Futuristic Drone plans

There is this ad on Youtube that has 8 Million hits, one that did not excite me like it was meant to. It's the 'Amazon Prime Air' that promises to deliver packages under 30 minutes starting 2015, if you live within 10 miles of an Amazon distribution center.

I did, briefly, marvel at the invention and the thought behind it. As we advance technologically, it is the next logical step to look in that direction. But when the world's largest Online Retailer that recently hit new sales record on Cyber Monday, announces launching delivery drones, I can only sadly imagine the number of unmanned aircraft systems that will vie for the clear skies.  The many 'drone-centric' businesses that can spring out of thin air... a popular one will be the fast-food home delivery!

Looking at the sky several times in a day for a few moments is a pastime I enjoy. It's hard to imagine the 'wild blue yonder' crowded with drones flying about hither and thither.  I can't stand watching a crowded road or highway.

It's far more easier for me to imagine the azure teeming with dragon flies, bees, sparrows, swallows, butterflies and it's a sight i welcome. But drones, that depresses me! I fear that the birds will stop taking to the skies. It's already something of a rarity to spot a crow or a sparrow.

Now if only these drones were using underground tunnel(s) to go about their business, and popped out of some hole in the earth to deliver packages, i would not care.  Well at least it cuts the risk of drones being shot down, hacked and they can go at supersonic speeds with no hurdles.  Fancy cutting the delivery time from 30 to 10, Amazon? Doesn't that sound thrilling? Or just stick some poles on the ground and do something on the lines of electric trains... and call it the 'electric zipline delivery' or something of that sort.

Google image - Amazon Prime Air Drone

Foresee new residences adding another feature - special landing pads for these drones (?) To mitigate the risks of small children and household pets making their wide-eyed discoveries running into a landing drone (?)

Heavens, do i also have to tolerate the noise pollution it may add to the environment?

Thumbs down on how it will relate to my privacy concerns, given that, inevitably these things would have video cameras and other surveillance equipment. Or can be tampered with (?) for spying.

Finally, walking freely under the skies without having to worry if you will ever be hit by a drone, who knows? Will that be a thing of the past too? 'R' informs me there will be flying cars too in the near future! Thank-you for the next spoiler alert.

Love it or Hate it, The Era of Drones is just around the corner. Do you feel excited?

The 'Shopping Express' Experience

I was thinking of writing about Amazon Prime Air ad that i recently saw, but this has to go first.

'R' declared excitedly about the next big thing in Bay Area - 'Google Shopping Express for Costco'. Order online and get a free delivery the same day minus 10$ off the first purchase. I was thrilled too... sounds really nice, and it's "Google". I should definitely check this out.

The experience was pretty 'meh'. Just like any other "drab"online shopping portal with category and sub-categories, stoic photos of items and pages and pages of search results! Thankfully, i have to give a brownie point to Google shopping for some sub-categories that only had like 5 pics. Thank-you for sparing me the horror.  The inventory was extremely limited compared to what i would find in-store. Could not order fresh vegetables, fruits, diary products or frozen items online. Another boring thing was that i had to have my shopping list ready and make specific searches. Don't entertain any notions of just 'looking around' online. Afraid that i will forget the good old days of walking into a store to buy one item and pushing out a 'loaded' shopping cart with items that i had no clue, i wanted before i walked in!

Another major drawback was that the 'Google Shopping Express' wouldn't let me just pay and finish when i proceeded to checkout. I have to set up my Google Wallet right now. That was it, i gave up there. I did not feel like setting that up right away 'on-demand'. But no, they won't let me pay for this now and set up the wallet later.

Can someone please make online shopping as enjoyable as it is inside a brick and mortar store? No, i don't really care about the social or human connection, nor the touchy feely thing. No, it's not even about the instant gratification. It is about the sensory experience and a straight and easy process. I felt like a lab-rat here.

Of course, there are folks like 'R' for whom this works. Sorry, please don't count me in for now. I'll be back when it's less of a geeky experience. I can't wait for that day when it's better than what it is now. Come on, i didn't say that i don't love to shop online. All i said was, i want it to be better. And no, i am not 'picky'. I just 'know' that it can be better than this.  Only hope all the great product managers work that out sooner!

And even though i loathe driving to the store, most days, i still like the good old fashioned shopping. For now.

Just thinking, if i order for items from different stores on Google Shopping Express, will i have 3 different people knocking on my door? I would really prefer to answer just one delivery-call, but you never know... what kind of a system has been drawn in place? It will be totally environmentally friendly if there are 3 guys driving around to deliver 4 items ordered online. Anyone game enough to find that out?

'R', are you up for the challenge?

Thinking through

I have a few blocks in writing. This is one of those days.

Fear of being misunderstood.
Fear of hurting someone through my writing.
Fear of being judged.
Fear of being unloved, despised.

Because some of my stories are about people and how they make me feel. What is right? What is wrong? It's now left to me, to figure that out on my own... no more teachers or mentors to check with on doubts.

I can tell my story, but can someone feel what i felt? There are always different perspectives and several view points...nobody ever feels, they've done anything wrong.

Say someone told you, you can never do anything wrong. Feel a heavy burden lighten, right? Feels so liberating... what could be the possibilities? How different would our lives be? Isn't it hard to imagine?

I have a long long way to go... as far as taking every chance and dropping every fear goes. Still wrapped up in layers of thoughts... 

But here i go... i have a new post. What do you have to say on this?