Flamingo's virtual assistant platform called Rosie, is a way for financial institutions to assist and retain customers or potential customers as they consider which complex financial products are right for them. It's an artificial intelligence engine that guides customers through their financial services product purchase, onboarding or enquiries. http://www.afr.com/technology/amp-trials-fintech-flamingos-virtual-chatbot-rosie-20170123-gtwyi4#ixzz4vMgRwJR3?

Neither young nor old, the vast population moving into midlife offers an extraordinary resource. Millions are determined to apply their experience to make a difference for others. As they are ageing they're looking for a new model combining elements of work, service, and social impact - an encore career that's a 2nd act for a greater good! Photo from The Intern. www.encore.org

Scientists at UNSW in Australia have discovered a new approach to quantum computing. They predict it will remove a hurdle that threatened to stall progress on scaling up the number of quantum computer bits-known as qubits- on silicon chips needed to make quantum computing viable. Their approach makes more room on a silicon atom to squeeze in more qubits by pulling electrons away from the nucleus. Unlike the discrete zeros and ones now used in so-called "classical" computing, qubits can be either a one, a zero or both at the same time, opening the way for an exponential increase in computing speeds using these "superpositions". Many problems now limited by computing power, from medicine to climate modelling, would be more easily solved with quantum computing.  

Zello is a free internet ?walkie-talkie? app that?s very useful in regional emergencies such as a hurricane, fire or flood. In a few seconds of hearing your voice, an operator can guess what part of the country you?re from, if you?ve been drinking, what mood you?re in and whether you?re afraid or in distress. www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/08/31/the-cajun-navys-secret-weapon-for-saving-lives-the-human-voice/?

Norway is planning to install the world?s first floating underwater tunnels to help travelers easily cross the nation?s many fjords. At present, the only way to travel across the bodies of water involves taking a series of ferries ? an inconvenient and time-consuming process. The ?submerged floating bridges? would consist of large tubes suspended under 100 feet of water with each one being wide enough for two lanes of traffic.

A group of scientists from Iowa State University has developed a self-destructing battery that dissolves in water. Creating devices that could perform a variety of functions until exposed to light, heat or liquid is a relatively new field of study called ?transient electronics.? Future applications include keeping military secrets out of enemy hands as well as saving patients the pain of removing a medical device. http://futurism.com/scientists-develop-self-destructing-batteries-that-dissolve-in-water/