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Google has upgraded its Street View cameras for the first time in 8 years — and the implications are worrying

Google Street View Car A Google Street View car. Flickr / Sancho McCann

You’re about to see a lot more on Google Street View — and Street View’s about to see a lot more of you.

Google has upgraded the cameras for its mapping service for the first time in eight years to capture sharper images with more detail.

According to a profile in Wired, the new cameras are so sharp they might be able to see a store’s hours from a sign. And they’re feeding all that granular data back to Google’s machine-learning algorithms.

Like their predecessors, the new cameras will sit atop Google-branded cars, capturing information about the world and taking still, HD images on either side.

Better imagery should mean a more useful service. The head of Google’s mapping division, Jen Fitzpatrick, says people no longer search just for their addresses on Google Street View.

“People are coming to us every day with harder and deeper questions,” she told Wired, such as, “What’s a Thai place open now that does delivery to my address?”

Google has already invested huge amounts into artificial intelligence and machine learning, and it’s using that technology to scan Street View data to answer conversational queries.

Eventually, Fitzpatrick wants Google to be able to answer people’s questions that are even more conversational, like what the pink building down the road is.

“These are questions we can only answer if we have richer and deeper information,” she said.

What is less obvious is what else Google can figure out from the new Street View data and how it might use the information.

Wired reports that a team of Stanford researchers — including Google’s chief scientist at its cloud division, Fei-Fei Li — found they could use Street View data to predict income, race, and voting patterns. The team used software that analysed the make, model, and year of cars from Street View photos.

At the time, the team said, “Using the classified motor vehicles in each neighborhood, we infer a wide range of demographic statistics, socioeconomic attributes, and political preferences of its residents.”

What could Google figure out with even more detailed data?

When Wired asked Google whether it had planned anything similar, a representative said the company was always looking for ways to use Street View data to improve its platforms — including beyond maps.

How bitcoin, blockchain and cryptocurrencies can be a safe haven in times of crisis

What is your safe haven? What precautions do you have in place for that “Oh, my goodness” time where you need some protection?

Safe havens are needed in several areas of life. One is your home and the shelter you have in times of dangerous weather. In the Midwest, where I grew up, tornadoes were common, and it was normal to have a cellar or basement stocked with supplies for the family for a few days.

Financial planners advise their clients to have a safety fund for times of emergency. This would include a few months of living expenses, the proper types of insurance, some cash on hand in case ATMs are inoperable, and more.

I like a site called Organize-You.com that gives checklists and guides on essential documents and preparation steps to take for wills, health-related matters and more. Economist Mary Kelly, Ph.D., a professor at the United States Air Force Academy, has put together a valuable checklist that you will want to see.

People in countries like Venezuela, Cyprus, Poland, Argentina and others are vividly aware that their money in the bank is not completely safe. Those funds in the bank can be, and have been, confiscated by governments when a time of crisis comes.

You think it couldn’t happen in the USA? I remind you about Executive Order #6102, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made it illegal to own gold in the United States. Those who did not turn in their gold were arrested by the Secret Service. Yes, it can (and did) happen in the USA.

A safe haven

A popular safe haven today for many is cryptocurrencies related to blockchain. In countries like Venezuela, people are losing their currency (the Bolivar) to inflation. Many are using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to have a safe haven in times of food shortages, riots and destruction. Those who had savings in bitcoin were able to survive the “bail in” when banks confiscated their funds in Cyprus in 2013.

We’ve seen an increased acceptance of cryptocurrencies this year as never before. More than 200,000 retail stores in Japan are accepting bitcoin for payment. Countries like Russia, China, Australia, Canada, England and others are studying cryptocurrencies and blockchain to determine the best way to blend that technology into their system.

Blockchain is not only accepted around the world, but many people also see it and cryptocurrencies as safe havens. There is no doubt that blockchains and bitcoin are important factors today and can help you with your safe haven planning.

You don’t want all of your portfolio in cryptocurrencies by any stretch of the imagination. However, since cryptocurrencies have been much more mainstream and are accepted worldwide, it is a good idea to explore the possibilities. Check with your financial adviser about having at least a small amount of your safe haven resources in cryptocurrencies.

Now is the best time to sell your iPhone

The iPhone 7. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Have you been thinking about selling off your iPhone for one reason or another? Maybe you plan on upgrading to that swanky iPhone 8 we’ve been hearing about, or maybe you just want to make some money off your old handset.

Whatever your situation might be, if you’re thinking about selling your iPhone, you might want to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

Every time Apple announces new iPhones, the sellback prices of older iPhone models drop considerably — sometimes by $100 or more — across most sites, from Gazelle to eBay and the like.

If you need a good place to sell back your iPhone, you’ll find plenty of options. You’ll probably get the most money from eBay, but several other sites like Gazelle, Glyde, Swappa, buymyi, and even Amazon make it incredibly easy, as most of them will offer to send you a box and a label to ship off your iPhone for free, and either pay you via PayPal, Amazon.com gift card, or a check in the mail just a few days later.

Keep in mind: The new iPhones will likely be announced in the next few weeks, and released shortly thereafter. So if this iPhone you plan on selling is the main phone you use, make sure you’re going to be okay if you’re phone-less for awhile, or just have a backup phone ready.

 

San Francisco August, 2017

Gerbsman Partners – Maximizing Enterprise Value

Gerbsman Partners focuses on maximizing enterprise value for stakeholders and shareholders in under-performing, under-capitalized and under-valued companies and their Intellectual Property, as well as maximizing value for Intellectual Property Patents. Since 2001, Gerbsman Partners has been involved in maximizing value for 100 technology, medical device, life science, solar, fuel cell, cyber security and digital marketing companies and their Intellectual Property and has restructured/terminated over $810 million of real estate executory contracts and equipment lease/sub-debt obligations. Since inception in 1980, Gerbsman Partners has been involved in over $2.3 billion of financings, restructurings and M & A Transactions.

Gerbsman Partners has offices and strategic alliances in San Francisco, New York, McLean, VA/Washington DC, Orange County, Boston, Europe and Israel.

Technology – IP

Software

  • Emergent Game Technologies, Inc. – Licensed and supported 3D/game software.
  • Capital Thinking – Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) platform, a credit and risk management software solution for the financial services industry.
  • Cesura – Web and on demand business software.
  • Conformia Software Inc. – Software solutions for highly regulated process industries – Life Science.
  • deNovis – Enterprise softwa re for government health and health insurance industry.
  • Aperion Inc. – Software.
  • Gentiae Inc. – Real-time fully automated processing of cardiac safety input and core lab operations. The system offers a comprehensive, real time web portal for sponsor and site access.
  • Banquet – Interactive sports entertainment.
  • ID Engines Inc. – Role-based access control (RBAC) across enterprise networks.
  • InDplay Inc. – Online, B2B video content distribution (monetization) platform, deployed on enterprise-quality software components, served in the SaaS (software-as-a-service) model.
  • Metreo Inc. – Pricing software for manufacturers and distributors.
  • Neohapsis Inc. – IT management services platform. Zone4Play – Interactive game technology.
  • Roots Web, Inc. – Geneology software.
  • StreamSearch, Inc. – Multimedia aggregator that has created a unique solution for indexing, locating, promoting, and distributing rich media on the Internet.
  • Technion University – Technology patents
  • Teranode Corporation – Business intelligence and lab automation solutions for the Life Science market.
  • USA Democracy, Inc. – Direct, verifiable, credible communications between elected representatives and their constituents through its non-partisan legislative-based website.
  • Utility.com, Inc. – Multi-utility eCommerce/eCRM technology, Web-based energy management technology.
  • Vcommerce, Inc. – Developed, deployed, and operated fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain execution systems and direct fulfillment infrastructure.
  • Intelectron, Inc. – Commercial lighting technology.
  • Skunk Technologies – Java based software
  • Bell & Howell – Information Intellectual Property/Patents

Food and Beverage Industry

  • Vigilistics, Inc. – Manufacturing analytic software

Telecom

  • Dialpad, Inc. – Web-to-phone service.
  • Simpler Networks, Inc./Hercules Technology Growth Capital – Telco software – a matrix switch platform that sits within the Telco’s central office (CO) or street cabinets. Developed to allow for universal access to any service, the system’s protocol-transparent design allows it to be placed in front of any existing or future access gear that delivers services over the local loop

Storage

  • Cornice Inc. – Storage and flash controllers.
  • PhaseMetrics Inc. – Storage systems manufacturer.
  • Plasmon, Inc. – Data archival storage technology

Networking/Optical Networking

  • CipherMax, Inc. – Storage networking.
  • Private Networks, Inc. – Broadband multicast delivery system utilizing digital satellite technology. The technology has universal applicability to many industries for distribution of high-band data and video.
  • Teak Technologies Inc. – Internet switching and gateway networking products.
  • Zeus Communications, Inc. – Hardware architecture of 10 Gbps IPSec VPN and firewall in a single board.
  • Optivia, Inc & Hercules Technology Growth Capital – Optical transport systems.
  • Princeton Lightwave, Inc. – Optical networking technology
  • T-Networks, Inc. – Optical networking components.
  • Transparent Networks, Inc. – Wavelength Selective Switch, a high performance large scale Photonic cross-connect functional prototype, detailed design and simulation validation of a Light Path Exchange with integrated DWDM, an HDTV display mirror array high level design and simulation, proprietary and unique MEMS design and validation engineering tools.
  • Network Photonics, Inc.
  • Cambridge NanoTech, Inc. – Materials Science company that developed high Performance turnkey equipment for Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”).

Mobile

  • eBiz mobility – Mobile business payment
  • YPS Software – ASP and software vendor for the PC and mobile phone industries, Mobile Entertainment Centre.
  • Teleflip – Mobile messaging.

Media/Advertising/Internet

  • Active Response Group Inc. – On line marketing company.
  • Akimbo Inc. – Monitizing on line media.
  • Competition Accessories, Inc. – Online direct marketing.
  • Gallery Player Inc. – Provider and distributor of high-value, rights managed high definition imagery for high definition televisions.
  • MeMedia Inc. – Online advertising solutions provider and ad network that delivers contextually and behaviorally targeted advertisements across a multi-modal network of websites and desktop applications.
  • MyWire Inc. – Paid content and advertising.
  • NebuAd, Inc. – Online advertising model. Next-generation digital media technology and solutions.
  • Syncapse, Inc. – Provider of technology-enabled social performance management services for global enterprise clients with multiple B2C brands.
  • Optify, Inc. – Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of digital marketing suites company, its Assets and Intellectual Property.

Holographic & Biometric Technology – Laser Manufacturer

  • Aprilis, Inc./Dow Corning – Holographic Data Storage Drives and Biometric Security
  • Raydiance, Inc. – Manufacturer of precision solutions laser technology

Security

  • NeoScale Inc. – Storage encryption and key management solution for organizations securing information stored on tape and disk media.
  • Oviso Inc. – Semi conductor manufacturing equipment.
  • SciCortex, Inc. – Manufacturer of high performance computers.

Medical Device

Cardiovascular, Vascular, Endoscopy

  • Cardiomind Inc. – Stent delivery platform.
  • OmniSonics Medical Technologies Inc. – Vascular disease IP.
  • InnerPulse Inc. – Cardiac rhythm management (CRM) medical device company.
  • Myocor Inc. – Developing innovative cardiac reshaping devices to treat functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, both of which are significant in the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF).
  • NDO Surgical, Inc. – Flexible endoscopy technologies that enable surgical procedures through the body’s natural openings.
  • Viacor Inc. – Cardiac implant device for the treatment of functional mitral regurgitation.
  • XTENT Inc. – Customizable drug eluting stent systems for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
  • GluMetrics, Inc. – Glucose monitoring medical device company
  • NeoGraft Technologies, Inc. – Acquired Vascular Patents from Kips Bay Medical
  • Palmaz Scientific, Inc. – Medical technology company
  • InterValve, Inc. – Medical devices for structural heart market

Spine

  • Applied Spine Technologies Inc. – Screw based dynamic stabilization system validated with Class 1 clinical data
  • AxioMed Spine, Corp. – Developed Freedom technology, with the goal of restoring spinal function to patients by adhering to the natural biomechanics of the spine.

Respiratory

  • Emphasis Medical Inc. – Endobronchial valves for the treatment of heterogeneous emphysema.
  • Uptake Medical, Inc. –  developing innovative, therapeutic bronchoscopic devices to treat advanced heterogeneous emphysema and lung cancer.

Orthopedics

  • NovaLign Orthopedic Inc. – Long bone fracture, intramedullary nail technology.

Opthomology

  • Optobionics – Retinal degeneration.
  • Refractec, Inc. – Radiofrequency (RF) device called ViewPoint CK System, used to perform NearVisionSM CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) treatment

Obesity

  • Satiety Inc. – Obesity product

Life Science

  • Pluristem, Inc. – Stem cell research – Israel company
  • Igenica Biotherapeutics, Inc.. – harnessing the natural tumor microenvironment to deliver a pipeline of high-impact antibody-based cancer therapeutics
  • Pegasus Biologics Inc. – Developed and is commercializing a revolutionary bioscaffold comprised of highly organized collagen, sourced from equine pericardium that encourages the healing process by addressing the demands of a challenging biological environment.
  • Radiant Medical, Inc. – Endovascular therapeutic cooling.
  • Valentis, Inc. – Biotechnology company with small molecule, antibody, protein, gene and manufacturing assets.
  • Relypsa, Inc. – Acquisition of BioPharmaceutical Patents and Intellectual Property

Energy – Solar & Fuel Cell

  • Nanosolar
  • AQT Solar
  • SVTC Solar
  • Clear Edge Power, LLC – sold to Doosan in Korea
Steven R. Gerbsman
Principal
Gerbsman Partners
http://www.gerbsmanpartners.com

BLOG of Intellectual Capital 
 

San Francisco, August 2017

Steven R. Gerbsman, Principal of Gerbsman Partners, announced today that Gerbsman Partners successfully terminated the executory real estate lease for a life science intellectual property company.  The venture backed company executed a lease for space in Northern California.

Due to business and market conditions, the company made a strategic decision to terminate its real estate obligation.  Faced with potential contingent liabilities the company retained Gerbsman Partners to assist them in the termination of their prohibitive executory real estate lease.

About Gerbsman Partners

Gerbsman Partners focuses on maximizing enterprise value for stakeholders and shareholders in under-performing, under-capitalized and under-valued companies and their intellectual property.  Since 2001, Gerbsman Partners has been involved in maximizing value for 100 technology, medical device, life science, solar, fuel cell, cyber security and digital marketing companies and their intellectual property and has restructured/terminated over $810 million of real estate executory contracts and equipment lease/sub-debt obligations.  Since inception, Gerbsman Partners has been involved in over $ 2.3 billion of financings, restructurings and M&A transactions.

Gerbsman Partners has offices and strategic alliances in Boston, New York, Washington DC, McLean, VA, San Francisco, Orange County, Europe and Israel.

Steven R. Gerbsman

http://gerbsmanpartners.com

http://blog.gerbsmanpartners.com