NEXT with John Koetsier

By John KoetsierNews Tech News

NEXT with John Koetsier episodes

January 16, 2024 Smart buildings 2024: not just energy consumers
In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier talks to Dan Hollenkamp, the CEO of Toggled, about the future of smart buildings in 2024.
They discuss the difference between devices that are smart and just remote controllable, the continuous improvement in building systems, and emphasize on the usage of data for smart devices. Dan sheds light on how buildings should assist in facilitating our tasks, be predictive, and become an active member of the grid to help stabilize the energy demand. They also discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in smart buildings, the idea of buildings moving from energy consumers to energy load managers, and the impact of work from home and return to the office on smart buildings. Join them as they delve into the evolving world of smart buildings and their part in our future.
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:13 The Future of Smart Buildings
02:23 Understanding Smart Devices vs. Remote Controllable Devices
02:43 The Role of Data in Smart Buildings
09:36 The Impact of Work from Home on Smart Buildings
11:45 Buildings as Energy Load Managers
15:54 The Role of AI in Smart Buildings
21:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
22 min
December 29, 2023 VR 2024: inflection point with Apple Vision Pro, Quest 3, enterprise
In this end-of-year podcast of TechFirst for 2023, host John Koetsier explores the future trajectory of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, especially its potential in 2024.
The podcast features Rolf Illenberger, founder & CEO of VR Direct, who believes that 2024 will be a critical inflection point for VR with wide-scale adoption, particularly in enterprises. There is notable discussion on different VR headsets including the Meta Quest Pro, Quest Three, and the upcoming Apple Vision Pro, as well as the role of AI in VR. The conversation also dives into the challenges and opportunities VR presents for both the consumer and enterprise markets, with an emphasis on the need for intuitive user interfaces and valuable use-cases. The podcast concludes with Rolf's prediction that by the end of 2024, it would be vital for every enterprise to have a VR strategy.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:07 Discussion on VR Trends and Predictions for 2024
00:45 Interview with Rolf Dillenberger, CEO of VR Direct
01:12 The Host's Personal Experience with VR
01:44 The Future of VR: An Inflection Point
02:48 Enterprise Applications of VR
04:51 The Impact of Work from Home Trends on VR
06:24 The Role of Apple Vision Pro in VR
20:58 The Intersection of VR and AI
21:52 The Inflection Point for VR in 2024
26:36 Conclusion and Farewell
27 min
December 14, 2023 AI in Bhutan: why Princess Wangchuk is building an AI center
You’ve probably heard of Bhutan, and you may have heard of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness measurement, which is about measuring how happy a country is as well as how wealthy a country is.
Now the royal family in Bhutan is establishing an AI center to teach AI to locals ... and maybe bring Bhutan happiness -- and ethics -- to AI. To bring, as the princess puts it, "Ancient Wisdom & Ethics" to artificial intelligence.
In this TechFirst, I chat with Enrique Hernandez about his and Princess Wangchuk's goal of bringing an AI center to Bhutan.
Subscribe to TechFirst
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Wangchuk AI Center
https://wangchukai.com/
42 min
December 01, 2023 Say hello to your robot coworker
Are you ready to dive into the emerging world of robot coworkers? In this video, originally recorded at Web Summit in Lisbon, I chat with special guest David Reger, CEO of Neura Robotics.
We chat about what it will be like to work with robots, how we can ensure robots don't kill us (as is happening now, occasionally), and what will change about work and us in the process.
We talk about:
Working with Robots: A New Frontier
The Future of Robot Partnerships
Impacts on Different Industries
Ensuring Safety and Trust
The Role of AI in Human-Robot Interaction
Transforming Work and Embracing Automation
The Importance of Fairness and Equity
Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges
19 min
November 16, 2023 Reinventing speakers: replacing 100 year old tech with MEMS chips
In this episode of TechFirst, host John Koetsier explores the global transition from traditional coil and magnet speakers to solid-state semiconductor alternatives with Mike Householder, a VP at XMEMS. The discussion includes the history of the speaker, the advantages of using solid-state semiconductors, and the future vision for sound technology. Mike also makes a big product announcement and provides insight into how his innovative technology will improve audio quality and enhance sound experiences in various devices like earbuds, phones, and home theaters.

00:00 Introduction to the Evolution of Sound Technology
00:31 The Limitations of Current Sound Technology
00:40 Introducing a New Silicon-Based Sound Technology
00:49 Interview with Mike Householder from XMEMS
01:12 Understanding the Old Tech: Coil and Magnet Speakers
03:08 The Advantages of Solid State Components
05:20 The Benefits of the New Tech for Manufacturers and Consumers
07:58 The Unique Sound Signature of the New Tech
16:32 The Path to Market Dominance and Upcoming Product Announcements
20:47 The Future of Sound Technology: Beyond Personal Audio
24:25 The Science Behind Ultrasonic Amplitude Modulation
30:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
31 min
November 13, 2023 Can VR change history? Maybe 1 mind at a time ...
In this episode of TechFirst, host Jon Koetsier welcomes Emmy award-winning XR director Michaela Ternasky-Holland to delve into the world of immersive storytelling through technologies such as virtual reality (VR).

Using her VR documentary project, On the Morning You Wake, as a case study, Michaela explains how the deeply immersive nature of VR can change the audience's perception of a global threat - nuclear weapons. She compares the engagement and impact of VR experiences to traditional 2D experiences, highlighting how the narrative and the audience's sense of agency play key roles in creating quality engagement. The discussion further explores the future of immersive storytelling, addressing their potential and challenges in the technology field.

00:01 Introduction and Context
00:34 Guest Introduction: Michaela Ternasky Holland
00:56 The Role of Technology in Storytelling
01:13 Discussing the Project: On the Morning You Wake
05:18 The Impact of VR on Audience Engagement
05:40 Challenges and Solutions in VR Accessibility
08:07 The Emotional Impact of VR Storytelling
10:55 The Future of VR and Storytelling
12:04 The Role of Research in VR Storytelling
19:07 The Intersection of VR and Gaming
21:30 The Ultimate Expression of Storytelling in VR
25:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
27 min
October 29, 2023 Very first cell phone call: meet the man who made it ... and the engineer who helped make it happen
It all started with a stolen car.
In 1983 Chicago resident David Meilahn's car was stolen. He bought a new one, a Mercedes Benz 280SL 2-seater. But then he needed to replace his old radio-phone ... and the sales rep told him there was something new: a cellular phone.
He was one of the first few to be selected, then won a race to place the very first commercial cell phone call, which ended up being from Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, to Alexander Graham Bell's grand-daughter in Germany.
This is his story, along with the story of Stuart Tararone, the AT&T engineer who helped build that system and still works for the company to this day.
31 min
October 21, 2023 Can generative AI make rockets launch faster?
Generative AI won't be building Falcon 9s or new space shuttles just yet. But can it help with all the work that goes into running an organization that builds the future?
According to Kendall Clark, CEO of Stardog, yes.
Generative AI that democratizes access to data and insight and knowledge speeds up organizations can help with launching space ships, or anything else. For NASA, a generative AI solution is apparently helping the team to do in days what used to take weeks.
27 min
October 12, 2023 81% Of Companies Have Generative AI Teams
How will generative AI impact work? And why are smaller companies adopting generative AI more than enterprises?

Generative AI is almost literally exploding: there are so many possibilities. But how is it changing work and business?

Recently GBK Collective, a consultancy founded by top academics at Wharton, studied 672 businesses in the US with annual sales over $50 million

In this TechFirst we're chatting with 2 of the authors to get a sneak peek into what they learned:

- Dr. Stefano Puntoni, Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School and Co-Director of AI at Wharton
- Jeremy Korst, former Microsoft and T-Mobile exec, now President of GBK Collective
37 min
October 02, 2023 Diversity, equity, and inclusion in AI: solved problem?
Is equity, inclusion, and diversity in AI a solved problem?

I’ve written a lot of stories lately about AI. AI is critical to our future of automation ... robots ... relf-driving cars ... drones ... and … everything: smart homes, smart factories, safety & security, environmental protection and restoration.

A few years ago we heard constantly how various AI models weren’t trained on diverse populations of people, and how that created inherent bias in who they recognized, ho they thought should get a loan, or who might be dangerous.

In other words, the biases in the people who create tech were manifesting in our tech.

Is that solved? Is that over?

To dive in, we’re joined by an award-winning couple: Stacey Wade and Dr. Dawn Wade. They run NIMBUS, a creative agency with clients like KFC and featuring celebs like Neon Deion Sanders.
26 min