{"id":383049,"date":"2021-12-18T16:03:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T13:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/robot-waiters-rubber-shoes-and-7-more\/"},"modified":"2021-12-18T16:03:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-18T13:03:10","slug":"robot-waiters-rubber-shoes-and-7-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/robot-waiters-rubber-shoes-and-7-more\/","title":{"rendered":"#Robot waiters, rubber shoes and 7 more"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Robot waiters, rubber shoes and 7 more<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\n

Over the past year, we started figuring out how to live in an (almost) post-pandemic world. Behaviors that once seemed unnatural \u2014 working from home, living more digitally, feeling grateful for basics we once took for granted \u2014 became second nature. <\/p>\n

In 2022, we\u2019re ready for what\u2019s next. And one thing\u2019s for sure: We\u2019re not going back to the old ways. So what can we expect from the new normal?<\/p>\n

Here, experts give their predictions for the coming year.<\/p>\n

ROBOTIC RESTAURANT WORKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Robot
\u201cThere are benefits to technology<\/a> that go beyond quality and consistency,\u201d experts say.<\/figcaption>
AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Staff shortages at restaurants are only getting worse \u2014 according to the National Restaurant Association<\/a>, three out of every four restaurant owners can\u2019t retain enough servers <\/strong>\u2014 but demand for in-person dining is returning. What are restaurateurs to do? Hire robots.<\/p>\n

Last summer, the Cuban restaurant Sergio\u2019s in Miami, Florida, introduced the newest member of their staff, Servi \u2014 created by Silicon Valley company Bear Robotics<\/a>. Servi, which delivers food and clears dirty dishes, is leased by Sergio\u2019s for around $999 a month \u2014 or about $2 to $3 an hour including installation and support \u2014 and doesn\u2019t accept tips.<\/p>\n

Flippy, a burger-flipping robot from Miso Robotics<\/a>, made its debut in 2018 at Pasadena-based burger chain CaliBurger, but was fired after one day for flipping burgers too fast. In November, Miso unveiled Flippy 2, a sleeker and more independent version of the kitchen robot, which is poised to officially join the food industry workforce later this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the big difference in 2022 is that we\u2019ll likely see actual production deployment of specific devices, such as French fry or pizza robots,\u201d said Jim Collins, President of Perfect Company, a leading provider of technology solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industries. <\/p>\n

Adding robots isn\u2019t just about streamlining the cooking process. \u201cIt can actually free the kitchen team to focus more on creativity and innovation,\u201d said Collins. \u201cThere are benefits to technology that go beyond quality and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

MINIVANS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Minivans\"
Critics have described the much-touted 2022 Kia Carnival as \u201csexy.\u201d<\/figcaption>
Kia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since their debut in the \u201980s, minivans have never been cool. They\u2019ve been synonymous with soccer moms and considered the last resort for families not hip enough to afford an SUV. But something changed in 2021, with minivan sales jumping 84 percent, according to a Cox Automotive report<\/a>. New minivan models \u2014 like the much-touted 2022 Kia Carnival (above), described by critics as \u201csexy\u201d<\/a> \u2014 have the same sliding doors and high seats beloved by suburbanites, but now come with a rugged, stylish design.<\/p>\n

Part of the minivan renaissance is thanks to COVID. \u201cMinivans speak to our current, pandemic-induced desire to simultaneously cocoon and escape,\u201d said automotive journalist and minivan enthusiast Brett Berk. \u201cThey\u2019re literally a living room on wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berk also points to a generational shift. \u201cFor Gen-Xers who were weaned on station wagons, the practicality of minivans are a revelation,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they can be knowingly, slyly contrarian. Like wearing wide-wale corduroy blazers, they\u2019re so uncool, they\u2019re cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

WANDERLUST DATING<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Wanderlust
Today\u2019s daters crave more than dinner and a movie.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After sitting at home for nearly two years, singles are \u201ccraving adventure and are up for anything,\u201d said Talia Goldstein, the founder and president of matchmaking service Three Day Rule<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s daters crave more than dinner and a movie, and they\u2019re willing to travel<\/a> further than a cab ride can take them. \u201cPre-pandemic daters would request a radius of 10 miles,\u201d Goldstein says. \u201cNow, clients are open to nationwide matches and even relocating for the right match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tinder Passport, a premium feature that allows users to match with singles around the globe, has been around since 2015 but peaked in popularity last year. In 2021, Tinder members \u201cpassported\u201d to an average of four cities and two countries. And 76 percent made matches in a country that speaks a language different than their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo avoid flirtations getting lost in translation, we\u2019ve partnered with [language-learning platform] Duolingo to give 100,000 Tinder members a free month of Duolingo Plus,\u201d said a spokesperson for the company.<\/p>\n

VENDING MACHINES<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\"vending
Pizza vending machines have become especially popular \u2014 even in Rome.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gone are the days when vending machines only sold soda, snacks or cigarettes. Now, a new wave of small business owners are using them to sell everything from $30 mini-bottles of champagne (Fort Lauderdale) to 45 types of hard pretzels (Delray Beach) to butcher-cut raw meat (Tampa). Northern Michigan recently opened the first 24-hour goat cheese vending machine, launched by goat creamery Idyll Farms<\/a>. And cannabis vending machines have popped up in California and Colorado. A Japanese airline, Peach Aviation<\/a>, has even started selling \u201cmystery\u201d domestic flights from its vending machines. (Customers don\u2019t pick where they\u2019re going, the routes are assigned randomly.) <\/p>\n

Pizza vending machines have become especially popular \u2014 even in Rome, Italy (above) \u2014 with hundreds app<\/a>earing around the country just last year. At the San Antonio International Airport<\/a>, a pizza vending machine \u2014 which can cook 10-inch brick-oven pizza in just a few minutes \u2014 was added in late 2021 because terminal restaurants \u201cwere having a difficult time hiring qualified employees,\u201d said Jennifer Mills Pysher, the airport\u2019s Chief Commercial Officer.<\/p>\n

The machine was so popular Pysher said they hope to add more vending machines across the airport and in the baggage waiting area, with a wide array of options like \u201ccoffee, ramen, smoothies, fresh salads and sandwiches. And we really want a cupcake machine!\u201d<\/p>\n

RUBBER SHOES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"rubber
Retail strategist Liza Amlani predicts that rubber shoes will \u201ccatapult to new heights\u201d in 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rubber shoes are having a moment. Puddle Boots, a bright and chunky take on the classic rain boot created by Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta (above), are flying off shelves, with fans including Justin Bieber and \u201cBlack-ish\u201d star Tracee Ellis Ross. Crocs, the foam clog so ugly that Time magazine once named them one of the world\u2019s \u201cworst inventions,\u201d has seen sales climb 65 percent since 2020, after a mostly stagnant decade. Questlove wore a gold pair of Crocs<\/a> to the 2021 Grammys, and celebrated sneaker designer Salehe Bembury introduced his take on the Crocs brand in December.<\/p>\n

Retail strategist Liza Amlani predicts that rubber shoes will \u201ccatapult to new heights\u201d in 2022, and not just because the infamous footwear is so comfortable and affordable, with an average price of around $45.<\/p>\n

Rubber shoe makers are \u201caligning their values with customers on sustainability,\u201d says Amlani. The Puddle Boot is Bottega\u2019s first piece made with biodegradable polymer, and Crocs will introduce its first shoes made of biodegradable materials this year, vowing to become net-zero-carbon by 2030.<\/p>\n

MALLS<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\"Mall\"
Visitor numbers for malls in 2021 were up 5 percent over pre-pandemic levels.<\/figcaption>
AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pandemic very nearly rang the death knell for malls \u2014 visitation nationwide was down 91 percent in April 2020 \u2014 but according to transportation-data company INRIX, visitor numbers for malls in 2021 were up 5 percent over pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>\n

Retailers are returning too \u2014 Toys \u201cR\u201d Us opened a new flagship store inside the American Dream mall in Bergen County, NJ<\/a>, its first since closing all stores in 2018 \u2014 and real-estate brokerage firm CBRE predicts<\/a> that 2022 will see a 10-year high for retail stores leasing at malls.<\/p>\n

Some malls are offering perks to lure shoppers back. At American Dream, you can brunch with SpongeBob or shop with a \u201cfashion industry icon\u201d for just $3,000. \u201cShopping is still a social<\/a> activity,\u201d said retail consultant Georganne Bender. \u201cIn a world where many retailers sell the same thing, the experience has become more important than the product.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnesota\u2019s Mall of America<\/a>, the largest mall on the continent, has tried to give customers \u201csomething they can\u2019t find online,\u201d says Jill Renslow, who is executive vice president of business development at the venue. That includes everything from yoga studios to luxury hotels on site.<\/p>\n

But the real draw, curiously enough, has been inconveniences that online shopping was supposed to eliminate. Although 2021\u2019s Black Friday was a weeklong affair, with deals not confined to a single day, \u201cwe still saw people wait in line early in the morning on Friday,\u201d said Renslow. \u201cThey wanted the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season.\u201d<\/p>\n

DIGITAL LEARNING<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\"digital
Many colleges are offering steep discounts for online-only students.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brick-and-mortar universities were forced to take their courses online during the pandemic, and now remote learning is increasingly becoming the norm. Online enrollment for undergraduates, in which students take either some or all of their classes online, rose by 367 percent this year<\/a>, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.<\/p>\n

Online MBAs aren\u2019t always cheap, topping out at $140,000 at Carnegie Mellon University. But many colleges are offering steep discounts for online-only students. At the University of North Texas, for instance, the average annual tuition for out-of-state graduate students is $31,540. But for an online MBA, the estimated total cost for the entire program is just $19,464.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pandemic accelerated trends that were already in progress,\u201d said Betty Vandenbosch, chief content officer at Coursera<\/a>, an online-only education platform founded by Stanford professors. She cites a recent survey<\/a> that found two-thirds of students want more online instruction.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not necessary for 400 students to sit in a lecture hall for two hours when a recorded video lecture can be as effective,\u201d said Vandenbosch.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s what employers want, too. Sean Gallagher, a Northeastern University professor and author of \u201cThe Future of University Credentials,\u201d recently conducted an upcoming study, surveying thousands of C-suite executives. \u201cThey\u2019re now more receptive to hiring people who earned educational credentials online,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

PET TRAVEL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pet
\u201cPet-friendliness\u201d was the top search priority for travelers looking to book trips in 2022.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pet adoptions reached an all-time high during the pandemic, and now that restrictions are loosening, people don\u2019t want to explore the world without their new best friends.<\/p>\n

Analytics company Zeta Global<\/a> found that \u201cpet-friendliness\u201d was the top search priority for travelers looking to book trips in 2022. It was \u201cmore important than hotel cleanliness,\u201d says Eric Bamberger, Zeta Global\u2019s senior vice president of hospitality. <\/p>\n

Travel companies are now shifting to accommodate animals, from Airbnb introducing AirCover<\/a> insurance to protect hosts from pet damage, to Hilton Hotels expanding more
properties to be completely pet friendly<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI suspect that more brands will follow Hilton\u2019s lead,\u201d said travel psychologist Kate Cummins. \u201cPeople have reprioritized their needs during the pandemic, and staying connected to things they love, such as their pets, will be something we see people need in the upcoming year with travel.\u201d<\/p>\n

FUNKY<\/strong> POPCORN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nick
Celebs like Scottie Pippen and the Jonas Brothers are now selling their own popcorn brands.<\/figcaption>
The Naked Market\/MEGA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the rise of pandemic-era binge-watching, popcorn sales are up 9 percent<\/a> in 2021, according to market-research firm Information Resources, Inc. And customers aren\u2019t just buying the microwave snack that\u2019s been around for decades.<\/p>\n

New and sometimes bizarre popcorn flavors have overtaken the market, infusing kernels with everything from Cheetos-dust to booze. Celebs like Scottie Pippen and the Jonas Brothers are now selling their own popcorn brands, and in November, late night host Stephen Colbert created a two-minute commercial<\/a> for a small Minnesota popcorn shop, narrated by Nick Offerman, who effused, \u201cDamn, this stuff is good.\u201d<\/p>\n

AMC Entertainment, the largest movie-theater chain in the US, recently announced plans to start selling their popcorn \u2014 they make around 50 tons of it each day \u2014 in stores and mall kiosks around the country. They\u2019re also launching a popcorn delivery service<\/a> so you can munch away at the movies<\/a> in the comfort of your home.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen if other movie chains follow AMC\u2019s lead, but retail strategist Amlani suspects that in 2022, \u201cpopcorn could become the new pizza.\u201d\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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