Tony D'Onofrio
Technology
The Surprising Start and Success of Your Favorite Technologies
Our physical retail and digital innovation exploration journey so far:
Part 1 - We explored the humble beginnings of department stores, supermarkets, and the first use of a bar code in a physical store; Part 2 - We expanded our innovation journey to ecommerce, smartphones, and robots; Part 3 -We shifted to loss prevention technologies: cash registers, CCTV cameras, and Electronic Article Surveillance; Part 4 - Fast rising RFID, Self-checkouts, and the Internet of Things (IoT) made an appearance.
In this Part 5, we geo-locate ourselves with GPS, go wireless with Wi-Fi, and become influencers on Social Media.
The First Use of GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS), as you might have guessed, has their origin in space, the final frontier. In 1957, Russia launched Sputnik, the first successful space satellite. Scientists at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at John Hopkins University observing the strange radio signals discovered what became known as the Doppler Effect.
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The Surprising Start and Success of your Favorite Technologies
In Part 1 of this series, we explored the humble beginnings of department stores, supermarkets, and the first use of a bar code in a physical store. In Part 2, we expanded our innovation journey to ecommerce, smartphones, and robots. In Part 3, we shifted to loss prevention technologies some of which have become powerful workhorses in store operations: cash registers, CCTV cameras, and Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS).
In this Part 4, we provide some definite answers on the start and adoption rates of RFID, we seek more contactless answers with self-checkout, and we travel on the Internet and discover more things.
First Use of RFID
The consensus is that the roots of radio frequency identification can be traced back to World War 2. “The Germans, Japanese, Americans and British were all using radar—which had been discovered in 1935 by Scottish physicist Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt—to warn of approaching planes while they were still miles away.” The challenge was identifying the planes and whether they were friends or foe.
“The Germans discovered that if pilots rolled their planes as they returned to base, it would change the radio signal reflected back. This crude method alerted the radar crew on the ground that these were German planes and not Allied aircraft (this is, essentially, the first passive RFID system).”
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The Surprising Start and Success of Your Favorite Technologies
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically accelerated the adoption of technology in business, enabling companies to optimize their operations and meet changing consumer expectations. In Part 1 of this article series, we discussed the origin and success of department stores, supermarkets, and the retail bar code.
Let’s continue this exploration of the past to discover the success of the future. In Part 2, we review e-commerce, smartphones, and robots. Now ubiquitous in our lives, how did they get their start and what can we expect in the future?
First Item Purchased Online
Sometimes it seems hard to believe there was a time before online shopping. Today, we can order basically anything, from books and housewares to groceries and cleaning supplies, to be delivered right to our door in just a few days. That convenience has certainly paid off, but how exactly did we get here.
As with other emerging technologies, one can debate the origin of e-commerce. Candidates include a pizza, weed, a CD, or computer parts.
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Post-World War II, technology has been the primary engine driving the retail industry's transformation through three powerful megatrends. As we approach the perfect vision year 2020, this article summarizes the state of the third and most important megatrend: mobile communications and the smartphone.
The term 'smartphone' first appeared in 1995, three years after IBM introduced Simon which was the first phone that combined a cell calling capabilities with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Simon was on the market for six months and only 50,000 units were sold.
Fifteen years after Simon, in 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone by saying, "Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything." Apple and all the other competitive smartphone variations are forever disrupting multiple industries including retail.
Mobile Eats the World
According to the latest GSMA Mobile Economy 2019 research, "by the end of 2018, 5.1 billion people around the world subscribed to mobile services, accounting for 67% of the global population." Over the next seven years, 710 million people will join the mobile revolution, bringing to total to 5.8 billion (71% of the global population).
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Originally published as a four-part series, this is the long-read version consolidating the latest research of the global forward march of facial recognition technologies. From Apple normalizing its acceptance, to disruption in the retail / security / healthcare industries, to the emergence of China as the FaceID innovation laboratory, and the ever-growing new global applications, we stare into your auspicious Internet of Things (IoT) future.
Your Face is The Next Computer Cookie
In January 2018, in a D&D Daily "Live from NY" interview, we debated the impact of iPhoneX on FaceID technologies. This new Apple iPhoneX had just placed the disruptive future of facial recognition technology in our pockets.
Less than a year later, it is surprising to observe the continued advanced deployments of FaceID solutions, especially outside the United States. For 2018, the global facial recognition market is valued at $3.97 billion and is estimated to reach $10.15 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 14.35% during the forecast period.
Unlocking Smartphones with Your Face is Only the Beginning
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The Surprising Global Forward March of Facial Recognition - Part 4
In Part 1, we introduced your face as the next computer cookie and discussed USA/UK retail applications.
In Part 2, we faced the reality that more FaceID disruptions is coming to the security industry, introduced healthcare applications, and concluded with GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft) investments.
In Part 3, we traveled to China, THE world's leading face recognition innovation laboratory.
In this Part 4, we look at the growing list of emerging FaceID applications, introduce defeating technologies, discuss privacy, and close the series with insights on our digitally connected future. The genie on the potential disruption and business opportunities of face recognition solutions is out of the global bottle.
The Face of an Increasingly Digital World
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The Surprising Global Forward March of Facial Recognition - Part 3
China is now THE world FaceID innovation laboratory. Country is installing over 600 million CCTV cameras, see the fining of jaywalkers through video, the pace of Asia digital retail change, and face recognition being deployed in 11,000 7-Eleven stores in Thailand.
These Cool Sunglasses Just FaceID You
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The Surprising Global Forward March of Facial Recognition - Part 2
In Part 1 of this FaceID article series, we explored retail applications in USA / UK and were introduced to the face as the next computer cookie. Part 2 introduces us to GAFAM and face recognition in the security and health care industry sectors.
Security has been a primary market for face recognition for some time. Threats of terrorism and violent crime have accelerated its adoption by governments and law enforcement worldwide.
STOP, I Can Digitally See You Now
With a 25% CAGR, the security sector is leading facial recognition deployments worldwide.
From London, Tokyo, Helsinki, Rome and now to Atlanta in USA, airports worldwide are adopting FaceID solutions. Delta Airlines will soon roll out ' curb to gate' facial recognition for travelers departing out of the International Terminal F in Atlanta, the first biometric terminal in the United States. Smile for the camera at self-service check-in including baggage, through security checkpoints, and boarding your flight. Using the technology is optional and will save travelers up to nine minutes per flight.
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Your Face is The Next Computer Cookie
In January 2018, in a D&D Daily "Live from NY" interview, we debated the impact of iPhoneX on FaceID technologies. This new Apple iPhoneX had just placed the disruptive future of facial recognition technology in our pockets.
Less than a year later, it is surprising to observe the continued advanced deployments of FaceID solutions, especially outside the United States. For 2018, the global facial recognition market is valued at $3.97 billion and is estimated to reach $10.15 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 14.35% during the forecast period.
Unlocking Smartphones with Your Face is Only the Beginning
Very interesting is the mix of the major organizations investing in face recognition. Out of the top 10, eight are academic entities with most based in China. The only USA university that makes the top 10 is Carnegie Mellon. Microsoft leads the top 10 followed by Samsung which already has 186 patents in facial recognition.
Over the next several weeks, in four parts, we will delve into the latest adoption trends of facial recognition. This first post will explore selected USA / UK retail developments and introduce FaceID as your computer cookie.
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The Internet, mobile and social media have forever transformed the distribution of viral messaging. No longer the best kept secret, at the center of successful communication is the medium of video.
82% of Twitter users watch video content on Twitter. More than 500 million hours of videos are watched on YouTube each day. Ten million videos are watched on Snapchat per day. Over 500 million (half a BILLION) people are watching video on Facebook every day. The Top 10 YouTube stars of 2017 generated over $110 million in personal pre-tax income. Every second, a million minutes (17,000 hours) of video content will cross global IP networks by 2021.
Having a passion for powerful visual communications, weekly through my personal website I share one to three new videos. As we enter the fourth quarter, it is time to showcase my 2018 top five amazing innovation leadership videos.
Five Technologies Changing Shopping Malls Forever
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It is a Small World
"Die of Success? Give me a break. We've only just started." - Amancio Ortega, Zara's Founder
Continuing our global journey to learn something new our next stop is the retailer Zara. As of January 2023, the Inditex group which includes Zara operated nearly 6,000 stores worldwide.
In 1963, Amancio Ortega opened Confecciones GOA, a small dressmaking workshop in La Coruna in Galicia, Spain. Zara was born in 1975 and originally it was called Zorba, an inspiration from Amancio’s favorite movie ‘Zorba the Greek’. Turns out a bar nearby already had taken the Zorba name.
The Inditex Group was born in 1985 as a holding group to bring multiple companies, including Zara under one banner. Inditex actually stands for ‘Industria de Diseño Textil’.
Zara’s designers create 40,000 new designs annually, out of which up to 12,000 go into production. From the design stage to production, distribution, and appearing for sale in a Zara store, it takes up to 15 days (industry average is 4 to 6 months). Annually, the company produces 500 million pieces of clothing.
Most global fashion brands pump 3% to 7% of their revenues into advertising. For Zara, the advertising budget is 0.3% and most of it is used on store displays. 85% of the clothes are sold at full price.
La Coruna and visiting Inditex stores throughout the world such as this Zara in Milan was one of my favorite retail activities. Their focus on innovation and continuous improvement have also been a core inspiration to my career. As the opening quote from Amancio reminds us, if you truly enjoy what you are doing, every day, you are just getting started.
Categories
Brilliant Research
Shoppers force retailers to face ever-changing digital marketing dynamics
Online shoppers continue to open and purchase from email marketing. Facebook advertising is the social channel most likely to lead to a purchase. 55% of online shoppers surveyed don’t purchase as a result of influencers. - From Digital Commerce 360 Read more
Smart Infographic
Nvidia Joins the Trillion Dollar Club
America’s largest semiconductor company has vaulted past the $1 trillion market capitalization mark, a milestone reached by just a handful of companies including Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. - From Visual Capitalist
Insightful Videos
Why Converting Passenger Planes To Cargo Jets Costs Millions -CNBC
With the demand for converting retired passenger planes into cargo haulers surging, this lucrative trend allows these older jets to serve a new mission, transporting goods ranging from produce to pharmaceuticals worldwide. Read more
