4 Important Elements Every Young Company Needs

Have you just started your own business or are planning on doing that? Before you go any further with your plan, there are a few things you should know. Starting something from scratch, especially a company, requires a lot of effort and knowledge. Having the right idea is not enough.

You will also need the right way to execute that idea. This can be done with a great business plan, the right staff, leadership skills, but many other factors are also in play. We have selected the four most important elements that are a must for any company, especially a new one.

Develop a long-term strategy

Just like thinking about what your company should concentrate on, e.g. whether it will be technology or art, you should also think about where you would like your company to go. What would be your future direction? This means having a long-term strategy concerning the business you are in. Do you plan on expanding (number of offices, cities, countries)?

If you are in the sales business, perhaps you would start selling a variety of products, not just one. Things like this need to be taken into consideration when planning ahead. Moreover, the following points, such as marketing and finances, are a part of this business plan, too.

 

Hire the right type of employees

Even though you could have the best business idea and strategy, or an endless amount of money, there is one element that makes a company a great company. This element is the people that help make your dream a reality: the employees.

The interview process and scouting serve as a good way of finding the right people. A little bit of questioning and a few possible tests could help you make a final decision about hiring someone. However, you should be careful about one specific thing when hiring. Do not make your staff a monotonous bunch of people. Strategize.

Every individual could bring something of their own to the table. Also, each person has their own way of handling and approaching tasks. More importantly, even though they all might be different personality types, they could help each other a lot, and learn from one another. Certainly, they would build an amazing, diverse team. From there, you should make them love their job and give them the opportunity and space to develop both professionally and personally.

 

Find the right money handler

As a leader and owner of a company, you will be burdened with a lot of responsibilities. At first, you will try and do all the work yourself. However, as the business starts growing, you will have less and less time for everything. This is why hiring a few specialists, to help you out would be a great solution. This would especially be a smart move for the financial side of the business.

 

If you make a mistake when dealing with large sums of money you risk losing everything you’ve worked for. So, outsourcing your accounting services should be a priority. Some of the valid reasons for this include high quality accounting, less budget spending and more free time for you, the leader.

 

Market your business

Lastly, in order to grow your business and its reputation, you will need to develop a good marketing strategy. You could do this on your own or have someone else, like a marketing agency for instance, do the job for you. Some of the things to cover include social media and building a website.

Continuing from there, you could make a company blog with lots of interesting content. This is what would bring in a wider audience and more possible customers. However, before doing this, make sure you know who your target audience is. Of course, this would be implemented in your detailed marketing plan – a starting point for any type of promotional action.
Once you check off all of these things from the list, you will be ready to fully commit and get your company to the top. There is no need to rush into anything. Careful planning is advised, as well as patience. Anything else will come in its own time.  

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/ivandseo/4-important-elements-every-young-company-needs/

Five Hazards You Should Test For In Your Home Or Business

There’s nothing quite like the relief you feel when you finally get home and settle onto the couch after a long day at work.

But how safe should you really feel at home? Or for that matter, at work?

Unseen hazards often hide behind the apparent safety and security of your home. Similar dangers can lurk behind the solidity and familiarity of your workplace. You’d never know, until it was too late, that you – or a coworker or family member – were at risk.

That is, unless you were smart enough to proactively test for hazards. Here are the five greatest environmental dangers which may be present in your home or business.

Lead

Most people know by now that lead poisoning can lead to brain damage in young children, and that lead-based paint has been banned for use in U.S. residential buildings and schools since 1978. What most people don’t know is that ingestion of lead can also cause brain, kidney, stomach and other major illnesses in adults – and that lead poisoning remains a very serious problem today.

Despite the 1978 ban, it’s estimated there are still 50 billion square feet of walls with lead paint in American homes and schools. Two other facts are just as worrisome: the lead paint ban still doesn’t apply to commercial buildings, and the drinking water in many areas contains unsafe amounts of lead which has leached from old brass or lead pipes, or has passed through contaminated land from which ground water is drawn. The recent crisis in Flint, Michigan has shown how serious the problem can be.

Testing for lead paint is particularly important if you live in a home built before 1978 and you have young children. It’s also a very good idea if you are planning renovations. Home centers sell kits with easy-to-use swabs which can detect the presence of lead in paint within seconds. Children should also be given a simple blood test around age 2, which will show if they’ve been exposed to lead. Inexpensive test kits to check for lead in drinking and well water are also available, and can set your mind at ease before you brew your next pot of coffee.

Radon

Few things could be scarier than an invisible, cancer-causing radioactive gas that occurs naturally. That gas is radon, and it’s the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Most radon that enters homes and businesses is created by the natural decay of uranium, which is present in almost all soil. Some new houses are said to be “radon resistant” thanks to additional vents and tight seals in the homes’ foundations. However, the gas can enter almost any building and if it becomes trapped inside, you have a problem.

Hardware and home stores sell inexpensive testing kits which can be used to check the air in the basement or lowest level of a building (where radon is most likely to be found) over a period of several days. If the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher, you should call in a mitigation specialist to retrofit your home with additional ventilation.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs are primarily responsible for what most people call “indoor air pollution.” They include all of the carbon-based chemicals used for many household purposes; propane, acetone, formaldehyde, butane and toluene are just a few naturally released by paint, personal care and cleaning products, and even plastics, plywood cabinets and carpets. Some VOCs become particularly problematic when they interact with sunlight and chemicals in the air.

Environmental agencies aren’t overly helpful when they say they’re not sure what the long-term effects of these substances might be, but some of the possibilities range from nausea and memory loss to liver damage and cancer. Testing for VOCs and indoor air pollution isn’t cheap, with many of the available kits costing $50 to $150, so you may not want to lay out the money for blind testing. Many experts say, though, that when people are feeling sick in a home or business for no apparent reason, VOCs could be the cause. That’s when they recommend testing to determine whether indoor pollution is the culprit.

Asbestos

Many homes and business facilities which were built before 1990 have the cancer-causing mineral asbestos hiding in their ceiling or floor tiles, siding, roof shingles or insulation. And since the United States has still not enacted a complete ban on use of asbestos, some buildings constructed more recently may also have built with fireproofing or roofing products containing the substance.

Asbestos was conclusively linked to deadly lung cancer and mesothelioma decades ago. However, the material is only dangerous when its fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs. That means insulation or tiles which contain asbestos but are in good condition are not an immediate hazard, and should regularly be inspected but left untouched.

If you believe there is asbestos-containing material in your home or business and it is showing signs of damage or wear, that’s the time to take action. You can either call in professionals to test for the presence of asbestos, or purchase a test kit at your local home center which will let you send a small sample of the suspected material to a lab for testing. Asbestos is nothing to mess around with, so if you’re doing your own testing, be sure to follow all safety instructions included with the kit.

Mold

Concern over the growth of mold is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, the problem of “defiling mold” and instructions for its remediation are addressed in the Bible (Leviticus 14:43). There are many types of indoor mold which grow in damp areas, particularly on cellulose materials like paper, wood or insulation. It’s almost impossible to prevent mold spores from entering your house or business; they hitch rides on people, pets and even the wind. And the World Health Organization estimates that as many as 50% of all buildings have indoor dampness, so there’s a good chance your home or office is at risk.

The discovery of mold shouldn’t lead you to panic. It’s only toxic black mold which can cause serious injury or death, and that type of colony is normally seen only in buildings with leaky fixtures or accumulated water, which have been vacant for months or years.

Even so, less-serious mold infestations can cause major issues for those with allergies, asthma and compromised immune systems, as well as infants and pregnant women. If you smell or see signs of mold you should first use an inexpensive test kit to make sure you’re not dealing with black mold (many strains have a black appearance, so you can’t tell just from looking at a colony). Black mold requires evacuation of the area and professional remediation. Otherwise, the mold should be removed by scrubbing the area with a solution of bleach and detergent – and steps should be taken to prevent re-accumulation of moisture in the area.

Living in fear isn’t pleasant, especially since your home is supposed to be a safe haven and if you’re like most people, you spend half of your waking hours at work. Testing for these hazards is an easy way to ensure your safety and health – and more importantly, the safety and health of your employees or loved ones.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/leurypichardo/five-hazards-you-should-test-for-in-your-home-or-business/

Top 10 Tools to Create Fantastic Content

Blogging is one of the top marketing tools around today, which is why a website with no blog attracts fewer visitors and traffic than those that have one.

However, if you want your blog to make a splash online, then you really have to pay attention to creating well-crafted content. Blogs are all about content, after all. You want content that people will want to read, so quality trumps quantity.

With that being said, your page rating depends on how current your content is, which in turn affects your online visibility. You really want to turn out content as regularly as possible, and that takes a lot of effort. Don’t despair. You can use these top 10 tools to help you create fantastic content.

1. Stormboard

The best blogs are the ones that have unique content, so it is a good idea to get the input of others about what you should write about. Stormboard is a good way to get others to participate in your brainstorming, and they can do it on this online whiteboard by putting up a “Sticky.” The interface is simple, and it’s easy to use.

2. Writer

Some people can write even when the television is on, but most people get distracted even by the word processing options! The Writer interface looks like an old-style monitor with the black background and the green text. It has limited options, but not a big deal if you just want to write with no bells and whistles. It’s free, online, and it auto saves your content. What else do you need?

3. Slick Write

One of the things that many writers struggle with is flow. You have to make a real effort to make sure your reader can follow your point. Slick Write helps you do this by analyzing content and making suggestions. It’s not perfect, but it is enough to give you a nudge in the right direction.

4. Edugeeksclub

Let’s face it, not everyone can write. You may be chock-full of ideas, but you have a hard time putting it on paper effectively. There is no shame in having pros like the ones you will find in this web service. Your aim is to give value to your readers, so give them that. Edugeeksclub writers can help you generate ideas, proofread your work, or even write your content for you.

5. iPiccy

If you want quick photo editing, then iPiccy is a great tool for you. It is almost as simple as Paint, but it lets you do a lot more with filters and textures, and neat editing tools such as airbrushes. This is a godsend for the image-editing challenged.

6. Loopster

This is a mobile app rather than an online tool, but it has its uses. If you need an easy video editing tool that allows you to upload videos or photos and add sound and visual effects, then why not download this one for free? From the app, you can easily transfer to YouTube or share it on social media. The free version puts a watermark and limits your videos to 3GB on their server, but not a big deal if you’re an occasional user. You will have to pay for membership if you do not want the watermark and need more server space.

7. Hubspot’s Blog Topic Generator

If you’re running out of ideas for your blog, you can get some from this free site. Sometimes you just need a push in the right direction. It literally generates a year’s worth of customized ideas if you register on their site. Kick start that creative engine without too much pain!

8. Giphy

Everybody uses emoticons to express their emotion and reactions. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find just the right one every time? Giphy is a Chrome extension that lets you search a GIF archive for just what you need. Simply put the emotion you want to express on the search bar on the homepage and it will present you with appropriate reaction GIFs drawn from popular TV shows and movies. So, if your topic is about those, you have just stumbled onto a gold mine.

9. Word2CleanHTML

You have probably discovered by now just how much Word messes up HTML. When saving your web version so you can upload it later to your site, your Word file can get pretty funky until you clean it up. This free online web tool cleans up and converts word documents to HTML code. This is especially useful if you use a lot of formatting in your content.

10. Correctica

If you want a good spelling and grammar checker to go over any mistakes you may have missed in your content, Correctica may be what you are looking for. You simply email your document, copy and paste the text to the email body, or send the URL of web content you want to check, and send it. They’ll email you back your edited content. It is not as easy as simply copy-pasting your text on an online form, though, and it may not be as intuitive as a human editor, but it can’t hurt.

What are your favorite tools when it comes to content creation? Please, feel free to share in the comments below!

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/antoniotooley/top-10-tools-to-create-fantastic-content/

How To Create A Healthy And Functional Home Office

Image credit: pain-focus via creative commons

Here it is: the moment you’ve waited for so long finally has arrived. There’s a thrill in the air as you get to set up your own home office as a writer. While some call it a small office home office (SOHO), we’ll call it the incubator of that which you were created to be.

There’s A Problem Though

 

If your home office isn’t set up properly, it will soon turn into a glorified cell block and start affecting your health as well as your peace of mind. Our article below covers some vitally important things you need to know that help create the health-inducing and creative environment that you need to be your best–for yourself, your family and your writing career as well.

Quiet Workspace

 

Privacy free from interruptions is of utmost importance. Letting your family, friends and neighbours know that just because you are at home, it doesn’t mean that they can come in and pay a visit at their leisure. If you have a room to yourself, then lock it; moreover, while you’re at it, turn off your cell phone as well.

Your Need To Get Away And Having Nearby Plants

 

– Making an effort to break away from your desk or table for a weekly cup of coffee outside the house is critical. Being chained or tied down to a PC often drives people a little bonkers and soon affects their health as well.

– By the way, it’s best for you to keep your PC and work area separate from your bed. People in general end up losing much sleep because they have too many electronic devices in their sleeping area. Sleeping in complete darkness works wonders for your health.

– Another downside is that computers emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs)–radiation waves. These EMFs can be extremely harmful to your thyroid, your eyes and to your health in general. Breaking away from that computer monitor may not only help keep a PC’s radiation to more acceptable levels, your eyes will especially appreciate the effort.

– A recent NASA discovery suggested that some cactus plants have the ability to absorb the EMFs coming from a computer. Always keep plants near you and surrounding you when at work, especially the Cereus cacti variety.

– Just closing your eyes every 20 to 30 seconds works wonders. Setting an alarm on your PC and getting up every 20 minutes is great too.

Aching Back

 

If you work for long hours at a computer, or typewriter, you’ll soon feel the effects of having the wrong chair underneath you. Fortunately, contemporary furniture is one of the solutions to provide you with ergonomic comfort that you need for those long hours in your office. With its functional design, contemporary furniture will enable you to reduce clutter and get more usable space for organizing your work.

Taking into consideration the style, design and even materials used, those who work at home will find a large selection of furniture pieces that make working at home worthwhile as they explore the benefits of having an ergonomic chair and desk.

Lighting And Noise Level

 

Recent studies suggest that workers, who work at windows or where natural lighting is available, suffer from fewer health issues than those who work under normal office lights. Often, eyestrain and headaches are the result of poor lighting–as is being in a bad mood. Generally, the best position for a computer desk is one that’s perpendicular to the window. Sitting directly facing a window tends to blind the eyes with the contrast of light hitting the eyes head on.

Likewise, those who are subjected to loud noises and interruptions also have less productivity time. For some people, a strategically placed wind chime sometimes cancels out noise–if hung between the noise source and the person.

In short, your space in your workspace is basically where you are more comfortable and productive. Be it in a corner in a room or even in a separate room, the important thing is to find the SOHO environment that helps you grow into being the writer you were meant to be.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/twitter-epicninjadaboss/how-to-create-a-healthy-and-functional-home-office/

How to get the Most out of Big Data for your Business?

At first glance, the term big data seems like a new buzzword which is joining the already overcrowded business party. However, scratching beneath the surface reveals something bigger going on. This technology allows businesses to collect an immense amount of data, and we all know that staying in tune with the customers’ wants and needs is what makes or breaks a company nowadays. Alas, capturing and harnessing data on such a scale is linked with some major challenges. Organizations must ensure that the data is actionable to maximize the return on the investment. A week-old data no longer cuts it, as the future is now.  

Million little pieces

Predicting the demand and market trends with lightning speed and accuracy is what gives companies an edge in the competitive business arena. However, defining clear goals is a perquisite for any investment in the big data area. The demanding process of gathering an extensive data pays off only if there is a clear idea of what you want to achieve. So, discern whether the focus is on the key performance indicators (KPIs), client’s behavior, or their interactions with the company.  Only then can a company serve itself, generate in-house reports, and present the findings in portals and dashboards.

All of this is the result of consistent effort, strategic thinking, and some tech wizardry. Many businessmen boast about their analytic capabilities in the area of social media feed, but this is just one possible example. Other exciting fields are booming, which is certainly the case with the Internet of Things. Here, a sensory machine data is monitored to get a hold of inventory, logistics and shipments. One can also utilize big data for a variety of other purposes: Enhancing customer service, human resources, financial data, etc.

Killing it softly

There is a strong tendency to acquire fresher and fresher data. Sometimes, a vital piece of info is needed in a matter of minutes, making real-time data a necessity.   Generally, tiny bits and sets of data must be connected and then translated into handy information for decision makers. Unfortunately, analyzing data from external sources is no cakewalk. This is particularly tricky in the supply chain, which is mostly out of the company’s control, and needs more oversight.  It gets even more complex with global trade, which includes a matrix of multi-level networks and a plethora of separate organizations.

The good news is that advanced software is already used to extract relevant data automatically. Databases are also getting bigger and bigger, and more funds are allocated towards big data. That does not help in its analysis, however, which still gives us headaches. Well, the latest killer software solutions are aiming to change this. First off, platforms like SQL, NoSQL and Hadoop enable quick access to data, which is the cornerstone of the whole endeavor. What comes next is mixing, matching, cleaning up, and integrating the material for analysis.

This used to be an insurmountable obstacle for many organizations, but by using professional business analytics software these problems can easily be avoided. Yet, note that we do need human analysis to make sense of all the facts and figures. High complexity in these areas means that this is impossible without thorough knowledge about the data, their dependencies, AI and mathematical models. That is why entrepreneurs seek the services of mathematicians and data scientists instead of trainees and programmers. And when the science and business forge a lasting alliance, great things are bound to happen.

Dream big

The only way to get the business off the ground is to keep the fingers on the pulse of the customers and predict emerging trends. However, one must separate the wheat from the chaff and pay close attention to the data that is vital for decision making. Assembling the unstructured data calls for meticulous analysis, planning and coordination. Moreover, complex data sets require advanced analytical algorithms, which is a nightmare for those who are not overly tech-savvy. This is, ultimately, a great way to get to know your business better, and establish meaningful connections with the buyers.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/marcusjensen/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-big-data-for-your-business/

Your Investments Are Only as Good as Your Data

If you’re a savvy investor, you probably spend several hours a month poring over stocks and funds, analyzing the highs, lows, earnings, and trends. But even for the most analytic minds among us, the conclusions you draw are only as good as the parameters you can put in. If you’re a step behind the rest of the market (or, worse yet, totally off base) you’ll find yourself zigging when everyone else zags, and it’ll be you seeing red in your investment portfolio.

The investor who attempts to play the market while blindfolded is a guaranteed loser. Don’t be that type of investor.

The good news is that with the huge explosion the personal investing sector has seen in the past decade, more and more data becomes available all the time. That means you can shop around and find a company you trust to provide you up-to-date stock quotes and investing analysis that’ll steer you in the right direction no matter whether the market is bullish or bearish. With the right information at your fingertips, you can be a smarter investor and make moves that will benefit your bottom line.

These days every online stockbroker offers some level of data with their user accounts. Some brokerages, like CMC Markets, offer various tiers all the way from free, delayed data up to dynamic data for a nominal fee. With these types of options, you have the ability to scale up the level of intensity with which you want to investigate your next move. If you’re just going to stick to large, low-risk funds, it’s probably overkill, but if you’re looking to exceed average market returns, the extra bonus could yield a huge ROI.

Don’t forget that there’s more to investing than stocks and funds. A diverse portfolio should take advantage of options, bonds, real estate, commodities and much more. Again, data is your friend, and you should make the effort in advance to really scout out good value propositions before throwing your money into a sector you know little about. If you’re curious to dip your toe into an area, but don’t know much about it, you can always turn to your personal broker or financial advisor for initial advice, but there’s just no substitute for doing your own homework.

A Last Word of Advice

As much as we like to think that we’re smart people who can figure out the solution to any problem, the truth is that experts exist for a reason—they’ve committed themselves to studying the ins and out of a field, and (assuming they’re upholding their fiduciary duty) can guide you to the right investment decisions based on your income, age, aversion to risk, and tax situation. Don’t fall victim to the bravado of amateur investors who quickly get in over their heads and lack an appropriate exit strategy. Having the right data for the job is critical, but it’s equally important that you actually are able to exercise good judgement, too.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/neel-joshi/your-investments-are-only-as-good-as-your-data/

Top 5 Innovative Technologies For Cars

Henry Ford would barely recognize today’s high-tech automobiles. Even George Jetson may not have had access to some of the features we now take for granted in cars, like cruise control, crash avoidance technology, and entertainment systems with Bluetooth capabilities.

We’ll probably never see a flying vehicle that folds up into a briefcase like the one George drove to work – at least, not in our lifetimes. But in 10, 20 and 50 years from now cars will undoubtedly look a lot different than they do now, as automakers continue to develop and roll out advanced technologies at a rapid pace.

Here’s a look at the top 5 innovative technologies for cars which are either new to the market or expected to be available in the near future.

Gorilla Glass Windshields

Windshields have gotten stronger since Henry Ford’s day, but they’ve basically been constructed in the same way: an inner layer of plastic (currently, manufacturers use clear polyvinyl plastic) sandwiched between, and bonded to, two layers of laminated safety glass. This design allows the windshield to absorb energy in a collision and makes the glass much less liable to shatter. It makes the windshield relatively safe, but also very heavy.

The 2017 Ford GT will be the first vehicle to break the mold with windshields made from Gorilla Glass manufactured by Corning. Gorilla Glass has been used on nearly four billion electronic devices over the last ten years; for example, it’s what the scratch-resistant, “unbreakable” window on smartphone is made from.

The automotive version will have multiple layers like today’s windshields, but those layers will be annealed glass on the outside, thermoplastic adhesive in the middle and toughened hybrid Gorilla Glass on the inside. The windshield will be 25-50% thinner and 32% lighter than the ones on current vehicles, and will be virtually unbreakable. Developers have shown the strength of the Gorilla windshield, in a video showing one being bombarded with ice balls shot out of high-powered cannons without even cracking.

You probably won’t see this technology in your local auto showroom next year. The Gorilla Glass windshield was specifically designed for Ford’s top-of-the-line, $400,000 sports car, in order to shave weight and improve the aerodynamics of the so-called “super car.” As with most breakthroughs, though, there’s a good chance the technology will eventually trickle down to benefit the rest of us.

Talk To Your Car

When you’re in your car you can sing along with the radio, yell at another driver, speak with people on the phone – or if it’s a particularly bad day, talk to yourself. If you buy a Volvo XC90 later this year you’ll also be able to talk to your car, pretending that you’re David Hasselhoff and your Volvo is KITT. All you will need is a Microsoft Band 2 ($250) on your wrist.

The Microsoft smart band pairs with a Volvo app to let you give simple commands to the car like “lock the doors” or “start the heater.” Our favorite is “prepare my Volvo,” which will precondition the car just the way you like it and then start it up for you.

Similar features are available through some carmakers’ smartphone apps (which are often hit-or-miss in terms of their functionality), but this will be the first time you can just put on a “wearable” and command your car. The automaker plans to expand the voice-command system in the future for greater interaction; we can’t wait until a Volvo can actually respond by saying “Michael, are you sure you want to do that?”

Biometric Access

We’re just getting used to opening and starting our cars without keys – and now Ford is tinkering with a system that would do away with the “car fobs” we now carry in our pockets or purses.

Ford has obtained a patent for a scheme which would combine modern remote keyless entry with smartphones and a biometric database. Fingerprints, voiceprints or other unique identifiers like retinal scans or facial features would be entered into the database through the phone. The device would then send a WiFi or Bluetooth signal to the vehicle, giving permission for authorized drivers to start the car and drive it.

Other possibilities envisioned by Ford include permission systems which would only allow a user to drive during specific hours (a teen with a curfew, for example), or just let a person access the vehicle to get something from inside without being able to start it. There’s no projected timetable for implementation.

Heads-Up Display

This one is already available on some Mercedes, BMW, Audi and GM vehicles (as well as through some third-party apps), and it will eventually provide relief for those who have almost crashed while looking down at the GPS display on their phone.

Right now, heads-up displays (HUDs) can project images from your dashboard onto the windshield. They let you see you see your speed, mileage or temperature settings, and in some cars you can view data from your Bluetooth communication system right in front of you as you drive. But in the next few years, you’ll be able to see real-time GPS displays superimposed on your windshield, showing you the next turn you should take and pointing to the street sign you’ve been searching for.

Hyundai, Jaguar and Land Rover have all shown off their next-gen HUD systems at auto shows, and it shouldn’t be long before your windshield will start to resemble a real-life video game.

Self-Driving Cars

We’ve left this one for last, because everyone’s undoubtedly followed the stories about Google’s, Tesla’s and Ford’s experimentation with cars that “drive themselves”. But the latest news is that these intriguing-yet-a-little-scary autos are closer than ever to becoming available to the public.

Testing has been conducted over the last few years, but major questions have centered on the legality of a car which doesn’t require human control. Several states, including California, are considering laws which would sidetrack self-driving cars by requiring licensed drivers and steering wheels in automobiles. In February, though, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Google that under U.S. law, an artificial intelligence system controlling a car can be considered “the driver”.

That’s a huge hurdle which has now been cleared, although the NHTSA has made it clear that some federal laws would have to be rewritten and that process could take years. Even so, the Department of Transportation says it may soon ask for new legal authority to permit self-driving vehicles “in large numbers” – meaning autonomous cars are destined to be more than just test vehicles and news stories sooner rather than later.

from Feedster http://www.feedster.com/blog/leurypichardo/top-5-innovative-technologies-for-cars/