestyle items.
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03. Automotive Weekly : Biogradable denim by Calik Denim
Italian denim brands like Candiani Denim used to supply about 50% of global denim production in the 1990s. However, the denim industry faced a significant crisis in the late 90s as denim brands declined. The rise of American denim brands like 7 for All Mankind and Lucky Brand, focusing on California vibes showcased in early 2000s movies, helped reinvigorate the denim industry. Candiani Denim, in particular, played a leading role in globalizing denim by supplying to LA.
Now, with over 20 billion denim products produced annually, clothing waste piles up like mountains. As the fashion industry transitions to a circular model, the focus on making fashion waste biodegradable from the start is crucial, especially since recycled clothing accounts for only 1% of the total production.
Innovators worldwide are developing new fiber solutions to reduce denim waste, highlighting a global effort to address the issue of denim waste.
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Last December, during the year-end vacation, I had a brief trip to Vegas. This year, unable to visit CES, I went on a family trip, reminiscing about my previous Tesla rides to Vegas, making charging a routine. However, frequent use of defrost in the chilly winter weather and the complaint from my husband about the insufficient warmth in the heating wind, even when set to HI, made me realize that charging is now a trivial part of daily life.
One valuable takeaway from this trip is discovering some great Vegas eateries. As it was a last-minute decision, we skipped The Sphere show due to high prices, with even the wall-end seats costing around $200 per person.
I'd like to recommend a place for a delicious breakfast called The Omelethouse. It mainly serves breakfast, and their Lobster Benedict is truly delightful, priced at around $18. Established in 1979, this restaurant boasts a history and tradition that allows you to experience true American vibes.
Another gem is the cheese cake inside Ellis Island, a small restaurant in a deteriorating hotel on the Vegas Strip. I only had the Prime Rib, which was quite good (I wouldn't recommend the steak). It's advisable to avoid busy hours at both places.
For travelers visiting Vegas, I recommend these spots, though they may not be considered upscale. Now, my stomach is growling... hungry~
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Kia Design America
Written by Jenna Chwee jchwee@hatci.com101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606 714-472-1188Unsubscribe |
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