When people think of Amazon, the first thing that comes to mind is online shopping because Amazon is one of the biggest retailers on Earth [1]. However, what the public may be less aware of is the many new technologies that are being developed by this company. Some of these electronics seem far-fetched, yet they exist. This article will go through a few of the main technologies Amazon uses and briefly explain how they are possible.
1. Fire TV
Fire TV is Amazon’s streaming media player, which takes games, music, and videos from the Internet and displays them on your TV [2]. If you have subscriptions to streaming apps or TV channels such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you can access these apps or channels on Fire TV [3]. You can also browse the Internet on Fire TV to access websites such as YouTube and Facebook [3].
Additionally, if you purchase the bundle with the Alexa voice remote, it provides additional functionality such as voice commands to play music, check movie show times, and even order pizza [3]. There will be more detail on Alexa under Amazon Alexa.
2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Amazon Web Services offers customers a virtual cluster of computers for a variety of needs, which is also known as cloud computing. Cloud computing accesses servers, storage, databases, and other application services over the Internet [4].
Amazon web services also offers infrastructure services for anyone that needs computing power, for example if you want to build an application without having to start completely from scratch [5]. A few examples of the categories of products offered by AWS are computing, networking, content delivery, and management.
Under each of Amazon’s services, AWS offers multiple products for instance, under mobile services, the AWS Mobile Hub is for adding and configuring mobile app features [6]. AWS is accessed on a paid subscription basis, which means you pay as you go, if the capacity you need varies. This is significant when compared to normal hardware where you have to estimate in advance how much capacity you will require [4].
3. Dash Button
The Tide dash button
The dash button is a physical button about the size of a strip of gum, which you can adhere to almost any surface. The dash button allows customers to instantly order a product. The button uses wireless Internet to connect to your Amazon account [7]. Amazon mainly advertises the dash button for necessities such as toilet paper or soap, for which most people have a specific brand that they buy each time. Along with the dash button, you can purchase a dash wand, which is an electronic device that can help you shop for groceries on Amazon with its barcode scanner.
The Amazon dash wand
If you buy the dash wand that has Alexa incorporated in it, you can tell it what to order, or you can scan the barcode on something you already own to add it to your shopping cart. Additionally, Alexa helps you find recipes, convert measurements, and find nearby restaurants. Likewise, the Amazon dash wand is also water-resistant and magnetic, so it will be durable in kitchen environments [8].
4. Amazon Prime Air
Amazon Prime Air will be Amazon’s way to deliver packages in under thirty minutes. If you are wondering how this is possible, the answer is drones.
This program is currently being tested in the countryside of the United Kingdom, but it is unknown when the public will be able to access it due to various roadblocks. The main roadblock is regulations and policies. Many countries, especially the United States have strict laws about who can fly drones. Flying drones are prohibited in many locations [9].
There are also technological roadblocks. Although drones do currently have the capability to manoeuvre around obstacles such as birds using cameras and sensors, their battery life is poor. This means that you would have to live relatively close to a distribution centre to be able to access Prime Air [10].
Mother Nature is another obstacle. These drones can currently only operate in good weather, meaning they cannot handle rain, snow, or any icy conditions. In Canada, this could be problematic [9].
Although there are still many challenges to overcome, the fact that this form of delivery is being tested for implementation could mean improvements in product transportation. If the technology becomes advanced enough, it could lead to more purchasing options for those who live in places where resources are harder to come by.
5. Amazon Go
Amazon Go is the grocery store from the future. There is no checkout, so you do not have to waste any time waiting in line to pay for your groceries. The store tracks what you pick up off the shelves and automatically adds it to your online shopping cart. How this works is through computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. All of these technologies combine to make Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology, which is the name they have picked for the technology that makes Amazon go possible [11].
Sensor fusion is the software that combines the data from different types of sensors, like accelerometers and gyroscopes, to get more accurate information about position and orientation [12].
Computer vision is computers trying to see things in the way that humans do. When we see something, we not only visually see it but we also analyze and identify what the object is. The aim is to get computers to do the same [13]. Deep learning is a type of machine learning [14] where computers improve on a process without being programmed to do so. They do this by taking in large amounts of data [15]. Deep learning is using brain simulations to try to make algorithms better and easier to use, so the end goal is full artificial intelligence [14]. All of these incredibly complex technologies are what allow you to simply grab your groceries off the shelf then go home when shopping at Amazon Go.
6. Amazon Alexa
Alexa is an artificial intelligence system who you can interact with by voice [16]. Alexa uses machine learning – meaning Alexa learns from human data. By interacting more with users and building on its data set, Alexa gets better at analyzing human speech and understanding users even when they are not very specific. For example, if the user mentions an object then later refers to the object as ‘it’, Alexa should still be able to identify that the user is talking about the object [17].
Alexa is built in to other various products, such as the Amazon Echo Smart Speaker. The Smart Speaker with Alexa allows you to tell Alexa to check your calendar, check the weather, and order a pizza. With the purchase of additional smart technology (referring to technology that is normally found in most households, like doorbells, but which has the added software to communicate with Alexa), you can even control compatible thermostats, lights, garage doors and sprinklers [18].
References
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[2]E. Kricfalusi, "Amazon Fire TV: What Is It and How Does It Work?", Tech for Luddites, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://techforluddites.com/amazon-fire-tv-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work/. [Accessed: 22- May- 2018].
[3]"Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote (Pendant Design) | Streaming Media Player", Amazon.com, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.amazon.com/all-new-amazon-fire-tv-4k-uhd-streaming-media-player/dp/B01N32NCPM. [Accessed: 18- May- 2018].
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[8]"Amazon Dash Wand with Alexa", Amazon.com, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.amazon.com/ref=cp_oft_db_faq_dashwand/dp/B01MQMJFDK/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_dbpk4_md1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-1&pf_rd_r=199RFCD2CN58D2NZJ6CF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=b09eaee8-2f2d-4cb9-8cee-fb0c39941374&pf_rd_i=17437623011. [Accessed: 18- May- 2018].
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[10]L. Johnson, "9 facts about Amazon Prime Air drone delivery system", Digital Spy, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/feature/a820748/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-service/. [Accessed: 18- May- 2018].
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[18]"Echo (2nd Generation) - Smart speaker with Alexa", Amazon.com, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.amazon.com/all-new-amazon-echo-speaker-with-wifi-alexa-dark-charcoal/dp/B06XCM9LJ4?th=1. [Accessed: 18- May- 2018].
[1]D. Green, "Amazon's futuristic, cashierless stores could be its 'Trojan horse' to conquer traditional retail", Business Insider, 2018. [Online]. Available: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-store-tech-key-retail-dominance-2018-3. [Accessed: 18- May- 2018].
