Sep 02, 2021Presented here are recent news announcements regarding the following organizations: Savi Technology, Wind River, Essence SmartCare, Deutsche Telekom, Universal Electronics, Apple TV and Modern Art Cartel.
RFID Company Savi Technology Files for Bankruptcy
Savi Technology, a provider of supply chain visibility software and sensor technology, has announced plans to close its commercial software business and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while restructuring, in order to focus on its government contracts and customers. Savi is the sole awardee for the active RFID V contract, which has a $42 million ceiling for the firm to equip the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies with hardware, software and support services. Its products include RFID tags, readers, satellite communications and portable deployment kits.
Savi's RFID infrastructure for the Internet of Things (IoT) provides "always on" information regarding the location and condition of in-transit supplies and equipment, the company reports, enabling critical situational awareness for emergency response or military operations. Its smart technologies and connected devices support mission readiness in hostile environments, enabling warfighters, first-responders and military logisticians to manage and track personnel, equipment and sustainment cargo.
"For more than 30 years, the DoD has trusted Savi to support its complex and critical logistics needs around the world, and we are proud to continue this strong partnership," said Rosemary Johnston, Savi's CEO, in a prepared statement. "Our asset-tracking technology and in-transit visibility services, along with our pioneering leadership in military RFID systems, will provide warfighters with the logistics tools they need to fulfill the mission today and tomorrow."
Savi's chairman, Sean McGuinness, added in the statement, "We expect to reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy as a stronger and leaner operation. We want to reassure our customers that Savi will continue to honor our commitments for exceptional service, products and support as we restructure the business and focus on delivering in-transit visibility and asset-tracking capabilities to the warfighters."
Wind River Publishes Study on Intelligent Systems
Software provider Wind River has issued research titled "The 13 Characteristics of an Intelligent Systems Future," which examines the technology characteristics roadmap for mission-critical intelligent systems. The study reports that the critical elements for success depend on the right timing of key system characteristics for a rapidly evolving intelligent systems machine economy.
By 2030, the study indicates, $7 trillion of the U.S. economy will be driven by the machine economy, in which systems and business models engage in a way to unlock the power of data and new technology platforms. Intelligent systems, the report notes, drive the machine economy and the Internet of Things. Fueling this future is the growth of 5G, artificial intelligence, automation and cloud-native technologies, as well as an increasing intersection of IoT and the edge, opening up possibilities for applications at the far edge, such as robotics, drones, telemedicine and autonomous vehicles.
The report surveyed technology executives from various mission-critical industries and identified 13 trends for which industry leaders must prepare. The research found that 80 percent of technology leaders seek intelligent systems success within the next five years. Success in this machine economy, the study explains, will be dictated by the technology approaches and capabilities that are built now.
Sixty-two percent of technology leaders are putting into place strategies to move to an intelligent systems future, while 16 percent are already committed, investing and performing strongly. These businesses, the study estimates, could realize four times more ROI than their peers who are equally committed but not organized for success in the same way. Those who are succeeding have prioritized overcoming key challenges, such as skill shortages and ongoing cyber-threats, which were two of the barriers most commonly cited by the study's respondents.
"In a growing machine economy driven by intelligent systems, humans and machines are on the path where data will exponentially increase the volume, type and quality of work that is possible, across all industries. These new use cases will demand more complex computing workloads, data and analytics, and often, it must happen in real time," said Michael Gale, Wind River's chief marketing officer, in a prepared statement. "Wind River is at the forefront, helping companies address the complexities surrounding the secure development, deployment, operations and servicing of mission-critical intelligent systems for the next generation."
With regard to building intelligent systems, the study identified three key phases: preparing the right infrastructure, foundational needs and longer-term characteristics. The study indicates that four of the 13 characteristics form 55 percent of the total possible impact from all key characteristics combined: true computing at the edge (25 percent), a common workflow platform (9 percent), artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities (11 percent) and having an ecosystem of real-time applications (10 percent).
Essence SmartCare Deploys One Million-Plus IoT Devices
Essence SmartCare, part of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider Essence Group, has announced that it has deployed a million digital devices in the senior-care sector, and that it anticipates further rapid growth in the future. "I am delighted to see how, in a relatively short period of time, Essence SmartCare has established itself as a leading provider of remote-care monitoring and senior-care solutions," said Haim Amir, the founder and CEO of Essence Group, in a prepared statement.
"As we continue to expand into new global markets," Amir said in the statement, "we can affirm our commitment to providing seniors with reliable and efficient solutions that provide peace of mind to them and their families." Essence SmartCare provides remote-care monitoring solutions for the senior-care and assisted-living sectors. With the recent establishment of its German operations, the company operates in 25 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Oceania and Europe.
"We started Essence SmartCare to answer the needs of a growing senior population by providing complete, yet unobtrusive, monitoring and protective solutions," added Barak Katz, the firm's general manager, in a prepared statement. "With the addition of remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions to our portfolio, we believe that we can truly allow senior citizens to live safely and independently. We are grateful to all our global partners for their support and trust, which enables us to continue introducing solutions that improve the provision of care."
In September 2020, Essence SmartCare launched MDsense, a fall-detection solution for elderly and vulnerable populations. In May of this year, the company expanded into the RPM space with the launch of its VitalOn health-monitoring platform for seniors and individuals living with chronic conditions. Essence SmartCare also offers LTE-enabled senior-care gateways and personal-safety solutions.
Deutsche Telekom Offers BLE-enabled UEI TV Remote for Apple TV
As part of its Apple TV 4K service, German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom is offering customers a voice-enabled Apple TV 4K remote control designed for multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) from Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI), a provider of wireless universal control solutions for home entertainment and smart-home devices.
The remote allows users to directly access MagentaTV's electronic program guide, as well as access Siri for voice control, and it provides backlighting and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity. Subscribers can watch live and on-demand content, access Apple TV+, buy and rent thousands of movies and TV shows, and view content from other streaming services, as well as Apple Music and Apple Arcade.
"It was a great experience working with Deutsche Telekom to provide its customers with the Apple TV remote," said Steve Gutman, UEI's senior VP of global sales for subscription broadcast, in a prepared statement. "DT is one of the first providers to offer this remote, and we look forward to enhancing the television experience for consumers across the globe with our Apple TV remote, one of our most exciting new offerings."
The remote combines BLE connectivity with infrared to provide universal control, the company reports. Customers can ask Siri to find content across live TV and streaming apps, and the device comes with modeless support and universal control of Apple TV, as well as televisions and audio devices from various manufacturers. The integrated BLE chipset enables voice control, while Apple's MFi authentication chip allows secure connectivity with Apple TV, and an accelerometer and ambient light sensor backlight keys in low-light environments when the remote is picked up or moved.
Modern Art Cartel Combines Artwork, AI, RFID
Modern Art Cartel has announced that it has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital artist called MysterioAI, which creates non-fungible token (NFTs) or collectible digital assets. The company's events employ RFID and QR technologies to deliver immersive, in-person art experiences. Its collective of contemporary artists helps businesses, developers, interior designers and homeowners create inspirational spaces through modern art, and NFTs are among the collections featured.
Modern Art Cartel says it seeks artists that push boundaries, concepts, ideas, mediums, technology and talent, then selects and invites them to join its collective. It typically recruits artists via social media, industry events and referrals. Once an artist has been added, Modern Art Cartel handles the business end for them, managing sales, marketing and operations so they can focus on creating art, and it holds events that utilize radio frequency identification technologies to showcase their art. The artists utilize a variety of mediums, materials and styles, and many have received media coverage and awards.
"I created the Modern Art Cartel along with my long-time friend, Rafael Scasserra," said Mark D'Onofrio, Modern Art Cartel's CEO, in a prepared statement. "We did it because of our love of art." Scasserra is an artist, while D'Onofrio is a technology entrepreneur. The two partners curate a group of what D'Onofrio calls "art misfits." As he explained in the prepared statement, "Each artist has a personal style and is focused on changing the art game. We're pushing the boundaries of art through our creations, materials, collaborations and technology innovations, and I'm excited about what the future holds."
