According to a report on Patently Apple, the U.S. patent and trademark office just published two patent applications from Apple that are very relevant to the retail eyewear business.The filings includes “a powerful new vision correction optical system that's able to incorporate a user's eyewear prescription into the system. The system will then alter the optics to address vision issues such as...

Most US consumers are worried about the economy. Grocers, mass retailers, convenience stores, and drugstore chains will need to carefully refine their value strategies.COVID-19 has exacted a heavy toll on the United States, claiming lives as well as livelihoods. In some parts of the country, the public-health crisis is showing signs of abating—but economic issues are now starting to take cente...

So much of our life involves buttons and touchscreens, but what if you didn’t need to touch them? Zero-touch technology could make it safe to use elevators and ATMs again.It still isn’t clear how easily the coronavirus spreads on surfaces—the CDC says that it’s possible to become infected by touching a virus-covered surface and then touching your face, though it’s “not thought to be the m...

Retail sales in the US jumped 17.7 percent from a month earlier in May of 2020, recovering from a record 14.7 percent fall in April, and much better than forecasts of an 8 percent increase. It is the biggest rise on record as Americans went back to work and many stores reopened after the coronavirus lockdown. Biggest increases were seen in stores with clothing (188 percent); furniture (89.7 per...

A roll of the new beetle-inspired material that can passively cool things.Heating and cooling systems are some of the biggest consumers of energy, so finding ways to passively cool buildings and electronics could be a huge saver of money and the environment. A new photonic film could be just the ticket, made with a micro-structure inspired by a beetle that likes it hot.The focus of the study wa...

Even in the midst of a pandemic, Tesla continues to reach new heights.The company, which began as a problem-plagued upstart a little over 15 years ago, has now become the world’s most valuable automaker – surpassing industry giants such as Toyota and Volkswagen.This milestone comes after a year of steady growth, which only hit a speed bump earlier this year due to COVID-19’s negative impact...

Gym chain 24 Hour Fitness filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday but expects to remain operating – and reopen most of its locations – during the process.The San Ramon, California, chain expects to get $250 million in financing to assist in the restructuring of its operations, the company announced Monday.24 Hour Fitness, which submitted its filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District...

Upheaval in the restaurant industry propels automation concepts.Will people really want to get their pizza from a robotic vending machine, as a new food automation company called Piestro is betting? Yes, yes they will, and here's why.The best telepresence hardware to go beyond video conferencing and make remote work truly collaborative.As anyone who pays attention to the food and beverage space...

Qustodio's 2020 report on apps and digital natives answers that question and gives parents expert tips to help their families thrive in a hyper-connected world.By the start of 2020, before the coronavirus lockdowns, children were spending more time online than ever before. Doctors, psychologists and even the creators of apps themselves, were sounding alarms about online privacy, safety and well...