The holiday season is in full swing and many of us are shopping for presents. We've talked a lot on TechPost about how software affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, and gift-giving is no exception. From making the present to capturing the joy, software is helping us out this holiday season.
Let's say you want to buy a stuffed bear for your baby niece - let's call her Zoe. Software can help you every step of the way.
Making
There would be no stuffed bears without the toy companies that design and make them. Before we even start to think about gifts, toymakers are hard at work preparing for the holiday season. Software allows manufacturers to get instant feedback from their customers to design the best possible product. Design software combines 3D modeling with IoT development tools, so that manufacturers can build smart components into their products right from the start. So not only can designers model the bear's features from 360 degrees, they can also plan to program an "intelligent assistant" so the bear can speak to Zoe.
Shopping
Once you find the perfect bear, it's time to buy it. Software and chip technology protect your information by generating a unique one-time code for every transaction that verifies the card's authenticity. The chip also encrypts your information during the transaction to guard against identify theft. Banks use software to flag suspicious purchases and alert you of any potential credit card fraud.
Shipping
Software helps get the bear to Zoe quickly and accurately. During peak holiday season, companies like UPS each deliver around 30 million packages. Telematic sensors in tens of thousands of delivery trucks track engine performance, improve routes, and anticipate maintenance or route problems in advance. Shipping companies use data collected by vehicle sensors to save millions of gallons of fuel through more efficient logistics. Thanks to GPS tracking and AI, companies can predict weather patterns and anticipate delays. Cloud computing helps expand these systems to the thousands of additional employees hired during the holiday rush, and makes sure the bear gets to Zoe on time.
Sharing the Joy
Zoe loves her bear and her mom texts you a photo of her giggling with her new toy. Photo software helps ensure the picture is of the highest resolution and the lighting is just right. Once Zoe's mom has a great photo, she sends it to you over a wireless network that runs on software. Wherever you are in the world, you can share in the joy.
In the mad rush between buying presents and spending time with family and friends, we may not realize how much work software does behind the scenes. Whether it's a stuffed bear or the latest tech gadget, software helps businesses and people select, purchase, create, send, and receive their gifts on time. In the season of giving, software is doing just that.
Happy Holidays from BSA!