SpaceX is teaming up with NASA to send dummies to space
In a joint press conference this week, SpaceX and NASA announced that SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has been cleared for orbit. The launch, which could happen as early as March 2 according to reporting, would be a crucial next step for Elon Musk’s aeronautics company in replacing the Russian capsules currently used to send astronauts to the International Space Station. Should the Crew Dragon — which will be carrying dummies — succeed in reaching the station, docking and making an ocean splash-down return, the craft could be fast tracked by NASA as a replacement for the Space Shuttle, which was retired back in 2011. [Tech Crunch]
Tinder helps youngin’s find love (or something like it) on spring break
Capitalizing on its hip n’ young following, Tinder announced plans this week for a new feature that helps college-age users better swipe right while on spring break. By using Tinder in Spring Break mode, young daters can select from a handful of popular spring break destinations (including Cabo, Lake Havasu and Puerto Vallarta), see who’s going in advance and meet other TinderU users at their resort. “We’ve historically seen huge upticks in Tinder usage during Spring Break in these destinations, and we are excited to give users the unique experience to connect before they pack their bags,” said Jenny Campbell, chief marketing officer at Tinder. [The Verge]
Cedars-Sinai is putting Amazon Echos in patients’ rooms
Cedars-Sinai, one of the city’s largest hospital networks, is piloting a program that puts Amazon Echos in more than 100 patient rooms. The devices are programmed with Aiva, a voice assistant platform specifically made for patients to use with caregivers. The device will help Cedar’s patients with everything from changing the channel to making requests for medicine that are routed to the a registered nurse’s mobile device. Aiva was a participant in the Cedars-Sina accelerator program and is backed by both Amazon’s Alexa Fund and the Google Assistant Investment Program. [Tech Crunch]
LA comes to terms with dockless mobility providers
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation received applications from 11 dockless mobility companies this week. In a release from their press office, the city outlines that in order to apply to be a part of LA’s pilot dockless mobility program, the 11 companies had to “meet a number of Council-directed requirements, including insurance, liability, an equity plan, and a community engagement plan.” They also had to conform to the city’s Mobile Data Specification (MDS), which outline means for the companies to share information in real-time with the city to ensure compliance. The 11 applications amount to a whopping 37.7 thousand dockless bikes and scooters. The company will decide which companies will participate in its one-year pilot program in March. [City of LA]
