Facebook Wrist Interface: Daily Crunch Report

Tech News Roundup: March 19, 2021

Significant developments are occurring across the tech landscape, including advancements in augmented reality from Facebook, scrutiny of Uber’s facial recognition policies, and a key achievement for SpaceX’s Starship program. This summarizes the key updates for March 19, 2021.

Facebook's Innovative AR Interface

Facebook Reality Labs is pioneering a novel method for interacting with augmented reality through a wrist-based interface. This technology utilizes electromyography sensors to interpret signals from motor nerves.

According to a statement released by Facebook, a device worn on the wrist presents a viable option for integration into daily routines and social settings. It aims to deliver the nuanced control of hand movements to AR experiences, fostering intuitive and engaging interactions.

Currently, this remains a research prototype, meaning a commercially available product is not imminent. However, it signals Facebook’s continued investment in hardware and fuels speculation about potential competition with devices like the Apple Watch.

Updates from Major Tech Companies

WhatsApp Policy Update Challenged: The Indian government has requested a court to block WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy, citing violations of local legislation.

Uber's Facial Recognition Under Review: Uber’s implementation of facial recognition for driver verification is facing challenges within the United Kingdom.

Instagram and WhatsApp Experience Outage: Both Instagram and WhatsApp were temporarily unavailable, with the disruption lasting for over thirty minutes, beginning around 1:40 p.m. ET.

Startup Activity and Venture Capital

SpaceX's Starship Progress: SpaceX is nearing completion of the initial assembly of its Super Heavy rocket booster, a crucial component for Starship testing.

Tractian Secures Y Combinator Support: Brazilian startup Tractian, specializing in equipment monitoring technology, has received backing from Y Combinator.

Superpedestrian Focuses on E-Scooter Safety: Superpedestrian is establishing itself as a leading provider of safety enhancements for e-scooters, catering to the needs of cities.

Insights from Extra Crunch

Re-evaluating Business Intelligence Tools: Organizations are questioning the value of substantial investments in business intelligence tools, given low adoption rates.

Sounding Board's Series A Journey: Christine Tao of Sounding Board shares her experience securing Series A funding on the "How I Raised It" podcast.

Extra Crunch Feedback Requested: Users are invited to provide feedback on the Extra Crunch membership program.

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Additional Tech Industry News

Cloud Infrastructure Surpasses On-Premise Data Centers: Spending on cloud infrastructure exceeded that of traditional on-premise data centers in 2020, according to recent research.

Trends in Private Company Boardrooms: Boards of directors in high-growth private companies are undergoing significant changes in response to evolving corporate landscapes.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 Registration: Opportunities to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 are available for under $100.

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